Page 51 of Save the Dance

“Thanks again for the warning.”

The portly gentleman whistled a happy tune as he headed toward the north side of town. Staring at the water that was quickly covering the last of the sand, she had to admit that Walter had been right … and not just about the tide. The opportunity to get ahead at Weddings Today hadn’t turned out like she’d thought it would. And, apparently, her relationship with Jason had hit an unforeseen bump. She’d gone over the abrupt conversation a dozen times, and she still didn’t understand why he’d turned taciturn and gruff. Whatever it was, she wished he’d talk to her about it. She wanted him to know he could trust in their love for one another. That whatever was bothering him, they could work it out together.

First, though, they had to talk. Something that was unlikely to happen while she stood here, looking out at the ocean. Determined to get to the bottom of their problem—whatever it was—she pushed away from the railing and headed back to the Captain’s Cottage.

But twenty-four hours and a half-dozen phone calls later, she was no closer to figuring out where things had gone wrong with Jason than she’d been in the dining room. Except now, at least, she knew for sure their relationship was in trouble. What other explanation could there be? No one spent a day and a half avoiding all contact with the woman he’d professed to love. Not unless there was a problem. A big one. She’d done all she could to reach out to him, to let him know that whatever it was, she was willing to work it out. To talk it over. To compromise.

But each time she called, Jason’s phone went straight to voicemail. She’d roamed through the Cottage looking for him without success. Finally, she’d swallowed her pride and climbed the stairs to the family living quarters, where she’d knocked on the door of his suite. Another wasted effort.

Tears stung her eyes as she descended the stairs once more. She had no choice but to accept the truth. Though she didn’t understand why, she’d gotten his message loud and clear. He didn’t want to see or speak with her.

Her heart heavy, she retreated to her room. With nothing better to do, she spent a sleepless night working on her final presentation for Weddings Today. Though her heart was breaking, she poured her soul onto the page, crafting an article that sang the praises of Heart’s Landing. Starting with the hearts-and-flowers trim on buildings and ending with the magnificence of the Captain’s Cottage itself, she presented the strongest possible argument that the town should retain its standing as America’s Top Wedding Destination.

When she finished, she checked her phone for the umpteenth time. She’d turned the ringer all the way up to be sure she’d hear it if Jason called. He hadn’t. The screen remained dark, the icon for text messages empty.

Her heart sank even lower. She was willing to do her share of the work in resolving whatever problem Jason had with her. But she wasn’t a mind reader or a magician. She couldn’t fix things on her own. She’d given him plenty of time to come to his senses and talk to her. He obviously hadn’t. Given that he’d chosen to cut off all communication with her, she didn’t see much point in staying in Heart’s Landing a minute longer than necessary.

The decision to skip the pageant came easily enough. She swapped her return reservation for an earlier one with a single phone call. Retrieving Chuck’s business card from her purse, she arranged for the cab driver to pick her up in front of the Captain’s Cottage an hour before her train’s departure time. The glint of afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows by the time she finished packing. All that remained was to return Mary’s diary to the library, power down her laptop, and leave.

A dull ache started at the center of her chest and spread outward as she lifted the thin book from the desk. Flipping through the pages one last time, she spotted the slip of paper she’d used as a bookmark. Idly, she passed the diary from one hand to another. Considering her own broken heart, learning more about Captain Thaddeus and Mary’s love was the last thing she felt like doing, but leaving without finishing the journal felt like too much unfinished business. With a sigh, she sank onto the chair and found the point where she’d left off. Her breath stalled on the next entry.

The homecoming celebration I planned for Thaddeus must wait. Word came by way of his steward that my husband left the Mary S in New York. He assumed command of the SS Pentaur, bound for North Carolina, after the ship’s captain suffered a grievous injury. God willing, the P shall drop anchor in Heart’s Cove by next week’s end.

Tara gasped. Clamping one hand over her mouth, she read the passage and several of the entries leading up to it again. Her own surprise about the captain’s delay matched Mary’s. Her fingers shaking, she turned to the next page.

