Chapter 18 #2
was built in 1805. One windy day in early April, it saved a ship full of sailors from running up on the shoals during a storm.
One of those sailors was my ancestor. So if it weren’t for that lighthouse, I wouldn’t be here. My sister, Becca, wouldn’t
be here. My daughter, who I love more than anything in the world, wouldn’t be here. I’m sure some of y’all are in the same boat.”
Reid’s gaze darted around the room until his eyes collided with Kaiah’s, and a slow smile lifted his lips, accelerating her
pulse. “The lighthouse represents light through the darkness. That’s why someone much smarter than I am suggested we name
the festival ‘Light the Dark.’ That lighthouse has been a beacon of light for our community for more than two hundred years.
We need to honor what it represents and be a light for folks in our town and beyond. So I say we see this thing through. It’s
who we are as a community.”
His dark eyes roved over the crowd again. “We can’t give up now. We’ve come this far. So let’s put everything we have into
this festival. If we all believe in it, I think—no, I know—it’ll be a success.”
Reid stood at the microphone, scanning the crowd. Kaiah could’ve heard a pin drop as the crowd absorbed his words. Her stomach crackled with nerves. Please, please go for this, you guys.
“He’s right,” someone called from the middle of the room.
A waterfall of relief cascaded through her head to toe.
“We can’t give up now,” another voice said.
A woman stood. “I’m putting everything I can into my market booth. We can’t shut this thing down. Not yet.”
“Let’s do this!” a man called.
Claps started at the back of the room and then spread out until every pair of hands was sounding their agreement. Pride surged
through Kaiah’s chest as she took in the way Reid’s words had changed the tide.
She tapped Cash’s arm. “He’s good.”
“I told him that he needs to run for mayor, but he always laughs at me,” Cash said. “Seriously, people respect him.”
Becca moved to the microphone. “Thank you, Reid,” she told her brother before facing the crowd. “I think we can all agree
we should move forward with our plans for the festival.” She began reciting the schedule of events before taking questions
from the crowd.
At the end of the meeting, Kaiah and Cash moved to the side of the hall while the townsfolk filed out and into the pouring
spring rain. Turning toward the podium, Kaiah waited while Reid and Becca spoke with the mayor before they made their way
off the stage.
Before brother and sister arrived, Kaiah turned to Cash. “Do you really think we’ll be able to pull this off?”
“Knowing those two,” he began, nodding at the twins, “it’s going to be just fine.”
Reid could feel Kaiah’s eyes watching him while he drove through the gusting wind and pounding rain to his house. The windshield wipers swished as he slowed to a stop at a red light, and he gave Kaiah a sideways glance. “You look like something’s on your mind. Wanna talk about it?”
Kaiah tilted her head and rested her hands on her lap. “I want to know when you’re launching your campaign to run for mayor.”
He barked a laugh. “I can tell you’ve been talking to Cash. I can’t tell you how many times he’s told me to hang up my uniform
and go into politics.”
“He’s not wrong.” She moved her fingers over his shoulder. “You could do both, right? You only work ten days a month, so you
could be Lieutenant Turner for ten days and then Mayor Turner the others.”
“I appreciate your confidence in me, but I’m not sure I’m cut out for that.”
The light turned green, and he finished the short journey to his driveway, where he parked in his usual spot in front of the
garage. He killed the engine, and the soothing sound of rain drummed on the roof and sent small streams rolling down the windshield.
Kaiah angled her body toward him and crossed her ankles. “Becca and I are going to firm up last-minute tasks while you’re
at work tomorrow.”
He unbuckled his seat belt. “The lighthouse still doesn’t have an actual lamp that works.
Mr. Johnson called me earlier, and he hasn’t had any luck with the wiring kits he’s tried.
” His head fell backward and thumped against the headrest on the driver’s seat.
“I told the entire town that everything would be okay. But truthfully? I’m not so sure.
