The Driftwood Promise

by Suzie O'Connell

  “…But thank you.”

  “And I’m sure you don’t know what I think so I’ll tell you. I think you were in a difficult situation and you’ve done the best you could so maybe you should cut yourself some slack.”

  Hannah studied Erin with narrowed eyes, but then she lowered her gaze and murmured, “That means a lot, coming from you. I mean, you only know me through what Gideon’s told you, and he isn’t shy about pointing out my flaws. So for you to say that and say it like you believe it…. It means a lot.”

  “Gideon’s hard on you because he just wants what’s best for Liam.”

  “I know that. But it still hurts.”

  “I know it does. You ready to move on to the dough? It’s not nearly as difficult as you might think.”

  “Yeah, I think I got everything for the sauce written down. Thank you for doing this.”

  “My pleasure.”

  Gideon’s mouth fell open, and before either she or Erin caught him eavesdropping, he turned his gaze back to his son and sliced off another chunk of mozzarella for him to grate.

  A waft of perfect late summer air swirled into the dining room as Matthew stepped inside. He bypassed the table and joined the women in the kitchen to listen in on Erin’s final lesson about the pizza dough. Gideon tried not to gawk, but it was a struggle. He watched as they rolled out the dough, spread the sauce and cheese, and debated good-naturedly which toppings they should put on it without a hint of discord. Hannah and his father seemed to have reached an unspoken agreement to set aside their animosity for the evening, and Erin was her usual charming self. Liam was positively beaming.

  Gideon waited for some spark to ignite the powder keg, but it didn’t come. Not while they sat out on the deck waiting for the pizza to cook and not while they ate it and complimented Erin on her mad skills in the kitchen. It didn’t come even when Hannah and Matthew volunteered to do the dishes together and ganged up on Erin to prevent her from doing them. Gideon thought he might fall out of his chair when Liam asked to help, too.

  Then it was time to light the candles around the deck and in the windows of the cottage, and Gideon finally realized the explosion wasn’t going to come. With the magic of his family’s long-standing tradition aglow around him and dusk settling over the cove, he exhaled and let the peace of it all wash over him.

  “It can’t possibly be this easy,” he remarked when Erin slipped her arm around his waist. His vision blurred, his eyes mesmerized by the dancing flames all around him.

  “Why not?” she asked. “You know, when Hannah isn’t being defensive, waiting to be attacked, she’s actually quite nice.”

  “I swear, I’ve never seen this side of her.” He glanced down at her and smiled. “You seem to bring out the best in everyone around you. Especially me.”

  Her brows dipped momentarily, but before he could register what might have dimmed her enjoyment of the moment, she flashed him a brilliant smile. Then she tilted her head up, asking him to kiss her. He couldn’t help but obey, and when their lips touched, the jolt of concern was forgotten.

  Sixteen

  Gideon yanked a T-shirt over his head as he shuffled into the kitchen with sleep still blurring his vision. The sun was up, but the light filling the cottage was golden. It was early yet. The rich aroma of fresh-brewed coffee tantalized him, and he almost expected to see the coffee making itself, but his father was in the kitchen. Gideon ran his hands back through his hair to comb it out of his face.

  “You ever going to cut that mop now that you and Hannah are being civil?” Matthew asked, reaching into the cupboard for two cups.

  “I’m getting used to it. And Erin likes it.”

  “Coffee?”

  “Please.”

  “Mmm. Something tells me she couldn’t care less how you wear it.” Matthew poured the coffee while Gideon fetched the sugar and milk. “How long are you going to make me wait before you take the next step toward making her a part of our family?”

  “However long she needs. She’s had enough men in her life try to force her, and I refuse to be one of them.”

  His father sighed. “I guess I’ll have to be patient and trust your judgment. But you are serious about asking her to marry you? I didn’t bring your mother’s ring here for a maybe, did I?”

  Gideon accepted a cup from his father and added a little milk and sugar to it—it wasn’t a morning to drink it harsh and black. “Erin isn’t a maybe.”

  “Just checking. It’s a gorgeous morning out. Shall we sit out on the deck and enjoy it?”

