“Yes. My folks are great. My dad pastors a church in Jacksonville, Florida, and my mom is a social worker, though she’s planning to retire soon. We talk or FaceTime regularly, and they come here a few times a year at least.”
“How did you and your sisters end up in North Carolina?”
“This is where we grew up. Dad pastored a church in Whiteville, and Mom stayed home with us. Well, she worked part-time. We were blessed. How about you? I only know a little about your family from your grandma.”
“Right. Well, we were raised in Charlotte—spent our summers here, of course, at the beach cottage. My mom stayed at home with us, and my dad was a salesman. He traveled around the state. During the summers we’d come to Seahaven, and he’d travel from here. We hated that he was gone so much, but the flexibility was nice.”
“That must’ve been great, having summers here.”
“It was.” Her smile fell, and her eyes dimmed until there was something wistful in her expression. “Until it wasn’t.”
Her grandma had made many references to their family dysfunction, but she’d carefully left out all the details. He’d prayed for the sisters before he’d even set eyes on them. He’d been curious, but now he suddenly wanted to know everything about Maddy, including her family history.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Your grandmother mentioned a splinter in the family.”
“That’s putting it mildly. The last summer here was a total disaster. It blew our family to smithereens, and I’m afraid we still haven’t recovered. I’m not sure we ever will.”
He gave that a moment’s thought. “Maybe this summer will be a healing one.”
“Well, it hasn’t gotten off to the best start. Neither of my sisters is willing to give an inch.”
“That can always change.”
She seemed to fumble with her thoughts. Maybe having trouble putting them into words.
“I don’t know how,” she said finally.
“Well... our God is a God of miracles. He set the stars in the sky, created every living being, and parted the sea.” He nudged her arm. “It’s not the how, Maddy. It’s the Who.”
Her eyes searched his until heat began to climb his neck again. Had he been out of line? Heaven knew he didn’t have it all figured out. He couldn’t even get his own life together. Who was he to give advice?
She was shaking her head, a befuddled expression on her face. “Whoareyou, Connor Sullivan?”
He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Aw, I’m just a man, Maddy. Nothing special.”
She studied him for a moment longer. “I’m not so sure about that.”
Her words warmed him from the inside out. He felt soft inside in a way he hadn’t felt in a long time. In a way he’d never thought he’d feel again.
When his feet hit gravel he realized they’d already reached the marina parking lot. How had that happened? It seemed as if they’d only just stepped from the boat.
He found himself reluctant to part ways with her. There was still so much he wanted to ask about her and her life. But they both needed to get to work.
She came to a stop as they neared the turnoff for the restaurant and turned his way. Her softening toward him was evident in her relaxed expression, in her open posture. He’d somehow won her over in the last fifteen minutes, and it made him feel ridiculously heady.
“This has been nice,” she said, those doe-brown eyes fixed on him. “Just talking.”
He couldn’t stop the smile from blooming on his face. “It has.”
“Again, Connor, I’m sorry for misjudging you. I hope you can forgive me and that maybe we can be... friends?”
“Water under the bridge. And I’d love that, being your friend. Maybe I can take you out on the water again soon and actually put up the sails this time.” The offer rolled off his tongue before he’d had a chance to mull it over. Even so he felt no regret. Only hope.
“I think I’d like that.” She glanced at her watch.
“You’d better get in there before a chef quits or a toilet overflows.”
The corner of her mouth ticked up. “You never know what’s going to happen, do you? I’ll see you later, Connor.”
