STRANGER IN AN ENDLESS JOURNEY

Chapter 14

Not that he had a grudge against him or anything. In addition to being a great boat builder, Lucas worked as a paramedic. Due to the rural nature of the community, the majority of the people who provided emergency care on the island were trained volunteers. These individuals played an important part in the daily life on the island.

She looked at him with a twinkle in her eyes as she said, "I don't need your permission, Oscer." "Do I impede your ability to have romantic relationships? Do I need to remind you that it's about time you quit thinking that being in a relationship is all about having s****l encounters and got your life together? No, I don't. "I adore you, and I have faith that one day you'll be able to discern, all on your own, what it is that you truly desire."

He c****d his eyebrows in question. Do you really believe that I don't know what I want? ”

She glared at him in an accusatory manner. "I am unable to comment on the manner in which you conduct your life."

"Point taken."

Unyielding, she crouched down to his level and gave him a hug. "I'm so happy that you're still here. Even if I'm happy you live here, I still have to watch out for number one.

She maintained the same outward displays of devotion and warmth that she had when she was a child. She did not withhold any information. She did not put up barriers or try to uncover the reality that was beneath the facades that others exhibited. She accepted them at their stated value. She put her faith in. She was generous with her love and never expected anything in return.

He was completely shaken up by the experience.

"Please don't tell Lucas that "I love you" or anything like that. These comments either inspire a guy to take advantage of the situation or send him scurrying in the other direction.

"You mean send you running. Not all men are like you."

"Hey, back in the day, I used to make your lunches and walk you to school. You can't hold it against me for trying to protect you.

"You can count on me to watch out. What's the status of your shoulder? ”

"It's fine," he said dismissively before looking at the colorful artwork that was pasted on the walls of her classroom. "It's fine." "Sophie's cottage is being occupied by a lady at the moment. I was curious as to whether or not you have any information on her.

"Ah, now we're getting to the meat and potatoes of the reason for the visit. A woman?" Her eyes lit up with curiosity as she uttered the words. I don't see why I should know anything. ”

"Because there's a child," Oscer said after thinking about the small face that he'd seen peeking out from behind the filmy white curtains in the bedroom located upstairs. "Because there's a child." Was Stella's reluctance to fully open the door due to the presence of the child? That was completely incomprehensible to him. His observations showed that the presence of children encouraged adults to reach out to one another, particularly when they were new to the community. "I was wondering if perhaps you have a new student beginning."

"Not before summer. After hearing that there were just two weeks of school left, Stephanie turned her back on the conversation to finish getting ready for her class. You could be asking yourself, "Why would you be interested in a woman who already has a child?" We both know that you are done having children, and while it's true that I might feel a tad guilty about that, considering that I'm the reason you can't tolerate the idea of settling down and having children, we both know that you've had enough of child raising.

"Not true."

"You are correct. When you were a teenager, you were responsible for overseeing the care of three younger children. You were so anxious to get away from there!"

"Not because I didn't love you," the speaker said.

"I am aware of that. All I'm trying to say is that I'm to blame for the fact that you avoid the thought of settling down. When we found out that Mom and Dad had died, you were forced to deal with the serious matters and missed out on all of the enjoyment, but now you get to enjoy yourself. You used to always keep your luggage packed in order to be ready to leave at a moment's notice, and this is a part of the reason why.

He stared at her, his sister with the kind demeanor who had lost both of their parents at such a young age. "Hey, I've been a resident of this area for the past four years. That exemplifies consistency.

She positioned a substantial piece of paper in the middle of each of the low tables. "Even now, there are times when I find myself wondering whether or not I may one day open my eyes and find you gone. "Not that it would matter if that's what you wanted," she quickly said. "Not that it would matter if that's what you wanted." "You paid your dues."

He came to the realization that remorse may irritate a wound in the same way that sandpaper would. "I didn't 'pay' anything. If you ignored all of the times when he hadn't been happy and had complained like hell at the world for putting him in that situation, he would say something like, "I did what needed to be done, and I was happy to do it." "And there's no way I'm leaving now. After everything you did to try to save me, how could I ever consider it? I owe you."

"There is nothing anyone owes anyone else, Oscer. We get along as a family. When one of us is in peril, we look out for the other. This is something that the family does. She strolled across the room and picked up a bucket full of seashells before responding, "You taught me that."

Even when she was a very little child, she adored the ocean and everything associated with it.

.

He had spent many hours with her on the beach, searching for sea glass and constructing sand castles with her.

Oscer had always lusted after her serene peace, which stood in stark contrast to his own restless energy and intense yearning to flee from his current situation.

"What exactly are you planning to do with those?"

”

We went on a trip the week before last, and while we were there, we noticed some interesting stuff on the beach. She put paints and glue on each table and said, "I still don't get why you'd be interested in a woman renting the cottage, especially if there's a youngster in tow." "What's with all the secrecy? ”