“How long have you and Seth been together?” Bianca demanded.
I slipped the last batch of muffins into the oven. “About eleven years.”
“Eleven years?” My sister’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. “Eleven years? No. How can that be possible?”
I laughed. “It’s been on and off for that long. This time, we’ve only been together since the fire.”
“This time?” Bianca shook her head in disbelief. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”
“We didn’t tell anyone.”
“But you went to the concert with him and came home with Ambrose. How did you go from that to this?” She pointed at the picture, lest I forgot what “this” meant.
I smiled and tossed my dirty dishes into the sink to soak in the soapy water. “Like I’ve told you a million times, I didn’t come home with Ambrose. I went out to dinner with him the next day, but I didn’t come home with him. You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”
She shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. I mean, who picks up a guy while on a date with someone else?”
“Okay, Bianca. I get the point.”
She sighed and glanced down at the paper. “So, do you love him? Do you love Seth?”
I followed her gaze to the picture and gave a sigh of my own. “I do. I love him with all my heart.”
The back door opened, and Seth hobbled into the kitchen wearing a walking cast. He smiled first at me, then at Bianca. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
My heart did a little flip-flop. “You’re not.”
“Seth.” Bianca clapped her hands and hustled across the room to hug him. “Oh, Seth. I just love you so much.”
He pulled away in mock horror. “Bianca? What will Daniel think?”
My sister laughed and smacked him on the arm. “You know what I mean.”
He nodded. “I do, and I love you too.”
“And you love Vicki! That photo . . . did you see it?” She rushed back to the counter and picked up the newspaper.
Seth chuckled. “I saw it just like everyone else on the island.”
I leaned a hip against the counter and glanced at the paper. “I think we look pretty good.”
“I agree.” Seth grinned at me. Had Bianca not been there, I’m sure he would’ve kissed me.
“How’s your ankle this morning?”
“Better.” He brushed his lips across mine.
“Oh my goodness.” Bianca threw her head back and laughed. “You’re really in love, aren’t you? I can’t believe this. It’s such wonderful news. Are you going to get married?”
Seth and I looked at each other. Then we both burst out laughing.
“I hope so,” he said.
I nodded. “Me too.”
*
A few minutes later, Seth and I climbed into my car and drove north. Our destination was less than an hour away, which seemed unbelievable for such a monumental trip.
“How are you feeling?” Seth asked as we crossed the bridge to leave the island.
I loosened my grip on the steering wheel. “Nervous, but excited too.”
Seth adjusted the strap on his walking cast. “You’re going to do great.”
“Thanks.”
When I told Seth I wanted to see the Quinns in person, he was 100 percent supportive. Confronting his own fears had been the best and hardest thing he’d learned in rehab.
While I was afraid to email Mrs. Quinn, her response had been warm, reassuring me that meeting with her was the right thing to do. At least I’d know how much damage I’d caused.
When we arrived at our destination, I wiped my hands on my jeans and climbed out of the car. My heart pounded as Seth rang the bell and we waited.
When Mrs. Quinn opened the door, my stomach squeezed tight. She stared at me.
“Hi,” I said, my throat thick.
“Vicki.” It’d been years, but Mrs. Quinn looked exactly the same. Tall, slender, and professional without a hair out of place.
I expected her to be cold toward me, but to my absolute amazement, she stepped forward and hugged me. I hugged her back and blinked hard, determined not to cry. When we parted, we both had tears in our eyes.
“Vicki. I’m so glad you came.”
“Me too.”
I introduced her to Seth, and they exchanged pleasantries. Then she invited us inside, and we followed her back to the kitchen. This current house was smaller and less prestigious than the one they’d lived in when I nannied for them. From the internet, I’d learned that the Quinns had divorced several years ago. Mr. Quinn had remarried, but Mrs. Quinn appeared to still be single.
“Would you like a cup of coffee? I just made a fresh pot.”
Seth and I nodded and stood off to the side while she poured coffee into three mugs. Like the rest of the house, the kitchen was small but tidy with white cupboards and an island painted in a trendy blue color.
After handing us each a mug, Mrs. Quinn gestured for us to follow her into a little sitting room off the kitchen. Seth and I sat together on the couch while she took the chair next to us.
I smiled at a portrait above the fireplace of all three kids. I’d seen it online last night, but seeing it now, along with all the other pictures on the mantle, reassured me that the kids really were okay. Maybe I was being naive and they carried emotional scars from that night, but on the outside, they seemed incredibly happy.
“They’re so beautiful,” I said.
Mrs. Quinn smiled. “They clean up well. And despite the messy divorce, they’re pretty happy too.”
“How old are they?” Seth asked as his phone dinged.
“The twins are fifteen, and Allie is eleven.”
“They’re just gorgeous.” He glanced at his phone and pushed himself off the couch. “This is my captain. I need to take it.”
Mrs. Quinn and I nodded as Seth went outside.
“Is he in the army?” Mrs. Quinn asked.
I shook my head. “He’s a firefighter.”
“Oh, really? Max wants to be a firefighter.”
“That’s great. I’m sure Seth would love to talk to him about it.”
