JO HADN’T PLANNED on seeing Henrik. That was the furthest thing from her mind. All night she had tossed and turned thinking about him, so the last thing she wanted to do was run into him.
After getting barely any sleep she’d decided to go for a light jog, or rather a vigorous walk.
It was something she had picked up when David died. There were so many sleepless nights, so much pent-up anxiety that she took to running as a way to calm herself and face the day.
It was how she started most days on Fogo. She loved the way the mist would creep across the rocks. The calmness of the water and the big blue sky.
There were more uneven roads than the parks in Toronto had, but she didn’t mind. It was always a moment of tranquility before other residents woke up.
And she always ended up by the lighthouse. Muscle memory had taken her there without her even thinking about it.
She had to remember it was Henrik’s place. If she wanted to keep her distance and maintain a friendly relationship not muddied by her annoying attraction to him, she had to steer clear of him as much as she could.
So the lighthouse was out.
Of course, agreeing to go out to dinner with him wasn’t the best idea either.
She was nervous about it, but they had to talk about the baby. Fogo wasn’t her permanent home. Toronto was.
Why?
Yes, she’d made a home there with David, but he was gone. Was her job there really so important? She could be a trauma surgeon anywhere. All she knew was that Gary would come back to Nubbin’s Harbor within the year, and it was too small for two doctors.
Jo unlocked the back door to the clinic. Jennifer was in the back, prepping the charts for the day.
“How was your run, Jo?”
“I ran into Henrik. I somehow forgot the beach by the lighthouse is his.”
“He wouldn’t mind,” Jennifer said.
“I know. He said as much.”
“So I’m curious how you two met,” Jennifer said, prying.
“At the pub...my first night. Why?”
Jennifer shrugged. “Henrik is a notorious rake, you know.”
Jo cocked an eyebrow. “Rake? Isn’t that term out of a regency novel or something?”
Jennifer chuckled. “Yes! I love reading historical romance.”
Jo grinned. “No judgment. I’m just wondering why you think that Henrik Nielsen is a rake?”
“He’s always after the come from aways. Never a local girl.” Jennifer paused, clutching the patient charts to her chest. “Actually, I’m surprised he went with you, seeing how you were the new doctor in town and all.”
Jo worried her bottom lip. “We never actually talked about that.”
Jennifer grinned. “Oh, really? Well, then, it just proves my point. He thought you were a tourist, and he’s a rake through and through.”
Jo laughed and made her way to her apartment above the clinic to freshen up before the day’s patients came in.
Henrik as a rake seemed kind of preposterous, but she knew he didn’t pursue the locals, just the come from aways.
And she was one of those.
Does it matter?
The truth was, it didn’t. She didn’t want another relationship. Still, the idea of Henrik being some kind of firm bachelor only interested in flings was silly.
He didn’t seem the type.
He was gentle, kind and witty. There was an air of mischief about him, but it was a fun kind of trouble, and she liked that.
Warmth flooded her cheeks, and she smiled thinking about him and those sparkling blue eyes.
Don’t think about him like that.
She groaned, frustrated that she couldn’t get him out of her head.
All she and Henrik had to figure out was how they were going to raise this baby and keep their working relationship professional.
Of course today had to be quiet. Which was good for the people of Fogo, but it wasn’t good for him. It meant that he’d spent all day thinking about Josephine.
Even his partner Hal’s stories which were usually entertaining couldn’t keep his mind off his dinner with Josephine or the fact that he had made a complete fool of himself asking her to marry him.
What had he been thinking?
His father had told him to treat women with respect. Always.
And he’d seen it all the time growing up, watching his dad with his mother and his granddad with his gran.
Even though he didn’t want a relationship, he never treated his flings badly.
Of course, he never thought he would ever be a father, so he’d thought that the most logical thing to do was get married.
Of course, it was silly.
People didn’t have to be married to have a child together. All sorts made up families.
She’d agreed marriage wasn’t an option.
He was relieved but also slightly disappointed, and that disappointment worried him. What kind of hold did Josephine have on him? It was completely distracting and frustrating.
He could usually get a one-night stand out of his head immediately, but then they were usually gone the next day and didn’t turn out to be the new doctor in town.
A new doctor who was talented and kind. Who was smart, funny and not afraid to get her hands dirty.
People around here trusted her; they liked her. That’s what he kept hearing.
