Brooklyn finally studied their family members. The dads, with the exception of Bowie, didn’t seem fazed, but the moms, especially Linda, looked hurt. Brooklyn set her napkin down on the table and asked Linda if they could speak outside.
Linda followed Brooklyn down the steps and into the sand. Both kicking off their shoes. After a few minutes of walking in silence, Brooklyn spoke. “Carly knew, but we’re not telling Brystol. The morning after she collapsed, she told me, and I found the DNA report in her room.”
They stopped and looked at each other. “When did you tell Bowie?”
“Shortly after I read the report. I came down here to think, to process the last fifteen years of mistakes I’ve made, and he found me. I told him. If I had known or even suspected that Brystol was his daughter, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
Linda smiled softly. “My son has missed a lot of time.”
“So has Brystol, as well as you and Gary.”
Linda placed her arm in the crook of Brooklyn’s and turned her toward the house. “Death has a funny and odd way of bringing people closer and ripping their hearts out at the same time.”
“Believe me, I know. If Carly hadn’t asked me to come, I don’t know if we would’ve ever found out.”
“That thought scares me.”
“Me too.” They climbed up the stairs to find everyone in the backyard starting up a game of cornhole. Bowie and Brystol were on the same team, and they were about to go against the grandpas. Linda and Brooklyn sat next to Bonnie at the picnic table.
“This could get ugly,” Brooklyn surmised.
“I have a feeling the old men are going down,” Linda added, but Bonnie wasn’t in agreement.
“Oh, I don’t know. David joined a league, and he’s been playing a lot. They have competitions weekly, and he’s quite fond of the game.”
“You know, I wish I was the person who decided to take our kindergarten beanbag-toss game and turn it into this phenomenon. I’m always missing the mark.” Brooklyn sighed.
Both moms bumped their shoulders with hers, and Bonnie said, “You’ve hit the jackpot right there and there.” She pointed at Bowie and then Brystol.
She watched them for a moment, at opposite ends of the game boards. Maybe she was imagining things, but she was certain she could see a connection between them. It was like they were already in sync, father and daughter. She knew, deep in her heart, that they were going to forge an incredible bond moving forward.
EPILOGUE
The morning sun had cast the sky in the most vibrant colors. Red, orange, pink, and a hint of yellow. Brooklyn sat in the adirondack chair, sipping her coffee and watching the boats head out for the day. The crew of the Austin Woods still waved every time they passed by. At first, it bothered Brooklyn; however, after meeting a couple of the crew members at the Whale Spout one night, she understood why they did it. For them, what had started out as paying homage to the boat’s namesake and making sure that Carly knew they were thinking about her and Austin every time they went out had turned into superstition. Brooklyn knew she would never ask them to stop.
Sitting where Carly had sat for years had become Brooklyn’s ritual, her calm before the daily storm. Since her return, life had been crazy. It had been hectic and messy, but most of all, it was perfect. Brystol started her freshman year at Cape Harbor High in September and made instant friends with everyone. The Driftwood Inn was once again filled with the laughter of teenagers, but this time they had their own space. Aside from finishing the renovations over the summer, Bowie had constructed a game room specifically for the kids. He installed a pool table, painted the walls with chalkboard paint, and added some arcade games, a flat-screen television, a reading area, and a sectional sofa. At first, Brooklyn balked at the couch, said it was inviting trouble, but finally relented after family movie night. Even though he had built the space for Brystol and her friends, the added entertainment for guests who had children was a bonus.
Most of the guests were still asleep. Only a few had checked out before dawn to beat the traffic through Seattle. Those who were awake and in no hurry to leave were being treated to a five-course breakfast. Brooklyn could smell the bacon cooking in the oven and the sweet aroma of Simone’s now-famous cinnamon rolls. When Brooklyn had first tried one, she had believed she finally knew what heaven was like—the warm, gooey center with buttercream frosting made her weak in the knees.
