by Kay Correll
* * *
Courtney was not big at accepting charity, but all she’d had to feed Bobby the last few days was a few leftover peanut butter sandwiches, two apples, and a stale vending machine candy bar. He needed a good, hot meal.
He must have agreed with her decision, because he shoveled the pancakes in with gusto and waved a piece of bacon as he exclaimed how good the breakfast was.
She’d thought she’d turn down the meal for herself but then realized how tired and hungry she was. She couldn’t take care of Bobby if she didn’t eat, so she’d ordered two eggs and toast. Tereza had also brought them two big glasses of fresh squeezed orange juice and a steaming mug of coffee for Courtney. She sipped the coffee, relishing every delicious sip. Coffee had become a luxury the last few weeks. She’d only spent her money on things for Bobby. Coffee was a want, not a need. Mostly.
She looked over at her son. He’d lost some weight in the last few weeks along with the healthy, tanned cheeks she was used to seeing. Too many days of driving in the car. Hiding out during the day, and driving more at night. They’d snuck into a campground and used the showers there, and one night she’d actually gotten a really cheap hotel room. She’d been exhausted and slept for thirteen hours. Then she’d taken a long, hot bath, chased Bobby into the shower, and they’d gotten back on the road.
Tereza came over to the table. “Can I get you anything else?” Tereza had the faintest hint of a Greek accent and pronounced her name as Ter-AY-za.
“No, Tally has been so kind.”
Tereza grinned. “Looks like Bobby loves pancakes.”
“They’re my favorite.” Bobby swiped a hand over his sticky mouth.
“So, you said you need someone to watch Bobby while you work? Is he in school yet?”
“Not yet. He just missed the cutoff date. But I do need to find a babysitter.”
“Momma, I am not a baby.”
“Of course you’re not. I meant someone to watch you while I work.”
Tally walked up to them and set down a big box she was carrying. “Tereza, here are the napkins. I’m not sure how they always seem to disappear, but this should keep us going for a while.” Tally turned to Courtney. “So, I’m guessing you need a place to stay?”
Yes, just another of her problems. Childcare, a place to stay, and money. She needed money. “I do, but it can’t cost much. I’m, uh, trying to get back on my feet.”
“How about free?”
“What?” Courtney stared at the older woman.
“I have that storage building just sitting there. It won’t be the first time someone has lived there. It has a small bathroom in the back with a shower. A friend of mine, Julie, used to live there for a while. She fixed it up kind of nice while she was there. It’s yours if you want it. There’s a small fridge—oh, and there’s a microwave. You can use Magic Cafe’s kitchen to cook in if you’d like, or you can eat here whenever you want.”
“I… I don’t know what to say.” Hot tears threatened to flood Courtney’s eyes. She’d been so stressed, so afraid, so alone for so long. Here was a perfect stranger helping her out.
“Also, we need to go see Dorothy at Belle Island Inn. She has a niece, Belinda, who watches some kids. Let’s see if we can work something out for childcare for Bobby.” Tally continued solving Courtney’s problems.
Courtney jumped up and hugged her, still fighting back tears. Tally awkwardly patted Courtney’s back, then stepped away.
Tally cleared her throat. “Now about that car you said was broken down.”
“It’s out by the bridge to the island.”
“Your things are in it?”
“We only got two suitcases, and I have my backpack,” Bobby said matter-of-factly.
Courtney hoped that didn’t sound too strange to Tally, but that had been all she’d been able to grab when they’d left.
“Well, let’s go get your things and get you all settled. Then Tereza can show your mom around Magic Cafe. You think you could keep yourself busy in my office while she does that?”
“I have my books. I can read. And do puzzles.”
“He’s quite a good reader for his age. And he loves puzzles, especially search-a-word and find the hidden picture.”
“All right then. Let’s go get your things. I’ll have your car towed to the garage. We’ll see what Ned says about it.”
