by V. K. Sykes
“Aiden, I’ve been thinking a lot about our conversation at Bull Feeney’s the other day. When we talked about what you might want to do after you hang ’em up.”
More free advice? Not something Aiden needed anymore. “Actually, I got an offer yesterday, believe it or not. From Oakland.”
Adam looked a bit taken aback, but finally smiled. “Wow, that’s excellent news, man.” He didn’t seem all that enthusiastic.
“Yeah, they want me in Triple-A for now, though, so it’s not exactly a wet dream. But my agent said there’s a good chance I’d be called up soon enough.”
Adam raised his cup in salute. “I’m happy for you, Aiden. I really am.”
“Thanks,” Aiden said automatically. He paused and then finally said the words he’d been testing out in his head for the last few hours. “It’s a decent offer, but I’ve decided I’m not going to take it.”
That surprising conclusion had pretty much come together during the ferry ride into town. He’d stayed at the rail, watching for a long time as the pretty, multihued houses of the town and the rocky shoreline receded in the distance. He’d forced himself to imagine that it was a final good-bye—that last one he would ever make. And realized that it was a good-bye he no longer wanted to say.
Especially to Lily.
Now that he’d actually said the words, Aiden couldn’t believe the sense of relief welling inside, confirming the rightness of the decision. The only thing left to do was call Paul Johnson, who would, of course, think he was insane. But if this was insanity, he could live with it—especially if he had Lily.
“Wow. That’s kind of surprising,” Adam said. “You think you’ll get something better if you hang on longer?”
Aiden snorted. “Hell, no.”
“So?” Adam probed.
Aiden shrugged. He liked Adam, but he didn’t know him well enough to start baring his soul to him. “I guess coming home is looking more attractive than bouncing around between the minors and majors for the few years I have left. I didn’t realize how much I’d left behind here in Maine… until I came back to the island.”
Other than the fact that he wouldn’t be leaving Seashell Bay anytime soon, Aiden didn’t have much of a clue about his future—though he had no intention of working as Lily’s sternman any longer than he had to. But he certainly wasn’t strapped for cash, and trying to get the ecoresort idea off the ground could keep him busy for months. Then there was Bram. His brother needed him, and Aiden could no longer risk the consequences of ignoring that fact. His father probably needed him too, although Aiden wasn’t quite ready to go there.
“I definitely understand that feeling,” Adam replied. “Pretty much the same thing happened to me. It was a little tough to leave the majors, but I’ve never looked back since I came home.”
“Never?” Aiden said skeptically.
Adam laughed. “Well, maybe a little.”
Aiden couldn’t see how anybody who had played in the major leagues wouldn’t miss it at a gut level, especially when they were forced to give it up rather than retire when they were good and ready. How could you not still long for the incredible rush of jogging out onto the playing field with the music blaring and tens of thousands of rabid fans cheering their lungs out, doing what you loved best in the world? Hell, yeah, he was going to miss it. Still, he’d had a good run, and his end in baseball was hopefully a great beginning to a life with Lily in Seashell Bay.
She was totally worth the sacrifice. It had taken fourteen years and some hard time on a lobster boat to figure it out, but Aiden had finally realized what mattered most in his life—the woman he loved, his family, and the place that he now could truly call home.
Adam pushed his coffee cup aside and gave Aiden a level stare. “Okay, Aiden, it’s time for me to admit that I’m not sorry to hear you’re turning Oakland down. In fact, I came here this afternoon hoping to make you an offer myself.”
Well, this was a day of surprises, wasn’t it? “Yeah? What kind of offer do you have in mind?”
“One of my assistant coaches just landed the head coaching job at a small university in Maryland, and that’s created an opening that I think you’d be perfect for. We’ve got five assistant coaches, and we specialize. So my plan would be to have you work primarily with the outfielders, since it’s obviously right up your alley. I know you’d be good with young players. You were a great leader when we played at Peninsula.”
