Page 48 of Waves of Time

“Exactly,” Aria said. “But she finally confessed what was going on that night, which was an important step. I think she was going to pretend it wasn’t happening as long as she could.”

“That’s the nature of humans, isn’t it?” Thaddeus breathed. “We want to pretend the house isn’t on fire, even when it is.”

Thaddeus made Aria promise she would reach out to him for any reason during her mother’s surgery and afterward.

“I’m guessing you’re like me and that you’re not great at asking for help,” Thaddeus said.

“You’re right about that.”

“But try to think of me differently,” Thaddeus urged her. “Even if you just need to vent about how hard it is, or what a bad mood your mom is in, or anything.”

“I can’t blame her for being in a bad mood,” Aria said softly.

“No. Of course not. But that doesn’t make it any easier on you to handle,” Thaddeus pointed out. “She won’t feel like herself. And she won’t always treat you nicely, either. That’s the nature of living as a caretaker.” He spoke with authority, as his family always looked to him for help— probably to the detriment of his mental health.

Aria wrapped her arms around him and allowed herself to cry tears of fear, pain, and relief.How had she gotten so lucky to have him in her life?She would question it forever.

ChapterEighteen

Since Hilary had come clean about what was really going on with her eyes, she hadn’t been in contact with Frank Wilmington once. This hadn’t stopped him from texting her, of course— twice in the past week. Each time, the sight of his name on her phone had both thrilled and terrified Hilary until she’d forced herself to remember that she was maybe going blind. She just couldn’t deal with that.

But just two nights before Hilary’s major surgery, Hilary received a phone call from Rodrick. Thinking it was about the redesign in California, she answered it.

“Rodrick! Good to hear from you.” She hated how friendly and easy she sounded, as it was false. “How’s the design going?”

“There she is. My favorite east coaster,” Rodrick said. “I was just checking in on your mental health. Have you gone insane?”

Hilary tilted her head, sensing a joke at the other end of Rodrick’s cruel question. “Why do you ask?”

“Because you’re literally ghosting the best and most sought-after bachelor on the east coast!” Rodrick cried. “I thought you were a match made in heaven. Please, help me understand! What’s wrong with him?”

Hilary’s stomach tightened. This was certainly a conundrum.How could she explain to her client that she was about to go into major surgery?She didn’t want him to think she couldn’t finish the job.

“Oh, gosh. Frank is fantastic,” Hilary said with a sigh, wondering if she should tell Rodrick her initial fears— that Frank was somehow involved with the drugs coming onto Nantucket. Frank had explained that away easily.

“Then what’s the problem?” Rodrick demanded.

“There’s no problem,” Hilary heard herself say.

“Then get out of your house and go see him!” Rodrick cried. “I can see you there, alone, just waiting for something in your life to happen. But something did happen, Hilary! You met Frank Wilmington! And it’s time to move to the next step!”

Hilary couldn’t help it. She dropped her head back and giggled, overwhelmed with Rodrick’s goodwill. “I hear you, Rodrick. I do.”

“Then prove it, Hilary Coleman,” Rodrick said. “I’ll never forgive you if you blow this, honey.”

When Hilary got off the phone, she stood up and wandered around her living room with her heart in her throat. One thing that was clear was that in two days, she would be out for the count. In two days, the rest of her life post-surgery would begin, and there were no guarantees.

And something inside of her told her to call a car and go over to Frank’s house one final time. There was a possibility she would never be able to see that handsome face, that lush hair, and those thick muscles again— and, just the way she’d lapped up every second of every sunset the past few days— she wanted to see him one final time. It was her way, she supposed, of saying goodbye to the world.

Upstairs, Hilary changed into a light blue dress and a pair of sandals, then styled her hair with tremendous care, as though she was going to a wedding. When the Uber driver pulled up, Hilary breathed a sigh of relief that he wasn’t Thaddeus, although she knew what she would say to him.“I’m sorry I doubted you. I hope you and my daughter make each other happy.”

According to Aria’s story about what had happened at the beach party, Hilary was sure she would have the time to say that to Thaddeus at one point or another. She looked forward to it.

Hilary didn’t want the Uber drive to go all the way to Frank’s driveway because she wanted the element of surprise. There was something romantic about surprise, wasn’t there? If she was blind, surprising anyone would be difficult. Everyone would know where she was, and she wouldn’t know where they were in return. It wasn’t fair.

The Uber driver dropped her off about a half-mile from Frank’s house, and Hilary walked timidly down the beautiful road along the beach, ducking around beech trees and allowing the early September wind to stream through her fingers and whip through her hair. Feeling dreamy, she removed her sandals and walked barefoot through the sands, gazing out across the water and imagining a future in which she and Frank lived out here together, her with clear vision and he with all the love in the world for her. Perhaps, if the surgery went through, they would find a way back to one another.

Would she tell him about the surgery today?She wasn’t sure. A part of her wanted to live in the unreality of the now, to pretend as though everything was going to be all right.

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