Sailing Into The Heart 2i6n70

SAILING INTO THE HEART

by Tana Jenkins

BRYANT STREET SHORTS

©2021 Tana Jenkins

Published by Scribd, Inc.

All rights reserved

Cover design by Christopher Keeslar

ISBN: 9781094422879

First e-book edition: July 2021

Bryant Street Publishing

San Francisco, California

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ONE

Eight pairs of eyes followed Sydney St. James as she raced alongside the old wooden prairie fence. “Mind the ranch,” she called to them.

Two horses, two llamas, two goats, one big scruffy cat, and another not-so-big, not-so-scruffy dog took turns wagging their tails. Popcorn, her cream-and-white mare, kicked up clouds of dust as he galloped apace on the other side of the fence, letting loose a high-pitched whinny when he came to the end of the pasture. Sydney groaned. Normally that would be cause for her to turn around to dole out a few more pets, but today she left them with a wave as they snorted and pawed at the dirt, gestures Sydney interpreted as their own versions of “safe travels.”

People in town referred to her remote little rescue farm as Noah’s Ark, and she kind of liked the name. To her, the Ark represented a source of hope and salvation. She rarely ran short of hope, but who couldn’t use a little saving now and then?

She sure could. Especially at that moment.

Sydney was late. Again.

Using her left hand, she pressed her lucky straw hat down on her head and pumped the pedals of her lime green, second-hand bike so hard her thighs burned. But when a warm gust blew up from the lake, catching the wide brim,

she surrendered with a sigh and regripped her bicycle’s handlebars. The floppy hat whipped back, creating a kite only hooked in place by the bright orange scarf knotted under her chin.

For a moment, Sydney wished she were a smaller, lighter version of herself, small enough and light enough to be carried to her destination by a hat-sized kite.

On the other side of the island, Henry — Sydney’s shy, awkward, assistant — was waiting with seven eager birdwatchers who expected to be taken on an exquisite tour of the winged wild. The fact that Henry was waiting with the group was a curse and a blessing. On the one hand, at least they’d know she was on her way but, as much as she loved her faithful assistant, lately she worried about leaving him alone with the tourists.

Most high school seniors experienced anxiety as they approached graduation. It was even more pronounced for those on an island where graduation often inevitably meant leaving the small community they’d grown up in to seek out a living thousands of miles away. Some of the young people welcomed the change of scenery with open arms, but Henry wasn’t one of them. He seemed like a baby bird being kicked out of a cliffside nest.

A hot little ball of anxiety rolled in Sydney’s stomach. She really couldn’t afford to over-promise and under-deliver today, and she wasn’t off to a splendid start, being late and all.

Brushing a windswept curl from her eyelashes, Sydney stood to pedal harder. Of all the days for Brown Sugar, her spirited coonhound, to catch a scent and bolt. If not for the Lilac Festival, Sydney would have let her girl enjoy her freedom. But with people everywhere this weekend, Sydney worried encountering an

unleashed dog in the woods might be an unwelcome surprise for the wrong person.

Eventually, Sydney had found her girl, but it cost her a twelve-minute delay.

Twelve minutes.

Sydney believed in a relaxed approach to time. Usually she could shrug off a little tardiness, but this wasn’t just any group. It was one of the first tour groups of the season. Their reviews had the potential to attract more groups over the next few months. Toward the end of the school year, her meager teacher’s salary left her agonizing between Jif or Brand X. And cute as her animals were, vet bills didn’t pay themselves. April the cat, in particular, had been acting strangely lately. Sydney needed to get her to the vet soon.

Well, she couldn’t pedal any faster, or use her nonexistent mental telepathy to conjure up good feelings between Henry and the group. So, instead, she focused on her surroundings rather than her anxieties.

Exhaling as she took in the winsome sound of waves crashing, Sydney maneuvered her bike from her own sleepy lane down to the island’s main road, eventually veering off onto another narrow lane. She waved to Mr. Johnson, who was out watering his grass, and pedaled to the top of a small hill where many of the town’s bed and breakfasts were located. They were all loaded with sweet, country charm, boasting lemonade porches made for rocking chairs and afternoon tea. As soon as May hit, the townspeople celebrated the end of the long, harsh winter by stringing buckets and buckets of assorted flowers everywhere. Colorful arrangements lined stairs, walkways, windows — anywhere a basket fit, flowers were hung.

She loved this road, with its elevated views of Lake Huron. The water, which seemed to stretch on forever, was beautiful from the shore and breathtaking from the top of a hill. Today the turquoise waters were full of early morning sailboats coasting in the channel between the island and the mainland.

Mackinac Island, Michigan, wasn’t for everyone, but it was perfect for her.

Eight months out of the year, the carless island was the portrait of calm and, for Sydney, tranquility was the world’s greatest masterpiece. And even though she hadn’t had much calm so far this morning, she reminded herself, the day was young.

Bringing her bike to rest at the end of a dirt path, she hopped off, laying it down between a cluster of wild lawn daisies and two bright yellow forsythia bushes. Her cycling meditation had calmed her nerves enough that, late as she was, Sydney allowed herself one more second to pluck a daisy from the cluster. Shushing her chastising conscience, she tucked it into the brim of her hat, then grabbed her backpack from the bike basket and raced up the path. About a hundred feet in, Henry chatted with the small group, giving her a wave upon seeing her.

“Hello, everyone! Sorry I’m late. I’ll make it up by extending the tour if that’s all right with folks,” Sydney said between breaths as she ed the group.

“Are you late? I don’t think we’d noticed,” one of the women answered, glancing at everyone. “Your assistant was regaling us with the most charming tales about growing up on this lovely island.”

One part shocked, one part relieved, Sydney shot Henry a grateful glance, which he answered with a shy smile. “Yes, it is beautiful, and we can’t wait to give you the insider’s track on that beauty,” Sydney said, finally feeling some of her natural cheerfulness return.

The group of seven responded with smiling nods and quick introductions, all eager to get started. Together they set off, hiking deeper into the forest, toward a strong, peaty smell that grew more pronounced with each step.

Ten minutes later, they stopped at the edge of the great marsh. Surrounded by ferns, white birch, and quaking aspens, the area was a favorite with the brilliant blue indigo buntings. Meadowlarks and kingfishers also tended to like it there. If they were lucky, the group might even catch a glimpse of a bald eagle or a Kirtland’s warbler.

A quiet thrill coursed through Sydney as she surveyed the surrounding forest. It had been three days since the last rainfall. That was abnormal for the island this time of year but perfect weather for an eagle sighting. The dry conditions made foraging even harder, sending the beautiful birds farther and farther from their nests, increasing their visibility.

“I’ve never seen a bald eagle, but Richard and I were in the Bahamas last winter and we saw a warbler. It was the most beautiful thing. When the guide found out we were from the Midwest, he was positively green with envy. Told us to come to Mackinac to see the warbler because it only breeds here and it’s nearly extinct. Have you ever been to the Bahamas, Sydney?”

“We should really try to keep our voices down. The birds have excellent hearing.

We wouldn’t want to scare them off,” Sydney whispered politely.

The woman repeated her question in a somewhat lower voice.

A small sigh crept over Sydney’s lips. Questions like these were her least favorite aspect of leading the tours. Why did people always assume that travel was everyone else’s bailiwick? It wasn’t. Some of her wealthier clientele spoke about their trips as if travel was the singular mark of sophistication.

Sydney cringed at the uncharitable thought. An overreaction to an innocent question. Big Mama would have said she was “sprayin’ stinkin’ thinking like an angry lil skunk.” It wasn’t Mrs. Winter’s fault that Sydney St. James hadn’t been to the Bahamas, or even left the island, in the last five years. “No ma’am. I’ve never been,” Sydney said at last.

“What about Mexico? There’s lots of great birding there, too. Have you ever been there?”

Sydney shook her head.

“Oh, but you must go. The land and the people are absolutely beautiful. The indigenous influence makes for a whole different kind of culture.”

There must be a special kind of magic in planes. People boarded them and suddenly had new appreciation for things already available to them before take off. Smiling, she ed Old Nate’s words. “Birds feed their young by

sticking their beaks in their mouths. If you don’t want to stick your beak in another person’s mouth, then don’t try to feed them.” It wouldn’t do to correct a guest by reminding her that indigenous influence was here in Michigan, too.

Mrs. Winter’s attention turned to Henry. “And what about you, young man? What got you interested in birding?”

For someone who had been birding all over the world, Mrs. Winters seemed to have no care for birding etiquette. This woman was going to single-handedly scare away the entire local population with her incessant chatter.

Reluctantly, Henry answered. “Well, I suppose it was my teacher here, Ms. St. James.” He shrugged a bony shoulder at Sydney. Sydney winked back.

“Oh, how delightful,” the woman said. “So you’re still in school then?” She started fanning herself with her birding field guide.

“Just graduated.”

Sydney felt her chest stiffen. This noisy conversation had the potential to go dark, quick.

“And what will you do upon graduation?”

Sydney’s tension turned to surprise when Henry beamed. His cheeks brightened.

Sydney hadn’t seen him look this happy in months. She was suddenly grateful for the woman’s questions. “I’m going to BBA. It’s the local sailboat building school.”

So he’d been accepted! She wanted to bounce on her toes and clap her hands in celebration. For the umpteenth time in her five-year teaching career, she said a silent thanks to Old Nate for starting this school. An Ojibwe born on the island, Old Nate had turned his First Nation’s canoe-building tradition into a sailboatbuilding school that gave boys like Henry an opportunity to stay home by learning a craft that could lead to a decent salary without having to rely on the seasonal tourist industry.

“I’m so proud of you,” she mouthed to him, and his smile widened. This news definitely called for celebration. Sydney made a mental note to take Henry to Kingston’s Cafe next week.

Just then, Sydney heard a familiar sound. “Shhh, did you hear that?” Smiling, she held up her hand.

The group immediately fell silent, lifting their binoculars all at once as a collective buzz of anticipation hummed in the air. The leaves whispered, and Sydney willed everyone to tune out the various forest sounds in order to zero in on the birdsong. One call in particular stood out for her — a series of loud chirps dancing through the air, not plaintive, not shrill, which meant they were the whistles of one bird searching for another.

“What, what is it my child?” Mrs. Bennister was straining, leaning close to her husband, whose eyes were darting from branch to branch, seemingly frustrated with his binoculars.

“Eagle. In the tree,” Sydney whispered, pointing to a squat tree in the middle of the bog. “On the left, second branch from the top.”

The eagle’s white head was camouflaged by the sun-bleached wood around it, and its wings blended in with the sun dappled leaves.

Sydney looked from the group to the branch. She could tell from their expressions that none of them were seeing the majestic bird. Her nerves tightened. Many of the people who signed up for her tours were happy if they saw anything, but this was a more experienced group, and seeing an eagle would mean a lot to them. It could also help reviews.

“Which tree darling? The forest is filled with them.” Grace Hunt had a dry sense of humor that made Sydney chuckle. She also had a point.

“That one, right there in the middle of the bog.”

The morning quiet of the forest was shattered by the alarming sounds of a deep baritone bark. Sydney’s shoulders turned to steel. The majestic eagle took flight, a whir of white and brown feathers windmilling into the distance as a thin hare with desperate eyes came darting out of the woods, cutting straight through the group of birders.

A brown ball of loping fur that looked like a midsized bear trailed hot on the hare’s heels. Only as it got closer did Sydney realize it wasn’t a bear, but a huge dog; one with the speed and determination of a derailed locomotive engine. It

had trampled a small tree in its effort to seize the terrified hare in what looked like two-inch-long canines.

“A wolf!” one of the women screamed. Her panic set off a chain of equally frantic calls from everyone else in the group as they all scrambled to jump out of the animal’s path of destruction.

The hare darted to the edge of the bog and sprang toward the dark, algae covered water. Landing first on a partially submerged tree stump, its paws barely touched the surface before the hare leaped to a boulder. Trailing close, the clumsy dog dove into the swamp with the confidence of an Olympic diver and the agility of a drunken sailor.

Sydney shook her head. “Silly dog, don’t you know there’s no catching Michabo?”

The dog emerged quickly, his brown eyes as round as the boulder the hare had just evacuated. He pedaled around in circles, each stroke bringing him farther and farther from shore. Sydney knew the bog intimately from her childhood days in camp. Old Nate, then her instructor, had made them do bog walks as part of his get-in-touch-with-nature curriculum. The bottom dropped off quickly. There was no chance the dog’s hind legs were touching the silt beneath. It only took a few enthusiastic strokes before the dog seemed to realize the same.

When his head went under once, then twice, and he came up spitting and howling, Sydney realized that this big oaf was the rare breed of dog that didn’t know how to swim.

As thoughtlessly as the dog who’d preceded her, she dove into the cold, swampy water with a gasp, wrapping her arms around him in seconds. The scared pup pawed at the water and her, seemingly shocked at its give. “It’s okay. I got you. It’s okay.” He calmed a bit at her voice, enough to allow her to swim the thirty feet back to shore with minimal effort.

As soon as he had his four paws on solid earth, the dog shook his coat, eliciting a collective groan from all as slimy, green swamp goo sprayed the group. Spotting his arched back, Sydney grabbed him by the collar just as he prepared for a second round of shaking.

“Gus! There you are!” A man’s deep voice called. It was filled with equal parts relief and onition.

Gus promptly tucked his tail between his legs and pawed at the muddy shore. His owner, a tall, muscular man in aviators and a straw bucket hat with a thick green and red Gucci band, strode out of the woods like he owned them. He took one look at the grime-covered woman and the gape-mouthed group and erupted into the most raucous laughter Sydney had heard in ages.

Sydney’s pulse skyrocketed.

“Are you for real?” she said to the man who looked like he belonged on a rooftop patio bar instead of in the middle of a forest. The city boy was sporting leather wingtips for God’s sake. No wonder she had to be the one to jump in and save his silly dog.

“Did your dark sunglasses make it so you couldn’t see the signs in this area that

clearly state it’s protected, and dogs are not allowed?! You and your dog just scared off a bald eagle. It might not ever come back. I hardly see the humor!”

She wanted to finish the sentence with “you moron” but couldn’t bring herself to use that language in front of strangers. It was enough that she had raised her voice in front of the group. Sydney couldn’t the last time she had gotten angry enough with anyone to do that.

He held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. “You’re right.” His rich, husky voice stroked her senses like warm sun, instantly uncoiling a bit of the tension in Sydney’s shoulders. “You’re absolutely right. I know better and should have done better.” Taking off his sunglasses, he looked at the rest of the group with sincerity.

“I’m very sorry that I interrupted your morning, ladies and gentlemen.” He stepped forward, presumably to latch the leash in his hand through the silver loop on Gus’s collar. “Come on boy, we’ve caused enough trouble for one day. What did I tell you about trying to chase Michabo?”

Michabo? She blinked in surprise. Not many knew the myth of the Great Hare who married muskrat and fathered humanity. She only knew from Old Nate’s campfire stories.

As the dog’s owner stepped closer, Sydney stared, suddenly recognizing the brooding dark eyes and raven hair. The granite jaw and broad shoulders were new, the result of age and maturity, but those eyes she’d know anywhere.

“Devin?”

“Sydney?” His gaze skimmed her head to toe, and a smile quirked his full lips.

Her heart fluttered then dropped. This trail was one that his grandfather, Old Nate, had shown them when they were kids. As sure as she knew her own name, she knew Devin was out walking it now in order to connect with the man he hadn’t bothered to come visit in the five years leading up to his death.

TWO

Well, well, well, life was full of surprises. The last person Devin Fox expected to see when he came back to the island to pack up his deceased grandfather’s house was a grown up Sydney St. James. And what a sight the golden-brown woman was. The skinny, mixed girl had been attractive when they were kids, but the woman she’d turned into belonged on television. Her dark brown eyes and long curly hair were beautiful, even covered in flecks of green algae. The fact that she was standing in front of him in waterlogged clothes that clung to her body and showed off every inch of her slender but curvy figure didn’t hurt.

It had been a good ten years since they’d seen each other. They were probably about fifteen then. Seeing Sydney now was an instant pick-me-up. He’d been in a foul mood since arriving on the island late last night. His mother had offered to pack up the house, but Old Nate was Devin’s paternal grandfather and, with Devin’s father gone, the responsibility really was Devin’s, even though they hadn’t spoken for nearly five years. Just enough time for him to forget how remote his grandfather’s cabin was. When he arrived to no cell or internet service, he wished he’d let his mother come instead.

Until now.

“Flowerchild? What are you doing here?” Devin asked, picking up her straw hat from the ground, where it must have fallen as she dove in to save his dog. The daisy in the brim told him it was hers. As kids that was her trademark, the reason for her nickname. He handed it to her.

Before Sydney could answer, a low moan broke his trance. Devin swiveled his

head to locate the source. An older woman with a shock of red hair, probably her natural color thirty years ago but now definitely courtesy of a bottle, sat on the ground holding her ankle. Gus made it to the woman’s side before anyone else, promptly covering her cheek in a wet, slobbery kiss.

Devin cringed in anticipation of a rebuff, but the older woman laughed, or at least she tried to before wincing.

“Grace, you’re hurt.” Sydney said, her voice full of concern.

Instinctively, he and Sydney crouched at the woman’s side as she rolled down her sock. The skin around her ankle was already starting to pillow and discolor into blotchy pinks and blues.

“How did this happen?” Sydney asked.

Grace reached out and rubbed the fur behind Gus’s ears, earning her another wet kiss. “I must have jumped a little too high when I saw this guy coming. My balance isn’t what it used to be.”

Gus dropped his chin and tucked his tail between his legs as though he somehow understood. Devin felt as guilty as Gus looked. It wasn’t Gus’s fault that his stupid human wasn’t paying attention, and now this sweet old lady had to suffer.

Devin’s heart constricted as his eyes focused back on the older woman. “My God. I am so incredibly sorry.”

“Nonsense. These things happen.” Grace winced as she patted his hand.

Grace’s tone was forgiving, but Sydney’s icy glare let him know he was a long way from being off the hook. Sydney took control of the situation immediately. “Let’s get you to the road. There’s bound to be a wagon coming along to give us a ride to town.” She looked up at the rest of the birders who were all standing around with concerned expressions.

“Folks, Henry will take you on up to the north end of the bog and finish the tour while we head back to the road. Since I won’t be finishing the tour with you, I’m offering refunds. You’re welcome to call me for your money back or to reschedule another tour before you finish your vacations.”

Henry’s brows arched before he nodded quickly. Devin guessed the kid was doing some mental math about those refunds and wasn’t too happy with the end calculation. The kid looked worried. He cut a shy glance at Devin then shot his eyes to the ground. Devin had no idea how much a birding tour cost but, once they had a minute alone, he’d let Sydney know she didn’t have to worry. He’d take care of it.

The rest of the group muttered their assent as Henry led them on, and Sydney returned her attention to Grace.

“I’m so sorry,” Grace said.

“Nonsense. You have nothing to be sorry about.” Sydney winked. “Think you

can walk if we each lend you a shoulder?” Sydney smiled tenderly at the woman. Her smile was so angelic Devin’s heart suddenly felt like one of the precious birds the group was looking for.

“I’d like to believe that I can do anything I put my mind to,” Grace said as she allowed the two to help her to her feet.

Luckily, the road was only about a quarter mile away. After limping through the woods, the trio stepped onto an idyllic stretch just as an empty horse-drawn transport wagon came trundling along. Devin exhaled, relieved and impressed with Sydney’s prescience. He’d been more than a little convinced that he was going to have to put the older woman on his back to carry her in. The idea of forcing her to suffer such an indignity added to an already growing amount of guilt.

He helped Grace onto the seat beside the driver. Sydney hopped into the back, and Gus followed without even looking at Devin for instruction. His dog seemed quite taken with Sydney. Climbing in beside them, flashes of Devin’s childhood came back to him. He ed that, on an island that didn’t allow motorized vehicles, Saturday mornings the main road was full of two things — bicycles and horses.

As kids, he and Sydney reveled in that traffic. Riding bikes his grandfather had rescued from one of many large piles the tourists left in front of their houses when the summer season ended, he and Sydney explored every cow path and Indian trail on the island, including those that were too grown over for any but the heartiest adventurers. They liked them the best because you could go hours without seeing another person.

The driver flicked the leather reins, rearing the horses to go, and Devin turned to

look at Sydney. Her golden skin was a rich adobe red from the sun and, when she caught him gawking, the left side of her mouth curved up, sending a dimple to her cheek.

Damn, she was beautiful.

