Home Song

by Thomas Kinkade

  “Good for you,” Dan said. He met her gaze for a long moment, and she could see he felt sincerely happy for her. “What about the election?” he asked in a quiet, knowing tone.

  “I’ve given this a lot of thought. Sara didn’t want me to reveal our relationship yet. She asked me to wait until after the election,” Emily explained. “But I spent the last twenty-two years pretending I didn’t have a child. I can’t do that any longer.”

  Dan nodded. “You know Charlie’s going to find out about it.”

  Emily gave him a weary shrug. “I’m sure he will.”

  “He’ll use it if he can,” Dan told her. “But I can assure you that the Messenger is not going to aid and abet him in that.”

  “I didn’t think you would,” Emily said. “I trust you.” She did trust him, she realized. He was her friend, and maybe something more than that, too. Even if there was no real future in it, she felt close to him.

  She met his gaze again. “I believe I would be a better mayor than Charlie Bates, and I still want to be mayor. But I know now that there is a limit to what I will do—or not do—to win. If I lose, then it wasn’t God’s plan for me to be mayor again. I’ve prayed for years to find her, Dan,” she confessed, though she knew he wasn’t religious and might not fully understand.

  “This is a miracle to me. I won’t deny or hide my daughter’s existence another day. My first priority now is Sara, and building our relationship. Everything else comes after that.”

  “I’m very happy for you, Emily. Honestly.” He smiled down at her and reached out to touch her arm. For a moment, she thought he was even about to pull her close in an affectionate hug. But then he suddenly stepped back.

  “I know that,” she replied. She pushed her hands deep into her pockets. There didn’t seem to be anything more to say.

  “All right then, time to get to work, I guess,” she said.

  He walked her to the door and opened it for her.

  “You’re not the only lucky one, you know,” he said quietly. “She’s lucky you turned out to be the one she’s been looking for.”

  Emily felt herself nearly blush. “You think so?”

  “I know so.”

  “Well . . . thanks. I’m just about terrified of being a parent,” she confessed. “It’s not as easy as it looks, and it doesn’t even look very easy.”

  He laughed. “You’re going to do just fine. I’d say you’re doing better than average already.”

  “I SPOKE TO MY PARENTS LAST NIGHT,” SARA TOLD LUKE. SHE STARED OUT AT the water and hugged her knees to her chest.

  “Really? How did it go?”

  Sara sighed. “Sort of mixed, I guess. They were happy to hear I finally told Emily the truth, and my mom especially felt sorry for Emily when I told them about the diary. . . .”

  “But what?” Luke prodded her.

  She shrugged. “Well, now they’re wondering why I’m still staying up here. My dad just doesn’t get it. He’s an accountant, and he sees things very logically.”

  “An accountant, huh? I didn’t know that.” Luke leaned back and crossed his long legs. “What’s your mom do? Does she work?”

  Sara realized she hadn’t told him much about her family. “She teaches English at the high school in our town. She’s a good teacher. All the kids love her,” Sara said proudly.

  Luke glanced over and smiled at her. “That makes sense.”

  “They wanted to come here and meet Emily. And take me home, I guess,” she added making a face. “But I talked them out of it.”

  From Luke’s suddenly alarmed expression, she could see she had struck a nerve. But he didn’t say anything at first. “I guess they’re just concerned about you.”

  “As always,” she replied with a sigh.

  “What did you tell them? I mean, about going back?”

  Sara shrugged. “Just that I needed more time with Emily. They seemed to understand after a while. At least, they said they did.”

  Luke didn’t reply. He shifted, leaning back on his elbows and looking down the long stretch of white sand. “The beach is empty today. We have the entire place to ourselves. And the ocean,” he added.

  “It’s fine with me. I felt so—so weird this week,” Sara picked up a handful of sand and let it drift through her fingers. “Everyone is staring at me or something. I’ve gone from ‘that dark-haired waitress, good old what’s-her-name’ to an instant celebrity—Emily Warwick’s daughter.”

  “Come on. It’s not that bad. I think you’re just feeling self-conscious right now. It will die down in a few days.”

