13. Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Thirteen
After what seemed like an eternity, the driver took the exit off the parkway that would lead them to the bridge that crossed into Pelican Bay.
Ty wanted five minutes alone with Maddy, but that wasn’t possible now. He’d have to wait through all the chaos that awaited at the house for her welcome-home dinner.
“I’ve always loved this view,” Linda said from the back seat when they hit the bridge. “Last time I saw it was weeks after the storm, and things were still a mess.”
The disaster in the storm’s aftermath had lasted months, years. In the initial weeks, many people weren’t allowed back in their homes to do more than gather a bag of clothing and immediate personal effects. Some people stayed with friends whose homes weren’t seriously affected.
The B&B had been devastated, and Maddy and Linda moved in with his family at their grandmother’s house. Jason, Connor, and their mom had taken up temporary residence at Evan’s house. Others not as fortunate were forced to stay at the shelter set up at Boardwalk Hall, and even more had to go off-island, where shelters had been set up in school auditoriums .
After remaining in the hospital for a week after the storm, Ty remembered the drive back and seeing the devastation as they crossed the bridge. Not long after he returned, he faced his father’s funeral. The survivor’s guilt he’d felt weighed heavily on him. The therapist his mother had insisted he and Emma see had helped.
Eventually.
In the months that followed, Ty helped friends and neighbors dispose of ruined furniture and belongings in the dumpsters set up around town. It was a horrible time, especially for people who weren’t allowed back in their homes.
His mom and grandmother had organized donations at the church and provided supplies to those who needed basic things like clothing and food. Over the years, they continued to have regular food and clothing drives for those who still struggled.
“You’ll see a lot of changes, and even more since the amusement pier was reopened. The town has a new energy to it,” he said.
“People are excited and working hard to open new businesses. Thanks to Jason and Connor, there’s lots of renovation happening,” Maddy added.
“I can’t wait to see it,” Linda said.
“Grammy, you can ride with me on the carousel. It’s my favorite ride,” Dylan said.
“I heard they restored the old carousel. I would love to take you, sweetie,” Linda said.
The driver pulled up in front of the Erickson house. Ty jumped out to open the back door.
Linda exited and breathed in the fresh Jersey Shore air. “Oh, how I’ve missed it here.”
“You all go in,” Ty said. “I can get the rest of the stuff.”
Carl removed the luggage and carried it into the house. Linda followed an animated Dylan, who was skipping up the driveway .
Ty went around to the side where Maddy had exited and was leaning in for the car seat. She was bent over, and her long skirt hugged her petite frame. Looking at her in that position gave him ideas. Inappropriate ideas that he shouldn’t be having with her daughter and mother nearby.
“I’ve got this,” he said, even as she had successfully extricated it.
“I used to wrestle the car seat when she was an infant. This was easy.”
He wanted to kiss her.
“I think that’s everything,” Carl said.
Ty stepped back. “Thanks, man.”
“Thank you, and welcome home,” Carl said, then got back in his car and drove away, leaving Maddy and Ty alone.
“Any chance we can sneak away for an hour?” she asked.
He wished. “No can do. Dylan has all of your favorite things planned for tonight. But first…” He set the car seat down and pulled her in close, not caring who was watching them. “God, I’ve missed you.” Framing her face, he kissed her. Slow at first, tangling his tongue with hers until they were both breathless.
“Come on, you lovebirds, get your butts in here,” Evan called from the front door.
They separated but held hands as they walked inside, where Maddy was surrounded by her friends, all welcoming her home. Even Anna and John were there, smiling and catching up with Linda.
It was after nine o’clock when Ty came downstairs. His intention to give Maddy alone time with Dylan at bedtime had gone down the drain because the girl proclaimed she wanted a different story read by Ty, Grammy, and Maddy .
He finished reading Moana —which he’d read to her every night while Maddy was gone—and kissed her forehead.
“Love you, Uncle Ty.”