She was everywhere on Fogo.
After his uneventful shift, he drove back to his place and had a quick shower, cleaned up and made his way over to the clinic. He was running a bit late, which was unusual for him, but he’d lost track of time thinking about her, and he didn’t have Josephine’s personal phone number to let her know.
She was outside the clinic, waiting for him.
His pulse kicked up a notch when he pulled up. Even though she was dressed casually in jeans and a nice sweater, with her hair tied back, she still looked stunning.
Just like that first night when he’d looked up from his beer to see her sitting at the other end of the bar. So poised and beautiful. Then their eyes had locked, and it was like he knew her.
He wanted to know her.
He wanted to be with her.
Something had told him that approaching her would be a risk to his heart, but he still had, and for one brief flicker as he reached across the seat to unlock the door, he was glad that he hadn’t listened to that warning. She was worth all the distraction.
“I was beginning to worry,” she said as she climbed up into the truck. “You’re thirty minutes late.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t have your number to let you know and I wasn’t sure if you would answer the clinic phone line. I know it’s for business.”
“I was worried you’d hit a moose or a caribou or something.”
He glanced over at her and saw the mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
Henrik laughed. “No, just lost track of time.”
“So we’re off to Seldom. That’s near the ferry terminal, isn’t it?” she asked.
“Everything is about a twenty-minute drive or so—but, yes, Seldom is down on the other side of the island. There’s a great little place by the shore that has the best lobster and crab. Or, if you’re more adventurous, sea cucumber.”
Josephine wrinkled her nose and looked slightly horrified. “Sea cucumbers, aren’t they those slimy things?”
“They’re echinoderms. Marine invertebrates. Sea urchins are the hard, spiky version, and sea cucumbers are soft.”
Why are you talking about marine animals, b’y?
Now he was the one rambling.
“People eat them?”
“Yes. Although, mostly our sea-cucumber harvest is used in pharmaceuticals. Like collagen powder and...other medicines.” He cleared his throat, hoping that he wasn’t blushing and that she understood what he meant.
“What other medicines?” she asked, carefully.
“Herbal remedies.”
“You mean for men?” she asked, cocking an eyebrow. There was a wicked smile on her face.
“Well...”
“Why are you so familiar with the herbal remedies?” she teased.
“I’m informed,” he said, pretending his pride was wounded.
“I see. Good to know. Perhaps it’s something I can prescribe, since it’s all-natural.”
Henrik groaned. “I don’t want to know. This is a strange conversation.”
“You started it.”
He chuckled. “I suppose I did.”
It was so easy to have a laugh with her. It was so easy to talk to her about the oddities and facts he’d picked up over the years and she wasn’t grossed out by the conversation. He could never talk to Melissa like this and certainly not the women that came before Josephine.
“I’m a doctor. I’m familiar with certain medicines. I just didn’t know sea cucumbers were involved.”
“Well, now you know.”
“How about we stick to lobster?” Josephine suggested. “Besides, lobster is safe for me to eat. Echinoderms, probably not.”
“Right. I didn’t even think of that.”
“Lobster is fine,” she affirmed.
“Is there anything that’s particularly bothering you? I forgot to ask.”
“Are you asking if I have morning sickness?” she asked, gently.
He nodded. “I remember your aversion to fish after you kissed the cod.”
Josephine laughed, and he liked the way she did it with her whole body. “Right. Well, maybe I’ll pass on the cod too. Only if it’s cold and floppy. Maybe if the fishy smell is overpowering it might trigger something, but honestly I haven’t had much morning sickness yet. A bit of food aversion and nausea, just sometimes.”
“That’s good.”
An awkward silence fell between them, and he didn’t know what else to talk about. He didn’t know what to ask her.
He was going to be a father, and he felt absolutely useless.
“I have a dating ultrasound appointment on Monday at the hospital. You’re welcome to attend,” she said, breaking the silence.
He was surprised. “You want me there?”
“I’m offering you the chance to be there if you want to. You still seem a little bit blindsided about the whole thing.”
“I am a bit.”
“Didn’t you ever want a family?” she asked.
“A long time ago,” he said, softly.
“What changed?”
He shrugged, not wanting to talk about his pain or loss. “Just never met the right person.”
“So you’re okay with this?” she asked, carefully.
He smiled at her. “I am. I just didn’t think... I didn’t expect this.”
