Sea Glass Castle (The Carolina Coast Series Book 3)

by T. I. Lowe

  “My two favorite people!” Ty’s voice boomed across the parking lot as he closed his car door and walked in their direction.

  “Daddy!” Collin echoed his enthusiasm and began to squirm about in Sophia’s arms.

  Ty ate up the distance between them in only a few hobbling steps. The boot on his foot was barely noticeable underneath the tailored navy trousers. He plucked Collin out of her arms and tossed him in the air, eliciting a fit of giggles and squeals.

  Even though a foreboding feeling kept tightening along her shoulders, Sophia couldn’t help but smile at how happy her baby boy was with his daddy back in his life. Her eyes betrayed her by coasting the length of Ty. Dark navy and silver were his team’s colors, but he always wore them like they were his very own, just as he was this morning in the custom-made navy suit and the narrow silver tie. With the sun emphasizing the coppery undertone of his brown hair and warming his already-bronze skin, the man wore his good looks like a boss. Problem was, he knew it.

  “Like what you see, babe?” Ty produced a wink to go with his signature aw-shucks grin before carrying Collin over to the Range Rover and loading him up in a brand-new car seat he’d purchased since arriving in town. That should have clued her in on how serious he was, but she kept ignoring all those signs, hoping they would go away.

  Sophia watched Ty work at buckling Collin in, recalling another time she’d ignored signs and how devastating that turned out. The moment her former PR firm signed the talented running back, Sophia was smitten. She couldn’t—or didn’t want to—see past all the excitement and passion of finally experiencing her first love. It was a whirlwind romance for sure, and the naive young woman found herself married and pregnant before they made it through Ty’s first NFL season. And it was perfect for the first two years, before Sophia started to notice the minuscule cracks in Ty’s perfection. Intuition told her to pay attention to those cracks, but she looked the other way, hoping she was wrong. It took two more years of looking the other way before the Prescotts’ glass castle completely shattered.

  “I’ll follow you guys.”

  “Why, babe? It makes no sense to take two vehicles.” Ty glanced over his shoulder, seeming to be struggling with the harness.

  Sophia nudged him out of the way and readjusted the harness to the proper fit before latching it. She placed a kiss on Collin’s cheek before turning away and closing the door. “Collin has a playdate after church. It’ll be easier to drive separate,” she defended, even if the playdate was much later in the day. She rounded the back of the vehicle to dodge any advance Ty might have thought about making.

  Minutes later, she was driving behind him, trying to push the uncomfortable fit of the situation off her shoulders. Sadly, it only grew. It had become almost unbearable by the time she and Ty dropped Collin off at children’s church and made their way into the sanctuary.

  The two rows behind her usual pew were filled with familiar faces. Opal and Lincoln sat with Seth. Behind them sat Josie and August with his two brothers. And sitting in her pew, with room for only one more, were Jasper, Doc, Agnes, and Wes. Of course, the available spot was beside him.

  Sure, they all attended the same church most every Sunday, but they were usually sprinkled throughout the sanctuary instead of huddled together. They were clearly forming some type of united front.

  “Good morning, young lady,” Agnes said, motioning for Sophia to have a seat beside Wes. He picked up his Bible and placed it in his lap, as though he had been holding her a place. He offered her a polite smile before sliding his glasses on and looking toward the front.

  The prelude music was coming to a close and the pastor was heading toward the pulpit, so Sophia knew there wasn’t time to find another place. She sat, putting some space between them, only to be pushed closer as Ty wedged himself in beside her. Everyone in the entire pew had to shift over to the left to make room. Even so, they ended up packed like sardines.

  “Ty, you can sit with us,” Opal whispered near Sophia’s shoulder. “There’s plenty of room.”

  “That’s okay. I don’t mind sitting close to this beautiful woman,” Ty whispered back, his warm breath tickling the side of Sophia’s neck as he gave her shoulder a lingering squeeze.

  Yep. It’s the day that’s not fitting right. Not my baggy pants or itchy blouse . . .

  She feigned a headache after the service, declining her parents’ dinner invite. Ty seemed too consumed with his phone to really care one way or the other.

  Once she had Collin loaded up, Ty announced, “I have a meeting this afternoon.”