“Love you more, princess.”
He winked at Maddy, who looked like she was about to cry, and went downstairs.
Grabbing a beer and another slice of pizza, he went out to the patio, where his friends sat around the firepit.
“Did she go down okay?” Emma asked.
“Not yet. Linda and I both read her stories. Now it’s Maddy’s turn,” Ty said.
“I say it’s thirty minutes before she comes down,” Evan said.
Ty figured it would be at least that long.
Forty minutes later, Maddy came down looking sleepy and a little bedraggled. “Sorry. She wanted me to lie with her until she fell asleep,” she said, taking a seat next to Ty on the couch.
He slipped an arm along the backrest, and she laid her head on his shoulder. He could feel her shaking.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” he asked.
“She hugged me so tight, as if she were afraid I would leave again.” Maddy sniffed and swiped at tears that slid down her face. “How was she while I was gone?”
“She was fine with me,” Evan said. “We went to the arcade and rode the carousel so many times I thought I was going to throw up.”
Maddy laughed.
“No issues with us, either,” Connor said.
“She and Becca came over after camp, and we gave them facials and mani-pedis,” Abby said. “And Connor gave them a yoga lesson.”
“Very manly, Con. Yoga, facial, and a mani-pedi,” Evan teased .
“Don’t knock it until you try it. Oh, and Abs has an awesome massage oil I highly recommend. We tried it out after the girls left,” Connor said, causing everyone to laugh.
Abby covered her face with her hands in mortification. “Really, Connor.”
He silenced her with a kiss. “You need to talk up the products, babe.”
“We had movie night here, where we hung up a sheet against the house and projected a movie outside,” Jason said.
“ Little Mermaid , I presume?” Maddy said.
“And Moana ,” Ty said. “She’s been good, Mad. Better than good. Did she show you her calendar?”
“She did. Smart idea, Aunt Emma.”
“It was, if I say so myself,” Emma said.
Ty kissed Maddy’s forehead. “You feel better?”
“I do. Thank you all for helping. I don’t know what I would do without you,” she said.
“It was no trouble at all,” Emma said, and stood. “I’m beat and heading up to bed.”
She tugged on Jason’s hand. “Oh, right, me too. Night, everyone.”
The others all took that as their cue to leave, until finally Ty had Maddy to himself.
“They couldn’t have been more obvious, could they?” she said.
“No, but it’s nice of them.” He tugged her until she straddled him. “I’ve been wanting you to myself all afternoon.”
He kissed her deeply, holding on to her hips as he thrust up. She moaned and ground against his erection. He wanted her badly, but there was something he wanted to do first.
“Come, take a walk with me,” he said.
“A walk? Are you sure you’ll be able to in your condition? ”
He laughed. “We’ll be quick, because I want to get back to this. But first I want to show you something.”
“Now you have me curious.”
He helped her up and adjusted his shorts.
After making sure the fire was out, he took her hand and led her out the back gate and toward the bay beach. The moon was almost full, and the soft glow lit up the bay.
“This view is one of my favorites, especially on a night like tonight,” Ty said.
“I see why,” she said. “L.A. isn’t at all like this.”
“How about where you live?”
“Manhattan Beach is great, but it’s a small city by the beach. Houses are close together. There are a lot of quaint shops and restaurants. From my rooftop, I can see the beach, but I can’t hear it.”
“It’s different, but it sounds nice. I’d like to see it sometime,” he said.
“You would?”
“Singing, recording albums, and touring are part of who you are. I want to know that part.”
“You know my album comes out early next year, and then I go on tour. Plus, I have another album to record. There’s going to be a good amount of traveling.”
“I know. That doesn’t scare me.”
“I spoke with my mom, Marco, and Aiden about buying Broadway Betty’s. That’s why Mom came back. She wants to see it.”
His heart jumped with joy. “How about your music?”