  Gideon followed his father outside and inhaled deeply as soon as he stepped out the door. It was indeed a glorious morning… if he ignored the fact that his little boy was officially eight years old today. Liam was growing up too fast, and when he expressed that sentiment to his father, Matthew laughed.

  “You’re telling me? Seems like only yesterday I was lamenting your eighth birthday.”

  It was cool in the shadow of the cottage, so they set their coffee aside on the deck rail and moved the table into the sunlight. When Gideon took his seat with his cup hot in his hands and his bare feet propped on the railing, he smiled. The sea was a tranquil blue-green this morning with no wind-tossed white caps to mar that incredible color and only small waves breaking on the rocks and bluff.

  This was the life.

  But there was something missing. Two things, actually. Erin and Liam. If they were here, this moment would be simple, absolute perfection.

  “When was the last time you and I had a quiet morning like this?” he asked.

  “Can’t remember. Years ago.” Matthew sipped his coffee and gazed across the cove. “I don’t think I’ve said it, but I think you’re right to move here. It’ll give you some space from Hannah.”

  Gideon nodded in agreement. “I think—I hope—things will be easier with her from here on out.”

  “I hope you’re right. Having something good to focus on makes the bad so much less of a strain.”

  They slipped into comfortable silence, content to enjoy the morning, the coffee, and the simplicity of occupying the same space again. Their relationship had always been like that, though—steady and uncomplicated—and Gideon thanked his lucky stars that he’d been blessed with a father who gave him an example to live up to. Because he had, he’d been up to the task of raising his son. And he’d also recognized what a rare and incredible woman Erin was.

  “Did I just hear a car pull up?” Matthew asked.

  “Yeah, I think so.”

  He glanced at his watch. It was earlier than Erin had said she expected to be done with her ordering for the Salty Dog, but she might’ve finished early. It certainly wouldn’t be Hannah with Liam. Grinning suddenly, Gideon set his coffee on the table, stood, and leaned over the railing, expecting to see Erin’s car parked on the road in front of the cottage. But it was Hannah’s.

  “Color me surprised,” he murmured. “Wonder what she wants.”

  “It’s not Erin?” his father asked.

  “No.”

  Moments later, Liam skipped around the corner of the cottage with his mother a few steps behind. Gideon’s brows rose. Not only was Hannah up and about well earlier than he’d anticipated, she was also fully made up for the day. She was an exquisitely beautiful woman, and after last night, he could appreciate that again. She’d never again be as beautiful in his eyes as Erin, but it was a relief to see more about her than his frustration with her.

  “You’re here early,” he remarked as she and Liam reached the deck. “I thought you two were going to laze around this morning.”

  “We were, but Liam wanted to see you.”

  The little boy raced up the steps, and Gideon stepped around the table to pick him up. He let out a long breath as the little boy hugged him tightly. It was heaven to have his son in his arms again even though it had been less than a dozen hours since he’d seen him last. A reminder that the custody hearing was only a few days away jolted him.

  What if the cour
t awarded Hannah custody? Could he live with that?

  “And… I need to talk to you,” Hannah added. She perched on the railing. “About Monday.”

  Matthew glanced between her and Gideon, then rose from his chair. “May I bring you a cup of coffee, Hannah?”

  She regarded him with her head tilted and eyes wide. “Um, yeah. Thank you.”

  “Liam, why don’t you come with me so your mom and dad can talk?”

  “Okay. Is Erin here yet?”

  Their voices were cut off when Matthew pulled the door closed behind them, and Gideon turned his attention on Hannah just in time to catch the flicker of hurt in her amber eyes.

  “He adores her,” she murmured. “And after last night, I totally understand why.”

  “She’s an amazing woman.” Shifting uncomfortably in his chair, he lifted his coffee to his lips and took a sip. “So, what about Monday?”

  “I’m going to agree to your custody plan.”

  The cup nearly slipped from his fingers. “What?”

  Her brows knitted together and she lowered her gaze to the table top. When she spoke, her voice was so quiet that he had to lean in to hear her. “You’re right. I don’t know how to be a parent. You do.”

