Chapter 16
Monday morning, Kaiah waved as Piper and Astrid climbed out of Becca’s SUV and scrambled up the sidewalk toward the school’s
front door.
While Becca navigated out of the school parking lot, the events of the night before washed over Kaiah, the familiar embarrassment
creeping back into her belly. She was grateful she’d somehow made it through the evening without another horrifying incident.
She had (strategically!) taken her time showering and packing another round of clothes before she returned to Reid’s house.
When she finally got there, he was getting ready for bed. They briefly discussed his Monday schedule, she said good night,
and that was that. Thankfully, Reid hadn’t mentioned Kam’s text again.
But still, Kaiah couldn’t sleep. She stayed up half the night working on another festival article and replaying the Mr. TDH conversation on a loop in her head. She was going to give Kam a piece of her mind when she spoke to her again.
She mercifully fell asleep around midnight and woke up in time to get Piper ready for school. She also sent her article to
Libby, and she was on pins and needles waiting to hear what Libby thought about it. Till then, she and Becca were running
festival errands.
“Let’s stop by the bakery and check on the lighthouse pastries. Then we can head to the historical society to see who else
we need to call,” Becca suggested. “Sound good?”
Kaiah nodded. “Yep. Do you think they’ll get the lighthouse lamp fixed before Friday?”
“I don’t know.” Becca pressed her lips together. “But I sure hope so.”
The fire truck rumbled down the street after Reid and his team finished responding to a minor traffic accident. The morning
had been busy with a couple of medical calls before they’d received this one. Thankfully the folks in the accident were fine
and the cleanup was quick. A busy day, but at least it was a manageable one.
Reid looked out the window at the clear afternoon sky, and his thoughts turned to the festival. It was Monday, and the lighthouse
needed to illuminate the sky Friday night. They were running out of time. He had to do something—and quick. He shot off a
text to his brother-in-law.
Reid: Hi, Chief. Has Public Works found the white Christmas lights for the lighthouse?
After a few moments, the dancing dots appeared before Cash’s response came through:
Cash: No luck. Jerry couldn’t find them.
Reid: Bummer. They’ve only been in storage a few months. Wonder what happened to them.
Drumming his fingers on his lap, Reid tried to come up with another solution. He turned to Toby, who was driving the fire
truck.
“Toby,” he called over the radio, “can you go by town hall?”
Reid’s captain tapped his shoulder. “Why, Lieutenant?” Chris asked.
“I’d like to go by the Public Works office. Chief checked to see if we could borrow the white Christmas lights for the lighthouse,
just in case we need a backup way to light it up on Friday night. They told him that they couldn’t find the lights, but I
want to have them just in case.”
“Christmas lights, huh? That could work,” Chris said. “The Public Works guys already owe us a favor. The mayor asked if we
could help ’em hang festival banners in between calls. We can get started on the banners while you check on the lights, Turner.”
“Perfect.”
Reid smiled as he looked out the window and turned his attention to the next problem he needed to figure out. He wanted to
do something sweet and romantic for Kaiah, something that maybe, just maybe, could convince her to stay. He just needed to
figure out what that might be.
“Good deal,” Becca said as they walked out of Crafty Creations. “We’re all set for the kite-making session and the contest. Trisha also agreed to help with a second arts and crafts session next Monday. Let’s see where we should go next.” She studied her clipboard.
Kaiah stepped onto the sidewalk and stopped when she spotted a crew of firemen hanging banners and decorations for the festival.
Colorful shells, starfish, and lighthouses—all made out of strings of lights—decorated the lampposts, while banners advertising
the Light the Dark Festival stretched across the street.
When Kaiah’s eyes found Reid standing on a ladder and attaching a lighthouse to a lamppost, her heart leapt. Clad in his blue
uniform, with his biceps straining against the sleeves of his shirt and his clean-shaven face showing off his cheekbones carved
from marble, she couldn’t stop staring.
Oh, I love a man in a uniform!
His eyes collided with hers, and his handsome face lit up with a smile. “Hey, Ky.” He climbed down from the ladder and jogged
over to her and Becca before he gestured around the street. “What do you guys think?”
Of Mr. TDH in uniform? Oh yes, I do indeed approve!
It took her half a second to realize he was talking about the decorations, not how fabulous he looked.
She took in the banners stretched across the street. One said “Light the Dark Festival,” while another said, “Coral Cove Lighthouse,
established 1805” and featured a photo of the beloved black-and-white-striped structure.
“They look excellent, Lieutenant Turner,” she told him.