  Sophia squelched the sigh of relief. “That’s okay. I think I’ll join Collin in a nap before his playdate.”

  Ty glanced at his phone and nodded absently. “I’ll try to pop over later and check on you.”

  Sophia was about to climb in when Ty pulled her into his arms and went in for a kiss. She shoved out of his embrace and held up both palms. “Never again are you to take anything from me without my permission.”

  “Babe—”

  “I mean it, Ty. You’re not allowed to kiss me. That’s way out of line.” Her eyes slid just past Ty’s shoulder and caught on Wes. His face was high in color and his hands were fisted by his sides. Wes ticked his head in Ty’s direction, but Sophia gave her head a subtle shake to warn him off.

  “But you’re my—”

  “I’m not your wife anymore. We both signed the papers that are proof of that.” She pointed toward his vehicle. “You should get to your meeting.”

  “Yeah. You’re right.” The words were agreeable, but his sharp tone said otherwise. Thankfully, he left without further comment.

  Sophia released a pensive sigh as she glanced to where Wes still stood. Too many eyes were watching, so she only offered him a brief wave before climbing into her SUV. On the drive home, she pushed all things Ty Prescott out of her mind while trying to dissect what had been going on at church with Wes and the crowd rallying around him. It was odd. But what was even more odd was her overwhelming desire to hold his hand during the service, even with Ty on the other side of her.

  Sophia heated up a bowl of leftover chicken and dumplings for Collin. Once he was fed, they lay down for a nap. After the toddler settled down, Sophia snuggled beside him for a spell and simply cherished the peaceful moment with him. She managed to drift off for a while, but that uncomfortable feeling was still there when she awakened and even followed her and Collin all the way to the park, where they met Collin’s preschool buddy Dawson and his mother, Laney.

  “What a beautiful afternoon,” Laney supplied while stretching out on the park bench beside Sophia.

  “Hard to believe we’re only weeks away from Christmas and here it is in the midseventies,” Sophia commented, her eyes trained on Collin and Dawson as they climbed onto the merry-go-round. She was about to walk over and give it a spin for them when Dawson’s older brother offered to do it. Sophia thought she recalled Laney saying he was eleven, but she couldn’t remember the boy’s name.

  “Heard your husband is in town.” Laney nudged Sophia’s arm and it was all Sophia could do to not instantly form disdain for the woman.

  “Ex,” she corrected without offering any further information. She looked back at Collin and jolted. “Your son is going too fast.”

  “Eric, slow down,” Laney yelled, but the boy kept running like he didn’t hear her. “Heard y’all been out together. Girl, he’s so hot.” The woman had the nerve to giggle, not paying attention to her kids.

  Sophia had no patience for the woman’s silly swooning, her focus centered on her son. “Please tell Eric to slow down again.”

  “They’re fine—”

  A twinge of anxiety hit Sophia’s stomach as she sprang to her feet to put a stop to the boy’s rapid spinning, but she wasn’t fast enough. To her horror, she watched Collin’s little eyes round in fear just as he lost his grip on the bar in his hands. Before she could reach the merry-go-round, her boy took flight and landed with a sickening th
ump against the ground.

  “Collin!” She knelt beside him where he coiled into a ball and groaned, but didn’t move him for fear something was broken. She noticed a thick root protruding from the ground. “Baby, where does it hurt?”

  “Eberywhere.” He clutched his middle and began to cry in a stilted manner, giving Sophia a frightening clue that he was having a hard time breathing.

  She pulled her phone out, called 911 for an ambulance, and then dialed Ty. He didn’t answer, so she rambled off a message before hanging up.

  “Poor baby. We can take him in my van,” Laney offered.

  “No, I don’t think we should move him.” Sophia hit the next contact that she needed and he answered on the first ring. Once she heard his voice, her own sob released. “We’re at the park. . . . Collin had a hard fall. . . . Think he fell on a big root. . . . He’s clutching his middle. . . . An ambulance is on the way,” she managed to tell Wes between sobs as she rubbed Collin’s back. A car started up and the engine revved in a growl on the other end of the phone, so she knew he was on the way. Hanging up the phone, she focused on keeping Collin still and calm.

