Page 46 of Hibiscus Heights

“We’ve only just met. Again, that is.”

“Give it time.”

“Mom, I don’t know what you’re up to?—”

“Hey, Dad,” Teddy called out. “Can we invite Deb to come on a boat with us? I bet she’d love it.”

Grant exchanged a look with his mother. “That’s sweet of you to think of her, Teddy, but this is our family holiday.”

Teddy wasn’t giving up. “But she knows all about the island, and she said she likes being on the water. Can we take her with us? You said you wanted us to make friends.”

“Maybe some other time.” Grant noted another look that passed between his mother and sister.

“Why not?” Jen interjected. “It’s a great idea.”

Grant shook his head. “It’s complicated.”

Jen took Teddy by the hand. “Let’s see if we can spot some dolphins. Daniel brought binoculars.”

Mason followed. “Can I look through them?”

“Sure, bud.” Daniel looped a strap around his neck and showed him how to adjust the binoculars.

As the captain prepared to cast off, Grant turned back to his mother. He sensed there was more she wasn’t saying. “What did you mean about the invisible magnets?”

“Maybe some people are meant to be in our lives. What if we get second chances?”

A sudden thought occurred to him. Maybe he didn’t know his mother as well as he thought. “Have you reconnected with someone?”

“Me? Heavens, no.” Kitty placed a hand on his forearm. “I’m talking about you. This time, we don’t have to rush home. At the rate you were going with Deb, your father thought you might have proposed by Christmas.” She pressed a hand to his cheek. “Let’s stay until school begins. I owe you that much.”

Before he could follow that comment with a question, the engine rumbled to life, and the boys raced back to join him.

Soon, they were gliding away from the marina. As they headed toward open water, breezes whipped their hair and cast out worries.

Grant folded his arms and leaned against the railing, watching the waves. The captain kept a steady hand on the rudder.

Grant’s mind reeled back to that last summer on Crown Island. They’d left quickly, but by the time they returned, his grandmother had made an amazing recovery.

With only four weeks left in the summer, Jock had called him into his study and told him Nicole’s father had offered him an internship at his publishing house. His father insisted he take it before returning to school, saying it would be a good experience.

Feeling heartbroken, Grant had gone along with the plan to take his mind off Deb. He was assigned to photography, and Nicole was in the editorial department, so they often took their breaks together. They were friends throughout college before their relationship developed into something more.

Grant thought about what his mother just said. Something didn’t add up. Internships usually spanned the summer months. He hadn’t thought about that then, but now he wondered if his father had orchestrated that for him. Likely so, he decided, exhaling at the realization.

That was a long, long time ago.

He turned his attention back to the boys and joined them. Mason was training the binoculars on a tall structure on a point.

Mason asked, “Does that lighthouse still work?”

“Sure does,” the captain replied. “That rocky outcropping claimed its share of vessels before the lighthouse was built.”

Grant pointed to an inlet beside it. “That’s a sweet private little beach there.”

Jen laughed. “Everyone called it Lover’s Beach.”

When Mason looked surprised, Grant said, “Ask your aunt how she knows that.”

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