“You did a great job directing everyone, young lady. I gather you’ve got some experience herding cats,” Grace said to Sydney.

Devin agreed.

Sydney smiled. “Teaching high school has given me lots of practice.”

“Where do you teach?”

“Here, on the island. I’m one of about five hundred people who stick around all year. We just can’t seem to get enough of this place.”

“It’s beautiful. I can certainly see why.”

They all looked out at the water that ran alongside the island’s main road. This stretch was one of several that offered unobstructed views of Lake Huron. To call it a lake seemed like a misnomer. Devin had once heard the Baltic Sea was smaller, and standing on any shore there was no way to see the other side.

“Though I can’t imagine living full time without a car,” Grace continued.

Devin could have sworn a shadow crossed Sydney’s eyes. “We manage. It’s definitely not for everyone, though.”

He wondered how Sydney managed. The girl he knew had been so hungry for adventure, always dreaming of traveling the world. As they climbed the island’s tallest trees and explored its darkest caves, Sydney had a constant refrain: one day they would travel the world doing just this. And if he wouldn’t her, she would go by herself. For years, she wanted to grow up to be a mapmaker, charting new terrain. It was natural for people to change as they grew older. This seemed a rather drastic change, though.

“Have you always lived on this island?” Grace asked.

“Nope, I grew up across the channel. I used to come here in the summer with my grandmother. She cleaned rooms at the Grand Hotel. That’s how I met this one here.” Sydney nodded at Devin. He was pretty sure her eyes glinted as she did, or at least he hoped they had. “His grandfather was our nature camp instructor.” She pursed her lips tenderly at the mention of Old Nate. “Five years ago, I crossed the channel and moved here for good.”

Grace clasped her hands. “Ah, so you two were childhood friends.”

“Best friends,” Devin said, fixing his gaze on Sydney, pleased when she didn’t contradict him. It was the first contribution he’d been able to make to an

incredibly informative conversation. He was able to get a sense of Sydney’s life without having to pry awkwardly. Throughout the ride, he’d caught Sydney glancing at Grace’s ankle enough times to know that she was still quite irritated with him and Gus. If he’d asked her the questions, she might not have been as open with her answers.

The wagon slowed and then stopped in front of a small, white clapboard building on the edge of town. Gus was the first out of the wagon, and Devin handed the dog’s leash to Sydney while he lifted Grace out of the front of the wagon and escorted her into the office.

This morning had taken an entirely different turn than he’d planned, and though he felt terrible about Grace, being around Sydney reminded him about some of the best aspects of his childhood, and that felt damn good.

THREE

Doctor Albert’s office was small and tidy with a professional-yet-beachy feel. Wood ed walls had been painted white to look like driftwood, and photographs of the Round Island Lighthouse, Arch Rock, and sailboats hung on them. He changed the pictures depending on the season. During the winter, the doctor preferred frozen shots of local landscapes. Now, the odd lilac photo dotted the walls in honor of the big festival. Like his wife, Linda, who was his receptionist, Doctor Albert was born on the island, and some of their photos dated back decades.

Surprisingly, the office was empty when Devin helped Sydney bring Grace inside. He left Gus outside in the shade, tied to a post, saying he’d step in just long enough to make sure she and Grace were situated. Sydney snuck a peek at him as he eased Grace into a wooden chair, his muscular forearms flexing handsomely with the gentle movement.

Sydney had thought of him several times in the years since they’d last seen each other. She knew that Old Nate thought of him often, too. In her mind, she always imagined the same quiet, skinny boy who’d climbed rocks and built forts as a kid. Never in a million years would she have imagined the gorgeous man standing next to her.

“Doc, we’ve got someone with a hurt ankle. Might be a sprain or break, better come out front,” Linda, who’d been writing at the receptionist desk, called back to her husband in his office.

Grace smiled up at Sydney. “She’s good.”

Sydney smiled back. “Very.”

Linda Albert could usually name an injury on sight. She didn’t even have to palpate, which was fortunate for the doctor because medical assistants keen to spend an arctic winter on the island were few and far between. According to the doctor, his wife had something like x-ray vision, and that went beyond people’s bones. She just never missed anything.

The cheerful woman recognized Devin at once. “Devin Fox, is that you?”

He nodded, and Sydney’s heart tugged for him as she smiled slightly. Being recognized by people who knew you as a child was a special feeling.

Linda darted around the receptionist’s desk and wrapped Devin in a hug. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry about your grandpa. You must know how much we all loved him here. His death leaves a hole in the heart of the island.” She stepped back from Devin and patted his chest once, lightly. “Sorry, sweetie, I probably should have asked before I mawed you, but ya know, I’ve just been wanting to do that ever since I saw you at the funeral in St. Ignace. There were just so many people around you that I couldn’t beat past ‘em.”

“No worries. It’s fine. Really,” Devin said.

Sydney was pretty sure he meant it. In addition to her damn-near-supernatural powers of observation, Linda Albert was known for two other things: her cherry pies and her big mama bear hugs. Sydney swore some of the kids on the island

scraped their knees just so they could get one of those hugs when they came into the office. They were their own kind of medicine.

“It’s nice to hear about the lives he touched,” Devin said before pointing to the door. “My dog’s waiting out on the porch. I should probably go check on him before he does something that makes you wish you hadn’t laid eyes on us.” He cut a glance at Sydney, and she couldn’t help but smile. He’d been apologizing in several different ways since he took Gus from her back at the bog. She was halfway to letting it go. Hadn’t her own dog gone on a tear just this morning?

Linda glanced out the front window, smiling when she saw Gus outside wagging his tail at a horse-drawn carriage shuffling past. “That would never happen, Devin Fox.” Linda put her hand to her chest. “It just warms my heart to see you two kids, and together at that. I always had a feeling about the two of you.” Linda wagged her finger playfully.

Her and Devin? The city boy who’d forgotten his roots? Sydney started to say they weren’t actually together but, really, what was the point? Let the woman enjoy her moment.

The front door to the office closed as Doc Albert appeared from the back in his white jacket. “Sorry about the wait. Was just finishing up a patient call.”

Sydney smiled. Only on her island would a doctor apologize to a patient for a five minute wait.

Grace looked at her, eyes slightly rounded, clearly thinking the same thing. “I’m starting to understand the appeal of this island.” She chuckled then winced.

Doc’s face turned serious when he caught Grace’s expression. “Let’s get you looked at, why don’t we?”

Grace nodded, and the doctor helped her into a wheelchair then pushed her toward the exam room.

“He’s gonna be a good thirty minutes, Syd. Why don’t you wait outside with Devin? I’ll call you when it’s time to come back in.”

Sydney’s palms started to sweat, even though a cool lake breeze fluttered through the open window. Why was she instantly nervous about the idea of spending thirty minutes alone with her old friend? He was just a friend. A handsome, childhood friend, sure, but nothing more. She gave Linda a half smile. “Great, I’ll be out front.”

***

Sydney sat on the Victorian-style bench in front of the doctor’s office, leaving about a foot between her and Devin. Even if she’d wanted to, which she told herself she didn’t, she couldn’t really have sat closer to him. Gus was sitting on the ground in that space, transfixed by a pair of seagulls flying nearby. Sydney ran her hand along the back of Gus’s neck. It was still damp from the bog and flecks of algae came off as she rubbed. He wagged his tail and looked up at her with smiling eyes, his tongue lolling. He had a cute face and a huge head. He looked like a cross between a Saint Bernard and a husky.

“You think he’s hot?” Without waiting for an answer she swung her backpack around, pulling out a bottle of water and a collapsible dog water bowl.

The corners of Devin’s eyes crinkled. He hadn’t put his aviators back on since Sydney’s comment, and she was glad. His dark eyes were beautiful. Plus, so much of a conversation seemed to be lost when people talked from behind the barrier of sunglasses. “You just happened to have dog watering devices in your backpack? What else ya got in there, Flowerchild? The cure for world peace?”

Surprised how much she liked hearing Devin use her old nickname, Sydney laughingly rolled her eyes. “That’s a bit of a stretch, Devin Fox.”

“I’m just saying, I am very impressed. That seems incredibly random and perfectly appropriate, even though I don’t think he’s hot. Or at least too hot. I guess I should have brought something like that just in case. It seems I’m shaping up to be something of a bad pet dad.” He patted Gus’s head and Sydney noticed how large and strong his hand was. “Poor guy.”

Sydney filled the water bowl and set it before Gus, who lapped up the water quickly, then looked at her for a refill.

“I wasn’t trying to make you feel bad, Devin. It’s just that when I go into the woods, I like to be prepared for any animals I might find.”

“Sounds like something Old Nate would have said.”

Sydney’s spine stiffened, and she felt torn. On the one hand, the sadness in his voice at the mention of his grandfather made her want to reach out and comfort him with touch. On the other, she’d never liked the fact that Devin called his grandfather Old Nate. He’d started doing it the last summer she saw him. That was the summer something changed in him and she never knew why. Not liking that thought, Sydney tried to send her mind and the conversation in a different direction. “How long have you had this adorable troublemaker?”

“Little over three months. We’re still working on the training bit. He was hanging out around my apartment building one night when I went to the corner store to grab a bag of coffee. He followed me up the block. Waited outside. When I came out it’d started to snow, one of those freak, late-April snows that sometimes happens in Chicago. Super heavy. He wouldn’t leave my side when we walked back. I just couldn’t leave him out there.” Devin shrugged his broad shoulders. “I put up flyers and even posted an ad on Craigslist to see if anyone wanted him, but no takers. I guess he’s a bit big for most people’s apartments.”

He certainly was. A dog that size would enjoy running with her horses in the pasture. He needed space. That might have been part of the reason he’d taken off earlier. “Well, he loves you, and I’m sure he’s just happy to be wherever you are.”

Sydney felt a light tap on her shoulder and turned around to find Linda standing there, eyes gleaming. “Have I already told you how nice it is to see you home?” She chuckled. “Doc’s ready to see you.”

Had it been thirty minutes already? They always say time moves quickly when you’re in good company.

Linda bent down and patted Gus on the head, then reached in the pocket of her

white coat, pulling out a bone-shaped biscuit. “Sorry, pooch, you’ll have to wait outside. Some patients have allergies, but hopefully this makes up for our rules.”

Gus wagged his tail, and Sydney shot a glance at Devin. Gus wasn’t the only one who seemed charmed by Linda. Devin’s eyes brightened around her too. Even the comment about the island being home seemed to have gone over well. Was he back for good? He had to be. With Old Nate gone, there was no one else to run BBA Boat Building School. Sydney smiled. Though it had been years since the last time they spoke, it would be nice to have Devin back. The last few weeks without Nate had been dismal. His ing wasn’t a surprise like her parents’ or grandparents’ deaths, but coping with Nate’s loss had been just as painful.

“You coming?” Devin asked.

“Right behind you.” Sydney got to her feet and followed him into the office.

Grace was sitting on a chair in the waiting room, holding a pair of crutches across her lap. Her shoulders were sagging a bit, and she had a sheepish expression on her face. She was wearing a short boot brace with five bare toes sticking out at the tip.

Doctor Albert gestured toward Grace. “Well, the good news is that nothing is broken. The bad news is that she has a level two sprain. That’s actually rather serious for an older person, primarily because if she falls again that could result in an even greater injury.”

Devin let out a long sigh. Sydney didn’t even have to look at him to know what

he was feeling — terrible guilt. She lifted her eyes to his anyway, and what she saw was worse than she’d anticipated. His beautiful eyes were pained. She suspected he had more than this morning’s accident on his mind. His grandfather’s loss had probably hit him hard, and this was likely making some of that bubble up to the surface.

“Well, I’ll just have to make sure that doesn’t happen, now won’t I?” Devin said, masking his pain with a smile so quickly Sydney was pretty sure she was the only one who noticed.

Grace cocked her head to the side. Devin met her eyes. “If you don’t mind the company of one thoughtless pet parent, I’d love to be your personal nurse until you’re feeling better. It’s the least I can do.”

Grace shook her head and waved her hand dismissively. “Absolutely not. Completely unnecessary. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, young man. Though I do appreciate the offer. It’s very kind.”

Doctor Albert clapped his hands, once. “That’s a wonderful idea. Give Grace a chance to get a taste of some real local hospitality. It’s settled.”

Grace’s eyes rounded, but she seemed too stunned to speak.

“Sydney, Devin, can I see you over here for a moment?” The doctor moved to the receptionist desk, where he scratched out a prescription on his pad. As he handed it to Sydney, he said, “We’ve been over this already. Grace doesn’t have anyone on island at the moment, and it just wouldn’t do to have her recuperating untended.”

“She won’t be alone, Doc. We will take care of her,” Sydney assured. Though by “we,” she meant herself. Devin’s offer was sweet, but she would be the one to take care of Grace. The woman was her tour guest after all.

Thirty minutes later, Grace was resting comfortably in bed at the cottage she’d rented for the summer. Devin had whipped her up some eggs, and Grace had excused herself for a nap once the dishes were cleared. After much bickering, she’d finally agreed to let Sydney and Devin check in on her for a few hours a day.

“She’s a tough cookie, isn’t she? For a second there I didn’t think she was gonna let us help out.” Devin’s eyes twinkled as he eased in beside Sydney on the porch swing in front of the cottage. It offered a nice view of the lake at the bottom of the hill.

“Devin, I really don’t expect you to take this on. I can handle looking after Grace by myself.”

“Are you kidding me? And let you have all the fun? No way. She’s funny. I’d like to help out. Plus, this view is incredible. This has got to be one of the best sitting spots on island.”

Sydney opened her mouth to protest, then abruptly snapped it shut. If he wanted to help, who was she to say no? Grace seemed to like him, too.

“Why don’t you let me take you to dinner tonight so we can work out a

schedule?” Devin leaned closer to her, and she could feel the heat of his leg through her stained cargo pants. A sudden wave of self-consciousness set her nerves on edge. Sydney ran her hands over her cheeks. Until now she’d been so focused on Grace that she hadn’t even thought about what jumping into a swamp must have done to her hair and face, not to mention clothes. But if she did look a mess, she couldn’t tell from the expression in Devin’s warm eyes.

“Maybe we could go to the Grand. how we always used to want to eat there as kids?” Devin asked, excitement tinging his husky voice.

Sydney hesitated. They’d spent a lot of time there as kids, going to pick up Big Mama after her shifts cleaning rooms. Sydney ed that the one time she’d seen her grandmother lose her temper, it happened there.

It was early evening and Devin and Sydney had come to meet her so they could all walk to the ferry. They were supposed to find her at the service entrance, but Sydney had gotten distracted by a horse-drawn carriage bedecked in white lace and flowers. Instead of going left, they went right, to the great lawn where rows and rows of chairs faced a floral arch. The wedding guests were all wearing their summer best: ladies in beautiful gowns, men in suits and ties. Devin and Sydney were in cutoffs and mud.

A senior manager caught them crouching by the boxwood, grabbed them by the scruffs of their necks, and marched them back to the service entrance. “Gloria, look what I found near the front entrance. You know the policy.” The man sneered.

“Apparently you don’t know the policy on manhandling a woman’s chits,” her grandmother hissed, and the man snatched his hand back from Devin and Sydney like they were hot coals.

“Come on children. Let’s go.”

Big Mama didn’t speak for the whole walk to the ferry. Her jaw was so tight her muscles twitched. Both Sydney and Devin could tell she was upset. Devin grabbed Sydney’s hand and held it all the way to the dock. When they got there he whispered, “One day I’ll have enough money to buy that place. When I do, we’ll get married there.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

In all the years since, Sydney had never been inside the Grand Hotel. That day long ago had left her with a feeling of shame, a sense that she wasn’t good enough to go in through the front door. Her cheeks heated as she thought about all of the reasons she should say no to Devin’s invitation.

Seeming to sense her hesitation, Devin nudged. “After the mess I made of your morning, I’d appreciate an opportunity to make it up to you, or at least try.”

“That’s nice of you.”

“Is that a yes?” He smiled. “We don’t have to go to the Grand. We can go anywhere your heart desires.”

Sydney sucked in a sharp breath. Hearing Devin talk about her heart made it jump in her chest. Spending time with him out in the woods or looking after Grace was one thing, but going to a restaurant, especially a fancy one, felt like a date. Sydney hadn’t been on a date in years, and she didn’t know if she was ready to wade back into the pool. The early adventures hadn’t worked out very well. Not that there’d been that many. Her one and only boyfriend had packed up his pickup truck after college, in search of the bright lights of the big city. If Grand Rapids, Michigan, even counted as that. Since him, she’d just told herself she was too busy for a man, but the truth was she knew that most men wouldn’t be willing to live on a small island with her when leaving wasn’t an option.

Devin waved his hand in front of her face. “Earth to Flowerchild…? It’s me, Devin…”

She looked into his eyes. Devin wasn’t Shaun. Devin had returned home to the island. Devin was safe, and this wasn’t a date. It was just two old friends catching up. “Okay, Devin. We’ll meet back here this afternoon and then go for dinner afterward.”

“That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

FOUR

Outside of fast cars and killer trades, not much usually excited Devin. But the heat flushing his skin wasn’t just because he’d done more bike riding in the last thirty minutes than he’d done in the last three years. The woman on the bicycle up ahead was laughing again, and there was a musicality in the sound that made his heart respond in a way his head didn’t quite comprehend.

Another thing he didn’t typically understand was women, not that he usually bothered to try, but if there was any lingering upset over this morning’s mishap, Devin couldn’t tell. Sydney seemed to be in high spirits, and he liked to think it had something to do with their reunion. That was definitely true for him. The bike ride from Grace’s had felt like old times, filled with banter, laughs, and a levity he hadn’t experienced in years.

They slowed just past a small, worn sign that read Crab House. It was a quiet, casual restaurant on the edge of the downtown area. Parking their bikes on the lawn beneath a Sycamore tree, they strode across the grass to an outdoor table overlooking barrel gardens. Devin followed Sydney to a private table on the perimeter of the patio, where they sat themselves. Devin couldn’t the last time he’d eaten in a restaurant where the hostess didn’t direct you to a table. This laid-back atmosphere was nice. He’d never been there during summer visits with his grandfather. As far as he could tell, the restaurant didn’t have a water view, which was probably part of the reason it was quieter than most of the others on island. Devin smoothed his hands over his thighs. He didn’t mind being away from the crowds. It gave him an opportunity to have Sydney all to himself.

“Cool spot,” Devin said, glancing once around the patio before his eyes landed

across the table on a smiling Sydney. He was glad he opted for jeans instead of slacks. Her floppy hat hung from a scarf around her neck, and she was wearing cutoffs and a simple white top with dangling wooden earrings shaped like trees. After the look she’d given him when he’d suggested the Grand earlier, he’d had a feeling she was going to pick something low-key. “Super chill vibe,” he said.

Sydney’s smile deepened, and her eyes lit up. “I’m glad you approve. I thought it would be a good way to ease us into grown-up hangs.”

“I’m with you there, no need to rush.” Except part of him did want to rush. Straight through dinner and right into dessert.

That last summer they’d seen each other, he’d fantasized about wrapping his fingers in her thick curls and kissing those full lips, but then he was afraid of rejection. Fear of rejection was part of the reason he stopped coming to the island during the summer. But that was a long time ago. Now, he had enough experience to pick up those subtle signals letting him know that a woman was into him. This attraction definitely wasn’t one way, even if she seemed to be slow to it it.

Sneaking a peek of her over the plastic menu, their eyes met, and when he glimpsed her shy half-smile, a fresh wave of desire shot through him. He couldn’t believe how beautiful she was. She’d ditched the braid she was wearing this morning, allowing corkscrew curls to fall wildly down her back. What was she doing hiding all that on this little island?

Unlike most of the women he dated in Chicago, Sydney didn’t wear makeup. She didn’t need it, though. Not in his opinion. Thick lashes framed deep brown eyes, and her lips were a soft natural pink. But most of all her enthusiasm was magnetic. That wasn’t the only difference between her and the women he dated

in Chicago. Any one of them would have picked a much more expensive dinner option for their first date. He kind of liked the fact that she didn’t. Even though he’d long made it a point to be able to afford the finest meals at the finest restaurants any time he got the notion. Her down-to-earth humility was a nice change of pace and definite turn on.

“So, do you have a recommendation?” Devin asked, clamping a lid on his libido for now and focusing instead on the black and white letters before him. Crab House’s menu was pretty simple. Sandwiches, salads, and fried local fish. Nothing that screamed, I’m sorry you had to mess up your morning to dive into a smelly bog to rescue my dog. Oh, and double sorry about almost killing one of your customers.

