Aurora managed a weak laugh, despite the slight heaviness in her heart. In a few days, she wouldn’t be seeing that warm, knee-weakening smile every day.
“Aurora?”
She gave her troubled thoughts a mental shove aside. “I was just thinking about how much I’m going to miss all of this,” she replied.And you.“Thank you for being such a thoughtful and helpful host. Without you and your knowledgeable tour guidance, I wouldn’t have taken some of the best nature shots I’ve ever taken.”
“It was a nice change of pace,” he said with a nod, his gaze returning to the cloud-dotted sky view in front of them. “Seeing the things I’ve come to take for granted through your eyes, and your lens,” he added with a grin, “has given me a whole new appreciation for the place I have, and always will, call home.”
It seemed their chance encounter had left a lasting impression on both of them. “Gage ...” she began, wanting to tell him she was grateful for more than his escorting her around the island during her stay there.
“Yes?”
Don’t complicate his life any more than it is, a voice in the back of her head warned. “I hope to come back again someday.” She would make certain of it. She had come to love everything about this visually breathtaking part of the world. From its quiet remoteness, to its abundance of wildlife just waiting to be photographed. From the views to be found while flying above it all in Gage’s plane, to time spent with his warm and welcoming family.
“I ... uh, I meanwelook forward to having you come back to visit us again someday,” Gage replied.
Aurora tried not to smile. It was nice to know she would be welcomed back by both Gage and his family.
“I can’t believe you leave tomorrow,” Julia said with an effective pout.
“I know,” Aurora agreed as she packed her camera equipment away. She’d come to the lodge early that morning to take the family pictures she’d promised Gage’s father she would take before she left Conley Island. She knew how important they were to him after coming so close to not being there for family pictures.
“I’m so excited to see those pictures,” Constance said as she set a platter of crispy bacon on the table with the rest of their breakfast selections.
“I will email them to Gage as soon as I get back and can edit them,” Aurora promised. “The earthy shades you all chose to wear for your family portrait blend together so perfectly. Like the colors of nature that surround your home.”
They were dressed in black dress pants. Each wore a sweater, in different styles and colors. Gage in a dark blue like the water that surrounded the island. Reed in a dark brown like the earth under them. Their parents in dark green like the woods around them. And Julia in a warm gold sweater she said represented fall on the island, but as far as Aurora was concerned, it was more of a reflection of her warm and caring heart of gold.
“I can’t remember the last time our family got all dressed up for a family photo,” Jim said as he took his seat at the table.
Aurora was thankful he was there to share in the moment with his family, considering how things could have turned out.
“Don’t get too used to it,” Reed muttered. “Unless I’m allowed to wear jeans for the next one.”
“We can do that,” their mother replied. Then she looked at Aurora. “Maybe we could hire you to come out and take our family pictures again next year?”
Aurora smiled. “I’m sure we can work something out. I already told Gage I hope to come back to visit again. I still can’t believe my visit here is over. It went by so fast.”
Reed took a seat at the dining table and reached out to scoop a spoonful of potatoes onto his plate. “You know what they say. Time flies when you’re having fun.”
Aurora nodded in agreement as she took her seat. Hank had taken the other guests out fishing, allowing Aurora to share time alone with Gage and his family. “I’ve had the best time here.” She glanced around the table. “You’ve all been so welcoming. I feel like I’ve known you all forever.”
Julia sniffled.
“Are you crying?” Reed asked his sister with a quirked brow.
“No,” she said, dabbing at her eyes with her napkin. “I think we put too much onion in the fried potatoes.”
“If you’re ever looking for a n-new job,” Gage’s father said, “I’d be happy to hire you to be in charge of game n-night here at the retreat.”
Aurora laughed. “I will keep that in mind should I need a career switch.”
As they had at every breakfast she’d spent with Gage’s family, everyone talked and laughed. Gage’s father told funny stories about Gage and his siblings when they were growing up. Aurora told them about some of her and Jade’s silly antics when they were young girls. She was going to miss these moments, just as she missed the time she used to spend with her family after she’d moved away. She would be going back to a coffee and bagel from her local coffee shop, which she would take back to her condo to eat while working.
Gage set his napkin on the table next to his plate. Then he looked at Aurora. “We’d better get moving if we’re going to get you out on the water to experience a fishing trip the way we do it here.”
Reed swiped a napkin across his mouth. “True. We want to get you out there while the fish are biting.” Pushing away from the table, he stood. “Good breakfast, Mom.” He looked at Gage. “I’ll go get the boat ready while you and Aurora suit up.”
“Are you sure you want to go out fishing on a drizzly day like this?” Gage’s mother asked Aurora.
