“I feel something for him too,” Nora said. “But it’s not pity.”
Nick had tried to change her mind, but Maddy was firm. He didn’t even mention missing her this time. Must’ve heard the resolve in her tone and known he’d only be wasting his time.
“What are you going to do then?” Emma asked. “Have you heard back from any of the restaurants you’ve applied to?”
“I’ve gotten two emails requesting interviews. Both are great restaurants. Good opportunities. I’ll call them back this week and schedule them.” She thought of Connor and wondered how they were going to negotiate a long-distance relationship.
“What about you and Connor?” Nora asked. “You’re going to date long distance?”
“I don’t know. We haven’t had a chance to talk about it.”
“Maybe you should put in some applications around here just in case,” Emma said.
“It seems so quick, though,” Maddy said. “We haven’t even known each other two months. We’ve only had one date!”
Emma shrugged. “When you know, you know. I knew Ethan was the one for me on our third date.”
“You’re obviously in love with each other,” Nora said.
Well, Maddy thought, I’m in love with him. He has yet to return the words.
Nora walked to the top of a dune and stared out to sea. “What are you going home to, other than an empty apartment?”
“Nothing really, except my friend Holly. I do have an apartment lease, but that’s up in another month anyway.”
“It sure would be nice to have another sister here in Seahaven.”
Maddy and Emma stopped what they were doing and gaped at Nora.
“You’re staying?” Maddy asked, joining her sister on the dune.
Nora blew her hair out of her face. “I’ve been talking to Gram about it. I’ve also been checking out the job opportunities in the area. There’s an opening for a librarian in the next town over, and I’ve got that master’s degree just going to waste.”
Maddy smiled. “You’ve always wanted to be a librarian.”
“The current one is retiring next month, and Gram knows the manager. I have an interview scheduled for later this week.”
“That’s just wonderful, Nora,” Emma said. “I’ll be praying you get the job.”
“I might have to live with Gram awhile, but she’s all right with that. I have to get back on my feet. It won’t be easy, but I’m determined to make a life for myself here.”
“What about Chloe?” Emma asked.
“She’s my top priority. I’m going to go see her at college this weekend. We have a lot of catching up to do.”
“She’s a bright girl,” Maddy said. “She’ll come around.”
“She’s mad at the world right now,” Nora said. “And that includes me. I can’t blame her. I hope she makes more out of her life than I have.”
“Thank God for fresh starts,” Maddy said.
“Hear, hear,” Emma said, climbing the sand dune, her bare feet sinking into the damp sand. “Speaking of fresh starts—and mothers and daughters—has anyone talked to Mama yet?”
“We need to call her,” Maddy said. “I feel horrible about the way I’ve misjudged her.”
“Me too,” Nora said. “When I think about how I talked Daddy up in front of her I just want to smack myself.”
“I can’t believe she never told us the truth,” Emma said.
“I can,” Nora said. “You’ll do anything to protect your kids. I’d give anything if Chloe didn’t have to know about her dad. It’s torn her in two. But even if there were a way we could have kept it from her, I think I’ve learned the damage of keeping secrets.”
“We should invite Mama here for a weekend,” Emma said suddenly. “We have a lot of catching up to do.”
“A lot of making up to do also,” Maddy said.
“Can I invite Chloe too?” Nora said.
“Of course,” Emma said. “She’s family. I can’t wait to tell Mama about the baby. She’ll be so happy.”
The faint sound of a car engine carried over the sound of surf, and Maddy looked back toward the street. A blue Mazda was pulling into their drive. Her sisters hadn’t noticed and continued talking as Maddy shielded her eyes from the sun.
The man caught sight of them and, lifting a hand to Maddy, walked around his car and along the side of the house toward them.
Maddy almost didn’t recognize him. Hadn’t seen him in a couple years. He was wearing his brown hair longer now, and he’d lost the little paunch around his middle. But he still had a teddy bear build and wore that full beard.
