Trusting His Promise (Love on Sanctuary Shores #5)

Chapter 17

Beckett gave himself a once-over in the mirror. He had never before in his life changed three times before one party.

A party he didn’t even know why he was going to, no less.

But when Lisa and her friends had shown up to filming the other day and ambushed him with the invitation to Jo’s birthday party, he’d been too surprised to say no.

He hadn’t seen Jo in over a week—not since he’d helped on the charter—and what she’d said on the boat about his faith still irked him. But maybe she hadn’t meant it the way he’d interpreted it. He would give her the benefit of the doubt.

And hope she’d do the same for him.

“Here goes nothing,” he muttered, pulling open the bedroom door and making his way through the spacious house that held so many memories—and yet still didn’t really feel like home.

“Well, don’t you clean up nice.” Sadie grinned at him as he passed through the kitchen. “Casual, but not too casual. And the blue of that shirt brings out your eyes.”

Oh, for pity’s sake. Maybe he should go change. Again.

“You’re sure you don’t want to come? You know they invited you too.”

Sadie waved him off. “That was just a courtesy. I’m going to stay here and cozy up with this bowl of popcorn.” She lifted the bowl to her cheek. “Besides, you wouldn’t want to give Jo the impression that you and I are together .”

Beckett shook his head. “It doesn’t matter to me what Jo thinks.”

“Whatever you say. Did you get her a gift?”

“Almost forgot.” He jogged back to his room and grabbed the small gift bag off his bed, then returned to the kitchen, praying that Sadie had found her way to another part of the house.

She had not. “Ohhh. What is it?” She clapped her hands, more excited than Beckett had ever seen her when she got a gift herself.

“Wind chimes.” He hadn’t had much time—or any idea what to get her—but when he’d seen the chimes at Gifted, they had somehow reminded him of her.

“That’s perfect.” Sadie sounded surprised.

Beckett made a face. “I’m glad you approve.” He headed out the door and jumped in the van, pondering all the way to town what he was doing.

He really should leave well enough alone. It was clear that no matter what he did, Jo was never going to accept his apology. Never going to believe his faith was genuine.

And why should she, when her doubts only reflected his own? He’d been wrestling with them since he got here. All the old questions peppered him at every turn. And everywhere he looked, everyone else seemed so sure. His cast and crewmates never seemed to question God. Jo sure didn’t—he could tell that. And all the people at church—who had been going to church since before Beckett was born— they were all real Christians.

Beckett wanted to be like them, he really did.

But he didn’t know how.

He slowed the van and pulled into the parking lot, staring out at the sunlight glinting off the waves and folding his hands on the steering wheel. I want to believe, Lord . It was the only thing he could think to pray.

With a sigh, he opened the door and stepped out of the van, the wind trying to steal the gift bag out of his hand. He gripped it tighter and made his way toward Fresh Catch. The moment he opened the door, a hand yanked him inside.

“Hurry.” It was Lisa. “Jo’s dad just called to say she’s on the way. Everyone’s in the back room.” Lisa nodded her head over her shoulder, and Beckett headed in the direction she indicated.

The room was larger than he had expected—and also packed with more people than he’d expected. Then again, he shouldn’t have been surprised. Jo was popular on the island.

Beckett deposited his gift with the others, then stood staring around the space, searching out a friendly face—or at least a familiar one. On the far side of the room, he spotted Pastor and Mrs. Olsen with Sam. He waved and started toward them with relief.

“Hi, Beckett.” Chloe intercepted him. He’d met her on set the other day and had instantly liked her.

“This is my husband, Derrick.” Chloe gestured to the tall man next to her. “He’s building a resort on the island.”

Beckett shook the guy’s hand. “Ah, then you’re actually the famous one around here. I heard the whole thing caused quite a stir.”

Derrick shrugged. “People have come around.” He slid an arm around Chloe’s shoulder and drew her close to kiss her forehead. “Right?”

Chloe laughed. “Right.” She rested her head against his arm, and an unexpected ache hit Beckett’s middle. He had never even been close to having a relationship like that. Not that he’d ever wanted one, but sometimes he wished . . .

“Hey, thanks for going on that fishing charter with Jo last week,” Chloe said. “It really helped her out a lot.”

An unexpected warmth expanded in Beckett’s chest, followed by immediate, crushing doubt. “She said that?”

“Well . . .” Chloe hedged. “You know Jo. She would never admit she needed help. But we know it. So—”

“Shh.” A sudden hiss went through the room. “She’s here.”

Everyone fell silent, and the lights went dark.

A strange sense of anticipation expanded in Beckett’s chest.

“We’re so booked tonight.” Lisa’s voice carried from the main dining area. “You don’t mind if we eat in here, do you?”

“Of course not.” That was Jo’s voice, and it made the anticipation thrum harder against Beckett’s ribs. “It will be a nice—”

The lights burst back on, and the whole room exploded with the word, “Surprise.” Beckett was a couple of seconds late in getting the word out, so his voice was one of the last few that lingered.

Jo’s eyes came instantly to him and widened—though he couldn’t have said if it was in surprise or dismay.

“Wow, you guys.” She turned back to Lisa with a head shake. “I can’t believe you did this to me.”

“ To you?” Lisa wore a mock offended expression. “We did it for you. Your dad wanted to come, but Karen promised to keep him from leaving the house, no matter what it took.”

Jo was still shaking her head, but Sam had weaved her way through the crowd. “Happy birthday, Mommy! Granny Gail said I could stay up past my bedtime tonight because it’s a special cage— cage— A special night!”

“Oh really?” Jo bent down and lifted her daughter off the floor in a hug that reminded Beckett of the way his mom used to hug him. “Well, I guess since it’s a special occasion ,” she said, grinning as she set her daughter down, “you can. Was this whole thing your idea?”

Sam shook her head solemnly. “Not the whole thing. I said we should have a surprise party because you were turning thirty, and Aunt Lisa and Aunt Chloe and Aunt Angelica took over from there.”

Jo chuckled. “That sounds about right.” She leaned over to hug Lisa. Beckett was still standing next to Chloe, and when Jo came over to hug her, he caught the slightest hint of her lavender scent.

“You know you guys shouldn’t have done this,” Jo scolded Chloe. “You’re all too busy the way it is.”

Chloe waved off the comment. “I’ve got to go grab the cake.” She grabbed Jo’s shoulders and nudged her to the left before scurrying away, leaving Beckett face-to-face with Jo.

“Happy birthday,” he managed to get out around his suddenly tangled tongue.

“I— Thanks.” Jo’s smile was weak and forced-looking, but at least it wasn’t a grimace.

Beckett nodded his head way too many times, fumbling around in his brain for something else to say.

“You have good friends,” finally stumbled out.

Jo rolled her eyes. “Yeah, if you consider forcing someone to be the center of attention when she’d rather hide in a corner as something good friends would do, then they’re great.” But she laughed good naturedly, and he could tell that she was pleased with the party.

“You deserve to be the center of attention once in a while.”

“I— Well, I don’t—” Jo shook her head as if she didn’t know what to do with his comment.

He didn’t really either. It had slipped out before he’d had a chance to really consider it—but he believed it.

“I should go say hi to everyone,” Jo gasped, as if the world might end if she didn’t get away from him right that minute.

He stepped aside and let her pass. But not before he noted the pink glow that lit her cheeks.

What he couldn’t figure out was why a matching glow seemed to light his chest.