Unexpected Arrivals

by Stephie Walls

  “Did you find what you were looking for?” he whispered into my ear.

  I shook my head, sobbing into the crook of his neck. His hand stroked my hair, and he kissed my temple. James had been my rock since the day I’d laid eyes on him in Harbrook High, and I knew without a doubt, no matter what we had to go through, I’d never leave his side—because he’d never left mine.

  16

  Cora

  “You ready to go, buddy?” James appeared as excited as Legend was when we got to Dottie’s door.

  I was too surprised by her new address to say much. She’d given it to James this morning when he called to arrange a time to get Legend. It was nothing like the home she and Owen had shared. We only stepped foot inside the foyer, but it was cozy and welcoming. There was no staff, she didn’t have ten thousand feet of unused space, and there were pictures everywhere. I couldn’t imagine what had happened to take her from the life of luxury that was prevalent when I was around to upper-middle-class suburbia now.

  Just as we were about to leave, I met her stare and saw that same thing I’d witnessed yesterday, something similar to regret, although I still couldn’t imagine why. And once again, it wasn’t the time or the place to question what all had changed since I left Geneva Key, or why she hadn’t been this attentive when I’d needed her most. So instead of poking the bear, I gave her a meager smile and a tiny wave over my shoulder before leaving with my husband and his son.

  “You guys have fun. Just give me a call when you’re ready to come home.” Dottie cringed just slightly at the last word.

  It had likely started to dawn on her that this wasn’t going to be Legend’s home much longer. And I had to wonder what role she planned to play in his life once we were gone and he was in New York. That too was a topic for another time, and certainly not one to be had in front of Legend. James and I had avoided it as eagerly as we had the presence of her in Legend’s life to begin with. I assumed he feared lighting a flame inside me he couldn’t extinguish along with the one he already fought figuring out he had a child.

  The three of us hopped into the rental car and went back to the Carpenters’ house to utilize their semi-private beach-front property. Legend didn’t even notice the monstrosity of a house. His eyes were set on the sand and the water in front of us.

  “Daddy, will you play in the waves with me?”

  My heart skipped a beat hearing Legend call James “Daddy” for the first time. He hadn’t hesitated, he wasn’t unsure, he owned it as though James hadn’t missed a single day of his life.

  “Absolutely.”

  As soon as we were out of the car, I grabbed the bags from the back deck. James picked up Legend and swung him onto his shoulders. He jogged the rest of the way to the water’s edge with Legend giggling and an enormous smile on his face. I was witnessing a side of James I’d never seen before, and it made me sad to think he’d desired children and never told me. He was a natural and exactly what Legend needed.

  “Cora!” His little voice carried over the waves to where I laid out our towels and put up an umbrella. “Come in the water.” He waved his hands to indicate just what water he meant.

  I couldn’t suppress the giggle or my desire to see him smile. Regardless of how my feelings had ricocheted back and forth about the situation, being in Legend’s presence seemed to wash away the reality of what we were up against. Chelsea had given us a gift so precious, yet I hadn’t even known I’d wanted it. I shimmied out of my shorts and removed my tank top. Just before I took off toward the man I loved and his little boy I’d grown undeniably smitten with, I kicked off my flip-flops and pulled up my hair. I’d never enjoyed the beach as much as I did that morning. The world around us ceased to exist, settling in together, splashing and having fun.

  I never thought I’d be enamored with a child I barely knew and had just met, yet every time I picked up his little body, or he went chasing after a ball he’d dropped, or sent a Frisbee flying into the water, I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face or the joy that filled my heart. Legend exuded personality and vibrancy—he was infectious in the best possible way. And each time that thought crossed my mind, a twinge of regret followed—I’d never get to meet the woman who’d raised such a gentle soul.

  “Daddy, do you have floats at your mama’s house?”

  “I’m sure they do. Want me to go find out?”

  His red head bobbed eagerly.

  “You mind staying with him while I run up to the house?”

  I waved him off as though his question was insipid, while inside, I was slightly terrified. The waves were huge, and the ocean could be a dangerous place. It would only take one wrong move for Legend to slip into the undertow and me not be able to get him back to safety. He was a strong swimmer for his age, but I held my breath until James returned. We laughed at him bouncing down the shore with two long rafts and a tube that beat against his legs with every step he took.

  When he finally arrived back in the water, I released the panic I’d held inside and helped Legend into the tube. And as soon as I lay down on the raft James had given me, Legend reached out to me.

  “Cora, hold my hand, so the waves don’t take you away.”

  I was in awe of a child who had lost his mother being able to enjoy the world around him and worry about other people. At that moment, I realized just how great his capacity for love was, and how lucky we were to have him come into our lives when he had. We’d only spent a handful of hours with him, yet somehow, I couldn’t imagine never having met him.

  Lying there, rolling with the motion of the water beneath me and the sun shining down, I let my mind go quiet and quit overthinking everything. And just as I’d settled under the warmth of the day with my eyes closed, certain James had one of Legend’s hands and I had the other, I heard his little voice.

  “My mama would think you’re pretty.”