This may be my last entry for several days. My heart trembles with fear for my husband. I received word today of a monstrous storm churning the waters to the south. Pray God that Thaddeus has learned of it as well and chosen to ride out the storm in safety. I have instructed the servants to watch over the children with all diligence while I remain on the lookout for the P.

Taking command of the Pentaur had no doubt delayed Captain Thaddeus in New York. It wouldn’t have taken much—a day or two—and he’d have sailed his new ship straight into the hurricane on his way to Heart’s Landing. Tara held her breath as she turned the page.

Oh, glorious, glorious sight! Her sails tattered and torn, one mast broken, the P. nonetheless survived the storm and has at long last anchored in Heart’s Cove. Never has there been such a joyous celebration as when Thaddeus arrived home last evening. Repairs to the P will require at least two weeks, which shall make my birthday a grand affair indeed.

Tara slumped against the chair back. The legend of Captain Thaddeus was true. She tapped her finger against her chin. A heady joy bubbled up inside her. She couldn’t wait to tell Jason. She could practically picture his face when she gave him the news. He’d be thrilled.

She gulped.

The truth was, Jason wasn’t speaking to her. Even if he were, he’d never understand her excitement … unless she told him the whole story. Closing Mary’s diary, she bumped the laptop with her elbow. Her heart hammered as the screen sprang to life.

“Oh, no! The sleep mode.” The day she’d had so much trouble sending her report to Regina, she’d deleted the password protection.

Suddenly, Jason’s change of heart made a lot more sense. He must have stopped by her table while she was upstairs yesterday. A little nudge was all it would have taken, and he’d have been staring at the article she’d written for Weddings Today. The article that called the legend of Captain Thaddeus a sham.

Guilt tightened her throat.

Thank goodness she’d changed her mind before she’d sent that report. As for Jason, she had to make this right. Had to let him know she’d chosen love—for him and for Heart’s Landing—over her career.

Picking up her phone, she hit redial. In seconds, she’d arranged for Chuck to pick her up even earlier and make an extra stop on the way to the train station. The pageant was due to start in an hour. Now that she knew the truth, she couldn’t leave without at least trying to speak to Jason. She crossed her fingers. Though her heart cried out to fix things between them, she didn’t dare hope for more than the chance to apologize.

The curtains on the temporary stage in Thaddeus Park rippled in the cool breeze that swept in from the ocean. Through a gap, Jason caught a glimpse of the gathering crowd. It was larger than he’d expected, much bigger than when they held the pageant in the fall. Today, most of the folding chairs had been filled by casually dressed couples who sat in neat rows. A few sipped icy beverages or snacked on items purchased from the food trucks that lined the nearby streets. Moms and dads had taken advantage of the summer weather to spread blankets on the grass, where they doled out animal crackers to toddlers who were eager for the show to start. Stragglers continued to arrive. Some carried lawn chairs. Others sat cross-legged wherever they could find a vacant spot.

Jason stuck one finger inside his stiff collar and tugged. Although he donned the replica of Captain Thaddeus’s uniform for a half-dozen appearances each month, today the fabric felt tight enough to choke him. The cape he wore around his shoulders weighed him down. His shoes pinched. His skin crawled.

“Argh!” He knew himself well enough to rule out stage fright as the cause. No, this was all Tara’s fault. Before she’d arrived in Heart’s Landing, he’d been content with his life. Things hadn’t worked out the way he’d thought they would with Clarissa, but he’d known that someday he’d find the girl of his dreams. Only when he had, she’d ruined everything, broken his heart, and shaken his faith in the tales of his swashbuckling ancestor.

How was he supposed to go on stage, pretend to sail the Mary Shelby through a hurricane, and declare his undying love for his “wife” when he questioned every word in the script?

From out of nowhere, Evelyn appeared at his side. “You have company.” She nodded toward the wings where the rest of the cast waited for their cues to go on stage.

Tara. It had to be. She was the last person he wanted to see right now. Groaning, he forced his attention in the opposite direction.

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