Island Summer Love

by Amy Belding Brown

  Allison smiled back at her and placed her hand over Isabel’s. “Thanks. For everything.”

  “You’re more than welcome, dear.” Isabel gave her a warm hug and headed up the stairs to her bedroom. Allison felt the house settle into silence around her. How good it was to be sitting in this warm, cozy kitchen, drinking Isabel’s hot cocoa, knowing that Brent was alive, that she would see him in the morning.

  She had finished her cocoa and was getting to her feet to carry her mug to the sink when the back door opened and Martha stepped into the kitchen.

  “Allison,” she said, her mouth open in a small 0 of surprise. “I didn’t think you’d still be awake. Is everything okay?”

  “No. Everything isn’t okay.” Allison felt heat flood her cheeks as anger rose through her body like fire.

  Martha ran a hand through her short curls. There was something wistful and sad in her eyes, something that reminded Allison of a child. “I heard about the boy. What an awful thing!”

  Allison’s hands curled into fists. “I know where you were, Martha.”

  Martha gave her a weak smile. “I took a walk after the fireworks. The moonlight was so lovely I just lost track of time.”

  “You’re lying! You’ve just come back from the guest house. You slept with Cabot.” Allison stepped toward Martha, her voice rising toward a harsh sob. “How could you, Martha? How could you do this to me? He was my fiancé!”

  Martha’s face crumpled. She gave a little moan and collapsed into a chair, covering her face with her hands. “Oh, Allison, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I didn’t . . . I didn’t know what I was doing.”

  “How could you not know what you were doing?” Allison wanted to shake her, dig her nails into the soft flesh of Martha’s shoulder. Her voice slid to a hiss. “Do you realize I never even slept with him?”

  Martha gulped, nodded, raised a tearstained face. “I know. I’m really, really sorry. Honestly. I just couldn’t help myself.” A tear broke loose from her right eye, ran down her cheek and dropped onto her dress. She sniffed loudly. “I’ve always loved Cabot, from the first day I saw him, way back when I was twelve years old.” She swallowed, held out her hands to Allison. “He was so sophisticated, so brilliant, so handsome. I used to fantasize about marrying him. I had everything all planned out, my dress, the seating arrangements, the reception . . .” Her voice trailed off and she bit her lower lip. More tears welled out of her eyes. “I couldn’t believe it when he proposed to you. I just couldn’t believe it. I’ve been so jealous—” She gulped and licked her lower lip. “Tonight, when he asked if I’d walk back to the guest house with him, I couldn’t refuse. I know it was wrong; I should have said no, but one thing led to another and—” A huge sob cut her off; she buried her face in her hands again.

  Allison felt a deep stab of pity as she watched Martha’s shoulders convulse. Martha had been such a good friend for so long, had supported her through the tough, early years of college, had generously introduced her to so many remarkable people. Had invited her to Harper’s Island. She placed her hand on Martha’s shoulder.

  Martha raised her head slowly. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying; her face looked like it had been slapped. “I’m so sorry, Allison. Can you ever forgive me?”

  Allison sighed. “I just wish you’d told me before. If I’d known how you and Cabot felt about each other, I never would have accepted his proposal.”

  Martha closed her eyes, wiped her face with the back of her hands. “I know, I should have. I don’t think I really knew how much he meant to me until after you were engaged. I kept hoping something might happen, that the two of you would break up.” She gulped and cleared her throat. “I think that’s the real reason I wanted you to come to Maine with me. To put distance between you and Cabot.”

  “Well,” Allison said quietly, “I guess it worked. Only it wasn’t the distance between us that made the difference. It was Harper’s Island itself.”

  Martha gave her a puzzled frown. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean that I learned something really important here. Something that changed my life.”

  “What?”

  Suddenly Allison was smiling. “That love is the only thing that really matters. That no amount of money or social status or luxury can make things all right if love isn’t there.”

  Martha gaped at her. “Are you saying you don’t love Cabot?”

  Allison nodded. “I don’t think I ever did.” She sat in the chair next to Martha, leaned over and pulled her friend into her arms. “So I guess that explains why it’s really not so hard for me to forgive you. And anyway, I have you to thank for the best summer of my life. If you hadn’t talked me into coming to Harper’s Island, I’d never have met all these wonderful people, Isabel and Abel and the Florys . . .” Her voice trailed away.

