He nodded again, feeling the dam begin to crack.
Isabella made a noise, and the two women exchanged a variety of looks until Olivia cleared her throat and quietly settled into her coffee without another word. Nate approached a moment later, turning on his heel and disappearing into the main house at the silent warning stare they hit him with.
“How many of your ancestors were burned as witches?” Heath quipped, attempting to smother his distress with humor.
Isabella laughed while Liv gave him a serene, knowing smile. “All of them, dear.”
Juan strode up to the table wearing a broad smile and, obviously immune to the telepathic powers, clapped his hands together and boomed, “Well then, are you ready to depart?”
Right. It was time to go. Vacation was officially over.
“Yes, let me get my?—”
“All taken care of, don’t you worry. Got the boat loaded up and we’re ready when you are.”
“Oh. Um, good. Well then, I guess let’s go.”
He stood, and Isabella pulled him into a bone-crushing hug. “You had better stay in touch. I know where to find you if you try to hide from me.”
“Are you this threatening with all your friends?”
“No, just the ones I want to keep.”
He hugged her back, wrestling his emotions as a sniffle slipped free.
“I expect to hear from you as well.” Olivia’s embrace was less suffocating, but no less warm.
Nate reappeared, observing the tension had lessened, and offered a firm handshake into a very manly and emotionally secure one-armed side hug. “Time to set sail?”
He felt pathetic asking, but he had to know. “You truly want me to contact you?”
It would be death by embarrassment if he reached out, only to learn they’d been sending his messages to voicemail or having their assistants respond.
Isabella’s frown returned. “Of course. Why would I threaten you if I didn’t want to hear from you?”
“Oh, well. It’s just…”
Olivia cupped his face in her hands. “Heath, you’re lovely, and we’d greatly enjoy staying in touch. We’re not in the Boston area often, but when we are, I’d love to catch up over dinner.”
Dammit, there went the tears again.
He blubbered and sniffled his way through another round of hugs, wailing slightly louder when Nate used both arms. He’d only known these people for two weeks. How did they feel so much like family after such a short time?
The same way Evan had broken his heart. With kindness and generosity, and zero expectation he be anything but who he was.
“Have a safe trip home, honey. Let us know you got back safe.”
It was tradition on the island to mark your departure with the casting of hibiscus petals into the water as you pulled away from the dock. It was a promise to return, and Heath felt disingenuous letting them fly from his fingertips into the boat’s wake.
He could live a million years and likely never afford another trip back here on his own. But maybe the universe would sense his hope that Isabella and the Spencers would be true to their word, and he’d see them again.
Juan clapped him on the back with brutal affection as they exited the van back at the airport. “Safe travels, Mr. Lennox.”
“Thank you. You’ve all been tremendous.”
He checked his bag and settled at the gate, staring through the window at the little plane waiting on the tarmac. Two weeks ago, he’d been ready to throttle Evan on that plane, spoiled,womanizing jerk that he was. It didn’t matter that he was attractive, because he’d decided he was clearly a terrible person, and entirely unworthy of his time.
God, what he’d give to have that moment back. To experience these two weeks one more time.
