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“Yes! I couldn't believe I was that bold. It’ssonot me. We made a plan for him to come to the Cape next weekend.”
“That's great, Georgie. I'm happy for you.”
“I'm happy for me too. I never imagined this would happen. Not in a million years.”
They moved into the living room and just as they were getting settled, Will walked in, talking on his cell phone. His eyes sought and settled on Elizabeth, and her cheeks warmed.
She thought back to their interlude this morning. There’d been an undercurrent of intensity, of raw need, as if he’d had to reassure himself they were truly all right. She did everything within her power to show him she was here and she was his; she’d made love tohim, quite thoroughly and quite well.
After ending his call, he sat down next to her and kissed her. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
“That was Mrs. R. She’d love for us to stop by before we head back to the Cape. She wants to meet you.”
Elizabeth smiled. “And I would love to meet her.”
* * *
The rideback to the Cape was mostly quiet. Elizabeth was happy to have finally met Mrs. Reynolds, and the older woman was almost exactly how Elizabeth had pictured her: grandmotherly, soft-spoken, and sweet. She obviously adored Will and Georgie, and openly doted on them. They hadn't stayed long—about a half hour—and left with boxes of homemade treats.
Later, after having dinner at Will’s house, they said goodbye to Georgiana and headed for Elizabeth’s house. Will suggested ice cream and a sunset, so they stopped to drop off Elizabeth’s bag and swapped Will’s SUV for her Jeep.
They picked up ice cream at the Sundae Shack, and after a leisurely walk along the shoreline, Will grabbed a blanket from the Jeep and they sat on the beach, eating the last of their cones. It was still crowded, and while some people were leaving, still others were just arriving, hoping to catch what was certain to be a beautiful sunset.
Elizabeth dug her bare feet into the sand, loving the feel of the warm grains as they sifted between her toes. She gazed out at the ocean, wishing she’d slipped into her bathing suit; she was dying for a swim. The ocean was flat calm, the only ripples coming from the kids playing on the sand bar that always appeared at low tide.
Sensing Will’s eyes on her, she grinned. “You're staring.”
“You should be used to it by now.”
“I am. But it usually means you're deep in thought.” She popped the remainder of her cone into her mouth. “So are you going to tell me what’s on your mind, or do I have to guess?”
“I was only thinking that it's nice to be sitting here with you. Beautiful weather, beautiful beach, and a beautiful girl. There’s nowhere else I'd rather be.”
He stretched his legs in front of him and she moved closer, crossing her legs under her.
“Caroline told me I would grow tired of this,” he said, nodding toward the ocean. “She said I'd get tired of playing in the sandbox with you.”
“That’s what I used to think. Before. I worried you would get bored, and that you'd go running home to Boston.”
“Being there this weekend only served to confirm something I already know: Boston is no longer my home. The Cape is my home. You're my home.”
She swallowed thickly and rested her head on his shoulder, and he wrapped his arm around her. The sun was slowly sinking into the horizon, casting the far-off Cleveland Ledge lighthouse into shadow.
“I'm still not sure that everything is okay with us,” he said quietly. “Why do I feel like there are still things that need to be said, thingsIneed to say?”
She shrugged. “I know you didn't sleep much last night, and I'm sure you were doing some thinking and dissecting, right?” She felt his answering nod. “Did you come to any conclusions?”
“Yes. I realized I like to be in control. I like things to go my way, and when they don’t, when they spiral away from me… I feel threatened.” He sighed. “I don't know how to explain it.”
“You just did. Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“Why do you feel like you need to control Richard?”
“It's not that I want to control Richard, it’s just…it’s the whole situation. What if something happens to them? She’s holding a tremendous amount of power in her hands.” He sighed. “I don't know, maybe it's me, maybe I'm being paranoid. Richard said I have a tendency to assume the worst, and honestly, I can see why he thinks that. But RJD has never been under fire. It’s never been the subject of a lawsuit. Ever. For any reason. What if he pisses her off, and she goes after him, and me, with some type of sexual harassment suit?”