  “And Brent,” Martha added, hugging her friend tightly.

  Allison smiled. “And Brent,” she murmured, her inflection as tender as a prayer.

  The trip to the mainland hours later was a tourist’s dream. The sky was high and clear. Gulls wheeled above Abel’s lobster boat, Belle II, and a breeze fanned Allison’s face gently. They arrived at the hospital just before nine and took the elevator to the third floor.

  A stocky, pleasant-faced nurse greeted them, smiling. “You must be Allison.”

  Allison gave a startled nod.

  “He’s been asking for you.”

  “He has?”

  She nodded. “All night long. I’m glad you finally came. It’ll make my job a lot easier.” She laughed and turned to Isabel and Abel. “Are you the grandparents? I’m afraid there’s only one visitor allowed at a time. He’s still pretty weak.”

  “We’ll wait, dear.” Isabel patted Allison’s shoulder. “You’re the one he wants to see.”

  Allison followed the nurse down the long hall to a wide door.

  “It’s a private room,” the nurse said, her eyes twinkling merrily for a moment before she disappeared. Allison took a deep breath, smoothed her blouse and denim skirt, pushed open the door slowly and slipped inside.

  Brent was lying in a high, white hospital bed, staring out the window. His face was bruised and swollen; there was a deep gash across his right cheekbone. But he was smiling as he turned to Allison.

  “You came.” His voice hadn’t changed. It was the same deeply resonant voice that sent shivers down her back.

  “Are you in a lot of pain?” She took a step toward him.

  “Nothing that time and TLC won’t heal.” He moved his right arm from under the sheet and reached for her. She saw that it was bandaged from the wrist to the elbow. He frowned. “What happened to your knee?”

  Allison glanced down at her bandaged knee, smiling as she remembered the cause of the cut. “It’s just a little scrape.” She crossed the room to the bed. His warm, masculine smell filled her nostrils.

  He gazed deep into her eyes, and a tremor of heat ran up her spine. “God, you’re beautiful,” he said softly.

  She tried a grin. “I’m afraid I can’t say the same for you.”

  He reached for her left hand, which was closest to his bandaged arm, lifted it to his lips, kissed the tips of her fingers. Her chin trembled.

  She saw his sudden, bright look of astonishment as his glance slid over her bare fingers. He looked up at her.

  “The ring.”

  She grinned. “You weren’t the only one who did something dramatic last night. I had a little adventure myself after you saved Ricky’s life.”

  He gave her a baffled look.

  “I gave it back to Cabot. The engagement’s off.”

  He took a deep breath, blew it out slowly, released her hand. He sagged back against the pillow and put his arm over his face.

  “What’s wrong?” She leaned over him anxiously. “Should I ring for the nurse?”

  He shook his head and lowered his arm. She was stunned to see tears in his eyes.

  “I didn’t think you’d do it,” he said
hoarsely. “It was killing me to watch you throw your life away. Nothing I said seemed to make any difference.”

  “But it did! I was all torn up inside. Terribly confused. It just took me a long time to sort things out. I guess I’ve got a stubborn streak of my own.”

  He reached for her. “Come here.” With a surprisingly vigorous thrust of his arm he captured her wrist and pulled her down beside him on the bed. He wrapped his arms around her so tightly she could barely move.

  “Kiss me,” he commanded, his blue eyes shining.

  She obeyed, brushing her lips very gently against his. His arms tightened around her, his lips moving against hers as she opened her mouth to his tongue. Then he kissed her eyes, her cheeks, her neck, and the swell of her breasts at the opening of her blouse. She dissolved against him, pressing her body closer and closer into his as wave after wave of desire pulsed through her. When he finally released her, she felt weak and dizzy.

  He took her face in his hands. “I’ve wanted to say this since that first day when I watched you get out of Martha’s car. So listen carefully.” He smiled deep into her eyes. “I love you, Allison Curtis.”

  “Oh, Brent!” She was flooded with incredible joy, unlike any she had ever known. When he pulled her into the circle of his arms again, she knew that she never wanted to leave.

  Time dissolved in bliss, and when Brent took a deep breath and pushed her gently away, Allison felt a sense of loss so palpable she could taste it on her tongue.

