“You remember doing this?” He motioned toward the nest he’d found.

  “Yes, I do. I kind of miss it.”

  “Well, while you’re here, you’re welcome to join us.”

  She smiled without giving a definite response. She wanted the invite, didn’t she? Reassurance that she wasn’t an intruder? Then why did his saying it suddenly put her on the spot? She followed him farther down the dunes, looking toward the sand for more signs of nesting.

  “Have the past few years been good in terms of nest numbers?” she asked.

  “They’ve been okay. The town lights are still an issue and I can’t cover all the nests around here alone. We had a shortage of nest-sitters in general all along the Outer Banks last year. And then there were a few cold-stunned adults at the beginning of last winter. The cold hit too soon and they hadn’t made their way to warmer waters fast enough.”

  “All you can do is your best.”

  This time he didn’t respond right away. He let her fall in step and they kept walking in silence while sipping coffee.

  “I suppose that’s all anyone can do at any given time,” he said.

  They walked a little farther. Mandi wanted to ask more but was afraid he’d put up a wall if she said the wrong thing.

  “Why a beach town if you don’t like going out on the water? Why did you decide to set up shop here?” she finally asked.

  He took a sip of coffee. She should have kept it to one question.

  “The people.” She’d never heard that from him before. “This town is like one giant extended family. I mean, look at how our friends were so quick to gather in support the other night. And the thoughtful gestures. There’s a lot of heart in this place. Nana said that to me shortly after my move here, and she was right. As for the turtles, they’re here and I’m here. I’ve always loved them, ever since I was a kid. The way most kids like dinosaurs. Sea turtles are extraordinary, beautiful and fascinating. That migration they take? Taking off on that journey, hundreds or even thousands of miles, from foraging to nesting grounds the way they do. Surviving on instinct. It’s really something else. The more I learned about them the more I wanted to help. I care about all species preservation, but this is where I can try to make a difference.”

  He actually mentioned that he had loved them as a kid. Maybe she could ask him about—

  “I should head back. I have patients to see this morning, but I’ll help with the house this afternoon. Don’t go climbing the long ladder.”

  The man must have read her mind and decided on an escape. She rolled her eyes at his ladder remark.

  “Seriously, Mandi. And I didn’t mean that as an order. You know that. I simply don’t want you having an accident. Okay?”

  “I’m not going to have an accident. Why are you always so paranoid about accidents and danger? Ever since we met, in fact.”

  “Please, Mandi. Can you just give me that peace of mind?”

  “Can’t you ever give me a simple freaking answer without me having to pull teeth?”

  “Yes,” he said, with more force than necessary. “I’ve known people who suffered severe accidents. I don’t want that happening to you. Is that simple and clear enough?”

  His tone warned her not to ask for specifics.

  “Okay. There’s plenty to do that doesn’t require heights.”

  “Good. Guess I’ll see you later. Thanks again for the coffee.” He handed her the mug and she made sure their fingers didn’t touch this time.

  “Sure. Later.”

  She watched as he hurried off with Laddie. She’d almost said “anytime” but caught herself. There would never be “anytime” between them. Less than two weeks and she’d be gone, trading the relaxing sound of ocean waves for city taxis honking their horns impatiently. She’d be grabbing coffee at a street-corner kiosk on her way to work. Her dreams would be coming true very soon. She needed to remember that.

  * * *

  “OH, DR. ZALE. I’ve been looking for you. I stopped by the clinic and they said you’d left for the day.” Coral had one of those voices that made Gray’s eardrums ache, not because it was particularly high-pitched, though she did hit rather grating notes and had a way of singing words that weren’t meant to be sung. Like his name.

  He put on his professional face before turning on the sidewalk in front of the bank to face her. She walked with a slight limp but managed to reach him on a pair of strappy heels that, given the sand and old streets around town, had bad idea written all over them. She fanned the low neckline of her blouse and looped her arm in his the second she reached him.

  “Coral. I’m kind of in a hurry. Anything important?” He looked around uncomfortably and held his captive arm away from his body but she still managed to close the gap.

  “I’m so sorry, but I think I hurt my ankle in these shoes while trying to catch up to you. Can we sit for just a minute? I won’t keep you long.”

  He reluctantly guided her to the closest street bench, about two shops down. At least if she sat, she wouldn’t be clinging to him.

  She crossed her legs, dangling the injured one in his direction, and rubbed her hand up and down her calf. Gray hadn’t felt this uncomfortable around a woman since that college professor in his freshman year who’d flirted with him enough that he ended up dropping the class. At the time, he had been too young and inexperienced to know how to handle the situation.

  “If you’re really hurt, Dr. Bayar’s office is only two doors down. I’m not the kind of doctor you’re looking for.”

  She slapped his arm playfully.

  “I know that, silly. I’ll have you walk me there in a moment. But first, I was up in Duck today showing a condo to a guy looking for a vacation place. He wasn’t sold on it, but then I mentioned that there might be a property coming on the market in Turtleback and he said he’d be interested in checking it out.”

  “I see.”

  “Do you? Oh, good. I mean the house you just inherited would be perfect for him.”

