I heard Walker’s voice get heated and wondered if I should check on him.
But within moments, Walker came wandering back into the kitchen.
Becky laughed. “Everything go okay?”
“He’s cashing the check.”
“Good.” I nodded. “It’s normally like talking to a brick wall with him.”
Becky nodded. “I kind of got that impression. A lot of circular talk.”
I cocked my head slightly.
“Becky’s a psychiatrist.”
My eyes widened. “You’re a doctor?”
She blushed. “I am.”
I grinned. “I might need your services.”
“I can guarantee you will if you spend any time with my brother.”
Walker ran his knuckle over his sister’s head and laughed. “Don’t get funny, Doctor Malone.”
I giggled watching Becky’s dark hair stick up from the static.
“The things I put up with.” Becky shook her head. “I’m a professional.”
“On a more serious note, why do you think parents turn their backs on children?”
Becky traded a glance with her brother and frowned.
“It’s a form of emotional neglect. Sometimes it’s intentional and other times, it can be completely unintentional. I wish there were a simple answer. Some parents are not emotionally equipped to be parents. I’m guessing they always dismissed your emotions and feelings.”
I nodded.
“If you were sad, they told you there was nothing to be sad about. If something bad happened to you, they dismissed it as not being that bad.”
“Yeah. I could have told them our neighbor shot our dog and they would have told me to get over it.”
Becky looked sympathetic and nodded, glancing at her brother.
“It’s one of the reasons I told Walker to be careful about reaching out to you. I made him promise me that he was serious about you, about the prospect of this relationship.” She licked her lips and sighed. “Children who’ve grown up in a household like that often tend to be more afraid of relying on others, more fearful of rejection, and unable to accept help or support because they feel like it could be pulled away or used as punishment. A lot of times, it’s hard for individuals who’ve experienced this. They have a hard time dealing with emotion, so they just wall off and go numb.”
“It’s like you’re reading my mind.” I shook my head, thinking back to all the meaningless encounters I had and how I’d felt absolutely nothing after them.
“So, I made Walker promise me that he wouldn’t reach out until he knew for sure.”
“Knew for sure what?” I glanced at Walker.
“That he could commit.”
Walker cleared his throat. “And Walker is still here in the room.”
I laughed and slid my arm around him. “You’re hard to miss.”
“Am I, though?”
Becky chuckled.
“So, can I move on from this or am I doomed?”
Becky smiled. “You’re far from doomed. The first step is to get into a strong relationship where the person supports you and helps to build the framework for self-love.”
“Oh, geez. This is getting awkward now.”
“Come on,” Walker teased. “What’s there not to love about you?”
I grinned. “I think you’re just the man to set me straight.”
“I hope so.”
Becky chuckled. “Well, on that note, I’m going to go hop in the shower, and then you two can show me around Fireweed.”
Walker smiled and nodded at his sister before she walked down the hall.
“I had no idea your sister is a psychiatrist.”
“I’m so proud of her.”
“Yeah. I bet your parents are pretty proud of you.”
He grinned. “They have their moments.”
“Thank you for making my dad call you.”
“Really?” he asked.
“It felt good.” I smiled. “At first, I wanted to tell him off and just go ballistic, but when I saw Becky in the kitchen, it just didn’t matter. I realized the only people playing games were my parents, and they were too stubborn to realize that it only hurt themselves. We’ve all moved on in our lives and grown to some varying degree.”
“Just promise me that you won’t be blinded by the past any longer.” Walker pulled me into him. “I love you, Harmony. I always will, and there are things I can change about our future, but I can’t change the past.”
I looked into Walker’s eyes. “I know, and I honestly wouldn’t want to change a thing.”
“Really?”
“I never would have gone to Portland and made friends with the people I care so much about. I never would have found Fireweed. I wouldn’t have had this path that I followed. It was meant to be this way.” I smiled. “Not to mention, I now know where I can get free therapy.”
Walker laughed and pulled me in tighter. “I love you, Harmony. I hope you know that.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“Is this not the cutest scarf ever?” Becky asked, holding a hot pink scarf up to her face.
“On you, yes.” I laughed.
Becky had been here a week, and today was her last day, so we took her to Hound Island where Chance’s mom had her beautiful lavender gardens, her little store, and the boutique hotel Chance had helped to open and expand.
Not to mention, it was the first restaurant I worked at before taking over the one on Fireweed.
Chance’s mom, Hildie, came into the little shop where she spotted Becky.
“That looks fabulous on you.”
“Oh, thank you.” Becky smiled. “I’ve always wanted to become a scarf person. I can imagine myself on some scooter with a scarf around my head, blowing in the wind.”
Hildie chuckled. “That’s quite some imagination.”
“It’s all I’ve got.”
Hildie nodded. “It’s all any of us have.”
“So true.” Becky smiled, nodding.
“Have you seen my gardens yet?” Hildie asked, and Becky glanced in our direction.
“We haven’t shown her yet.”