Sydney smiled at him. “Nope. I don’t eat out much. I’ve never been here before.”

Devin was tempted to tell her this wasn’t the kind of apology dinner he had in mind. When he said he wanted to make amends, he was thinking along the lines of a string quartet, fresh flowers and maybe a sunset cruise. He’d just have to surprise her on their next date and, if he had anything to say about it, there was definitely going to be a next date.

A tall, sandy-haired waiter quickly came to fill two recycled jelly glasses with water before taking their order. “Do you have champagne?” Devin asked.

Sydney made a face.

“What? You don’t like champagne, Syd?”

She shrugged.

“Ha! You know what, I don’t really like it, either, but isn’t that what the fancy folk do when they celebrate? And if ever there was an occasion to celebrate…” He jokingly speared the air with his pinky.

Sydney laughed. “It’s our party. I say we do fancy our way.”

He nodded, and they both picked Walleye fish sandwiches with extra tartar sauce, Cajun fries, Southern style coleslaw, and rum runners.

“Great minds.” Sydney chuckled as the waiter walked away.

“Yeah, we always did have a lot in common didn’t we?”

Sydney nodded and smiled. “You the forts we used to build in the woods? How we’d get lost out there for hours?”

“I how you’d have us out there for hours picking flowers to decorate them.”

“You were always such a good sport.” Sydney laughed. “It’s great to have you back, Devin. I’ve been missing Nate so much, and, well, it’s nice to have you

here.”

“It’s good to be back. I love seeing you. You’ve grown into a beautiful woman.”

Sydney flushed. “Thanks, Dev, you’re not so bad yourself.”

Now it was his turn to feel the heat, a single dollop that made his shaft twitch. He shifted in his chair. “So, what’s up with you and the hat? Is that a staple?”

Sydney fingered the scarf. “It’s a lucky hat. Big Mama used to wear it in the garden.”

Devin smiled. “Big Mama. Man, how are your sisters and grandparents?” he asked.

“The twins are good. Zoey is finishing up medical school down state, and Mila is practicing law in the U.S. Virgin Islands. But, Big Mama and Pops ed away about five years ago.”

His heart dropped. Big Mama was dead? That was not the answer he’d expected to hear. He’d always regarded the proud, loving woman as invincible. “Syd. I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Yeah, it was a heavy blow.”

“I bet.” He tapped the table and held her gaze for a moment. “What happened?”

A flash of sadness crossed her face, but she pushed it back quickly, and he felt bad about making her relive an obvious pain. “Car accident. They did everything together up until the very end. I won’t lie. It hurt.”

He wanted to take her in his arms but settled for taking her hand instead. “Syd. That’s the same way your parents went.” She’d grown up under the cloud of that loss. He could only imagine how having her grandparents die the same way would have impacted her.

“It is. But we’re not here to talk about my woes.” She smiled sadly and waved him on. He missed her hand as soon as it was no longer in his. “How’s life in Chicago been?”

Torn between probing and answering, Devin decided not to pry. “Chicago’s been good to me. We’ve had our ups and downs, but I’m working for a brokerage firm in the city, and I’m on track for a big promotion. The goal is to go solo soon. You know me, I work better on my own.”

Sydney smiled.

“ when we were kids and I said one day I’d buy the Grand? Two or three more years, and I’ll be able to.” He leaned back in this chair.

What he didn’t tell her was that he would have been able to buy it five years back if he hadn’t gotten derailed by his father’s death. The emotional impact had him forcing trades and, before he knew it, he’d lost twenty-five million dollars and a trading position at a coveted firm.

“That’s amazing. Congratulations, Dev! I always knew you could do anything.” Her eyes were so full of pride that he felt like the hard climb was worth it. “And I love how the big-deal jobs are letting people work remote nowadays. You know, I’ve been thinking. Nate and I always sailed together in the Fourth of July parade. Now that you’re back, maybe you and I could partner? It’d be a nice way for us to honor him.”

He looked at her intently, trying to make sense of her last comments. The Fourth was a month away. She didn’t think he was going to be here permanently, did she? As charming as all of this was, he had a life in Chicago. A well-paying job, a condo in the Gold Coast, and a Saturday-afternoon tradition that included him speeding up Lake Shore drive blasting old Al Green songs. None of which was possible here on this fairy-tale island that didn’t even allow scooters. “Uh, thanks, Syd, but I can’t work remote forever. I called my boss and let him know I’ll be back in two weeks.”

“Back? You mean you aren’t staying?” A look of confusion spread across her face.

He jabbed toward the ground with his index finger. “Here? I can’t possibly stay here. My whole life is back in Chicago.”

“But what about Nate’s school?”

Devin sighed. This conversation was suddenly moving far and fast from seconddate territory. “I have a friend from Chicago, Samantha. She sells commercial real estate. She thinks she’ll be able to get me a buyer pretty quickly. Mackinac Island is a solid market. Tourists eat this old-fashioned living up like it’s candy. Murdick’s Fudge to be exact,” he teased but, when Sydney didn’t respond, he swallowed.

The waiter came and dropped off their drinks and sandwiches. Grateful for the interruption, Devin said “bon appétit,” then waited for Sydney to take her first bite before he dug in.

He hadn’t eaten all day and was famished. The fish was good. It tasted fresh, and the batter was seasoned well. There was a bunch of smoked fish at Old Nate’s, but Devin couldn’t bring himself to eat it. Reminded him too much of his grandfather and the fishing they did when he was young. Initially, he’d only planned to stay a few days and to eat out mostly, but now that he’d extended his trip to help care for Grace, he would have to pick up a few things to munch on. Last night, the island’s grocer had closed by the time Devin arrived. Tonight would be another miss, but shopping was going to have to be one of the first stops he made after the lawyer’s office tomorrow. Maybe he’d swing by the fish market.

Devin picked up the second half of his sandwich, only then realizing Sydney had finished her drink but hadn’t eaten more than the one bite of her food. “What’s wrong? Not what you expected? I’ll have them bring you something else, Syd.” He started to signal for the waiter, but she stopped him.

“The food is fine, Devin. Tell me, what will happen if you sell the school?”

Sydney sounded tense. He put down his sandwich and swallowed his last bite.

He’d looked over the numbers. The school had been operating in the red for the last year. Devin didn’t have the time or the energy to invest in trying to turn it around, if in fact it could even be turned around. He knew nothing about running a school.

“Honestly, Syd? I have no idea.” He glanced at the bar of the restaurant. “Maybe they’ll turn it into a brewery. I don’t think there are any breweries on island. It could be open all year, provide a little extra entertainment for the poor lot who are stuck here all year round.”

“It’s a choice, Devin. Living here on this island is a choice that we make, and it would be nice if you wouldn’t talk about that choice like it meant we’ve got no sense. You, of all people, should understand that there’s much more to this island than Main Street. But maybe all that city living prevents you from seeing that now.”

Devin’s chest tightened. He didn’t mean to make light of the life she’d chosen. To a certain extent, he got it. Kinda. Sort of. Almost. In small doses, the island was charming. Like a weekend. A week, max. As a kid, the only thing that made summers endurable was Sydney. He just didn’t understand how anyone could think of making life here permanent. There wasn’t enough to do, and having to schedule your life around a ferry back and forth to the mainland gave him a serious lost-at-sea feeling. A bermuda-Triangle-scale fog threatened to swallow his mind at the mere thought of living here permanently.

Devin rubbed his chin. Sydney’s bottom lip trembled. She was clearly upset, and that, in turn, upset him. In more than one way, he realized with some surprise. Devin wasn’t used to caring about a woman’s feelings this intensely. This was new. “Sorry, Syd. I get that it’s a choice, and I respect that choice. I didn’t mean to be insensitive.”

Sydney’s eyes moistened, and his heart broke in two. “I know, Devin. I know you’ve got a pure heart. But what is going to happen to the kids who are enrolled there? Other than the school, there aren’t any real jobs for most of them here.”

It took Devin a minute to find his words as he basked in the confidence of Sydney’s declaration about the purity of his heart. “I trade stocks. I don’t know much about alternative uses for commercial real estate and even less about schools.”

The thought gave Devin a headache. He took a long sip from his drink.

“I know about schools. Maybe I could help.”

Devin laughed. “Sydney, teaching high schoolers is not the same thing as running a college for profit.” He didn’t mean to scoff, but he had and regretted it as soon as the sound came out of his mouth.

Sydney’s eyes narrowed, and she looked away. He knew he’d offended her. He felt bad, but wrapping up his grandfather’s estate had been weighing on him so heavily that discussing it brought out his worst. Tomorrow, the attorney should be able to tell him about the legal ramifications of closing the school before the students, all thirty of them, had an opportunity to graduate. The tuition was so low he was fairly certain he’d make more than enough money from the sale of the school to reimburse them, if he had to.

Her eyes met his again, and she leaned across the table. “So you’re just going to close the doors and throw these kids out on the street?”

He shrugged. “I’m sure I’ll be able to give them refunds.”

“But what about their educations?”

Her tone was beginning to upset him. These people were not his responsibility. Financial or otherwise. “I don’t know, Syd, I don’t have it all figured out. But the fact is that sometimes when people die, their big pet projects die with them. In this case, I suppose the students will just have to transfer to another boat building school somewhere else.”

Sydney’s mouth dropped open, and her face turned red. For a second, he thought she might be choking on her food but, when he ed she hadn’t really eaten anything, he realized she was choking on her own anger. At him. “The nearest boating school is thousands of miles away from the island.”

“There’s more to the world than this small island. It would probably do them some good to get out there and start to see it.”

That last remark earned him a gasp, but he was spared a cutting retort by the approach of a new waiter.

“Timothy Miller, is that you?” Sydney said, smiling in a way that Devin could tell took effort.

“Oh, hey, Ms. St. James.” The boy’s expression lifted. “It’s good to see you.”

Her red coloring muted at seeing the boy. Whoever he was, she was clearly happy to see him, but she was still angry, too. Sydney turned to Devin. “Timothy was one of my students. He’s studying at Central Michigan now.”

“Congratulations. That’s awesome. You having a good time?” Devin tried to take Sydney’s lead and swallow the heat of their conversation to talk casually. The teen shrugged, and his serious expression surprised Devin, who ed college as one long party.

“It’s a lot different than home.” Timothy said.

Sydney gave the boy’s forearm a light squeeze. “Hang in there, sweetie. It’s only four years. Then you can come home.”

“And be a lifelong waiter at the Crab House? Maybe one day, if I’m lucky, they’ll promote me to head waiter.” He gave a mirthless chuckle. “It was good to see you, Ms. St. James. I have to get back inside and check on the other tables.”

Devin half wondered if the boy’s entrance had been staged. He couldn’t have scripted a better way to make Sydney’s point about limited jobs on the island. When Sydney declined dessert, Devin was forced to accept that dinner was over. But he wasn’t ready to end the evening.

Back at their bikes with their takeout bags, the wind picked up. It occurred to Devin that the lake would be a beautiful place to watch a sunset. He could put his arm around her shoulder as shelter from the chill. Maybe that would help to

recapture some of the evening’s earlier magic and salvage their outing. He and his grandfather had watched it go down several times when he came to visit during the summer, but summer twilight fell after 9 p.m. Sydney was always back in St. Ignace well before the sun set. So this would be a first for them.

“Hey, why don’t we take out the sailboat and watch the sunset?”

Her dark eyes met his. “I don’t think so.”

“Well, let me at least ride you home.”

“Actually, I think I’d like to be alone right now. But thank you for dinner. It was nice catching up with you, Devin.” She swung her long tan legs over the bicycle and pedaled off, leaving Devin standing under the Sycamore tree, feeling more alone than he had in a very long time.

When Devin got back to the cabin, he threw his wallet on the table, only then realizing he’d forgotten to reimburse Sydney for the tour he’d interrupted. Well, there was always tomorrow. If she’d talk to him. She had been so angry but, even with her eyes blazing, he’d wanted to taste her lips.

He climbed into bed on top of the duvet and spent most of the night staring at the ceiling fan, even after he turned out the lights.

Was he doing the wrong thing in selling Nate’s school?

The waiter’s comment couldn’t have been timelier. As though Nate were meddling from the other side. On some level, Devin recognized the whole reason Nate built the school was to help the island to gain economic independence. But at what cost?

His grandfather had been so involved in that school that he rarely left the island. It was everything to the old man. There was no way Devin wanted to be tied to this island year round. Not to mention the financial burden. He liked kids but not enough to go into debt subsidizing their educations.

Tons of thoughts rolled around in his mind, but the one that kept his eyes wide for most of the night was that Sydney had said he had a pure heart. That wasn’t the way most traders were described but, he had to it, he liked the version of himself reflected in her eyes.

FIVE

Sydney woke up feeling like she’d been swaddled in a blanket made of King Arthur’s chainmail. Her limbs were heavy and her lids swollen. Everything hurt. Most of all her heart. It felt like there was an anvil on top of it. Last night had started full of promise and ended in disaster.

She rolled over and opened the blinds. It should have been stormy and overcast outside, but, as if to mock her, sunlight poured in through the bedroom window.

The alarm clock on her bedside table showed 5:30 a.m. And even though she’d been in bed for eight hours, she was exhausted, having tossed and turned all night, plagued by thoughts of Devin. Since laying eyes on him yesterday morning, she’d been riding a roller coaster of emotion. The man was beautiful, and being around him reminded her of those light and easy summer days of childhood — feelings that were hard to reconcile with her anger over his cavalier attitude toward Old Nate’s legacy.

How was it possible that Devin had become this money-obsessed person?

Not only was he not staying on island as she’d assumed, Devin planned to undo his grandfather’s hard work with the stroke of a pen. Old Nate prided himself on continuing his First Nation’s boat building tradition through this school. Selling to some nameless, faceless stranger whose only concern for the island was how much profit they could squeeze from it was wrong. An affront to everything Old Nate stood for. Pure and simple.

How was it possible that he didn’t see that? What had happened to the caring young boy who loved drawing pictures of animals and had tried to defend her when the rich vacation kids picked on her during summer camp? Where was the nine year old who promised to marry her when the snooty manager kicked them out of the Grand? Based on last night’s conversation, it didn’t even seem like he ed that part of the promise.

Yes, that was years ago. And no, of course she didn’t plan to hold him to it, despite that she didn’t want to let go of the idea that the old Devin still existed. He was Old Nate’s grandson, after all. There had to be some way to make him see, or at least to put a stop to this. That school meant too much to the island to allow for any other outcome. Frustration making her blood boil, she crumpled the bed sheet in her fist.

Noticing the wrinkles she was making in the fabric, Sydney let go of the sheets and a long sigh as April, her two-year-old tabby, hopped up on the bed. The springs creaked beneath the purring cat’s weight. “Whoa. Good morning to you, too, girl. You’re putting on weight, my friend.”

The cat looked up and meowed, then nuzzled against Sydney’s cheek with her soft nose.

Seconds later, Brown Sugar came crashing through the bedroom door. April scrambled to the edge of the bed near the wall, clearly trying to hide. The two seemed to be engaged in a perpetual game of chase. When Sydney agreed to take in the cat, she’d hoped the two animals would become friends. She liked the idea of having a mate for each animal. But, as usual, life had its own plans, and the pair never really bonded, unless there was some hidden delight in running from one another that Sydney couldn’t see.

“It’s okay, April, Shug just wants to play,” she said, running her hand along the back of the cat’s head. These morning wake-up-calls were a new thing for April. Over the last few weeks, the cat had grown increasingly affectionate. April laid down in a patch of sun on Sydney’s pillow, rolling onto her belly.

Had the cat’s nipples always been that dark? Her stomach looked larger than usual, too. “April, are you about to make me a kitty grandma?” Most of the folks on island let their cats roam, so there was a high probability that April had found a mate. Sydney gave the cat some extra scratches, a smile falling over her face at the thought of kittens.

Shug dropped her chin on the edge of the bed, equally demanding of attention. Sydney chuckled at the pooch’s adorable face. “I suppose you guys are hungry aren’t you? Especially you,” she flicked the cat’s pink nose.

At the mention of food, Sugar turned circles in the quiet bedroom, then trotted out to her bowl in the kitchen. Sydney threw on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt before following.

Despite their incessant expressions of hunger, the cat and dog were finicky eaters. Sydney reached into the cupboard and pulled out a can of tuna. Using a can opener, she punctured the top so that she could add tuna oil to both of their bowls. The smell did the trick, seducing both of them to their breakfasts.

So as not to show favoritism to the indoor animals, she grabbed a few wild apples from a paper bag in the pantry and went outside to feed the rest of the gang. The horses were first to come, followed closely by the llamas with the goats bringing up the rear. As the gentle animals approached her and took their turns eating, her heart swelled. She loved watching them eat from her hand. When the apples were gone, she wiped her sticky, moist hands on the back of her

cutoffs. Quickly, at first, then slowing as an idea rolled around her head.

What if there was a way to sweeten the BBS pot for Devin? He was a trader, after all, and weren’t they motivated by numbers? There had to be a way she could come up with something that he wouldn’t be able to refuse.

Hopeful, she skipped back into the house. She hastily put on a pot of coffee and showered. She wasn’t due at Grace’s for another two hours, which gave her just enough time to track down several boat dealers in Michigan. If she could get them to agree to buy sailboats from the school, that would bring in some income immediately. In time, the program could expand, and that would bring in even more income.

Sydney took her laptop onto the front porch and shot off emails to the most promising mid-sized dealers located in the Midwest. While she was at it, she sent Old Nate’s obituary to Rhonda, a friend from college who worked for the Detroit Free Press. Maybe a little media attention would garner interest from some of the local boat dealerships?

In addition to the obituary, Sydney sent Rhonda three little paragraphs about Nate’s hopes for the school and what it had meant to the island since he’d opened the school’s doors. It gave high school graduates that weren’t interested in traditional college a lucrative career option. Each year, more and more natives had been able to stay on island upon graduation, keeping friends and families together and making the community that much stronger. Sydney pressed send. Knowing her friend kept busy, Sydney doubted she would hear back from her by the end of the week.

Sydney took a sip of what Big Mama used to joke was her coffee-flavored cream. Closing her eyes, she tried to think of other strategies to save the school.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of her cell phone.

“Hello?”

“Sydney?”

“Rhonda, are you okay? You sound like you’ve been crying.”

“Yes, yes, I’m fine. I just finished reading your email. Girl, I want to run the story today! What else can you tell me about Old Nate?”

“Really?”

“Absolutely. This story is so moving, Sydney. It gave me all the feels. Campaign ‘Save the School,’ count me in!”

SIX

Devin rolled the ball point pen between his index finger and thumb as his grandfather’s attorney, Dale Robins, flipped through a small stack of papers, searching for a signature page.

“I think there are only a few more left, then BBA and the cabin are all yours. Welcome back to the island.”

A pit opened up in Devin’s stomach as he thought of Sydney’s words last night. He hated to disappoint her, but he had to be practical. The probability of him turning that school around was too low for him. And the cabin was of no use to him either. Other than sleeping, he hadn’t been able to spend five minutes inside of his grandfather’s cabin.

His grandfather’s wood smoke scent lingered on the rough hewn walls such that each corner filled Devin with memories and regrets. This morning, he’d toyed with the idea of renting a room on island, but everything seemed to be full on of the Lilac Festival. Staying at a hotel probably wasn’t a good idea anyway. He had a lifetime worth of things to box and sort through if he wanted to get the cabin on the market within the next month.

Devin leaned over the attorney’s desk and scratched his signature out on the last page. “So, what’s my obligation to the current students if I close the school?”

Robins’ eyes rounded slightly and Devin had the distinct feeling he was being

judged. But as far as Devin could tell, closing the school during the summer would be the best time. Most of the students were already out. It was still early enough that they could apply to other schools and start in the fall semester.

“Is that what you’re planning on doing?” Robins asked. If Devin had any doubts about Robin’s position, his tone made it clear. The man practically hissed his question.

Devin stood. “Look, I know it’s not a popular decision with the island, but the island isn’t going to have to pay the bills to keep those doors open. I don’t know how my grandfather managed. The land taxes alone are greater than tuition. The school has been running in the red for at least a year.”

Robins pushed his chair away from his desk and looked up at Devin. “You know, I suggested to your grandfather that he stipulate you not be able to sell this property, but he was convinced you would do the right thing.”

