by Kay Correll
Tally seemed to be able to fix things for everyone she cared about… except for herself.
Eddie reached out and caught her arm. “About that one last talk?”
Tally stopped and looked at him, the moonlight illuminating her face. “I know what you want, but I can’t. I have nothing to give. See how quickly things can change? Look what almost happened to Courtney. Her life, Bobby’s life… they could have been ruined.”
“Everything’s a chance in life, Tally. You have to take risks to grab that happiness.” He held out his hand. “Tally, I’m offering you that. Happiness. Love. Sharing our lives. All you have to do is reach out and take my hand. We’ll face everything together.”
* * *
Every fiber in Tally’s body was screaming at her to take Eddie’s hand. Risk it, take a chance. But though her heart said to take his hand, her head said to run away.
Finally, her head won out.
“Eddie, I’m sorry. I know you want me to say that I’ll try… but it’s just too late for us.”
“It’s never too late.”
Tally looked into his steel blue eyes, memorizing every detail of his face to hold in her memory. She knew how to do that. Tuck a memory away, deep in the recesses of her brain. What she didn’t know how to do was to simply reach out and take that outstretched hand. She didn’t deserve it. Didn’t deserve Eddie.
She missed the chance to tell Jackson about his father. He’d died not knowing the truth. She’d lied to her son his whole life.
Why would she think she deserved happiness after the sins of her past?
She didn’t. When she loved someone, really loved them, she lost them. It was her destiny.
She balled her hands into fists at her side. “Goodbye, Eddie. I wish only the best for you.”
A heaviness settled on her, making her heart ache and her head pound. She turned and trudged away from him. Away from all he offered her. Away from the man who said he loved her.
She walked toward her old, normal life. She was fine with that. She was.
Chapter 25
Julie waved to Susan and Tally, then gave them a just-a-minute sign and ducked back into the kitchen. “Nancy, I’m going to pop out and visit with Tally and Susan for a few minutes. You got things in here?” Of course, her other baker had things under control. She’d run The Sweet Shoppe while Julie and Reed had taken a quick honeymoon.
The honeymoon had been wonderful, but she was glad to be back here in her shop. She’d actually missed it, which was kind of crazy, but it was the truth.
Nancy looked up from where she was rolling out a pie crust. “Sure do. You take a break. You’ve been going nonstop since you got back. I told you that you should have taken more time.”
Julie grinned. Sometimes Nancy was like a mother hen with her. She took off her apron and hurried out to visit with her friends, carrying a plate of chocolate eclairs.
Susan eyed the plate of sweets. “You know, one of us should have opened a salad shop, or a gym, or something. I feel like I put on five pounds every time I walk in here.”
“I live to serve.” Julie grinned and slipped into a chair. She looked over at Tally. “You doing okay? Susan told me Eddie left. I really thought he’d stay around for a while.”
Susan glared at Tally. “This woman sent the man packing.”
“Tally. Why? He seems so nice.”
“It was the right thing to do.” Tally’s words held a don’t-ask-anymore-questions tone.
But Julie couldn’t let it go. “I wish you’d just try, Tally. I want you to be happy.”
“I’m happy. What more can a woman want? I have a great business, great friends, live on the best island.” Tally’s words sounded hollow, like she was trying too hard to convince them—or herself.
“Julie’s right, you know.” Susan reached for an eclair. She took a bite and sent Julie a look of delight. “These are the best ever, Julie.”
“Reed signed us up for a cooking class on our honeymoon. The resort chef made these. I tweaked the recipe a bit, but aren’t they great?”
“That Reed is a keeper. Only he would think of choosing a cooking class on your honeymoon. The man knows the way to your heart.”
“He does.” Julie smiled. Susan turned to talking about her mother-in-law, Mary, and the antics of Stormy. Tally smiled at the appropriate times and answered simple questions, but it was like a light had gone out in her friend’s soul. Julie’s heart ached for her friend, but for the life of her, she couldn’t think of any way to make things better.
Tally was going to have to choose to reach for happiness. Goodness knows, Tally had told her the same thing when she’d been afraid to love Reed and trust him. And look at how that had turned out. They were married and ridiculously happy.
But when Tally made her mind up, there was usually no chance of changing it.
* * *
Bobby sat at a table at Magic Cafe, swinging his legs and slowly eating his ice cream. Tally had gotten used to having him around. He’d started hanging out with her when the restaurant wasn’t busy. She was glad to give Courtney a break, and the boy always made her smile with his enthusiasm for life.
She plopped into the chair across from him. “Enjoying the ice cream?”
“You have the bestest ice cream ever.” Bobby scooped up another bite, then set his spoon down. “Miss Tally, can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Why did Mr. Eddie leave? I miss him. He’s been gone forever.”
It had actually only been a week, but Tally understood Bobby’s feelings exactly. It did seem like it had been forever.
“He had to go back home, back to work and the life he has there.”
“But, I thought he liked us.”
“He does. He likes you a whole lot,” Tally reassured him.