“Oh, you must see them. Follow me.” Hildie clapped her hands, and Becky quickly followed behind her.
There was always something dazzling about Hildie. Between her almost periwinkle eyes and silver hair, she was stunning, but her personality was infectious.
“She’s like how I imagined my grandmother to be if she were still here.” I laughed. “Although, don’t tell her that or she might get offended.”
“Would never dream of it.” I curled my arm through Walker’s as we left the store.
We spotted Hildie and Becky in the rose and lavender garden. It was one of my favorite places to be, but I wanted to show Walker another favorite place of mine.
“Follow me.” I tugged on his arm and led him to a tiny trail barely visible to most.
Hildie’s property sat high above Puget Sound, and there very few trails leading down to the rocky shore.
“We have to be kind of careful,” I warned as we snaked along the narrow trail.
“Are you sure we can get back up this?” he teased.
I let go of his hand and slowly made my way down the path, weaving along fir trees and maples.
“You keeping up?” I hollered behind, knowing he was right on my heels.
“Of course.” Walker laughed.
The sound of the waves gently lapping against the rocks below brought immediate comfort.
When I’d first moved to the islands, I found this little area where I’d escape to just after my shift ended.
“Here it is.” I pointed at a tiny cove with rocks lining the beach and a couple of boulders that worked as smooth benches.
“Wow. This place is beautiful.” Walker wandered over to me and slid his hand in mine.
“I used to come here and think about things when I first moved to Washington.” I leaned my head against his shoulder and felt the breeze
skate along my arms.
“What kinds of things did you think about?” he asked.
“You,” I confessed. “I found myself thinking about you a lot.” I closed my eyes. “And what I did wrong. Why you left.”
“God, I wish I could change all of that.” Walker’s voice softened, and I straightened up, pulling him to one of the boulders.
“I don’t.” I smiled, truly meaning that. “It feels like this was meant to be. You sitting here next to me, taking in this beautiful beach that I never would have found had everything not happened.”
He held my hand.
“I don’t think that in my wildest dreams I could have imagined the feelings that washed over me when I saw you again for the first time,” I confessed.
“Really?” His lip curled slightly, and the familiar desire ran through me.
“Really. I wanted to be furious with you, and I just couldn’t be. I’d get little eruptions, but nothing like I’d dreamed about over the years.” I looked out over the water and scooted closer to Walker. “I think being here gave me clarity.”
“So, it’s a good thing I didn’t show up any sooner.” Walker laughed.
“Pretty much, or like I said, you could have been fish food.”
“I’m starting to get the connection.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into him. “This isn’t a warning shot, is it?”
I grinned and looked into his eyes. “I’m smarter than that. You wouldn’t know when it’s coming.”
“That’s what worries me,” he joked.
I let out a happy sigh. “Do you still want kids?”
Walker nodded. “I do. How about you?”
“Yeah. I think I recently started to tell myself that I didn’t want them because I was starting to think that finding that person to share my life with wasn’t in the cards, but . . .”
“Then I showed up.” He squeezed me.
“I love how you always make me laugh.”
“I hope I always can.”
“Should we head back up?” I asked, turning to look at the hill.
“Maybe in a few more minutes,” he said, catching my chin between his fingers.
The desire to taste his lips and feel his warmth against me consumed me.
Walker cupped the base of my neck and slowly pulled me into him, pressing his lips to mine. Our kisses turned into a hungry discovery for more—my hands running through his hair, his hands skating underneath my top. I wanted so much more, but we couldn’t. Not here, not now. I let out a little moan of desire as his mouth broke from mine, and he slowly peppered kisses along my jaw, sending a shiver of excitement through me. He knew all the places that sent a thrill of longing through me, made me crave something only he could give me.
The sound of the water, the feel of the breeze, and being in his arms felt like the perfect storm. The kind of storm I’d been waiting for and never knew.
“Walker,” I whispered as his mouth found mine once more.
My breath hitched with continued desire, but he pulled his mouth from mine, and I knew we had to wait.
“We should probably get back,” he said, a smirk of satisfaction resting on his face.
“You should be ashamed of yourself,” I teased, sliding a quick kiss along his cheek. “I’m all hot and bothered and it’s your fault.”
“My pleasure.” He smiled, and I shook my head.
“Of course it is. You like to torture me.”
Walker smiled and helped me off the boulder.
“I love you more than anything, Harmony.”
“I love you too.”
He kissed me one more time before he threaded his fingers through mine.
“This little spot is quickly turning into one of my favorite places too.”
“Funny how that worked.” I squeezed his hand as we started back up the trail.
Hildie’s and Becky’s voices met us halfway as they wandered through the gardens.
“Do I look okay?” I whispered. “No hanky-panky?”
Walker glanced at me and quickly smoothed down my hair.
“There you two are.” Hildie waved us over, and Becky hid a smile. “I was just telling Becky that she and her parents absolutely need to come back to Hound Island, my treat. I’ll make sure you get set up in one of the nice suites.”
I laughed. “They’re all incredible suites.”