Aiden didn’t say anything as he absorbed the startling proposal, but he nodded for Adam to continue.
“I can offer you a two-year contract, but the job could go on pretty much indefinitely if it works out. The salary’s not much, obviously, not compared to what you’re used to. But the university atmosphere is great and there’s not much travel. I love being home almost every night with my wife.” He gave Aiden a knowing wink.
Aiden had to admit that coming home to Lily every night would be a powerful incentive.
“It’s a Division III program, right?” he asked, trying to focus on baseball and what the job would mean.
“Yeah, we’re not in with the big schools in Division I, but the coaches here before me built a fantastic program with a history of winning. It’s great baseball.”
And it was here, in Portland, near Lily.
He spent the next half hour grilling Adam with a dozen or more questions. But he didn’t hear a single thing that bothered him. Living on the island and commuting to Portland wasn’t going to be a problem—he’d get his own boat for the good weather and take the ferry during the rough winter months.
When he couldn’t think of anything more to ask, Aiden stuck out his hand. “I think we’ve got a deal, buddy. But can I ask one thing?”
“Shoot.”
“I’d like to have at least a couple of weeks before I start. To get things in order in Philly and so on.” What he really needed was time to work on the resort proposal, especially pulling the Boston meeting together and going down there with Lily. He almost laughed out loud at all the things that were now on his plate, when only a few days ago his life had seemed completely stalled.
Adam shook his hand. “Deal. We can live without you for a couple more weeks,” he said in a joking tone. “Good thing it’s the off-season, though.”
“Thanks, Adam. I think this is going to be good.”
When Aiden said good-bye and strode down Exchange Street on his way to the ferry—on his way back to the island and the woman he loved—he began to realize just how good it was.
Chapter 21
Dragging her tired ass, Lily pushed through the door of the Rec Center and headed outside to the jammed parking lot. The crowd had been building steadily since seven, though she hadn’t joined the throng until the polling station at the Town Hall next door closed at eight, forty minutes ago. Right up to closing time, she’d been busy scouring the island for the unaccounted antiferry voters and undecideds. When she called it quits, she was satisfied that there wasn’t a single thing more she could have done to torpedo the car ferry proposal.
The vote count would be well underway by now, with Morgan, Miss Annie, and Gracie Poole scrutinizing the results for their side. Morgan had wanted Lily to do it instead, but she’d begged off. The result was going to be so close that it would have been torture for her to endure that nail-biting process. Better to head over to the Rec Center and hang out with the rest of the island’s residents until the results were announced.
The opposing forces had separated into opposite sides of the spacious main room. The smaller group—the pro side—had congregated around a pro-ferry banner and a table of refreshments provided by Bay Island Properties. Kevin Dunnagan was resplendent there in a natty blue suit, holding court in gregarious fashion with his main man, Boyd Spinney, but Lily thought he looked far from confident. Sean Flynn was nowhere in sight, which didn’t surprise her. The man was practically a recluse these days. Though Bram had popped his head in the door, he’d immediately retreated outside to talk to a small g
roup of friends.
Needing a little time alone, Lily reversed her steps and headed down to the ferry dock. The next boat wasn’t due for nearly an hour, so it was deserted but for a couple of teenagers who were making out enthusiastically inside the little shelter where travelers waited in bad weather. Lily gave the kids plenty of space, moving to the end of the dock and staring out across the quiet bay. She breathed in the peace of the gently lapping water and watched the glittering pinpricks of light from neighboring islands.
The teenage kissing and groping took her mind back to Aiden, of course—not that he’d left her thoughts for more than a few minutes all day. When they made love this morning, it had been the sweetest, most heart-wrenching moment of her life. The sex had been glorious—she suspected that sex with Aiden Flynn couldn’t be anything but glorious—but she’d cried like a baby as soon as he walked out the door. Because who knew how Aiden would react when she told him she wanted to move to California with him? There was a hell of lot undecided between them, and Lily still wasn’t certain he’d want her to go.