He grinned, and she thought her heart might explode. He nodded at his twin. “Becks?”
Becca divided a look between them and then gave them a coy expression. “Looks good, bro. But I’ve gotta dash. I need to see if the bookstore wants a booth at the festival. Callie was still thinking about it when I talked to her a few days ago.” She took off in a light jog toward Beach Reads.
“How has your day been?” Kaiah asked, her cheeks turning pink. Try as she might, she was still mortified about the Mr. TDH
incident. Would she ever move past that humiliation?
He leaned against a newspaper stand. “Okay. We had a few calls this morning, but nothing too bad. Then the captain told us
we were hanging decorations and banners this afternoon.” He paused for a moment. “Did I tell you I’m off work tomorrow? Then
I won’t work again until Friday.”
“Really?”
“Yup.” He pointed to her clipboard. “How are plans going?”
“Great.” As she rattled off action items on her clipboard, she could feel his intense gaze settle on her, sending a tingle
of heat up her spine. She’d felt the same way yesterday when she touched his face, and she couldn’t wait for another chance
to feel his dark stubble and chiseled jaw against her fingers. A flush of longing washed over her.
“How was Piper when you dropped her off at school?” he asked.
Kaiah tried to calm the storm of emotions raging inside her, doing her best to answer in an even voice. “She was happy and
excited as always.”
“Good.” His eyes flitted to the banner swaying in the gentle breeze, and then his gaze slid down the street before returning
to her. “I’m going to check with Mr. Johnson about the lighthouse. I’m hoping he found someone who can fix it.”
“Do you want me to go with you?” she offered, hoping to spend more time with him.
“Sure, if you want to,” he said.
A radio crackled before a voice announced, “All available units respond to accident with multiple injuries at Sixth Street and Laurel Avenue.”
Reid gave her a sad smile. “Duty calls.” He touched her hand. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“I’ll be there, Lieutenant Turner.”
He grinned. “Let’s go,” he called to his team.
Kaiah stood by the curb while Reid and his crew climbed into the fire truck. He waved as the truck rumbled to life. The siren
wailed, and the lights flashed as it motored off toward the oceanfront.
Becca appeared at her side. “Callie’s going to have a book booth by the lighthouse.”
“Oh,” Kaiah said, a goofy smile plastered on her face.
Her friend smirked at her. “What’s the grin for?”
“Nothing in particular.”
Becca turned toward the taillights of the fire truck. Then she looked back at Kaiah. “You and my brother are so cute together.”
Heat filled Kaiah’s cheeks, betraying her embarrassment yet again. Why, oh why, was she constantly blushing?
Becca’s phone began to ring. “Oh! It’s Candice Counts from the chamber of commerce.” She answered the phone, “Candice, hi.
What’s up?” A smile spread across her lips while she listened. “That’s great news.” She beamed at Kaiah. “Yes, I’m sure it
is because of Kaiah’s articles. She’s standing right here. I’ll be sure to tell her. Thanks for calling me.” She hung up and
put away her phone. “Candice said that all of the hotels and inns are filling up because of the festival. You’re bringing
in the visitors! You’re a genius!”
They shared a high five.
“I’m so glad it’s working out,” Kaiah said.
“I’ve been keeping tabs on your second article. Seems like it was shared even more than the first,” Becca said. “The festival is going to be a hit.” Her posture sagged. “My big worry is the lighthouse, but Reid said he was working on that today.”
“It’ll work out.”
“Yeah, maybe. But if we don’t have those Christmas lights, I don’t know what we’re going to do.” Becca looped her arm around
Kaiah’s shoulders while they walked toward her car. “Let’s go get the kids.”
On Tuesday morning Kaiah wrapped her hand around Reid’s and steered him down Main Street. “I can’t wait for you to see these
cupcakes. You’re going to love them.”
Reid was curious about the cupcakes, but he was much more excited to spend the day with Kaiah. He didn’t care what kinds of
small tasks they needed to do for festival prep. Just being with her put him in a good mood, like yesterday. He wasn’t expecting
to see her when he was putting up decorations, but there she was, looking cute and casual, and his breath caught in his throat.
He was bummed that their time together had been cut short by the call he’d received, but just getting to see her for a few
minutes had been a treat. A whole day with her felt like a Christmas present.
“Becca and I stopped by the bakery yesterday to see the cupcakes,” Kaiah continued, “and I knew I had to show you in person
how cute they were.” They reached the Beachside Bakery, and she yanked open the door. “You’re going to flip!”