Page 37 of Before the Storm

“All right,” Tara said. “Maybe we can book the flights in a week or two?” She felt tentative. She wanted to give herself a little more room to breathe.

“No road trip?”

Tara gave Josie a pointed look. She considered saying,We don’t have time for that.

But Josie burst into laughter. “I’m just kidding. That would be insane.”

Two days later, Tara was back at the wine bar with Johan. Quietly, they studied the menu and waited for the server to return to take their order. Tara had been too nervous to eat, and it felt as though her stomach was eating itself. Johan ordered a glass of red wine and several plates to share—flatbread and brussels sprouts, sweet potato fries and some dense, stinky cheeses. Tara ordered the same red wine, so they opted to buy the bottle instead.

It was a real date.

When they had their glasses, they clinked, and Tara braved a glance into Johan’s gorgeous blue eyes.

“Thank you for coming out with me,” he said. “I hate to admit that I’ve been lonely.”

Tara considered saying I’ve been lonely for years. But she didn’t want to bring down the mood.

“It’s my pleasure,” she said. “You were always one of my favorite islanders. It’s hard to believe it’s been so long since you left.”

Was that too forward?

Johan smiled. “I didn’t know I was a favorite at all. I always thought I was the forgotten, weird Swedish guy.”

“Never forgotten.”

Johan smiled.

Tara burned with questions. She wanted to know if he missed his ex-wife. She wanted to know if he ever wanted to get married again. She wanted to know so much.

But instead, Johan asked, “How is Josie’s return going for you?”

Tara melted. “I’m so pleased to have her here. But it’s been difficult.”

Johan nodded. “She’s quite sick, isn’t she?”

“She really is.” Tara inhaled sharply and filled her mouth with wine. “But before this, we hadn’t seen each other in years.”

Johan was taken aback. “The Steiner sisters hadn’t seen each other? That’s hard for me to believe.”

Tara bowed her head. “I’m ashamed that we let anything get between us.”

“It happens,” Johan offered softly. “I know of two guys in Sweden who haven’t spoken since one of them accidentally chopped down the other’s tree.”

“How does anyone accidentally chop down a tree?”

“He thought it was on his property, but it was actually on the other’s,” Johan said.

“Ah.” Tara laughed.

“But they were wonderful friends before that,” Johan continued. “They celebrated every holiday together. Now, they won’t even wave if they pass by on a walk.”

“It sounds so silly. I’d like to think Josie’s and my argument wasn’t half as silly. But maybe everything is after a while.”

Johan nodded. “Humans are so petty.”

“We really are.” Tara was loosening up. She was surprised at how open she felt with Johan. “She called me a few weeks ago and told me that she was going to die. She hates chemo and radiation, and she doesn’t even want to try a new treatment planhere in Nantucket. She’s preparing herself to, well…” Tara raised her shoulders. She couldn’t say die.

“That’s terribly hard,” Johan said.

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