Love's Stormy Gale (Heartsong Presents) (16 page)

The Barrottas arrived from Florida not long after lunch. Olivia found them in Jonathan’s room after she’d left to grab a bite and call home to tell her parents about Jonathan.

“Olivia, it’s good to see you again. Not in this way, though.” Janet Barrotta, an elegant-looking woman with graying hair, embraced her. “I’m glad Jon’s got you.”

“Thanks. He tried to drive me off earlier, but I’m not budging.”

Tom Barrotta shook his head. “Stubborn boy. He told me he’d sunk everything into that boat.”

Olivia bit her lip. “I know he’s disappointed. But he tried. He tried very hard. And I’m proud of him.” She squared her shoulders.

“He did try.” Mr. Barrotta looked tired.

“And he doesn’t have nothing.” Olivia nodded. “He’s talented, hardworking and has a faith in God that teaches me lessons. No, he has a lot.”

Mrs. Barrotta patted Olivia’s arm. “And you love him, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do. No matter what.” She gave half a smile, then yawned. “I’m sorry. I want to be here when he wakes up, but I’m so tired.”

“Go ahead home. Give me your number and I’ll call you when Jonathan wakes.”

Olivia gave Mrs. Barrotta her cell number. She yawned once more. She’d go home to sleep and prepare to show Jonathan she’d be there for him.

Chapter 21

J
onathan could finally sit up two mornings later without waves of nausea racking his body. He begged off the promethazine injections, refusing to feel drugged. The pain medication did that enough.

He didn’t want to think about the medical bills. Hopefully, they’d let him go home that afternoon. According to the doctor, they’d had to relieve the pressure and swelling in his skull. Aside from some bruises and the gash in his forehead and the concussion, he felt fine.

And aside from his heart, now that he’d told Olivia to go on without him.

Jonathan fingered the phone numbers on the scrap of paper his mother had left. He’d begged her not to call Olivia.

His Bible sat on the tray next to his untouched breakfast. Jonathan knew he needed both, but right now he let them be.

He needed to call his insurance company and make an appointment for a claims adjuster to assess his boat. Maybe he’d be able to pay off his debts and the hospital bills. Then he’d figure out what to do next.

“Lord, I’m sorry. I’m not what Olivia needs. I’m no provider for her. I couldn’t hack it. And now, no one in town will ship out with me.” He studied one of the 144 tiles in the ceiling. “Plus, I was wrong. I thought it was Your will for me to have a boat and to fish. How can I expect to know Your will for me and for Olivia? And if we had kids—” Jonathan refused thoughts of a future and a family at the moment.

A hard rap sounded in the doorway. Sam entered the room.

“I came to talk some sense into you.”

“How did you get in?” Jonathan craned his neck to see into the hallway.

“Through the front door.” Sam crossed his arms in front of him.

“No one but family or my pastor was supposed to be allowed to visit.”

“I told them I was your future father-in-law.”

“Aw, Sam.”

“My Liv’s wondering why you haven’t called her and won’t let her visit you. Nobody treats my baby girl like that. I don’t care if you are in a hospital bed.” The man’s eyes flashed.

“It’s for the best. I can’t provide for her. I don’t have anything.” Jonathan clenched his jaw.

With two strides, Sam crossed the room and grabbed Jonathan’s hands. His viselike grip squeezed tighter and tighter. “You’ve got these two hands. Hardworking hands.” The man released one of his hands and gave Jonathan’s chest a nudge. “And your heart.” Then he tapped the bandage on Jonathan’s forehead. “And a good head on your shoulders, even though it’s about the hardest one I’ve seen.”

Jonathan clenched his free hand into a fist. “She deserves better.”

“She deserves you.” Sam released Jonathan’s hand from his grip, and Jonathan tried not to flex his fingers in relief. “Besides, isn’t your God big enough?”

“What?”

“Don’t look so shocked. I’m not a churchgoing man, at least I wasn’t until recently. But if God is as big as you say and as powerful, wouldn’t He take good care of you two?” Sam shook his head. “Boy, but you do have a hard head!” Sam strode to the window and studied the bright winter day outside.

If I’ve ever been wrong, Lord, it’s now. And having a man who hasn’t been to church in years to teach me a lesson. Forgive my pride.
The knowledge of what he’d done to Olivia pained him.

“I’m sorry.”

Sam whirled from where he stood. “That’s a start.”

“I’ve had so much pride, worrying about my image. What others thought about me. You know how those guys are, Sam.” Jonathan swallowed hard; at least it didn’t hurt so much to talk anymore. “I’ve been wrong. Do you think she’ll come if I ask her to?”

“Like a shot.” Sam grinned for the first time since he’d walked into the hospital room. “But before you call her, I’ve got a business proposition for you. See, Lindy doesn’t mind me lobstering. Lindy says I could get a website and sell my lobsters direct. Except I’ll need help. So I’ve been thinking about taking on a partner. Are you interested?”

Jonathan felt hope blooming inside. “Let’s talk.”

* * *

“What has Dad gone and done now?” Olivia demanded of her mother. She’d taken advantage of her father leaving the house to wrap his Christmas gifts.

“He said he’d had enough of you moping around the house. So I think he went to pound some sense into Jonathan.” Her mother looked up from her laptop at the kitchen table.

“Oh, no!” Surely he hadn’t. “Why did he do that? When did he leave?”

“A few hours ago. Then he said he had to go to the bank, then to the Sea Dawg to meet some of the guys for lunch. But you know your dad. Nobody makes his little girl cry.” Her mother smiled, then rested her chin on her hand. “It’s going to work out. I know it.”