“Same,” she muttered. “I’m thirty-eight, and this might be my last chance.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “You’re thirty-eight?”
“Yes,” she said, cautiously. “How old are you?”
“Thirty-one. Or I will be next month.”
Now it was her turn to be a bit shocked. Her mouth dropped open, and her eyes widened. “I didn’t realize you were so much younger than me.”
“I thought you were my age or younger, but if you’re a trauma surgeon who’s been at it a while, there was a part of me that was wondering if you had been some kind of child prodigy.”
Josephine laughed again. “No, not a child prodigy. I always had good grades, but I did it all on the regular timeline.”
“I’m surprised you’re still single,” he said. “A woman like you, so beautiful and warm, you should’ve been snapped up a long time ago.”
Her expression softened. “I wasn’t always single. I was married.”
“What happened?” he asked, gently.
“He died three years ago.”
Jo wasn’t exactly expecting to talk about David tonight, but Henrik was the father of her child, and it was important that they get to know each other. When Henrik had just been a one-night stand, their ages hadn’t matter. She knew he was over twenty-five by the few errant strands of gray. And it certainly didn’t matter about their past romantic history. Henrik hadn’t needed to know about David then.
Now it was different, and there was no point in keeping it all secret.
Henrik had the right to know that she had been married once, but he didn’t need to know about how much it had damaged her heart and how she still felt raw inside three years later. She didn’t have to tell him all that.
That was her pain to bear. Not his.
She didn’t like to talk about it. It had been bad enough her friends and family always seemed to want to. So she steered clear of the subject with new people, but Henrik deserved to know.
Even though it hurt.
What she didn’t want was secrets from each other.
Not if they were going to make this coparenting thing work.
They had to be friends.
They had to trust each other and be a united, platonic front to raise their baby.
“I’m sorry,” Henrik said, gently shaking her from her thoughts. “Grief is...complicated.”
And she got the sense that he knew, but she didn’t press him.
She understood it was hard to talk about it sometimes.
“It is,” she said, wistfully.
“May I ask how?”
“Aneurysm. We went to bed one night after a long shift, and when I woke up the next morning he was gone. He had passed away beside me in the night, in his sleep.” She tried to swallow the lump that formed in her throat every time she talked about David.
“Is that why you left Toronto?” he asked.
“No. I told you, I’m helping out a friend.”
Liar.
Yes, she was helping out her friend, but she was also running away from the memories. Running away from the hospital where they’d both worked and had been happy. She was running away from the pain, because everywhere she went in that hospital she only saw him.
She felt him.
And if she was going to ever move on with her life, she needed a change, and Fogo was it.
For now.
“Right, I forgot. Well, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up such a touchy subject.”
“It’s okay. I want you to know. We’re going to have a baby together, and I would like us to be friends as we coparent, if that’s what you want?”
“I told you. I’m all in.”
Her heart skipped a beat. She was happy he was all in. It gave her hope this could work. “Good. I’m glad.”
They drove through the town of Seldom. It reminded her of Nubbin’s Harbor, just a bit larger. It had the same kind of brightly colored houses.
Seldom had a bigger wharf area and ships out in the water. This is where they farmed the sea cucumbers, lobster and other marine life in their fishing cooperative. Henrik drove down to a little shanty that was by the shore. It looked busy, and there were a lot of cars full of tourists that were coming off the ferry. She hoped they would be able to get a table. She was starving, and she had her tasters set to a nice lobster dinner with melted butter and potatoes.
Her stomach growled at the thought.
Was this going to be her life now? Letting her stomach rule her thoughts and actions? She smiled to herself. It was a small price to pay to have something she always wanted. When she and David had begun to try for a baby, they’d had such a hard time, and in the end David hadn’t wanted her to continue with the treatments.
It still seemed kind of shocking to her that this time, with Henrik, even using contraception she’d conceived.
Almost like a miracle.
She’d heard of pregnancy miracles before. Read about them, tried to figure out how the miracle worked and then never quite believed it.
Until now.
And she was ever so thankful.
“Looks a bit busy tonight,” Henrik remarked.
“I hope we can get a table,” Jo agreed.
“We will,” he said with confidence. “I called ahead.”
“That was smart.”