“I could convert the upstairs apartment to be part recording studio. That should limit how often I need to travel to L.A. in time, but not for a year or two.”
“You’re sure that’s what you want? ”
“What do you mean? Isn’t that what everyone wants…for me to stay?”
The last thing Ty wanted was for Maddy to feel she was setting down roots in Pelican Bay because she felt pressured to do so.
“It doesn’t matter what we want. What matters is what you want for you and Dylan,” he said.
“What if I wanted the L.A. world?”
He’d be crushed, but he knew what was important to him.
He paused at the pier and turned to her. “Then I’d be looking to open a Jersey Boy Surf Shop in Manhattan Beach…or wherever you are. I’m in love with you, Maddy.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Oh, Ty.”
Had he said too much? Would she freak out because this was way too soon? Only it wasn’t—at least not for him.
“For a while, I’ve been frustrated with my life in L.A. Not fitting in with other people because of my celebrity status. Not fitting in with the celebrities, either.”
“You think that’s because of Dylan?”
“I felt like this before Dylan was born. I felt guided by my obligations.”
“And now?”
“I’m still not one hundred percent sure, but I know this…I love you, Tyler Erickson.”
Now it was his turn to suck in a breath. Then they both reached for each other and kissed—wild, passionate kisses that held back nothing…and promised everything.
He pulled her down to the sand, feeling drunk on love and suddenly needing her more than he needed air. He lifted her skirt and found no barrier to his searching hands.
“Have you been commando the entire day?” He separated her folds to find her wet .
She giggled. “No. I thought it may make things easier if an opportunity presented itself.” She unzipped his shorts, slipped her hands under the waistband of his briefs, and wrapped her fingers around him. “And it looks like it just did.”
He took her mouth as she climbed on top of him and took him inside. She looked like a goddess with her red hair framing her face, spilling down her back. His only wish was that she was naked. But that would come later.
Under the moonlight, they made love with the sound of the waves lapping against the pier.
And the world was perfect.
The next morning, Maddy awoke spooned against Ty, the warmth of his arms curled under her breasts. After making love on the beach last night, they’d talked before returning to the house. She peeked in the door to Dylan’s room and saw her nestled under the four-poster bed, mermaid doll secure in her arms.
After getting ready for bed, Maddy had tiptoed down the hall to Ty’s room, where he waited for her. He’d removed his shirt, and although he’d propped up pillows and held a book in his lap, he’d fallen asleep. With his short hair mussed from their lovemaking on the beach and his face relaxed in sleep, he looked happy and like everything that had been missing from her life.
She’d gone over to his side of the bed and moved the book to the nightstand. When she leaned forward to turn off the bedside light, he snaked an arm around her waist.
“There’s a no-clothes rule in this bed,” he murmured against her ear .
Turning, she saw the sheet had slipped away and revealed he was gloriously naked and aroused.
“I’ve fantasized about you in this,” he’d said, fingering the strap of her pajamas before yanking it over her head. “Ever since the morning after Dylan fell into the bay and I bumped into you in the hallway.”
“I remember. You were bare chested and wearing a short pair of boxer briefs that did nothing to hide that you were aroused.”
“Thinking of you has made it a challenge not to be.”
“Is that why you avoided me?”
He kissed her hand. “You showed no sign you were interested, and I was afraid to make a move…especially after our make-out session after the shots.”
“Not my finest moment.”
“None of that matters now.” He tugged her shorts and panties off, and she climbed on top of him. “I love you, Maddy.”
The rest of the night was full of pleasure until they fell asleep in sated exhaustion.
Now, under the cover of the first signs of daylight, Maddy frowned.
What was that rattling sound?
“Damn,” Ty said, and rolled off the bed. “Throw this on.” He tossed her a T-shirt.
“Why?”
“It’s Dylan. She’s been coming into my room in the morning.”
Maddy’s heart swelled because he said it so matter-of-factly, not annoyed to have spent the past week being awakened by a four-year-old.
