She came to claim her inheritance, but the mysterious scarred lighthouse keeper makes her question all her plans.

When Julia Collins reluctantly sets foot on Sister Island, compelled by her wealthy grandmother’s will, she is intent on claiming her inheritance and moving on. But when she experiences the peaceful, faith-filled island life, and connects with the handsome lightkeeper, William, Julia finds herself confronting her open wounds from her parents’ deaths.

William Dodge, lightkeeper of Sister Island, harbors a heart hardened by a past betrayal. Between that and his chronic pleurisy, he wants nothing to do with love. But when Julia arrives on the island bursting with vitality and unconventional notions, William’s world is turned upside down. As she chips away at the walls William has built for himself, he finds his reluctance waning.

But just as love begins to blossom between them, Julia is faced with a tempting proposal from a prominent Brockville family. Will she succumb to societal expectations or choose the richness of her island life and the love of the steadfast lightkeeper?

She’d longed to put her brush to the canvas from the moment she arrived on the island a week ago. Longed to do something to break the endless boredom. In the city, she’d enjoyed daily outings and parties, teas and shopping trips, and gossip-laden walks in the park. Here, no matter how gracious Aunt Dee and William were, the isolated humdrum threatened to consume her.

She had to make her own fun. With her art. 

As she dipped her brush into the palette, she honed in on a lone sailboat gliding gracefully over the rippling surface of the river. Its sails, a brilliant white against the dark blue expanse, caught the sunlight just right, spreading a luminous reflection on the water.

With each stroke of her brush, Julia sought to capture the movement of the moment—the way the sailboat leaned against the wind, the play of sunlight on the water’s surface, and the effortless dance of the vessel with the river’s currents. The vibrant oil colors blended seamlessly onto the page, creating a scene that replicated the serenity of the St. Lawrence.

Out of the corner of her eye William approached, but she remained engrossed in her artwork. He squinted toward the vessel. “Are you capturing the sailboat? Mind if I sneak a peek?”

Giving a nod, she halted her brushstrokes, worry etching her thoughts as she considered William’s strained and sickly appearance. His throat clearing and deep coughing concerned her even more. “Are you alright? That cough sounds pretty deep.”

“I’m fine, thank you.” His tone signaled silence. Coming around to stand behind her, he gasped, his voice raspy. “Oh, Julia. This is a masterpiece. You truly possess a remarkable gift. Keep going, Mary Cassatt.”

She giggled, charmed by his assertion. “You tease. I’ll never paint like any of les trois grandes dames, though I long to depict movement, light, and design as they did.”

“Grandes Dames?”

“Mary Cassatt was one of the four Impressionist women who made such an astonishing mark on the art world a few years ago.”

“Of course.”

A reassuring pat on her shoulder followed, and William departed with a hushed exit, leaving her to continue her work. His compliment resonated deeply, but she tucked it away in the recesses of her mind to savor later.

As she continued painting, Julia lost herself in the progression of her art, the world around her fading into the background. Thankfully, the sailboat seemed to be anchored for the moment, allowing her to continue her work unhindered. It became the focal point, a symbol of freedom and exploration, navigating the endless possibilities of the river. 

Oh, how she wished she could voyage to places unknown, to explore the world—or even just the river! But here she was, stuck on an island. She whispered to the heavens. “I’m sorry I was such a disappointment, Granny. I’m trying to make this work here. I really am.”

The sun cast its fervent embrace on the scene as she hurried to capture it before it moved on. The sailboat, taking center stage on the canvas, came alive under her skilled hand. The details, from the billowing sails to the intricate patterns in the water, crafted a narrative of a quiet journey on the St. Lawrence.

When she neared the completion of her piece of art, she stepped back to admire her work. The boat, now long gone, having sailed around the Canadian Grenadier Island, stood frozen in time, somehow evoking a sense of both tranquility and adventure. The St. Lawrence River, with its ever-changing currents, had become her muse, and Julia had captured a fleeting moment of its loveliness.

Satisfied with her creation, Julia sat back to soak in the scene before her. The painting, her first work of art on Sister Island, would not be her last. She’d make the most of this summer, if only with her artwork. 

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands, her childhood stomping ground in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than thirty times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has thirteen in her fiction line including, The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy, Christmas Charity, Katelyn’s Choice, Devyn’s Dilemma, Sara’s Surprise, Reagan’s Reward, Colleen’s Confession, Peyton’s Promise, Rachel’s Reunion, Mary’s Moment, A Summer at Thousand Island House, Libby’s Lighthouse, and Julia’s Joy, the second in her three-book lighthouse series. Her book awards include three Illumination Book Awards, four American Fiction Awards, three Indie Excellence Book Awards, five Literary Titan Book Awards, two Golden Scroll Awards, and a Selah Award. Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, two children’s picture books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan makes her home in Northern Virginia and enjoys traveling around the world but returns each summer to enjoy the Thousand Islands. Visit www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction for more.