Just like that, Nicole went right to the heart of the problem.
“I know I’m not acting like myself. But I can’t tell how much of that is me trying to please Gary and how much is me finally escaping from my parents’ control.”
“If Gary’s helping you think for yourself, I’m all in favor. Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m worried you’re exchanging your father’s thumb for Gary’s. Isn’t that sort of what happened with Joseph?”
Her heart dropped into her stomach with a thud. Just when she’d been considering pursuing a real relationship with Gary, the cold hard truth stared her in the face. She was still too broken. She was letting Gary make decisions for her, just like Joseph had, and her father before him. Moving away from home to New York had been a step in the right direction, but she still wasn’t healed. Gary wasn’t the type who wanted to date a dishrag. He needed a strong, independent woman who could stand up to whatever the future might bring.
“I guess you’re right,” Katie said. “But it’s a moot point. Tomorrow, we fly back, and our vacation fling will be over.”
“I wasn’t saying you should give up on this relationship,” Nicole said. “I think Gary’s been really good for you. All I’m saying is to be sure you’re not changing just to suit Gary. Your dad taught you to sacrifice yourself to keep your mother happy, and now you do that all that time for everyone. It’s good that you’re unselfish, but it’s an impossible goal. You can’t be responsible for other people’s happiness.”
“I know that in my head, but I’ve been like this for so long, I can’t even tell you what I want. All I can say is yesterday on that motorcycle, I was having fun. I quit worrying about the danger. If he asked me to go again, I’d do it in a heartbeat.”
“What if someone else wanted to take you on a motorcycle ride? Would you still want to go?”
Would she?
“I think I would, if it was someone I really trusted. In fact… if I had the chance, I’d learn to drive one, myself.”
“Oh! My! Gosh!” Nicole started laughing again. “Whatever happened to you at Indigo Bay, I hope it sticks, because that’s the most amazing thing you’ve ever said!”
Katie smiled. “Maybe there’s still hope for me.”
“Listen, girlfriend, don’t talk like that,” said Nicole. “I’ve known from day one how strong you are. After all those years of mental control, the fact that you even try to think for yourself proves you’re a woman of steel.”
“Like Superwoman?” Katie chuckled.
Maybe I’d be a good match for Superman, after all…
“Coming about!” Steven called as he tacked the catamaran, sailing toward shore against a strong wind.
Gary un-cleated the jib sail and ducked as the heavy boom swung from the port to the starboard side. He waited until the wind filled the sail and pulled the line tight into the cleat. Though it had been some time since he and Steven had sailed together, they worked seamlessly, tacking back and forth across the wind until they reached the beach, just up from Katie’s pink cottage. As they jumped off and hauled the boat onto the sand, he saw Katie coming toward them, a toddler in her arms and two young boys on her heels. Her long, white, lacy top revealed tiny bits of skin not covered by her swimsuit, just enough to drive him crazy.
“Is that your boat?” asked the oldest boy, a towheaded kid with a missing front tooth, his hair and swimsuit dripping water. The younger boy, with darker hair and the same blue eyes, ran in tight circles on the wet sand, like a soggy, excited puppy.
“We rented it,” Gary answered, lifting his eyebrows to Katie. “Did you pick up some strays?”
Katie rolled her eyes as she pointed to the first boy. “This is Dax. He’ll be nine years old tomorrow.”
“No, Sunday,” he corrected, with an impatient expression. “I wanted to go jet skiing for my birthday, but my aunt said no.”
She shifted the toddler to her hip. “This is Joel. He’s two. And this wild-child is Cade,” she said as she grabbed the younger boy’s hand, spinning him to a stop.
“Cade is a baby,” said Dax.
“No, I’m not. I’m five.” Cade stuck out his lower lip and pointed to the child who was wiggling out of Katie’s grasp. “Joel is the baby.”
As Joel slid to the ground, escaping Katie but for a wad of his shirt in her hand, Gary swooped under him and lifted him squealing with delight, into the air. The boy was solid as a brick, a lot heavier than he expected.
“Do me! Do me!” cried Cade.
A tall woman arrived out of breath, her brown hair accented by streaks of pink and purple, a kid-sized beach hat in her hand. Her grin was so broad it looked painful, as she focused her eyes on Steven.
“Hi, I’m Carla, the one who did Katie’s hair. I’m so excited to meet you, Mr. Gherring! Katie didn’t mention who you were until today,” she gushed as she stuck her hand out toward him. “Thank you so much for the big tip. Oh my gosh, I can’t believe I’m meeting you. I would’ve worn something nicer if I’d known.”
Steven shook the hand she offered, gracing her with a warm smile. “Katie’s hair looks so nice, Carla. I believe you more than earned your tip.”
Carla took advantage of Joel’s captivity in Gary’s arms to tie the beach hat over the child’s almost bald head, much to Joel’s dismay. Only a double knot kept him from yanking it off.