Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
ELENA
T he night on the beach was magical. I hadn't been able to stop thinking about it. We stayed on the blanket, wrapped up in each other for a while. Eventually, the sand was everywhere, and we got dressed and headed back to his house.
We washed off in his outdoor shower, and then he took me against the wall. Every time with Hudson was more intense, and I fell harder for him.
I didn't want to think about the article or the photo shoot, but we were in the final planning stages. I'd written the article and sent the tidbits about each brother to Valerie, along with the suggested layout.
The photographs were the main event in the magazine, and the words were window dressing.
Valerie made the final decision on the layout and edits to the article. I hoped she'd retain a lot of my ideas. I didn’t like not being involved in the final decision-making process, but it wasn't my magazine. I just hoped I passed the test.
I'd prefer to have more leeway over the content of my articles, but if I wanted to stay on the island, I didn't have a choice. I needed a job that paid me enough to live out my dreams here. It was a tough proposition for most people unless you were a Realtor, a contractor, or worked in tourism.
Writing jobs were few and far between. The newspaper wasn't an option in most places. Almost all of them were cutting staff with the advent of online subscriptions and the increase of independent media. The island couldn't possibly generate enough subscription revenue to make a paper sustainable, and print was a dying proposition.
I needed to take what I could get for however long it was available. The stakes were higher than before because I'd fallen in love with Hudson. I had two reasons to stay: Grams and Hudson.
But I wasn't foolish enough to think that everything could work out. I hoped it would, but I prepped myself for not getting everything I wanted.
This morning, I'd headed home to shower and get ready for work. Once I was dressed, I checked my messages one final time.
Valerie finally responded to my email with the attached article and the proposed layout.
I love everything about your take on the Kingstons. I'm going to make the final edits and publish it.
I couldn't believe my luck. She loved it!
When I refocused, I noticed there was another paragraph.
I'd like to have a party to celebrate the release of the magazine. Can you invite the Kingstons?
I responded quickly saying that I was happy she'd loved the article, and of course I'd invite them. She responded with the restaurant information, date, and time.
It was early, and I was scheduled to work with Hudson today. I didn't need to because the article was complete, but I wanted one final day on the job. A sadness came over me because I wouldn't have a reason to spend my days with him anymore.
It didn't escape my attention that Valerie hadn't sent me another assignment. I'd get paid for this one, and then I wasn't sure what came next.
I closed my laptop, excited to see Hudson, and rushed to get dressed. I pulled up to the house we'd been working on for weeks. Hudson's truck was already in the driveway. I hopped out and hurried inside, knowing I'd find him in the upstairs bathroom where we'd been working on tiling.
When Hudson saw me in the doorway, he grinned. "Good morning."
"Morning," I said as he stood, and I threw myself in his arms. "Valerie loved the article. She's going to make the final edits and publish it."
It was rare for something like that to happen without a few revisions, but I let myself enjoy a job well-done. I pulled back so I could see the pride on his face.
"That's wonderful." He hugged me, but I sensed a hint of sadness. "That means you don't have to work with me anymore."
I pulled back slightly. "The article's done, but I didn't want to let you down. Besides, we still have Grams's porch to finish."
"I'm planning on working on it every day until it's done."
"Grams will be excited."
"Let's get to work. You never know when you're going to need to know how to tile a bathroom."
I couldn't help but think that I might have Hudson at my side whenever the need to tile a bathroom arose.
We worked for a few hours and then grabbed tacos at the food truck we visited on my first week, taking them to the beach.
We sat on the blanket, the day reminiscent of the first time we'd done this, and I couldn't help but think about the last few weeks. I could be proud of the article I'd written and the relationship I'd built with Hudson and his family.
I was reconnecting with old friends and building a life here.
"You think you'll stay on at the magazine?" Hudson asked, stirring my biggest fear.
"I'm not sure. She's happy with the work I did, so I would think so. But does she need a permanent writer on staff? That's always the issue with print publications. I know Valerie wants to move into online spaces. If so, then there's more of a chance she'll have room for me."
We ate for a few more seconds in silence, and then I said, "I almost forgot to tell you that Valerie is hosting a party to celebrate the magazine article being published. She'll probably do a big reveal. I haven't seen the final product. She wanted me to invite you and your family."
"Text me the details, and I'll make sure everyone is there."
"Thanks for cooperating with the article. I know it wasn't something you were comfortable with initially. Especially the photo shoot."
He bumped my shoulder with his. "I still don't understand why anyone would want to know about our family, but it was fun, and I got to spend a lot of time getting to know you."
"It was fun, and I learned a lot."
Hudson leaned over and kissed me softly, and when I sighed at the spontaneity, he deepened the kiss.
I was practically whimpering when he finally pulled back with a wink. "As much as I want you, it's daytime and a workday."
"We should finish eating and head back." We ate the rest of the tacos, shook the sand out of the blanket, and headed back to work.
It was a bittersweet day because it would be my last one working alongside Hudson on this house or any other.
When we locked up for the night, he said, "We still need to finish Grams's porch."
"Now that the article is done, we'll have more time."
"The guys are coming this weekend, and we'll do a big push to knock it out."
"Grams will be happy."
"Will that be because of the progress on her porch, or the number of young virile men outside of her window?"
I laughed. "Both probably."
Hudson grinned at me, and I couldn't remember a time when I'd been happier or more content. I wouldn't worry about the future. Living in the present was good enough.