  Luke reached into a nearby paper bag and tossed a hunk of bread out toward the birds. They screamed and dived for it, the noise mirroring Sara’s jagged nerves.

  She sighed. Their bike ride to the beach had been a good idea. Luke had repaired her bicycle and tuned up his own. The ride from the cottages had been long enough to burn off some stress but not exhausting. Sitting out on the empty beach with the clear, wide open sky above made Sara feel as if she’d gotten very far away.

  The sun felt warm on her skin, even though she was glad she wore a heavy sweater under her denim jacket. She tilted her head back, and closed her eyes. Luke had been nice to take the afternoon off from work and bring her here. He even packed them a lunch. If she went back to Maryland, she would miss him, she thought. She opened her eyes and found him watching her.

  “What are you thinking about?” he asked.

  “Nothing. I’m glad the work at the cottages started again.”

  “Yeah, so am I. So far, so good, right?” he said, looking at her quickly. “We’re going to break ground for the new building next Monday. It’s all set. I’ve got real heavy equipment coming. A bulldozer, a crane, and a dump truck.”

  She sat back, impressed. “That’s exciting. Can I watch?”

  “Sure, if you want to.” He smiled at her. Then he looked serious again. “How is it at work for you? Charlie must be impossible now.”

  “Well, yesterday, once the news got around, it was pretty awful,” she admitted. “He sat there all afternoon, calling Emily a liar to anyone who would listen. And I called in sick today,” she added with a shrug.

  “Sick of Charlie Bates, you mean. It’s turning into an epidemic around here.” He rubbed his chin. “I guess you have to quit.”

  “Yeah, I know I do now.” She brushed some sand off her hands. “Another reason to leave this place, I guess, if I don’t have a job.”

  Luke glanced at her. He tossed more bread to the birds, throwing this chunk very fast and hard until it nearly reached the water.

  “But what about Emily? She’ll be upset. She’s just found out about you. And she’s put her whole campaign on the line over this,” he reminded her.

  Sara nodded, her long hair blowing across her face. “I know. I don’t really want to go now. My folks will have to understand.”

  Luke stared at her. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking. She reached over and touched his face with her hand. Her fingertips rested lightly along the thin white scar that ran from the corner of his eye to the middle of his cheek. The mark had looked so ominous to her the day she first met him. She didn’t even notice it anymore.

  Luke didn’t say anything or move. He just sat there looking at her, his eyes locked on hers. Finally she let her hand drop away.

  She gazed out at the water again, trying to follow one wave from out on the horizon into shore, the way she used to when she was younger.

  “If I stay, will you come with me to Jessica’s wedding?” she asked him suddenly. “I’m going to be a bridesmaid, and she said I could bring a date . . . did I tell you?”

  “No. I guess you forgot.” He smiled very slowly at her. “Wearing a gown and all that?”

  “Uh-huh. But probably not so much that,” she corrected.

  “What color?” he asked, surprising her.

  “Blue. Dark blue velvet. The top is sort of—satiny.”

  “Hmm. Sounds very pretty,” he
said in a half-teasing tone. She could tell he was trying to picture her in it, and it made her embarrassed. “I don’t have to wear a tux or anything like that, do I?”

  So, he was going to take her, she realized.

  “Uh, no. I don’t think so. A suit should be okay.”

  “I have one of those—somewhere,” he said, making her smile. He held out his hand to her. “Okay, it’s a date.”

  The first real one they had ever had, she realized.

  She put her hand in his. It felt strong and warm, his fingers and palm covered with callouses. She shook it, staring into his eyes and saw his slow smile, then felt him tug her closer. Her eyes closed and they kissed. His lips tasted salted and sweet all at once, and she felt herself smiling against his lips even as the kiss deepened.

  She just really liked him. He made her happy.

  The gulls cried shrilly overhead. One brave and battered-looking bird dipped down and pecked at the brown paper bag they had carried their food in.

  Sara and Luke suddenly broke apart, the nearness of the gull startling them. “Oh . . . goodness, watch out,” Sara said, putting her hands to her head.

  Luke jumped up and waved his arms wildly.