She slipped his tee over her head and leaned over to grab her panties off the floor and put them on .
Ty yanked on basketball shorts then reached the door and unlocked it. When he opened it, Dylan stood on the other side, her stuffed Ariel doll and iPad in her arms.
“I can’t find Mommy, Uncle Ty,” she said, and Maddy could tell from her daughter’s voice that she was moments away from crying.
“I’m right here, sweetie,” she said, rising from Ty’s bed.
Dylan’s face lit up, and she rushed forward to meet her mother halfway across the room. “I thought you went back to Cali.”
“No, sweetie. I would never leave without telling you. I stayed in Uncle Ty’s room to give Grammy the other bed. It’s a little small for both of us.”
A lie, but hopefully Dylan wouldn’t notice.
She nodded. “And Uncle Ty’s bed is ginormous. Plus, Grammy snores.”
Maddy laughed. “That she does. Did you go potty when you woke up?”
“I did, Mommy.” Dylan made her way to the bed. “Come lie in bed with Uncle Ty and me. We watch my shows together.”
He gave Maddy a sheepish grin, and once again she fell a little more in love with him.
The three of them got into the bed, with Dylan snuggled between them. The moment was perfect, and Maddy made a mental note to remember everything about the way Ty propped up the pillows so Dylan could sit up and the way she snuggled into his shoulder.
He reached over and joined hands with Maddy. “What would Mommy like for breakfast?” he asked.
“Waffles,” Dylan said. “Right, Mommy? Waffles are your favorite.”
Maddy kissed her daughter’s head. “They are, and I would love waffles after snuggling with my two favorite people. ”
An hour later, Maddy got Dylan settled at the island with a cup of juice and a coloring book, then removed breakfast sausages from the freezer and started cooking them while Ty went to work on the waffles.
They worked seamlessly, passing utensils, and if occasionally Maddy pressed herself against Ty’s back and grinned when his hand jerked, causing the batter to slosh over the side of the griddle, she couldn’t help it.
Okay, she could help it, but it was too much fun.
Of course, he gave her payback by standing behind her, pretending to oversee the sausages while kissing her neck. It was a flirtatious and arousing morning that left them both yearning but smiling.
After breakfast cleanup, they left for swim lessons. Maddy had agreed to work on overcoming her fear of water, and now she had to make good on her promise. Both to herself and Ty.
She exited the ladies’ locker room wearing the turquoise bathing suit Ty had bought her and watched Dylan set her towel and flip-flops in a cubby and wait for instructions from Ty, who was already in the pool.
“Good morning,” Ivy said, approaching Maddy.
“Hi, Ivy. How are you?”
“I’m good, thanks. Dylan is doing great with lessons.”
Maddy stored her own towel and shoes and watched Dylan confidently climb down the steps into the water. Ty had her swim using a kickboard across the width of the pool. “She is. Thanks for your help teaching her.”
“It’s been my pleasure. Ty tells me you’re ready for lessons.”
Maddy looked at her daughter before meeting Ivy’s gaze. “I’ve promised to try, but no guarantees.”
“That’s all we can ask. Why don’t we move to the side away from Dylan so you won’t be as distracted?”
Maddy followed and paused by the ladder.
“Let’s stretch and practice breathing,” Ivy said, and raised her hands over her head.
“Outside the water?”
“Why not? You can’t be relaxed in there until you clear your mind and open it to being in the water.”
Maddy wasn’t sure she agreed she’d be able to, but she would try anything.
“Take a deep breath in.” Ivy bent her knees as though she were in a ballet pose and crossed her arms low before raising them over her head.
Maddy followed suit. Together, they repeated the breathing pattern and did a few other stretches.
“Do you feel relaxed enough to go into the water?” Ivy asked.
Maddy shrugged. “I guess so.” She appreciated the caring way Ivy tried to focus on relaxation but just wanted to get the lesson over with.
