Chapter 10
Luke
As Emma's car disappeared around the bend, Luke walked back inside of a house that seemed to hold its breath, mirroring the tension that hung in the air.
Things are worse than I thought.
For the rest of the day, while Luke unpacked several untouched boxes, Jeremiah stayed put in his room. Even as he emerged briefly for bathroom breaks, the distance between father and son felt as if it had stretched longer and longer with no end in sight. Later that evening, Luke put a tray of food outside Jeremiah’s door, a silent offering to a son who had become a stranger. As he stood there hesitating, his hand hovered over the doorknob. He felt the weight of words left unsaid, of apologies and conversations that happened years too late.
With a heavy heart, he retreated to his room. Before collapsing onto bed, he reached over to his nightstand and grabbed his battered copy of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. The words usually grounded him, but tonight they swam hazily before his eyes. Despite his fight against sleep's pull, his consciousness waned like a fading star, and he drifted off to sleep with the book still lying on his chest.
The following day, Luke woke up early to prepare breakfast, hoping that the aroma of freshly cooked pancakes would entice his son to come downstairs. To his delight, it worked, but only long enough for Jeremiah to fix himself a plate, pour a cup of juice, and walk back toward his room. Regardless, Luke thought it was progress as he trailed behind him out of the kitchen.
“Hey, I’m going to get a haircut. Want to tag along?”
Jeremiah shook his head. “No. I don’t need a haircut.”
“Well, do you want anything while I’m out? I can swing by the market. Or the diner?”
Jeremiah ignored him and continued up the stairs without looking back.
“Okay then. Text me if you need anything.”
Luke looked toward the staircase, only hearing the latch of the door click shut. Letting out a deep sigh, his mind filled with thoughts of what could go wrong before he came back home. He finished his coffee in one desperate gulp, hoping the caffeine would calm his frayed nerves, but the knot in his stomach remained.
As Luke drove away, his grip tightened on the wheel. Flashing images of Jeremiah at the police station flooded his mind.
What if he gets into something he can’t get out of this time?
A wave of guilt crashed over him; his career had always come first, and now he was scrambling to be the father he should have been years ago. The world was a complicated place, fraught with dangers and temptations he knew all too well, and he wondered if he had already failed Jeremiah beyond repair.
Turning onto Main Street, his attention was drawn to the bustling activity of the townspeople, moving in an almost constant stream. After circling around the block a few times, he finally found a parking space in front of the salon. He stood in line for almost an hour, only to get a trim that took all of twenty minutes. But the hairdresser did a good job, and under her careful, practiced hand, his shaggy hair fell away from his face. Now with a fresh cut, he started to feel human again.
After leaving the salon, he looked up and down the street, catching sight of the ocean at the far end. Although he had lived in Hadley Cove for over a week now, he still hadn’t set foot on the beach. Slipping his car keys back in his pocket, he turned and headed toward the stretch of water, crossing the road on the way.
As Luke arrived at the entrance, he took off his shoes, feeling the warm sand beneath his feet, and fixed his gaze on the ocean waves lapping against the shore. Listening to the rustle of the palm fronds in the breeze, he soaked up this moment with no hurry—a luxury he hadn't often had back in Chicago.
Despite the number of people out and about in town, he noticed there was hardly anyone at the beach, except for a young family playing in the water nearby where he stood. Memories swept Luke away as he watched them, remembering how summer lake trips used to be a family ritual. Jeremiah would rush into the water, kicking up sprays of laughter, while Luke tried to keep up. Kate would be on the dock, camera in hand, capturing each precious second. Her voice, cheering them on, now played like a distant melody in his mind. He made a mental note to look for those photos, thinking it would be a good idea to frame some and put them around the house. Maybe, just maybe, they’d remind Jeremiah of happier times, of a family that once was.
Yanking him out of his daydream, Luke heard barking to his left. He turned and was pleasantly surprised by the sight of Riley and Emma walking down the beach toward him.
“Hey stranger!”
Emma called out as she waved.
Grinning, Luke raised his hand in return. “Hey there!”