Devin’s brows rose. This man had a lot of nerve butting into Devin’s personal business. Devin held the man’s steely gaze as Robins continued to speak. “You might be surprised what this town is willing to do to keep that school open. It means a lot to these people. So did your grandfather. You saw the turnout for his funeral service. There wasn’t a person on island who didn’t show up for him.”

Devin recalled the service. Hundreds of people had patiently waited outside of the church to come in for the viewing, and the ferry made a special run just so that the islanders could make it to the service. Though, now that he thought about it, there was one person whose face he didn’t seeing.

Sydney.

Strange. He knew they’d run the tour company together until just before Old Nate died and from the pictures he’d come across in his cabin, they’d grown quite close these last few years. In fact, Sydney was probably the closest person to Old Nate. Why wasn’t she at the service?

Devin sighed. Thinking about that idealistic save-the-world crusader did him no good now. “I wouldn’t even begin to know how to ask for help saving the school. I don’t think I have it in me to do that.”

“Well, the town shouldn’t suffer on of your pride, Devin Fox.”

Taken aback at the old man’s terse tone, Devin clenched his fists and crossed to the door. Hand on the handle, he turned back to Robins. “How long till you have an answer to my question about closing the school?”

The other man folded his arms over his chest and scowled so fiercely Devin was damn tempted to take his business elsewhere. “I’ll have to look into it. I’ll have an answer in the next couple days.”

Devin nodded and headed out, closing the attorney’s door behind him.

The fresh morning air felt good in his lungs. The last five minutes in Robins’s office had been hell. He’d nearly suffocated on the self-righteous man’s disdain. Devin was grateful he’d only be on island for two more weeks. Showing his face

with locals would be tough once word got out that he wanted to close the school.

If word got out.

Robins was bound by confidentiality, and the Sydney he knew didn’t trade in secrets. He felt a twinge of guilt about that, like he was benefiting from a loyalty he didn’t deserve. But that was the thing about Sydney: her giving never depended on the worth of the recipient. When they were thirteen years old, one of the older girls in summer camp went drinking in the boathouse with a summer boy. She ended up getting pregnant and moving away. Devin had overheard her confiding in Sydney before she left. The whole town speculated about her whereabouts and Sydney never told. She was true blue.

Ten minutes later, Devin walked into Doud’s Grocery, the oldest family-owned grocery in the country, according to the sign hanging over the door. He figured he’d pick up a few things for Grace and something special for Sydney while he was at the store. Maybe the right purchase would help make up for last night and get them back on the second date track.

If he had to be here, he might as well enjoy himself. And Sydney was definitely enjoyable — that is, if he could keep her attention off the school. Sooner or later, she had to come to her senses. It just wasn’t practical to ask someone to make such a huge sacrifice for a bunch of strangers. Sentiment was nice on a Hallmark card, but in real life? Come on.

He picked up a handbasket, walking up and down the few short aisles looking for something good. Eggs were first in the basket, for his house and Grace’s, having noticed yesterday that she was running low. He also picked up orange juice for both of them and milk, too. For himself, he picked up some bananas. The meat prices made him finally decide to dip into his grandfather’s stash of

smoked fish. It made no sense to let that go to waste. He should probably bring some to Sydney and Grace, too.

Two runs around the store and he still wasn’t sure what to get for Sydney. Finally, he slowed in the candy aisle. When Sydney was ten, Big Mama started giving her an allowance. Each week they would come to the store and pick up a candy bar. He would choose a Baby Ruth because somehow his young mind thought he’d grow up to be a pro athlete, and she always picked Whatchamacallits because the name made her laugh. That’s exactly what they needed right now — some laughter. He scooped up four, her favorite number.

Just in case that didn’t work, he picked up a bottle of Riesling from a winery on the Leelanau Peninsula. He’d been there with friends a few summers ago. In some ways, the views rivaled Napa, and he wondered if she’d been. If she hadn’t, maybe they could sneak away while he was here. That would be a good way to make up for the trouble he’d been causing her. Except, he didn’t know how he was going to get around her disappointment in him. In fact, the mere prospect seemed impossible.

“I can take you over here,” a nearby cashier called out.

Devin realized he’d been zoning out. He moved over to her lane and put his items on the conveyor belt. Taped on the side of the cash , a neon yellow flier invited everyone to sign up for the boat parade. He ed the happiness in Sydney’s eyes last night when she suggested they partner. She was so rooted to this town, he wondered if she would ever be able to come to her senses about the school.

A pang of sadness made him drop his eyes. The bottle of wine was the last item on the belt and, when the cashier picked it up, Devin hesitated. Should he even

bother with an apology? In two weeks, he was going to close the school, leave the island, and likely never return. Was it even fair for him to try to smooth things over knowing he wasn’t going to give Sydney what she wanted to make things right?

SEVEN

Sydney and Grace were enjoying midmorning coffee and a light lake breeze on the front porch when a familiar figure crested the top of the hill. Sydney tipped the brim of her hat back and squinted her eyes. It was Devin lumbering toward them, arms full of groceries. Sydney’s eyes locked with his, and her breath caught.

She’d just taken her third sip from the lukewarm cup, and it suddenly felt too hot. So did the skin on her neck and cheeks. In spite of their argument last night, her heart quickened at the sight of him. He’d finally ditched his designer hat and put on a more sensible pair of outdoor shoes. The I-haven’t-ridden-a-bike-inyears cowboy gait was narrowing, too. Did that mean he was finally adapting to the island? Best to not get her hopes up.

Once he and Gus got to the edge of the cottage’s small yard, Gus started wagging his tail and pulling against the end of his leash. The excited dog had to weigh well over one hundred pounds, and the bags looked heavy, too. She ired Devin for having the strength required to navigate such a load without breaking a sweat but, ing yesterday’s events, Sydney stepped off the porch to grab Gus’s leash.

Just in case.

Grace was resting her ankle on a wicker footstool, and Sydney wasn’t sure how delicate the dog would be with the older woman. Part of her questioned Devin’s prudence in bringing him here. The other part understood why he wouldn’t want to leave his dog alone in a strange place.

“Hey, boy,” she said to Gus. The dog responded by wagging his tail even more vigorously, but he didn’t jump, which was nice. “It’s good to see you.”

Devin chuckled. “But not me?”

Sydney put her hands on her hips. She wasn’t going to go there with him. Not in front of Grace. “You’re early. Four hours early.” She hadn’t planned on seeing him just yet. They’d agreed on alternating shifts.

“You used to love surprises.” He shrugged. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back this afternoon, too. I stopped by the store this morning and picked up a few things. I noticed Grace was running low on eggs and milk.” He headed up the porch stairs toward Grace.

“Nice to see you, young man.”

“You, too, Grace. You’re looking beautiful as ever. How’s the ankle doing?” He asked, leaning in to give her a quick peck on the cheek.

“Much better today than yesterday. I’ve been doing my mental healing exercises.” Grace tapped her temple.

“Mind over matter,” Devin said.

“Exactly.” She patted her boot. “Sydney just put on a new pot of coffee. I hope you’ll stay for a cup.”

“Don’t mind if I do.” He said, smiling. “Brought ya a few things from the store.”

“Oh, that’s so kind of you, dear. You two really are something else.” Grace started to get up, and Sydney gave her a pointed look.

“I’ll take care of it, Grace.” Grace smiled and settled back into the chair.

In the kitchen, Sydney emptied the contents of one bag and put them into the fridge. Devin hadn’t taken his eyes off of her since he’d followed her in. She felt the heat in her skin starting to spread to other places. Huffing in frustration, she tried to distract herself by focusing on unloading the grocery bags. When she got to the second bag, she pulled out four Whatchamacallits and a bottle of Riesling. “Nice of you to buy Grace candy and a bottle of wine.”

Devin hesitated. “That’s for you. I was hoping you’d share a glass with me. Later, of course.”

Sydney raised her eyebrow. “Using childhood weaknesses to curry favor? So. Not. Fair.”

He laughed, then crossed the small kitchen to stand next to her at the fridge. “Look, Sydney, I owe you an apology. I was insensitive last night. I realize how close you were to my grandfather, and your loyalty to his vision is

understandable. I’m sorry for the comment I made about projects dying with people. I don’t know what got into me.”

Hmm. Were they making progress? That was the first time Devin had referred to Old Nate as his grandfather since arriving. Sydney opened the cupboard and deliberated over her choice of mugs for a second before picking one for Devin. She poured him a cup of coffee and handed it to him.

Turning it in his large hand, his dark eyes lightened. “Did you really just give me a clay mug with a nose picker sculpted into the side?”

The right corner of her lip curled upwards. She tried not to laugh. He nudged her before taking a sip. “Does that mean you forgive me?”

That was a good question. She cocked her head to the side and looked at the ceiling above his head. “I don’t know, Devin.”

“You don’t know if you forgive me, or you don’t know what the cup means?” He held it up and studied the finger going into the nose. “Does it mean I should be on the lookout for some nugget inside of my coffee?”

“That’s just gross.” She screwed up her face and laughed.

He fingered the mug. “Perhaps it’s a reminder to be courteous.”

“Okay, you’re going to have to elaborate on that one for me. Courteous?” She folded her arms and leaned back against the counter.

“Well, I suppose everyone picks occasionally, and the question becomes what do you do after?”

“Ah, as in tissue or pant leg?”

“Or bottom of the chair in a movie theater. Basically, how much courtesy do you show your fellow humans?” He took another sip from the mug.

“Deep thoughts with Devin Fox. That actually has a nice ring to it. Maybe you should have your own talk show.” She laughed, and it felt really, really good. She hadn’t laughed that freely or goofily since she was a kid. It took her back to her childhood, with him. Her eyes sobered as she looked at him.

They had history. Real history. With a foundation in laughter and all of the magical faerie dust that made children believe that anything was possible. Could she forgive him if he sold off the school and took all of that hope away from the kids who lived on the island now? She wasn’t sure, and she hoped she wouldn’t have to find out.

“So, Devin, have you been to BBA yet?”

The look on his face was all the answer she needed. First his eyes opened a bit more, then he ran his hand through his thick black hair.

“Please tell me you at least know where it is.”

He exhaled, guiltily.

“What do you say we run by after we spend some more time with Grace?”

“You’re not going to take no for an answer on this one, are you?”

“Probably not.”

He smiled, and the kernel of hope that Sydney started fanning early this morning felt like it was about to pop into a full blown garden of optimism. She had to slow herself because she knew there was a long way to go, but she had a feeling that together they’d be able to get there.

***

Sydney’s animals were happy to see her when she and Devin stopped by to drop off Gus. The big dog’s response to the horses and llamas was hilarious. He touched his noses to theirs, one by one, his ears perking with greater curiosity at each animal. His eyes darted back and forth between the llamas and the horses as if confused as to what kind of dog they were. He ran from the bleating goats. But he and Shug’s reactions to one another almost melted her heart.

Brown Sugar had been sunning in her spot in the middle of the porch when Devin and Sydney arrived, so she was the last to make it to the pasture. As soon as Gus caught sight of her, he dropped the bigger animals and made a beeline toward the coonhound.

“They look like old friends. I guess I didn’t need to worry about them together,” Devin said as the two dogs chased each other in the grass.

“I think it’s sweet that you did.”

April came out from the barn and curled around Devin’s calf. “Wow, what’s this one’s name? Meatball?”

“She’s pregnant.”

“Oh, sorry, girl.” Devin leaned down to pet the purring feline.

As much as Sydney would have liked to spend more time at her place, to take him inside and show him around, she wanted to get to the school. And he was due back at Grace’s in a few hours. She went to the pump and filled another bucket of water for Gus. “That should tide them all over for a few hours. Are you ready?”

Devin’s smile faltered. For a second, Sydney thought he was going to change his mind. He grabbed his bike. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

***

Devin heard the saws long before he saw them. The angry sound of metal chewing wood met Sydney and him at the end of the path that led from the main road back through the woods to school.

“Is school in session right now?” he asked Sydney as they biked ahead. “I thought the kids would be off for summer break.”

“The program only lasts a year. They don’t really break for the full summer.”

Devin felt a heaviness descend on his chest. He hadn’t planned a face-to-face with the kids he was going to displace.

As though reading his mind, Sydney gave him a sympathetic glance that he didn’t feel he deserved. Her look was one part hope, one part genuine empathy. His neck muscles balled, and he gripped the rubber handlebars so tightly his light-brown knuckles whitened. He wanted to turn around, to keep on pedaling all the way to the ferry, to get into his car and press the pedal to the floor until he and Gus were back in his tidy little condo in Chicago. That way he could handle all of this from a distance, minimizing the chance of sentiment clouding his judgment. If his trading career had taught him anything, it had been that emotion and business don’t mix. Hadn’t he already nearly lost everything from letting his emotions drive?

Though reason screamed for him to turn around, something greater drove him forward. Curiosity, perhaps?

Only completed five years ago, Devin had never actually seen his grandfather’s school. One quick peek at the man’s creation couldn’t hurt. Could it? No. He wouldn’t let that happen.

BBA was on the north end of the island, tucked on ten lakefront acres of pine grove, away from most of the typical tourist attractions. His grandfather had built a clover-shaped complex of three warehouses overlooking one of the island’s calmer coves.

Devin and Sydney rested the front tires of their bikes in the slats of a long, wooden bike stand. He shook out his legs under the guise of stretching, hoping to get rid of some of the tension that mounted with each step closer to his grandfather’s school.

Standing in the heart of the cluster, Devin saw that each of the massive garagelike doors of the buildings were open. Inside were classrooms and work spaces where students had access to the carpentry equipment necessary to build sailboats of varying sizes and complexity. The opposing walls were also garage doors, all open onto magnificent views of Lake Huron’s glistening waters, where boats from the school would eventually sail.

Several young people concentrated on an assortment of different tasks. They were so engrossed that none of them even noticed Sydney and him watching them.

“Wow, this is a proper school,” Devin said.

“It is indeed. Nate would be so happy to see you here right now.” Sydney smiled.

A knot of sadness formed in Devin’s throat. “I’m sure he would.”

“Come on, I’ll give you the grand tour and introduce you around.” Sydney motioned toward the buildings.

He sighed. He definitely didn’t want to meet anyone. There was even more of the old man in this space than the cabin. It took all Devin’s willpower to speak, let alone step forward.

A wooden eagle with an eight-foot wingspan was mounted to the left of the entrance in each building. A messenger to the creator, his grandfather used to tell him during their nature hikes.

When Devin graduated from eighth grade, his grandfather showed up with a headdress full of eagle feathers. The protected feathers were symbolic of accomplishment. At first, Devin had thought it was cool, but his excitement quickly turned to shame. Some of the other kids started hooting and making fun of him. He ed the sudden embarrassment as he looked at his grandfather, with his long, dark hair, brown skin, and ill-fitting suit. The man stood out from all of the other adults at the mostly white private school. Devin’s father, a city cop, broke his back working two jobs to pay for Devin’s tuition. Never really comfortable in the school, that experience changed the way Devin looked at his grandfather for a long time.

“Hey, Syd! Did you drop off some of those chocolate banana cookies?” A tall brown-skinned teen called out from a table saw where he was working on a

mast.

“Hey, Kirk!” Sydney waved. “Sorry, not today.”

Devin raised his eyebrows and Sydney smiled at him mischievously. “I usually bring a couple plates of cookies to the school on Fridays. They’re kind of legend.”

“Banana chocolate chip cookies? That sounds amazing.”

“If you’re good, I’ll add you to my distribution list.” She winked at Devin. “Devin, this is Kirk, one of BBA’s best and brightest. He also happens to be one of my favorite former students,” she added, clearly proud.

Kirk removed his protective goggles to beam at both of them. Sydney reached up and gave Kirk’s cheek a playful squeeze. “Kirk, I’d like you to meet Devin, Old Nate’s grandson.”

“Wow. For real?” Kirk took off his work glove and extended his palm then pulled Devin into a quick embrace. “Yo, I’m so sorry for your loss. I loved your grandpops. Him and this school saved my life. I had no clue what I was gonna do when I graduated, but thanks to him, and Ms. St. James, of course, I learned this trade. It’s a real honor to meet you, my man.”

Devin didn’t know what to say. The knot of emotion was expanding in his throat. He just nodded.

Kirk gave him a knowing look. “I get it man. It’s all still fresh. He wasn’t blood, but I’ve caught myself wet in the eyes more than a few times in the last few weeks. Don’t think there’s a person here who hasn’t.”

When Devin just nodded, Kirk continued, “Old Nate was a huge loss. You mind if I give you another hug?”

Devin did mind, only because he wasn’t sure if he could handle dredging up anymore emotions, or keep himself from weeping on the teen’s shoulder, but he opened his arms to the young man anyway. They hugged again. This time the teen gave Devin something of a bear hug. When they separated, Kirk had tears in his eyes that he made no effort to conceal. Devin ired his openness, but he was still far more comfortable with the kid crying than he would be if tears formed in his own eyes.

“Thanks, man.” Devin patted the kid’s shoulder. “It means a lot to see how much love the community had for him.”

“That we did. That we did. But he loved us first, and he loved us best. That was just his way. It’s all good, though. Now he lives through you.”

Devin stifled a groan. Kirk’s words were like a gut punch. Devin’s eyes were already moist, and Kirk was gonna reduce him to a water bag. Right now. Right here.

Devin rubbed his forehead and dropped his hand to his side. Coming here was a

mistake. Closing this school was going to be that much harder after meeting the people impacted by his decision. How’d he let Sydney talk him into this?

He glanced at the open garage door and his bike out on the rack. It would be rude to walk out on these introductions, but what did he owe any of these people really?

As though sensing his unease, Sydney slipped her hand into his. It was warm and small, but her grip was firm. And it sent a strong pulse of ion radiating over his palm, up his arm, and in all directions through his body. He looked down at her. She gave him a tender smile that made him want to pull her into his arms and never let go. No, he couldn’t walk out on her. Not right now, at least.

“Come on, D, there’s something else I want to show you.” She tugged him lightly in the direction of a massive hull. He half-smiled. So they were back to childhood nicknames. He could get with that.

“It was good to meet you, Kirk.” He managed as they moved off.

Kirk nodded. “You too, man. You too.”

Close up, the hull was even bigger than it had looked when they first walked into the building. End-to-end, Devin guessed it was thirty feet. Two teens were sanding the edges of the boat. A third was nailing into the deck.

“What do you think?” Sydney asked.

“Beautiful. Looks like it’ll be sea ready in no time.”

At the sound of their voices, the teens paused their work to take them in. Recognizing Sydney, their faces erupted into smiles, and they stopped what they were doing altogether to greet her.

“Hey, Ms. St. James.”

“More former students?” Devin asked.

“These two are. This one is a beloved tagalong.” Sydney pointed to the one on the deck.

“You came to check out our tribute to the Chief?” the girl up on deck called down. “She should be ready just in time for the Fourth of July boat parade. We’ve only got a few more things left to do on her.”

“Yeah, like come up with a name,” one of the teen’s said.

“We want something good. Something that would make Nate proud.”

“I think he’s proud alright,” Sydney said.

“Well, if the name is good enough, we won’t have to guess. Speaking of guessing at names, you gonna introduce us to your friend, Teach?” the teen standing closest asked Sydney.

Sydney made her introductions, and Devin didn’t hear a word after that. His circuits were as close to overload as they’d been in a long time. This boat was a tribute to his grandfather?

Hundreds of people had come up to him last week at the funeral, but none of that had been as impactful as being in his grandfather’s school. It wasn’t even just the fact that the man’s blood, sweat, and tears had touched the wood and the walls all around him. Nor was it the fact that all of these students spoke of him with so much love. It was something bigger than him, his grandfather, and all of the students in the school put together. Something he couldn’t name at that moment.

Devin looked at his watch. “Look, it was nice to meet everyone. I just ed that I have a business call I’ve got to make. So I’m gonna run.”

If they said goodbye, he didn’t hear. All he knew was that he had to get away far and fast.

At the bike rack, he paused. Damn, he missed his car. Right now he could really use a metal layer between him and the world. Sydney’s arm brushed against his, and a warmth flooded his chest. Well, he was grateful no metal layer had prevented that. She swung her leg over her bike and started to ride back up the path. For a minute, he just stared at her. God, she was beautiful.

“You coming? I know the perfect place for you to go to make that phone call of yours.” She’d arched her right eyebrow, and he knew she was calling his bluff.

“Naw, I don’t think so,” he said, as he climbed on his bike. He needed a break from her unwavering idealism. But like a moth to a flame, when they got to the end of the road, he followed her anyway.

