“Anchovies?” he filled in.
“Eew, no!”
“I’m glad. I’d hate to be anchovies.” He was playing along. But he wasn’t really giving up. She knew him too well by now, and whatever unspoken words he had were still there on the tip of his tongue, waiting their turn.
“You’re not just…just…”
“Not what it says on the tin.”
“Exactly.”
“What do I say on the tin?”
“Quiet, easy-going, accommodating person.”
“And inside the tin?”
“Assertive.” Determined, tenacious, unwavering, unflinching, take-charge, never gives up…
“You’re listing more words in your head, aren’t you?” He smiled.
“Stop reading me.”
“Okay.” He stared out at the horizon. “About yesterday…” he began.
“No.” A weak defensive reflex.
“Pierre, we can’t pretend nothing happened.” He took her hand and looked into her face. She dropped her head, letting her hair act as a screen.
“Stop trying to read me.”
A small wave eddied against the wooden support under the jetty and lapped up, splashing their feet. The water was cold.
“Pierre, please, look at me.” He squeezed her hand.
“Gabriel, please. This is a really difficult situation, and we don’t know what we want.”
“Who says? What if I know what—"
“Listen to me.” She spoke over him, before he could say more. “We both have so much to lose if we make a mistake. I’d rather we take more time and think. Can you just respect my wishes in this and give me time? I don’t want to have this conversation just now.”
When he said nothing, she pulled her fingers out of his hand; he let her.
“Pierre, I don’t like things left unsaid, and we do have to talk but…” He drew in a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. “I will give you as much time as you need. For now.”
“Thank you.”
The water taxi was on its second round. Jimmy was at the wheel. She waved to him.
“You’re sure you won’t come with me to help with the pictures for George and Millie?”
“I want to join Millie at Blue Sage Café.”
Two years ago, almost to the day, she had discovered the café and had tea and cakes with Millie while they both talked about hard choices and broken hearts. Her own heart wasn’t broken now, not yet. And hopefully, if Gabriel did the right thing, if he took space and time to make his own decision, he might not break it.
She brought her legs back up. The wood was warm under her wet feet as she stood and pulled on her Wellies, not bothering with the socks. She ran to the docking step just as Jimmy pulled the boat over.
Twenty-Seven
