Page 63 of The Summer Swap

He’d been her first real boyfriend. Her first everything. She’d been heartbroken when he’d ended their relationship.

Over the years she’d thought about him. When things had been bad with Cameron. In those low points, she’d occasionally wondered how her life might have looked if she and Seth had stayed together.

But what was the point of looking back and wondering? That was then, and this was now.

And she was determined to build a new life in the now, but she knew that to do that she had to acknowledge and accept everything that had gone before.

“I loved Cameron.”

“I know.” He let his hand drop and gave a soft laugh. “But I won’t hold that against you. No one is perfect. Are you staying in the cottage?”

“Yes.”

“It’s been empty for so long I wondered if you were ever coming back.”

“You’ve been there?”

“Had some heart problems ten years ago. Boring. I’m determined not to turn into one of those people who talk about ailments. But let’s just say that I changed my habits, or some of them at least. Since then, I exercise. Long walks. Sometimes those walks take me over the dunes to the cottage. I may have peeped through the window occasionally, for old times’ sake.”

She wondered if he thought about that time, as she did. It didn’t feel right to ask.

“I heard about Sonya.” She knew through the grapevine that he’d lost his wife ten years earlier. She’d never met Sonya, and she was curious about the woman who had convinced commitment phobic Seth to settle down. “I’m sorry. I should have contacted you.”

“Don’t apologize. I understand. We lost touch. Took me a few weeks to pluck up the courage to send you that card after Cameron died. It felt a little—inappropriate after so long. I suppose I didn’t really know what to say. I’m better with paint than words, but you already know that about me. I’m glad you’re here now. And you haven’t told me why. Judging from that parcel I’m guessing it’s business, not pleasure.”

“I hope it’s a little of both.” She’d forgotten how direct he was. It was refreshing.

He was different from Cameron in every way.

When Seth had ended their relationship she’d rebounded hard, turning to Cameron to heal the wound. She hadn’t expected the relationship to last. She hadn’t thought about the future, just the present. But then before she knew it, she and Cameron were an item. A couple. Their relationship was intense, and their love of art equally intense. They’d spent their days wrapped up in each other, needing no one else. Gradually the group of friends had thinned out as people had moved on to different things.

Seth had moved away and that had been the end of it, or so she’d thought.

But now she knew that despite the years, the connection was still there. The friendship was there. She felt it, and she saw it in his eyes. She’d forgotten how it felt to be looked at as if she was something special, but that was the way he was looking at her now.

His gaze lingered on hers and then he gestured. “Show me what you’ve got.”

The paintings. Of course. Her excuse for being here.

Now that the time had come, she felt a moment of doubt. What if she was wrong? What if Seth didn’t see what she saw?

She stood up straighter.

If that was the case, then Lily would never have to know.

She put the paintings down on the long countertop that stretched half the length of the gallery. It was early, so the place was still closed, but she could see people milling in the streets outside, enjoying the sunshine, browsing in shops and galleries.

“The town is busier than it was when we were young.”

“Everywhere is busier than when we were young. We have it all here now. A jazz festival, a film festival—you name it. It draws the crowds, although in winter the place is still mostly ours.” He stepped next to her and slid on his glasses, silent as he studied the paintings she carefully spread out.

She held her breath and watched him. Waited.

After a moment he glanced at her.

“I can feel you looking at me. It’s distracting.”

“I’m trying to read your expression.”

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