And while she enjoyed this moment of quiet before her day fully began, she used the time to reflect on how much her life had changed over the months. She and Monroe were growing closer, and Rennie came to visit every other weekend. They spent their Saturdays shopping, either locally or in Seattle or Anacortes. Sometimes Mila would join them, but it wasn’t often. She was busy, trying to become the next star in Hollywood. The gang—without Jason, who was busy saving lives in the big city—often got together on Sundays for a bonfire and barbecue. It had taken a few weekends before Grady showed up, and when he did, he sat as far away from Brooklyn as he could. Still, she treated him like he was family, making sure he always had a plate of food when he was there. By the end of the summer, he finally approached her.
“I still hate you,” Grady said.
“I hate myself sometimes.”
Grady rarely made eye contact with anyone, let alone Brooklyn, so when he looked at her, she saw how much pain he was in. She saw what the years of torment had done to him.
“Tell me about that night, Grady. Why did you go out?”
He watched the water and crammed his hands into the front pockets of his hoodie. “He was pissed that night. He called and said he was heading out, said he heard something on the radio about schools of fish moving because of the storm. When I got to the docks, he was throwing gear around, talking to himself. Once we got out on the water, I asked him what was up, and all he said was he had done the right thing. I figured he was talking about taking the boat out.”
There was no way to know what Austin was talking about that night. Was “the right thing” telling Brooklyn that he didn’t love her anymore or sending Bowie to her? Had Austin known how Bowie felt about his girl? How his girl was starting to have feelings for his best friend? That, because of Austin, Brooklyn and Bowie were so close?
Grady finally glanced at Brooklyn. “And then he dies, and I overhear you and Bowie talking outside of the limo, talking like you had sex, and then you left. I know the reason we went out that night is because he found you and Bowie together.” He shook his head.
Brooklyn should’ve corrected him, but she suspected he wouldn’t believe her. “I’m here now, Grady. And I’m hoping we can be friends.”
He shrugged and stood, stalking off toward the beach.
That conversation never left Brooklyn, and she often wondered how that fateful night could’ve been different. What if she had refused to let Austin leave? What if Bowie hadn’t shown up? What if Grady had stopped Austin from taking the boat out? Brooklyn could play the what-if game until she was blue in the face, but she eventually realized neither the questions nor the answers would ever be able to change what had happened.
As the inn came to life, Brooklyn quickly finished her coffee and sneaked back to their small house through the passageway. Bowie had decided to add electricity, making it easier for everyone. Inside, Brystol was sitting at the bar, talking to Bowie with a mouthful of cereal while he leaned against the counter with his legs crossed at his ankles. He was dressed in a flannel shirt, jeans, and the new work boots Brystol had given him for a late Father’s Day gift. What sent Brooklyn’s heart racing were the glasses on his face. Growing up, she’d known he wore contacts but had never seen him in his glasses, and once she had, she’d begged him to wear them more often. She loved the way he looked in them, smart and sexy. Most of all, they gave Brystol another sense of belonging . . . that she and Bowie were more than just DNA; they were the same.
“Good morning,” she said, walking into the kitchen. She smiled at her daughter and w
ent to Bowie’s side to give him a kiss. She lingered there, taking in his fresh shower scent, and then went to her daughter and greeted her, rubbing her hand over her back. Brystol was well adjusted and loving school.
“Morning, Mom. May I go to Jasmine’s after school? We have a project to work on for English.” Brystol checked her mom, and then her dad, for approval.
“How are you getting there?” Bowie asked.
“Walking—she only lives two blocks from school.”
He took the parental reins. “What time do you want me to pick you up?”
“Five would be good. It won’t take us long. But I can stay later if you’re not finished with work.”
“I’ll be there at five.” He turned toward the sink, emptied his mug, and rinsed it with water. “Are you ready to go in ten?” he asked Brystol. “Do you have plans for the football game tonight?”
Brystol approached the sink with her bowl; he took it from her and rinsed it out. “I’ll be ready. And yes, I thought we were going together? Although maybe you won’t mind if I sit with my friends, Dad?”
“Of course not.”
