A Second Chance at First Love - Chapter 10

You may never recover those years, Ms. Tamlin. I've seen it happen before.

Louis braced his hands against the cool tile of the shower as he let the soothing warm spray wash over him. Gemma's doctor’s appointment yesterday had only led to more frustration and begged more questions.

Her frustration and anguish had been written all over her face yesterday. Though she'd cheered up during their beachside meal. That gave Louis an idea. They needed a day of frolic and fun. No better place than the summer haven that was the Cape. It hadn't been easy, but Louis had cleared his calendar for the next ten days. His clients and employees would just have to wait. If he lost some business as a result, then so be it. Some things were more important than the next sales goal.

He laughed at that, thinking of how differently his brother's attitude might be in the same situation. Leo was the sort whose sole motivation was to reach higher and higher pinnacles of business success, no matter the cost. Louis wasn't nearly as ambitious.

As his parents reminded him often.

With a muttered curse, he shut the water off and grabbed the thick towel hanging on the hook by the door. He had bigger things to think about right now than his family's general disappointment in their younger son.

Right now, he had a day of sunshine planned for his wife. Hopefully, some of the activities he had planned would have the same effect as the clambake—another nudge at her blocked memories.

He found her downstairs thumbing through a sheet book. Ah, he was wondering when she'd turn her focus back to her music. Much to her mother's dismay, Gemma had yet to so much as touch her violin. Looked like she was beginning to dip her toe in the musical waters.

She tossed the sheet music on the coffee table when she saw him.

"Ready to go?" he asked her.

"Ready as I'll ever be." A crease lined her brow. "You're sure I don't get seasick?"

He shook his head. "Not in the least. We've done our fair share of riding the seas and you were completely fine."

Gemma looked less than convinced, but she followed him out the door. Fifteen minutes later, they were at the marina where Louis had arranged to rent a sailboat. He'd requested the package that included a packed lunch and a stocked cooler of beverages. Soon, they'd left the shore miles behind. Louis picked a spot to drop the anchor and shut off the engine.

Gemma sat on a port-side bench, staring at the horizon. No sign of seasickness luckily. In fact, she looked relaxed finally. And gorgeous. Louis had to suck in a breath at the sight of her. Her modest tankini swimsuit showed just enough of her curves to have heat flushing through his system. The fashionable straw hat atop her head had him imagining scenarios where it was all she wore. He made himself look away before his imagination got too vivid for comfort.

It wasn't easy.