“You were being melodramatic.” Zoey imitated how her niece had been shaking her shoulders when she was crying. “That’s not your style. You were exaggerating it so much that you almost dropped Moby on the floor.”
“I know—I felt so bad about that!” Gabi exclaimed. Then she hastily added, “And about lying, of course.”
Zoey fought a smile as she pointed at her niece. “None of that kind of stuff can happen any more. Promise?”
“Yes.”
“Good, so do I. And… I hope you’ll keep going to your group meetings if you find them helpful.” When Gabi’s mouth dropped open, Zoey confessed, “Aidan told me—but only because he was trying to help. Or because he was a little afraid of me.”
“Just so you know, I don’tlikehim, like him. Well, I did at the very beginning but then I found out he’s going out with a senior,” Gabi said, which made Zoey wonder if that’s why she’d been so moody a few weeks earlier. “I’m glad we’re friends though. He’s the one who brought me to the group and made sure I felt comfortable when I was kind of nervous the first time. He’s sort of a big brother. And anyway, I kind of like Connor now.”
“Good choice.” Zoey grinned. “You’d better get going or you’ll be late for school.”
“I can hardly wait to hear the gossip about me jumping Mr. Witherell’s fence,” she said drolly. “And about you digging up the rose bushes.”
Zoey laughed. “We’re Winslow women. It’s part of our heritage to be the subjects of gossip. But we can take it. We’re tough—that’s part of our heritage, too.”
After Gabi left, Zoey noticed that her knees were grimy and she had scratches and thick smudges of dirt on her arms and legs, so she went upstairs for a shower. Within half an hour, she was almost ready to leave to visit Ivy in the hospital, when she heard a muffled tone sounding from the couch—her phone had slipped between the cushions the previous evening.
Zoey slid it out and glanced at the screen. The call was from an area code she didn’t recognize until the caller identified herself as Melissa Carter. The woman gruffly asked Zoey why she had called and since she’d just promised Gabi she’d drop the subject of Mark’s paternity, Zoey fudged her reply.
After confirming Melissa was, indeed, Mr. Witherell’s niece, she said, “I wanted to express my condolences. My aunt spoke very highly of your uncle. She appreciated his vigilance in keeping Benjamin’s Harbor safe.”
“That’s one way of putting it, but I appreciate the thought,” Melissa replied. “Sorry if I seemed curt when I answered, but you wouldn’t believe the phone calls I’ve been getting. As soon as Uncle Phin died, the vultures started sweeping in. Most of them want to place bids on his property and I have to refer them to Hope Haven’s Search and Rescue, since he donated the land to the association for them to sell. But a few tricksters are after an inheritance, claiming to be his kids or his grandkids. I tell them that would be a miracle.”
Zoey’s skin tingled. Her curiosity got the best of her and she asked. “Why is that?”
“My uncle was infertile since he was eighteen. Cancer treatments,” the woman divulged candidly. “Hey, your aunt didn’t happen to be the Winslow girl, did she?”
Zoey swallowed. “Y-yes.”
“How about that?! My father told me there was only one girl his brother was ever interested in—the Winslow girl. It never went anywhere, though. It was just as well, since Uncle Phin was better suited for bachelorhood than marriage. He would have made her miserable and he would have been miserable, too. People don’t know that about him, but once he got used to being alone in the lighthouse, he wouldn’t have had it any other way,” Melissa said. “You know what? The attorney sent me a box of stuff from his attic. I saw a photo of your aunt—her name was on the back. I don’t have any use for it, so I’ll send it to you in case your aunt wants it.”
Instead of explaining Sylvia was now deceased, Zoey gave her Ivy’s address. After disconnecting, she lingered in front of the window, gazing down the hill toward the water. The day was gray and wet and a thick fog shrouded the harbor. But every five seconds, Sea Gull Lighthouse alternately flashed red, then white. Red, then white. Transfixed, she contemplated what Mr. Witherell’s niece had told her. Even though Zoey meant it when she told Gabi she was done pursuing Marcus Jr.’s paternity, she was relieved that she’d inadvertently discovered the truth at last, so there’d be no niggling doubt in her mind.
If she hadn’t already accepted that Mark was going to take over the house in September, she might have been more disappointed to find out that Mr. Witherell couldn’t have possibly been his father’s father. But if she felt any disappointment now, it was on Mr. Witherell’s behalf because the only woman he was ever interested in didn’t reciprocate his feelings. Not that she thought Sylvia was under any obligation to return his affections. On the contrary, Zoey admired her for standing firm and turning him down—despite his notes or visit to the house—so she could follow her heart and marry Marcus. Yet a part of her wished Mr. Witherell could have found someone else.
Maybe his niece is right—that he really did prefer to be alone. Maybe itwasbetter that Aunt Sylvia rejected him, for both their sakes.She smiled to herself, remembering her aunt’s truism, “Sometimes, these things have a way of working out for best for everyone.”
The long, loud blare of a foghorn snapped her out of her thoughts and she grabbed the bag of items Ivy had requested and hurried to the garage. Since the fence was no longer an obstacle, she drove the Caddy to the hospital. Just after pulling into the street, she spotted Nick coming up the hill in his truck. They rolled down their windows and greeted each other. It was raining but Nick’s eyes were all the blue sky Zoey needed for the day.
“You going to visit Ivy?” he asked.
“I was on my way, yes—but if you came here to chat with me, I’ll back up.”
“No!” He protested vehemently. “Don’t back up—I’ve seen what happens when you drive in reverse.”
“Ha, ha. Very funny.” Hewasfunny though. Funny and thoughtful and handsome. And he’d seen Zoey at some of her worst moments but he’d still come back this morning.
“You should go ahead to the hospital. I just came by to take a look at the ceiling in the best room, since last evening I was, uh, too distracted to do it. I’ll pop in and out, if that’s okay. Ivy hides a spare key for me near the birdfeeder.”
“You came all the way here to do that? What about your other clients?”
“They can wait. This is my priority.” He added, “Ivy’s materials were delivered so I plan to surprise her and finish the remodel before she gets back from the hospital. Aidan’s going to help me in the afternoons. I’ve ordered new fencing, too, and when it stops raining, he’ll take care of the rose bed.”
“Thank you.” Zoey grinned. “You Armstrong boys are the best in the business.”
* * *
