Cottage at the Beach (The Off Season)

by Lee Tobin McClain

  Erica even had two job interviews lined up.

  Having gotten the books into their boxes, she stood and looked around and realized she had to take everything off the walls. She reached for the framed photograph above the bookcase without really looking at it. But then she did look, and hot tears burned her eyes.

  It was a photograph she’d snapped of Trey and the kids at the police station, kneeling around King. She remembered that day. Trey had been uncomfortable and ambivalent, but he’d stuck with it and the kids had had a good experience. That had been the first time she thought they might really bond together. And they had.

  She studied Trey in the picture, a half smile creasing his beard-stubbled face, his hair curling a little longer than his collar. He was so handsome that her breath caught in her throat.

  She could have had a chance with him.

  If life had been different, if she hadn’t had these wretched bad genes or if he had been more open to adoption or foster care, maybe they could have made it work. If he hadn’t been so touchy. If they’d both been better communicators.

  All that she had lost seemed to slam into her gut, and she wrapped her arms across it, trying to hold herself and hold in the pain.

  “Hello?” A man’s voice came from the door. “Is this the place?”

  “The principal said she’d be in room sixteen,” a woman said.

  Erica brushed tears from beneath her eyes and turned to see a familiar local newscaster coming in the door, dressed in a colorful suit. Following her was a cameraman.

  What in the world? Erica sucked in a breath and walked forward to greet them. “Hi. Can I help you?”

  “Are you Erica Rowe?”

  “Yes, I am.” She belatedly reached out a hand to shake the woman’s, then shook the cameraman’s hand, as well. “What can I do for you?”

  “We want to learn more about this fabulous program,” the news anchor gushed. “At-risk kids working together with mainstream kids to help elderly people weather the storm, right here in our community? It’s the best human interest story of the storm.”

  “It is?” Erica tilted her head to one side. “The behavior support program has a lot of great history, and the kids did do a nice job with storm assistance and cleanup. Is that what you want to talk about?”

  “That, and your role, and we would like to get it all on camera if you don’t mind.” The woman set her bag down and rummaged through it. “Here’s a release form for you to sign.”

  “But...” Erica hesitated. Did she want to announce that the program was ending? On TV? But then again, why not? Maybe it would find a new home somewhere.

  “Hello, hello,” came a fake-hearty voice from the door.

  Oh, great. It was Principal O’Neil.

  “I’m glad you’re here to talk about this terrific program,” he said to the TV people in a jovial voice.

  Erica’s eyebrows shot up almost into her hairline. Since when did he think the program was terrific?

  “Oh, hello. You’re the administrator in charge of this program?” The woman smiled at him. “We’d like to interview you, too.”

  “Why don’t you interview him first while I get cleaned up a little,” Erica said. It would be interesting to see what O’Neil had to say, considering that he had just shut them down.

  Soon the camera was rolling and Principal O’Neil was talking about how important the program was to the school and how wonderful Erica was.

  Erica couldn’t restrain a “Huh?”

  “What?” The cameraman looked curious.

  “Ask him how long the program is going to continue,” she suggested, and he communicated the question to the reporter.

  “We hope the program continues indefinitely,” O’Neil said.

  Happiness washed over Erica even as she rolled her eyes. Could it be true? Could she, Amber and Hannah stay at the beach where they were so happy?

  But if O’Neil had said it on camera, he would have to stick with it. And indeed, he seemed to be doing so, obviously wanting to make a good impression.

  “I’ve been very supportive of the program since it began,” he said.

  Erica blinked. The program had been ongoing for years. O’Neil couldn’t have been more than a toddler when it had begun.

  “It’s excellent for the different kids to work together,” he said. “We have the community connections and support. It’s putting the school on the map.”

  Now the reporter turned to Erica and started quizzing her about the program and how the kids had helped during the storm. She talked a little about it, doing her best even though she felt self-conscious being on TV, especially in her clean-up-the-classroom clothes.

  But if she was going to do it, she might as well do it big. “One thing we need is a new space for the kids,” she said. “If you look around, you’ll notice the facilities are limited here.”

  “Looks like you’re packing up,” the reporter said as the cameraman panned the dingy room. “Are you headed for a different classroom?”

  “I certainly hope so,” Erica said, looking over at O’Neil. He was rubbing the back of his neck with his hand and sweat was visible on his face.

  She decided to take mercy on the man. “If people want to help,” she said, “there’s going to be a fund-raising campaign for a new wing for the academy. It’s a very worthy cause and we hope people will be generous.”

  “I’m sure they will,” the reporter said, and wrapped up.

  As they were packing up, the sound of a throat clearing came from the doorway.

  Trey.

  What was he doing here?

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  EVEN DRESSED IN raggedy jeans and an old T-shirt, Erica looked gorgeous. And shocked.

  And it wasn’t totally obvious, but he suspected she’d been crying.

  He walked into the classroom and stood quietly while the reporter and cameramen left, O’Neil at their heels. Then he turned to Erica. “Are you okay?”

