Chapter 13 #2
was going to come together, and she hoped Reid believed it too.
“You two have been busy,” Becca said later that evening as she examined the list of store owners Reid and Kaiah had visited
and convinced to participate in the festival.
They were gathered around Reid’s kitchen table, and they had just finished eating spaghetti and meatballs while the girls
jogged up and down the hallway, singing songs and playing with Ariel, who trotted along with them.
“That’s true,” Reid told his twin. “We have banners in the works, and Trisha Witherspoon, who owns Crafty Creations, is sponsoring
the kite-making day.” He touched Kaiah’s arm, and she smiled at him while he rattled off the other merchants they visited.
“What about the lighthouse?” Cash asked.
Kaiah’s smile wobbled.
“It’s not looking good,” Reid said. “Mr. Johnson is reaching out to other electricians, but so far no one has the right equipment.
That means we may not have a lit-up lighthouse at the opening ceremony.”
“Hey, Daddy!” Piper called from the doorway. “Why don’t you put Christmas lights on the lighthouse?”
Reid scanned the kitchen table, and the three adults surrounding him appeared to be just as stunned as he was. After a few
moments, they all grinned at one another.
“It’s the obvious solution.” Cash chuckled. “Why didn’t we think of that?”
“Because our intelligent niece did it for us,” Becca said.
“She sure did,” Kaiah agreed.
Reid pointed toward the doorway. “And she got her brilliance from Brynn.” He made a note on his list. “I’ll call Duke and
see what he thinks.”
“You don’t need to call him,” Cash said. “We could do it.”
Reid’s eyebrows careened upward while he studied his brother-in-law. “What do you mean?”
“Let’s get the town’s Christmas decorations. We could do it with one of the ladder trucks.” Cash gestured around the kitchen.
“I mean, we put up the other decorations in town, so what’s the difference?”
Reid grinned. “And since you’re the fire chief, I’ll make sure everyone knows that you condoned this.”
Cash shrugged. “I’ll talk to the mayor. No big deal.”
They spent the next couple of hours discussing other items on the festival’s punch list. After a while, Piper came to sit
on Reid’s lap while Astrid curled up on Cash.
“I guess we’d better get this one home.” Cash nodded toward a sleepy Astrid in his arms.
Reid glanced at Kaiah and saw a soft expression painted on her face. For a moment he wondered if she could ever imagine having a family like this one. With him.
The idea sent a whirlwind of emotions through him.
Cash stood, and Astrid shifted before snuggling deeper into his shoulder. He patted his daughter’s back and whispered something
to her before kissing her head.
“Do you want Piper to stay over tonight since you’re working in the morning?” Becca asked.
“No,” Piper whined. “I want to stay with Kaiah tomorrow.”
Reid turned to Kaiah, and a sheepish expression spread over her features. “I understand if you’d rather Piper spend tomorrow
with Becca.”
“No,” Piper hissed before motioning for Kaiah to lean down. “I want to play with Kaiah tomorrow. Please, Daddy.”
Reid lifted his eyebrows while Kaiah seemed to watch him, awaiting his approval.
“It’s okay with me,” Reid said. “I’ll set up the spare room for you. That way you don’t have to wake up too early to come
over before my shift starts at seven.”
Kaiah beamed. “Great.”
Becca stood and touched Kaiah’s shoulder. “If you need me, I’ll be around tomorrow. Feel free to text me.” Then she hugged
Piper. “Good night, sweetie.”
After Becca, Cash, and Astrid were gone, Reid got Piper into a soapy bubble bath.
Kaiah stood in the bathroom doorway. “I’ll go pack some things for our day tomorrow.”
“Okay,” he told her.
“I’ll see you in the morning, Piper, okay?” Kaiah said.
“Good night, Miss Kaiah,” Piper sang.
Kaiah blew her a kiss and then lingered in the doorway for a moment before she disappeared. Her soft footsteps sounded in the hallway before the front door opened and then clicked shut.
Since Piper couldn’t stop yawning throughout her bath, Reid got her dressed in her pajamas and tucked in bed.
“Be good for Miss Kaiah tomorrow,” he told her after reading her a story.
“I will, Daddy.” Piper touched his cheek. “Thank you for letting her stay with me.”
“You’re welcome.” He kissed her cheek. “Good night, pumpkin.” He scratched Ariel’s chin. “And good night, Ariel.”
He quickly put fresh sheets on the double bed in the spare room. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t had a guest in this room since
his in-laws had come up from Florida to see Piper two years ago. It boggled his mind that they didn’t want to see their granddaughter
more often, but that was their choice. When they decided to move shortly after Brynn’s death, he’d made it clear they were
always welcome.
After the bed was made, he walked out into the hallway and heard a soft knock at the front door. He yanked it open and found
Kaiah standing on the porch holding a large tote bag. “You don’t have to knock.”
“I didn’t want to impose.”
“I think we already established that you’re not imposing.” He waved her in. “Get on in here.” He pulled a set of keys down
from the hook by the door. “These are yours.”
She studied the key ring and then blinked up at him. “I don’t understand.”
“There’s a sedan in the garage. You’re welcome to use it if you’d like. It should have a full tank.”
She studied him. “Thanks, Reid.”
“No, thank you for wanting to spend time with my daughter.”
“Are there any rules?”
He rubbed his chin and chuckled. “If I had any, Piper would enforce them. She’s good that way.” He pointed down the hallway.
“The spare room is ready. I even put new sheets on the bed. Make yourself at home.”
“Thanks.”
As he watched her walk down the hallway, he wondered what it would be like if Kaiah stayed in Coral Cove.
Even better, what would it be like to have her by his side forever?