  “Thanks a lot, buddy! I’ll do the same for you sometime!” he yelled. His shirttails hung out the back of his jacket, flapping in the wind. “That’s the last time you get any bread from me, pal.”

  Sara sat back and laughed, covering her mouth with her hand. Yes, the perfect escort for the wedding.

  THIS ISN’T GOING TO BE AS HARD AS I THOUGHT, SARA REALIZED AS SHE walked up to Charlie early the next morning. It was seven-fifteen. The diner had just opened and there was hardly anyone there yet.

  “Charlie, can I talk to you a minute?” Sara asked him.

  “What is it?” He glanced at her over his shoulder, turning over a pile of hash browns on the grill with a huge metal spatula. She could live without smelling those onions every morning, that was for sure.

  “I can’t work here anymore. I guess I can stay until Saturday if you really need me.”

  She knew she should have given him more than three days’ notice, but she hoped he wouldn’t even take her up on that much. It would be hard to stick it out, she thought.

  “Well, well. I was expecting something like this.” He put the spatula down and wiped his hands on his apron. “I guess that now you found out you’re a Warwick, you’re too good for us. Isn’t that it?”

  Sara heard Lucy gasp behind her. She hadn’t even realized she was standing there.

  “Shush up, Charlie. You know that’s not it,” Lucy defended her. She glanced at Sara, looking sad, Sara thought, but understanding, too.

  “Let her go, then. The end of the day is fine with me,” Charlie said, tossing up his hands.

  “I don’t want you to, of course,” Lucy added, turning to Sara.

  “I know,” Sara said regretfully.

  “Women—” Charlie shook his head in exasperation. “She’s quitting her job, Lucy. Sticking you with a bigger load of work, I might add. She’s not going off to war.”

  Lucy glared at her husband’s back but didn’t reply. “I’m happy you found your mother, Sara,” she said quietly. “I’m not surprised to hear it’s Emily Warwick,” she added. “I always knew there was something special about you.”

  Sara reached out and squeezed Lucy’s hand. “Thanks, Lucy. I’ll be around. We’ll still see each other,” she promised.

  Lucy nodded, looking as though she might cry. Sara felt badly about leaving her. But she knew now, finally, that she really had to.

  “Of course we will.” Lucy nodded and dabbed her nose with a paper napkin. “I’ll still be bugging you to help me with my homework, I know that.”

  “Anytime,” Sara promised.

  “Get back to work, you two,” Charlie scolded them. “The orders are stacking up over here like flights over Logan.” He peered at a guest check. “Who’s got the egg sandwiches and the pancakes?”

  “Mine, Charlie.” Sara stepped up to take the plates.

  “Well, get it out of here,” he snapped.

  Sara framed a tart reply in her head, then thought, why bother? In a few hours she would be out of the Clam Box forever.

  “HOW WAS WORK TODAY? I’M ALMOST AFRAID TO ASK,” EMILY SAID AS SHE headed her Cherokee toward Southport.

  Emily had insisted on taking Sara to the bridal shop there to order her gown for Jessica’s wedding. Sara knew she could have done it by herself, but Emily had seemed so excited to go with her, she couldn’t refuse. A real mother-daughter thing, Sara thought, glancing at Emily. She’s trying so hard, which I never expected.

  “It wasn’t that bad today,” Sara finally answered. “I quit.”

  “You did?” Emily looked about to say more, then stopped herself and turned her gaze back to the road.

  “I’ve been thinking about it for a while. It wasn’t just because of the news about me and you.”

  “All right.” Emily sighed. “I guess it’s all for the best.”

  “I think it was,” Sara agreed. “I might get a job at the library. I spoke to the head librarian on my way home today. It would only be part-time, but I can probably find something else, too.”

  Emily didn’t answer right away. “Maybe you could get a job on the Messenger. Dan liked that letter you wrote for Luke, and the one you edited for me about the substation.”

  “Really? What did he say?” Sara was surprised and pleased. Dan didn’t seem like the type who was free with his compliments.

  “He said he thought you were a good writer,” Emily told her. When Sara glanced at her in disbelief, she added, “I can call him tomorrow for you, if you like.”