  Gray tried to add a little distance between them.

  “Half of a house. And I never said I was selling. Besides, we’re a long way from Duck and we’re a very different kind of town. Why would this guy want to come down this way or get a Realtor this far south?”

  The whole thing made the hairs on the back of his neck prickle, but he knew he was overreacting. People looked for homes along the Outer Banks all the time and Coral wouldn’t have an income if she limited her zone to one tiny town.

  “Well, John mentioned to me that Mandi wanted to sell, so—”

  “Now, that I do find interesting. I thought John wanted the place for himself, so why would you of all people want to bring in competition?”

  Her cheeks flushed and she uncrossed her leg.

  “I was only trying to be nice and give you options. Think about it and let me know.”

  “As I said, I’m in a hurry, but thanks for the info.” Gray stood and she followed suit, without the help of his arm.

  “You have my number.” She headed down the street to where her red convertible was parked...right past Dr. Bayar’s office and without a limp.

  Gray scrubbed his face with one hand, then raked his hair back. None of this felt right. Not some guy interested in a house that wasn’t even on the market yet. Not Coral undermining John. And especially not Gray himself letting Mandi think he was on board with putting the house on the market, when the fact was that he was trying to get her to change her mind. The more time he spent with her the more he realized that, even if she left and never returned again, he couldn’t sell the house. It held too many memories and he couldn’t in good conscience put the nesting ground at risk. No one could guarantee that new owners would take the same care Nana had. No one. That was why he had just checked in with the bank to see what kind of loan he’d qualify for if Mandi still insisted on selling and he had no choice but to buy her out. So much for being forthright and honest with her.

  She didn’t want diamonds and rubies in life, though the ring he’d almost put on her finger still sat in his safe at the bank. Honesty. What she wanted didn’t cost a penny, yet it was priceless. And he couldn’t afford to give it to her.

  * * *

  MANDI WAS PRETTY sure she was part hound when it came to sugar. She knew when Darla was pulling out a fresh batch of cream cheese kolaches from the oven, and resistance was futile. Besides, she both needed and had earned a break. She’d gone through most of the closets and all of the kitchen cabinets—none of which contained the first journal—and then she delivered a huge load of clothes and household items to a drop-off center for a women’s and children’s shelter. There was so much she wanted to keep and she did hang on to the most sentimental items, but she knew in her heart of hearts that her grandmother would have wanted her belongings to help others.

  She closed her eyes and strained to keep from crying. Not now. Not again. As empathetic as Nana was, when it came to crying she had one rule: if it involved self-pity, she had no time for it. She would be telling Mandi to suck it up, right now, because this was self-pity. She missed her grandmother, and every other box or cabinet she’d gone through today had triggered an overwhelming heaviness, as if she was getting sucked down to the bottom of the ocean by a whirlpool. She was exhausted. She needed to sit and eat sugar with a friend. Bad stress-coping habit or not.

  She dried her eyes, blew her nose and opened the door to The Saltwater Sweetery.

  “Hey, girl. I didn’t think I’d see you so soon,” Darla said from behind the counter.

  “I knew I smelled kolaches. If I gain weight while I’m here, it’s all your fault.”

  “Come to yoga class with me. It’s how I cope with temptation and self-control. Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to be in a bakery all day?”

  “You have the willpower of a saint. I’m not even going to pretend that I do. That said, I’ll take two of those. Make it three. One for tomorrow morning. No wonder I used to run every day when I lived here. I had to.”

  She pulled out a chair and waited for Darla to join her.

  “Trust me. You have nothing to worry about with that figure of yours,” Darla said. “Listen, I’m glad you stopped by. I was hoping I could talk to you about the last time you were here and I told Gray we were planning a bonfire. I was under the impression that you were thinking I was interested in him and had to cover up when he walked in.”

  “I was. Aren’t you?”

  “No! Rest assured, I’m not.”

  “I don’t need assurance. It would be fine with me. I mean, we’re not together anymore.”

  “Mandi, I’m not interested. But you’re here and I wanted to talk to you about—”

  The store chime rang and, of all people, Mandi’s father waltzed in. The corner of Darla’s mouth twisted.

  “We’ll talk later. I’ll go bag your third kolache. Hi, Mr. Rivers. Can I get you anything?”

  “No, no. I saw Mandi through the window and needed to have a word.”

  He took one of the two pastries on Mandi’s dish, without asking, and bit in.

  “Mmm. This is good.”

  Mandi simply smiled and exchanged looks with Darla.

  “What’s up, Dad?”

  “Let’s sit outside.”

  “It’s really hot out right now and I just sat down. Why don’t you pull up a chair?”

  “Mandi, I’d like to sit outside. Join me.” His mouth was set firm and she suddenly felt like she was in middle school all over again. Darla frowned at her from behind the counter.

  “Sure. After you,” Mandi said, slinging her purse on her shoulder and picking up her plate to carry out to one of the bistro tables Darla had lining the sidewalk.

  “It’s not that hot,” John said. “Sunshine like this feeds the soul. I hear folks don’t get enough of it up north. They end up with seasonal affective disorder or something like that. Fancy term for depression.” He put his sunglasses on and sat down.

