Page 15

I linked our fingers. “I know. I come here a lot to think.” I pointed to the right. “My parents live that way. See the tall white post? That’s the edge of their property.”

“It’s close.”

I nodded. “Only a few blocks away. But sometimes I needed a quiet place. My sisters would drive me crazy or my brother would pick on me. I ran away once and found this outcropping behind the tree line. I sat here until dark then went home.”

“Were you in trouble?”

I grimaced, thinking of how much trouble. “There were cop cars in front of the house. Neighbors were searching for me. My parents were frantic. They were certain I’d been kidnapped or lost.” I shrugged. “My sister Grace was convinced I’d wandered too close to the edge of our property and fallen into the ocean and was hysterical.”

“How old were you?”

“Seven or eight, I think. I had only meant to get away from the noise, but I kept walking.” I sighed. “Anyway, later, this place became my sanctuary. My dad knew where to find me. It’s private and at the end of a road, and nothing has ever been built here—it’s a protected area because of the birds’ nests on the cliffs. But I drive here a lot and sit looking at the water. I think my dad walks here sometimes too.”

“You love your parents.”

I nodded. “I do. Very much. My whole family.”

“But were you in trouble? Back then, I mean?”

“My dad hugged me so hard I could hardly breathe. My mom cried. They sat me down after the cops left and told me what I had done wrong. I told them why I’d run away. I needed quiet. My mom cried again when I said I came back because I missed them too much.” I chuckled in embarrassment. “Dad had me bring him here so he could see it. He made me a little spot at the edge of our property and told everyone that it was my space. If I was there, they had to leave me alone. Dad didn’t do rules a lot, so when he did, we listened.”

“Oh,” she murmured. “How great.”

“But when I got older, I kept coming back here. And I still do.” I grinned. “Now if I wander to my spot on my parents’ property, one of them joins me, so it defeats the purpose.”

She laughed with me, squeezing my hand. “I think they love you too.”

“Yeah, they do.” I chewed a crispy carrot that I dipped in ranch.

“What about your parents?” I asked.

She was quiet for a moment. “We aren’t close. They divorced when I was younger, and I was a pinball bouncing back and forth between them. A bargaining chip. And the truth was neither of them wanted full responsibility of me.”

I frowned. “That must have been hard.”

“It was. Luckily, my aunt Sue, my dad’s sister, stepped in. She was my rock. I moved in with her when I was fifteen. I was so tired of the constant pulling and shifting of my life. Sue was steady. She taught me to bake, gave me a place to call home. I went to the same school for more than six months. Was able to make friends. She encouraged me to travel and explore. Discover life. She moved back here and opened this bakery when I went to university. It was a dream for her.”

“How old is she?”

Maddy laughed. “Only forty-five. She was an oops baby. We’re more like sisters, really. Good friends. She grew up here but moved to Calgary when she was young. But she missed it here and came back to take over the bakery from a friend. She loves it.”

“Do you see your parents?”

“Rarely. A call every so often. Maybe the occasional card on my birthday or Christmas.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, meaning it. I couldn’t imagine being ignored by my parents. Even as a grown man, they were part of my life.

She shrugged, playing nonchalant. But I saw the flash of pain in her eyes. “It’s fine.”

“Not really,” I disagreed softly.

“It is what it is. I can’t change them. I can’t make them love me the way a kid should be loved. The way your parents obviously love you.” She laughed dryly. “If I went missing as a kid, I’m not sure they would have noticed. They certainly wouldn’t notice now.”

I pulled her close. “I’d notice.”

She smiled up at me. “Yeah, you would, wouldn’t you, Dr. VanRyan?”

I slid my hand up her arm, noticing the goose bumps that broke out on her skin. “If you get lost, Maddy, I’ll find you.”