“Um, Emma . . . ,” Maddy said, getting her sister’s attention. “I think there’s someone here to see you.”
Emma turned. Her lips parted as she caught sight of her husband. She froze in place, a look coming over her face that carried so many emotions Maddy couldn’t distinguish one from the other.
Then Emma took a step forward. She took another and another, her feet seeming to move of their own volition. As she and Ethan grew closer, her steps quickened.
And so did Ethan’s—a smile blooming on his face.
They came together, wrapping their arms around each other.
Goose bumps washed over Maddy’s skin. Tears stung her eyes as she watched the happy reunion. She put her hand to her heart. Oh, thank You, Jesus.
The couple held each other for a long, poignant moment. Then Ethan drew away. He cradled Emma’s face in his big hands and said something, the wind carrying away his words. Then he kissed her.
Silently Nora took Maddy’s hand.
Maddy squeezed it, speechless in the face of love’s enduring beauty.
Chapter 41
Connor became aware of his throbbing head before he was even fully conscious. His neck ached as he stretched, and he realized he was still on the couch. The lights were out, the house quiet. He spotted a lump on the sofa across from him. Tara.
He sat up and found a glass of water and his pain meds on the end table. Thank God. He took them, wishing the pain away. He closed his blurry left eye and read the clock on the DVR. It was after eleven. He’d been asleep since suppertime. His stomach gave a hefty growl at the reminder that he’d missed a meal.
Taking his water, he padded into the kitchen and found a plate of croissant rolls on the stove. He took down three of them, standing over the counter. By the time he was done his headache was measurably better.
Outside, a full moon rose in the black sky, and its ethereal light glistened off the darkened water. The distant sound of the surf beckoned him. He slipped quietly outside, not wanting to alert Tara that her patient had escaped.
The mild breeze was a welcome reprieve from the stuffy air in the house. He drew in a breath of sea air, letting it stretch his lungs. His gaze drifted next door, to Maddy’s house. All the windows were dark.
He felt a stab of disappointment. Much as he loved his sisters, it was Maddy’s company he craved. As his eyes swept back toward the sea, a movement caught his attention. Between the dips of the dunes, a silhouetted figure huddled on the beach, hair blowing on the breeze. The sight of her familiar form drew a smile.
He was off the deck before he could even think twice.
* * *
Maddy stretched out her legs, resting her weight on her arms. Her palms dug into the gritty sand. She couldn’t sleep. She had too much on her mind.
Earlier Emma and Ethan had taken a long walk on the beach before joining the rest of them in the house. When they’d returned it had warmed Maddy’s heart to see the love shining in Ethan’s eyes. It was clear the man was tickled pink about the baby. The two of them hadn’t been out of arm’s reach all night, and they’d disappeared upstairs hours ago.
Maddy was so happy for them.
And for Nora too. Her oldest sister still had a long road ahead of her, but she was in a good place mentally and spiritually. She was making plans and seemed optimistic about her future. She was going to be just fine.
But what was next for Maddy? She was jobless and running low on funds. And long-distance relationships presented their own challenges. Would she be just fine too?
Will I, God?
A measure of faith rolled over her like a wave, bathing her in peace. She would be all right, one way or another. God had her back.
“Save me a spot?”
She turned to see Connor lowering himself slowly onto the sand beside her. He was wearing the basketball shorts and T-shirt he’d worn home from the hospital. Even in the dark she could see his hair poking up at odd angles.
“What are you doing out here?” she asked. “You should be in bed.”
“I’ve been sleeping for hours. Now I’m wide-awake.” He had a familiar pinched look on his face.
She smoothed down his hair. “You still have a headache, don’t you?”
“I just took a pain med. Thanks for picking that up at the store, by the way. It sure is a lifesaver.”
“I checked in on you earlier, but you were asleep. How are you feeling otherwise?”