EIGHT

Sydney stretched her legs out before her, pressing the backs of her knees against the sun-warmed rock beneath. Heat soaking into her bones, along with the sound of seagulls cawing, provided instant relaxation.

Known as “The Pointe,” this was one of her favorite spots on island. The Pointe was actually an outcropping that sat on top of a hill overlooking the ferry and the lighthouse — two places that had been significant to her and Devin when they were younger. One was the site of his proposal, the other was the destination of their maiden voyage.

She wondered if either meant anything to him now, or if he even ed. The fact that he’d recalled her favorite candy bar gave her hope.

Squinting against the noonday sun, Sydney turned to face Devin, who was sitting at her side. “That was intense back there. Yeah?”

“Yeah.” He didn’t meet her gaze. Instead, he kept his eyes focused on the distant lighthouse. “You should have gone into politics. You’ve got a wizardly way of pressing just the right buttons.”

She studied his profile for a few seconds. He was an incredibly attractive man, who was visibly struggling to control his emotions. The upset made his dark eyes that much more intense. She found herself hoping she could convince him to keep the school and cabin for more than just the children’s sakes. It’d been

years since she’d let anyone get close to her romantically. Not since Shaun left for bigger and brighter, really. His absence was just painless enough that she thought she didn’t need that kind of love in order to be satisfied. Nate, the students, and Noah’s Ark were enough. That was, they had been until Devin Fox and his silly dog came barreling along.

Her brow furrowed. Had she pushed him too far by taking him to the school when all of the students were there? Was it too early in the grieving process? Perhaps, but he’d set the clock, and he needed to see the people who would be impacted by his decision before he did something they would all regret. She knew Devin well enough to know that as much as he cared about people, if he did sell the school, in the years to come it would end up being the biggest regret of his life. So, this emotion, though painful for him to experience and her to witness, was needed.

“ when he took us there when we were kids?” Devin inclined his head toward the red and white lighthouse about a mile and a half off the shore.

Sydney smiled, pleased that he did . “How could I forget? We sailed on a boat your grandfather helped us to build. It was our maiden voyage.”

“You were so scared.” Their eyes met and he held her gaze.

The warmth from earlier came rushing back to her chest. “You weren’t scared at all. You trusted us.”

He blinked at the word “us.” It felt so natural coming off of her lips. How did he feel hearing it?

“A storm came,” he said.

“And I cried.” She looked down at her hands.

“Yeah, you did.” Devin moved closer. Her breath caught in anticipation of a kiss, but then he picked up a stone and flung it into the water. A piece of her heart sunk with that stone.

“Seeing you cry broke my heart.”

Hers danced with hope at hearing this confession. She let her gaze follow his back to the lighthouse. “You told me your people had sailed those straits in birch bark canoes, through sloshing waves and gale force winds. You said nothing would happen as long as we were together.”

“Did I?”

Sydney nodded. “And I stopped crying.”

She had felt so safe then. Blustery winds and sheets of rain came down that day. Instead of being scared of a shipwreck, she was thrilled at their adventure. What started as terror turned into excitement — because of him.

“What ever happened to that old boat?” he asked.

“I still have it. Take it out all the time.”

Devin smiled, a slow and easy smile that melted Sydney’s heart. “Ya know, seeing you scared that day… I think that was the first time someone else’s pain ever hit me like that.”

His revelation struck her like dry lightning. It jolted her back to that moment and shed a new light on all of those in between. There was an uninterrupted connection between them, existing from childhood into adulthood. He cared about her. And she realized something then that her heart had known since she was seven years old, an inconvenient truth that she’d prefer not to it: she was in love with Devin Fox.

Sydney adjusted her hat as she laid down on the big flat rock and closed her eyes. She let the heat from the earth caress her in slow waves. “That was the last summer you came, Devin.”

“I came a few times. Just for shorter trips. With my parents. And not during the summer.”

“Why did you stop coming during the summer?” She wasn’t sure why she even asked the question, except on some level she knew it was important to her understanding of the core of him.

“I don’t know. I don’t .”

The rock beneath Sydney was firm. With her eyes closed, the waves sounded louder. The breeze against her skin gave her the sense that she was on the edge of the world, surfing through time. She felt like she was flying, like if she opened her eyes she would see with sharp, hawk eyes.

But she didn’t need to open her eyes to see that he was lying.

“I think you do , Devin. You just don’t want to tell me.”

“Hmm.”

Something cut the air. He’d thrown another rock into the water. She kept her eyes closed. “That’s okay. I respect your secrets. After all, Old Nate used to always say that in order to get respect you had to give respect.”

“What kind of white are you mixed with again? Jewish? Catholic? Cause you’re really good with those guilt trips.”

Sydney laughed but opened her eyes to spear him with an are-you-serious-look. “For your information, Black people can be Jewish or Catholic. I like to think my ability to drop nuggets of wisdom is independent of my heritage, sir.”

“True. True. Apologies for my failed Eddie Murphy impersonation.”

Sydney laughed again. “Yeah, that was a five dollar imitation, at best.”

She poked him playfully in his side, and he threw another rock into the water. Good thing there were so many that there was no risk of him running out. At the rate he was going, she figured he had an hour of pitches left before he was warmed up enough to speak his mind. His large muscles tensed with each swing. She would enjoy the sight more if only she didn’t know it meant he was upset.

For a moment, neither of them said anything. Several seagulls flew overhead, taking turns diving into the endless waves.

“You’re right. I do .” He finally said, sitting crossed legged and propping his elbows on his knees.

Sydney sat up so that she could hear him better but kept her focus on the water. He seemed ready to talk. She didn’t want to crowd him with her eyes.

“It was a stupid combination of things. Nothing I’m proud of. My dad put me into a new school. A private school. I was trying to fit in with the new kids. Being poor, countryish, and Indian didn’t make that easy. They looked down on me for spending the summer in the woods. At first, I threw a lot of punches but, eventually, to fit in, I started looking down on this life too. I hate that I did that, but it’s the truth.”

“I get it. Being an outsider isn’t easy.” Growing up with older twin sisters, she’d always felt like the odd one out. Being the only biracial person in her school had

created its own distance as well.

“Yeah, eventually I found my way into a more diverse set, but by then the last thing I wanted to do was spend summers away from them. And one of the things that made it all easier for me to stop coming was my feelings for you. That last summer…”

Sydney felt his gaze on her and turned to face him. His dark eyes were smoldering with a heady cocktail of emotions. ion, pain, and conflict. “You wanna tell me about those feelings?” She asked.

Devin leaned so close she could feel his breath against her cheek. He hesitated, and for an instant she thought he was going to pull back again. His eyes were searching hers, as though asking permission to cross this threshold with her. She felt her lips soften into a smile, and then his hand cupped the back of her neck, lightly. He wasn’t going to tell her. He was going to show her.

Oh, how she wanted him to show her.

A deep yearning washed through Sydney with the ferocity of a November gale. How many times had she fantasized about this very moment when she was younger? And since laying eyes on adult Devin, those fantasies had grown even more potent. She inhaled the scent of him, lemon, cedar, and sandalwood.

“Devin, I’m sorry. I can’t do this.”

Her own words took her by surprise because everything in her wanted to surrender to him. Truth be told, she could probably get past the school closing, but him leaving the island would cut deeply. She barely survived the loss of her parents, then grandparents, then Nate, she couldn’t stand loving him more intimately then losing him. She just didn’t think she had it in her to pick up the pieces of her own broken heart. Devin closed his eyes and let his hand fall from her neck, but he hovered about an inch away, as though pulling back from her took more strength than he possessed.

“It’s not that I don’t want to. It’s just that we haven’t talked about your trip to the school. I don’t want to make things any more confusing than they already are.”

She paused to make sure he was following her. He curled the right side of his lips in answer. It wasn’t a full smile, but it was tender enough to make her continue. “I have some ideas that I want you to hear before you make your decision.”

“Go ahead, I’m listening.”

In the last few hours, she’d been doing lots of thinking about this presentation. “Boats aren’t just hobbies. So far, the school has been building the boats as a means for the students to learn the craft. What if we expanded the school and kept graduates on so that they could build more boats and sell them to dealerships around the country? We could come up with our own Mackinacmade line of boats, offering a little something for every budget. We could also offer sunset sails and other charters. That would create more jobs for graduates and more income for the school. We might even be able to branch out and create government partnerships. The coast guard and navy are always in need of new boats.”

“Sydney, you’ve got a good business mind. The thing is, that property alone is worth millions. Your business model would have to work for, what? Five years before I made what I could get if I sold it tomorrow.”

She simply stared at him. What good was a million dollars if you weren’t helping people or making your community stronger? Surely, with all of his years of trading, he had enough money by now for more than a comfortable lifestyle. But more than that, how could he be so blind to the way this was going to hurt him down the road?

“Please, stop looking at me that way. A lot’s happened since the last time we saw each other. I had to grow up and face reality, and it hasn’t always been easy.”

“I’m listening,” she said.

“It’s not important.”

“Don’t do that. Clearly it’s important enough to make you want to close the school. So tell me.”

Devin’s brows furrowed and he started fingering the rocks again. “Five years ago, my annual trade budget was forty million dollars. I had a condo on Lakeshore Ave and a Maybach. I lost all of that when my dad got sick. I couldn’t focus, started forcing trades. The risk manager pulled my line. I lost my job. My car. The condo. It all went poof. I had nothing, Sydney. I thought I was gonna have to sell my pants and swim back to this island. Then this job came along. This is my comeback, and it’s been years in the making. You know how many Native American traders there are?”

“Not many.”

“No. Not many. Most people like me don’t get a first chance. Let alone a second chance. You don’t just walk away from an opportunity like this. Not to mention, the whole affair taught me that the worst thing you can do, when it comes to money, is to get emotional.”

“But isn’t that what you’re doing? Aren’t you making your decision based on fear that you won’t have enough, or that what you have isn’t enough, or that who you are isn’t enough?”

Devin’s eyebrows formed twin peaks at her last comment. He felt it. Sydney felt it, too, and her eyes were moistening. There was no way she was going to let him see her cry. She turned away from him. “I think you should go collect Gus and check in on Grace.”

Devin nodded, a light movement that was so slow as to be almost imperceptible. “I’m sorry I can’t be the man you want me to be, Sydney.”

And with that, he left.

NINE

Devin didn’t know dogs were capable of giving attitude. But he learned something new when he picked up Gus from Sydney’s after their talk at The Pointe. Gus and Shug had been sharing a circle of shade when Devin arrived at Sydney’s, alone, to retrieve him. Although the dog wagged his tail when his human approached, he didn’t climb to his feet and circle around, which were his normal excited greeting signs. Instead, the dog moved closer to Shug, as though making a spot for Devin on the porch.

“Sorry, bud. This isn’t our home. We’ve got to get going.”

The dog rose, but only after Devin latched his leash and gave him a little tug. Gus’s momentum was dulled all the way to Grace’s and remained somewhat muted for the next few days. It was as though the dog’s feelings were a reflection of his owner’s.

For the rest of the week, Devin tried to ignore the dog’s mood and his own longing as well, playing phone tag with the attorney and busying himself with preparing the cabin for sale. The old man kept it in good shape. As far as repairs went, none were needed. The only changes were cosmetic and even those consisted mostly of clearing the space of his grandfather’s belongings so a new family could see themselves there. Although, if the nearby homes were any indication, a new family would probably tear down the simple little cabin in order to build a more contemporary house.

A heaviness settled on his heart as he glanced around the cabin. If he sold the school and the cabin, both would likely be torn down, and the only thing left of

Old Nate would be Devin’s memories. He sighed. The same could be said of all of us. That wasn’t what mattered. Life was for the living.

***

Sydney stared at her computer screen and waited for it to refresh. She was starting to understand all the chatter about internet addiction. For the last three days, she’d spent more time checking the computer than she had in the last three months. On some level, it had to do with Devin. Though she would never say it aloud, she missed him, and the screen was a convenient distraction. Being outside, she ran the risk of running into him. She was also hoping that, if she could just come back to Devin with a letter of interest from a dealer, it might somehow change his feelings, so she checked the computer incessantly.

There’d been no word from any of the dealers she’d reached out to, and she was trying to hold fast to her optimism. While the email response she’d been hoping for hadn’t come through, all six of the tour had left lovely reviews on Yelp. It seemed Henry had done an excellent job finishing out the tour the day she and Devin took Grace to see Doc Albert. Gus hadn’t scared off the bald eagle after all. The group saw an eagle pair.

Mrs. Winterman also got to see her warbler with its babies and left a review that had her phone ringing off the hook. Sydney was pleased with that aspect of her life. Those reviews made such a big difference to her small business that she went from having four tours a month to having three this week alone. Her next one started in an hour.

Banking on an uptick in tours this summer, Sydney had gone ahead and made an appointment for April. The cat was, in fact, pregnant, and all four babies looked healthy according to the sonogram. The father had started coming around, too, a

handsome little Siamese who meowed continuously until Sydney finally let him inside.

Sydney frowned as she got up from her computer to go to the kitchen for some lemonade. It seemed everyone in the household had a pair, except for her and Sugar, which she supposed made them their own pair. She smiled down at the dog who was following Sydney into the kitchen. For the last three days, she’d been Sydney’s shadow, and Sydney had the distinct impression the dog was moping.

“Everything okay, girl?” Sydney asked as she reached into the fridge for the pitcher of fresh lemonade.

Three short knocks from the screen door answered, giving Sydney such a start she almost dropped her glass.

Laughing at herself, she made her way to the front door. Her smile fell when she saw Devin standing on the other side, a reaction which made no sense to her as she’d been low-key willing his appearance since they’d parted earlier this week.

Seeing Gus on the other side of the screen door, Brown Sugar nudged it open with her paw. The two danced excitedly on the front porch for a few seconds and then bounded off into the pasture. Was that the explanation for her dog’s recent lethargy? She missed Gus? Well there went her Noah’s Ark pair theory. Unless… Her eyes met Devin’s, which were staring intently into her own. They sent a delightful shiver down her spine.

“Hey,” Devin said.

“Hey.”

“Whatcha got there?”

Sydney followed Devin’s eyes to the glass of lemonade in her hand. Not too dismayed to forget her manners, she extended the glass to him. “Here, you can have this one. I just poured it.”

“Thanks,” he said. “Biking around this island works up a thirst. I brought a water bottle with me, but nothing beats homemade lemonade.” He took a sip. “Mmm. This is really good. It tastes different.”

Sydney smiled. “I use lavender and fresh honey from the hive out back.”

“You make your own honey?”

“Helps to be self-sufficient when you live on an island. Plus, they’re good for the environment.”

Devin was so obviously impressed that it made her giddy. Not wanting him to see, she turned and headed back into the kitchen for a second glass. As she did, she tried to see the little cottage through his eyes. With the exception of the bedroom and bathroom, it consisted of one open room. The art on the walls was either her own or some colorful discard she’d picked up from a family leaving the island. Lilacs and tulips from her garden decorated the table top, her book

shelves, and the small coffee table made from old barn wood. All in all, the space was cozy, she thought as she poured herself a glass of lemonade.

“I didn’t really expect to see you after our last conversation,” she said

“There was an article about the school in the Detroit Free Press. I was wondering if you had anything to do with it.”

“You read the Detroit Free Press?” She hadn’t expected him to see the article. A pang of guilt washed over her. Suddenly she felt bad about sharing something so private with the outside world. She worried that Devin might feel upset and violated.

“No, actually, I don’t read the Free Press. It got picked up by Yahoo. A friend saw it and sent me a text.”

“Yahoo picked it up?” Sydney sipped from her glass to conceal her conflicting emotions. Yahoo meant more eyes and maybe an increased chance of partnership. It also meant the town would find out and possibly give Devin the cold shoulder.

“So, I guess that’s my answer. You never did have a good poker face.” He smiled.

“Devin, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to violate your confidence. I didn’t even think about how the exposure might impact you.”

“It’s okay, Syd. I understand. The article was really touching.”

Relieved by his forgiveness, she peered at him. She needed that article to do more than just touch him. She needed it to reach straight into his heart and change the channel.

“It’s nice outside. Why don’t we sit out there?” she asked.

He followed her onto the front porch, where two rocking chairs sat. She kept a spare for guests, though it hadn’t been sat in since last season. After a once over for cobwebs, she deemed it safe to sit and indicated so with her hand, taking the other one herself.

“Have you heard anything from the people you reached out to?” Devin asked.

She looked down at her glass. “I’m still waiting.”

For the next few minutes, they sipped their lemonade and watched the dogs chase the horses around the pasture. It was a quiet, simple entertainment that he seemed to enjoy as much as she.

“Wow, it’s very peaceful here.”

Sydney nodded.

Amazingly, as close as she lived to the massive lake, she was nestled in the woods such that she couldn’t hear the water from her own front porch, unless it was late at night, when the world seemed to be fast asleep. And then, only on the nights when the moon was so small it looked like a dime in the sky. Jokingly, she’d named the thick ring of evergreens circling her property the Great Wall because it rebuffed all sound, leaving her on a hushed island within an island.

“I think my favorite thing is the smell of the sweet grass and lilacs this time of year. The sun hits ’em just right, and they fill the air.”

“Like now.”

“Yes, like now.”

“Guess I have lucky timing.”

She wasn’t too sure what he meant by that, so she only smiled and kept her eyes on the dogs, who were prancing with the llamas now.

“I wanted to tell you I’m going to catch the ferry to St. Ignace tomorrow. My car is parked in the lot over there. I’m going to go see my grandfather at the burial site. Do you want to ride with me? I know things aren’t exactly good between us right now but, after I read this article, I thought you might like to see him. I don’t think I saw you at the funeral?” He looked puzzled.

Panic ballooned in her chest. That was one question she had dreaded him asking. She didn’t think there could be a worse one until he asked her to go for a ride.

When she didn’t answer, he continued. “Well, I’m catching the ten o’clock ferry. You don’t have to answer now, but I hope to see you there.”

His dark eyes were full of such open need that she said the only thing her heart would allow. “I’ll try.”

And for him, she would.

TEN

Devin paced the pier, checking his watch for the third time in as many minutes. It was five minutes to ten, and there was still no sign of Sydney. The ferry had docked a little while ago and most of the engers had already boarded. The crew would be closing the gates and making their “all aboard” call any minute.

“Hey, buddy, Captain’s about ready to launch. If you’re coming, now’s the time.” One of the deck hands called to Devin.

He nodded and headed for the gangplank, forced to accept that he would be traveling alone this morning. The realization stung, but he tried to reason that it wasn’t necessarily a rejection of him. She lived here after all. She could go visit Nate anytime she wanted. Really, his asking her was more a favor to him than it was a benefit to her.

Devin took a seat at the top of the boat where the view was best. He hoped the early morning air would help give him some clarity. Since reading the article and leaving Sydney early yesterday afternoon, he’d been thinking nonstop about what a life would be like here, on island.

Last night, he’d stopped by Grace’s, then he and Gus had an early dinner at the Sunset Café, a lively little spot on the water, off Main Street. The waitress was a woman in her midfifties by the name of Beatrice. She and her wife, Stephanie, who ran the kitchen, were co-owners. Recognizing Devin immediately, she chatted with him like an old friend. Like the students at the school, she’d asked if he was going to sail in the Fourth of July parade. She seemed visibly disappointed when he told her he wasn’t going to. He was smart enough to keep

the fact that he didn’t plan on being on the island that long to himself.

Eventually, he ordered whitefish tacos with a spicy garlic aioli and a Bell’s beer. Before his tacos came out, she brought him a plate of smoked whitefish dip.

“Looks great, but I didn’t order this.” He hated to tell her that because the smell of garlic, butter and cheese was making his mouth water.

“No, but you’ll be glad I brought it. This was your grandfather’s favorite. I figure, as much as he loved this stuff, you will too. Things like that are genetic.” She laughed.

He doubted her theory until he dipped a warm pita chip into the bowl and took a bite. The savory flavors erupted in his mouth. “Oh, my God, that’s amazing. It’s like manna.”

She threw her head back. “That’s exactly what he used to say. Ya know, I made that dip with his smoked fish. Used the last of the wild garlic from his garden too. We had a deal, me and him. He’d give me smoked fish and, along with payment, I gave him all the dip his big heart desired.”

Devin smiled. He’d been trying to avoid his grandfather’s smoked fish stash at home but, just like memories of the old man, it seemed unavoidable. “I actually have a huge stash at the place. I’ll bring some back tomorrow.”

