She frowned in thought.“I guess I was scared.I had nowhere else to go.I was worried my dad would try to find and hurt his sister.I’d also just been conditioned since I was a kid to believe that a woman’s role is to serve her husband.And while I never really believed it, there were definitely times where he’d beat me and I’d eventually convince myself that it was my fault.That I had riled him up.That I didn’t keep Austin quiet enough.That I didn’t keep his dinner warm enough for him until he got home.That if I were a better wife, things would change.”She dropped her chin to her chest for a moment.“I was also ashamed.”
“Shame is a very powerful emotion.”
Lifting her gaze, I could see that she had grown teary-eyed again, and I quickly ate up the distance between us and used my thumbs to smooth away the tears.I held her jaw in my palms.“You were ashamed,” she said.
I nodded.“I knew what we were doing was wrong—”
“She was wrong.You were a child.”
“Right.I knew that whatshewas doing was wrong.But I was so embarrassed.I didn’t want anybody to know.You hardly ever hear about boys getting abused by women.I mean, I know it happens.Obviously,it happens.But people are quick to make jokes.She was a pretty woman.More than once, my basketball buddies called her a MILF.So to them, her using me the way she did would be something to high-five.Meanwhile, all I felt was dirty.”
“I get it.The fear of making things worse is real, and it talks you out of doing what’s right.”She swallowed.“I’m sorry she’s out on parole and not dead.”
That made me laugh.“Yeah.Me too.”I laced my fingers through hers and turned us toward the rocks.“Come on.Let’s see if we can find some sea glass.Rolph and his wife said this is a really good beach for it.”
With her free hand, she rubbed my hand that held hers.“I don’t care what we do.I just want to spend time with you.”
I grinned at her as the weight of Jolene’s visit slipped off my shoulders, replaced only by the warmth of the sun and the joy this woman brought into my life.Our first week on the island might have been a rough one, but one thing I knew for sure: Naomi Geuer was a diamond in this rough, and wherever she went, everything seemed to sparkle.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Naomi
So.Much.Kissing.
I loved it.
I never got to experience teenage make out sessions when I was a teenager and did everything I possibly could to avoid kissing Ephram.The man didn’t believe in dentists.Yes, Killian and I kissed when we would meet at his place once a week for our standing friends-with-benefits itch scratch, but this felt different.
Killian had been an eleventh-grade science teacher at the high school.We met a few years ago when he brought his parents to the winery for a tasting.We hit it off and casually started hooking up.Neither of us wanted anything serious and were upfront that we didn’t have romantic feelings for the other person.But he was a good guy.He was kind, handsome, smart, and funny.There was just never thatspark.The sex was good though.He helped exorcise Ephram from my body and showed me what it was like to orgasm from something besides my hand or a toy.
Kissing Lennox was so different though.In all the best possible ways.There was feeling behind our kisses.Attraction, and hope for more.Hope for the future.
It was closing in on dinner when we finally made our way back to the house.Luckily, Mabel still wasn’t there, so we snuck in a few more kisses before he took me home.
Danica brought Honor home since she and Sam planned to stay the night at the vineyard rather than Tom’s.
“Mabel’s really smart,” my daughter said as we worked together in the kitchen prepping dinner.It was a tight space, so she left me at the counter while she sliced cucumbers at the table.“Like freaky smart.She knows the Latin names for birds.”If her tone hadn’t been upbeat or conveying how impressed she was, I would have advised her to use a different adjective rather than “freaky,”but I knew Honor held nothing but admiration for Mabel’s intelligence.“She said she’s thirteen, but in grade eleven.How is that even possible?”
“She skipped some grades.Probably because she’s so smart.”
“I would hate to be the youngest in class like that.”She shuddered.“No thanks.”
“Yeah, but she’s homeschooled.Her lessons are online, and I think the school she goes to is made up of students like her.Gifted.”
“I guess.So, if she graduates high school at fourteen, what’s she going to do after that?College?I’d have a freak-out if I was fourteen and in college with grown-ups.”
I smiled softly to myself at her words, but didn’t add any more commentary.
The front door opened and my rosy-cheeked feral child came in.His light-brown hair was all tousled and damp at the temples with sweat.“Do I have time to shower before dinner?”
I nodded.“Haven’t even put the pasta water on to boil yet.You have time.”
“Cool.”He ducked into our small bathroom beneath my loft bedroom.
“I think Damon has a crush on Mabel,” Honor said.
I glanced at her as I stirred the Alfredo sauce on the stove.“How do you figure?”
