Forever This Time (Hope Harbor)

by Ann B. Harrison

Once she was seated at the desk, it didn’t take long to put forward her request.

  “We have a couple that might suit you, April.” Jeff Billings turned the computer screen around to show her. They’d been in different grades at school, but knew each other as most of the permanent people on the island did. “There’s this little house a street back from the school. Three bedrooms, one and a half baths, and a decent back yard. Perfect for you and the children. He hit a couple of keys and brought up the next property. “And, we have this one that has only recently come on the market.”

  April leaned in closer. The pretty lemon and white building sat nestled amongst tall trees, a view of the ocean behind it peeking out between them. “Where is this one?”

  “A few houses up from the Hope family home. You’d know it. Used to be very overgrown and tucked away at the end of the street.”

  She sucked in a breath as a vision flickered through her head. “Is that the gingerbread house?”

  Jeff smiled. “Yes, that’s what us kids used to call it. The current owner brought it from the estate when the old lady died and it’s been completely refurnished. They’ve done a beautiful job too. Mainly used for holiday rentals, but its sitting empty right now and the owner is open to having a permanent tenant. The school bus goes past the door too. If you’re interested, I can give you a ride over there now.”

  It looked perfect. “I’d love to see it. Thank you.”

  Fifteen minutes later, she stood on the front porch and looked out at the ocean. The same view that she saw from her current bedroom, but from a slightly different angle. She’d made up her mind before they walked inside. “I’ll take it.”

  “Wonderful. I’ll go and draw up the papers, and you can sign them when you’re ready. Did you plan to move in over the weekend?”

  “That’s a good idea. I’m staying at the guest house now with Matt, and I start work Monday so I should really get myself sorted.”

  “Where are you working, April?” Jeff pulled the door closed behind them and locked it. They stood on the porch looking down at the activity in the harbor.

  “At the medical center.”

  He stopped, staring at her. “With Drew and Liam?”

  “Yeah. ‘Fraid so.”

  The corners of his lips twitched as he tried to hold back a grin. “Oh well. You were only young when you were together. Shame it didn’t work out for you two, though. I always thought you’d end up married with a bunch of kids. Just shows you how wrong you can be.” He walked out to the car with her. “Want a ride back to the office? It won’t take me long to draw up the papers, and that way you can have the keys now.” He held it up to April, tempting her to take them.

  She wrapped her fingers around them and laughed, suddenly nervous. “Deal. And thanks, Jeff. I appreciate this.”

  He opened the car door for her. “Don’t thank me. It’s my job and I know you’ll be a great tenant.” He waited until she was in the seat and shut the door, then walked around to the driver’s side. “I guess Aggie and Matt will have filled you in on all the gossip since you’ve been here?” They drove back down the hill to the office.

  “I guess what I don’t already know, I’ll pick up in the next week or so. Doesn’t take long to figure out island life from memory.”

  They walked into the office where he took her details. “Make yourself a coffee while I print out the paperwork, April. Won’t be long.” Jeff directed her to an alcove where a coffee machine sat on a counter.

  She chose a pod and placed a cup under the spout. “Did you want one, Jeff?”

  “Please.” He tapped at his keyboard and the printer sprang into life, spitting out her rental agreement. Jeff took them from the printer tray and stapled them together before sitting down and going over them.

  April put a mug of coffee on his desk, sat down opposite. and waited for him to hand over the paperwork. When he slid it over to her she picked it up, then read the details. “Don’t you need references before I sign this?”

  He shook his head, grabbed his coffee mug, and grinned at her. “Nope. I know you personally and that’s good enough for the owners.”

  She raised an eyebrow and waited for a second, then relaxed. April hadn’t thought it would be this easy to secure a home for her family. “I appreciate it, Jeff.” She signed her name with a flourish, the hope of a normal life rising in her chest with the simple act of taking control. At last she could get back to normal and give her kids the life she wanted them to have. Growing up in a small tight knit community where everyone knew each other.