She’d smiled back a tear, and when it came time to settle up his tab, Beatrice let

him know his dinner was on the house. She also explained that one of the entrees on the menu had been named after his grandfather. “Make time to stay for dinner tomorrow, and I’ll make you a plate,” she promised him.

Devin watched the island grow small in the distance as the ferry raced across the water. He was proud of the impact his grandfather had on the island. And he didn’t know what amazed him more, the extent of that impact or the energy it must have taken the man to be in so many places at once. His grandfather used to say keeping busy kept the scorpions from rattling around in his brain. But when Devin met the people whose lives had been touched by his grandfather, he knew the man had been driven by more than fear of idleness. Love had been the man’s real motivation. He loved the community and he loved the island.

Suddenly, the profound sadness he’d glimpsed in Sydney’s eyes over the last few days struck him. His throat tightened. With her sisters both so far away, after her grandparents died, Nate’s love made him the closest thing to family she had in the area. No wonder she was so worried about the school. The family and community of the island had held Sydney up in the midst of her pain.

He’d apologized to her before but, until now, he wasn’t sure that he really understood why he needed to apologize. He’d been so consumed with his own loss that he hadn’t really thought about anyone else’s feelings as more than an abstraction. For the rest of the trip, with each new wave seemed to come a deeper understanding of Sydney’s feelings.

The ferry boat arrived at the St. Ignace dock without incident. Devin’s Porsche was in the parking lot where he left it. Though he’d had the occasional yearning, he hadn’t realized how much he’d missed the car until he climbed inside, sat on the creamy leather seats and pushed play on his stereo. “Love and Happiness,” one of the best soul songs of all time, filled the compartment.

Five Al Green songs later, he pulled into the cemetery where his grandfather lay buried. He got out of the car without bothering to lock the door and wove his way through a series of tombstones until he found his grandfather’s temporary grave marker. The dirt at the burial site looked as fresh as it had a few days ago when he saw it last.

Devin got down on his knees, pressing his blue jeans into the dry earth. His mother had chosen the headstone using a picture that looked like an older version of himself.

“Grandfather, this is the first time we’ve been able to speak alone in a long time. Too long. You were loved by many. Hundreds came to your burial ceremony. You were a great man. Too great for me to ever stand in your shoes. I don’t know why you left this school to me. What gave you the idea that I would be able to run it? And how?” Devin pressed his palm into the dirt and gave a little chuckle. “I don’t know why I’m talking to the air expecting an answer. This is silly. But if you can hear me, I want you to know that I’m so sorry I didn’t call you more or come to visit you before you died. I just… I thought we had more time.”

***

The ferry ride back was peaceful. The waves were calm. There were a few powerboats anchored near the lighthouse. A young boy sitting a few rows up pointed and told his parents he’d like to rent a boat to see the lighthouse. Devin silently willed the parents to agree, knowing full well what an experience the trip would be for them.

As the boat approached the island, a lightness came over Devin. There were memories attached to just about every speck of land his eyes touched. For him, approaching the island was like sailing into the heart of his happiest childhood

moments and each one included Sydney St. James.

Devin was one of the last to deboard. By the time he reached the dock, the group of mostly tourists was far ahead of him.

“Devin,” a woman’s clear, cheerful voice called.

That’s when he noticed Sydney sitting alone on a bench. His heart started beating loudly in his ears. She looked beautiful in her simple outfit of flip flops, a yellow sundress and her floppy sun hat. A wilted daisy in the brim attested to the fact that she’d been out for a while. “Hey. What are you doing here? Did you get the times confused?”

“No, Devin. I just took a guess on which boat you’d be on. When you weren’t on the twelve o’clock ferry, I waited.”

“You waited?”

She patted the bench beside her. “Sit. Talk to me. Tell me how it went.”

Devin sat beside her. “It was good. I mean, I don’t know what I was expecting. But it was good.”

“Your grandfather was a smart man. He wouldn’t have left the school to you if he wasn’t sure you could handle it.”

“Wow, I just got chills. That’s the question I went there to ask. Then I felt like a fool because there was no way for him to answer me. But maybe there was afterall?” He looked out at the water and at the bike shop on shore with the brightly colored bikes hanging from the building’s sides. The island definitely wasn’t short on charm. “Can I ask you a question?”

She nodded. Gravely. As though she knew what he was going to say and dreaded this conversation.

“Why weren’t you at the funeral? And why didn’t you come with me today, Syd?”

Sydney took a deep breath. On an exhale she said, “Same answer to both. I haven’t left the island in five years, D. I haven’t been able to get into a car since my grandparents died.” She said it slowly, as though it was the first time she’d spoken the words aloud.

Her eyes moved from the lighthouse up to his. There was a fire in them that was love, shame, fear, and so many other things all mixed into one.

“Five years?” Devin asked.

“Five years. Well, unless you count sails. I do that pretty regularly. But getting to the burial site required driving, and I can’t do it anymore.”

“Sydney, what do you mean, you can’t?” That made no sense. It wasn’t like there was an invisible tether keeping her here.

“My body freezes up on me. I get a pain in my chest. It feels like anaphylactic shock. Like I’m allergic to the metal or motor or speed. I don’t exactly know what it is, except that I can’t.”

He paused, unsure what to say. The idea of living on a small little island for the rest of one’s life brought to mind Tom Hanks and his volleyball friend, Wilson. There was an invisible tether; she’d been shipwrecked on the island by her own pain and fear. “Do you think that’s part of the reason my grandfather had the burial off island? I was wondering about that. He loved this island so much. I didn’t understand why he wasn’t being buried here.”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. Maybe. Probably.”

She looked vulnerable. The same urge to protect her that he’d known when they were younger surged. He reached for her hand, and she automatically uncurled her fingers so that their palms pressed flat against one another before lacing together. Fierce heat shot through his body and, before he knew it, he’d turned to face her entirely, his free hand gently rubbing her cheek. She reached up and took off her sun hat, letting it rest on the bench. A few amber curls flew toward her beautiful thick lips, and he used his index finger to push them back behind her ear.

“What happened, Syd?” He rubbed his finger across her lips. They were so soft.

“I don’t know. I lost my strength.” As she spoke, small puffs of her warm breath

kissed his fingertips.

“I want to be your strength.”

“I don’t know if that’s possible.”

“Let me try.” He whispered as he leaned close. She closed her eyes and tilted her chin upward in invitation. Greedily, he took her sweet lips.

“Mmm,” she moaned into his mouth, and a wild jolt of desire coursed through him. It was full of his boyhood longing for the girl she was and his adult appreciation for the impossible woman she’d grown into. He licked her bottom lip and then kissed her again, setting off another round of moans, vibrating against his own lips, all throughout his body until the erotic sound made his shaft harden. He wanted to growl, to hike up the skirt of her yellow dress and take her right there. Instead he grabbed her by the nape of the neck and pulled her hair back, just hard enough to put one more breath between them. He calmed himself enough to kiss her again, slowly this time. It was the sweetest kiss he’d ever tasted.

She pulled away at the sound of the waters parting. He opened his eyes to see the crew throwing out the lines of the four o’clock ferry. How he’d managed to lose himself and so much time in her kisses didn’t matter to him. The only thing that mattered now was getting her alone somewhere. “Hey, what do you say we finish this conversation somewhere a little more private?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” She smiled.

The first to stand, she held out her hands to him, seeming to interpret his slow movements as a need for assistance. In truth, he was trying to give himself a minute to cool down so as not to put the world on notice of his affections. He took her hands in his and stood.

“Devin! Devin, is that you?” A familiar, high-pitched voice called out. Confused, he scanned the crowd of engers coming off the ship. The voice sounded like someone from Chicago. Someone who couldn’t be here.

“Devin!” Five long, red nails clamped down on his shoulder. They were attached to a wrist filled with gold bracelets that clanged together against his ear. He swirled around to find himself face to face with Samantha Holton. And before he could speak, the thin blonde jumped into his arms, breaking his grip on Sydney, and started squealing in his ear.

“Samantha? What are you doing here?” he asked, pushing her off of him. She was wearing a pink, shoulderless blouse, white pants, and Chanel wedges. She also had on a dark pair of limited edition Anna-Karin sunglasses that had a cat stretched over the top of the right lens. Diamond studded and not alive. The only kind of animal she liked, she’d once joked. He couldn’t see her eyes through them, but he was sure they were laughing. Samantha loved to surprise people, and she had outdone herself today. Devin was shocked to see her.

“I’ve been trying to call you for the last five days. When I saw that Yahoo article, I finally decided to just come out and see for myself what’s been keeping you from picking up.” She pulled her sunglasses down her nose and gave Sydney a head to toe. “Question answered.” She slid the glasses back into place. “Are you going to introduce me to your friend?”

He didn’t like her tone when she pronounced the word “friend.” And from the look on Sydney’s face, she didn’t like it, either.

“My name’s Sydney.”

“You’re Syd?” Samantha turned her gaze on Devin. “I thought Syd was a man. The way you talk about all of your adventures, I always thought you were talking about another guy.” Samantha cut her eyes from Devin back to Sydney. “I guess you were something of a tomboy growing up, eh?”

Sydney just furrowed her eyebrows and gave Devin a quick look. Devin immediately knew it was her way of saying “this is your idea of a friend?”

Samantha shrugged and giggled. “Can you take this?” she asked as she handed her Louis Vuitton shoulder bag and carry-on to Devin. He sighed. Samantha was a business associate with boundary issues. Part of that was due to the fact that they’d crossed into the friends with benefits zone a few times. Usually after a night of drinking. No matter how many times he told her there’d never be more between them, she refused to take no for an answer. At least from the looks of it, she didn’t plan on staying long. He would give her the courtesy of helping her find her hotel and then get back to his conversation with Sydney.

Once they got to the end of the dock, Samantha stopped to dig into her massive Louis Vuitton bucket purse. She pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Devin. “I got a little concerned after I saw that Yahoo article and did a little digging. Thought you should see this.”

Devin’s brows furrowed. What was she talking about now? He unfolded the

paper and scanned it quickly. When he got to the bottom, his jaw dropped. He felt like he’d taken a steel-toed boot to the gut.

“Yeah, sounded like you were having second thoughts about selling, and I figured I’d give you a little reality check,” Samantha said, her voice saccharine sweet.

“What’s wrong, Dev?” Sydney’s voice was blooming with concern.

“My grandfather, no, I owe over eighty-thousand dollars in back taxes on the school.”

***

“Oh,” Sydney said, her voice barely a whisper. This isn’t good, she thought. Still, as her grandmother used to say, any problem that could be solved with money wasn’t really a problem. Though it didn’t grow on trees, with enough hard work, one could always find a way to make more.

The IRS was a setback, yes, but a problem? Not necessarily.

The blonde hanging off of Devin with the sneer on her over-puckered, red lips? Now she might be a problem. Mostly because Sydney now felt like a fool for exposing her deepest, darkest, most intimate secret to Devin. For a second, when he’d offered to be her strength, her mind went back to that day on the boat when the storm had rolled in unexpectedly. He’d been her strength then, but now it

looked like he was channeling his energy in a new direction. Suddenly she understood his desire to get back to his life in Chicago. Why hadn’t he told her?

“I couldn’t find a hotel, all the rooms are booked up for some flower festival. So, I planned on staying with you.” The blonde looked up at Devin. Or at least Sydney thought she was looking up at Devin. It was hard to tell with those sunglasses on.

“With me?” he said. His voice went up an octave, and Sydney wasn’t sure if it was because he’d been caught with his pants down by both of them, or if it was because he didn’t want Samantha to spend time with him. That was strange. She suspected that if she hadn’t been there, he and Samantha would be having an entirely different interaction. He would have insisted that Samantha, not Sydney, find a private corner for some “conversation.”

Samantha was a better fit for Devin now anyway, with her designer clothes and her fast talk. She probably didn’t have any hang ups about hopping on a plane, train, or whatever to get her wherever she wanted to go.

“So, Sydney, how’d you end up on Mackinac today?” Samantha asked. The note of suspicion audible in her voice.

“I live here. Devin and I ran into each other in the woods a few days ago.”

“You live here? On this island? Without cars?”

“Yeah, it’s kind of like most of the people in Manhattan.”

“Oh, honey, this is definitely not Manhattan. What do you do in the winter?”

Love life even more because there aren’t any tourists, she almost said. But Sydney bit her tongue. There was no need to take the bait. Samantha was obviously feeling threatened and trying to show Devin she was the better choice, but Sydney didn’t believe in competing for a man. “Hunt. Fish. Basically, we tough it out.”

Samantha’s mouth was agape. “Do you have a husband?”

“No.”

“Wow, so you really are a tomboy. Charming.”

Sydney rolled her eyes. She couldn’t help herself.

“Anyway, Devin, you didn’t think I’d come all this way just to drop a bomb, did you?”

Sydney wasn’t sure what Devin thought because he’d been quietly fuming for the last two minutes, but she was quite sure Samantha was the type to travel five hundred miles precisely to drop a bomb, then run for cover, bowling over anyone who got in her way.

When Devin didn’t answer, Samantha gave a little frustrated huff and let her bottom lip pout. “Fine. You don’t have to guess. I’ll just tell you. I found a buyer for that little school you wanted to sell. Did you know the land itself is worth millions?”

Sydney saw red. “Devin, I’m going to let you and Samantha get settled. If you want, I can take care of Grace this afternoon. It sounds like you two have a lot to talk about.”

“Grace?” Samantha asked.

Ignoring her, Devin focused on Sydney. “No. I don’t want that.”

Sydney’s eyes roved from Samantha’s bag over his shoulder to the carry-on in his hand. Regardless of what Devin Fox thought he wanted, what she saw in front of her spoke volumes about what he would choose. But she channeled every ounce of optimism she had in her spirit and prayed she was wrong.

ELEVEN

Later that evening, Sydney met Henry at Kingston’s for ice cream. When she rolled up on her bike, he was already standing out front, tapping his toes to the reggae music piping through the outdoor speakers. Once their eyes met, he stopped tapping and smiled ear to ear.

“Boy, Henry, do I have to show up a day early to get anywhere before you?”

He looked down at the sidewalk and kicked a loose stone with the tip of his worn sneaker. “I don’t know. Ever since I found out I got into the school, I’ve just been super excited about everything. I’ve even been getting up before my mom and baby brother.”

That was saying a lot. His mom rose before sunrise to catch the six o’clock ferry.

Sydney’s chest tightened, but she pressed on a forced smile and tousled his hair. What a difference she saw between the boy who stood beside her now and the one she’d counseled for the last few months. “It makes me happy to see you this happy.”

She just hoped that it would stick, that she could find some way to convince Devin to keep the school open for the sake of kids like Henry and Kirk. She knew it was a lot to ask, putting the interests of strangers ahead of his own, but the long-term payoff far outweighed the short-term gain, in her mind.

Although, after seeing Samantha, and hearing about the overdue taxes, Sydney was now more worried than she had been since first learning of Devin’s intentions.

Everything was riding on these outstanding responses from dealerships. All she needed was one yes. Surely that wasn’t too much to ask. Sydney didn’t want to spoil the moment by ruminating, so she put the worries out of her mind. They were almost at the front of the line and she still wasn’t sure what she wanted to order.

The family in front of them took their ice cream and headed for the door. Emma Sanders, a bubbly local going into her senior year, was working the front window.

“Hey, Teach. Hey, Henry! What can I get ya?” The young blonde said cheerfully.

Henry ordered a s’more sundae with graham crackers, flambéed marshmallows, and homemade hot fudge. Feeling herself in need of some serious comfort food, Sydney followed his lead and ordered a small, grilled pineapple sundae, topped with coconut and caramel. Emma disappeared into the corner of the kitchen and came back five minutes later with Henry’s sundae.

Both of their eyes widened. “Wow, that looks like it belongs on the cover of a magazine,” Sydney said.

Henry dipped in his spoon and plopped a bite into his mouth. “Mmm. Tastes like

it, too.”

“What ’til you see yours, Ms. St. James.” Emma winked.

When Emma returned with Sydney’s sundae, Sydney had to agree that the girl was right. The smell of toasted pineapple and coconut was divine.

“That’ll be ten dollars even,” Emma said.

Sydney reached into her purse to grab her money, but Henry was quicker on the draw. He slid his ten dollar bill onto the counter. Sydney picked up his money and tried to give it back to him. “No, honey, let me. This is my treat for your big accomplishment.”

“Ooh, what are you celebrating, Henry?” Emma asked, clapping her hands lightly.

Henry’s cheeks turned red. Sydney put her hand on his shoulder. “He was accepted into BBS.”

Emma’s big blue eyes rounded but not in a way Sydney typically associated with positive surprise. When the girl’s hands fell to her sides, Sydney’s stomach fell too.

“What’s that look for Emma?” Henry asked, suddenly on the alert.

“Nothing,” Emma squeaked.

“Yeah, right. I’ve known you since you were two years old. You can’t hide worry from me. Spill it.”

Sydney glanced nervously at the growing line behind them. She wasn’t sure what Emma was about to say, but she knew she didn’t want to have Henry hear it in front of an audience. “Henry, maybe we should let Emma get back to her customers. The line is rather long. Emma, why don’t you just take this money and talk to Henry later in the week?”

Henry shot Sydney a glance. “You, too?” He took another bite of his ice cream. “Look, whatever it is, I’m fortified by this.” He held up a spoonful of fudge. “I can handle it. Now tell me.”

He fixed his gaze on Emma.

Emma looked frantically from Sydney to Henry, then let out a shuddering breath. “Okay… Attorney Robins was in here yesterday with his wife. I was busing tables, and they were sitting over there, by the window. Old Nate’s grandson walked by, and Attorney Robins slid down deep in the seat. I heard him tell his wife he was avoiding Old Nate’s boneheaded grandson because he was intent on closing the school.”

“Closing it?” Henry repeated as though the words had no meaning to him. “I don’t understand.”

Emma nodded. “The current students weren’t even going to be able to finish out the year. I’m sorry.”

“What?!” Sydney’s hand shot up to her mouth, and she blinked back instant tears. Of course she knew Devin was thinking about closing the school, but she didn’t realize he’d already met with an attorney or that he would ever really be coldhearted enough to close it in the middle of the school year. An image of Kent and all of the other students came to mind. What about the Fourth of July race? Would they even be able to finish the boat they hoped to sail in honor of Old Nate?

“Come on, lady. Some of us are here to eat,” a gruff voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Oh, sorry.” Sydney thanked Emma and put her hand on Henry’s shoulder, guiding them both to the outdoor seating section. “Come on, Henry, let’s find a quiet place to talk.”

“If it’s alright with you, I’d rather just be alone right now.” His downcast eyes were so full of dashed hopes, her heart twisted.

“Henry, please, let’s just finish our ice cream and talk.”

“Really, it’s cool. I was dreaming too big anyway. College isn’t for kids like me. Who am I to dream about building boats when my own father never did more than clean their decks?”

Sydney grabbed her heart. “Henry, please, that’s no way to think. This isn’t the end of the road for you.”

“I know. I’m gonna head home. Thanks for the ice cream.” He walked off.

The frugal, waste-not-want-not voice in Sydney’s head forced her to take another spoonful of her ice cream. It still tasted delicious, but she didn’t see how she’d be able to finish it now. She put a lid on her ice cream. Sugar would enjoy it if she couldn’t. When a family of four came by scanning the area for a table, she offered them hers.

By the time Sydney arrived home, the ice cream had turned to sweet soup in the container. Shug, who was back to moping again, took a few sniffs before sitting down and looking up at her expectantly.

“Are you serious? You’re turning your nose up at ice cream? Said no dog ever. You can’t possibly have it that bad for old Gus, can you?”

Sydney sighed. She understood. In spite of everything, and it was a lot, she still held out a tiny glimmer of hope for Devin. She left the container on the ground in case Sugar had a change of heart and then went to check her email. It’s been nearly a week since she’d emailed the dealerships with her partnership idea. One had gotten back to her right away, saying it was a great idea, but they didn’t have the financial capacity to enter into that kind of partnership at the moment. The fact that one dealership was taken with her idea gave her hope. Surely one of the two outstanding prospects would come through.

She tapped the mouse with her index finger until the computer screen lit up and her screensaver, a picture of her and Nate with Noah’s Ark, came onto the screen. “Hey, old friend.” She pressed the keys on the keyboard that took her to her email and scrolled down.

And there it was. In the last two hours, both of the outstanding prospects had responded. Sydney sucked in her breath. There was no way she could read either without a little help from her friend. Her eyes moved to a bottle of Malbec on the counter. She raced across the kitchen and poured herself a glass. This would either be celebration or solace. Either way, she took a sip, then added a splash or two more. Sitting back down in front of her computer she took another long swallow and then clicked on the email.