“But…”
Tally held up a hand. “I know, cash is tight. We’ll just have him look at it to see what he can figure out.”
Courtney took Bobby’s hand and they followed Tally out of Magic Cafe. She wasn’t sure how she’d gotten from absolute desperation when she’d broken into the storage building last night to feeling like her life was somehow going to be a bit easier.
But she was happy for the brief twist of fate no matter how long it lasted.
* * *
Susan looked up from the reception area at Belle Island Inn. She was thankful Tally had come to the rescue with Julie’s wedding and thankful that she hadn’t managed to ruin the day for Julie. Reed would never have forgiven any of them if they’d let Julie postpone the day, either. It had taken long enough for her to pick a date.
She pushed back a lock of hair, then looked at her fingernails. She wasn’t sure how she was ever going to get them clean. After scrubbing up so much of the mess from the fire, they seemed permanently etched with soot.
Jamie walked into the lobby. “Hey, Mom. You doing okay today?”
“I’m fine, really. Tally got me all checked out at the clinic yesterday.”
Jamie looked like he wasn’t quite sure he believed her. “I think you should take it easy today.”
“I can’t. There is so much to do.”
“And I’ll help with it.”
Susan looked at her son. How had she gotten so lucky to own the inn with him and work with him every day? Life sure had a way of throwing surprises your way when you least expected it. Like when Adam had come to the island just a few short months ago, and now she was married to him. He and his mother, Mary, lived in the cottage beside the inn with her. Even the fire couldn’t dampen her feeling of rightness in her world. She felt a smile break across her face.
“What are you smiling about?” Jamie raised an eyebrow.
“I was just thinking how lucky we are.”
He nodded. “I hear you on that. We are a very lucky family.”
The door opened, and Tally walked into the lobby. A young woman and small boy followed her in. Susan wasn’t surprised to see Tally. Her friend was probably checking up on her.
“How are you feeling today?” Tally crossed over to the reception desk, and Susan came out from behind the desk to greet her.
“I’m doing fine. Really. Everyone should just stop fussing over me.”
Jamie snorted. “Right, I’ll quit fussing over you when you quit worrying about me.”
Susan turned to the young woman standing beside Tally. “I’m sorry. May I help you? Did you need a room?” Thank goodness they’d only had to close two rooms for repair.
“This is Courtney.” Tally stepped aside. “And this is Bobby.”
The young boy reached out a hand. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
Susan took his hand, amused at the serious, polite expression on his face. “Nice to meet you, too.”
“But Courtney doesn’t need a room. She’s going to be staying at the storage building behind Magic Cafe.”
“Oh, just like Julie used to.”
“Just like.” Tally nodded. “But we’re looking for Dorothy. Bobby is going to need someone to watch him while Courtney works at Magic Cafe.”
Susan raised an eyebrow. She’d just seen Tally yesterday. How had all of this happened so quickly? “Dorothy is over at the cottage with Mary. They’re knitting.” Dorothy had worked the front desk at the inn for years and recently befriended Susan’s new mother-in-law. They were both avid knitters and had struck up quite the friendship.
“If you’re sure you’re
okay, I’m going to take Courtney and Bobby over to talk to Dorothy. I know her niece does childcare. I want to see if she has room to take care of Bobby.”
“Go right on over. I hope you have luck with Dorothy’s niece.”
Susan watched her friend lead Courtney and Bobby out the back entrance of the inn. She turned around and saw Jamie staring at her.
“I told you I was okay.” She nailed him with her best mother glare.
“I told you that you should take it easy today.” He nailed her with his best I’m-not-listening look.
Susan sighed. “I’ll go to my office, take it easy, look online, and price out a new grill.”
“Good. I’ve got the front desk until Dorothy comes on duty.”