He wrapped an arm around her, tucking her into his side. “Better every minute.”
She dropped her cheek to his shoulder. She reveled in his warmth, in the masculine smell of him, in the solid feel of him against her.
Love could be scary, that was for sure. But with a little faith it could be wonderful too. She’d focus on that part and trust God with the rest.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?” he asked.
She gave a wry smile. “It’s reeling, that’s what. So much has happened over the last forty-eight hours, Connor. I haven’t even had time to process it all.”
“Tell me,” he said in that deep, rich voice she loved so much.
And so she did. She filled him in on everything she’d learned from her grandmother. Everything she’d found out about her father and her grandfather. Everything she’d learned about her sisters’ lives. She finished with the latest news—Emma’s pregnancy and the reunion between her and Ethan.
Connor listened intently and patiently.
“I’m sorry,” she said at last. “I shouldn’t have thrown all this at you tonight.” She looked up at him, finding his face closer than she expected. “You’re supposed to be resting your brain, and I’m dumping our family’s dirty secrets on you.”
“I want to know what’s happening in your life.” His finger whispered along her cheek, and his eyes smoldered with heat. “I want to be part of your life, Maddy. All of it. The good and the bad.”
“I want that too,” she said softly.
“You really scared me the other night when you said—”
She put a finger over his lips. “I didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean any of it. I was just running scared.”
He took her hand. “After everything you just told me it’s no wonder. It’s a lot to digest.”
“I may need therapy,” she said on a laugh. Though it was no joke.
Finding out her dad had had another life had been a hard blow. She was angry with him for doing that to her mother, to them. And he was no longer here to untangle the mess he’d made. Still, she’d have to find it in her heart to forgive him. They all would.
Connor looked deeply into her eyes, seeming to see beneath the brave surface. “It’s a good idea, actually. And you’re a strong woman, Maddy. You’ll get through this.”
Hard to believe that only two months ago she’d been working at Pirouette, dating Nick, and—if she were honest—lacking in joy. Lacking in peace. So much had changed in such a short time.
She shook her head in wonder. “Weeks ago when you called and I rushed to Seahaven, I never could’ve dreamed everything that would happen. The family history coming out, my sisters coming back together, Emma’s pregnancy and reunited marriage—it’s downright crazy.”
“It’s a straight-up miracle,” he said, wonder in his voice.
“You’re right about that. So many secrets have come out. But I’m learning that once secrets are exposed . . . they lose their power.”
“The truth will set you free.”
“Exactly.”
She’d been held in fear’s grip and hadn’t fully understood why. She was beginning to see what she’d come from and how it had affected her. She’d only just scratched the surface, she knew, but it was a start. And now that the secrets were out in the light . . . they didn’t seem so scary anymore.
“Maddy . . . ,” he said. “Have you thought about what’s next? For you? For us?”
She straightened a bit so she could see his face. “Actually, that’s just what I was thinking about when you came out here.”
His lips slanted in a grin. “Good thing I got out here in time to weigh in.”
“Oh, you want a vote, do you?” she asked saucily.
“If you’ll let me have one.” He gave her a lingering look, then brushed his thumb across her cheek. “I love you, Maddy Monroe. With all my heart.”
His words filled her to overflowing. Her lips pulled upward. It seemed she’d been waiting a lifetime to hear those words. “I love you too, Connor.”
His eyes pierced hers as his breath fell on her mouth.
Her lips tingled, and her insides hummed with energy. This man. He spoke to her, soul deep, with just a look. Just a touch.
“Stay,” he said softly.
She fell headlong into his gaze as a shiver rippled over her. “Yes.”
The corners of his lips notched upward. He came closer, and his lips brushed hers. He pulled her into his chest, deepening the kiss.
Maddy forgot everything but the feel of his lips, the scent of his skin, the warmth of his touch. She could happily stay in his arms for the rest of her life.
When they parted she was breathless. So was he. Their breaths intertwined, mingling with the sea air.
