“Sit?” she asks.
When I sit down beside her, I’m comforted by her scent again.
She squints. “So. Where are your glasses? I haven’t seen you wear them since you’ve been back.”
“I wear contact lenses.”
“You used to wear contacts when you dived, but you liked to wear glasses the rest of the time. Your eyes would get tired.” She pulls the drawer in the coffee table open, takes out a case, and hands it to me. “In case your eyes need a break.”
“Thank you.” I shiver when her fingers brush my skin.
“I’m not sure how tired you are, but I’ve made the extra bed.” She takes the fluffy white throw that hangs over the couch and folds it, placing it into my lap. “Get cozy.” Her lips curl into a small smile, and I notice the blush deepening on her chest and neck. “Stay tonight?”
I swallow.
“There’s an extra room. All yours. I want you here with Natalie and me.”
“I don’t want to be a burden…”
She puts her finger over my lips. “Never. Your home is here.” She gently pokes my chest, over my heart. “With us. You’ll find it soon.” It’s hard to breathe. I want everything. But I have nothing to give her yet. She picks up a large photo album and hands it to me. “Why don’t we go through this together? We’ll take it one photo at a time.”
“Thank you, Crystal.” Our fingers touch again when I take the album from her. I want to kiss her, really kiss her this time. But it’s too soon.
“Let me show you one more thing.” I follow her to a small closet across from her bedroom. “When you… disappeared… I wasn’t sure where I should put all your things. They made me so sad. So, I put them in here… there are so many memories of you in here.”
She opens the door. Several stacks of journals and boxes line the walls from the floor to the ceiling. Excited to learn more, a part of me wants to go through them now. But I don’t want to cut this time together short.
She looks at me sheepishly. “You’ll probably be up all night combing through this. Try to get a little rest, yeah?”
“Are you okay with it? That I’m diving,” I blurt out.Real smooth, Nathan.
Her downcast eyes look up, and she exhales. “It’s who you are, Nathan. I’d never change you.” She nods toward the couch. “You want to watch some TV?”
We sit down, and she leans against me, resting her head on my shoulder. I put my arm around her and breathe in. We talk about what’s happening on the island and Natalie. She doesn’t bring up the past or any expectations for the future.
Hours go by. When she dozes off, her head is nestled against my chest, and her fingers are curled around my waist. I sit with her like that for a while, soaking her in, watching her breathe. When she shifts, trying to get comfortable, I lift her into my arms and carry her to her room, trying not to wake her as I lay her on the bed.
She wakes anyway.
“Sweet dreams, sailor.” Her lovely face is haloed by her golden hair spread across the bed. She’s so beautiful, and she’s looking at me like she loves me. I can’t stop myself from kissing her. At first, it’s a gentle peck, but when she opens her mouth, inviting me, I go deeper. I want her so badly. She puts her arms around my neck, and I know. She’ll let me make love to her if I ask.
She has all of her memories.
I pull away. Is she so relieved to have me back that she has blind faith I’m the same man she fell in love with? I need to get my head on straight before I take anything from her.
She gives me a hug before I leave. “Nathan, time’s on our side now.”
Reluctantly, I leave her, closing the door behind me.
Then I head to the closet.
CHAPTER 16
The Widow
“Crystal, any guesses about what the hell that is?” Scott’s voice rings out over the marina noise as he points across the water. He’s standing besideAdeline’sslip. The vessel he’s pointing to has a simple number painted on the hull, but no name and no NOAA insignia. Anchored about a quarter mile offshore, it’s an eyesore against the tranquil setting of the island’s coast.
I don’t know what it is—but I know who’s responsible. He’s getting out of his car right now, carrying armloads of stuff and wearing another fancy suit. Even though I’m still a little mad at him about going over my head, I have to laugh. Some people have quirks that tell you more about them than their words.