  “I...think so? But I’m not sure what just happened.”

  “Something good?” He was hoping against hope that it had turned out well, good for the program, good for Erica.

  “I think we got our program back,” she said, tilting her head to one side, a half smile crossing her face. “And I think we’re starting a fund-raising campaign to build a new wing onto the school.”

  Relief washed over him. “That’s great!”

  He wondered if he should reveal his role in making that happen—the phone campaign, the strings he’d pulled to get the news team interested and out here to the school, the phone call he’d made to O’Neil. He’d intended to break through her resistance with his admirable grand plan.

  But now, suddenly, that didn’t seem right. He needed to find out how she felt about him based on who he was, not on something he had done for her.

  “Look, can we talk?”

  She dipped her chin and looked up at him. “I thought there was no point,” she said, throwing his own words back at him, which he definitely deserved.

  “I’m sorry about saying that,” he said. “And I’m sorry for putting the program in jeopardy in the first place. And for the attitude I’ve been carrying around. It was misplaced.”

  She was watching his face closely, and then she gave two quick nods. “Of course I forgive you.” She paused, then added, “I heard you’re going back to your old job.”

  “You did?” Funny, because that wasn’t his intention at all.

  She nodded. “Everyone hears everything here,” she said. “Small-town life.”

  “Actually, I have another plan.” He got out his phone and found the text exchange with Earl Greene. Wordlessly he showed it to her.

  She read it. “He’s offering you a part-time job on the force?”

  He nodded. “And another part-time gig as a liais
on to the support program at the school, if it actually survives. So it adds up to full-time, here in town.”

  “Is that what you want?”

  “I think I do.” He studied her face, the way her forehead was wrinkling. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’ll be hard being together without, well, being together. To be honest.” She hesitated, then added, “And maybe taking the job here sounded better to you before you knew that I was going to stay.”

  “Actually, I was hoping... Listen. I want to ask you something.”

  She looked totally confused. “What?”

  His stomach kept knotting and his throat felt tight. He was such a wimp. He reached in his pocket and pulled out the little box. Took a deep breath. “Erica, I know it could take some time for you, but for me, I’m sure I love you. You’re the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.” As soon as he said the words, his heart relaxed and warmed. At least he had told her. “I know you love kids, and whatever the reason you’re set against having any of your own...together, I think we can work it out.”

  Her eyes glittered with tears. “Oh, Trey.” She hesitated, then added, “Thank you.”

  “Thank you? Is that yes?”

  “I still can’t,” she said.

  Of course she couldn’t, the old voice in his head harangued. No good woman would want him.

  But there was a new voice there now, that came from the kids, from Earl, from his father, from the community. A voice that told him not to back away yet, to ask questions instead of giving up.

  “Why can’t you?” he asked.

  She sucked in a breath and looked up at him, still with those glittering eyes. “When I told you I wasn’t having children, I meant...I can’t have children.”

  He reached for her hand, stunned by her revelation and by the sadness in her eyes. She loved kids so much, was so good with them. “I’m sorry,” he said. “It’s related to the cancer your mom and sister have?”

  “Uh-huh. And I know how much you want kids.”

  He nodded slowly. “I do.”

  “So it won’t work.” She pointed at him, then herself. “We won’t work.”

  Outside, a seagull cawed an opinion. Through the room’s one small window, a boat was visible on the bay.

  “I want you more than I want kids,” he said, setting down the ring, reaching out to grip her other hand, as well. “I love you more.”

  She was still looking at him, and now tears overflowed from her eyes. “You love me,” she said, swallowing hard. “Oh, Trey, you have no idea how beautiful those words sound to me.”

  He wiped the tears from her eyes with his thumbs, then took her hands again. “They’re true words.”

  She shook her head. “That’s wonderful, but...even love can’t fix it if you don’t have the life you want.”

  “The life I want is with you,” he said, urgent to convince her. “If we can build a life together, we can find a way to help children. In the academy. Foster care or adoption.”

  “But you don’t want to foster or adopt. You told me.”

  “That’s in the past,” he said. “I realize now I’m beyond my past.” It was true, and he felt like a great weight had lifted off him. It had been lifting all along, as he’d lived and worked in Pleasant Shores. After his dad had visited, he’d realized it was gone for good. Why had he carried that so long? “And besides,” he said, “you’re worth making any sacrifice for. You’re fierce and kind and generous, and I’m crazy about you. I can’t imagine life without you, but...only if you feel the same about me.” Because he wasn’t going to go through this again, loving a woman who didn’t truly love him. He was starting to realize he was worth more.

  “I’m still taking all of this in.” Erica blinked. “Is that...?” She nodded down at the little box on the desk beside them. “Is that an actual ring?”

  “It is,” he said, half laughing, but with wet eyes and a choked-up throat. He sucked in a breath and let it out slowly, trying to regain his equilibrium. “I know this isn’t how proposals are supposed to go,” he said, thinking of the social media extravaganzas he’d occasionally witnessed. “Just...just say you’re willing to explore it. Even that would make me really, really happy. I can do a big fancy proposal later.”

