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His voice trailed off as he looked at the angry faces of Mike and Nicky, then glanced at Gill. “Oh, you’re here!” His eyes narrowed. “Stirring trouble again, I see.”
“Oh, I’m not the one stirring here,” Gill replied haughtily, smiling smugly at Nicky once again. “It seems Nicky here has been holding out on all of you. She’s the editor who nearly ended Mike’s writing career before it began.”
“I know!” Harry surprised them all by saying, then walked over to Nicky. He put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her. “My brother will be forever grateful to her for saving his business—the oneyou, Gill, tried to sink.”
“How dare you!” Gill gasped dramatically. “I was trying to help your brother. It’s not my fault my father found out what I was doing and withdrew the funds I invested in Paul’s business.”
“Is that right?” Harry raised an eyebrow.
“Excuse me,” Nicky said, stopping herself from breathing a sigh of relief when her phone bleeped with a message from her mother. “I have to go; Riley needs me.”
Nicky turned and rushed to the sales counter to grab her purse and jacket.
“Is Riley okay?” Mike asked.
Nicky turned to leave and nearly collided with Mike, who was right behind her. She hadn’t even heard him approach.
“I don’t think that’s any of your business,” Nicky said through gritted teeth.
“I’m her guardian,” Mike replied, his face resolute as he stood in her way.
“I’ll see about changing that,” Nicky seethed, then pushed past him.
“I’ll ask Sam to help you,” Harry told her.
“Thank you, Harry,” Nicky said with a grateful smile. Harry’s eyes were filled with compassion, and she could see that he, too, was angry with Mike and felt the same way about Gill as she did.
“Nicky!” Mike called after her as she rushed toward the glass doors, hoping her legs wouldn’t give way as they felt like jelly.
“Let her go!” Harry told him, and Nicky saw him stand in front of Mike, preventing him from chasing after her.
Nicky turned and fled. She held her breath as she kicked off her shoes when she reached the sand. As her toes sank into its cool, welcoming depth, she pushed herself forward. Her mind reeled, and her heart felt like it was slowly shattering, like a beautiful ice sculpture hit by a chisel. She could feel the fine cracks running through her heart, and before she realized it, she was running toward her secret spot on the beach.
Her phone beeped once again, and she glanced at it, her hands shaking as she read her mother’s message.
False alarm. Your grandmother had Riley dressed up too warmly. Riley is fine. We know you’re busy with the bookstore, so we’re taking her to the club. We love you, sweetheart.
Nicky breathed a sigh of relief upon learning that Riley was okay. She stood there, staring at her phone, her emotions churning inside her. Nicky longed to hold her daughter in her arms, but at the same time, Nicky felt as if she couldn’t breathe from the pain tearing through her heart. She hadn’t realized how deeply and quickly she’d fallen for Mike until Gill dropped her bombshell about Mike being her fiancé.
With shaky hands, Nicky dialed her mother’s number.
“Hello, sweetheart,” Pat answered on the second ring. “I’m sorry to have given you such a scare, but Riley is fine.” She gave a nervous laugh. “Turns out your grandmother and I are a little rusty with newborn care, and we wrapped her up a little too warmly.”
“That’s such a relief,” Nicky replied, fighting to keep her emotions under control.
“Are you okay for dinner tonight?” Pat asked.
“Yes, I’ll be fine,” Nicky assured her, although food was the last thing on her mind. “Are you sure you and Gran are going to be okay with Riley? You’ve been with her the entire day.”
“Oh, we love having her with us,” Pat told her. “Do you want us to bring her home?”
“No, it’s okay,” Nicky said. “I’ll see her when you get home.”
“Okay, sweetheart, we’d better get moving,” Pat said. “I love you.”
“Please give Riley a kiss from me, and I love you too, Mom,” Nicky replied, her voice dropping.
She hung up and turned to look out over the ocean. The day was gradually transitioning into evening, bathed in a hue of golden pink. Nicky stood there, gazing at it, wishing she could turn back time to before she’d met Mike. Her world had just started to transition from dark clouds to bright, sunny days. Just as she let go of the tether she’d had on her feelings and let herself trust and believe again. A hurricane destroyed her newfound haven. As soon as she allowed herself to think about Mike, overwhelming emotions surged within her, and she collapsed onto the sand, tears flowing freely.