“The water level here is three feet, so you can stand with no problem,” Ivy said, and lowered herself into the pool.
Maddy followed suit, noticing she didn’t hesitate to use the ladder versus the steps.
“Let’s start on proper breathing,” Ivy began. “The thing that often freaks people out about water is they try to breathe like they’re on land. When you’re in the water, you need to gently blow out your nose or mouth, and when you come out of the water, breathe in your mouth.”
She demonstrated, placing her face in the water and raising her head to the side to breathe in before lowering it again.
“Your intake of breath when you come out of the water should be quick, and you exhale in the water longer.” Ivy demonstrated a few more times. “Your turn. ”
Maddy had her hair in a ponytail to keep it out of her face. She put her face in the water and blew bubbles out of her nose, but she started breathing in before she fully emerged and started choking.
“You’re okay. It happens all the time. Take your time and try it again. Watch me,” Ivy said, and demonstrated again.
Maddy tried three more times with similar results. Frustrated, she stood and wiped water from her eyes. “Why is this so hard for me?”
Ivy touched her arm. “Don’t be hard on yourself. No one is pressuring you to get it right away. It may be today or another day. You take as much time as you need.”
At the rate she was going, Dylan would be practicing for the Olympics before Maddy learned to dog paddle.
The little girl swam over to her. “You’re swimming, Mommy.”
Maddy gave a halfhearted smile. “I’m trying to, sweetie. I have a way to go to catch up to you. You’re doing great.”
“Hold on to my kickboard and let’s practice together,” Dylan said. “Uncle Ty says to pretend like I’m Ariel and am trying to find Flounder.”
Smart of Ty to use a reference from The Little Mermaid .
Dylan counted to three, and Maddy tried it again. It took two more times before she did it without choking.
“Yay, you did it, Mommy,” Dylan said, giving her a quick hug before paddling to where Ty watched from the sideline.
“Much better,” Ivy said. “Let’s try it a few more times until you’re comfortable.”
Once Maddy had the hang of it, Ivy moved on to kicking by having her hold on to the side of the pool.
By the end of the session, Maddy was tired, but had done better than she thought she would.
Ty waded through the water, Dylan at his side .
“You did a great job today, Maddy,” Ivy said. “Why don’t you hang here with Ty while I run through drills with Dylan?”
“Thanks for your patience,” Maddy said.
“You’re welcome. It will get easier each time. I promise,” Ivy said, and turned to Dylan, who was floating on her back. “Come on, my mermaid.” They swam to the other side of the shallow end.
“Nice first day. How do you feel?” Ty asked.
“I struggled at first, but I feel a little better,” Maddy said.
“Sometimes that’s all we can hope for. With each lesson, you’ll learn more and get stronger and more confident.”
“I’m trying.”
“This was a huge step.” He slung an arm around her shoulders and led her to the stairs. “I’m proud of you.” He kissed the top of her head.
They sat and watched Ivy and Dylan. Ivy called out tasks, starting with blowing bubbles in the water and holding her breath underwater for ten seconds. She walked Dylan through a progression of tasks until she was holding on to the kickboard and propelling herself forward in the water. Then she ended treading water.
“She did everything perfectly,” Ty said.
Maddy’s lip quivered, and her voice broke when she spoke. “I’m so proud of her.”
“Oh, sweetheart, why are you crying?” He pulled her close.
“She’s really taking to this, and so much quicker than I thought.”
“That’s good, right?”
“It is.” Maddy wiped away the tears from her cheeks. “It makes me regret not listening to all of you and starting her sooner.”
Ty lifted her chin. “All that matters is that she’s learning now. As are you.”
She nodded. “Thanks for pushing me into bringing her and for not giving up on me. ”
“Another week and she can join a beginner class with other kids her age. Then I’ll be able to focus on your lessons.”
“I may be your toughest pupil yet.”