She smiled at him before she went to her room to finish getting ready, with Luke hot on her heels. Each time Brystol referred to Bowie as “Dad,” it made Brooklyn’s heart skip a beat. The first time he had heard it, he had cried in her arms for hours, thanking her for making him a father. From that point on he had started introducing Brystol as his daughter. He had hesitated, telling Brooklyn he wanted to wait until Brystol was okay with everything, and now he sought out any excuse to use the word daughter in a conversation. They had bonded right before Brooklyn’s eyes, and she couldn’t be happier.
He had been looking forward to the homecoming game for weeks and was excited that Brystol wanted him to go. He wouldn’t care if she ran off to sit with her friends; he just wanted to be there with her.
“Where are you working today?” Brooklyn asked before Bowie left the room.
He walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. “I’m all over town. I’m bidding on a job downtown, and I need to check on the reno for the Goldbergs’ house. Going to go to lunch with Grady.” He, too, had been trying to rebuild his friendship with Grady. It was a process for all, but one that was definitely coming along.
“Do you need my help at the Goldbergs’?”
He shook his head. “The designer on the job is top notch and has laid out every detail for us to follow. I think I’m okay on this one.” They both smiled. While Brooklyn was busy with the inn, she hadn’t given up on her career, because Bowie had found a way for her to do both. She was a consultant for his company, helping him at night with designs. It was the best of both worlds—although she missed being knee deep in the process and watching a transformation take place, she also loved working at the inn. The place was going to be her daughter’s legacy, and she wanted to make sure the business was sustainable in the future. If their calendar was any indication, Brystol wasn’t going to have any issues when she took over.
“Well, you know where to find me,” she said.
“That I do.” He leaned down and kissed her until they heard Brystol thumping her way down the stairs.
Later that evening, while Bowie took Brystol to the football game, Simone, Monroe, Mila, and Brooklyn stood in the center of the ballroom and stared at the walls and ceiling. Brooklyn had drawn plans of what she wanted the room to look like, but bringing her ideas to life was another challenge.
“Remember when we had every school dance here?” Mila said, sipping her mocha-java-latte double shot of something that didn’t make sense to anyone but her.
“The light from the lighthouse would always spotlight us when we were dancing,” Monroe added.
“I think it’s very special that you’re hosting homecoming, Brooklyn. All of the parents dropping their children off tomorrow night will be able to reminisce,” Simone said proudly. For weeks, Brooklyn had had her seek out old photos from previous homecomings. The photos were now attached to boards, categorized by years. It was Brooklyn’s way of bringing the inn back to its former self.
“I think Carly would approve.” Brooklyn leaned into Simone a little and gave her a smile. She was very happy that Simone had stayed on as staff. The inn ran smoothly, and Brooklyn would be lost without her. “Okay,” she said, clapping her hands together. “These lights aren’t going to hang themselves, and these balloons aren’t going to get filled still sitting in their bags. Let’s do this, ladies!”
“I’m not sure I can handle your enthusiasm,” Mila retorted. Monroe gave her sister a dirty look before pushing her toward a box.
“You can and you will. I know this was where you had your first kiss, right under the chandelier.” Monroe twirled her sister in a circle. “Being here was always so magical. We can be part of the team that brought that back to Cape Harbor High.”
Mila rolled her eyes but smiled at her sister. They proceeded over to the mass quantity of balloons and the portable helium tank. As everyone got to work, the local DJ arrived. He brought in his equipment and tested out his new tracks as the decorations went up. While lights were strung around the room by Brooklyn, Simone put the linens on each table, and Mila and Monroe worked on the balloons. Bouquets of balloons would go on the back of every other chair, while some would be on the floor. In her mind, Brooklyn saw a fairy tale of a dance happening. She wanted to make it special, not just for the other kids but Brystol as well. This was her first homecoming of many, much to Bowie’s apprehension. He was adamant that his daughter be a wallflower because he knew all too well that male hormones were out of control at this age. Brooklyn, on the other hand, was happy to watch her daughter create lasting memories and excited to see her baby girl all dressed up.