She nodded and glanced outside as Seth passed by the window. “He seems like a nice guy.”
“He is.”
A beat of awkward silence followed, then Mrs. Quinn shot me an apologetic smile. “You know, I’ve always felt bad for how I treated you that night. It’s no excuse, but I was traumatized when I pulled up to the house and saw the emergency vehicles.”
I nodded.
“I never should’ve yelled at you like that. You were always very responsible. For something like that to happen . . . well, I know it wasn’t intentional or neglectful. It was just an accident. Kids and accidents go hand in hand.”
“I should’ve been paying better attention.”
She shook her head. “Paying attention to three little kids all the time isn’t easy. In fact, a few months after you left, Red fell down the stairs when I was reading Allie a bedtime story. He ended up being fine, but it was horrible, and I felt so guilty.”
She batted a hand through the air. “Anyway, my point is, I’m sorry. I asked Bart to apologize to you on my behalf when he gave you your last paycheck. Still, I should’ve called you myself. I’m sorry I didn’t.”
“That’s okay.”
“It’s not, but hopefully, he told you how sorry I was.” She took a sip of her coffee and stared at me expectantly.
I hesitated, not wanting to make things worse but also not wanting to be dishonest. “I never spoke to Mr. Quinn after that night.”
“After what night?”
“After the night of the accident.”
“What? Didn’t you see him when he brought you your last paycheck?”
“No, but it doesn’t matter.” I gestured at the picture of Allie and her brothers. “I’m just happy the kids are okay. I’ve always worried about them.”
“Oh, Vicki. You haven’t
been worried this whole time, have you?”
I nodded, embarrassed by how long I’d carried around the burden of not knowing. I should’ve reached out years ago.
Mrs. Quinn pressed a hand to her heart. “I feel horrible. I honestly thought Bart talked to you.”
“He didn’t. But like I said, I’m so happy the kids are okay.”
“Yes, they’re fine. Max used to talk about the firefighters coming to our house like it was the best thing in the world.” She laughed. “Honestly, I think that’s half the reason he wants to become a firefighter himself.”
“What about Allie? Was she okay after that night?”
“Yes, she was fine. The doctor stitched her up and said she might have a scar. If she does, I can’t see it.”
Relief washed over me. “What’s she like now?”
Mrs. Quinn glanced at a photo of Allie and smiled. “She’s a typical eleven-year-old, right on that border between being a little kid and becoming a teenager. She’s taking horseback riding lessons and plays the ukulele.”
I smiled. “I’m sure she’s adorable. She was such a beautiful baby. And Max and Red? I can’t believe they’re fifteen now. Is Red interested in becoming a firefighter too?”
“Oh, no. Red is all about his guitar and becoming the next hot musician—without the drugs and stint in rehab, he assures me.”
I smiled, and we chatted a little more about her new job, the bakery, and a recent trip she’d taken with the kids to Yellowstone.
When the door opened, I expected it to be just Seth. Instead, he was followed by Max and Red. At fifteen, the boys were practically grown. They both had scruffy dark hair, lanky legs, and shoes that seemed way too big for their feet. Other than the fact that one twin was slightly taller than the other, they still looked identical.
“Where’s Allie?” Mrs. Quinn asked.
“She’s coming. She’s trying to get Howard out from under the car so Seth can meet him.” The shorter twin crossed the room and stuck out his hand. “Hi, Vicki. I’m Red.”
I shook his hand, impressed by his confidence. Max, who’d been chatting with Seth, came over and shook my hand as well.
“It’s so wonderful to see you guys,” I said. “Do you remember me at all?”
“A little,” Max said. “But that might just be from the pictures.”
“The pictures?”
“In the photo album.” He strode to a bookshelf and collected an old photo album. “It’s this one, right, Mom?”
Mrs. Quinn nodded. “Yes, I think so.”
He splayed the album on the coffee table and flipped through it. “Here you are.”
My breath hitched as I stared down at a dozen pictures of the kids and me—me with the boys at the zoo, me decorating Christmas cookies with them, me building a blanket fort, and me holding Allie for the first time just hours after she was born.
I blinked several times, not wanting to cry in front of the boys. “I’ve never seen these pictures before.”
Mrs. Quinn set down her coffee and picked up her phone. “I’ve digitalized all our photos. I’ll send them to you.” She tapped her screen with a well-manicured fingernail. “Give me your number and I’ll text them to you.”
I did, and seconds later, I had the pictures on my phone.
Suddenly, a girl with beautiful brown eyes came into the living room, holding a bright orange cat. Dressed in ripped jeans and a tank top, her dark hair was pulled into a darling messy bun.
“Hi.” She smiled at everyone with all the confidence in the world.
“Allie, this is Vicki,” Mrs. Quinn said.
“I know. I met her boyfriend outside.”
Smiling, Seth pet the cat. “And this must be Howard.”
“That’s right.”
“Hello, Howard.”
Allie giggled as the cat purred in her arms. Looking up at Seth, she said, “He likes you. He only makes that sound for people he likes.”
My heart faltered at the two of them. Seth was so good with kids.
Allie’s eyes danced when she saw the photo album. “That’s me and you, right, Vicki?”