“It’s the start of iceberg season. I know that Newfoundland doesn’t seem like much of a tourist hot spot compared to the rest of the world, but it is. It’s a beautiful place, and one I’m happy to call home.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Jo said quietly. “I hope you know I wasn’t disparaging your home.”
He grinned. “I know, but we’re going to have to get used to tourists invading our space soon.”
“I think I can deal with that. Toronto was wall-to-wall people on the regular.”
They got out of Henrik’s truck and headed into the little restaurant. It was busy, but there was a table waiting for them by the big bay window that looked out over the harbor of Seldom.
The waitress approached them with menus. “Our specials tonight are cod and rock lobster.”
Jo cringed at the thought of cod, and when she glanced up at Henrik he was smirking, his blue eyes twinkling at her.
“I think we’ll both have the rock lobster,” Henrik said. “I’ll have an iced tea.”
The waitress nodded and wrote it down and then she looked at Jo. “And what will you have, ducky?”
“Iced tea sounds great, and maybe a glass of water.”
The waitress smiled and took their menus, before scurrying off.
“I will never get used to that term of endearment.”
Henrik chuckled. “It does take some getting used to. Is there any other slang you’re not used to? Something I can clear up?”
“Hmm, well I’ve been referred to as saucy, and I didn’t think that I was being sarcastic at the time.”
A dimple popped in his cheek. “Let me guess. Lloyd?”
“Yes. He said, ‘She’s some saucy, b’y.’ And I’m not sure that I should take that as a compliment.”
“You can in Lloyd’s case,” Henrik said. “He means you’re clever. You’re quick on your feet. Lloyd likes you. I mean you did kiss the cod on your first night in Nubbin’s Harbor. You didn’t shy away from it. You’ve got gumption, and Lloyd likes that.”
Josephine wrinkled her nose thinking about the cod again. “And that’s why I’m having lobster tonight instead of cod.”
They both laughed at that.
“So about the baby...” Henrik said.
“Yes. We have to figure out a way to do this.”
“Agreed. We’re going to have to work together.”
“Right. I want to keep things professional,” Josephine said, firmly.
“As do I. We’re both adults. We can do this.”
“Yes. We can.”
Jo had to make this work. She didn’t want to deny Henrik his child, but she also didn’t want to fall in love with someone again, and certainly not someone who had no interest in a relationship. Although, the more she got to know Henrik, the more she could see herself being with a man like him.
He’s off-limits.
Still, it was hard not to think of him like that. Not when he made her pulse race and she recalled his delicious kisses.
She wanted to be around him, but it was hard to keep up the protective walls around her heart when she was. “So are there any other questions?” Henrik asked. “About Fogo, that is.”
She grinned. “Maybe some more language stuff.”
“Shoot,” Henrik said, confidently.
“Okay, so bayfolk are people who live around the bay, and townies are those from St. John’s, and come from aways are tourists.”
“Yes, b’y!” He winked.
“Nar bit?”
“Nothing left,” Henrik stated.
“Well, I think by the year’s end, I should have it all down pat.”
“I’ve heard there’s some discussion about pronunciation of the word Toronto.”
“Well, if you’re from Toronto, and indeed a certain part of Toronto, you pronounce it as Tahrahna rather than Toerontoe.”
Henrik’s eyebrows rose. “Interesting.”
“People in different parts of Ontario have different accents too.”
“I’ll have to go to Ontario one time. Maybe.”
“You’ve never been?” Josephine asked.
“Never been much of anywhere,” Henrik said, offhandedly. “I did some schooling in Halifax, but I’ve never left the Maritimes...other than going north to Nunavut.”
“Well, I hope you can get to see more of the world one day.”
His spine stiffened. “I’m not one for traveling. Why would I? This is my home.”
It was the way he said that this was his home, like she had insulted him or something. And she couldn’t help but wonder what had got his back up. She knew there were people who were so attached to their homes and didn’t want to travel far from the place of their birth, but he did seem to have a curiosity about other places. So why did he become closed off when she mentioned traveling?
Don’t worry about it. It’s not your problem.
Only, it was her problem. She wasn’t going to settle here in Newfoundland; at least, that wasn’t the plan, and if he wanted to be in their child’s life, then he was going to have to travel to Ontario to spend time with their kid. She couldn’t always be coming to Newfoundland.
And she couldn’t stay.
Even if she was really starting to enjoy her life here.
Gary would come home from Germany, and she wouldn’t have a job.