  She pushed the papers across his desk and leaned back, hands wrapped around her coffee mug. “It’s nice to be back on the island. I had a look around and it doesn’t look like much has changed since I’ve been gone.”

  “Nothing out of the ordinary, no. We have a couple of new buildings in town—the library and the nursing home, which were both built in the last five years—but it’s pretty much the same as it was when you left. Apart from a little bit of upgrading which is to be expected. Steady and easy does it on the island. Wouldn’t want to rush things now, would we?”

  She laughed, mindful of the reason most of the kids moved over to the mainland. By the time they went to college they found the constraints of island life a bit tight. They all looked forward to spreading their wings and getting away from their parent’s watchful eyes.

  “It’s the reason I came back. Funny how things look different to us as the years go by. The old saying ‘you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone,’ is so true. Anyway, I’m glad I’m back and thanks for arranging a home for us.”

  “My pleasure. If there’s anything you need, let me know. We pride ourselves on happy tenants.” Jeff stood when she did and walked her to the door. “I’ll get a copy of this to you in the next few days, April.”

  “Thanks, Jeff.” She hurried down the path, her step lighter than when she’d walked in. A home of their own. The children would be excited to have their own rooms again and not sharing. Staying at Matt’s was great, but not good for her or the children in the long term. April wanted stability, not people coming and going.

  ***

  “Why didn’t you tell me you’d offered her the house?” Drew stared at his father over the kitchen table. “Liam said she was looking for somewhere to live when she came in yesterday for the job interview, but never would I have thought you’d offer her the cottage.”

  “Why wouldn’t I?” His father used tongs to take the bacon out of the frypan and dropped it on absorbent paper, then placed it in the warming draw. “April was part of this family and she needs a home for herself and those children. Seems like the obvious thing to do to me.” He cracked half a dozen eggs into a bowl, added milk, and whipped them until they were frothy. “Regardless of how and why you two broke up, we still look out for family. You know that. All I’m suggesting is that we reserve judgement until we have all the facts and until that time, treat April as we’ve always treated her.”

  “But she’s not family anymore.” It sounded petty, but he couldn’t help it. Seemed as though everyone was welcoming her back with open arms. “She left me. Without a word. I’d have thought that was enough to break the ties we had.”

  “You’re a grown man, Drew. I don’t understand the reasoning behind your bitterness. You’re sounding like a spoiled five-year-old child. You had something to do with this too.”

  Drew didn’t understand either, but he couldn’t tell his father that. Instead he started setting the table for breakfast. Saturdays was the one day his father ruled the kitchen at breakfast time and he made the most of it.

  “I don’t think you’ve gotten over her, to tell you the truth.”

  “That’s exactly what I say.” Gigi breezed into the kitchen, her colorful caftan floating around her legs. “Unresolved love, if you ask me.” She poured herself a glass of juice and ignored the glare Drew gave her. “You should look inside yourself and stop being so pig headed, darling. You may think you�
�ve forgiven her, but I seriously doubt you’ve got any further than that.” She sniffed the air. “Don’t go burning that bacon, Atticus. We don’t need it tasting like old leather to make it palatable.”

  “My breakfast day, my rules, and I happen to like my bacon crispy. Now get back on the other side of the counter, Gigi, and leave me alone.”

  Gigi moved out of his reach and grinned at Drew. His father and aunt snapped at each other all the time, neither of them meaning half of what they said. A bit like him and his brothers and sister.

  “Have you met her children yet?” His father brushed his fingers over his bushy grey mustache, his eyes watching Drew keenly.

  Drew shook his head.

  “Well, you’re in luck. Gigi called her last night and convinced her to come over later today. She’s moving into the rental this morning and since it’s only a couple of houses up the road, she agreed to stay for dinner.”

  A hard thud hit him in the chest. Dinner, here? How the heck was he going to cope with her right under his nose? Drew had thought he’d have a couple of days to get used to seeing her around before she started work, but thanks to his darling aunt, it didn’t seem to be the plan.