  “Hannah….”

  “I laid awake all night thinking about it.” She lifted her head again with a defiant gleam burning away the shadow of agony in her eyes. “I love Liam, and I want what’s best for him. And that’s living here in Sea Glass Cove. With you. And with Erin. He’ll have a real family.”

  He gaped and failed to form a response. She watched him for a long time with a vulnerability he’d never before seen in her expression.

  “Say something,” she entreated softly.

  “Is this a trick?” he blurted.

  “What?” She jerked back and her eyes rounded. Then she pinched her eyes closed for a moment. “No, it’s not a trick. I mean it.”

  “I’m sorry, Hannah. I just….” He inhaled deeply and began again. “Habit.”

  “I probably deserve that.”

  “You kinda do. Where is this coming from? You’ve been fighting me for months, doing these crazy, selfish things like dragging Liam to your sister’s house to spite me. Why the sudden change of heart? I’m sorry, but you see why I might think it’s another trick.”

  She nodded. “I’m tired of fighting. I’m tired of watching what it’s doing to our son. I didn’t realize what a snot he’d become until last night… when he wasn’t. I didn’t recognize that sweet little boy. This past couple of weeks, when you’ve been trying so hard to bite back what you really want to say…. It’s shown me that we don’t have to fight. We can find a way to make this work. I didn’t think we could.”

  “Neither did I.”

  Matthew returned them with Hannah’s coffee, and she accepted it gratefully. He didn’t linger, slipping quietly back inside.

  Gideon narrowed his eyes, still not sure he believed that the fight was really over. “So just like that, you’re going to agree to my parenting plan?”

  “It’s a fair plan, and it’ll be good for all of us to have a set routine. I need that as much as he does. I’ve had the best time with him yesterday, last night, and this morning. And I think it’s because I know I’ll have a break from trying and failing to be a perfect parent. As much as it hurts to admit it, I suck at parenting. Things that come so naturally to you just don’t to me. But I’m trying, and stepping out of the way is the best thing I can do for him.”

  He couldn’t breathe, and his heart ached. This couldn’t be real. He raked his hands through his hair, curling his hands into such tight fists that his scalp complained.

  “Gideon?”

  “This…. This is what I’ve been waiting eight years for, to know you’re willing to put Liam’s needs first. Why…?” He couldn’t say the rest out loud—Why couldn’t you have done this years ago?—because Erin strode into view around the side of the cottage right then, and he was glad Hannah hadn’t shown him what he’d needed from her. If she had, they might have found a way to stay together and he wouldn’t have met Erin. And she was everything.

  “Am I interrupting?” she asked, her smile fading as she glanced between them.

  He didn’t answer. Instead, he trotted to the steps, took her face in his hands and kissed her soundly.

  “Well, good morning to you, too,” she said. Laughter danced in her eyes.

  “We’re almost done here, I think. I’ll be in in a minute.”

  As she turned to go in the house, Liam burst out the French doors to hug her and pepper her with rapid-fire questions about his birthday party. He started to go inside with her, but Gideon called him over.

  “Your mom and I need to talk to you, bud. You’ll have to wait a few minutes to bother Erin.”

  Disappointment mingled with confusion, but he obeyed, reluctantly releasing Erin’s hand and claiming the chair Matthew had abandoned.

  “You want to tell him or should I?” Gideon asked Hannah.

  “On Monday, I’m going to agree to your dad’s custody arrangement.”

  “Does that mean…?”

  “You’ll be living with him full time during the week here in Sea Glass Cove and spending every other weekend with me. You’re always happier with your dad, and I want that for you. Besides, our time together will be all the more precious and better for it.”

  Liam stared at her, dumbfounded. Then he glanced between them.

  “I love you, Liam,” Hannah said, her voice catching on the threat of tears. “I don’t want to give you up, and I’m not, but this is what’s best for you. Your dad’s such a good dad and I’m….”

  “A good mom who struggles a bit,” Gideon supplied. And he meant it. “And one more thing. No more fighting. We’re done with that, aren’t we, Hannah.”