Her sabbatical from the hospital was only a year, and she couldn’t see herself giving up her life, her work as a trauma surgeon in Toronto, for anything.
Couldn’t you?
Toronto had been a place she’d loved as a child and the city she and David had made their home, but other than her job, there were no ties there. David was gone; her grandparents were gone. Her parents weren’t there. Toronto was familiar, but nothing was holding her there.
She could work anywhere, and she had a feeling her mother would want her to come to Arizona, but she had no desire to leave Canada.
Still, how could she leave Toronto and the memories there?
She wasn’t sure that she could or that it would be right. It felt a bit like a betrayal.
David would want you to be happy.
Yet, there was a part of her that told her Fogo could become home, even if she was scared to admit it.
Henrik didn’t mean to close himself off to her when she’d suggested that he travel. It was just a bit of a defense mechanism that he couldn’t seem to stop. Melissa had always talked about leaving Newfoundland and moving back out west. She’d been obsessed with the West, and he’d always told her that he didn’t want to go. Melissa told him it was okay and that she loved him, and he’d foolishly believed that. He’d believed he was enough.
Until she’d left him for the West, and he just couldn’t follow.
This was his home.
It was the place his parents lived, and they were who knit him. Family who lived here for generations, and he wasn’t about to leave. He couldn’t leave: this place was in his blood.
“Remember where you’re from,” his dad had told him as they walked along the beach.
“I will, Da,” Henrik had said. “I wish I could come with you and Mum.”
His da had smiled down at him, squatting next to him to look him in the eyes.
“Not this time. You can stay with Gran and your mum, and I will be back before you know it. You can watch for us from here in two days.”
“Promise?” Henrik had asked.
“Aye. No worry... We’ll come back. Just wait for us.”
And that’s what he’d done. Fogo was the place his family loved.
The place he loved. He couldn’t have betrayed his family or left his gran all alone like that.
Of course, he’d thought it was in Melissa’s blood too, but it wasn’t, and it wasn’t in Josephine’s blood either, and it probably wouldn’t be in his child’s unless he could convince Josephine that Newfoundland and Fogo Island was a great place to call home and raise a child.
He had always been happy here, even after losing his parents.
So even though marriage was off the table for him and Josephine, he could work hard to convince her to stay put so they could raise their child together. Couldn’t he?
He at least wanted to try. He just had to show her the very best of it, which in his opinion wouldn’t be that hard at all.
The waitress brought their dinners.
“Here you are, duckies,” the waitress said, cheerily. “Enjoy! And I just got word there’s swiles out in the harbor!”
“Ta,” Henrik said as the waitress left.
Josephine cocked a finely arched brow. “Swiles?”
“Seals.”
“Oh, really?” she asked, excitedly.
“Most likely. Have you never seen a seal in the wild before?”
“No, never. There are no wild seals in southern Ontario.”
“Well, we’ll take a walk down and see if we can spy them.”
“I would like that.”
Henrik passed her the butter, without her having to ask. “What do you think of Fogo and Newfoundland so far?”
He wanted to know, so he could figure out what he needed to do to show her the very best of it all.
“I like it,” she said, taking the butter from him. “I haven’t seen much, though. When I landed in St. John’s, it was sunny and beautiful. Driving here was rainy and foggy...”
“Mauzey,” he suggested, winking.
“I feel like I’m learning another language here,” she teased.
“Sorry, go on,” he urged.
“It was rainy and mauzey. I was tired and had just got into a car that I had bought online before I landed and headed here. I didn’t see much, although I did see some caribou.”
“Where?” he asked.
“Swimming alongside the ferry!”
Henrik chuckled. “That’s not uncommon.”
“It really feels like I’m at the very edge of the known world here.”
“But do you like it so far?”
She cocked her head to one side. “So many questions.”
“Usually the women I meet are passing through and are here to see specific things, so I’m curious what brings a big-city girl like you here.”
A blush tinged her cheeks. “A change, but I am enjoying it here. I would like to see more before I leave. I would like to really get to know Newfoundland before I head back to Ontario.”
“We can arrange that.”
And he smiled to himself as they ate their dinner. She wanted to know Newfoundland before she returned home, but his plan was that she would get to know Newfoundland so well she wouldn’t want to go back to Ontario.
And then she’d become a bayman or townie after all.