Chapter 34Aiden
Chapter Thirty-Four
Aiden
As I took a sip, the frothy head of the beer tingled against my lips. The cool liquid was a welcome respite against the balmy September sun that draped over Shark Bait . Stella sat beside me on the side bench as we waited to leave the island, our arms and legs brushing. Whenever we were together, which could never be too often as far as I was concerned, I couldn’t stand not to touch her. To convince myself that she was really here.
“Where are they?” Gabe muttered. His eyes searched the area near the canal, his brow creased beneath the brim of his worn baseball cap.
Hailey, with her sun-kissed cheeks and expectant gaze, tapped his shoulder. “I know what you said, but maybe we shouldn’t wait…”
“Not yet, angel,” he told her, his eyes softening.
I cocked my head, trying to figure out their exchange, then let it go, too happy and content to muse over mysteries. Around us, the deck of Calypso Key’s dive boat played host to nearly the entire clan of Markhams. Maia and Wyatt stayed close to daughter Skye. Now over a year old, she toddled on legs made even more unsure by the boat’s gentle movement, her bright pink life vest making her seem bigger. Stella’s face was covered in a huge smile at seeing all of her family gathered. Even Nona was there, her spry form eager for the adventure.
As Stella and I savored the moment, Gabe’s voice cut through the chatter, tinged with a note of impatience. “Here they are.”
I turned to follow his line of sight. April and Liv approached Shark Bait with hurried steps. April, her long blonde hair catching the light, offered an athletic contrast to Liv’s voluptuous figure crowned by a long tumble of curls. They climbed aboard amidst apologies for their tardiness, citing a friend in need of comfort.
“Let’s go! Off to Sugar Beach,” Gabe announced with the authority of a captain taking charge of his ship. He climbed up to the wheelhouse, and the motor thrummed to life. After Wyatt untied the boat, we motored out of the canal at a slow idle. Across from us, Liv and April grabbed soft drinks before settling next to Evan. Gabe smoothly throttled up as he steered us out to sea.
“What’s up?” Stella’s inquiry was gentle but edged with concern as she alternated her gaze between the two women.
“Brenna Coleridge,” Liv said, tipping her head in a gesture of compassion. “We’ve become friends in our book club, and she just had a nasty breakup with her boyfriend. He didn’t take it well, so April and I wanted to be there for her.” Her voice held a note of apology, not for their lateness, but for bringing a shadow over the day.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
Liv confirmed with a nod, yet something in her tone suggested it wasn’t quite the end of the story. Beside me, Stella remained quiet, her attention drifting. Following her gaze, I noticed Hunter, rigid as if carved from stone, his stare fixed on Liv and April with burning intensity.
“What does ‘he didn’t take it well’ mean, exactly?” His voice was a low growl as he leaned forward.
April hastened to reassure us. “Brenna’s fine. Just shaken up. Her ex can be a jerk. But now he’s in the past, right where he belongs.” She raised her can of soda in a salute to end the conversation, and maybe trying to ease Hunter’s blazing expression. “Enough drama, we’re getting close!” With a bright smile that washed away any lingering tension, April redirected our focus to the horizon and pointed.
I stood and shaded my eyes with my hand, a smile stretching my lips. Stella had told me where we were going, but she didn’t do it justice. A long strip of sand slowly appeared out of the turquoise water, a sandy shoal that only appeared at low tide. The tropical sun quickly dried the powdery white grains, making it the perfect setting for a picnic.
After safely dropping the anchor, Gabe handed me a dry backpack filled with picnic supplies while shrugging into one himself. Evan and Hunter did likewise, and we all eased into the water and waded to shore. I turned back to check on little Skye, but she squealed with delight as both parents held her hands and her life vest kept her easily afloat.
I laughed at the sight. “Guess I don’t need to worry about water emergencies, considering both of that little one’s parents are professionals.”
Wyatt returned my grin. “Skye will be a water baby, for sure. But it’s always reassuring to have a doctor nearby.”
I took Stella’s hand, and we emerged onto the warm, soft sand. We spread out a cluster of blankets, and my love took charge of setting up our delicious picnic. She’d cooked it herself, and her touches were obvious in the tropical ceviche, grilled fruit skewers, and blackened dorado wraps. Individual key lime pie tarts finished the spread. Plenty of soft drinks and beer were on offer, which Hunter had carried in his backpack.