  She gave him a smile that conveyed a powerful gratitude entwined with equal parts regret and relief. Liam wormed his way around the table and dragged them together to hug them both at once.

  “Are you happy?” Hannah asked uncertainly.

  He only nodded, beaming with tears shining in his eyes.

  “I love you, kiddo.”

  “I love you, too, Mom. I’m going to miss you, though.”

  “No you won’t. Because we’ll have more quality time even if it’s less in quantity. And Sea Glass Cove isn’t that far from Beaverton—a couple hours, max. Anytime we get to missing each other too much, I can come see you, or your dad can bring you to see me.”

  Liam nodded and drew a shuddering breath, tightening his arms around his parents. Gideon’s neck twinged, but he wasn’t about to complain about it and ruin the most perfect moment the three of them had shared in… maybe ever.

  “Happy birthday, Liam,” Hannah whispered.

  How long they stayed like that, Gideon couldn’t say, but the spell broke when Matthew stepped outside and cleared his throat.

  “I hate to interrupt this lovely picture, but you might want to put it on hold, Gideon.”

  There was a note in his father’s voice that instantly put him on alert. “What’s wrong?”

  “Don’t know that anything is, but Erin just left. Said she was going to go for a walk on the beach while you three talked.”

  Gideon frowned. It wasn’t like Erin to wander off when there was work to be done. He glanced at Hannah, who shrugged.

  “Maybe she was trying to give us some privacy.”

  He nodded, but if that were the case, his father wouldn’t have intruded. “Did she say anything?”

  “It wasn’t what she said.” Matthew flicked his gaze at Hannah in such a way to express his desire to speak to his son alone.

  Gideon gave Liam’s shoulder a squeeze and followed his father into the house. “If it wasn’t what she said, what was it?”

  “She looked—I don’t know—like a woman teetering on the edge of some big decision.”

  “Why would she be?” Gideon asked more to himself than to his father.

  “Mayb
e you ought to give her a call. I don’t think it’s wise to give her too much time alone to think. She’s the kind to talk herself into knots.”

  “Yes, she is, but I don’t need to call. If she’s upset, I know where she went.” Gideon embraced his father. “No fighting with Hannah while I’m gone. I don’t want her to have an excuse to back out of her decision.”

  “What decision was that?”

  “Giving me full custody of Liam.”

  He didn’t give his father a chance to respond and didn’t go back out to tell Hannah and Liam that he was leaving. Matthew could handle that. Instead, he raced upstairs, dressed in a rush, and dragged his hair back into a quick pony tail. He headed for the front door but hesitated with his hand on the knob. Then he strode across the living room to the den and pulled the ring box out of the desk drawer.

  When he grabbed his keys, Shadow raced across the cottage, bouncing with excitement and wanting to go where ever he was.

  “Not this time, pretty girl. We’ll play on the beach later. I promise.”

  He dipped his head in acknowledgement of his father’s knowing smile and slipped out the door. He had another promise to make first. Everything else could wait.

  Seventeen

  Erin perched on the log in front of her fort with her hands folded in her lap and leaned over her legs. For a while, she watched the waves lap at the beach, sparkling in the sun as it crested the forested hills guarding Sea Glass Cove. Her mind was empty of thought for a time, content to take in the familiar rhythm of the Pacific and the touch of thick salt air on her exposed face, but gradually, the issues that had driven her down to her fort seeped back in.

  How had Gideon said it last night?

  I swear, I’ve never seen this side of her.

  And that smile when he’d said it….

  He’d waited so long to see whatever it was Hannah had shown him last night, and Erin couldn’t help but wonder how that would change things. After lying awake most of the night thinking about it, she’d almost convinced herself that it shouldn’t. And when Gideon had kissed her with such unexpected pleasure despite her interruption of what was clearly an important conversation with Hannah, it was further confirmation that nothing needed to change just because his ex was finally stepping up. Then she’d glanced out the French doors just in time to see Liam’s brilliant joy as he dragged his parents into a family hug.