  I shielded my brow with my fingers to look his direction. His chocolate-brown eyes stared back at me with a hint of sadness he clearly fought. Before I could say anything, he kept speaking.

  “She told me how much my daddy loved you, and when her turn with me was over, that you would be special. I’m glad she was right.” His bottom lip trembled with his admission.

  My heart firmly lodged itself in my throat, and I hopped off the float to find my feet planted on the ocean floor. I didn’t ask Legend’s permission or even look at James. My hands reached under the little boy’s arms, pulled him from the tube, and held him against my chest. I knew firsthand the pain he was in, but his mom had promised him he would be loved even after she was gone, and he’d believed her. Chelsea had put so much trust in me that she encouraged her son to love me blindly—without ever having laid eyes on me or exchanged a single word. And for that, I was grateful. Even more, the faith of this child brought me to my knees.

  “Oh, buddy, thank you,” I whispered into his ear, hoping he could hear me although not caring to share our truth with anyone else. “I know how much it hurts. I hope you’ll tell me all about her. Every day.” I vowed to myself to ensure he remembered the way she loved him and the memories they collected in the short time they had together. I’d had seventeen years with my parents, and the memories weren’t nearly as sharp as they were then. His would fade quickly if James and I didn’t ensure he didn’t forget.

  “I promise.”

  I hadn’t paid any attention to James getting off the raft when he lost hold of Legend’s hand, and when I finally opened my eyes and still had Legend securely in my embrace, I looked over the little boy’s shoulder to see his father biting back tears. Somehow, James knew Legend and I were bound by a loss he would never understand. He would never experience losing a parent as a child. That one exchange, just a handful of words, tied my heart to a child I wasn’t aware I needed, yet now, I couldn’t imagine never having.

  When Susan and Brock appeared under the umbrella, it signaled lunchtime and the perfect way to escape the emotional overload. They were as excited
to meet Legend as James had been. I’d never thought of them as the grandparent type, but here they were almost bouncing on their toes, waiting for us to come out of the water.

  ***

  “James, your parents are here. And they brought lunch.” I propped Legend on my hip like I’d done it a thousand times in the last five years and pointed at the huge picnic basket Brock held at his side. It had been the plan, but seeing the size of the basket, I wondered if they’d packed enough food to feed us for days instead of just one meal.

  “Why don’t you take Legend up there, and I’ll get the floats.”

  I had forgotten all about the tube and raft that had drifted a bit when we hopped off them. James rounded them up while we climbed out of the waist-high waves and back onto stable ground.

  When I put Legend down, he pulled on my hand and clutched it tightly. “Who are they?” he asked as he pointed under our umbrella. He hadn’t shown an ounce of fear with James or me, yet suddenly, his trepidation was front and center.

  “Those are your grandparents. Are you excited to meet them?” I’d raised the tone of my voice half an octave to try to convince him there was nothing to be afraid of. Clearly, it hadn’t worked.

  “I’m not supposed to talk to strangers, Cora.” His generally wide eyes squinted in the sun as he stared up at me.

  “They won’t be strangers soon. They’re your daddy’s parents, and I promise, you’ll love them as much as they do you.”

  He took a hesitant step in their direction. “They don’t know me.”

  I squatted next to him and took his chin between my fingers. With a genuine smile, I said, “Remember how your mama told you about your daddy and me?” I continued talking when he nodded. “Your daddy told his parents all about you. And they can’t wait to meet you.”

  “Do you think they have cake?”

  I hoped like hell they did. I was also certain if they didn’t, Susan would make a call and have one at our fingertips in thirty minutes. “Maybe, but if not, I bet we can make that happen. What’s your favorite kind?”

  We started walking with James on our heels.

  “Carrot cake.”

  I ruffled his hair. Of course it was.

  “Mine’s red velvet.”

  “What about Daddy?” I realized there was so much none of us knew about each other and how much I enjoyed these simple questions.

  “Vanilla.”

  “That’s boring. Does he at least like it with sprinkles?”

  “Nope. Just vanilla cake and vanilla icing. Maybe you can convince him otherwise. He has a birthday coming up, and I’m sure he’ll like anything you pick out.”

  “You must be Legend,” Susan exclaimed as she clapped her hands together and kneeled in front of him.

  “Cora said my daddy has a birthday soon, and I can pick out his cake.”

  Susan grinned wide, and Brock burst out with laughter. “White on white. That’s all your daddy likes, son.”

  “Wait, who said you could pick out my cake?” James grabbed Legend, swung him into his arms, and dug his fingers into his son’s sides.

  He erupted into a fit of giggles and pointed at me. “Cora did.”

  “Oh, she did, huh? Then maybe we should get her.” And suddenly the two of them were both after me, poking me every chance they could, trying to get me to laugh.

  I finally collapsed on the towel under the umbrella, and Legend hopped in my lap.

  “Grandma, did you bring us something to eat?” He hadn’t been told what to call her, but she beamed with pride at his declaration and acceptance of who she was in his life. Only a child could get away with the innocent way he brought us into his world.

  My arms circled his chest in a hug I hoped conveyed to Legend what words failed to say.

  “I did, and Papa brought some chairs for us all to sit in so we don’t get sandy.”

