When Scottie met Cap Henderson two years ago, his hero’s swagger, sparkling green eyes, and cocky grin made her wonder if she’d tripped into something marvelous.
Yet heart-fluttering sensations were only the start of a love story, right?The trick was making it to “sixty-seven years of wedded bliss.”
Take Dad and Kate.Such a beautiful beginning with a tragic ending.Kate not only lost Dad but also her child.She’d confessed to Scottie how she wept and wept once she returned home to Lauchtenland—her arms and soul so empty.
Then on a day she was forced to fulfill her duty, she met Edric, Duke of Connought.His kind eyes and easy laugh somehow put the first piece back into her shattered heart.
If anyone understood heartache, it was the Queen of Lauchtenland.The notioncall herwhispered to Scottie.She’d understand.
“Scottie O’Shay, you okay?”One of Hearts Bend’s finest, Officer Chris Mynheir, leaned to see her face, his gold shield glinting with the soft light of Gardenia Park.“The show’s over.Everyone’s gone home.The crew’s packed up.”
“Hey, Chris, I know… I’m not ready to leave yet.”Being alone in the park was better than being alone at home.
“Suit yourself, but I’m going to sit over there, keep an eye on you.I can’t allow our local princess to be exposed.”
She scoffed softly.“I’m not a princess, Chris.But thank you.”
Knowing he kept one eye on her restrained her tears.She had known something was off with Cap for a while now.Even more when he’d stopped by her office.Tonight, he made a shocking announcement between bites of burgers, fingers of fries, and saying hello to locals—that he was in love with his ex-wife.
“What?”Way to bury the lede, Henderson.“You talked to Freya?When?I thought you said she was ’outta here.’”
Cap had been forthcoming on their first date about his first love, Freya, who he met after college between deployments.They married in a romantic rush, but after a couple of years, she bailed, unable to deal with the stress of her husband’s deployments.
“She was, or so I thought.I’ve not talked to her for over a year, then a couple months ago, she texted me about something and well, we started talking, apologizing, reminiscing.Two weeks ago, we met for dinner and—”
“—remembered why you fell in love,” Scottie said.
“Scottie, I promise, I never anticipated this.”Cap was crushing his empty soda cup in his strong, solid hand.“I wanted it to be you, but we never seemed to go beyond pals who had some amazing make out sessions.I’m sorry, I really am.”
“I know.It’s okay.”Scottie tossed her empty cup into the trash bin.“But you should at least give me the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ speech.”
“It’s definitelynotyou, Scottie O’Shay.You’re amazing.I was really hoping to be your trophy husband and talk you into investing in the farm.”
Scottie’s final memory of her last date with Cap Henderson was when he scooped her in his arms and softly kissed her goodbye.
“Hey,” she’d said as he stood to go, the final band of the evening holding out the last note of their last song.“Invite me to the wedding.”
Thenker-plunk, the amphitheater lights shut off.The stragglers moseyed toward their cars, and except for the glow of Victorian lamps, Scottie sat in the dark.
The town clock chimed midnight.
“I’m still here,” Officer Mynheir said.
“Are you on the midnight shift, officer?”She spoke toward the shadows.
“No, but I ain’t leaving till you do.”
Scottie smiled.“Thank you.Not much longer.”She glanced down at the foil wrapped cake with two forks taped on top resting on the bench next to her.“Care for a piece of cake, Officer Mynheir?”
“Really?”He walked through the lamplight toward her.“Don’t mind if I do.”
When he retreated to his post, a thought ran through Scottie again.Call her.She stared at her phone, then with a deep inhale, dialed her mother.On the third ring, Scottie realized the six-hour time difference between Hearts Bend and Port Fressa, Lauchtenland.She was about to hang up when Kate answered.
“Hello?Darling?”Her greeting was soft yet awake.“Is everything all right?It must be midnight in Hearts Bend.”
“It is and I’m sorry to wake you.I can call you later.”
“No, no, I’m up, padding my way to the tea trolly.Edric rises at five for a brisk walk round the garden.I’d love to join him but, well… Goodness, you didn’t call to hear about me.”