Fortunately, her mini nervous breakdown had lasted only as long as it took her to shower, slurp down another cup of coffee, and throw on a little makeup to hide any lingering evidence of her meltdown. After that, she’d jumped in her Jeep and gone out to do her job, like she did every day of her life. Only today the stakes were so much higher than on any other morning of her life.
A deep male voice called her name. She turned to see Aiden striding toward her down the dock, and her heart did a crazy little flip as he moved into the soft glow cast by the light standards. Abandoning any pretence of being cool and in control, she hurried to meet him.
“It feels like you’ve been gone forever,” she said, as he pulled her into his arms. “Is that stupid, or what?”
“Well, we have been spending at least twelve hours together on that boat every single day.”
She pulled back a little, holding onto him by his leather belt. “I wasn’t thinking about us in the boat, big guy,” she said.
“I know. I missed you too.” Smiling, Aiden stroked his fingers through her hair and pressed a kiss against her forehead, holding her for a long moment. Finally, he let her go.
“No results yet?” he asked, taking her hand to lead her back toward the Rec Center.
Lily bumped her shoulder against him as they walked, loving the feel of him. “Should be any time now.”
Walking hand in hand down the dock with Aiden on a warm summer night had been one of her fantasies for years. And if she hadn’t been such a nervous wreck about everything, Lily would have called this moment unbearably romantic.
“Bram said Dad told him to call the second he hears the result,” Aiden said, “so I’m hoping that means he won’t show up. He’s probably blind drunk by now.”
Lily prayed that Sean would stay away. Nobody needed a replay of the ugly scene at the Blueberry Festival social. Or worse. “I hope you can steer clear of him tonight, Aiden.”
“I’ll go home with Bram for a while in case Dad goes raging over to his place. Just so he doesn’t have to face the old man alone.”
Lily hated the idea of Aiden having to deal with Sean but understood why. And she loved him even more for being such a thoroughly good guy.
“A few undecideds I drove today told me that they’d decided to vote no. So that was great news,” she said, trying to lighten the mood. “I have a pretty good feeling about the result.”
Aiden stopped and swung around to face her. “Then this sounds like a good time to give you some more good news.”
Puzzled, she smiled up at him. “I’m listening.”
“I spent a lot of time on the phone today getting things arranged. It’s all set for us to meet Booth and the potential investors in Boston on Thursday. That is, if you’re still willing to take another day off fishing.”
Thursday was fine with Lily. But then, with a mental jolt, she registered what he’d just said. “Are you saying that you’re going, after all?” she asked in a hesitant voice.
Aiden hooked his thumbs in the pockets of his jeans, acting like Mr. Cool. But Lily didn’t miss that he was trying to hold back a smile. “Well, since you won’t be needing me for fishing, I don’t have anything else on my agenda on Thursday. We’ll go down for the day and be back on Miss Annie at dawn on Friday.”
She grabbed the front of his T-shirt, fisting the material in a convulsive grip. “My God, Aiden. Are you trying to tell me you’re not going to Oakland? Or are you just trying to torture me?”
His face went dead serious. “I’d never joke about something that important. I called my agent and told him to respectfully decline the offer. I also told him he could stop making calls because I’m officially retired from major-league baseball as of tomorrow.”
If Lily hadn’t been standing upright, the concrete dock solid beneath her feet, she would have thought someone had just knocked her flat. Her heart wanted to soar out over the water, flying in cartwheels of joy, but her brain could barely grasp what he’d just said. Aiden’s entire life had been about baseball. Could he really give it up, just like that? And why was he doing it now?
“Why, Aiden? Why retire when Oakland wants you?” She could barely force the words past her tight vocal cords.
Aiden took her hands, interlacing his fingers with hers. “Because sometimes you can’t have everything you want, Lily. Sometimes you have to make choices.”
