Maybe isolation wasn’t as helpful as she’d once thought. Seeing Connor again wasn’t as painful as she’d expected. In fact, seeing him lifted her spirits. When she breathed around him, the air seemed cleaner and the sky seemed brighter.
Maybe, together, they could start to heal.
* * * *
Connor kept a wary eye on Elaine as she entered her old home on Gemini Island, the one she’d shared with Lloyd for over five years. Although it no longer held any of their family mementos, memories were bound to linger.
They lingered for him as well.
Elaine had stored many of her belongings with family when she left for Alaska. The shelves no longer held Lloyd’s photos or fishing trophies. His clothes didn’t hang in the closets anymore. Even though Connor half expected to trip over his old friend’s size twelves in the front hallway like he used to, the hallway was clear of shoes and boots. And yet, even though he and Ryland had scrubbed the place from top to bottom, somehow Lloyd’s presence lingered in the shape of the well-worn couch and the notches he’d begun to make in the doorframe to document the changing heights of his kids.
Andy and Layla barreled into the large cabin and raced toward their separate bedrooms, excited to be back in their home.
Elaine, however, stood in the foyer. “Wow. It’s, um, really clean.”
Really empty, more like it. “Ry and I wanted to make it nice for you.”
“Thank you.”
He held out a hand. “Ready?”
She took a deep breath and grabbed his hand. “Yeah.”
Connor held back by the door and let her move at her own speed. As she brushed her fingers over the back of the couch and fluffed a couple of pillows, he waited for her to break down.
She didn’t. She held her head high, and her back remained straight, the same proud posture that inspired their friend Fleur to label Elaine a “ballerina,” even though she’d never taken a single dance lesson in her life.
She quietly inspected each room but stopped short of the bedroom she’d shared with Lloyd. Rather than entering, she settled for a glance and then looked away.
Connor knew if any room broke her spirit, that would be the one.
Of course, she probably wouldn’t show her pain. She’d wait until she was alone and would succumb to tears only once the kids were in bed. That was Elaine’s style. He’d seen it often.
After Lloyd’s death, he’d stayed late with her many nights, sleeping over on several occasions. Elaine might always keep the tears at bay, but then something seemingly insignificant would set her off. The whistle of the teakettle, the creak of the floorboards, anything that reminded her of some aspect of Lloyd.
He’d have to make sure he stayed close to help her through those guerilla moments.
There was one plant in the cabin, a fern Elaine had nurtured from a cutting. She smiled when she touched the healthy leaf. “My fern didn’t die. I’m sure it was on its last legs. Did you take care of it?”
“I watered it once or twice. It’s amazing I didn’t kill it. I’m not so good with plants.”
“Well, you’re good with this one. Whatever you did, it worked. Thanks, Connor.”
He hoped he’d have the same touch with Elaine and that she wouldn’t wither away while under his care.
He indicated the fridge. “The fridge and pantry are stocked. I made sure to get some of that peanut butter the kids like. Oh, and pretzels. I know you like pretzels so you’ll find a few bags in the cupboard. Are you still obsessed with those gourmet pickles?”
“You remembered?”
“It’s all up here.” He tapped his temple. “Anyway, you’ve got three jars of fancy pickles on the second shelf. I remember you saying how much you like salty snacks, so I loaded you up. I probably got too much. You might just shrivel up from dehydration.”
Her giggle made his heart smile. “I know why Lloyd liked working security with you so much. He always said you had a head for details.”
“It comes in handy sometimes.” He grabbed two beers from the fridge and wrenched off the caps, setting them down on the living room table. He then grabbed a couple of plates from the fridge as well. He’d made sandwiches before she arrived, in case they were hungry. Popping his head into the bedrooms, he checked with Andy and Layla, but they weren’t interested in eating. Presenting a couple of sandwich plates to Elaine, he bowed like a courtier and asked, “Would Madam prefer the roast beef or the shaved ham?”
“Ham, please. You thought of everything.”
Connor also opened up one of the pretzel bags, emptied the contents into a bowl, and put it between them, feeling a need to feed her. She’d lost a bit of weight. Of course, she hadn’t been eating well after Lloyd died. He’d hoped her Alaskan relatives might have found a way to entice her with some home cooking, but she clearly hadn’t regained her appetite yet.