Chapter 3
The next afternoon Tally paced along the beach in front of Magic Cafe, trying to figure out the best place to set up a wedding area. Right in front of the restaurant seating area would work, but they’d need to groom the beach a bit and rake up old seaweed. She walked over to the front of the storage building beside the cafe. The beach was level here, and a grove of trees would provide shade while the guests were waiting to be seated. Yes, this area was the best option. Decision made.
She glanced back at the storage building and tilted her head. If Courtney didn’t mind, they could use the back room for a place for Julie to get ready. Not fancy, but it did have a big window on the side with lots of natural light. She’d find a full-length mirror for her to use while she was getting ready. Julie could walk right out to the aisle then.
Perfect, that should work. Another decision made. She’d talk to Courtney about it when she got back to the cafe.
Tally walked down to the shoreline and stuck her feet into the water. It was such a calm day that the ocean looked more like a lake than the sea. A peaceful lake. As always, she wondered what her life would be like now if she hadn’t been born, raised, and remained on the island. If her family had been from anywhere else, far away from the sea. Or how different it would have been if she’d ever left the island.
But what-ifs never did help things. Her life was what it was. She glanced back to the area of beach by the storage building. Yes, that would work out for Julie.
She was so pleased for her friend. Julie had finally found the happiness she deserved and was finally getting the family she’d always wanted.
If Tally were being really honest, it was hard to see her friends get married and have ever-growing families. She’d never have that. She was finished with family life. Besides, she had good friends, great friends. They were all she needed.
She turned back to stare at the tranquil sea. Memories threatened to flood her mind, but she’d long ago learned to keep them at bay, afraid if she ever let them loose, she’d—
“Tally.”
That voice. She’d know that voice anywhere. Had her memories burst forth in spite of her best efforts to hide from them?
She slowly turned around and her hand drifted to her mouth. “Eddie.”
How many years had it been? Forty or more? He was older now, of course. His hair was sprinkled with gray and a weathered tan covered his face. He was still drop-dead, take-her-breath-away handsome though.
All these thoughts raced through her mind… the mind she seemed incapable of controlling.
Eddie took a step toward her. “I asked in town. They told me you owned Magic Cafe, and I’d probably find you there. A waitress inside told me you were out here.”
Eddie looked about as shocked as she felt. His steel blue eyes were narrowed against the bright sun, but he didn’t take his gaze off of her.
“What are you doing here?” She didn’t know whether to rush forward and hug him or run away and escape. Escape the memories. Escape the rush of feelings soaring through her. She’d never thought she’d see him again. Ever.
“I came looking for you.” His familiar voice rolled over her.
“You did? Why? Why now, after all this time?”
“I came looking for my son.” Eddie’s eyes flashed with determination.
Her heart pounded, and she clenched her fists. His son, the one thing Eddie was searching for, was the one thing Tally couldn’t give him.
* * *
Edward Williams stood staring at Tally. Oh, how she’d changed. But in a good way. She’d aged into a lovely woman. Her soft gray curls danced in the slight afternoon breeze that had just begun to pick up. She was slender, tanned, and a rosy blush adorned her cheeks. It was all he could do to keep himself from gathering her in his arms.
Well, except for the fact he was mad at her. Very mad. Furious.
“Eddie…”
“No one has called me Eddie in a very long time. I left that person behind when I left Belle Island. I go by Edward now.” At least that’s what people called him. He still thought of himself as Eddie, but that was kind of ridiculous for a fully grown man of his age.
Tally’s eyes were clouded with a dazed expression and she still hadn’t taken a step. For a moment he worried she was going to faint, but Tally wasn’t the fainting type of person. Though he probably had given her the surprise of her life, showing up here.
His pulse throbbed in his temples. But probably not as big a surprise as he’d been given exactly one week ago when he’d run into an old friend. “I ran into Charlie Moore, remember him?”
Tally’s forehead wrinkled, then she nodded.
