“Weekend after next. I’m already there for a wedding so it makes sense to combine the two. An old friend of mine is getting married. You might know him. Ryan Cooper?”
“Not personally, but I know who he is. His family owned that amazing house overlooking Puffin Point. White clapboard and stunning views.”
“That’s the one. My invitation includes a guest.” He paused, feeling like a man poised to dive off the high board into deep water. “Come with me, Frankie.”
Her cup hit the saucer with a clatter. “You’re not serious.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“For a start because it’s a wedding, and you know how much I hate weddings, and second, because it’s Puffin Island. You’ve put together my two least favorite things and expect me to say yes?” Her coffee sat untouched in front of her. “I can’t believe you’d even ask me. My face is on every Wanted poster in town.” Her words made his chest ache, as did the thought of how bad it must have been for her. A small community could be supportive or suffocating, but either way there was no escaping. No hiding. No anonymity.
There was no doubt that the local population had an obsession with what their neighbors were doing, and he knew some people hated that element of island living. Matt didn’t feel that way. People were people wherever you lived. He enjoyed living as part of a community. The way he saw it, give-and-take made the world a better place. He tried to make her see it that way, too.
“We’d have fun, Frankie. A weekend away from crazy, insane New York. We could breathe sea air, walk in the forest, eat ice cream, browse in Ryan’s wife-to-be’s new gift store.”
The candle between them flickered and for a moment he saw a wistful look in her eyes.
Then she shook her head.
“And we could play that really fun game called ‘Avoid Frankie.’ That’s the one where the locals cross the street so they don’t have to come face-to-face with me. If you haven’t already played it, then you should. It was an island-wide activity at one point.”
Knowing the islanders as he did, he found that hard to believe. It was true that everyone knew what was happening to everyone and that strangers were often treated with suspicion, but on the whole he’d found the people to be kind and supportive. She was painting an image he didn’t recognize. “That wouldn’t happen.”
“Not to you, maybe. I’m not going back to the island. That part of my life is over. Finished. In the past.”
“If you won’t go back, then it’s not over or finished.”
“You and I both know islanders have long memories.”
“I do know. David Warren still reminds me of the time I stole hay from his field for Paige’s rabbit because I couldn’t be bothered to walk to the pet shop. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t give me a warm welcome when I’m home.”
“That’s you!” Her exasperated tone was layered with notes of panic. “I haven’t been back to Puffin Island since I left for college. Why would I?”
Even though his sister had told him the same thing, it still shocked him to hear it. “Because you were raised there. It was your home until you were eighteen.”
“I don’t think of it as home.”
“But you do think of it.” He knew she did and he suspected she thought of it more than she would admit.
“The place has nothing but bad memories for me.”
“So how about we try and put some better ones in their place?”
“Maybe we’d just pick up a whole new set of bad ones to add to the bucket load I already have.”
“That wouldn’t happen. I’d be with you the whole time.”
Her brows rose. “Will you be riding your white charger and carrying a sword? Just clarifying, so that I recognize you. I don’t believe in fairy tales. I happen to know Prince Charming doesn’t exist. And just so that we’re clear, I don’t believe in true love, happy-ever-after, or any of that crap, either.”
“As long as you still believe in Santa, we’re good.” His reward for lightening the tone was a begrudging smile.
“Him, I believe in.”
“That’s a relief. I was beginning to think we had nothing in common. Come with me, Frankie.” He spoke softly. “Put that ghost behind you. Move on.”
“It wouldn’t be moving on. It would be going back.”
“Everything moves on. Even Puffin Island. And sometimes you have to go back to move forward. There is no reason for you to stay away.”