  “I, uh, I think I have plans.” I am such a coward!

  Gigi patted him on the arm. “No, you don’t, darling. I looked at your online calendar before I called her. Nothing, nada, zilch. You’re trying to hide from her and it won’t work, Drew.” She pulled out a chair and sat at the dining table. “She needs family and I’m sure she would still consider you a friend too if you’d only drop this stiff shirt attitude of yours. It would make things easier for both of you if you could be civil to each other, especially as she’s going to be working for you. Seems the logical step to me.”

  “I had nothing to do with that.” He slunk down in the chair and watched his father plate up breakfast.

  “Doesn’t matter who employed her. You needed a nurse and by all accounts, she’s perfect for the job. As I said yesterday, Drew, she might need a friend and who better than you, dear boy.”

  “I expected better of you than acting like a child that lost his favorite toy.” His father placed a plate of breakfast on the table in front of him and Gigi. “You’re a grown man with a stellar career. She’s a single mom with two kids and a burden on her shoulders. Help her out in the name of friendship, if nothing else. Your past history is just that. History.”

  Drew poured himself a glass of water. “Why are you two pushing this so hard?”

  “Because you’re acting like an idiot instead of the man I know you are.” Atticus sat down at the table, his own plate full in front of him.

  Drew eyed his father’s loaded plate. “You’ve heard too much of this stuff is bad for you, right?” As much as he loved the taste of bacon, Drew was always careful he didn’t overindulge in fried food.

  “Sure I do. And you know how good my cholesterol is, so don’t try and change the subject here.” He poured a generous serving of homemade hot sauce over everything on his plate. “April will be here for dinner and I’d appreciate it if you could show her that she has a friend in you. In all of us. The Hope family are renowned for being friendly and welcoming. Don’t go ruining our reputation now.”

  Reputation? His father’s standing joke that he no longer found amusing. Sure, being one of the founding families on the island, his father had a sense of duty, but as far as reputation went, it was never something that they worried about, focusing more on kindness and community than how the world’s inhabitants viewed them. “Fine. If it’ll keep you two off of my back, I’ll be here.” He twisted the pepper grinder over his eggs. “I have to go out to the house today and see the painters. They should be almost finished on the outside work. I need to make the final decisions on the inside colors and then it’s only a matter of weeks before I can move in.”

  Gigi put down her fork, and dabbed at her lips with a napkin. “You’re that keen to get away from us? For some reason I thought you’d be here forever the way you were dragging out the renovations.”

  He ignored the wink she sent his father. “You know that’s not true. I would like to think I’ve grown up enough to have my own space. I can’t live at home forever. It’s been convenient with work being as crazy as it has lately, but I will move out.” And he had to prove to himself that his life was on track and everything was under control. The perfect picture he had of his future was almost complete.

  Atticus cut a piece of bacon and stabbed a mushroom before rolling it in sauce. “You don’t have to prove it to us, son. I wish you could understand that you don’t need to prove it to yourself either. That’s what all this has been about for the last few years with a good dose of denial thrown into the mix.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “I’ve always loved this place. Once I got over feeling scared that is.” Aggie carried Tilly’s suitcase through the front door of the house while the little girl struggled helping her brother with his. “Which is Tilly’s room?”

  Leo let go of his case and ran down the hallway, peering into one room then the next. “This one’s mine.” He ran in and jumped on the bed, squealing as Tilly followed him.

  “I guess you have your answer then.” April carried a box of paperwork into the house and put it down on the small round dining table. She could imagine sitting here for breakfast, in the alcove beside the big picture window with views of the harbor. “I didn’t think I’d brought quite so much stuff.”

  Aggie walked back out into the lounge room and gave her a blank stare.

  “Well, I didn’t.” She looked back at the car’s trunk before heading back out for another load. “And I have to go grocery shopping yet.”