His nuzzled her nose. “I don’t suppose you’d consider a position at a glorified crab shack.”
She drew back a bit. “The Landing? What about Cheryl?”
“Her dad had another stroke. She’s moving back home for good to take care of him.”
“Oh no. I didn’t know that.”
“New information. Listen, honey . . . I know you’re way overqualified for the position. If you’d be bored silly working there full-time, then—”
“Would I get complete control?” she asked with a cheeky thrust of her chin.
His face relaxed as his lips twitched. “Back to that, are we?”
“By your own admission you know nothing about managing a restaurant.”
“True enough.” He held up his right hand. “No micromanaging. No undermining your authority. Promise.”
Maddy thought over his offer, hope rising like the tide. She could definitely see a future in Seahaven, at Sullivan’s Landing—and right here in Connor’s arms. She could see it all working, so beautifully.
A slow, confident smile broke out on her face. “You have yourself a deal, mister.”
“We haven’t even talked salary yet.”
She nuzzled his nose and whispered, “I’m sure we can work something out.” And then they went back to the real negotiations.
Epilogue
Maddy set the bowl of mashed potatoes on one of the picnic tables they’d set up on Gram’s deck. The red-and-white checkered tablecloth fluttered in the breeze, and the delicious aroma of grilled burgers wafted by.
It had taken two and a half months to make this picnic happen. But they’d ended up with a perfect day, the temperatures hovering at eighty and fluffy clouds rolling in off the tranquil sea.
She looked over to the deck’s corner where Connor and Ethan manned the grill. Emma hovered nearby, dropping slices of cheese onto the thick, sizzling patties. Her tummy was now slightly rounded under her gauzy summer top.
They’d found out last week that she was carrying a boy. Everyone had opinions on names, but they already seemed set on Grant William, after Ethan’s father. Emma’s cheeks were flushed, her skin glowing. She was wear
ing this pregnancy like a second skin.
Connor’s eyes met Maddy’s over the open grill. He winked at her, and she shared a private smile with him before heading back inside.
She scanned the kitchen for more food to carry out. Gram was giving the green beans one last stir and telling Mama’s husband, Russell, some outrageous story from her trip to Boise. He listened intently, laughing in all the right spots. He was a genuinely nice guy. Maddy was sorry she hadn’t given him half a chance before now.
Across the room Nora and Chloe were filling glasses with iced tea. It was obvious the two of them had come a long way in recent weeks. Nora had gone up north to see her at college, and Chloe had come to Seahaven for two weekends. At the moment they were talking quietly, relaxed expressions on their faces.
Nora had gotten that librarian job, a position she was loving. She and Maddy had rented a house together, a two-bedroom in a quiet neighborhood not far from the beach. The property featured a lovely live oak that spread its shade across the entire yard. The living situation was working well for both of them.
As for Maddy, she was loving her job at Sullivan’s Landing. She had a great rapport with the chef—and the owner—and they were working on some new dishes to liven up the menu. The staff was thriving under her instruction, and as promised, Connor had taken a hands-off position—with the restaurant, that was.
Maddy pulled the potato salad from the fridge and headed toward the door. Her mother stopped her on the way.
“Take these on out, would you, sugar?” She handed Maddy two bags of hamburger buns.
“Sure thing, Mama.”
Last night the family had played cards late into the night, then spread around the house, some of them taking couches and sleeping bags on the floor. It was wonderful to have everyone together again. It would never be the same as it had been—or as wonderful as she’d thought it was as a child. But it could be a new kind of wonderful. A real kind of wonderful.
Maddy was starting to appreciate the concept of new beginnings. She and her mom had grown closer since that first teary phone conversation back in July, when Maddy confessed to knowing about her father’s double life. She’d asked her mother’s forgiveness for holding her at arm’s length all these years. They talked at least once a week now.
Summer by the Tides Page 26
