She searched his face. She could trust him with the truth. He was fair, and look at the grace he’d already shown her. Plus, they could definitely use more prayers. And maybe she could shed one more layer of guilt while she was at it.
She folded her arms on the table. “That last summer we spent in Seahaven, Emma brought her fiancé, Jonathan. I turned twelve. We were busy that summer, planning the wedding.”
She went on to tell him about the times she’d caught Nora and Jonathan alone together. “I realized later I should’ve said something to Emma. Or confronted Nora about it. But I didn’t, and because of that...” She shook her head, her chest tightening. “Things took a terrible turn.”
His eyes softened on her. “That must’ve been awful for all of you—especially Emma.”
“I wished so many times I’d confronted Nora that first time I saw them alone together. Maybe I could’ve prevented the whole thing.”
“It wasn’t your fault, Maddy. You were only a child.”
She remembered what Holly had said about her burying her head in the sand. She’d been running from conflict even then. “When it all blew up I could tell Nora felt terrible. But they’d fallen in love. It was just awful.”
It had been Maddy’s first experience with love gone wrong. Watching her sisters suffer had been terrible. And seeing firsthand how the ensuing conflict ripped her family apart had been enlightening in the worst way.
She didn’t want to think about that night anymore. She fast-forwarded through her memories. “Long story short, the two of them got married a few months later, and Mama and I went to the wedding. Emma still harbors resentment about that. She feels we took Nora’s side, but I think she’s forgiven me because I was so young. Mama’s a different story, though. And that’s just the start of what happened that summer. We haven’t been close since then—any of us.”
“But Emma’s married now, right? It’s been years; life goes on.”
“Emma’s marriage is actually on shaky ground at the moment, just between you and me. And Nora seems to be at a... crossroads of some sort. I don’t know what’s going on with her. We could all use your prayers.”
“You’ve got them. Your grandma isn’t the only one who wants reconciliation, you know.”
“I know. But I have two very stubborn sisters.”
“Well, don’t you lose hope. God can handle stubborn, believe me.”
It was dark by the time they pulled into Connor’s drive. Maddy’d had a wonderful evening. Dinner was delicious, and they never ran out of things to talk about. She filled him in on her job search. She’d put in several applications in the past couple weeks.
Connor was a good listener, the perfect gentleman, and she couldn’t deny he was also nice to look at across the candlelit table. He’d shaved for their date, and though she enjoyed an uninterrupted view of the cleft in his chin, she also found herself missing that bad-boy scruff.
She stepped out of his car, and they walked across his lawn toward her place. The night was quiet, save for the muted chirping of crickets and the distant crash of the surf. A lone light lit the porch, but the windows were dark.
“They must’ve gone to bed early,” Maddy said.
“I can’t imagine it’s much fun for them without you here as a buffer.”
“I’m sure it isn’t. Even so, every time I leave them alone, I come back hoping they got things sorted out.”
“One of these days they will.” He took her hand loosely in his.
His palm was warm and rough against hers. She felt the touch in every cell of her body. If a mere touch could affect her so, what would his kiss do? Was she about to find out?
Her heart palpitated in her chest, equal parts anticipation and fear. She knew he was a good man—nothing like Nick. But she’d been hurt one too many times.
Connor walked her up the porch steps. The handrailing was sturdy now, thanks to his handyman skills, and the front door sported a fresh coat of red paint.
“The place is really coming along,” he said, as if reading her mind. “You’re going to run out of things to do soon.”
He must be wondering when she’d be going home. She’d been wondering the same thing. “I want to stay until Gram comes back, at least. I’d like to spend a few days with her.”
“I’m sure she’d like that,” he said.
As they reached the door, he let go of her hand and tucked his own into his pockets. The golden light fell over him, whispering over the angles and planes of his face, glinting off his hair. It flashed on the golden tips of his lashes and made his eyes sparkle with silver flecks.
“Thank you for tonight,” she said. “I had a very nice time. The food was wonderful—and so was the company.”
The corner of his mouth kicked up. “No regrets?”