Riley pounced onto Luke’s leg, wagging his tail and licking his hand. Emma tugged on his leash.
“Sorry about that. I’ve never seen him take to someone so quickly before.”
Luke shrugged and squatted down to Riley’s level before reaching out to give him a scratch behind the ears. “No need to be sorry. He’s a good boy.”
“Most of the time he is.”
Emma said, her eyes scanning the horizon before settling back on Luke, as if reluctant to ask the next question. “How’s Jeremiah doing?”
Luke stood, brushing sand off his pants. “Oh, he’s fine. He’s said a total of eight words to me since the big fight yesterday, so I think we’re making progress.”
“Baby steps. He’ll come around.”
Emma offered an encouraging smile that seemed to say she had faith in the situation. “Listen, I was headed to grab lunch. If you’re not too busy, you should join us.”
“Sure. That sounds nice.”
***
As they stepped into Phil's Diner, Riley was greeted by some of the customers as if he were a celebrity, basking in his own small-town fame. Carried along by the warm welcome, Emma located an empty booth and took a seat while Luke slid into the spot across from her. Just then, Phil appeared with a plate of scrambled eggs.
“For the honored guest,”
he said, placing the plate on the ground for Riley. “How are you folks today?”
“Pretty good,”
Emma said. “We ran into Luke here on the beach and invited him to grab some lunch.”
“Well, you’ve come to the right place,”
Phil assured them, wiping his hands on his apron as if preparing for a culinary masterpiece. “I’ll give y’all some time to decide what you want.”
As Phil walked away, Luke skimmed the menu, even though he was already familiar with it from his recent visits. Lifting his eyes, he caught Emma staring at him.
“What is it? Do I have something on my face?”
She shook her head. “Did you get a haircut?”
“Oh. Yeah, this morning. I didn’t realize the salon would be so busy.”
Emma chuckled. “Never go on Tuesdays. She books all her long-term clients then. You’ll eventually get in, but it’ll definitely be a while.”
Luke ran a hand over his newly shorn hair. “I’ll have to remember that. I’m not used to going out to get my haircut. Kate used to cut it at home for me.”
Emma gave him a pitiful look. “Oh, I’m sorry.”
Luke appreciated her words but wasn’t looking for sympathy. “It’s okay. She used to give both me and Jeremiah haircuts.”
“It must have been really hard for Jeremiah to lose his mom at such a young age...”
“Yeah. They were like best friends. I worked a lot, and Kate stayed home with him. I know Jeremiah resents me for not always being there. And I’ve been trying to make it up to him, but most of the time I just feel like a terrible father.”
“I don’t think you’re a terrible father,”
Emma said softly. “I mean, you’re acknowledging the fact that you and Jeremiah could be closer, and you’re actively trying to make that happen. To me, that’s what makes you a wonderful father.”
Her words hit him hard. “Thank you, Emma,”
he said, choked with emotion. “That means a lot to me.”
She reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “I want you to know that you’re not alone in this. And if you ever need any help or support, let me know.”
As her fingers tightened around his, the warmth of her grip seemed to fill a space in his soul that had been empty since Kate’s passing.
He nodded, grateful for her offer. “I will. Thank you.”
Emma’s expression grew solemn as she continued. “When my mother died, my father became really depressed and completely neglected me. There were so many times when I wanted him to ask me how my day was, or even yell at me when I didn’t clean my room. I just wanted some sort of reaction from him, but I never got it. He was too sad to even care and eventually left town without me. That’s why my grandparents raised me.”
Luke listened intently as Emma’s words echoed in his heart. Her story struck a deep chord within him, stirring up emotions in how he had failed Jeremiah through the years.
“That sounds terrible, Emma. How old were you when she died?”
“Twelve. So, a few years younger than Jeremiah. I’m sure some of his behavior is just normal teenage angst. He’ll eventually grow out of it, trust me.”
Luke hoped she was right. “You don’t have any kids, do you?”
Emma shook her head. “Chad and I argued about it a million times, but he didn’t want any. He said it was a career killer. So, I rescued this fur baby instead.”