“Charlie said he’d stayed on the island another few years or so after I left. He mentioned the strangest thing to me.” Eddie stood straight and pinned his eyes on Tally. “Charlie mentioned in passing that you’d had a son. He even remembered when he was born. January first, the year after I left. He remembered because there’d been a photo in the paper of the first baby of the year. Your baby.”
The color drained from Tally’s face.
Eddie pushed on. “I did some quick math, and it didn’t take me long to figure out the boy had to be mine. He is, isn’t he?”
Tally took a step forward, then covered her face in her hands. “Eddie… I…”
“Charlie couldn’t remember his name, though.” Eddie’s heart thundered in his chest. “What is my son’s name?”
“Jackson Edward.” Her voice was so low he almost couldn’t hear her.
“Jackson Edward. I want to meet him. Does he know about me? Know I’m his father?” A red-hot anger flooded through Eddie at all he’d missed, all that had been taken from him. Why hadn’t she told him about their son?
Eddie stepped forward and pulled Tally’s hands from her face. He tilted her chin up so she had to look right into his eyes. “Why, Tally? Why? And Tally? I want to meet him.”
He watched while she swallowed, then licked her lips. “You can’t meet him.”
“Yes, yes I can.”
“No, you can’t.” A lone tear slid down her cheek and she swiped it away. “You can’t because… he’s not here anymore.”
“Where is he?”
“He’s gone… he… died.” With that, tears rushed down her face, and she didn’t even try to hide them. Raw pain etched her face.
Pain that was mirrored in his own, he was sure. His knees buckled, and he dropped to kneel in the sand, fighting the searing agony that tore through him.
He’d only just found out that he had a son.
And that son was dead.
Chapter 4
Tally knelt on the sand beside Eddie, wanting to reach out and touch him, comfort him, connect with him. But her own agony was too much to bear. She couldn’t take on his pain, too.
“I did try to find you, Eddie. I found out I was pregnant after you left town.” Tears blinded her eyes as she choked out her words. “I couldn’t find you anywhere. When you moved to Dallas, I kept clinging to the hope that you’d write or call. I looked for you, I did. I just had no idea how to find you.”
“You could have come with me. I asked you to,” he growled at her.
“I know… but I couldn’t. I just couldn’t.” She’d been unable t
o take that risk back then—one of the greatest regrets of her life. Her heart squeezed in her chest.
“So you said at the time. I remember the words exactly. ‘Not going to happen, Eddie, I’m staying on Belle Island.’” His eyes flashed.
She swiped at the tears rolling down her face. “But I did try to find you after I realized I was pregnant. It’s not like it is now with the internet and Facebook and all those ways people keep in contact. I searched for Eddie Smith for years. Do you know how many Eddie, Edward, Ed Smiths there are?”
“I legally changed my name after we moved. To Edward Williams. I took my stepfather’s last name. He’d been so good to me for all those years after my father ran out on Mom and me. I also moved on to San Antonio after only a month or so in Dallas. Mom and my stepfather settled down there.”
“I guess I was looking for the wrong name, in the wrong town.”
“I’m glad you at least were trying to find me.” He raked his hands through his hair.
“I wanted you to know you had a son. I did. But then after Jackson…” She paused and steadied her voice. “After he died… well, it seemed pointless to continue to look for you. Why bring that pain to someone else?”
Tally could see the grief etched clearly on Eddie’s face.
“How… how did he die? When?”
Tally swallowed. The words tangled in her brain. The pain swelled up inside, threatening to choke her. “He… died at sea. It’s been twenty-three years. He was only eighteen. I…” She stopped to catch her breath and fight back the sobs that still threatened to unleash after all this time. “It was right after his first year at college. He was home for summer break. He was so happy, happier than I’d ever seen him. I guess college life agreed with him. The very first morning he was home, he and my father took the boat out fishing. A storm came up quickly. All they ever found were some remains of the boat.”
And no wishes made at Lighthouse Point had brought them back, either.
Eddie reached out and took her hand. “I’m… so… sorry.”