A Walk Along the Beach(34)

My head shot up. “Really?”

    “Yes. He asked his father how he felt when he first met me. He wanted to know how soon Patrick knew I was the right woman for him.”

“Oh.” I could feel myself blush as color filled my cheeks.

“Naturally, I wanted to know why he was drilling his father about our courtship. Sean is private and I don’t think he wanted to tell us. He did, though. He said he’d met someone who was the most genuine, caring woman he’d ever known. He said you fed a stray dog and he saw you give a warm drink to a drifter when the weather dropped. He said you have a kind heart.”

I had no idea Sean knew about the drifter. I had mentioned I’d fed Bandit a time or two, and then blamed myself when the stray stole a customer’s cinnamon roll.

“I’m…flattered he thinks of me that way,” I managed.

“You proved it by looking after him through the worst of this fever.”

“I did what anyone would have,” I said, uncomfortable with her gratitude. No one would have ignored Sean, as ill as he’d been.

“Perhaps,” she agreed, although she didn’t sound like she believed it. “I hope you’ll give us a chance to get to know you.”

“I’d like that.”

“Sean knew his father and I would come without question. He didn’t want us. He wanted you—otherwise, he’d have reached out sooner.”

Her words shook me. I didn’t know what to say.

“Don’t stay away just because we’re here,” Joanna insisted.

“I won’t,” I promised. Halfway into the car I paused, settled into my seat, and looked up. “Do you mind if I ask you a question?”

“Ask away,” Joanna said, dismissing my doubt with a wave of her hand.

“When Patrick met you, did he know you were the one?”

    Joanna smiled, and I could see the answer in her eyes as she glanced toward the house. “I should hope so. We were married within six months of our first date.”

“Did you know you would marry Patrick soon after you met?”

I might have been mistaken, but it seemed she blushed a little. “No. He was exactly what I didn’t want in a husband. He was the college golden boy, king of the hill, so to speak. A sports legend, and I was this studious girl who took my education seriously. The teacher assigned us to the same study group. Patrick couldn’t seem to get calculus and asked if I would help him. I learned later it was all a ploy to get to know me better.”

“So you tutored him?” This was a romance-novel type of story, and one of my favorite plotlines.

“What you need to know,” Joanna continued, “is that Patrick said almost the same thing about me as Sean told us about you.”

For reasons I was uncomfortable exploring, hearing this unnerved me. I was anxious to get away and think over what she’d told me. “I’m sorry to rush off. I need to get back to my shop.” That much was true. I’d been away far longer than I’d anticipated.

“No worries; I understand.”

Stepping back, Joanna closed the door for me. “Don’t be away long. I’m cooking and I hope you’ll join us for dinner later.”

“I’ll be here,” I promised.

“Good. No excuses now.”



* * *



—

My first stop when I arrived in town was Bean There. Harper was behind the counter and doing a robust business. Several young men lingered in the shop, seemingly unaware that she was seeing a good deal of her climbing partner, John Neal. Watching my sister work her magic was a sight to behold. While I might attract customers with my baked goods, all Harper had to do was show up. Her silver/lilac hair suited her perfectly. She really was beautiful. I thanked God every day that she’d been spared. The world would be a bleak place without Harper. Her smile lit up a room. People were naturally drawn to her. I could be halfway across the floor and could feel her energy radiating, warming the area. I marveled at her ability to attract others like a bee to honey.

    She waved her arm above her head when she saw me and called out, “You forgot your cell. Dr. Annie called.” Meeting me halfway, she handed me the pink slip with the call information.

Thinking this might be related to Sean, I rushed to my office and returned the call. The receptionist answered and put me on hold. The seconds felt like minutes and my stomach knotted with concern. Thank goodness I had a short wait.

“Willa,” Annie greeted cheerfully. “Thanks for returning my call.”

“Of course. Is everything all right with Sean? Is there something I should be doing?” My brain was spinning, afraid there was more to this fever than typhoid. If so, wouldn’t she be letting him know and not me?

“No, no. This isn’t about Sean.”

My relief was instantaneous.

“How’s he recovering? Is his fever down?”

“It is. His parents arrived this morning.”

“Great.” She paused briefly. “The reason I called has to do with Relay for Life. I’m grateful you’re my cochair. I know how busy you’ve been and that you’ve already put in a lot of work, but time is getting short.”

No question, I was all in with the fight against cancer. “You can count on me.”