“Thank you for considering us with your proposal. While we find the story endearing and the offer tempting, at this time Orton Marina is unable to accept your offer. Please keep us in mind for future boating needs. Best of luck.”

Sydney’s head fell to her hand. This email so closely resembled the first email that she now questioned herself for attaching any significance to it. A firm believer that it was better to get it all over with, Sydney clicked on the last email.

Another rejection.

With a ragged sigh, Sydney shuffled from her seat to the bottle on the counter, replenishing her glass to the brim. Hugging the bottle with one arm and cradling the glass in the other, she shuffled to her couch where she plopped down with a light thud. As soon as her head hit the back of the sofa, her body relaxed and the quiet of her four walls, normally so soothing, began to haunt her. A lump formed in her throat, and she took another gulp of her wine to swallow it down. The warm, oaky liquid helped, but that wasn’t enough to keep all the old wounds

from pulling taut. She took another sip to keep them from ripping open.

Sydney poured more wine into her glass and then put the bottle on the table near the couch. It was still half full. Drinking the whole thing would be a punishment her body didn’t deserve. Her goal was to drink just enough to keep the tears from falling.

Her hopes of convincing Devin to keep the school open were all but dead. According to the rumor mill, closing it was already in the works. With a looming tax bill and no sponsor, the numbers weren’t in the town’s favor. She had likely failed Kirt, Henry, and the rest of the kids. Worst of all, she had failed Nate. Still, she refused to shed one tear.

There was a chance that he might keep the school open. There was a chance that Emma or Robins got it wrong. There was a chance that they would find the money some other way, and that Devin would see the light.

Yes, her heart ached so bad it felt like an iron fist was squeezing it and not just because she felt perilously close to letting down people she cared about. She was also nursing a separate pain that was all for her. For all practical purposes, it looked like Devin’s feelings for her hadn’t been strong enough to combat his lust for money. But, her solution to that wasn’t to cry, it was to compartmentalize. And so she closed her eyes and visualized herself putting all of her pain into a little black box, slamming the top down, sealing it shut, and then slinging it far out past the moon.

When Sugar’s whining woke her up, Sydney realized she’d been dozing. “What’s wrong, girl? You want to go outside?” The sun had gone down so that meant it was after nine o’clock. A quick glance at the microwave told her it was almost eleven.

Sydney opened the front door and gave a little start. A large, dark mound huddled in the middle of her porch. When the mound leaped up and started wagging its tail, she recognized Gus.

Heat coursed through her. If Gus was here, that meant Devin wasn’t far behind. She glanced at the rocking chair and around the darkened pasture. If he was here, maybe it was to tell her that everything had all been one big misunderstanding.

“Devin?” she called. “I’m not in the mood for surprises right now. So come out.” The wind whispered through the leaves and the cicadas sang. Fireflies pulsed neon yellow in her yard. But no response came from Devin or anyone else. “Devin?” she called again.

Sugar snuggled against Gus’s side, and now the two dogs looked up at her with pleading eyes. She felt like her children were begging for a sleepover. She smiled. “Did you get loose to come see Sugar? Your infuriating human must be worried sick.”

Sydney went inside and grabbed two leashes. Outside, she leashed them both. “Come on, guys. We’re going for a walk.”

***

All of the lights in Old Nate’s cabin were ablaze. For one fleeting second, Sydney imagined he was there, inside, and that all was right with the world. But then reality hit. Seeing all of those lights would have given him fits. The man

despised artificial light, only used one by his bed, and that was to read his love stories late at night.

Sydney chuckled. Nate and his stories. That was his favorite part of the summer — all of the tourists leaving behind their beach reads. He liked to comb through them when they anchored in the cove and fished. He was always trying to convince her that the happy endings from his stories could happen in real life. She looked down at her pups. Neither of them would agree. A frustrated Gus already seemed to sense that they were to be parted and had started dragging well before they reached the front door of Nate’s cabin.

Coming here, knowing Nate wasn’t going to be the one to open the door, was just one more brick on a growing pile of sadness. If she wasn’t convinced Gus would follow her, Sydney would have left him at the doorstop. Instead, she climbed the wooden steps of the front porch and knocked on the screen door.

Somewhere in the nearby forest, an owl hooted, probably a mating call. Nate lived for sounds like that. He used to get up before sunrise for his sound baths, where he stood under the early morning stars, listening to the birdsong. He used to say humans learned to sing from them, our music an imitation of their communications with each other.

Sydney agreed. There was little more uplifting than the early morning stirrings of the birds. If only Devin could see and appreciate all of this, too.

Out of the corner of her eye, Sydney caught the living room curtains ruffling. Of course the city boy had to check and see who was knocking before he opened the front door. For the life of her, Sydney couldn’t understand why people chose city over country when it left them so guarded all of the time.

The sound of footsteps on the other side of the door made Sydney quake just a bit. After their afternoon, she was nervous about seeing Devin again. Sydney rolled her eyes and thrust her shoulders back. No. She wasn’t going to shrink from this encounter.

The door opened, revealing a flawlessly made up and scantily clad Samantha. A red silk robe fell off of her shoulder, a thin cover for her teddy, which barely stopped at the top of her thigh. “Oh, it’s you,” Samantha said, scowling.

So Devin and Samantha were a thing.

Sydney’s insides caught fire, and she was suddenly consumed with a violent urge to punch the blonde square in her jaw. Instead, she handed her the leash. “I’m just here to drop off Gus.”

Reluctantly, Samantha opened the screen door to take the leash and give Gus entry, but Gus didn’t move.

“Inside,” Sydney coaxed. When he still remained on his haunches, Sydney gave him a gentle nudge.

Samantha hissed and tugged at Gus’s leash. As he went inside, Sugar brushed past Sydney and trailed him. The dog had been in Nate’s house so many times, there was no way for her to know this time was different. Sydney followed.

Nate’s place was set up a lot like Sydney’s. Once you’d stepped inside you could see everything in the house, with the exception of the bedroom and bathroom. Both doors were closed, so there was nowhere for Shug or Gus to go. Sydney snatched up Sugar’s leash and headed toward the door.

As she was crossing the room, her eye caught on a stack of papers on the table, the top of which read “Purchase Agreement.” Automatically, her eyes scanned the document, and when they reached the bottom, she froze. In the blank next to the place for the seller’s signature, Devin’s name was scribbled.

A torrent of emotion washed over Sydney. She shook her head. How could he?

Samantha narrowed her eyes and smirked. “You didn’t honestly think your little article was going to work, did you? I mean, come on, you’re asking a trader to walk away from millions, and for what? A head of curls and a school of degenerates? Cardi B couldn’t even pull that off.”

Heart pounding, Sydney spun around and started for the door. If she didn’t get out of there immediately, she was going to wipe the floor with Samantha. Sugar must have sensed Sydney’s anger because the dog was glued to her side as she stormed out of the house. Devin was spot on about one thing: sometimes, when people died, their dreams died with them. Old Nate had dreams for Devin and, clearly, there was no way he was going to live up to them.

TWELVE

The trail went cold once Devin got to the main road, which was paved. For the first time in his life, he cursed the modern convention of paving roads. Tracking was much easier in the woods.

Devin swung his flashlight up and down the dirt lane and into the bushes. He couldn’t see paw prints, broken branches, or any other evidence that would indicate which way Gus ran. It was as though his dog had vanished into thin air. His first thought had been to check Sydney’s house. He’d gone directly there, but there’d been no answer when he knocked.

His spirits lifted then dashed as he ran through possible scenarios. Maybe Gus went to Sydney’s looking for her dog, and Sydney was at his cabin right now, waiting for him to get home. Then he ed that Samantha was also at the cabin. That’s when his spirits plummeted. The thought of having Samantha under his roof for a night made his skin crawl. He’d just been so thrown by the news of the tax bill, he wasn’t sure what to do with her. As much as he’d wanted to send Samantha packing, he’d also wanted to hear about this potential buyer who might be able to keep Devin from having to fork over nearly one hundred thousand dollars in back taxes and penalties.

The buyer had sounded promising but it was hard for him to concentrate as Samantha had been giving her spiel about how smart it was to sell. His mind kept returning to Sydney. Their kiss at the dock had rocked him to his core. Every time her image came to mind, his body heated anew. How foolish would it be of him to give up a multi-million dollar deal and a lucrative career for his childhood crush?

Devin shook his head. He wasn’t thinking straight. He’d been given a golden opportunity to develop with his firm. Maybe in a year or two he’d come back to Sydney, buy the Grand or its equivalent, and then think about settling down, but for now the answer was no. He couldn’t step away from his career because of his childhood crush.

Realizing he was unlikely to find Gus, Devin headed toward the cabin. It was a small island, after all, so the likelihood of anything bad happening to the dog wasn’t high. At least he didn’t have to worry about him getting hit by a car. And a dog that could survive the streets of Chicago had already proven his mettle.

As Devin approached the path that led to his cabin, he noticed a red glow pulsing in the trees. Was someone burning a fire near his house? Picking up his pace, Devin broke into a jog when he thought he heard voices coming from his cabin. His shoulders tensed, please don’t let it be something bad with Gus.

Turning onto the lane, his eyes squinted. A flashing strobe light, not a blazing fire, illuminated the wood’s canopy. Devin cocked his head and broke into a run. What the hell was going on?

Two seconds later Gus barked from the other side of his open screen door at a group of people standing near his porch. So he’d made it home.

Somewhat relieved, Devin slowed down as he neared the cabin. Three bicycle officers were standing with two young men in handcuffs. “Hey officers, what’s going on?”

The only other illumination on his property came from the porch, and it washed the men in a faint yellow glow, too faint for Devin to make out their features until he was within ten feet of them.

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out. Never had any trouble with these kids before. Are you the owner of this property?” one of the officers asked.

“I am. My name is Devin Fox.”

“Ah…” The officer said, as though hearing Devin’s name suddenly answered his questions. “You’re Old Nate’s grandson.”

“I am.”

Now that he was closer, Devin recognized the scowling teens as Henry and Kirk. Shock jolted him. Devin furrowed his brows in confusion. “What happened?”

“These two delinquents were trying to break into your barn,” Samantha shouted. “I called the police.”

“We weren’t trying to break in,” Henry shot out, just before Kirk cut him a fierce look that shut the other teen up.

One of the other officers spoke up. “Looks like they’ve been drinking and got to using Nate’s barn windows for target practice.” The officer had a stoney gaze

and was focusing it on Devin rather than either of the young men in custody.

That struck Devin as strange until he ed the Yahoo article from earlier in the day. “You all heard about the school, I take it?”

“What? You thought we wouldn’t find out? Thought you’d just sneak into town and steal everyone’s futures and then slip off into the night? How could you?” Kirk spat at Devin’s feet.

The officer pulled Kirk back. “You’re in enough trouble as it is, young man. Don’t go making things worse for yourself.”

“Wanishin,” Kirk scoffed, heedless of the officer’s warning.

Lost. Devin suspected the young man was trying to say that Devin was lost and a traitor to his people by not preserving the school.

The thought hurt.

“So, what happens now, officer?” Devin asked, frowning.

“We’ll take them to the station and book ’em for tresing and malicious destruction of property.”

Shit, first he’d stolen their shot at a lucrative career, now he was going to be responsible for their first foray into the criminal justice system. Devin ran his hand through his hair and cast a glance up to the screen door. Gus had stopped barking, and an overly made-up Samantha stood there with a silk robe pulled tight around her waist. And what was she wearing on her feet? Were those wedge slippers?

Good lord.

A wishful image of Sydney in his sweatshirt and boxers flashed through his mind. If he was going to come home to a woman, that’s what he wanted. Someone low key. Someone who would have been able to cure this kind of a situation with a conversation, not with the police. Devin’s gaze moved from Henry to Kirk. “What if I don’t want to go forward with the charges?”

“Doesn’t matter. They broke the state’s laws, not yours, Mr. Fox.”

Devin let out a loud sigh and rubbed his chin. “What if I gave them permission?”

“To come onto your property and smash the windows out of your barn?” The officer arched a brow and fixed Devin with a long stare of disbelief. Devin knew enough about the law to expect the officer to mention perjury. Finally, the officer’s gaze moved to the others. A look of understanding ed among the officers.

“I suppose we’d have to let them go. So long as they promised to head straight home and save their target practice for the ball fields.” He spoke to Devin, but his eyes were on Kirk and Henry.

Devin nodded. “Thank you. Does that work for you two?”

“No,” they answered in unison.

Henry stuck out his chin in defiance. “I’d rather have a record than accept charity from you.”

Devin tensed, surprised at the transformation in the boy. The day they’d met in the woods, he came across as shy and withdrawn. Funny what anger could do to a person, and tonight’s anger ran deep. The thought of him being a trigger for this kind of transformation made Devin shudder. But what really moved Devin was seeing Kirk in cuffs. The strong, sensitive teen was born for the open water and the freedom that came with it. He now stood before Devin, eyes ablaze, mad as a caged animal.

Devin rubbed both of his hands over his face. So this was what Sydney had been warning against since he’d first shared his plans with her.

Her words came back to him, “…isn’t that what you’re doing? Operating on the fear that you aren’t enough.” She was right. That fear had been driving him for as long as he ed. The truth was, he had enough money to day trade on his own. It wasn’t the jackpot he’d been aiming for. It wasn’t enough to buy the Grand, but it was enough to save the school and get the girl. Those were the only two things he cared about, and he’d never feel like he was enough if he didn’t do the right thing.

A gookooko’oo hooted in the distance. Some Ojibwe were scared of owls, but his grandfather used to say the birds represented wise spirits sending important messages. Devin didn’t need a translator for this message. His own heart was clear. “Officers, you can let them go. They had my permission. And guys, I’m not selling the school.”

“You’re not?!” Samantha practically shrieked. “Have you lost your mind? That property’s worth millions. You can’t give that up for a bunch of snot-nosed hillbillies and a bit of country ass.”

“I can, and I will,” Devin shot back.

THIRTEEN

Morning dawned, cold and dreary. At last, weather that fit her mood. Sydney threw off the covers but quickly pulled them back when the brisk air of the cottage hit the bare skin of her thighs.

No sooner had she pulled the covers over her head than three loud knocks sounded from the door. She didn’t need to emerge from her cocoon to know whose fist was banging.

Devin.

Nobody else would pay her a visit this early in the morning. Thank God she’d locked the door last night. Call it a premonition because in all her five years on island she’d never locked a door, but last night she came home so upset she wanted to shut the world out. What better way to do that than to bolt the lock?

She thought herself silly at the time but, when she heard the door handle jiggling, she thanked last night’s self for doing so. Sydney snuggled deeper into her duvet and put her pillow over her head to block out the sound of him calling her name. He could call till kingdom come; there was no way she was going to give him another chance to break her heart.

Hot, heavy tears began to roll down the sides of Sydney’s face. Feeling the wet against her cheeks unleashed a tsunami of anguish and a fresh round of sobs. She wiped at the tears, first with her fists, then with the blanket, but it was no use.

They were relentless. Soon, the fabric grew cold and wet. She threw it back and sat up. Curling her knees to her chest, she wrapped her arms around herself. Her stomach muscles clenched as she tried to bite back what felt like a never-ending rush of emotions, raw and painful. So raw and so painful that her heart ached. Her dreams of Devin and the school were dead. She’d fought the good fight and lost.

Brown Sugar and April climbed into the bed, pressing their warm bodies against her cold skin as though trying to comfort her. That was the first time she’d seen the two animals in companionable proximity. Their efforts made her smile.

Sydney folded herself into the corner where her bed met the wall. Eventually, the knocks slowed, then stopped altogether. Still, she waited thirty minutes more, until the clock shone seven a.m., and she was pretty sure the coast was clear. Then she tiptoed out into the living area and pulled back her curtains. Both rocking chairs were empty. There was no sign of Devin.

Suspecting the chill in today’s air was permanent, Sydney threw on a pair of jeans and an old sweatshirt to feed her animals, first inside and then out.

By 9 a.m., Sydney was on Grace’s doorstep. The older woman’s healing had been incredibly fast. Doc Albert attributed it to the Lake Michigan air, and Grace didn’t correct him.

Grace greeted Sydney with a ready cup of coffee, so hot that it steamed in the cool morning air. “Good morning, dear,” Grace said on seeing Sydney. “You look a bit tired this morning. Is everything alright?”

Sydney gave a small smile. “I have my health and my animals. I live on one of the world’s most beautiful islands. What more could a girl ask for?”

“A woman wants for many things, and a woman’s heart, well, that’s another story entirely,” Grace said, as she moved to the wicker porch chair. Sydney took the swinging loveseat that she’d enjoyed with Devin. Fresh memories made her heart clench. Sydney looked down at the porch.

“I see the way you and Devin have been looking at each other these last few days. He also came by this morning to say goodbye. I had a feeling that might not sit so well with you.”

“He’s leaving?” Sydney’s eyes shot up.

“Why, yes, I think he already left. He and Gus were round over an hour ago, and he said the dock was their next stop.”

So it was done. He must have been banging on her door this morning to say goodbye before leaving the island for good. Her mind and heart felt like they were being torn apart. She’d managed just fine without him, but now that her foolish heart had expanded to fit him, it hurt to shrink it back.

“Well, most people come and go in our lives, don’t they? Especially when you live on an island,” Sydney said.

“That doesn’t make it any easier when you’ve been hoping the person would

stay. Does he know how you feel?”

“Not exactly. It’s complicated.”

“Isn’t it always?” Grace smiled. “Maybe you should tell him. Chicago isn’t that far from here. In fact, half of the people on island right now have probably come from there.”

Sydney sighed. Those people weren’t her. Plus, telling him how she felt wouldn’t undo what he’d done to the community. She could forgive him. She could understand his reasons. But she couldn’t have a relationship with someone who valued money over people. Who knows, if she hadn’t told him about her phobia, maybe he would have decided differently. He probably had his own misgivings about her. Clearly, he did. Sydney shook her head. “No, that ship had sailed.”

***

An hour later, Sydney and Grace said their goodbyes. Sydney had a birding tour scheduled this morning, and she hopped on her bike to meet Henry. As she pedaled toward the forest, she prepared herself to encourage him. Actually, seeing him might be just what she needed. If there was anyone who would understand her pain right now, it would be him. Devin’s leaving impacted him, too.

After Sydney laid her bike down near the cluster of daisies and plucked one for the brim of her hat, she found Henry in their forest meeting place. On seeing her, Henry’s face practically split in two with a gigantic smile. “Everyone, this is our

fearless leader, Sydney St. James.”

What was going on with Henry? Had he accepted his fate and moved on that quickly? Sydney plastered on a smile as she faced the group of twelve. The numbers had been increasing with each week. Mired as she was in her own sadness, her spirit didn’t even perk at that realization. But maybe that was the reason for Henry’s buoyant mood? She wished they could talk about things, but it would be unprofessional to get into that now, so their talk would have to wait until the tour was over.

“Good morning, everyone,” Sydney said. “Thanks for ing us today. We’re excited to show you a side of Mackinac that many see but often fail to recognize — our fantastic ornithological life.”

The collective smiles of the group warmed her heart some. Just being in the woods calmed most people, and the birdsong filled the air. The of the group had already introduced themselves to each other. They now introduced themselves again to her. She went over birding etiquette, a new addition to her spiel after Mrs. Winters’s incessant chattiness, and then the group got on their way. Sydney took the lead and Henry brought up the rear to keep an eye out for any possible stragglers.

By the time they’d reached the marsh they’d seen three yellow-headed blackbirds, several northern shrikes and evening grosbeaks, and Sydney had been able to lure out a small family of orchard orioles using calls taught to her by Old Nate.

At the marsh, the group each chose their own quiet viewing spots to take pictures of a few Caspian terns. While the group was engrossed, Henry made his way to her.

“You’re surprisingly cheerful,” Sydney said.

“Haven’t you heard?” His blue eyes glinted.

Sydney felt her pulse quicken. “Heard? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“He’s not closing the school.”

Confused, Sydney shook her head. “But I saw the signed contract, and he’s left the island.”

“I saw the contract, too, and Kirk and I watched him rip it up. Right before he told that blonde where to stick it.” Henry laughed.

“Shhh, you’ll scare the birds.” Sydney smiled.

“I don’t know why he left the island. Maybe he plans to have someone else run the school.”

