The Lost Fisherman (Fisherman #2)(7)

I nodded. “Yeah. I heard he’s going home soon. And I did see him once.”

Her nose wrinkled. “Did he recognize you?”

My head inched side to side. “But at least I’m not his fiancée.”

“Oh my god! Right? I feel so bad for Angie. Like … what if he never gets back those lost memories? And will he be able to work? He doesn’t remember anyone from work except his dad and uncle. Does he remember his skills?”

I shrugged. “Hard to say. He might not. Or he might get all his memories back tomorrow. But what does Angie do? Wait for them to come back? Or settle into the possibility that he won’t remember her, and she needs to see if they can fall in love again?”

“Not Fisher.” Hailey shook her head. “I’m not saying the accident hasn’t possibly changed other things about him, but I can see him just doing it. Like … his family telling him how much he loved Angie. How they had gone through so much over the years to finally be together. And how he was all in, ready for that life. I see him nodding and just … marrying her. Figuring the rest out later.”

“That would be…” I wrinkled my nose “…interesting. It would feel like an arranged marriage on his part. The whole ‘Trust us, you’re perfect for each other.’ I couldn’t do it. I was engaged to the wrong guy for a day, and I couldn’t go through with it.”

“Wait, you were …”

I put my finger to my lips. “And Rory doesn’t know. Nobody knows. I don’t know if he told anyone. Since I broke it off, I highly doubt he told anyone.”

“A day?” She laughed. “What happened?”

He wasn’t Fisher Mann.

“It was impulsive. On his part and mine. And I still hadn’t made a clear decision on the direction of my future, so I couldn’t say yes to marriage and a family. Not yet.”

“Smart girl.”

“How are things here? Who’s in charge now that Fisher’s recovering?”

“Me of course.” She winked. “His dad and uncle have been covering things. He has great guys working for him. There’s not a lot to worry about. Houses are still getting built.”

“That’s good.”

“So when do you go home? You’ve been here for weeks, right?”

“I don’t have a job at the moment, so there’s been no rush to get back home. It’s been nice spending time with my mom and Rose. But I’ll probably head back to Michigan soon.”

After Fisher goes home.

“Sure you don’t want to stick around here?” She tilted her head and gave me a goofy smile.

“Actually, I’m not ruling it out, if I can find a good job. And I’d need to look into the master’s program. But …” I shrugged.

“Do it!” She giggled. “I’m a little biased, but DO IT!”

I laughed. “I’ll see what happens in the next month with job prospects. Rory and Rose are already on top of looking for things around here. When I get back to Michigan, I’ll see where things stand with a few openings that were available before I came here.”

Before I skipped out on an interview because my heart was more mature but still just as foolish as ever when it came to the naked fisherman.

“Well, don’t be a stranger. Five years is too long.” She winked.

“Agreed.” I hugged her again. “Good to see you.”





Under the guise of job searching, I stayed just long enough for Fisher to get released from the hospital. Rory didn’t complain at all. Rose didn’t either, but I knew she was on to me.

“I called Angie and told her we’d drop dinner off but not stay long. I don’t want her to worry about food or have the burden be on his family.” Rory packed containers of food into bags. It was more than one meal’s worth.

“Good idea,” Rose said from the kitchen table, working on lesson plans.

“Peanut butter cookies.” Rory shook a container filled with cookies. “Fisher loves peanut butter. I bet that makes your stomach turn, huh, sweetie?”

Fisher didn’t make my stomach turn. He still made it do things, but only good things. But peanut butter was not back on my food list yet.

“I’ve tried it several times during school, but nope … still can’t do it.” I glanced up from my phone. “Ready?”

She nodded.

“Don’t hate me, but I’m staying here. I’ll stop by this weekend to see him. I’m just behind with my lesson plans.” Rose frowned.

“He’ll understand.” Rory kissed Rose’s head. “Love you. See you in a bit.”

“Love you too,” she muttered.

All the terrible things I was told about homosexuality. All the terrible, judgmental things that went through my head. And there I was watching my mom and Rose so in love. How could so many awful things be said and done in the name of God? It wasn’t His fault. It was a flaw with humanity’s need for control.

“Maybe being home will spark something with his memory,” Rory said as we drove to his house.

“Maybe. Is Angie living with him?”

“Yes, she has been since her mom passed. I bet tonight will be weird for them. Getting in bed with a stranger.”