Page 10 of The Summer Inn on Plum Island
“Maybe Sally wasn’t your one but the one you needed at the time,” Dawn said.
“I like that,” Liam said with a smile. “Even though I knew our marriage was pretty much over, finding out Sally had been cheating on me still stung.”
“That’s because while you knew things weren’t right in your marriage, you still respected your marriage commitment, but she didn’t. Sally betrayed you,” Dawn offered.
“I couldn’t have put that better myself,” Liam told her. “I blew up and kicked her out of the house. It wasn’t very nice of me, and I needed someone to blame for the guilt I felt.”
“Why would you feel guilty?” Dawn asked him, confused. “You weren’t the one cheating.”
“Yes, but Sally’s cheating gave me the excuse I was looking for to end things between us,” Liam admitted, dropping his head and glancing at the ceiling to gather his emotions. “I jumped on that excuse so fast because it meant I couldn’t be blamed for our failed marriage.” He put his coffee cup on the table. “My only thought at the moment I caught Sally out was that there was no way I was letting Sally take Lila away from me.”
“You have nothing to feel guilty about,” Dawn assured him. “That’s a natural human reaction.” Her eyes narrowed as sheasked, “How do you really feel about Sally getting married again?”
“As long as Lila is okay with it,” Liam told her with a shrug, “then it’s water off a duck’s back, really.” He shook his head. “The only other thing that is going to be a bit awkward is that Sally wants to have the wedding here at the Summer Inn. She says it’s because then she doesn’t have to interrupt Lila’s life by making her go to California for the wedding.”
“And you think Sally has another reason for wanting to get married here?” Dawn asked.
“I don’t know.” Liam shook his head.
“Maybe Sally getting married here is a good thing,” Dawn said. “Lila gets to be a part of her mother’s wedding, and maybe you can finally resolve the issues you still need to put to rest between you and Sally.”
“I couldn’t have it out with Sally before her wedding,” Liam said with a snort. “That wouldn’t be very tasteful, and I wouldn’t want her to get the wrong idea that I still have feelings for her.”
“But in a way, you do,” Dawn told him. “A lot of negative feelings toward her could be holding you back from finding your happily ever after and soul mate.”
“You could be right,” Liam agreed, his eyes holding hers. “What’s holding you back from finding your soul mate and happily ever after?”
Dawn’s brows shot up in surprise as she stared at him. “Finding someone I can trust and that I know loves me for who I am as a person, not for who my family is.” She broke eye contact and leaned back against the cushions. “If I’m honest, that was one of the reasons I went out with Brad. I knew he was dating Dawn and not the Vanderbilts.”
They were interrupted when Harper’s bedroom door opened, and the teens came into the living room.
“Aunt Dawn, can Lila stay here tonight?” Harper asked.
“If her father’s okay with that.” Dawn looked at Liam questioningly.
“Of course,” Liam said, smiling.
“Thank you, Dad,” Lila gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I want to help Harper get Tiger settled for the night.”
Liam looked at Dawn. “Because you have a new foster to care for, why don’t we order in and have dinner together here in your suite?”
“That’s a great idea,” Dawn agreed and looked at the teens. “What do you two think?”
“I don’t mind,” Lila answered, glancing at Harper.
“Sure,” Harper said. “I have plenty of time to see Plum Island.”
“I’d better go finish some work, and I’ll be back in about an hour,” Liam said, standing. “Is that okay with everyone?”
He was answered with a chorus of yes before Harper and Lila went back to Harper’s bedroom. Dawn walked Liam to the door.
“Thank you for letting Lila come with me to Boston today; it really made a difference for Harper,” Dawn told Liam.
“Of course,” Liam said as he stood in the open doorway staring at Dawn. “It’s helped Lila as well.”
Their gazes intertwined, and a profound stillness enveloped them. Liam sensed the quickening of his pulse as a wave of warmth expanded within his chest, deepening his feelings for Dawn. The delicate thread that once linked them in friendship was weaving into a vibrant tapestry of deeper connection, tugging at his heart with the unmistakable hues of love.
Two pairs of teenage eyes peeked through a crack in Harper’s bedroom door as they watched the doorway moment between Dawn and Liam.
