Moment in Time Read online

  “That is so unfair!”

  “Mom!”

  I’m just about to hang up the phone when she blurts out the one thing I need to hear from her right now. It’s not I love you. It’s not it’ll be okay.

  “The node was swollen because of an infection. It’s not a cancerous lump. The doctor said you fell and had a scrape? You could have told me that.”

  An infection. Breathe. Just breathe. It’s not cancer. Just an infection.

  Tears fill my eyes. “Did Carole say it was something to worry about? Sissy had an infection, too.”

  “I don’t even want to know how you got an infected node on your groin.”

  “Mom. Keep with the program. What did Carole say?”

  “Your blood cell count is fine. Dr. Remey prescribed some antibiotic. You’ll be able to pick it up at the pharmacy on the island this afternoon.”

  “I fell down at the beach,” I say quietly. “That’s all it was.”

  “What?”

  A giggle bubbles up my throat as relief fills me. Memories of riding in the sunshine on the bike path with Bobby and racing up the beach fill my head. The day had been glorious. It was just an infection. And infection. Breathe.

  “I scraped my upper thigh when I fell running up the beach. It was just a little thing. Nothing really. Or I didn’t think it was.”

  “Well, you ended up being lucky. It’s just cellulitis. When Carole told me it was in the groin, I was afraid you had some sexual disease or something.”

  “Mom!”

  “The antibiotic should clear it up in a few days. If it doesn’t, she wants you to come right in to see Dr. Remey again.”

  I close my eyes and slump back in the overstuffed chair by the bedroom window. Dr. Remey had mentioned that it could be something as simple as cellulitis. I’d barely heard those words. But that’s all it is. Not cancer. Nothing serious.

  I glance out the window at the ocean and just let the beauty of it fill me. Had there ever been a day more wonderful than today? There are a few scattered clouds in the sky. But that’s okay. Nothing can cover the sun for me today.

  “Carole made an appointment for you in two weeks to follow up with Dr. Remey.”

  I can’t hear my mother. All I can think about is telling Bobby. He’d been there for me in ways I didn’t know mattered.

  “Okay, text me the information.”

  “I’ll take you. In fact, I want all this nonsense to stop. I want you to come home!”

  “I’m okay, Mom.” And I know I am. “I’ll talk to you in a few days.”

  “Promise me you’ll call me if something like this ever happens again. You’re my baby. I don’t want to lose you.”

  “You won’t. And I will.”

  I hang up the phone and feel my wet cheeks with the tips of my fingers. I hadn’t even realized the tears were flowing. But these tears are unlike most of the tears that have torn me apart for the past two years. These are tears of joy. And I can’t wait to share that joy with Bobby.

  I dress quickly and run up the beach to the Inn to meet him. But I find him on the beach coming my way. His face is beautiful. I know that is not something you say about a man. Men are supposed to be handsome and rugged and Bobby is all that. He’s amazing. But he’s beautiful in ways I can’t even begin to put into words. I love him. And I never thought I’d love anyone again.

  As he smiles at me and runs toward me, I wonder if things would have been different between us if we’d met on the streets of Boston instead of here. What if I’d never had cancer and he’d never lost his wife and child? Would we still feel the same way about each other? Or are we just two broken people who needed each other to fix the hurt?

  When he’s only a few yards away, a wide grin splits his face. “Hey!” he says. He sprints and picks me up in his arms, twirling me around as we laugh. “I love that smile.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Does that mean you have good news? Please tell me you do.”

  “The best!”

  He kisses my mouth and I feel complete and alive in a way that has escaped me for so long.

  “I can think of a real nice way to celebrate,” he whispers against my ear with a chuckle that sends shivers through my body.

  “I think we’re both on the same page, soldier.”

  He looks at me directly. “Maybe not. Not anymore.”

  “What do you mean?”

  The light in his eyes fills my whole body and leaves me weak. “I don’t want to run away, Jenna. And that is what I’ve been doing for a long time. I loved being in the military. But I love you more.”

  Emotion bubbles up my throat and I can feel my bottom lip tremble. “I love you, too.”

  “I don’t know where this is leading. All I know is that I don’t want to leave this island unless I’m leaving with you.”

  “Bobby, I know how I feel about you. I do love you. But this is all so fast. You made that mistake once before and—”

  “I got a girl pregnant and married her before I even knew what I wanted. Now I know. However long it takes, whatever happens, I want to be with you, Jenna. This morning I called my CO. I put in for a transfer to relocate me to Fort Devens.”

  “You’re staying in Massachusetts?”

  “If it goes through, yes. I don’t want to let you go. I know you have a lot of catching up to do with all the things you missed while you were getting treatment. So I will wait until you’re sure. All I know is I want to be with you.”

  “That’s what I want.” Tears fill my eyes. We still have a summer to enjoy together and see where this love takes us. It’s too soon to think of it being that forever kind of love that girls dream of. But being here with Bobby, feeling his love sure feels that way.

  “You were talking about a way to celebrate,” I say with a wicked smile I can’t hold back.

  “Are your roommates home?”

  “It doesn’t matter. I have a bedroom overlooking the ocean and a private shower built for two.”

  He chuckles. “I think we can start our celebration there and then move on.”

  Hand in hand we run back to The Bluffs. Life is good. I’m healthy. I’m living. And I am in love with a hot guy who makes me tremble inside. I want to hold this moment just like this forever. But moments are meant to pass from one to the next. Sometimes good. Sometimes bad. Sometimes those moments are more than the heart can bear. But moments like this make it all worth it.

  #

  Thank you for reading MOMENT in TIME. You won’t want to miss the next book in the series, MOMENT of IMPACT, which is Lily and Gus’s story. Order MOMENT of IMPACT here: http://amzn.to/1Itf0tj

  Never miss a release by signing up for my new release newsletter http://eepurl.com/xhxO5

  Dear Reader:

  Thank you so much for reading MOMENT in TIME. The Summer House Series continues with MOMENT of IMPACT, when good-natured Lily finally meets the man who’s been watching her dance on the beach and falls for the bad boy with a past she can’t run from. Look for two more Summer House Series books this fall. Book 3 is MOMENT of TRUTH, where we learn just what makes Heather tick and get upset. You’ll get a little more of a glimpse of Heather’s story in MOMENT of IMPACT. Finally, MOMENT of TRUST, Penny’s story. You’ll learn more about all the Summer House girls, and be introduced to a few more, as the series continues.

  Also, check out all my releases at http://amzn.to/1Itf0tj

  Never miss a new release by signing up for my new release newsletter http://eepurl.com/xhxO5.

  All my best,

  Lisa Mondello

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