  “I can’t believe I could have all this,” she said, looking around the classroom, then at the ring, then at him.

  “What?”

  “You. Maybe a family. Work I love—” she squeezed his hand, swallowed hard and looked at him through eyes glittering with tears “—with the man I love.”

  He lost his breath then, stared at her, his heart warm in his chest. “You love me?”

  “I love you. So, so much.”

  He swept her into his arms and spun her around. “That’s enough for me to go on,” he said, filled with relief.

  “And I don’t need a fancy proposal. I don’t even like that kind of thing.”

  “Then...”

  “I’ll marry you.”

  His heart flip-flopped and joy rose in him. He pulled her close, studied her precious face, then lowered his lips to hers.

  A long time later, there was a pounding on the classroom door. Trey and Erica just barely had time to step away from each other when the door burst open.

  It was Venus and Shane. “We just saw a video the TV station posted,” Venus said. “Is it true? We got the program back?”

  “Because of what we did?” Shane added.

  “Because of what he did, dummy,” Venus said, pointing at Trey.

  Erica looked at him. “What did you do?”

  Then the kids fell all over themselves explaining how Trey had come to them, how they brainstormed ways to get the word out, how they’d gotten their social media friends to spread the word while he had gone to talk to Principal O’Neil.

  “You did that?” She hugged him tight, then gave each of the kids a hug, then hugged him again. “You’re all wonderful people,” she said, then looked up at Trey with eyes full of love. “You, most of all.”

  EPILOGUE

  Ten weeks later

  THEIR WEDDING DAY dawned with a little rain shower, but soon, golden sun peeked through blue-gray clouds. Gulls cawed, their voices trailing off in the August heat. A breeze blew off the water, rustling leaves and cooling the picnic area between the church and the motel. So they wouldn’t necessarily need the tent they’d put up to shelter their guests.

  A perfect day, but Erica would have considered any day perfect when she was marrying the love of her life.

  Amber and Hannah fussed with Erica’s gauzy gown and her crown of flowers, while on the other side of the tent, Denny stood with Trey, talking quietly, laughing a little and getting Trey to laugh, too. They both wore light linen suits, and Trey had never looked so handsome. Denny’s wife sat near them, hands folded over her very pregnant belly, smiling from Trey to Erica. In the months that Erica and Trey had been together, Denny and Laura had become their good friends.

  Erica felt unbelievably blessed. Their fund-raising was not only a success, it was going to be a roaring one; they’d just gotten word that they’d raised the money they needed to build a new wing on the school. It wouldn’t be ready for this school year, so they’d have to make do with the small classroom for one more year, but that also meant they could get the kids involved in some of the planning. Erica was surprised and happy that she’d heard from most of the kids over the summer, claiming—in most cases believably—that they couldn’t wait to come back for another year at the academy. Most of the local teens had been invited to the wedding.

  Of course, the new school year would bring some new kids, each with their own issues, but Erica felt ready for that, invigorated, eager to take it on.

  Even more important, Amber and Hannah could stay at the beach, fulfilling Amber’s dream and allowing Hannah to stay in the sc
hool where she’d made so many friends. The two of them would live next door to Erica and Trey, who were moving into the cottage at the other side of their rental, allowing the Healing Heroes cottage to be open to another police officer in need once the high season was over.

  A crab boat passed, loaded with traps, reminding Erica that not everyone was off work on a Saturday. The boat tooted and she squinted, saw old Henry Higbottom and his grandson headed out into the bay and waved.

  Elegant Mary walked toward her, smiling, Baby-the-Maltipoo waddling on a leash beside her. “I’m glad you decided to make the wedding dog-friendly,” she said, putting an arm around Erica to offer a brief hug.

  “Of course we did!” Erica pointed toward the area where Ziggy and King were stationed with the teens who’d agreed to watch over them for the duration of the wedding. “Ziggy is getting better all the time, to the point where I may try him as a therapy dog. And King’s doing great with his search-and-rescue training.”

  “Maybe he’ll be able to loosen up and just be a dog for a while, after all that police work,” Mary said, and then stepped back to study Erica from head to toe. “You look beautiful, dear.”

  “She does,” Julie agreed as she came up from behind Mary and added her own hug to the mix. She’d become more and more of a mother to both Erica and Amber, and while she’d never take the place of the mother they’d lost, she’d added a new richness and security to their lives.

  “You ladies had better look out.” Amber approached, leaning a little on Hannah. She was still weak from a recent treatment, and Erica’s heart lurched. Amber’s future was far from certain. They’d figured out that her pain episode wasn’t a recurrence, but she had a lot more tests and scans to do before they could begin to think she was healed.

  “Why should we watch out...? Ooooh.” Julie and Mary looked toward the entrance to the tent, where Kirk was approaching, resplendent in a summer suit and with a determined glint in his eye. “I think we’d better go check on the flowers,” Julie said, and the two of them hurried away, arm in arm.