  Mandi had an urge to tell him she was less depressed up north than when she was around him.

  “Sit.”

  For goodness’ sake. She wasn’t a dog. She was in the process of sitting. She literally had one hand on the back of the iron chair and the other was setting her plate down on the table. If patience was inherited, it had clearly skipped a generation.

  “What’s up, Dad?”

  “I wanted to see how you were doing. I know the funeral had to have been hard on you.”

  She wasn’t in the mood to share feelings.

  “How are you holding up?” She deflected his question with the skill she’d learned from Gray.

  “I’ll be okay. When a parent passes a certain age, it becomes a matter of time. Each day is a blessing. I knew I’d have to face losing her sooner or later.”

  The guilt that had been gnawing at her for not being around Nana more before she passed away suddenly switched gears. She had always gone out of her way to avoid spending too much time with her father. He was judgy, overbearing and made her feel “less than.” Who would willingly stick around a toxic relationship? But he was right. He was her father. The only close family she had left.

  “Plenty of people live well past the century mark. Nana was thriving and healthy the last time I saw her. How can you make it sound like no big deal?”

  “That wasn’t my intention. You asked how I was doing and I told you. Maybe the way I think about it is how I deal with it. Logic and reality. We all know none of us can live forever. My clock is ticking, too.”

  Her head did a quick spin and she sank back in her chair.

  “Are you sick, Dad? This whole clock-ticking thing. Is that what you’re trying to tell me?” Her mind backtracked the minute the words came out. If he was dying, then why would he be so determined to buy the house?

  “No, sweetheart. But it means a lot to me to see that you care. I’m not getting any younger and you’re all I have left. A person reaches a point in their life when they realize that not that many people have their best interest at heart. Everyone out there has an agenda. Trust becomes a luxury.”

  She wasn’t sure where he was going with this but she lost her appetite and nudged the plate away.

  “Why do you want to buy Nana’s house so badly?”

  “To keep it in the family. You know I never trusted that veterinarian of yours.”

  “But Nana did.”

  “I have no idea what she was thinking, unless he played her like he plays all the women around here,” John said, with a deliberate look of disgust on his face. “No one can manipulate me like that. You, Mandi, are my sole inheritor. I know you can’t handle the property right now, with your new career on your hands, but I’m experienced at all this. If I own the house, it stays in the family. I die, and you inherit it. The entire place. Not just half of it. And by then, the value will have gone up. It’s called thinking smart and planning right. If I buy it now, you’ll make money on it later.” He slapped a hand on the edge of the table and gave her a smug nod. He’d made his point and had the final word. In his mind, there was never any hole in his logic and no one could outsmart him.

  She chewed the inside of her cheek and picked at the drop of dry paint on her jeans. It irritated the heck out of her when he made sense. He had upped his game since sending Coral out to talk to her after the funeral. She knew he was playing psychology and wanted to convince her to sell, but he was also right. He was laying out a financially brilliant plan, one in which he technically wasn’t loaning her money because he knew she’d never take it. But the whole thing betrayed Gray and went against Nana’s wishes.

  Gray’s concerns with John buying the place were well founded. Her dad had a track record for bulldozing old places and rebuilding in the name of profit. What sounded financially prudent also made her feel like a selfish traitor. It would make her no different than her father, putting money above all else. But making more profit would also mean having extra money to donate to wildlife causes, as Nana had done. Assuming her father didn’t betray her and sell the cottage or develop the plot once he had it under his control.

  “How would you assure me that you’d leave the place as is?”

  “We can put it in writing. Trust me on this, Mandi.”

  “I don’t know. I need to consider why Nana wrote her will the way she did,” Mandi said.

  “I’ll tell you why. First, because she never believed in me. Her own son. Second, because, like I said, that Grayson has always had a slick side to him. He proved it when he thought it would be okay to date you when you were only twenty”

  “Twenty is more than old enough to date.”

  “He was six years older. That’s a big gap when you’re only twenty and you haven’t even left town for college. And then marrying only three years later? I tried to warn you about it. You finally came to your senses when you called off the wedding. I was so proud of you for standing up for yourself that day. And when I saw how he was when you weren’t around, I knew you’d made the right choice.”

  Her father, proud of her? John Rivers acknowledging her strength?

  “What do you mean how he was?”

  “I mean how he enjoyed the attention of other girls in town. That chick at the bookstore. Even your friends. He never went after you. If you had really meant everything to him, he would have gone after you.”

  “The way you went after my mother when she left?”

  His neck reddened. She felt sick to her stomach. Was her dad making things up? He could manipulate. She knew that. But even she had seen the way some women around town looked at Gray. Was her dad being honest for once?

  “Don’t be disrespectful. You were too young to know what really went on between your mother and me. I tried to get her to stay...to not leave us. I offered her the world...a house, money...everything she wanted.”

  But not what she needed. Unless Mandi had made wrong assumptions. Relationships did take two. She accepted her own role in her failed relationship with Gray. She had been the one who needed more...the one who left.

 

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