Sydney crossed to a nearby rock and sat. He’d changed his mind. So the old Devin was still in there after all. A panicked thought stole her happiness; he’d probably come to tell her this morning. But she’d refused to open the door. Had

she lost him forever? She wanted to speak to him, convince him to come back to the island. No, he’d never give up his city life for their small island, but she at least wanted to thank him for putting the island’s interests ahead of his own.

“Are you okay, Teach? I thought this news would make you happy.”

“Oh, yes, I’m very happy. This is a great win for the island.” She only wished she felt like it was a win for her.

***

Later that day, Sydney took a detour by Old Nate’s cabin on her bike ride home. The front door was unlocked, so she went inside. Devin had boxed everything, and the smell of Old Nate’s hand-rolled tobacco was much fainter than it had been two months ago. The light scent of Devin’s sandalwood and lemon was replacing it. Sydney pulled out one of the two handmade chairs and sat at the small table Old Nate had used for eating. She pressed her palms flat against the wood and squeezed her eyes shut. Images came flooding back. They’d shared hundreds of meals here over the years. A fresh ache twisted her heart.

She missed her friend. She felt tremendous guilt for not attending his funeral. But on some level, she knew he would understand, would forgive her. She ed his words to her in the weeks before he died: “Don’t be sad. We all must move on.”

Moving on was the natural order of things, and Sydney had been a student of nature for most of her life. Why then was it so hard for her to move on from her own paralyzing fears? She hadn’t stopped by Nate’s cabin in hopes of finding his

ghost. Devin was the ghost she was hunting now. Except, he wasn’t a ghost. He was very much alive, in a place that was very much accessible to her, if only she could find a way to put her fears aside — to move on.

When Sydney got home that afternoon, Grace and Henry were sitting in the rocking chairs on her porch. Sydney said her hellos to the animals and then walked toward the humans.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“We figured you’d need someone to watch the animals while you went on your trip,” Grace said.

“Yep. It’s our turn to return the favor.” Henry stood and offered Sydney his seat.

“Is this your way of getting me ready for big news?” Sydney joked.

“The whole town knows you and Devin belong together. We even took up a collection to pay for your bus ticket.” Henry handed her an envelope.

Sydney stared at them, dumbfounded. “If you know me that well, then you know why I can’t just go after him.”

“You can, and you will. You just have to tell yourself that the fear of living without him is worse than your fear of cars,” Grace said.

Sydney laughed. As though it were that easy.

Grace reached into her purse and pulled out a folder. “This has everything you need in it: a map of the city, directions to his house, everything.”

Sydney took the folder and glanced at it. “You know a normal person would just track down his phone number and call him.”

Grace patted Sydney’s hand. “Honey, we both know you’re far better than normal. We also know what you need to do and why. It’s time.”

Sydney closed her eyes, inhaled, and then opened her eyes to look at Henry and Grace. “It’s past time. It’s like I’ve shown up five years late for my own life. This ends now.”

***

At 6:30 the next morning, Sydney St. James stood at the door of the Indian Trails bus. This was a scenario she’d played out in her mind hundreds of times since discovering her paralyzing fear. Each time she got to the side of the vehicle and was relatively fine until she took hold of the door handle or slid into the enger seat. caused her breath to issue in short, labored bursts. Her palms got all swampy and slick. The vessel on the right side of her temple threatened to burst, sending a shooting pain stabbing behind her eyeball.

And that was just in her mind. The few times she’d tried in person had been much, much worse. Today would be different, though. It had to be.

“Good morning, young lady. Welcome,” the kindly driver greeted from his seat, three steps and a world away.

When a long silence followed, the driver’s brow creased. “Are you coming with us?”

“Oh, she’s coming,” Kirk said from behind Sydney’s shoulder. Grace, Kirk, and Henry had come with her all the way to the St. Ignace bus station, with Grace renting a motorized scooter for the short walk from the ferry.

Grace had been a tremendous since Sydney agreed to make the trip. Last night, they’d worked on visualization techniques into the wee hours. This morning, at the ferry on the Mackinac side, Grace had given Sydney a little gift. “I have all the faith in the world in you, sweetie. But there’s no need to jump right into the deep end on this one and do things the hard way.”

Sydney looked at Grace blankly. “I’m an amaxaphobe who’s taking a fifteenhour bus ride to Chicago. I am scared to think how much deeper or harder this could get.”

Grace chuckled. “Just open the box.”

Sydney opened the jewelry sized box. On a small white cotton pillow, four little

blue pills rested innocently. Surprised, Sydney looked back up at Grace. “What are these?”

“They’re my happy pills. My doctor back home gave them to me for emergencies. I’d say this qualifies.” Grace smiled.

Agreeing, Sydney dumped all four into her palm. “Not so fast, one should do the trick. I usually take them in halves.” Grace cautioned.

Sydney pursed her lips. “In that case, I’ll take two.”

Grace shook her head and, in the end, Sydney settled for one, slipping the small box into the front pocket of her cut offs. By the time she’d gotten off the ferry, her muscles felt a bit more relaxed.

Now, when Sydney put her hand on the side of the bus’s door and no feeling of fire scorched her palm, she assured herself the pills were working.

“You got this, Teach,” Henry encouraged.

“Just why you’re doing this, sweetie. When the fear comes, look it straight in the eye and tell it why it can’t win,” Grace whispered.

An image of Devin flashed in Sydney’s mind, and her heart did a little summersault. She was going to him. The fear wouldn’t win this time because her

love was bigger than it.

Sydney turned around and gave the group a small smile, then turned back toward the bus. Inhaling, she lifted her foot onto the first step. The second step felt like it might be the last. A bit of her strength crumbled, but she propped it up mentally and took the step, saying a little silent cheer when her foot hit the rubber. Her full body was now inside the bus. The third step put her on the landing right beside the driver.

As though picking up on her nerves, he reached out and patted her shoulder. “You’re safe with me, you hear?”

She smiled, then turned back to her group of friends. They were all smiling, too. Grace had tears in her eyes, and Henry and Kirk were pumping their fists in the air. “Go get him!” Grace yelled.

Sydney gave a little wave and the driver pressed a button that shut the door behind her.

FOURTEEN

Devin took a step forward and clasped his hands behind him, bending over to stretch the muscles in his lower back. The motion was soothing, but as soon as he stood upright some of the tension returned.

Stacked on the wall adjacent to his floor-to-ceiling windows, with the sweeping views of Lake Michigan, were forty cardboard boxes. They contained everything from his condo that he’d decided to keep, with shipping labels to his new address. He’d done enough packing in the past few weeks to last him a lifetime, and he hoped he wouldn’t have to do this again in the foreseeable future.

Gus rubbed his wet nose against the palm of Devin’s hand, and he looked down at his dog. “I don’t know, boy, you think you can handle leaving this place?” The dog wagged his tail, and Sydney’s words came back to Devin. Gus didn’t care where he was. He just loved his human.

“You in there?” His downstairs neighbor called through the partially open door of his condo.

“Come on in, Steve,” Devin called back.

Steve came inside and stopped at the ten-piece, black, leather sectional that wrapped around the seventy-inch flat screen in the center of the living room.

“Wow, this sure is a beauty. You sure you want to give it up?” Steve asked, rubbing his palm across the soft leather.

“Positive.”

Steve laughed. “This Sydney must be some woman to make Devin the Fox want to settle down.”

“She is. She’s the one.” Of that, Devin couldn’t be more certain. She was the one who made him realize that he was enough. He was more than the opportunities presented to him. He was the reason they were presented to him. Selling the school and cabin wasn’t the answer. Selling his condo and moving to the island to live with her was. “Come on. Let’s move this downstairs.”

***

Sydney had done it. No matter what happened next, nothing would ever erase the feeling of delight she experienced as she emerged from the bus station onto the busy streets of Chicago. For five years, she’d lived with a crippling fear of anything with a motor and wheels but, thanks to Devin, her friends, and her system, she’d faced it and won. Unwittingly, he had been her strength. She felt like she was glowing, and perhaps it was this glow that cast the city in such a favorable light.

A young man stopped in front of her. “Are you lost?”

“I’m looking for Michigan Ave.”

He pointed her in the direction of the lake and walked off, leaving her with the impression that maybe she’d misjudged city folk. We were all just people, after all, grappling with our own various challenges.

Sydney pulled out her phone and swiped until Google Maps came up. According to the information Grace had given her, Devin’s condo was less than a mile away. Definitely not too far to walk. The first thing she’d done when the bus pulled into Union Station was step into the ladies’ room to freshen up. Now, she was wearing her hiking shoes and the same yellow dress she was wearing the day he kissed her. Perfect attire for an early evening stroll.

Sydney swiped to her text messages. She wanted to let the gang know she’d arrived safe and sound. She sent a group text to Henry, Kirk, and Grace: Hey, everyone, just wanted to let you know that I did it. I’m here! Wish me luck.

Bubbles instantly appeared, and she imagined one or all of them had been watching the clock, anticipating her text. The screen flashed Grace’s name:

Sweetie, congratulations. We’re so proud of you. And, my dear, I so hope you will forgive me, but there is something you should know. It was all you. The happy pills were vitamin B-12.

Sydney froze in the middle of the sidewalk, causing the flow of pedestrians to part around her. That wasn’t possible. Was it? She’d done this all on her own? Sydney didn’t know whether to curse or cry out in thanks. Sydney read the text three more times to make sure she’d seen it clearly. Finally she typed:

Thank God for friends like you guys.

Looking up from her phone, Sydney spotted a pizza parlor. When her stomach growled, reminding her she’d been too nervous to eat in the last fifteen hours, she decided to step inside for a slice. Doubtful that anything could come close to Mackinac’s pizza, she didn’t have high expectations when she told the smiling teen on the other side of the counter she’d like a cheese slice. He came back with a square that looked nothing like the pizza served back home. Deep dish, he’d called it.

She sat down at a red booth next to the window, using a knife and fork to cut a bite. She was pleasantly surprised with the first swallow. The fragrant taste of basil and sweet tomato were perfectly balanced by a far more generous amount of cheese than an ordinary flat slice could accommodate. Amazing. It was like her mouth had died and gone to heaven. As Sydney chewed, she realized a truth she’d long been hiding from herself — she’d become one of those people who convinced herself her hometown pizza was the best, in order to make herself content with her chosen lot in life.

Sydney dabbed a paper napkin at the corner of her lips. Who knew pizza could be so revelatory? But that was the thing; she’d made tremendous strides in the last few weeks, and pizza wasn’t the savior. It’d been Devin. That kiss on the dock and his whispered desire to be her strength had worked. He’d given her a vision of what their love could be, unlocking something powerful inside of her, a remembrance of what it felt like to be ed and connected on a most intimate level.

Sydney quickly downed the rest of her slice. She wasn’t just hungry for food. She was hungry to see the man who’d inspired her to break free of her cage.

The walk to Devin’s wasn’t too long and, after fifteen hours on a bus, it felt good to stretch her legs, though she hadn’t slept well the night before, and she was starting to get that grainy feeling she got when she was fatigued.

Devin lived in a twenty-story doorman building close to Navy Pier. She walked through a revolving door that let her out into a high-ceilinged lobby full of cold air conditioned air. A man in a crisp, rust-colored uniform with gold buttons sat behind the greeting desk. Approaching him, Sydney simultaneously felt underdressed and undeterred.

“Can I help you?” The man’s smile put her at ease.

“Hello, my name is Sydney St. James. Pleased to meet you.”

The corner of his eyes crinkled. “Hello, Sydney. I’m Harold. What can I do for you?”

“I’m here to see a friend, Devin Fox.”

“Mr. Fox isn’t in.” Harold paused. “I believe he and his dog went to the marina.”

“Oh? You wouldn’t happen to have any idea when he’ll be back would you?”

Harold eyed her from head to toe in a way that let her know he was reluctant to answer, though part of him wanted to. She was reminded of the tourists who came from cities to the island and the way it was so hard for them to drop their guards. “Hard to tell. Sometimes he sleeps on the boat,” Harold finally answered.

Sydney smiled. She knew she was asking a lot of him and was grateful for this information. It brought her one step closer to reuniting with Devin. “Thank you. I really appreciate your help.”

Harold nodded, and Sydney left the elegant building.

Once on the sidewalk, Sydney pulled up Google to get directions for the marina. Her phone showed there were at least twenty marinas in Chicago. Ugh, of course there were. When Sydney got back to the desk, Harold had been replaced by another. “Good evening. Is Harold still here?”

The man shook his head. “Nope. You just missed him. His shift finished two minutes ago.”

Sydney’s shoulders sagged. “You wouldn’t happen to know where Devin Fox keeps his boat, would you?”

He frowned. “I don’t know who that is.”

Sydney shook her head. Disappointment threatened to send her into a spiral, but

she caught herself. He was close. She could sit outside for a while and then head for a hotel, if she had to. “Thanks,” she said and headed back outside.

An empty bench near the door looked like the perfect place to post up. She just hoped she wouldn’t doze while she waited for him. As she sat, she caught a glimpse of a man coming out of the building’s side entrance.

Her heart leapt. It was Harold.

He caught her eye and waved. “You’re still here?”

She shot to her feet. “I got outside and realized there are at least twenty different marinas in this city.”

“I take it you’re not from around here.”

Sydney gave him a quick rundown of where she was from and how she and Devin knew each other. “Would you please tell me where the marina is located?”

“After that story, I’m tempted to deliver you to the marina myself.” Eyes glinting, Harold plugged the directions into her GPS.

Turned out the marina was down the lake, in the direction she’d just come from. Sydney thanked Harold and headed on, certain she would find Devin shortly.

The walk to DuSable Harbor was beautiful. A path ran along the lake with views of crystal clear water, the skyline, and hundreds of sailboats. As Sydney approached the docks, she scanned the boats looking for Devin, sure that he and Gus would stand out in the sea of boats.

Tall gates stood at the end of each dock, preventing pedestrians from having direct access to people’s boats. Sydney walked up and down the sidewalk, craning her head to get a better look at each dock.

There was no sign of him or Gus.

Tired, Sydney stepped off the walking path to sit on the embankment running alongside the water. The lake’s surface was a lovely shade of pink. She turned to look behind her. The sun was setting, casting the skyline in a glow of oranges and red. As Sydney turned back to face the water, her eye caught on a familiar word — Michabo.

Only one person would name their sail boat after the Great Hare. Devin.

Sydney leapt to her feet and raced to the gate. She blew out a frustrated breath. It required a code that she, of course, didn’t have. She paused, then looked around the marina to see if there were any visible hints that might help her to figure out the code. Her eyes landed on the entrance sign, 111 N. Lake Shore. Could that be it? She entered three ones into the square lock, then waited and pulled. Hard. The door didn’t budge. There was no way she’d come this far to fail.

She took a few steps away from the gate and then turned back to it, staring at the small box as though it might hear her wishes and open magically. She shook her head. If this were her marina, what code would she give sailors looking to dock? Hopeful, Sydney pulled out her phone and asked the oracle for the longitude and latitude of her coordinates. Google spit them out. She took a stab in the dark and punched them in, holding her breath as she waited and listened for the metal bolt to unlatch. It did, buzzing as the gate clicked open.

“Yes!” She bit her lip and smiled, certain she’d had a little help from the other side.

Two seconds later, Sydney climbed aboard Devin’s Nauticat 35. Other than the sound of waves gently lapping the hull, she heard nothing. The side deck and foredeck were empty. She tried the handle to the galley door, and it swung open. Surely that meant he couldn’t have gone far. People in the city usually locked everything.

Not that she’d had doubts, but a picture of Devin and Gus hanging in the owner’s cabin confirmed that Sydney was in the right place. However, Devin was not. He was supposed to be there, at least according to the storybook reunion fantasies she’d been nursing on the walk here. Where was he? Maybe he’d taken Gus for a quick walk.

Sydney yawned. The adventures of her day had caught up with her. She sat on the captain’s bed. It seemed like a good place to wait for Devin’s return. The mattress was large and inviting. The sheets smelled clean and fresh. She lay back, smiling as she rested her head on the pillow that smelled faintly of him, lemon and sandalwood. It was soft and comfortable, made even more so by the gentle rocking of the ship on light waves.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Sitting in the back of the Uber, Devin watched the city streets as they sped past. Traffic was light, as was to be expected at five o’clock in the morning in the middle of the week. A few store employees were starting to lift security gates on storefronts and turn on lights. The bakery on the corner looked like it was going to open any minute. But, for the most part, the city was silent.

When they pulled into the marina and he and Gus climbed out of the Tahoe, the sound of early morning bird chattering filled the cool summer air. The chattering made him think of Sydney and her tours. He chuckled at the thought of surprising her on one in a few days. She wouldn’t talk to him before he left, but he had a pretty good feeling she would talk to him when he showed up in the Fourth of July parade.

Devin grabbed his bags out of the trunk. “Thanks.” Devin waved to the driver, who then pulled off slowly, as if he too was enjoying the peace of the marina.

Devin entered the code for the marina gate. The sky was full of early morning stars, a good sign for the day. Radar reported smooth sailing ahead. A huge relief, because in July the lake’s waters could be treacherous. Winds from the north sometimes brought twenty foot waves.

As soon as Devin set foot on the starboard bow of his vessel, he had the sense that something was off. Gus tugged at his leash, and Devin let it go. The last month had taught him a thing or two about holding fast, but he couldn’t see any possible way the dog could get into trouble on the boat. Running toward the galley, Gus stopped to sniff at something on the deck. Devin came up behind

him and glanced down.

“What’s this?” Devin shrugged his bags off his shoulders and knelt down. He picked up a wilted daisy. His gaze moved from the flower to the galley door. It was unlocked.

No. It wasn’t possible. His heart leapt. He raced to the door and pushed it open. Gus was the first one in. He ran aft, to the captain’s cabin, and greeted a dozing Sydney with a slobbery, wet kiss. She bolted straight up, her laughter filling the ship’s small interior.

Devin leaned against the doorframe, staring at her for a long time. It felt like Christmas morning and his birthday all rolled into one.

“Good morning, Sleeping Beauty.”

“Good morning.” Her voice was still thick with sleep, and it sounded incredibly sexy. “If I’m Sleeping Beauty, what does that make you?”

“I know who I’d like to be for you,” he said, crossing the room to sit down beside her.

She put her finger to his lip. He kissed it and took her hand in his. “Don’t you dare say my prince.” She laughed.

“Fine. I won’t say prince. But I do want to be your sail, your wind, your anchor.” He cupped his hand behind her neck.

“And I want to be your North Star.”

“You already are, Sydney. You already are.” He leaned forward and took her lips before she had a chance to say anything else. Her hand rested against his chest for a moment before she wrapped both arms around his neck, kissing him so ionately that he felt like he’d combust.

He pulled back to peer into her warm brown eyes. “I love you, Sydney St. James.”

“And I love you, Devin Fox.”

He kissed her again and it felt like perfection. When Gus whined, they pulled back on a laugh. Devin scratched behind his ears. “If I know my boy, that’s his way of telling me to get a move on so that he can see your girl.”

“Move on? What’s happening?”

“Well, the plan was to get to Mackinac in the next five days. We’ve got a parade to sail in and a life to start. That is, if you’ll have us.”

“Oh, yes, Devin. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She kissed him again.

“If we’re going to set sail at dawn, we’ve got some work to do.”

“That we do.”

For the next hour, Sydney and Devin readied Michabo for cast off and, at six o’clock, Devin motored the boat away from the dock. Al Green’s “Love and Happiness” crooned from the radio and, Devin had to it, it didn’t matter where you played Al; he always sounded like the right kind of good.

Once they cleared the cove, Sydney opened up the mainsail. It ballooned from the mast, just as pink and lavender tendrils of light set the clouds awash in the most glorious sunrise he had ever seen. His grandfather had taught him that the prow of the canoe faced a man’s future. As they sailed into all of the love and happiness Devin ever could have hoped for, he said a vow of gratitude to the old man who, he suspected, always knew what his grandson did not. Devin’s prow pointed Sydney. Always and forever.

About the Author

Born and raised on the Great Lakes, Tana Jenkins is the author of Pushcartnominated Little Black Ugly.

Prior to becoming a full-time author, Tana earned her law degree at Fordham University in New York City. Her law career spanned fifteen years and took her to several places, including a two-year stint in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She now lives back in Michigan with her amazing husband and their rescue, Albee.

If you want to know when Tana’s next book comes out, please visit her website at www.tanajenkins.com, where you can sign up to receive an email when she has her next release. You can also follow her on Twitter at @lovetanajenkins.

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