Page 291 of The Havenport Collection

Sam

F or a town with near-weekly festivals, the Fourth of July in Havenport did not disappoint. Days of activities, road races, music, art, and food, all culminating with fireworks on the actual holiday. I loved fireworks, and my hometown pulled out all the stops.

All citizens participated, and it was one of the town’s biggest revenue generators, bringing in thousands of tourists every year. But it was still special for the locals, who knew the best spots to watch the fireworks and the parade, and when to hit the food vendors before things got busy.

I was giddy with excitement. It was silly, but this was exactly the type of homey, fun thing I had missed for so many years. There was something sort of magical about walking down the street and seeing people you knew.

I was still wrapping my mind around this whole community thing, having folks worry about you and want to make sure you were okay.

I had spent so much time assuming it was pity, but Gio was showing me just how loving and supportive a place Havenport could be.

I obviously wasn’t going to stay here long-term, but being here and experiencing this was helping me heal some of those childhood wounds.

Decked out in red, white, and blue, Gio and I spent the day sampling the street vendors’ food and doing games and activities with Valentina while her dad worked at his restaurant’s food tent.

I cheered for them in the three-legged race, and was deeply impressed when Val hit the bullseye on the dunk tank, throwing the sour-faced elementary school principal right into the water.

“Uncle Gio taught me,” she said proudly. “He said he didn’t want me to grow up throwing like a girl.”

I glared at him and he shrugged. “Can’t argue with the results.”

Gio bought us treats from every vendor, and the three of us took silly selfies everywhere we went.

While Gio waited in line for more beer, Valentina pulled me aside, leading me to a bench at the outskirts of the town common.

“Can I talk to you?” she asked. Her arms were crossed and she looked worried. Or as worried as a child can look wearing a red, white, and blue tutu and rocking space buns.

Concerned, I took a seat and motioned for her to do the same. “Is everything okay, sweetie?”

Val pursed her lips, appraising my face, and I realized again I wasn’t dealing with a typical eight-year-old. She had the self-possession of a middle-aged hostage negotiator, not a rising third grader.

“My uncle is in love with you,” she stated matter-of-factly. “And I’m worried about him.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond. I could feel my face redden, and I wanted to run away from this conversation as fast as I could. I had to say something. The last thing my confusing relationship with Gio needed was interference from a child.

“I know this is all difficult to understand because you’re a kid…” I started before she interrupted, holding up a hand.

“Don’t patronize me. I don’t miss much.”

Chastened, I sat back, unsure of how to proceed. “Your uncle and I are very good friends who care about each other very much. But our relationship is private, between us.”

She continued to stare at me while I fumbled for the right words. “Adult relationships are complex and take time to develop. We are very happy together.”

She sat there, eyes narrowed, for a moment before responding. “Don’t hurt him. He is amazing.”

“I would never.”

“But you still might. And he’s a really special person. Don’t forget that.”

I nodded solemnly. “I won’t ever forget it, Val.”

By the time Gio rejoined us, Val was smiling and laughing again, the scary cross-examination long forgotten.

But I was rattled. I was happy. Gio was happy. For the last few weeks he had wrapped me in a sexy, fun, silly bubble, and I was so grateful to him.

But chemo was due to start on Tuesday. And we had agreed that this fling was only short-term. There was no question I was in love with him. How could I not be? He was thoughtful, kind, and generous. Oh yes, and absolutely dynamite in the sack.

And I would be devastated when things ended. But I was prepared for that. Because he had given me so much these past few weeks. Memories, confidence, and dozens of orgasms. And during this scary, uncertain time, it had been exactly what I needed.

But I hadn’t stopped to think about him. Was he in love with me? Or was he really just the world’s greatest summer fling?

As much as I wanted to keep this going, I knew that our fling would be coming to an end. Could I avoid hurting him? Or was it inevitable? Could we go back to the way we were? Or would I lose not only the man I was in love with, but also my best friend?

That evening, I changed into a flowing red maxi dress Nora had picked out for me, and Gio and I headed up to the bluffs for a party.