They both looked down at Riley, who had laid down on the floor, taking a post-meal nap.
Luke found himself enjoying Emma’s company more than he had expected. They had only just met, but there was a natural ease to their conversation, like they had known each other for years. From across the table, he admired how her auburn ringlets cascaded down around her shoulders into perfect curls, framing her face and highlighting her delicate features. He felt a magnetic pull toward the kindness in her warm, chocolate brown eyes, almost getting lost in their depth.
At that moment, Phil came over to the table and clapped his hands. “So, what’ll it be?”
Luke's eyes darted down to the menu. “Uh, ham and Swiss. With potato salad if you have it.”
“We sure do,”
Phil said. “And for you, madame?”
“I’ll take a veggie wrap. Do you still have some of that vegan mac and cheese left?”
Phil smiled, then nodded. “We do. And even if we didn’t, I’d make it happen for you. I’ll go ahead and put your orders in.”
As Phil walked away, Luke turned to Emma with a raised brow. “Are you vegetarian?”
“Actually, I’m vegan. It’s been about ten years now.”
Luke’s eyes widened. “Oh, geez. I should’ve ordered something less meaty. Let me see if I can change that—”
Emma reached out and grabbed his arm. “No, it’s fine. I lived with Chad for years, and he was the biggest carnivore I knew. Trust me, I’m used to it.”
Luke sighed, shoulders dropping slightly. “Okay, I’ll take your word for it. So, I hope this isn’t too intrusive, but what made you go vegan?”
She leaned toward him, her eyes brightening with passion as she spoke. “Well, I think people are vegan for different reasons. Some for health, some for the planet. But for me, it was for the animals. Years ago, I was having dinner with friends and as I looked down at the veal on my plate, it just hit me. I thought to myself that this represents what is most awful in this world: fear, suffering, and death. Right then, I realized all animals are someone, not something.”
Luke tilted his head, listening to her every word with genuine interest. She took a deep breath and continued sharing her story with him.
“And loving some animals while eating others didn’t sit well with me. When it comes down to it, ultimately, being vegan is the belief that an animal’s life is worth more than a sandwich. I’d like to think most people believe that.”
Luke's jaw dropped a fraction, clearly impressed at what he’d heard. “I’d never thought of it that way before. It makes sense, though. I love how you acted on your convictions. You’re inspiring.”
Emma smirked at his compliment and quipped. “Thanks for that. I know I’m pretty awesome.”
Luke chuckled, the sound rumbling deep in his chest as he leaned back against the plush cushion of the booth. As his eyes met hers, he noticed the way they sparkled and how the sunlight through the diner’s window illuminated the subtle shade of pink on her lips. He was lost in the moment, forgetting about everything else as he savored the easy banter between them.
Emma broke the silence with a playful grin. “But enough about me. Now it’s your turn. Tell me something I don’t know about you.”
While they waited for their food to arrive, Luke shared anecdotes of his life in Chicago, while Emma recounted tales of her upbringing in Hadley Cove. He hung on to her every word, admiring how her love for life came alive through her animated gestures. With Emma, conversation was refreshingly simple, and her sharp sense of humor brought out fits of laughter he hadn’t known in ages. It wasn’t until Phil placed his sandwich in front of him that Luke remembered they were there for lunch, snapping him back to reality.
After they ate, Emma stood up and grabbed Riley’s leash. “I think it’s time for us to head back home. It was fun hanging out, Luke.”
His heart sank at the thought of her leaving. “I had a lot of fun too. Thanks for the invite. And all your help with Jeremiah.”
Emma shot him a friendly smile. “Don’t even mention it.”
As Luke watched her walk out of the diner, he felt a pang of longing in his chest. Her presence had left behind an invisible force he couldn’t rationalize, yet it was undeniably felt. His mind rushed with thoughts of Kate, her memory being the yardstick by which he measured all things.
Is it okay to feel this for another woman?
Emma had ignited something in him, a spark of possibility that had been long forgotten. But he knew he had to let it go. It was only lunch, nothing more, he reminded himself as he left a fifty-dollar bill on the table and made his way home.