Love Redone in Hidden Harbor (Island County Book 2) (14 page)

“Does this have to do with that Hill boy?” Mr. Harten asked, completely out of the blue.

“Who?” I asked, bringing my eyes to his and he shook his head.

“You can’t fool me. I remember you two running around this place like you owned the island.” He stopped for a second as I continued slipping in the roses and lilies. “I heard he was back a few weeks ago.”

I nodded. “He was, but it was a quick trip. And he’s getting married.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” He looked toward the cooler and brought his gaze back to mine.

“I think back in my day there was very little interference. People fell in love and out of love, but they did it on their own. It wasn’t uncommon for high school sweethearts to get married right away or at least while they were in college, if they were even lucky enough to go. That doesn’t seem to be the case any longer. Lots of interference.”

“How so?” It felt like Mr. Harten was trying to tell me something, but I was too exhausted to read between the lines.

“Between what is it? Tweeter and Facebook where photos can tear couples apart and all these so-called friends start commenting on relationship statuses? It’s all beyond me.”

My heart fell when I realized he wasn’t talking about my relationship specifically, and I glanced back down at the arrangement and stuck in the last rose.

“And parents. Parents always wanting the best for their children and interfering, telling them there are more fish in the sea and don’t settle. It’s beyond crazy why a parent would involve themselves in their children’s love affairs. We never did that to our kids.”

“I heard that same thing about fish in the sea,” I laughed, remembering how annoyed I was that my mom kept repeating that over and over that first summer I’d come home without Cole.

The door chimed and Sophie came in. Spotting Mr. Harten, Sophie’s smile widened immediately.

“How are you?” she asked, giving him a quick hug.

“Doing well. Miss Jennings and I are just talking matters of the heart and the interference nowadays. We had very little of that in my day.”

“Very little of what?” Sophie asked, tying an apron around her waist. She had on a pair of worn jeans and a black hoodie.

“Interference. You know the Tweeter and all.”

“Twitter,” Sophie chuckled.

“Well, I was just telling Natalie how back when I dated Ruth, we didn’t have any interference, not from parents, not from friends. Nothing. We were just allowed to date and have fun. It was a much simpler time. Expectations were completely different.”

“I don’t think I had much interference back when I dated either.” I tipped my head, thinking about it. No one really seemed to care one way or another. “Yeah, I think Cole and I dodged that bullet.”

Mr. Harten’s thoughtful expression changed to more of a grimace as his eyes steadied on mine.

“I think you had your fair share of interference, if I remember correctly.”

What in the world was he talking about?

“How so?” I asked, sliding the vase toward Mr. Harten.

“Your mom was absolutely torn up about you. She didn’t know how to make you happy.”

“What do you mean?” I folded my arms and Sophie leaned on the counter.

“I remember her coming into the pharmacy looking for something to give you.”

“What?” I had no idea this happened.

“She was looking for vitamins to lift your spirits,” he laughed softly. “I told her the only cure was time. There was no magic pill for a broken heart.”

“I had no idea my mom was so worried about me. I feel bad.”

He shook his head. “Don’t feel bad. It’s what parents do. I probably shouldn’t tell you about this.”

“Well, now you can’t not tell me,” I chuckled. “Did my mom make me drink a potion that repelled men or something?”

“Worse,” he said, his expression fell. “She interfered.”

I shook my head. “Not really. My mom certainly used the more fish in the sea line a lot, but she let me wallow in my pain alone for the most part. Unless she did slip something into my water.” I grinned.

Sophie eyed me carefully and I shrugged as confused as she was.

“I’m going to be in so much trouble with your mama. It’s good I’m retiring soon.”

“What are you talking about?” My pulse started pounding.

“All those years ago…”

“Eight,” I supplied.

“She came into the shop and began describing your symptoms. She was desperate to fix you so I made her some tea and tried to settle her down. She sat at the counter and explained the entire situation. She rehashed everything, including her part in it.”

“What do you mean her part it in?” I asked, the pounding in my chest moving to my ears, followed by ringing.

“Don’t be mad at her. Your mom thought she was doing the right thing. All her friends told her you and Cole were way too serious. She never could have predicted just how strong your love for that boy was. She thought your love for him was unhealthy. That’s what society tells us nowadays. Love is supposed to fit rules and guidelines. Too much love is a bad thing and not enough is applauded. Drunken one-night stands are the norm.” He shook his head in disgust. “But love is about a crashing of emotions. I tell ya, when I look at Ruth, my world still stops. Life is a rollercoaster ride with that girl. One look from her, and I know I’m in the doghouse or another tells me I’ve made her the happiest woman in the universe. Love is about those all-encompassing, heart-wrenching emotions. Or it was supposed to be… until all this interference.”

I loved Mr. Harten, but I wanted him to get to the point.

“Are you saying Mrs. Jennings interfered with Cole and Natty?” Sophie asked.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” He turned to face me. “When your mom first started intercepting the mail from Cole, she hid it in the closet, but she became afraid that you’d find it so she gathered all his letters and sent them back to him.”

My heart raced wildly and the room began spinning as I watched Mr. Harten continue to relay the events of the summer that forever changed my life. How could this be?

“Your mom confessed that Cole had been trying to reach you all summer, and she was in tears about what she’d done. You were about to go back to college when she came into the shop. She realized you were no happier at the end of the summer than at the beginning, but she felt she couldn’t tell you what she’d done or you’d never speak to her again.”

“And you never told me?” I was seeing spots.

“It wasn’t my place, but when I saw Cole with that woman, I knew I couldn’t stay quiet any longer. Your mom changed the course of your history because she wanted to protect you, and I thought maybe it would work out. When you came back to the island you seemed so happy. I assumed I was wrong about you two, and maybe Cole wasn’t the one after all, but your mom visited me yesterday. Told me you hadn’t taken things well with his return.”