“Hey, Evan!” Wyatt called out as we started eating. “Maia might need some baseball pointers from you.”
“Why would that be?” Evan raised an eyebrow, and I zeroed in, intrigued by the unexpected turn in conversation .
“Yup,” Maia chimed in, her eyes alight with excitement. “A new recreational baseball league is forming, and I’ve talked to several resort staff who are interested. We might have enough people for a Calypso Key team. Any chance you’d be interested?”
Conversation dimmed, and everyone’s head turned to Evan, whose face was turning red. I remembered well from my high school days what a talented player he had been, even as a youngster.
Evan gave a shaky smile, rubbing the back of his neck. “Nah. Nobody wants a washed-up ball player on their team. I’d be a liability.”
“That’s not true, and you know it,” Hunter said quietly. Echoes of agreement went around the crowd, but Evan’s discomfort was obvious, so we let it slide.
“Are you joining, Hunter?” Maia prodded, undeterred.
He shrugged, a half-smile playing on his lips. “I suppose, as long as it doesn’t start until after I get down here.”
A few days ago, Stella was thrilled when Hunter had called to inform her that he’d found a business premises with an attached apartment. Though he’d tempered the news by telling her it would be several months before his arrival.
“Count me in too. I’d love to play!” The words were out of my mouth before I could second-guess them. But the idea of being part of something so communal, so unlike anything in my old life, was irresistible.
“Absolutely! The more, the merrier.” Maia clapped her hands together, and a ripple of laughter spread across the group.
With Stella’s warmth seeping into my skin, I watched the interplay of this family I had come to know again. The way they ribbed each other, the way they rallied to put the broken pieces back together, it was all so… real. Coming to Dove Key, I’d been a man charting an unknown course, alone. But now, here I was, surrounded by people who were fast becoming my own kind of kin. And Stella was the compass that had led me here .
“Happy?” I whispered to her, leaning in close enough to catch the scent of the sea in her hair.
“More than I’ve ever been. And to think, all it took was removing my blindfold to see what was right in front of me.” Her hand reached up, fingers tracing the line of my jaw. I caught it and pressed a kiss to her palm.
Nine-year-old Hailey, practically vibrating with anticipation, stood with a huff and called out to her father. “Dad! Come oooon. We’re all done with lunch.” Her waves of brown hair bounced on her shoulders.
Gabe responded with an easy smile, reaching out a hand to his daughter and drawing her to sit in front of him, while he cradled April with his other arm. They created a picture that warmed me to my core. “Okay, go ahead,” Gabe said gently, nodding to his nearly bouncing daughter.
Hailey jumped back up to her feet, her voice pitching high as she screeched, “April’s having a baby!”
The cheers that erupted were spontaneous, and I found myself clapping along, laughing at Hailey’s enthusiasm. It was infectious, the kind of news that sent ripples of happiness through the gathered family. April and Gabe came together in a kiss, his hand reaching to brush the hair from her forehead. I looked around, catching sight of Evan and Liv sharing a smile that wasn’t laced with surprise like the others. A knowing look passed between them, and it clicked—they were in on the secret.
April caught Liv’s eye and arched a brow meaningfully in their direction. “But we’re not the only ones with an announcement, are we? Last night there were some unexpected fireworks at the baseball game!”
Liv’s cheeks reddened as she extended her left hand. On her finger, a diamond glittered under the sunny light of day. Next to me, Stella sprang to her feet, her movements quick with excitement as she wrapped Liv in an exuberant hug.
“Oh, don’t fuss! I don’t want to upstage April and Gabe,” Liv protested. Her voice was muffled against Stella’s shoulder, but the embarrassment did nothing to hide her radiant smile.
“Nonsense,” Nona chimed in from where she sat on a padded cushion across from me, her tone dismissive of any such worry. She got up to give Liv a hug of her own, then Evan. Her wise eyes sparkled. “This family can handle two sets of wonderful news. In fact, I’d say we’re brimming with it.” She nodded to me, and I smiled in return.
Warren rose to stand next to his mother, his arm circling Nona in a gesture that spoke of their shared history and love. His grin matched the pride in his eyes as he swept them around the gathering.