The weather forecast is dismal. Who wants to walk around a festival in the rain? ”
Kaiah’s warm hand held his. “You said it’s all going to be okay, and I believe you. The whole town believes you. You gave
them all a gift tonight, Reid. You gave them hope.”
His eyes lingered on their enmeshed hands as a heavy sigh escaped his lips. “Maybe. But I’m afraid we may have done all of
this work for nothing. I may have roped you into promoting an event that’s going to be a total bust.” The familiar churn of
guilt began lashing through his stomach. “It’ll be my fault if your journalistic credibility suffers because of me.”
For a moment all he could hear were the beads of rain hitting the roof.
“Look at me, Reid.”
When he met her gaze, her lips were softly curled up into a bow, and his heart thumped against his rib cage. “The lighthouse
is going to illuminate tomorrow night, whether it’s lit by the Christmas lights or Mr. Johnson gets the lamp to glow again.
Either way, tomorrow night the lighthouse is going to glow. And then the fireworks are going to explode in the sky, and the
festival is going to start with a bang, and we’re going to raise enough money not only to rebuild the damaged wing of the
school but also to buy all new desks, computers, and books for the kids. We’re even going to fix up the lighthouse and make
it look brand-new.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
He searched her kind blue eyes. “How did I get so lucky to meet you, Ky?”
Her mouth opened and closed as her cheeks blushed the color of a spring rose. “I-I don’t know,” she whispered. “But I do know
I’ve been wondering the same thing about you.”
He gently rested his hand on the side of her face, and she leaned into his touch. He cupped his other hand to her shoulder, and as her eyes met his, a tendril of her golden hair floated in front of her forehead. He reached out and brushed it away.
She traced a finger along his jaw before pulling him closer and planting her satin lips on his. He groaned as she slid her
fingertips down his back, every nerve ending catching fire at her touch. Right then and there he knew: He was crazy about
this woman. As she parted her lips and pressed herself firmly against him, he knew there was nowhere else he’d rather be.
He’d never grow tired of tasting her.
When he pulled away, he felt an overwhelming urge to tell her he wanted her to stay forever. He opened his mouth and tried
to form the words, but just as he was going to speak, his phone rang. He and Kaiah both jumped before she pointed to his phone
sitting in the cup holder.
“It’s Piper,” she said.
With his heart still pounding, he answered the FaceTime call, trying desperately to look unrattled. “Hey, pumpkin.” His words
sounded as if he’d just swam from the Coral Cove oceanfront to the Outer Banks. “What’s up?”
“Nana said I could call you and say good night,” Piper told him. She immediately launched into a story detailing everything
she’d done since arriving at his parents’ house earlier that day. That gave his heartbeat enough time to slow down and the
tremble to exit his voice.
“Sounds like you’re having fun,” he told her.
“Uh-huh,” Piper said. “Nana is going to take me and Astrid to school tomorrow and pick us up.” She moved her head as if trying
to see behind him. “Are you in the car?”
“Yes,” he told her.
“Is Miss Kaiah there?”
Kaiah leaned on his shoulder and waved at his daughter. “Hi, Piper. What are you up to?”
Reid sighed as Kaiah rested against his shoulder. The woman grinned and listened patiently as his daughter once again summarized
her evening, as if Kaiah hadn’t already heard her.
“Wow, that sounds like a blast!” Kaiah told his daughter after she’d finished her stories. “I’m so glad you’re having fun.
Can’t wait to see you tomorrow, kiddo.”
“Me too. Good night, Miss Kaiah. And good night, Daddy,” Piper sang before blowing each of them a kiss.
Reid waved to her. “Good night, sweetheart.” He clicked his phone off and then turned to Kaiah. “Are you ready to run through
the rain?”
She picked up an umbrella from the floor. “As I’ll ever be.”
He pushed open the door, and they met at the front of the SUV.
Kaiah pulled him close, planted a quick kiss on his nose, and then loped toward the steps leading to the apartment. “See you
tomorrow!” she called while pounding up the wet steps.
Reid stood in the downpour and watched her disappear, oblivious to the rain.