Olivia shifted from her knees and sat cross-legged on the living room floor. “I saw the
Isabella Rose
in the harbor. She looks awful. I don’t see how he’ll get her fit to ship out with again.”

“I sure hope your dad didn’t lose his temper.”

“You don’t think?” Olivia’s heart started to pound faster. “I’ve got to go apologize. Who knows what Dad’s gone and said to Jonathan.”

She left her father’s present half-wrapped on the floor and went straight to the hospital. She found Jonathan’s room empty.

A nurse met her in the doorway. “He’s been discharged home. Against doctor’s orders...”

“Thanks.” Olivia dashed for the elevator.

What had her father said? Or worse, done? She needed to face Jonathan, to explain she hadn’t sent her father to talk to him.

She parked at Jonathan’s apartment and bounded up the porch stairs.

Jonathan answered the door. “Hi...” He looked less pale than she remembered and he’d shaved. One arm was in a sling and his head was bandaged. It was all she could do to keep from rushing to him.

“Please don’t send me away.” Olivia could barely breathe. “I need to explain. My dad...”

A smile covered his face, the grin she’d never grow tired of seeing. “You don’t have to explain. And I’m not letting you get away. Not if I can help it.” He reached for her with his free hand and pulled her inside the warm apartment.

“It all came down to trust.” Olivia let him lead her into his living room, where he pulled her down to sit next to him on the couch. “I didn’t trust God, not really. I thought I could run my life, especially if it seemed like God wasn’t cooperating. Or if I got disappointed.”

Jonathan wore an amused expression on his face, but said nothing.

She let herself continue. “The other night out at the harbor, I realized it’s God’s love that carries us through everything. He cares for you so much more than I could. And I’ve been wrong, trying to do His job for Him. I mean—”

He put a finger on her lips.

“What?” she mumbled.

“Shh, you talk too much.” Then he kissed her until she was breathless and forgot what she’d been trying to explain.

“It’s my turn now.” Jonathan kissed the end of her nose, and she attempted not to giggle, her mind still trying to comprehend what had happened. “I was full of pride, thinking I had nothing to offer you. I’m so sorry I hurt you. I have nothing right now. Except this.” He fished a velvet box from under the cushion.

“What?” she repeated, realizing what he was showing her. When did he get a ring?

“My parents gave it to me. It’s a family ring they’ve had in a safe-deposit box until the right time.” The antique setting displayed a stunning diamond that winked at her as if it knew a secret. Olivia let her mouth hang open while Jonathan slid the ring onto her finger. “Marry me.”

Olivia nodded. “Of course I will.” She touched his face, relishing the thought of waking up with him every morning, of the children to come, of the life that lay ahead. “I love you.”

He pulled her close and kissed her again.

Epilogue

T
he warm June wind teased the edges of Olivia’s veil. She reached a hand up to pull it down. Her other hand clutched her bouquet and was tucked around her father’s arm as they walked along the path toward the ocean. Violin and cello mingled with the sounds of the surf.

“Did I tell you you’re beautiful?”

“No, Dad.”

“Well, you are. You remind me of my Lindy.” He raised her veil and kissed her cheek.

The leftover chill from the night before lingered in the sand that sifted between Olivia’s bare feet, but it didn’t matter to her. Jonathan waited for her on “their” beach, along with friends and family who’d come to witness their vows. Over the winter months that followed Jonathan’s recovery, they had spent many hours walking the beach, and decided to share the spot of beauty with their wedding guests.

Olivia’s throat ached when they reached the edge of the dunes, and she caught sight of the display before them. Rows of white chairs faced the water, a white runner dividing them like an aisle. At the very end stood Jonathan, barefooted but in a tuxedo.

Her mother and Maggie stood, holding bouquets of lilies, across from Todd and Jeremy. Maggie held Lydia on one hip.

Then after the glorious music, her father entrusted her to Jonathan’s care. She would love this man all her days. Whatever came their way, the love of their Heavenly Father would sustain them.

After uttering the sweet sacred words that bound them together, Jonathan and Olivia shared a kiss. Then the icy water swirled over her toes, and Olivia squealed, gathering her skirts and pulling Jonathan away from the water.

She saw her parents laughing, her mother snapping pictures. The candid shots would be a treasured part of their album.

Jonathan kissed Olivia again. “I can’t wait to get you to the cottage in Maine.”

Belinda laid a hand on Olivia’s arm. “Wait. You remember I said I’d get permission from the landowner to have the ceremony here?”

Olivia nodded. She’d appreciated her mother’s help with the wedding without too much of a power struggle between them.

“Well, I did better than that.” She pressed an envelope into Olivia’s hands. “Before you say anything, just consider this a wedding gift. And more birthday and Christmas gifts and ‘I love you’ gifts than I want to count.”

“Mom...” Olivia handed her bouquet to Jonathan and opened the envelope. It was a deed for two acres of shoreline property.

“Please. You two can have fun planning your house and building it here. You won’t be in Frances O’Leary’s apartment forever.” Her mother blinked and dabbed at her eyes. “Oh, phooey, my mascara’s already mussed.” She laughed. “Just build your house with love.”

Olivia looked up into Jonathan’s eyes. “We will, Mom. You can count on it.”

* * * * *

We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin ebook. Connect with us for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!

Subscribe to our newsletter:
Harlequin.com/newsletters

Visit
Harlequin.com

We like you—why not like us on Facebook:
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks

Follow us on Twitter:
Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks

Read our blog for all the latest news on our authors and books:
HarlequinBlog.com

ISBN: 9781460312940

Copyright © 2013 by Lynette Sowell

All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical,
now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.

www.Harlequin.com