“My ex-wife was unfaithful to me with more than one man over the years,” Nick confided. “So I’ve developed a few trust issues, too.”
Oh!The lightbulb went off in Zoey’s mind.Now I understand why he’s been “shuffling” for so long.She empathized, “That must have been painful.”
“It was. But I’m in a better place now. Literally, because I’m living on Dune Island. But my head and heart are in a better place, too.” He redirected the focus back to Zoey. “Anyway, I’m glad Gabi called me tonight.”
“I am, too. But it really does seem like you always catch me at my most embarrassing moments—probably because I have so many of them.” Zoey’s chuckle turned into a sob and she covered her face with her arm as she leaned back against the cushion. “I amsucha mess.”
Nick must have known she wasn’t referring to taking her pantyhose off in the park or falling between the joists or digging up the roses, because he came over, sat down and put his arm around her shoulder. And in the comfort of his embrace—the hug she’d been craving all day—she told him about Ivy being in the hospital. And Mark’s conniving schemes. About Mr. Witherell dying and Gabi jumping his fence. She even told him about Erik bankrupting her.
“Usually being on Dune Island helps me get my life together. It gives me a new perspective. But I’ve been here for over four months and I’m still a mess—and I’vemadea mess of everything for my family, too.” She enumerated her failings, crying, “I’ve failed to take good care of my aunt. I’ve failed to keep my niece out of trouble. And I’ve failed to stop Mark from taking over the house.”
Nick took her by the shoulders, gently angling her to face him so he could look into her eyes. “Are you kidding me, Zoey? You haven’t made a mess of everything for your family—you’ve held everything together. I’m convinced, I’m one hundred percent positive, that Ivy and Gabi and even Mark would have been completely lost if you hadn’t been here to look after them. Or in Mark’s case, to set him straight. You may have made some mistakes, but as you once told me, no one gets it right all the time. The important thing is you’ve acted out of love. Out of a fierce desire to do what’s in your family’s best interest.” He leaned back again, pulling her with him so that her cheek rested on his chest. Over her head, he said softly, “Ivy and Gabi and Mark are very fortunate to have you.”
And I’m very fortunate to haveyou,Zoey wanted to tell him, but before she could say it, she’d fallen asleep.
Chapter Thirteen
Zoey woke to Gabi jostling her feet. “Auntie?” She hadn’t called Zoey that since she was six or seven.
“Morning, Gabi.” She bent her legs to make room for her niece at the end of the couch.
“I have to go to school pretty soon, but I wanted to tell you I’m sorry I scared you yesterday. When you couldn’t find me, I mean.” Her fair skin was pink around her nose and eyes; she’d been crying. Or she was about to cry.
Zoey propped herself up on her elbows. “I’m sorry I scared you last night, too.”
“I also wanted to tell you nobody ever dared me to take my dad’s car. I lied. I took it because Kathleen wasn’t home and he was drinking and I heard him say on the phone that he’d meet his friend at the bar. I didn’t want him to get a DUI or to hurt somebody.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Zoey swung her legs off the sofa and sat up so she could put her arm around her niece. “Why didn’t you just take his keys?”
“He has, like, four or five sets. I never could have found them all in time.”
“I guess that makes sense then.” She smoothed her niece’s hair back so she could see her face. “Since you’re coming clean, do you want to tell me why you went to Mr. Witherell’s house?”
“To see if he had a photo of Aunt Sylvia beside his bed, like everyone said.”
“Did he?”
“I don’t know. The door was locked and I couldn’t see in the windows. It was kind of a wasted effort.”
“So was digging up the roses. I was looking for a clue for Marcus Jr.’s paternity—I had a crazy idea that Aunt Sylvia might have hidden some sort of evidence there, but no luck,” Zoey admitted. She somberly apologized, “I’ve been a horrible example to you and I am so, so sorry. I let this entire situation get out of hand.”
“It’s not your fault. I was getting into trouble doing things like stealing cars long before I came here.”
“I’m being serious, Gabi. It’s time for both of us to give up trying to prove who Marcus Jr.’s father was. And it’s time to accept that whether or not Mark is a Winslow, he’s going to take possession of Aunt Ivy’s house very soon. As much as we want what’s best for her and as much as we treasure her home, it’s not worth it for us to behave as irresponsibly and recklessly as we’ve been behaving. And it’s not worth feeling so desperate or worried or obsessed. If Aunt Ivy wants to give the house to Mark and move into an assisted living facility—even if he’s manipulating her into it—that’sherdecision. Can I trust you to give up trying to prove Mark isn’t a Winslow, for once and for all?”
“Yes, you can trust me.” Gabi nodded solemnly and Zoey knew she meant it.
“There’s something else I’d like you to think about… I love how thoughtful and perceptive you are. Your mom would have loved that about you, too. But it’s important that you understand you arenotresponsible for your dad’s behavior or for making Kathleen happy or for helping me solve my financial or housing problems, et cetera. You are only responsible foryourbehavior and choices. Right?”
“Right.” Gabi was masking her face with her hair again.
“That didn’t sound too convincing. What’s on your mind?”
“I sort of took responsibility for Aunt Ivy… I lied about lying. I mean, about the bathtub overflowing.Ididn’t leave the faucet running. Aunt Ivy did. She had started to run her bath and then I asked if she wanted to play cribbage while the tub was filling. So we were playing for a while but then Connor called. So I left to talk to him and she must have been concentrating on waiting for me to come back, not thinking about the tub—which seems totally understandable. But when I heard you and Mark talking, he was acting like she was losing her memory and couldn’t live alone. So I said I did it. ”
“Mm, well, I suspected you might have been covering for her but I wasn’t sure so I let it go.”
“Why did you suspect it?”