Hildie wiggled her brows. “Then that makes it easy, doesn’t it?”
Becky smiled and nodded. “Thank you. I can’t wait to come back. The islands are really special.”
Hildie smiled and clutched Becky’s hands. “I swear there is some sort of magic that drifts with the sea breezes and touches those it’s meant for along our islands. Or at least I tell myself that when I hear of someone having a bad idea.” She shrugged. “Sometimes, I just close my eyes and imagine that the world will be a different way, and sure enough, when I open my eyes, it is.”
“Because you imagined it to be,” I said, smiling.
“Precisely. Isn’t that what life is all about?” Hildie winked at us. “Imagining our lives to be how we want them. How else can we shape our destiny if we can’t imagine what that should be?”
Walker squeezed my hand, and I felt as light as air. “I don’t know what it is about you, Hildie, but I always feel a million times better being around you.”
“I feel the same way, my dear. You’re very special to me. All of Chance’s friends are.” Hildie smiled. “It’s time for my afternoon tea. You’re more than welcome to join me.”
Becky looked disappointed, but she glanced at her watch.
“We have to catch the next ferry or Becky will miss her flight home,” Walker explained.
“There could be worse things.” Hildie smiled. “Then you must come back.”
Becky nodded. “I will. I can’t wait to tell my mom about that rose variety. It smells heavenly.”
“And it lasts forever.” Hildie smiled and gave us all a quick hug before trundling to her home.
“That woman is incredible.” Becky smiled. “Our mom would be instant best friends with her.”
“I don’t doubt it,” I agreed. “It’s funny. I see how normal people behave in the world, how they treat one another, and then I think back to my parents, and it’s just puzzling.”
Becky smiled sympathetically and reached for my hand. “That should tell you everything. It’s not you. It’s them.”
I smiled and nodded. “I’m finally starting to figure that out.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Okay, put that right there.” I pointed at my white couch and then the far corner of the living room.
Billy and Walker bent down and hoisted the couch up into the air as Tiffany walked into the living room of my new house with a couple of iced teas.
We both took our sips as Walker and Billy set down the piece of furniture.
“This is so refreshing,” Tiffany joked as she took another sip. “It’s really tough moving in the middle of summer.”
I laughed and glanced at Walker as he longingly looked over at our cold drinks.
“It’s not technically summer. We’ve only hit June.” I grinned, walking over to Walker so I could give him his iced tea.
Chance bounded into the foyer with two boxes of pizza. “Lunch is served.”
He looked around the living room that now had a pine coffee table, a white couch, and two bookcases courtesy of Billy and Walker.
“Place looks great. Sorry I couldn’t help more this morning.”
Maddie came waddling in behind Chance, holding her back. I hid a smile, but her belly looked like a caricature of all pregnancy myths, and it was darling. I just hoped I looked half as cute as she did when I got pregnant.
Wait! Did my mind just go there?
I glanced at Walker and blushed.
“Why are you nibbling your lip in the middle of moving day?” he whispered.
“Don’t ask.” I patted his back.
“We onl
y have the bedroom furniture left.” I jumped up and down as Tiffany laughed.
“We?” Billy’s brows shot up as he wiped away sweat.
“Don’t forget . . .” I wagged my finger in front of them. “You two were the ones who said I didn’t need to hire movers. You had it all handled.”
“I totally remember that,” Tiffany seconded.
“I do too.” Maddie nodded.
“I, however, was smart enough to know better.” Chance beamed. “Which is why I am the pizza delivery guy.”
Walker laughed. “And I’m starving.”
We trundled into the kitchen, and I began pouring glasses of iced tea for everyone and lemon water for Maddie.
She touched her belly. “I’m sure a little caffeine wouldn’t hurt, but this one is already doing cartwheels in my belly, and I don’t think I can handle any more gymnastics.”
“What does it feel like?” I asked, and Maddie smiled.
“The best thing in the world.”
Chance slid his arm around her expanded belly, but it didn’t really reach. Neither of them noticed.
“I wondered if since I’d already been pregnant once and had our first, if it would still be as wondrous and surprising the second time around, and I’d say it’s almost more.”
“Really?” I was intrigued.
“Yeah.” Maddie shrugged, opening the pizza box. “But I’m one of those women who loves being pregnant.”
“I hope I do too.” The words tumbled out, and Walker looked surprised.
“Is there something you want to tell us?” Maddie teased.
I laughed and shook my head. “No. Nothing like that in the near future.”
“That’s too bad.” Chance grinned.
“You’re a bad influence.” I narrowed my eyes at him.
Walker slapped a couple of pieces of pizza on a plate and handed it to me with a fork. “Thank you.”
He winked. “My pleasure.”
“I should probably be serving you lunch since you did all the hard work this morning.”
Walker shook his head and smiled. “You have to put up with me. That’s difficult enough.”
“Oh, to have young love again.” Tiffany sighed, and Billy laughed.
Imagining Love on Willow Road (Island County Series Book 13) Page 15