Stella returned to me, her eyes gleaming with unshed tears of joy as she leaned close. “Can you believe it? My whole family is getting along—it’s been over a decade since…”
“Since things felt right?” I offered, my arm snaking around her waist to pull her closer.
She leaned back into me, molding herself to my side. “Not completely right. Hunter and Evan aren’t exactly best friends like they used to be. But they’re coexisting and getting along. And look at me too. I’ve figured out that I can have both my dream career and love.”
“Here’s to new starts,” I whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple.
“Look at Hailey,” she murmured with a laugh. “She’s practically jumping with excitement.”
“Can’t blame her,” I said, my laughter mingling with hers. “Becoming a big sister is huge news.”
“Everything today feels that way.”
I nodded before turning just enough to rest my cheek against her forehead, reveling in the softness there. Then, breaking away reluctantly, I moved toward Warren, who was standing with his feet in the water as he scanned the sea.
“Beautiful day for a picnic, isn’t it?” I said as I approached him .
“Nothing like the open water to clear your mind,” Warren replied, his voice seasoned with the salt of many years spent at sea.
“Stella tells me you’re providing the fresh catch for Orchid. Must feel good to be out on the sea again.”
He smiled. “I could fish every day and not tire of it. You’ve been good for Stella, Aiden. You balance each other. I’m glad you returned to take over Dr. Nelson’s practice.”
Warmth filled me at the praise, which meant a lot from this man. “I love it here. I love what I do, and I love your daughter very much.”
“Just don’t let me hear otherwise and we’ll get along fine.” His laugh tempered the edge of his words, and I liked that he was protective of his children. “You’ll fit right in with us, don’t worry. Stella tells me you’re quite the sailor. Do you enjoy fishing too?”
“Absolutely,” I said with a nod. “There’s something about the ocean—it’s where I feel most alive.”
“If you have a free morning, you should come out with me on Real Deal sometime.”
I nodded eagerly. “I’m experimenting with flex hours at the clinic, moving our appointments to the afternoon and evening one day a week, which gives us the morning off. It’s been a hit so far, and it helps Stella and me line up our schedules a little better. So I’ll take you up on that offer soon.” We stood side by side in comfortable silence, watching the waves dance in the shallows.
After Stella’s father excused himself to talk to Gabe, I threaded my way through the clusters of family as warm sand stuck to my feet. The salty breeze carried laughter and snippets of conversation. I caught Stella’s eye and hitched my head toward April and Liv, who were chatting as they packed up the remnants of our feast.
“Hey, congratulations to you both,” I said as we approached. “An engagement and a baby announcement.”
April beamed, the healthy radiance of impending motherhood already lighting her features. “Thanks. Gabe and I are very excited. Neither of us is getting younger, so we’re thrilled I got pregnant so fast. ”
“Have you and Evan set a date?” Stella asked Liv, admiring her ring again.
“Oh no! I’m still getting my feet back under me with the two bakeries. It’ll be a little while yet.”
After a few more minutes of conversation, Liv and April excused themselves to fold the blankets. Soon we were back in the water, then climbing aboard the dive boat. Gabe pointed us back to Calypso Key and we left Sugar Beach behind, though I was sure the memories would stay.
As I stood at the bow, the wind whipping past, Stella slid into the space beside me. The boat gently rocked us, and without thinking, I stepped behind her and wrapped her in my arms, pulling her back against my chest. I rested my chin on the top of her head as we watched the island slowly grow larger before us. The water flew by in a stunning mixture of blue hues. This was more than just an end-of-summer celebration. It was the start of something new. Not just for Liv and Evan, or Gabe and April, or even Hunter. But for Stella and me too. It was hard to imagine a future any brighter than the one unfolding before us. A future I had hoped for and that she had been brave enough to embrace.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “For not giving up on me. On us.”
“I don’t give up easily,” I said, my voice holding a tinge of levity. Then I brushed a soft kiss over her temple. “You’re worth it. We’re worth it.”
She turned in my arms, her gaze capturing mine. Her hand rose, fingers tender as they brushed my cheek. “I’m very lucky you sailed back into my life. And this is only the beginning.”
“Only the beginning.” I leaned in, my forehead touching hers as we shared a breath, a moment, a silent vow. A second chance realized.