“He never mentioned he sent letters,” I whispered more to myself than to anyone.

“Why would he? He thought you sent them back,” he replied.

My hands trembled and my chest ached. No, it didn’t ache. It actually hurt. Sharp pains radiated under my ribcage, and the muscles felt like they were tightening. I rested my elbows on the counter and Sophie flashed me a worried look.

“I’m so sorry I never told you. I really should have.” He reached for his wallet and I shook my head.

“This one is on me.” I smiled.

“I can’t do that.”

“You must.” I squeezed my nails deep into my palm from the pain and Sophie noticed my hands fisting. “Hearing this has helped a lot of things fall into place. It’s the least I can do.”

Mr. Harten shook his head, but Sophie began patting his back and gently pointed him and his arrangement toward the door, helping him graciously outside.

“Absolutely our treat,” Sophie assured him.

He stopped at the exit and smiled. “Things will work out the way they’re supposed to. I just felt you should know.”

“Thank you, and I don’t doubt it,” I agreed, trying to take slow, shallow breaths to stop the pain from worsening.

Sophie closed the door behind him and locked it, turning off the open sign and rushing over.

“Can you take in deep breaths?”

I shook my head. “It feels like sharp…” I took in a short breath. “Shooting pains.”

“Could it be your heart?” she asked, reaching for the phone.

“I don’t know. I don’t think so.” I sat on the stool and braced myself against the counter with both arms extended in front of me. “I can’t believe this.”

“I can’t either, but don’t think about it. Just focus on breathing.”

Easy for her to say.

“Please don’t call 9-1-1.” I said in short bursts.

“You could be having a heart attack,” she hissed, pressing the last 1.

“I’m barely thirty.”

“Shush.” she put the phone on speaker and I scowled at her.

“Please. I don’t need this going around the island.”

“And I don’t need you dead.”

“9-1-1. What is your emergency?” the operator asked.

“My friend is having chest pains and shortness of breath.”

“Is there a history of heart disease?” the operator asked.

I shook my head and glared at Sophie.

“No.”

“What is your friend’s name?”

“Natalie. Natalie Jennings.”

“Address?”

Sophie relayed the address and paced as I braced myself from the pain.

“An ambulance is on the way. Can you take her pulse?”

“Yes.” Sophie’s fingers came for my neck, but I was in too much pain to fight them off.

She checked the clock and reported back to the operator just as the ambulance pulled up in front of the shop.

“They’re here,” she told the operator. “I need to unlock the door.”

Sophie ran over to the door and flung it open. I tried to straighten up, but the pain worsened as the medics came inside.

“How are you doing?” Jeff asked, walking in with his bag. He was a few years older than me and really sweet. He had a wife and a one-year old at home and had been working for the fire department for five years.

“Been better. I think I pulled a chest muscle or something,” I mumbled.

“Always better to be safe than sorry,” Jeff said, unzipping his bag as another medic worked a gurney through my shop. I shot Sophie daggers and watched Jeff unwrap the blood pressure cuff and stethoscope. He had me relax my arm, and I tried to steady my breathing.

“Do you have a history of high blood pressure?” he asked.

“No, never.” I shook my head. “Why?”

“Are you feeling light-headed?”

I nodded.

“We need to get you to the hospital.”

I flashed my eyes to Sophie’s. “I need you to finish the orders.”

“I need to come with you.”

I shook my head. “Please, just finish the orders. I can’t leave people without their flowers.”

“I’ll call your mom..err…maybe I shouldn’t.” Sophie looked like a deer in the headlights.

“Call her. It’s fine. What’s done is done.” Another stab took my breath away, and Jeff lifted me onto the gurney and rolled me out of the shop.

It wasn’t until the double doors of the ambulance shut that I wondered where I took the wrong turn to get me to this moment?

“Who knew the floral industry was so tense?” Jeff teased, prepping my hand for an iv. “Now’s probably not the time to ask if you got my order.”

I chuckled, feeling the pain in my chest lessen slightly. “I did and it’s already in the cooler, waiting for delivery tomorrow.”

“Quick prick,” he said.

I barely felt it and tried taking another deep breath with no success.

“Well, today’s your lucky day.”

“How so?” I whispered.

“You just might run into the island’s local celebrity. He’s at the hospital. Just broke his leg, actually.”

We had no local celebrities.

“Who?” I asked.

“Anthony Hill.”

“Oh, shit.” My eyes went into the back of my head and I passed out.

 

“I can’t believe that old man told her after all these years. Why in the world would he do such a thing? Is he senile? Should he really be dispensing pills? Now look what’s happened to her.” My mom’s voice sounded muffled and distant, but I knew she was right next to me.

Afraid to open my eyes, I stayed still and pretended I was asleep.

“I’m glad he told her,” Sophie said calmly. “She deserved to know. At least she can put everything behind her once and for all. This has all gone on far too long.”

Wasn’t Sophie at the shop? How long had I been here?

“All he did was cause her pain and now she’s sick.” My mom’s tone changed. I knew she felt bad for picking on Mr. Harten. He didn’t do anything wrong, and he was an incredibly smart man with all his faculties. He knew exactly what he was doing, and for that I’d always be grateful. And his kindness was never an act. It was a way of life. He even dispensed medicine to people who couldn’t afford it, knowing he’d probably never get paid in return. He was just that kind.

“Listen, you wanted nothing more than to protect her. I’m sure it’s tough seeing your little girl’s heart broken. She’ll be fine. These last few weeks have been pretty rough on her, and I don’t think she’s even given herself the chance to decompress.”