  “That’s okay,” Sara said. “I’ll call him. . . . But, thanks, Emily. That’s really good to hear.”

  “You know what they say, one door closes, another opens.” When Sara glanced at her, Emily seemed to be smiling at some private joke. But Sara didn’t ask her to explain.

  ON MONDAY MORNING SARA GOT UP EARLY AND DROVE DOWN TO THE cottages. Luke and his crew were going to break ground today for the new building. Everyone was excited, and Sara had even brought along a long strip of ribbon and some scissors. When Luke wasn’t looking she planned to tie the ribbon between some trees and make him cut it. A silly gesture really, but he deserved a little ceremony, she thought, for the way he had fought for the project and carried on after the fire.

  She parked her car next to Sam’s truck and walked toward the group assembled at the new building site. Just as Luke had promised, there was a big red dump truck parked there and a yellow tractor with something on the front that looked like a big claw to scoop up the earth. The men standing around all wore yellow hard hats, even Luke, she noticed.

  But as she drew closer to the group, she realized that the voices she heard were not just shouting directions at each other, preparing to work. They were angry. Especially Luke, who was having an argument with an older-looking man in a plaid wool jacket with a shirt and tie underneath. Sara recognized him from the Village Hall but couldn’t recall his name.

  “Look, this is totally bogus. I have a permit. Signed by the mayor!” Luke shouted.

  “You didn’t read the fine print, my friend. You had ten business days to file the plans.”

  “I filed the plans,” Luke argued back, sounding pushed to the edge of frustration. “Look around your office, Farley. Check under the doughnut box. I filed the plans.”

  Sam rested a hand on Luke’s shoulder, holding him back.

  “Look, what is this about?” Sam asked in a calm voice. “Nobody is ever held to that ten-day limit, Ray. If they were, half of this village would be vacant lots.”

  Ray Farley cleared his throat. “I don’t make the rules. I just work in the permits department.”

  “And happen to be a chum of Charlie Bates,” Luke added bitterly.

  “Look, McAllister, get it through your thick head.” Ray Farley jabbed the air with his finger. “
You’re shut down. There isn’t going to be any new construction going on here, so you ought to tell those drivers to go home and save yourself some money. If you break ground on this site, you’re breaking the law. If you don’t understand that, the next time I’ll come back with a police officer and maybe he can explain it to you.”

  Sara felt her body grow tense as she watched Luke glare at Ray Farley, then stalk around in a circle, his fists balled at his sides. Finally he pulled off his yellow hard hat and tossed it on the ground.

  She felt so bad for him. She wanted to run over and put her arms around him, but felt shy with everyone else watching. There must be something we can do, she thought. And then she knew. We’ll call Emily, she decided. Maybe she can straighten this out.

  EMILY STARED DOWN AT THE TWO SETS OF PAPERS THAT SAT ON HER DESK, Luke’s original building permits and the Stop Work order he had been presented with that morning by Ray Farley.

  Sara and Luke sat in the two chairs across from her, waiting tensely for her reaction.

  Dear Lord, can you turn this pencil into a magic wand for me . . . just for five minutes, she prayed. She shook her head. No, I didn’t think so.

  She sighed heavily and sat back in her chair.

  “Look, this order is valid, even though no one has put this ordinance into use since it went on the books. I wish I could just override it somehow, but I can’t,” she admitted, feeling her heart drop as both Sara and Luke’s expressions fell.

  “Sure, thanks anyway,” Luke said curtly.

  Sara didn’t say anything. Emily could see she was trying to be understanding. Still, Sara had turned to her, expecting her to be Super Woman—and oh, how she wanted to be.

  “The only thing I can do is bring it before the town council.” The idea was a long shot, but the only possibility that occurred to her. “The next meeting isn’t until—the last week in November,” she said, checking her calendar.

  “Too late to help us. The ground will be frozen like rock by then,” Luke said. He shook his head in disgust. “The board at New Horizons is going to pull out. This is just another sign of the town’s resistance. I don’t think I’ll be able to talk them out of it this time.”