Rachelle Stone should arrive any minute.
Jonathan had been surprised she agreed to pick him up, but he couldn’t thank her enough for freeing him from the prison of his hospital room. His parents had planned to get him settled at home when his uncle had a stroke. They’d left only when he’d insisted his uncle needed more help than he did. All he wanted was his cabin and being left alone. He’d considered calling Alanna but decided not to. He didn’t want to see her again until he was at home in real clothes. The nurses and physical therapists delighted in torturing him. He tried to mask the pain. Reality remained that his shoulder felt like someone routinely speared him.
Now after three days inside the four walls of this room, he wanted his cabin. At least there he could sit on his deck, fire up his computer for a few minutes, and make sure the details of the Morrises’ event still held together.
And now that Brendan had been arrested for involuntary manslaughter, murder, and attempted murder, he could throw his efforts into finalizing Trevor’s official debut at the studio.
Rachelle sailed into the room, a Kentucky Derby-worthy hat resting on her sophisticated bob. He smiled at the image of Alanna looking like her in twenty years.
Now to convince Alanna he meant forever.
That was the next item on his agenda. Two successful events and one heart won. Not necessarily in that order.
“You don’t look too much worse for wear.”
“You haven’t seen my stitches.”
Rachelle held up a hand. “That’s all right. I appreciate the way you protected Alanna. More than you know. But I don’t need to see the evidence of your bravery.”
Jonathan wished he had some dark corner to hide as heat flooded his face. Maybe he could blame the closed air in the room.
“So where are your things?”
“Don’t have any. It didn’t cross my mind before Mom and Dad had to leave.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” She sighed with a motherly expression. “I’ll get you some clothes.” After writing down his sizes, she left.
Jonathan barely had time to wonder if Alanna would be glad to see her before Rachelle returned with a bag of undergarments, button-up shirts, and jeans.
“I figured you wouldn’t want anything that pulled over your head.”
“Thanks.” Ten minutes later, he’d changed and finished checking out.
The drive to St. Ignace and the ferry passed in silence, only the strains of some classical symphony filling the car. Then Rachelle followed him onto the ferry.
“Pushing things a bit.” There was no question in her statement.
“I’ll be good as soon as I’m home.”
“Sure you will.”
Silence settled again as the ferry pulled away from the dock and picked up speed. The lake spray threatened to soak him as the ferry worked across the water. As soon as they reached the dock on Mackinac Island, Rachelle edged him to a bench and forced him down. “I’ll find a taxi. No way you’re walking or biking home.”
The island felt the same—abuzz with summer activity, even as he saw it tinged with tragedy. No one had mentioned Ginger yet. Would she pay for her part in the crime spree?
Rachelle came back and dragged him to the taxi. Then she got him settled in his cabin. “I’ll go check on Alanna. Send her here.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
She gave him a knowing smile. “I’m not the Stone you want babysitting you. Besides, I need to work at the studio. I have a painting to finish for your client.”
“So you took the commission? Is your arthritis allowing you to paint?”
“The doctor has me on a medicine that’s helping. I figured after the ways I let you and Alanna down, the least I could do was help him.” She fiddled with her purse strap. “I have a few things to do for this party you’ve planned for Trevor, too.” She turned to the door then back. “Thank you for all you’re doing for him. It’ll be nice to see his name on his paintings.”
Before he could say anything, she disappeared through the door. It was a start. The woman might not admit what she’d done by putting her name on Trevor’s paintings was wrong. But she could start fresh now with the painting for Bonnie.
He couldn’t wait to see what she created. Somehow he knew she would craft the perfect image.
Now he just needed to do the same for Lanna.
It was past time for that.
Alanna dusted the canvases. She couldn’t see a speck of dust, not surprising since she’d circled the studio at least twice a day since Jonathan was shot. Her body refused to sit still, and she had nothing left to investigate. The only details to wrap up related to Trevor’s debut. She didn’t know enough about what was left to do without consulting Jonathan, and she couldn’t do that while he remained in the hospital.
Everything seemed squared away. Trevor would move up for the balance of the summer with Patience helping him. Mom had indicated she could slip up here a couple of times a month now that Dad seemed on the mend.
They didn’t need her. She needed to decide if she could handle a return to her old life in Grand Rapids. The thought sapped her energy; yet if nothing changed with Jonathan, she had no reason to stay. She didn’t want to leave, but she couldn’t remain, not like this.