  The next hour was a blur. The ambulance arrived, loading them up and depositing them at the ER. Wes was already there waiting and without any delay had Collin whisked to the back for tests.

  Somehow, while Sophia waited in a private room, Opal and Josie showed up, Sophia’s parents close behind them. Undoubtedly and thankfully, Wes had enough wits about him to make phone calls on her behalf. Opal took over trying to reach Ty. After several failed attempts, Sophia remembered. “Ty’s in a meeting. He’ll get the messages eventually.”

  After what seemed like hours, Wes eased into the room and knelt before Sophia. He spoke quietly, garnering everyone’s undivided attention. “After examining Collin and then performing an ultrasound on his abdomen, I detected a tear in his spleen. I ordered a CT to confirm the diagnosis, which it did.”

  Sophia gasped and made to stand, but Wes grabbed her hands and moved closer into her space. Using his firm touch and a stern look, he commanded she focus on him. She trained her eyes on his, which were magnified by his glasses. “What’s that mean?”

  “I have a pediatric surgeon on the way.”

  Her bottom lip trembled and goose bumps stung her skin. “Surgery?” The word barely squeaked out.

  “It can be done laparoscopically.” Wes said each word slowly. “Collin . . . will . . . be . . . fine. I’m going to walk you back to give him a kiss, and then I need you to sign the papers for the surgery so we can get him prepped.”

  Sophia sputtered and choked. “I can’t . . .”

  Wes gently squeezed her hands and pulled her to her feet. “Yes, you can. You are going to hold yourself together. Collin needs you to do that for him. You need to reassure him he’s okay and that you’re okay.”

  She swayed in place, so Wes tucked her into his side and walked her through the double doors. An undulating haze had taken over her vision, and she leaned into him and allowed him to lead her through the hospital. Her insides crumpled when she saw her baby boy lying in a hospital bed, but she managed to keep her reaction from showing.

  “Mommy,” Collin murmured, tired but with hope.

  The nurse who was sitting by his bed moved out of the way.

  “Thank you,” Sophia whispered as she passed by.

  The nurse gave her a kind smile before slipping out the door.

  Sophia walked over and cupped his tiny hand in hers. “Hey, bub. Wes says you have a boo-boo.”

  Collin pouted his bottom lip out. “Him say I gotta take another nap so they can fix it.”

  Her chest was heavy from a mix of worry and pride. Collin sounded so calm, albeit a little peeved, so she knew Wes had done a good job with soothing him. “Yeah. He told me.”

  “I’m going to hang out with him until he goes to sleep,” Wes said, reassuring them both. For that, Sophia was grateful. “First, I need Mommy to sign a paper to give me and my buddy Abram permission to fix the boo-boo, but I’ll be back soon. Can Mindy read you a book until I get back?”

  “Okay. But pease huwee.”

  Wes pulled a small book with Lightning McQueen on the cover from his lab coat pocket and handed it to the nurse. “I will. Give Mommy a kiss.”

  Sophia took that as her cue, leaning down and placing her trembling lips against his tiny puckered ones. “I love you, bub.”

  “Wuv you,” he said back, his eyes already investigating the small book in the nurse’s hand. “Wes dwives a race caw.”

  Mindy’s eyes rounded. “He does?”

  Collin nodded and wrinkled his nose. “But him not go fast enough.”

  “Well, ain’t that something. I bet they go fast in this book.” The nurse cracked open the book and distracted Collin as Wes ushered Sophia out of the small pre-op room.

  Another blur of time followed during which Sophia filled out the paperwork and was then led back to the surgical waiting area. Josie and Opal were good with being supportive friends, offering to get Sophia something to eat or drink. Even though she declined all offerings, a water bottle ended up in her hands and was already half-empty by the time she realized she’d been drinking it.

  Wes reappeared, wearing a pair of blue scrubs, and took the seat beside her. He pulled the cap off his head and tucked it in a pocket before gathering her hand in his and entwining their fingers. “They’ve already started. It’s a simple procedure . . .” As he spoke quietly, explaining each step of the surgery, his thumb drew a comforting circle along her wrist. Once he finished explaining the laparoscopic procedure, he filled her in on aftercare that included a night or two in the hospital for monitoring.