  “Go to the farmer’s market. They’re on this morning, rain or shine.” Aggie followed her down the stairs. “Hey, let’s take the kids and stock up your fridge. You can get just about everything you’ll need for the next few days. It’ll be fun.”

  April pulled another box from the trunk, the idea sparking interest that quickly built. “That would be nice, actually.”

  “Great. Let’s get this done then and off we go.”

  “Did I tell you that Gigi called me last night?” Aggie looked at her, waiting. They both knew how bossy, but gentle and conniving, Gigi could be. “I’d already promised to take the children over to see them after school next week, but she’s decided that since we’re only a stone’s throw away we should go over for dinner tonight.” She hoisted the box onto her hip, acknowledging the grin on her best friend’s face. “I couldn’t get out of it.”

  “No, I can imagine. It’s better to not even try. I swear she hasn’t changed any since you’ve been gone either.”

  April led the way up the path to the front door, pausing to look at the tiny seaside daisies tucked into a rocky crevice in the garden. “I had hoped she’d at least mellowed a little.” She moved into the house, and put the box in the kitchen on the counter. Inside were her favorite kitchen items that she couldn’t bear to part with.

  “Nope. Not a chance in hell. Still the same Gigi.” Aggie read the tag on the box she had in her arms and headed to the bathroom where she left it for April to unpack.

  “Perhaps you’ll have to try and marry her off. It’s time she had her own life, isn’t it?”

  Aggie’s smile spread and she leaned against the doorframe, watching April sort out her knife block. “She has someone.”

  “No!” She hadn’t seen that one coming. How very interesting.

  “Yep. Quite a dish too by the look of it, but I’ve only seen him once or twice and not close up so I don’t know who it is.”

  April leaned her hip against the counter, a steak knife in her hand, and shared a glance. “Did you ask her about him? Maybe now you’re grown up she might be more willing to share some gossip with you.” Gigi had always been keen to discuss relationships unless it involved her own, much to the girl’s annoyance. Growing up there was nothing more interesting than the idea of a budding romance for Aggie’s wi
dowed father or his spinster sister.

  “Oh I tried, believe me, but she turned it back onto me. As if I have time for love anyway!” She seemed more annoyed to miss out on gossip than on love.

  “You never do tell me about what’s happening in your life apart from the bakery. Isn’t it time you spilled the beans?”

  “You have more chance of love than I do right now.” A small cloud of pain filled Aggie’s eyes and she bit her bottom lip. “Sucks being stuck on this island some days. I never get to meet anyone new unless they’re a tourist and who wants a one-night stand? Not me.” There was more to that statement than either of them wanted to talk about.

  “There are two and a half thousand people on this island, Aggie. Surely we can find someone for you. A kind hearted soul that would make you change your mind.”

  “Not interested. Drop it, April.”

  Something had happened to Aggie that put her off love and April was determined to help her get over it. Long overdue in her opinion. Determination rose in her chest. She had something else to work on besides her own problems. “Fine, whatever you say. Let’s go shopping then. Kids!”

  ***

  The sound of children’s voices could be heard across the lawn as Drew drove up the driveway. Heart pounding with anxiety, he paused to grab a steady breath before getting out of the car. He could do this. He opened the door and climbed out just as a child came running around the corner and slammed into him.

  Drew grabbed the little boy before he fell to the ground. He crouched down and gazed into fearful brown eyes. “You okay, buddy? That was a hard crash.”

  The child’s lip wobbled. “I only have until twenty to find somewhere to hide before Tilly finds me.” He gave a sob. “Then I have to be it.” A fat tear rolled down his cheeks.

  Drew grabbed his hand. “Come with me. She’ll never find you if I help, and I know the best spots to hide.” He hurried toward the back of the house, the boy clinging to his hand. They turned the corner, brushed past the old apple tree, and ducked into the old wood shed. Drew pulled the door closed behind him. He perched on the chopping block and grinned through the gloom. “I’m Drew.”