“He likes you, too. I can tell these things, you know. I’m not a little kid.” Bobby picked up the spoon and took another bite.
“He… well, you’re right. He does… like… me. But things are complicated.”
“That’s what grownups always say.” He let out one of his huge sighs. “I don’t think it’s complicated. Do you like him?”
“I do, but—”
“Don’t say it’s complicated again,” Bobby warned. “If he likes you and you like him why doesn’t he stay here? He’s good at playing space guys, you know.”
Tally figured that was high praise coming from Bobby.
“Sometimes grownups just can’t be together.” She didn’t have any idea how to explain it to Bobby.
He set down his spoon again and looked straight into her eyes. “‘Cause you’re afraid?”
“I…” What could she say to that? Bobby had nailed it.
“Sometimes you have to do things that scare you. That’s what my momma says. She says you have to be brave.” Bobby jumped up. “My momma is brave, she took me away from Kurt. And Mr. Eddie is brave, he saved me and he saved Momma. I’m brave… I got stitches.” He sat back down. “So, you should be brave, too.”
Tally looked at Bobby as he finished his ice cream. The boy who was wise beyond his years.
The boy who was braver than she’d ever be.
But maybe the boy was right…
* * *
Courtney looked everywhere. She opened her tote bag and dumped the contents on the bed, carefully sorting through everything. She opened the drawers to the bed table and searched every square inch of them.
She finally dropped to her knees, crawling around the floor, and looked under the beds. Her heart clenched in her chest. She could not have lost it. It was her only connection to her mother that she had left.
Despair flowed through her. She had to find it. She pushed up off the floor and glanced around the room, not knowing where else to look, hoping the pocket watch would call to her and give her a clue where it was. She closed her eyes, willing her mind to tell her where she’d last seen the locket.
Her eyes flew open. She’d had it
on the day that Kurt was here. Had it fallen off in their scuffles? Had he taken it?
A chunk of her heart broke off, a missing piece that had always connected her to her mother.
She sank onto the bed and lowered her head onto her hands.
* * *
Tally took Bobby back to the storage building after he finished his ice cream. They really should call it something else if it was going to be Courtney’s and Bobby’s home for a while. Storage building just wouldn’t do.
“Hey, we should name your new home.” Tally looked down Bobby, their hands swinging back and forth as they walked. “What should we name it? Most of the houses and cottages here on Belle Island have names.”
“I get to name it?” Bobby’s eyes shone with excitement.
“You sure do.”
“Hm… I think I’ll name it…” He stood in front of the building, carefully taking in every detail. “I think I’ll name it Happy House.”
Tally grinned. “That’s a perfect name.”
“I think so.” Bobby went rushing inside of the newly named building.
“Momma, guess what. Miss Tally said I could name this building and guess what we’re gonna call it?”
Courtney looked up, and Tally could see she was upset, but she put on a smile for her son. “What are we going to call it?”
“Happy House.” He jumped up and down. “Isn’t that a great name?”
“It sure is.”
“You okay, Courtney?” Tally frowned.
“I… yes, I’m okay. I just lost something.”
“What is it?”
“A lady’s pocket watch on a chain. My mom had it. It’s all I have of hers.”
Tally’s heart thundered in her chest. She’d had a lady’s pocket watch of her mother’s also. It had been her grandmother’s before that. But it was lost now, too. She’d given it to Jackson, and she’d never found it after he was gone. Maybe he’d had it with him when their boat went down. He said he often slipped it into his pocket for luck.
“Momma.” Bobby went over and hugged his mother. “Don’t be sad. I know where it is.”
“You do?”
“I found it under that table over there. I put it in my treasure chest. I knew you’d be sad if you lost it. But… I forgot about it. I’m sorry.”
He jumped up and raced over to his treasure chest and came back, triumphantly holding the watch in his hands. “Here it is. See, Momma? Now you don’t have to be sad.”
Courtney’s eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Bobby. Thank you.”
“Don’t cry. I gave it to you so you’d be happy, like Happy House. I know you like this necklace thing. It doesn’t even work though.”
“I know it doesn’t, but it means a lot to me.”
A painful twinge of disappointment overcame Tally. She knew exactly how the girl felt. She herself had always felt connected to her mother when she held the watch. “May I see it?”
Courtney held the watch out to Tally. She carefully held it in her hand, letting the thick gold chain slip over her fingers. She briefly closed her eyes, lost in her own memories, then opened them and examined the watch.
She turned it over and gasped at the words engraved on it. Her breath caught, then she let it out ever so slowly. She traced a finger over the engraved surface.
“This was your mom’s?”
“Yes. I found it in her things. She had a memory box of sorts. I took this with me and a photograph. That’s all I have of her.”
Tally clutched the watch to her chest. “This… this is my grandmother’s watch. The one my mother gave to me… the one I gave to my son.”
Courtney jumped off the bed. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I know the inscription.” You’ll always be my Belle. Tally touched the locket in awe. “My grandfather gave this to my grandmother on their wedding day.”
“But why did my mother have your watch?” Courtney frowned.
