Page 6 of The Wedding Driver
Her grandfather took her hand. “There is room for you in his heart, but you have to tell him how you feel and give him a chance to open up to you. He’s been alone for a long time and he holds his grief close to his soul. I can understand why he does that.” Her grandpa tapped his chest. “Foster is only torturing himself because he holds himself responsible for what happened.”
Foster’s loss cut deep. It was palpable and there was nothing anyone could do to help him move past it.
“The death of a child isn’t something you get over,” she said. “You know that better than anyone.”
“That’s not what I’m saying at all.” Her grandpa squeezed her hand. “You love him and you’re going to be stuck right here in this moment in life if you don’t either walk away from your feelings or put them all on the line so you have the opportunity to either be with him or move on. The same goes for him. The thing with his emotions is, he’s closed himself off to the point his circle is so small that we’re the only ones he has let into his life in years. I believe he cares for you, but he’s not going to be the one to take the first step. You have to do it.”
She knew her grandfather was right. She had been standing still for years and it was time to do something about it. She felt that last night.
Leaning in, she kissed her granddad’s cheek. “I’m going to finally listen to you and take your advice.”
“That’s my girl.”
She squared her shoulders and headed down to the dock where Foster waited for Tiki and Lake. Her heart hammered in her chest, as it often did when she approached the man she’d been in love with for as long as she could remember.
“Hey,” she managed to croak out. “Need a hand?”
“Do you think your sister will be much longer?” Foster asked, barely glancing in her direction as he fiddled with a few things on his old-fashioned wooden boat. It was strange that he’d avoided her so adamantly on this day, but she wasn’t going to let him any longer.
“I’m sure she’ll be down in a few minutes.” Tonya leaned against the post and stared at a sailboat floating in the center of the bay. The tall mast reached for the clear blue sky. The lines smacked against the metal as the boat rocked from the waves created by the boats buzzing around the bay.
“Knowing your mother, she’s making her say goodbye to each guest personally.” Foster smiled.
“That sounds about right,” Tonya said. “So, what’s the plan? Around Harris and Sandy Bay? Or are you going to go around Long Island?”
“We went over the boat ride when we sat down and talked about it this morning.”
“You’re dropping them at their house, right?”
Foster hopped onto the dock and adjusted his hat. “That’s the plan, but you knew that.” He arched a brow. “What’s going on with you?” He inched closer, reaching out, circling his strong fingers around her forearm.
The moment his skin touched hers, an electric shock pulsed through her system.
Staring into the depths of his tender blue eyes, she cleared her throat and searched her mind for the right words. The perfect words.
“Why don’t you see me?” Inwardly, she groaned. That wasn’t what she wanted to say. Not even close. She wasn’t even sure that made any sense.
He tilted his head. “Of course I see you. You’re standing right in front of me.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Slowly, he blinked. His hand ran up and down her arm. “I know,” he whispered. “I’m not blind. And I’m not stupid. Insensitive at times, but not unaware that somewhere things shifted.” He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Shifted. That’s what you’re calling my feelings?”
He lifted his hat and raked a hand through his thick, dark hair. “We’ve known each other a long time. You were the first wedding planner to give me business when everyone else thought my idea was nutty.”
“It’s not the best business model when the majority of our weather is freezing cold, but it’s a sweet idea and I thought it was a creative way for people to celebrate.”
“I appreciate that.” He smiled. “Through the years, you’ve been a good friend to me—so has your family—and I value that. I wouldn’t want to lose it by mucking up the waters.”
“You sound like what I’ve been telling myself for a long time.”
“But now you’ve voiced it.” He placed his hat back on his head and took a step back, turning toward the lake. “We can’t put it back in a bottle and pretend it’s not there like we’ve been doing.”
“I’m not sure what you mean by that.” Her pulse beat in the center of her throat. She couldn’t swallow. She glanced over her shoulder, grateful that her sister and Lake had yet to even make it to the pathway.
He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I’ve always seen you, but you have made it very easy for me to keep you at arm’s length because you give me space. You’ve never made your feelings known through words, or even actions. I know they exist. I can feel them; however, you don’t express them, allowing me the freedom to continue to do what I’ve done since Lisa died, and that’s pretty much exist on being numb.”