That sounded almost… ominous, but before Lily could respond, an enormous whoop went up from the direction of the Town Hall, loud enough to make her practically jump out of her skin. She peered around Aiden to see Morgan fly out of the door and race toward them, her blond hair streaming behind her.
“Lily! We won! We won!” her friend yelled down the dock from fifty feet away. “We did it!”
Lily didn’t know whether to jump for joy or collapse in a heap from relief. Her body decided for her. Instinctively, she yanked Aiden’s head down to plant a hard kiss on his mouth, then started jumping and whooping like a crazy person.
Morgan rushed up and launched herself into Lily’s arms. For a few ridiculous, wonderful minutes, they hugged and yelled and spun around in circles, just like they’d done when they were kids. Finally, when they stopped to catch their breath, her best friend planted her hands on Lily’s shoulders.
“More than anybody, tonight belongs to you, sweetie,” Morgan exclaimed. “This is your victory more than anybody’s.”
Tears were already streaming down Lily’s cheeks, but her friend’s words reduced her to a puddle of mush. They’d all worked so hard, but Lily had put everything she’d had into the campaign. And to have Aiden here with her, knowing that he supported her, made the victory that much sweeter.
Morgan let her go and swung around to face Aiden, wagging a finger at him. “And as for you, Aiden Flynn…”
He took a step backward, holding up his hands in mock alarm.
Morgan laughed. “Aiden, you need to know that what you told Lily this morning made a difference. We really spread the word that you’d come out against the ferry.” She threw her arms around him in a fierce embrace. “You came through when it counted, dude. Thank you so much.”
Lily smothered a big grin. Morgan didn’t even know the half of it.
“What was the actual vote count?” Aiden asked after Morgan let him go.
“We got almost fifty-three percent. The margin was forty-six votes.”
“Whew,” Lily said. “A little too close for comfort. I’m afraid we might see Bay Island take another run at it sometime.”
“Don’t worry,” Aiden said, reaching for her hand. “I’m not going to let that happen. We’re not going to let that happen.”
Morgan looked at Lily and pointedly raised her eyebrows, but Lily wasn’t sure how to respond. After all, it was Aiden’s plan, not hers, and he should be the one to formally break the news.
“Come on, you two. Let’s get moving,” Aiden said. “There’s going to be a vi
ctory party at the Pot, right?”
Lily glanced at the parking lot where dozens of ancient cars and golf carts were trying to maneuver their way out in typically disorganized Seashell Bay fashion. She went up on tiptoe and whispered in his ear. “Yes, but we’re not done talking about the other stuff, are we? We’ll continue that later?”
“Absolutely,” Aiden whispered back, pulling her tight against him. “But right now you’re going to celebrate, Lily Doyle. You and Morgan both. It’s not every night you can say you’ve saved an island.”
The Lobster Pot was jammed. Laura had cranked the music up to ear-splitting levels, and people were dancing on the tiny dance floor and in the gaps between the tables. It reminded Aiden of crazy celebrations for the World Series or the Super Bowl. That made perfect sense, because tonight’s vote was more important to the islanders than any Super Bowl could ever be. Miss Annie had told him a few minutes ago that more than a few of the ferry’s supporters had shown up too, which he took as a good omen that the town’s residents would be able to put any bad feelings behind them.
He’d lost Lily in the crowd awhile ago. She’d been mobbed the moment they walked in, and Aiden hadn’t had a minute’s peace either. Everyone wanted to thank him for his role in the victory. As soon as he finished one bottle of beer—or even just put it down—somebody shoved another into his hand. When he looked around the boisterous crowd and saw Lily and Miss Annie, the rest of the Doyle clan and their old friends, and especially Bram, he realized that he’d never had this feeling—the feeling that he’d finally come home.
Still, there was one problem left to deal with. He made his way to the bar where Bram sat on a stool talking to an animated Jessie Jameson. He didn’t like to drag his brother away from a conversation with a pretty girl, but he tapped him on the shoulder and beckoned him outside.