  He grinned. “I think you’d better leave, or something will happen that isn’t appropriate to a hospital setting.”

  She got up reluctantly, tucked her blouse into her skirt, smoothed her hair with her hands. She was still trembling.

  “How long will you have to be here?”

  He shrugged. “A few more days. Enough time for you to make the arrangements.”

  “Arrangements?”

  “For the wedding.”

  “What wedding?”

  His eyes flashed. “Our wedding, love. You are going to marry me, aren’t you?”

  Her breath caught in her throat. It took her a moment to find her voice. “Are you proposing to me?”

  “I certainly am.”

  She tried to swallow the grin that pushed against her mouth. “I’ll have to consider it. I’m not a woman who makes snap decisions.”

  “Fine. I’ve waited four weeks already. I can wait a little longer.” He glanced at the watch on his left wrist. “I’ll give you thirty seconds.” He grinned up at her.

  “All right, all right!” She laughed. “I accept.”

  He captured her hand, drew her back down toward him. “I don’t have a ring yet, and when I do, it won’t be anywhere near the size of Cabot’s. But I’ll put one on your finger the day I get out of the hospital. In the meantime, consider yourself taken.”

  He pulled her face down to his. Their lips met hungrily, sending shudder after shudder of delight through Allison.

  A soft knock on the door startled Allison; she straightened quickly, putting her hands to her blazing cheeks.

  Brent smiled. “Don’t worry, love. You’ve never looked more beautiful.” He looked at the door. “Come in.”

  Isabel poked her head in. “Sorry to disturb you, but we thought we’d break the rules and pop in for a minute, since morning visiting hours are almost over.”

  Brent grinned at her. “Come on in, Gran. Abel, too, if he’s there. We have something to tell you.”

  Isabel entered the room, followed by Abel.

  “Well, out with it, boy,” Abel said, giving Brent an exaggerated wink.

  Brent took Allison’s hand firmly in his own. “We’re going to get married as soon as I’m out of the hospital.”

  “Wonderful!” Isabel turned to her husband. “There, what did I tell you?”

  Abel grunted. “Took you two long enough. I was beginning to think I’d have to take you both out on the water, dump you overboard, wash some sense into your heads.”

  Isabel embraced Allison. “Don’t listen to him, dear. He’s all bark and no bite. You look absolutely radiant!” She turned to Brent. “I must say, you two both had a bad case of love at first sight. Seemed pretty clear to everybody but you.”

  Brent’s eyes twinkled. “It was wicked clear to me, Gran. It was Allison who had a hard time figuring out what was going on.”

  Allison blushed and nodded. “Brent’s right. I didn’t want to admit the truth.”

  Isabel patted her hand. “Well, that boy’s loved you from the minute he first laid eyes on you.”

  Abel nodded. “Plain as the nose on my face. Which is wicked obvious, as you can see.”

  “I knew once you broke the engagement it wouldn’t take two minutes for Brent to pop the question.” Isabel beamed. “The only doubt in my mind was how long it would take you to say yes.”

  “About four seconds, Gran.” Brent’s eyes danced. “She had to decide if she was willing to trade big city excitement for the simple pleasures of a fisherman’s wife. I had to convince her that, in the pleasure department, I’d make it well worth her while.”

  “Brent!” Allison swiped at him playfully.

  Isabel laughed. “We’d best go find some lunch before that nurse comes storming in here.”

  “Yep.” Abel grinned. “Think this calls for a celebration, don’t you? How about dinner at the Blue Lobster?”

  “That’s a wonderful idea!” Isabel cried. “You haven’t taken me out to dinner in months.” She gave him an affectionate kiss on the cheek.

  Abel grinned roguishly at Brent. “Sorry you can’t make it this time, boy. Next time you rescue somebody, hold onto the rock a little tighter, okay?”

  Brent laughed. “It’s a deal.” He caught Allison’s hand once again and gave it a warm squeeze. “Remember what I said about being taken, love. No flirting with the waiters.”

  She grinned down at him. “I promise.”

  “And don’t ever forget, even for a minute, that I love you.” He pulled her down to kiss her good-bye.

  When he released her a moment later, Allison was flushed with joy.

  At the door Isabel linked her arm through Allison’s and gave her a triumphant smile. “Didn’t I tell you, dear? Things always do work out for the best.”