* * *
On the weekend, we worked hard on the porch from early in the morning until late at night. Now that most of our distractions were gone, we could focus on building her dream porch. I was excited for her to enjoy the space again.
With all his brothers and even his dad helping, we had everything finished on Sunday night. It still needed to be inspected, but we had time to place Grams's rocking chairs on the porch. I'd even bought a few potted plants to cheer up the space.
I went inside where Grams was watching her shows. "Do you want to see the final product?"
She got up, and I moved to assist her. "I was hoping you'd be done today."
I held my arm out for her so she could walk out the back door onto her new porch for the first time. The guys stood around, filling the small space.
It was larger than her original porch and included the ceiling fan she'd requested and the mister that Hudson had insisted on. "You probably need to pick out a few decorations, but otherwise it's done."
Grams was quiet for a few seconds, and I was worried she didn't like it.
"You can add a lamp so you can read here at night."
"And we made you a waterfall feature," Cooper said, turning on the stone structure that sat just outside the screen door. The sound of falling water filled the silence.
Grams's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "It's exactly what I wanted. I feel closer to your grandfather out here."
I hugged her. "That's what I wanted for you."
Then Grams went up to each brother and thanked him for his hard work. When she got to Hudson, she said, "Thanks for making an old woman's dream come true."
Hudson chuckled. "I wouldn't say old. You're the most energetic person I know."
Grams patted his cheek. "You're a sweet boy. You take care of my girl."
My cheeks flushed as Hudson met my gaze. "I will."
"Now, I made cookies for each of you to take home." I helped her hand out the tins of cookies to each Kingston brother, and then they were gone.
Hudson, Grams, and I sat on the porch together, drinking lemonade and munching on the cookies.
"You might need a few more pieces of furniture," Hudson observed.
We were seated in the rockers, but Hudson was on a bench from the old porch I'd brought out.
Grams nodded. "That's a good idea. Maybe you can find a cushioned couch and chairs with a table. Then we can sit out here and enjoy the evening."
It would be more comfortable than the rockers. "I'll look for a few options."
"You should be going out and enjoying yourself. Not hanging out with me."
"We want to enjoy this porch that we built." I still couldn't believe I'd had a hand in building it.
"Your granddaughter is quite the carpenter, Grams," Hudson observed.
Grams beamed. "Oh, I know she's talented. She can do anything she puts her mind to."
"You think so?" I asked, pleased with her response.
Grams reached over and patted my hand. "I have no doubt about that. I know you're worried about your magazine job, but you're so talented you could work anywhere."
I frowned. "There aren't many jobs here on the island."
Grams waved her hand. "I wouldn't think you'd be limited with the internet these days.
"I don't know." Frustration was building in my gut.
Grams inclined her head. "Just keep your mind open for the possibilities."
"Valerie was excited about my article, so I'm hoping my job is safe." I repeated what I'd been saying to myself for days now.
Grams raised a brow. "Did you get another assignment?"
"Not yet. Maybe she takes a break between issues." But I was more than a little worried about it.
Valerie had said she was too busy putting the final touches on the magazine to discuss what came next, and I wanted to respect that, but I couldn't deny that I was stressed about it.
"Don't hold yourself back," Grams said as she got up to go inside.
"How am I holding myself back?"
Hudson furrowed his brow. "Maybe she thinks that you can do better than the Island Times ."
"It was the only publication that was hiring when I moved."
Hudson gave me a sympathetic look. "I know."
"What other options are there for me right now?" I repeated, frustrated with Grams's advice.
"Be open to the possibilities. That's all."
"Yeah, okay. I can do that." I wasn't going to discount other options, but at the moment, the Island Times was my best bet. I wanted more experience before I left there at the very least. Something that would add to my resume, not a pit stop. I didn't want to be known for going from one job to another.
"I'm sure you'll find something that's perfect for you, whether that's with the magazine or somewhere else."
I rested my head on his shoulder. "The question is, will it allow me to work here, close to Grams and you?"
"I hope so."
But hope was all we had. Reality was much harder to swallow. "We have the party next week, and then I'll have a better idea of where my future will be."
"Don't forget that you control your future, not Valerie or anyone else. You're the one who decided to move here. You believed in yourself then, and you can now too."
"You're right. I made the move happen; I can figure out a way to stay." Even if I had to go off island for a daytime job. It wouldn't be ideal, but it was better than no job whatsoever.
Grams returned to the porch. "Now, I know you just finished the porch, but I was wondering if you could add some shelves in the living room. I'd love to have a place to showcase my seashells."
Hudson shifted away from me, pulling out his phone. "Brady made one of these tables. It's perfect for displaying seashells."
He placed the screen between us so we could see. It was a glass top square table and underneath were the most beautiful seashells.
"This is perfect, Grams."
"I'm fairly sure you can take off the top and put things inside too, so you can switch out which ones are on display."
"Can you ask Brady how much that would be? It would be amazing to use as a coffee table," I said.
Hudson shot off a text message; I assume to Brady. I had a feeling he wasn't going to give me the regular price. It would be heavily discounted, and I couldn't get upset about that. Hudson had a huge heart and wanted to help those around him. Grams was a part of that select group of people now too, and I loved him for it.
He was so good to me and Grams. Everything was going right in my personal life. I just had to believe that my professional life would fall into place too. It would work out just the way I wanted it to. It had to because leaving Hudson and Grams wasn't an option. Not one I was willing to contemplate anyway.