As was tradition, the inn offered a dinner special for the teens attending the dance. There weren’t a lot of restaurants in the area to choose from—when Carly had started this, she had wanted to give the teens a fancier option and teach them how to make a reservation for dinner. Brooklyn was doing the same. She kept the menu simple, with roasted chicken or salmon, potatoes, and vegetables, along with rolls, butter, and a dinner salad. Dessert wasn’t offered because there was a cake at the dance, but she did place dinner mints on the table to encourage those who had the fish to freshen up.
There was a valet out front to park cars and open limousine doors. Girls in pretty dresses with corsages on their wrists and young men dressed in suits entered through the double glass doors and were greeted by their principal. The string of lights gave the ballroom enough of an ambience to make the teens feel like they’d been transported anywhere but the Driftwood Inn.
Brooklyn stayed in the shadows as her daughter walked in. She was with her new friends, and the group of them had spent the day downtown getting their hair and nails done. For dinner, they had been treated to a special meal prepared by one of the girls’ parents at their house, instead of coming back to the inn. Brooklyn had kept waiting for an invite from her daughter to take pictures beforehand, but it never came. She was hurt but knew Brystol was spreading her wings and discovering who she was. By the next dance, Brooklyn was confident she would be involved. Besides, she’d had a lot to do at the inn to get it ready.
Inside the ballroom, holding up the corner of the room, stood Bowie and Graham. According to Bowie, they were on hand in the event the jocks got out of control. Brooklyn knew otherwise and kept her comments to herself. The past week, Bowie had been pacing the floor, stressed about tonight. She couldn’t blame him—their daughter was taking her first rite of passage into full-fledged teenage life, and for him it was too soon.
The DJ played all the hits. It didn’t take Brooklyn long to figure out who were the leaders of the school. A small group, much like the one she had been in, took to the dance floor immediately. They danced together, with their hands up in the air, singing along to the songs, and when a slow one came on, they paired off.
“Bring back memories?” Monroe nudged Brooklyn and tilte
d her head toward the dance floor.
“So many. I was so nervous at my first dance, but you guys made me feel like I was part of your group for years instead of days. I’ll never forget that.”
“You just fit in with us, B. It was like we had known you forever.”
She also knew it had a lot to do with Austin. He had a commanding presence, and people followed him everywhere. She smiled and bumped Monroe with her elbow. “You made it easy to fit in.”
“I’m so happy you decided to stay.”
“Me too.” It was then that she caught Bowie glowering from across the room. She followed the blazing path his eyes were burning into the crowd and saw that Brystol was dancing with a boy. Brooklyn watched her baby girl, with her arms around this boy’s shoulders, sway to the music. She had her hair pinned up, exposing her neck, and had taken her glasses off. She could see but wouldn’t win any distance contests tonight, that was for sure. It was Brystol’s strapless, form-fitting navy-blue dress that really caught Brooklyn by surprise. Her daughter was growing up right in front of her eyes, and there wasn’t anything she could do to stop it.
Bowie, though, had other ideas about giving his daughter space to grow. As soon as he stepped forward, Graham reached for him and held him back. Brooklyn rushed over to him and placed her hands on his chest, pushing him out of view of the kids.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Him,” he pointed to the boy their daughter was with and then quickly turned his finger toward Graham. “He’s been reminding me of the things we did in high school.”
Brooklyn scowled at Graham. With her attention back on Bowie, she caressed his cheek, loving the way his stubble felt against her fingertips. “Brystol is just dancing with the boy. I’m sure that if he were something serious, she would’ve told you. Just remember who she went to the football game with last night. I have a feeling you’re going to be her number one guy for a while, so let’s check our emotions at the door. And for God’s sake, ignore Graham because he’s up to no good and trying to goad you into being stupid. Don’t think I haven’t forgotten some of the really dumb shit you guys did when we were younger.” Brooklyn paused and looked out over the kids, spotting Brystol immediately.
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