Felicity shook her head, a knowing smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “I wanted to talk. But it can wait. I’ll see you in the morning. Night, Gran. Good night, Mark.”
As Felicity disappeared back into the house, Darlene turned to face Mark, her heart still racing. The moment had passed, but the electricity between them remained, a crackling force that neither could ignore.
“I should probably head up to bed, too,” he said softly, his eyes never leaving hers. “Thank you for a wonderful evening.”
Not trusting herself to speak, she only nodded. As he stood and made his way to the door, a pang of longing poked at her, and the desire to reach out and pull him back to her was strong. But she remained rooted to the spot, watching him disappear into the house, the screen door closing gently behind him.
Alone on the porch, Darlene let out a shaky breath, her mind reeling from the events of the evening. She couldn’t lie to herself anymore. She cared for Mark more deeply than she’d ever anticipated. The future was uncertain, but in this moment, that didn’t matter to her. All that mattered was she was certain—fairly certain—no,certain—that Mark had feelings for her too.
Chapter16
The next morning, Darlene was in the kitchen, tidying up the remnants of breakfast, when Felicity walked in. Her granddaughter’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she grabbed a dishcloth and started wiping down the counters.
“So, Gran,” Felicity began, her tone light and teasing, “you and Mark seemed pretty cozy last night on the porch.”
She felt her cheeks warm as she focused intently on scrubbing a particularly stubborn spot on the frying pan. “We were just enjoying the evening. It was a beautiful night.”
“It looked like more than just enjoying the evening to me. Did he kiss you?”
The question hung in the air, and her heart skipped a beat as she recalled the moment on the porch, the electricity that had crackled between them. She set the pan down and turned to face her granddaughter, her expression serious.
“No, he didn’t kiss me,” she said softly. “But I’m positive he was going to, right before you interrupted us.”
“Oh, Gran, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to ruin the moment. I feel terrible.”
She shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. “It’s all right. These things happen. And maybe it’s for the best. Mark and I… well, it’s complicated.”
Felicity set down the dishcloth and moved closer. “Gran, I know you care about him. And from what I’ve seen, he cares about you too. Don’t let fear hold you back from something that could be wonderful.”
She sighed. “I know you’re right. But Mark is still grieving for his wife, and his stay here is only temporary. I don’t want to get my hopes up for something that might not be possible.”
Felicity reached out and took her grandmother’s hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “I understand, Gran. But don’t close yourself off to the possibility of happiness, even if it’s just for a little while. You deserve to be loved and cherished, and if Mark can give you that, even for a short time, isn’t it worth taking a chance?”
She stared out the kitchen window, watching the palm fronds sway in the breeze and the dancing shadows below them. Felicity’s words struck a chord, but the reality of her situation with Mark remained complicated.
“I appreciate what you’re saying, sweetheart.” She turned back to the task at hand, running fresh water over the breakfast dishes. “But at my age, taking chances isn’t as simple as it used to be.”
Mark’s presence here had awakened something she’d thought long dormant. Their easy conversations, shared laughter, and quiet moments felt precious. Natural. But her practical side couldn’t ignore the temporary nature of their connection.
“The B&B needs my full attention right now,” she said, more to convince herself than Felicity. “With the new inn opening and bookings down, I can’t afford distractions.”
“Gran, the B&B will still be here whether you allow yourself to be happy or not.”
Darlene dried her hands on a kitchen towel and walked to the coffeepot, where she poured herself a fresh cup. The familiar aroma steadied her thoughts. “You know, when your grandfather left, I promised myself I’d never depend on anyone else again. The B&B became my anchor, my purpose.”
“But Mark isn’t Dean.” Felicity’s gentle words hit home.
No, Mark definitely wasn’t Dean. Where Dean had been restless and unreliable, Mark was steady and thoughtful. His grief for Sarah spoke of a man capable of deep love and commitment.
She took a sip of coffee, letting the warmth spread through her. “You’re right about that. Mark is different. But he has his own life waiting for him back in the city. Publishers, deadlines, book tours. That’s his world, not our quiet little island.”
The memory of last night on the porch flooded back—the way Mark’s hand had found hers, how natural it felt to lean into him, the current of possibility that had sparked between them. But along with those sweet memories came the shadow of doubt.
“I spent years building this life, creating something stable and meaningful. The idea of disrupting that balance, of opening myself up to…” She paused, searching for the right words. “To disappointment. It’s frightening.”
“Oh, Gran.” Felicity wrapped an arm around Darlene’s shoulders. “Being scared just means it matters.”
“Maybe,” she said, unable to commit to anything. Uncertainty still swirled in her mind like cream in coffee, refusing to settle into any clear pattern or answer.