Tally’s heart thundered in her chest. “Come with me.” She hurried out of the storage building—Happy House—and over to Magic Cafe with Courtney and Bobby hurrying behind her.
She led them into her office and sat at her desk. She yanked open a drawer and slid out the photographs Eddie had found in Jackson’s notebook.
“Do you know her?” Tally showed the photo to Courtney.
The girl gasped. “That’s my mother. I’ve seen that photo before. My grandmother showed it to me. My grandmother said that boy in the photo was to blame for my mother dying.”
“What? My Jackson would never hurt anyone.”
“That was just my grandmother’s strange way of putting things. My mom died in childbirth when she had me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I miss her even though I never knew her. That’s silly, isn’t it?” Courtney’s face held a wistful expression, then her eyes widened. “Do you think…” She stared at the photo. “Tally, do you think your son, Jackson, is my father?”
“I… I’m not sure.” Tally’s hand shook as she set down the photo.
“I think the reason I was so drawn to Belle Island is because of that inscription. I just know when I saw the sign to here that I turned and came over the bridge. It was like the island was calling to me. Do you think that’s strange?” Courtney’s forehead wrinkled.
“No, I think… I think it was meant to be.” Tally stared at the watch.
“He must have given this watch to my mom…” Courtney picked up the photo. “They look happy, don’t they?”
“Very happy.” Tally almost couldn’t get the words out. Emotions race through her. She looked at Bobby standing beside Courtney, unusually quiet while the grownups talked. She wanted to reach out and touch him, could he possibly be…
“You know… the only other thing I have is in this velvet pouch where my mom kept the watch. It’s just a note with a bunch of words and letters on it, but I can’t make any sense out of it.”
Tally’s heart thundered in her chest. “Some words and random letters?”
“Yes. I’ve kept it, but I don’t know what it is.”
“Can I see it?”
Courtney took the pouch out of her pocket and carefully opened it, took out the worn, folded note, and handed it to Tally.
Her hand shook as she reached out for the note, not daring to breathe, not daring to believe. She carefully unfolded the note and spread it flat on her desk, her pulse pounding in her temples.
There it was.
In Jackson’s handwriting.
Written in the secret code they’d devised so many years ago. A secret code just between mother and son.
And evidently shared with Courtney’s mother.
Tally grabbed a piece of paper and pen and started to translate the note, frowning a few times as she struggled to remember some of the quirks of the code. When she finished, she sat and stared at her translation.
Courtney came and stood behind her and read the note out loud over her shoulder. “Kim, I’m going to tell my mother and grandfather about you and the baby when I get to Belle Island. I’ll be back for you as soon as I can. Wait for me. All my love. Jackson.”
Courtney gasped.
Tally’s heart turned over and emotions flooded through her. Jackson had planned on telling her but then had died at sea before he had a chance. She wondered if he’d told her father before they died. Had his last thoughts been about Kim and the baby?
“That would mean that…” Courtney stared at Tally. “That would mean that I’m your granddaughter and Bobby is your great-grandson.”
Tally’s hand flew to her heart. She looked at the boy with the one dimple on his left cheek. Just like Jackson. “That is what it would mean,” Tally whispered. She turned to Courtney. “And I’ve got more news for you.”
“What else could you possibly have to tell me? More than this?” Tears threatened to spill from Courtney’s eyes, and her voice shook.
Tally reached out and took Courtney’s hand. Her granddaughter’s hand. “I’m goin
g to tell you who your grandfather is, too.”
Chapter 26
Eddie unlocked his door and stepped inside after a long, lonely walk. He’d wanted the peace and quiet of no interruptions, so he’d left his phone in the apartment. Though, why he wanted that was beyond him. All he’d done was think about Tally. An interruption would have been a welcome relief.
He picked up his phone now, hoping to distract himself from the thought that dogged him. There were two missed calls, three text messages, and an email notification.
All from Tally.
Part of him wanted to just delete them without listening or reading… but he couldn’t quite get up the nerve to do that. He wanted to hear her voice.
He tapped the phone and listened to the phone message—every tone of her voice made him aware that something was up. A tension flowed through her words and an unmistakable edge haunted her request to please call her.
Maybe she’d changed her mind about him? A flicker of hope threaded through him followed quickly by a dull sense of foreboding.
Or was something wrong back on Belle Island? Was Kurt back messing with Courtney and Bobby?
He glanced at his watch. If he jumped in the car now, he could be there in Belle Island by sunset. He’d rather hear what she had to say in person.
Or maybe it was just an excuse to see her again, have a chance to convince her…
He grabbed his overnight bag and was on the road within ten minutes.
* * *
Courtney sat at a table at Magic Cafe, sipped on a sweet tea, and waited for Tereza to finish her shift. She had to talk to her friend before she exploded from the weight of all that had happened today. Her emotions raced along a roller coaster and refused to let her get off the ride.
Tereza plopped down in the chair across from Courtney with a big glass of ice water in her hand. “I just clocked out. You look… flustered. Or something. What did you want to talk about?”