“Between Ivy and I, we have you covered. You just need to believe.”
For the first time, Maddy felt confident that she could get there. And that together, one day, Ty, Dylan, and she would swim in the ocean together.
After the lessons with Maddy and Dylan were over, Ty used the men’s locker room to shower and change into street clothes. Although he’d focused on instructing Dylan, he’d kept an eye on Maddy and Ivy.
As much as Ty wanted to teach her, Ivy had convinced him to let her work with Maddy first. Given their history and almost drowning, it could take the pressure off them and make things easier in the beginning.
Watching her struggle, it took all his self-control not to go to her. But Ivy was right, and after a few times, and with Dylan’s help, Maddy got it. He was proud of her.
After dropping them off at the house, he gave Maddy a long kiss, which had them both wishing they were alone, and headed back out.
It was the heart of the summer, and they each had a busy day. Ty’s first stop was at the boardwalk to meet with the friend of Ally’s who taught yoga. He pulled into the parking lot, pleased to find it already almost full, and it wasn’t even ten.
He entered Jersey Boy through the front entrance because it allowed him to see the store through the eyes of a consumer. The door in the front opened like a garage door and allowed them to roll the clothing displays closer to the entrance, to draw people in.
Each of his three stores sold an assortment of clothing, from short and long-sleeved shirts, sweatshirts, baseball caps, and sweatpants imprinted with beach-themed logos and the name of the town. Customers could also choose from a selection of logos, and the staff would use a shirt press to iron it on to an article of clothing.
The store already had quite a few customers, and Ty nodded at several staff members who were helping them. He entered the office area to find a tall Black woman looking at the pictures on the wall. She had pulled her hair, which was styled into many small braids, back into a lengthy ponytail.
“Morning,” he said.
She turned and offered him a smile. “Good morning. I’m Toni, Ally’s friend.”
“You look familiar. We’ve met before, right?”
“A few times at Toninos,” she said.
He offered his hand. “Nice to see you again. Let’s have a seat.”
They moved to the high-top tables.
“Ally tells me you’re looking for a yoga instructor,” Toni said.
“I’m opening Jersey Boy Paddle Company down by the bay where Pelican Boat Rentals used to be.”
“I remember that place,” she said. “Nice location.”
“There’s a ten-by-twenty-foot deck. It will be arranged with movable tables and chairs. Dave suggested offering sunset yoga, and paddleboard yoga in the morning.”
“Paddleboard yoga is fun. I taught it a couple of years in Aruba.”
“I’ve never been, but it must have been amazing living there.”
“It was, but I missed my family who lives here,” Toni said. “Plus, I broke up with the guy I moved there to be with. ”
“Ah, I get it. Aruba’s loss is our gain. How long have you been in business?”
“I’ve taught yoga throughout college and started Sunny Day Yoga and Meditation Studio when I moved back about a year ago. I’ve been talking to your sister about renting a storefront by the bay. Beach yoga is popular, but I like the idea of paddleboard yoga. In the evening, we could offer a sunset paddle and meditation class.”
They chatted more about class combinations, and Toni shared her list of classes currently offered at her place in Sunset Bay.
Ally popped in. “Hey, you two. How are things going?”
“All good,” Ty said. “We have a few details to work through, but if you’re interested, I’d like to do this.”
“I’m definitely interested,” Toni said. “When is opening day?”
“In a week. Not a lot of time, I know.”
“I suggest offering demonstrations opening day and discounted classes the first week,” she said. “If you give me the hours of operation, I can propose a schedule.”
“Sounds perfect,” Ty said.
“Yay! This is exciting,” Ally said. “I’ve just been certified as an instructor and would love to teach a few classes.”
Ty was excited about the meeting. The realization that Paddle Company would open soon had him stressing a bit, but it was a good stress. His businesses were doing well and his relationship with Maddy was progressing in a way he’d only dreamed of happening.
Life was good.