  “What’s in your basket, Papa?” And just like that, we were all in Legend’s fold.

  The five of us sat under the umbrella eating roast beef sandwiches, potato salad, and grapes. Susan and Brock asked Legend so many questions I was afraid his jaw would get tired between chewing and talking, but he ate up the attention as quickly as he did his lunch. He was well-mannered and equally well-behaved. I wondered how Chelsea managed to raise such a well-rounded child while managing a life-threatening disease.

  “You have a big house, Papa. Do lots of people live with you?”

  “Just me and your grandma. Although right now, your daddy and Cora are staying with us, too. Maybe you can spend the night with us before you guys go home.”

  “Where do you live?” Legend asked James while looking to me for the answer.

  “In New York. Do you know where that is?” I tried to remember just how young he was. He hadn’t started school yet, and I wasn’t sure he’d ever been out of Geneva Key.

  “That’s a long way away from my Dottie.” His expression turned sour, and he didn’t say anything else.

  “Who’s Dottie?” Susan asked, unsure of what was going on.

  “She was my mama’s best friend. And her mama’s, too.”

  “That’s who Chelsea and Legend lived with. Dottie took care of Legend until we could get here.” James pleaded silently with his parents not to ask more questions. Unfortunately, his mother missed the clue.

  “I’ve lived here all my life. There’s no one named Dottie on the island.” Her gaze went back and forth to James and me before landing firmly on me…waiting.

  “Dottie is Gwendolyn Chase.” I let those words hang in the air so his parents could fully absorb the weight of what we’d walked into upon arriving in Geneva Key.

  “Your grandmo—”

  I cut her off with a wave of my hand before she could complete that thought.

  “I thought she moved after Owen passed away?”

  “I wasn’t aware she’d moved at all, so you have more information than I do at this point.” I shook my head. “Dottie and I need to find some time to sit down and talk. Up ’til now, other things have been more important.”

  Brock appeared irritated…although, I couldn’t figure out why. I should be the one who was irate, but Dottie, or Gwendolyn—whatever she went by these days—was the least of my concerns right now. Clearly, I wasn’t the only one stunned by this turn of events or how all the pieces fit together. In time, I hoped to be able to answer his parents’ questions because it would mean I had answers to my own.

  “I don’t want to go to New York, Daddy.” He’d been stewing while we talked.

  James stared at me, and I shrugged. Our home, our lives, our friends, James’s business—it was all in New York. And Legend was in Geneva Key…the one place we both loathed.

  “We don’t have to figure that out right now. Let’s just enjoy the day. Okay?”

  “Do you have cake?” He turned toward Susan, and I couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped realizing he had a one-track mind.

  “Will cupcakes work? I have chocolate and vanilla.”

  “That’s pretty good. You didn’t know my favorite is carrot cake. But now you do.” He eagerly picked up the little dessert. “Thank you.” His eyes were bright and sparkled in the sun.

  “You’re most welcome. And I promise, next time, I’ll have carrot cake just for you.”

  “Cora’s favorite is red velvet. If you have two flavors.”

  “I’ll remember that, too.” She handed him a napkin to wipe the icing from his freckled cheeks.

  He’d taken one big bite, determined he liked it, and stuffed the rest into his mouth at once. Before I could stop him, he bit down and went to town with a smile from ear to ear and chocolate cake crumbs falling from his lips.

  “That’s so gross.” I giggled and scrunched up my nose.

  When he finished, he begged James to take him back out to the water and make a sand castle on the shore. I waved the two of them off in favor of lying back under the shade of the umbrella in the chair Brock brought.

  I had just shut my ey
es when Susan asked, “How on earth did your grandmother end up with custody of our grandson, and none of us were aware of it?”

  “That’s the million-dollar question, Susan. And I don’t have a clue.”

  “Sweetheart, I’m sure you’re as confused as we are, but Gwendolyn owes you some answers. Don’t leave here without them.”

  I didn’t respond. I didn’t want to have that discussion with Gwendolyn, even if it was inevitable. I just worried how it would change my past and shape my future. Whatever pieces linked us all together were likely more than I’d be able to handle.

  James’s parents spent the rest of the afternoon with the three of us on the beach. We each took turns playing with Legend in the sun, lathering him in sunblock, and wrapping him in a towel. And just as soon as we thought he was done for the day, he’d take off to the water’s edge to jump around in the waves and splash with childish delight. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d smiled as much as I had today, and the same was true of James. Legend had brought something into all four of our lives that was unexpected yet greatly appreciated.

  We finally called it a day as the sun started to set. Susan and Brock had brought enough food and snacks that we’d forgone dinner and grazed throughout the afternoon. I could tell James was reluctant to drop Legend off at Dottie’s, even though we did it just the same. After making plans to get Legend in the morning, my grandmother stopped me.

  “Cora, why don’t you let James and Legend spend some time together tomorrow and the two of us meet for coffee at the diner on Main Street?”

  “Sure, would nine o’clock work for you?”

  “I’ll see you then.”

  I could only imagine what information Gwendolyn was going to share or what she might reveal that she believed could explain away her involvement in Chelsea’s life or lack of one in mine.