I glanced down at the picture of the two of us on the day she was born. “It is.”
Still holding the cat, she sank down beside me on the couch. It was all I could do not to put my arm around her and hold her tight. She was so delightful, beautiful, and healthy. And happy. Oh my goodness, she seemed like the happiest child I’d ever met.
“Do you want to pet Howard?” She lifted the cat toward me.
“Sure.” Howard didn’t purr as loudly for me as he had for Seth, but the smile Allie gave me caused my heart to burst. I laughed, and she did too.
“I think Howard likes you too,” she said.
“I like him. He’s very soft.”
She nodded and buried her face in his fur.
“Your mom said you’re taking horseback riding lessons?”
“I am.” She told me all about her horse, the barn, and her riding club. Then, she told me about her brothers. Max and Red mostly let Allie talk for them, but every once in a while, they would correct her or clarify something.
At some point, Mrs. Quinn interrupted the conversation. “The boys have an event at church tonight, so we’re having an early dinner. Would you like to stay and eat with us?”
I glanced at Seth, who nodded. “We’d love too,” I told Mrs. Quinn. “Thanks.”
Allie leaned into me. “I’m so glad you’re going to stay for dinner. You can sit next to me if you want.”
My heart full, I nodded. “I’d love to.”
Chapter 39
Seth
After dinner at the Quinns, Vicki and I drove home. As we crossed the bridge and drove onto the island, she smiled at me. “Thanks for coming with me.”
“Thanks for inviting me.”
She turned down the radio. “That was nice of you to invite Max down to visit you at the fire station. I hope he’ll come.”
“I think he will. He seemed interested. I’d love to show him our station and let him meet the guys.”
“I think he’d love that.”
I glanced at Henry’s Beachside Bar, remembering our first unofficial date. “Hey, do you want to walk on the beach before you take me home?”
“I’d love too, but wouldn’t walking on the beach be difficult with your foot?”
“Yes. I guess by walking I meant sitting.”
She smiled and slowed the car. “I’d love to sit on the beach with you. It’s such a beautiful night.”
She pulled into the public parking lot beside Henry’s, and we sat on a bench overlooking the water. The sliver of a crescent moon hung in the sky, its dimness making the stars shine brighter than usual.
The last time I’d been on the beach, I’d fallen into a burning building and emerged relatively unharmed. Vicki had thrown herself into my arms before leaving me to feel that there was no chance for us. Now . . . now things were completely different.
“What are you thinking about?” Vicki asked.
I glanced at her sitting next to me and smiled. “I was thinking that you are my favorite grown-up in the whole world.”
“Your favorite grown-up?” She laughed.
“Yes. Grant is my favorite kid, and you are my favorite grown-up.”
“Oh. Just for the record, you’re my favorite grown-up too. And Grant . . . well, my nieces and nephews might get jealous if I gave any kid the title of favorite, so I’ll just say that he’s a pretty special kid. I hope—”
“What?”
“I hope I can get to know him better.”
A huge grin spread across my face. “It makes me so happy to hear that.”
She slipped her hand in mine and squeezed it. I squeezed back and searched for the right words. Maybe I should wait. Maybe I should—
Vicki’s phone interrupted my thoughts by dinging with one text after another. “Sorry, it’s the sister loop,” she explained. “Bianca is freaking out about the whole wedding thin
g. The venue she wants only holds three hundred, but the guest list has grown to over four hundred.”
Without replying, Vicki turned off her phone and stuck it in her pocket. “When I get married—” Her eyes shot to mine, and she laughed. “Well, obviously, I’d take my future husband’s feelings into consideration . . .”
“Obviously.”
She grinned. “I just want a small wedding.”
“How small?”
“I don’t know. Maybe just me, you, and the officiant.”
My heart burst. “Me, you, and the officiant?”
“Yes, if that’s okay.”
I laughed. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
She gazed into my eyes. “I love you, Seth. Spending the rest of my life with you . . . well, I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do.”
Smiling so hard my cheeks hurt, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the engagement ring I’d bought for Vicki after Amie told me about the grand gesture. Careful not to hurt my ankle, I knelt to the ground.
“Seth.”
I opened the box and showed her the ring. “Vicki—”
“Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
She reached for the ring, but I pulled it away and snapped the box shut. “Oh no. I haven’t asked you yet. You have to let me finish my proposal.”
“Do I?” Her expression said she knew when it came to me, I’d give her anything she wanted. This time, however, I insisted she let me finish my proposal before saying yes.
“Okay.” She smoothed down her hair and placed her hands in her lap. “You were saying . . .”
Opening the ring box, I turned back to her. “Yes. Vicki, would you make me the happiest man in the world by marrying me.”
“Can I think about it?”
Knowing she was joking, I laughed and slipped the ring on her finger.
*
After the proposal, Vicki and I stayed on the bench, talking about our future. We considered eloping. Tickets to Las Vegas were cheap, and booking the chapel would be easy.
The more we talked about it, however, the more we realized how unfair it would be to her family and my grandmother. Plus, I didn’t want Grant to miss out on such a special occasion.
“I just want a small wedding, okay?”
Vicki’s Gift Page 23