  Eventually they lapsed into silence, but an entire conversation passed between them for the next long stretch of time. Her side of it was constant hysteria—fidgeting, sniffling, trembling. His side of it was a constant state of reassurance—warm strength, fingers working through her hair, a steady hand on her shoulder as he pulled her into his lap for a long hug. That was where she was when the door flew open.

  “Where is he? Where’s my son?” Ty jabbed a finger toward Wes. “And why aren’t you helping him?”

  Wes kept his arms circled around her, only lifting his head in Ty’s direction. “I’m not a surgeon, but I brought one of the best pediatric surgeons in to perform the procedure.” He moved his hand away, glanced at his watch, and then wrapped his arm back around Sophia. “Collin should be in recovery anytime now.”

  Sophia didn’t know what caused it, but suddenly Wes’s entire body went rigid. She looked up to see him glaring at Ty.

  Wes stood and gently placed her in the chair. Through clenched teeth, he said to Ty, “I need a word with you in the hall. Now.” His words were just over a whisper but held enough grit to make Ty actually follow him out.

  After several minutes passed, Sophia was about to check on them, but Ty came back in before she could.

  “They paged Wes and let him know Collin is in recovery. He went to find out when we can go back.” Ty rubbed at his neck and chose to sit on the other side of the room.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  Ty shook his head and scrubbed a palm over his mouth. “Nothing, just . . . when this is over and Collin is home, I think it’s best you quit your job and get back to taking care of him full-time.”

  “What?”

  Everyone in the room suddenly filed out, giving them some privacy. Well, everyone but Lincoln. The giant man stood guard by the door, arms crossed over his broad chest while his eyes remained frozen in a scowl directed at Ty. Sophia gave Lincoln a subtle nod, thanking him, before turning her attention to a fidgeting Ty. She expected Ty to get up and sit with her, but he remained across the room. “I don’t trust that doctor friend of yours, and I’d just as soon have you focus on our son. Our accounts are now freed up. That’s what had me tied up this afternoon.”

  “Oh.” Sophia really didn’t care about that at the moment. She was too antsy w
ith wanting to get to Collin.

  “Yeah. I just have to pay some stupid fine, but all’s good. You don’t have to work any more.”

  The door opened, and the nurse, Mindy, stepped in and smiled. “Wes said to come get you, Sophia, to bring you back to Collin.”

  Ty stood. “I’m his father. What about me?”

  Mindy directed her smile way up to him. “I’m sorry, sir. I can only allow one back into recovery and Collin is asking for Sophia. But we should have him in a room within the hour.”

  Sophia hurried by him and was actually surprised when Ty took a step out of her way instead of blocking it. He was avoiding her for some reason. Perhaps finding her in Wes’s arms had disgusted him. If it did, then so be it. Her priority was Collin.

  The nurse was true to her word, and within an hour, they were in a private hospital room. Awkwardness overtook the room as Ty hovered in a corner while Wes stepped into the role of caregiver. Sophia’s family and friends only stayed briefly at Wes’s advisement, promising to visit again tomorrow.

  “I wan’ my hewo undeweaw,” Collin grouched when he finally realized his bottom was bare.

  “You had an accident in the ones you were wearing, but don’t worry. Uncle Seth is bringing you some,” Wes assured him.

  Sophia didn’t know if he even realized he’d referred to his brother as Collin’s uncle, but boy, did it sound really right.

  “I gotta peepee,” Collin whined after a few more minutes.

  “Okay.” Sophia stood by the bed and contemplated how to maneuver picking Collin up without jostling him or the IV.

  “I wan’ Daddy or Wes to take me. I a man, Mommy,” Collin slurred, grogginess from the anesthesia still slowing him down.

  Sophia turned to look at Ty, but he threw his hands up and looked distraught by the idea. “Whoa. I might hurt him.”

  Wes stepped over without hesitation and tucked the hospital gown more securely around Collin. “Collin isn’t fragile. He’s a man.” He winked at Sophia, more for reassurance than tease, as he slowly picked Collin up and began pulling the IV pole behind them to the bathroom.