The feathers tickled another canvas, and she finished.
Now what? The studio sparkled. Everything was ready for next Saturday’s event.
The bell sounded, and Alanna turned. “Mom? What are you doing here?”
“Just deposited Jonathan at his cabin.”
The words struck her like a blow. Jonathan hadn’t called her, but had asked her mom for help? Ouch. “Are you staying long?”
“Through Trevor’s party. Your aunt Mary is staying with your father. She’ll bring him up for the party if he’s well enough. So I’m here to paint and send you to the house. Jonathan didn’t want me babysitting him. I have a feeling you’re much more what he had in mind.”
“Or Jaclyn.”
“Who?” Mom wrinkled her nose. “That woman? I don’t think so. Go gather your things and scoot. The day’s still young. And I have lots of painting to do.” Mom made a shooing motion with her hands, and Alanna obeyed.
Jonathan was at his cabin. That must be good.
She hurried home but stalled when she saw a bike outside his door. Who could that be?
A woman stepped out of the cabin. “I’ll be back tomorrow. But all looks good for now. Don’t push too hard, and get some help. You may be home, but if you’re not careful, we’ll have to transport you right back to the hospital.”
“Thanks.” Jonathan’s voice reached her, though she couldn’t see him.
The woman hopped on the bike and pedaled past Alanna without a wave. She’d have to ask Jonathan, but right now she just wanted to see him. Alanna hiked to Jonathan’s door and dismounted. After leaning the bike against the wall, she knocked and entered. “Jonathan?”
He lay on the couch, a pillow shoved beneath his head and another at his side. “Lanna.”
“Are you okay?”
“I will be. Glad to be home. Your mom sent you?”
“She thought you’d rather have me.”
He grinned, which only emphasized the purple bruises under his eyes. “She’s pretty insightful.”
His laptop beeped, and she frowned at him. “What are you doing?”
“Shooting out a few e-mails about Trevor’s event and the Morrises’ party.”
“Aren’t you supposed to rest?”
“Sure, but this is resting. Anyway, if I didn’t do it, I’d lay here and worry. That wouldn’t help me heal.” He patted the couch next to him. “Come here.”
She edged toward him but decided the couch was too narrow for two. Especially when one had a wound. She grabbed the kitchen chair and set it next to him. “What can I do?”
“Tell me why you didn’t come see me again at the hospital.”
She looked away. Would he understand? “I wasn’t sure where
things stood, so I came back to the island. I knew I’d see you. But I had to figure us out.”
“Did you?” He studied her, his intensity almost knocking her from the chair. “Did you figure us out?”
“Not really.” She sucked in a breath and studied her hands. “That’s not true.” She risked looking in his eyes again. “Jonathan, I can’t imagine my life without you.”
“That’s what I remembered.”
“What?” Did he somehow remember what she’d said? She’d die of embarrassment.
“I heard words I’ve wanted to tell you.” He reached up to stroke her cheek, and she leaned closer, tugged by the electricity of his touch. “I love you, Alanna. I’ve loved you since all those times out there on that dock. I loved you when you disappeared, but this time I won’t let you leave. Not without a promise to come back. Again. And again. And again.”
“Jonathan.”
He pressed a finger against her mouth, stilling further words. “Alanna, I’ve told Jaclyn several times we aren’t going anywhere. I’m sorry she keeps getting in the way, but since you came back, I’ve realized she’s not the woman for me. Not when the only woman I’ve really loved is sitting in front of me.”
Alanna swallowed hard. It felt like a golf ball had lodged in her throat. He’d just said the words she longed to hear. They felt like a balm to her heart and soothed her questions.
“What about Dylan?”
A frown crept across Jonathan’s handsome features. “I’ll miss him. But I couldn’t stay with Jaclyn just for him. It’s not fair to either of them.” He took her hand and tugged her close. “Tell me you feel the same way.”
She braced against the couch, trying not to jar him as he tugged her closer still. She felt his breath against her cheek, closed her eyes, and inhaled.
In that moment, she could imagine a future with him. A future that involved the island and building a life together. Moisture flooded her eyes at the realization that she could give up everything in Grand Rapids without a second thought. Nothing there mattered—not in the light of his love.
“Say something. . . You’re making me nervous.”
She swiped at her eyes and then laughed, a watery sound. “I love you, too, Jonathan. Always have.”
His face lit from the inside, and he grinned. “Come here, Lanna.” His lips settled on hers in the perfect kiss.