“Oh, that’s wonderful,” I said. The truth was I had very mixed feelings about Nan returning to the cottage and being on her own during the day. What if she fell again? It was an old house with uneven floorboards and steps that could be a death trap if it happened a second time. I still needed to talk to Herman about the value of the cottage and get his opinion on an equity loan so she could hire someone to help her during the day when I was on the mainland. I knew he cared about her. When I’d asked Nan casually about him earlier in the week, the story she’d told me had made my heart tingly for days.
Nan and Herman had a romantic past I’d known nothing about.
It had been a long time ago. More than thirty years had passed since the time when Nan was a young widow with a small child, and Herman Blackstone had come courting. His parents didn’t approve, so Herman broke ties with them and left the island for a long time. He ended up marrying someone else and started a family, but the marriage didn’t last. And so he returned to Blackstone Island and stayed for good. Nan and Herman were still friends—
Whoa. Make that very good friends.
As I rounded the corner to her room, I saw something I’d never seen before. My nan kissing a man. Well, he was actually kissing her—I think. Herman was holding her face with his two hands so sweetly, as if she were the most precious treasure on earth. She had her hands at his waist as if she’d been practicing her walking and he’d been steadying her when they decided to go for a good snogging. The scene was straight out of The Notebook minus the rain.
I must have made a noise because they stopped and turned toward me in unison, their expressions mirroring the same peaceful happiness that only comes when the feeling is mutual.
We all blushed simultaneously I think.
Nan reached out a hand to me. “Brooke, my lovely girl, I have—that is—we have something to share with you.”
I walked forward to take her hand in mine. “I already know what it is, Nan, because anyone can see the two of you are hopelessly in love with each other.”
“SO, you won’t be returning to the cottage when you come out of here, will you?” I asked.
“That won’t be possible, Brooke, because she’ll be living with me in my house,” Herman said quietly before pulling Nan’s hand up to his lips for a kiss. Mr. Romance was making the moves on my nan, and it was so damn sweet to witness.
Okaaaay. That would stir up the island gossips fairly quickly. I glanced at Nan to see what she thought of Herman’s suggestion. “The gossips will have a field day with that news,” I said cautiously.
She glowed with a love that shone so brightly I had to blink. “As husband and wife, Brooke darling. Herman has asked me to marry him and I’ve accepted.”
Deep breath in. Deep breath out. “Oh. My. God. Nan! I’m so happy for you both. It’s really the most lovely news I could ever hear. Congratulations, you two.”
I hugged them both in turn, first Nan and then Herman, feeling the tears rise up violently in a surge I couldn’t tamp down. This loss of control happened to me in emotional situations, so it wasn’t a surprise to me at all. And it was totally unwelcome at a happy time such as the announcement of a marriage. Mortifying.
I was in good hands, though. Herman and Nan both seemed to understand my weakness when each of them opened an arm to me.
I fell in between them and wept until the overwhelming urge passed almost as quickly as it had come.
I’d never had this problem before my fatal mistake. I hadn’t cried at the drop of a hat or in situations where happiness ruled before the accident that changed my life. Changed it for the better . . . and also for the worse. Duality. A situation where the line between good and bad could not exist because it was both.
And I had to live with it for the rest of my life.
I pulled myself together and gave them a huge smile that I truly felt all the way down to the depths of my heart, and said, “I suppose this means there is a wedding to plan.”
“Can you pull one together in a few weeks?” Herman had quite the twinkle in his deep-blue eyes. He appeared to be one eager bridegroom, and I had to suppress a giggle at the thought. Nope. Not going there. Thoughts of my grandmother and her fiancé together could just go right on out of my head. Oh, my God. My nan had a fiancé!
“I’ll need some help, but I know just the person to make it happen,” I told him.
“Eduardo?” Nan asked.
I nodded. “He would be so honored and will make it magical for you, Nan, I know it.”
“Sounds wonderful, my darling. Now, please, let’s talk about you.” She reached for my hand and rubbed her thumb over the top slowly. “How does this all sit with you? I know you came back to help me when I needed it, but I want you to be honest with me now when I ask you if you’re comfortable living alone at the cottage?”
“Yes, Nan, of course. I’ve been alone in the cottage for the last five mon—”
“Let me finish, please, my lovely girl.” She gave me that stern look of scolding I’d known for years. “I’ve discussed it with Herman and he would love to welcome you to live with us in his home if you want to.”