Summer on Lovers' Island Read Online Free PDF Page A

believe her.” He smiled. “I’m pretty sure Susan doesn’t want her uncle giving her a checkup. But if there’s a problem, we’ll set you up with my friend in Portland, okay?”
    She nodded. “Yes, okay.” She let out a sigh and raised her mug, taking a test sip of coffee. “I’m sorry, Josh. I don’t mean to be difficult.”
    He smiled, jostled her free elbow. “You’re not. I know you worry about me. I’m fine, Sarah. I’ve been home over a year now and I’m happy. Truly. I’ve got a great practice, I’m around my family, and I’ve got a brand-new boat and fishing rod. Life’s good.”
    And so what if he was alone? Even during his marriage he’d felt alone. At least this way it was stress-free.
    He turned away, focused on pouring his own coffee. It wasn’t just his family who was concerned about him. The whole damn town worried, for that matter. He clenched his teeth. He was fine . Absolutely fine. He wasn’t going to break.
    â€œYou want some eggs?” he asked. “I’ll cook.”
    â€œOh,” she replied, jumping up. “I forgot you haven’t eaten.”
    â€œSit down, Sarah. I’ll get it. By now I know your kitchen as well as my own.” Josh went to the fridge, taking out eggs and butter.
    Sometimes his family’s concern got claustrophobic. He could have stayed at his own place this morning, he supposed, as he melted butter in the pan and broke eggs into a bowl. But they’d settled into this pattern months ago, ever since he’d returned to Jewell Cove. To ignore the routine now would mean worried phone calls from his sisters, a lecture from his mother, and fancy tap dancing around everyone. The last thing he wanted to do was upset the family applecart, so it was easier just to show up a few times a week, have breakfast, and keep everything on an even keel.
    Not that he could blame his sister entirely. He put up with the hovering because she’d been the one to pick him up when he’d damned near had a breakdown after Erin’s death. Dealing with the repatriation and the funeral … it had stretched him to the limit. Grief and guilt were not a good combination.
    Then there’d been Erin’s parents to deal with. They’d absolutely hated that their precious Erin had gone into the Army as a medic. Erin had always felt like a disappointment to them. Their expectations had run much higher. He’d often had the thought that they’d only tolerated her “mild rebellion” because their future plans had been for Josh to go into practice with her dad and they’d be one big happy family. Afterwards, trying to work day in and day out with Erin’s father … it was too much. And it had been time to come home.
    He stirred the eggs and put some bread in the toaster. Butter and jam followed, plunked unceremoniously in the middle of the table.
    Sarah’s face finally cleared of its worry as she grinned. “I still can’t believe you’re in the medical profession with a bedside manner like that,” she groused, teasing. “Thank God you were never a waiter.”
    He scooped eggs onto a plate, added toast, and put it before her before filling a plate of his own. For a few minutes they ate in easy silence. He was glad she seemed to be out of her doldrums. The last year had been a rough one, and he didn’t want to add to that.
    And even though he knew the Collins women tried to mother him, Josh had never been able to shake the protective feeling he had for his sisters. Part of the reason he kept up with the day-to-day charade was because he worried about them as much as they worried about him.
    â€œI’m gonna run,” he said, getting up and going to Sarah’s side. “I’ve got to catch Tom before he heads to work, and then hit the office.”
    â€œThere’s a lunch for you in the fridge,”