“Heath, if anyone can get those answers it’s you.”
“I appreciate you saying so. And I’m really sorry we ran you away from Fish Tails,” Heath said, his tone nuanced with regret.
“I can’t blame it on the pregnancy,” she said with a shake of her head. “I get so frustrated these days. I love daddy but he can’t tell me what to do anymore. I’m a grown woman.”
“He wants the best for you. That’s clear to even a casual observer. He loves you and your sisters more than anything in this world.” Heath let out a chuckle. “I remember back in elementary school when he would rush into the cafeteria and deliver your lunch if you forgot it. He used to kiss you on the forehead every single time and as you got older, you started to get self-conscious about it. And pretty soon your dad wasn’t coming in to the lunchroom anymore. He was meeting you at the front of the school.”
Bella cringed at the recollection. It hadn’t been her finest moment. She had been a middle schooler and embarrassed about being kissed by her father in public. She would give anything to go back and relive those middle school moments and do it all over again. “I’m sort of ashamed of how I acted. I had such a devoted dad.”
“You were a typical middle schooler. At that age our emotions were all over the place. I’m sure your dad knew you were just going through a phase.”
“I kind of feel the same way now.” Bella confessed, feeling slightly shy at the admission. She was in the most vulnerable state in her life.
“You’re allowed to have those feelings. I’m just sorry I let you down, Bella. I won’t be pressuring you to marry me. I heard you loud and clear. All I want to do is to support you and the baby.” He leaned in and said in a low voice, “But if somewhere along the way you decide to change your mind about pledging forever to me, I’ll be at the church with bells on.”
Heath stood up and reached down for her hand. She placed her hand in Heath’s, silently marveling at his warm hands. He pulled her up to a standing position. They were facing one another, and despite the cold wind whipping relentlessly around them, Bella felt warmth infusing her body. She looked up Heath, drinking in his handsome features and his kind expression.
She’d been angry at him for so long that somehow she had managed to forget what a gentle, kind person he was. That hadn’t changed in all this time. Because she’d been angry at him she’d convinced herself that he was no longer the Heath she’d always known and loved. But he wasn’t. His PTSD had altered his personality, but the real Heath had always been there, lurking under the surface.
From the moment they had started dating back in high school, Heath had been her gentle, loving sweetheart. He had brought her wildflowers for no reason at all, learned to drive so he could take them to their senior prom and promised her that he would come back safe and sound from Afghanistan so they could live out the rest of their days together.
“Thank you for coming to find me. And for loaning me the sweatshirt.”
“Anytime, Bella. I’ll always be here for you.” An electric pulse hummed and sizzled in the air between them. For a moment, Bella thought Heath was going to kiss her. He moved closer to her, then brushed strands of hair away from her forehead. She turned her head upward, holding her breath in expectation of his lips brushing against hers. It had been so long since she’d kissed Heath.
Bella felt a stab of disappointment as Heath took a step backward. She felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment. What was wrong with her? She was being fanciful. Clearly, Heath hadn’t wanted to kiss her at all.
“Let me walk you back to your car. Something tells me your dad is worried about you,” Heath said, glancing at his watch.
“I’ll head back to the shop in a little bit,” she said. “I don’t want him worrying about me. He has enough to worry about with the shop losing so much business over the last few months.”
Heath frowned. “Things haven’t improved?”
Bella shrugged. “Not really. If things don’t turn around soon, we might be in real trouble.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Fish Tails is an institution in Pelican Bay.”
“It seems mighty odd that business would fall off so sharply over such a short period of time.”
“Well, there’s that new shop over on Crescent,” Heath said. “They might be cutting into your bottom line.”
“True,” Bella acknowledged, quirking her mouth. “But still, something seems off. It’s as if sales just fell off a cliff.”
“I can put my ear to the ground and see what I can find out,” Heath offered. “It is a big decline in such a short time.”
“I appreciate it.”
“By the way, I’m driving to Savannah tomorrow to see Vinny’s folks.” Although Heath threw the news out in a nonchalant manner, Bella knew how important this was for Heath. It radiated from his eyes. Vinny had been his best friend and one of the most genuine people Bella had ever met. His death had been shocking and surreal. She knew how deeply his family must be grieving over the loss of their beloved son.
“I’m so happy you’re making the trip. I know how close you were to Vinny,” Bella said. “Are you going solo?”
“Caleb agreed to come along. We’re going to do an overnight. Addie is going to be holding down the fort at the bistro.”
“Please give Vinny’s folks my regards,” Bella said. “And tell them they are always in my prayers.”
“Take care of yourself while I’m gone,” Heath said. “Make sure you get plenty of rest.”
She watched Heath walk over to his car. Bella felt a stab of disappointment. She had been starved of Heath’s presence in her life for the last five months. It was hard to admit it to herself, but she liked it when Heath was around. She was trying to be resolute, but her heart was softening toward him.