Apparently, Declan Quinn and Astrid Wentworth always hosted a fireworks party at their home perched high on an ocean bluff.

Which, given all the festivities in Havenport, happened a few times each year.

I didn’t know Declan well. I knew his older brother, Cal, but Declan was younger than me and had been pretty quiet growing up.

The house was spectacular and had a large lawn framed by mature oak trees, with a view to the crashing waves below. There were people everywhere, children roasting marshmallows over a large bonfire, and coolers filled with Binnacle Brewing products every ten feet.

Gio and I greeted our hosts and then I made the rounds, catching up with folks I hadn’t seen since high school, along with meeting some newcomers.

I was feeling relaxed and happy, and it was clear from the reactions of everyone that no one was batting an eyelash about Gio and me being here together.

This thing between us defied labels and yet, people seemed to just assume we were together. It was freeing and also a little terrifying. The town had received the memo, and together we just integrated easily into the social scene.

And Gio did nothing to keep any boundaries in place. He kept slipping an arm around my waist, kissing the top of my head, and fetching me drinks and snacks. He was the perfect date, the perfect best friend, the perfect man in so many ways.

Soon, the sun was setting, making this place seem even more spectacular. I was chatting with Astrid, probably one of the coolest women I had ever met, about debt restructuring.

Turns out she was a corporate lawyer who came here and fell in love with both Declan and the town last year.

Now she was doing really interesting work for the Havenport Family Crisis Center.

I envied her. Not only was she gorgeous, but she had figured it all out—the relationship, the location, the career.

She even found work-life balance, the most elusive goal of all.

Meanwhile, I had nothing figured out. I was winging it, living minute by minute and enjoying the hell out of it.

But I knew it was not a long-term plan. At some point I’d need to work, and at some point I’d have to deal with my feelings for Gio, and at some point I’d have to leave Havenport.

And I’d have to do all these things after surviving cancer.

A responsible person would sit down and work through all these major problems. Make lists, do research, that sort of thing. But I wasn’t that woman anymore. The last few months had changed me, and I couldn’t bring myself to care about six months from now, never mind six years from now.

“You know, we are looking for a finance director for the Crisis Center. Luke and I have been looking everywhere.”

I was half listening, scanning the crowd for Gio and shooting him a saucy wink across the bonfire.

“You would be perfect.”

I shook my head. “Sorry, what? Me?”

“You said you had a background in economic development and nonprofits.” She seemed annoyed.

I ran my fingers through my hair. “I do. But I’m not looking for a job right now. And I have some prospects in DC I’m going to be following up on in the fall.”

Astrid narrowed her eyes at me. “I see. Well, you should take my card anyway. I know a lot of people, and your skill set could really come in handy, especially in this region.”

I smiled politely, but there was no way in hell I would be following up. I had enough to deal with.

“You know,” she said, giving me a knowing look, “I was in a bad place when I came here. I didn’t have any health issues, and I’m so sorry you’re dealing with that, but mentally?

Emotionally? I was a mess. And this place, this town, these people,”—she gestured around— “really saved me. Helped me figure my shit out and realize what’s important. ”

She raised an eyebrow at me questioningly, and I felt uncomfortable and exposed. This woman could see right through me, and I did not like it.

Because I wasn’t here for that. I was here to have a good time with Gio, my sexy summer fling.

I was living in the moment and experiencing life.

And I could worry about my first chemo appointment on Tuesday or I could grab another beer and go snuggle with Gio and watch the fireworks. So I did just that.

I sat on Gio’s lap in an Adirondack chair and watched the annual fireworks display. The kids cheered and the crowd oohed and aahed as they lit up the night sky. Gio held me close, kissing my forehead and discreetly squeezing my ass when he thought no one was looking.

I wanted to just bottle this perfect night with my perfect man and keep it forever. Because things were about to change, and I would never get this feeling back. I would never be this carefree woman in a pretty dress, snuggled up with her sexy boyfriend watching fireworks.

The woman I had grown into over the past few weeks still astounded me. Risk taking, grateful, positive, and happy. Purely and radiantly happy.

But Tuesday was looming. Our deadline. And I knew what I had to do.