Chapter 19
“I can’t believe the rain finally stopped.”
Kaiah wiped the beads of sweat clinging to her forehead. She and Becca had spent the day tying up loose ends, pitching in
where they could: helping vendors set up display tables, coordinating light technicians rigging the stage, answering all kinds
of questions from all kinds of volunteers. She’d been moving her body a hundred miles an hour, and she was exhausted. But
she scanned the market at the base of the lighthouse and grinned when she found booths filled with handmade crafts, paintings,
photography, and jewelry. She took a deep inhale and nearly groaned from the aroma of cinnamon pecans mingling with buttery
popcorn and freshly baked pretzels. The air felt moist and humid, leftovers from the band of showers that had made their way
through. But when Kaiah peered up at the sky, she saw no evidence of the storm. Instead, the setting sun transformed the blue
expanse into bands of oranges and purples melting into each other.
Becca patted Kaiah’s shoulder. “My brother was right. I usually hate to say it, but this time I really wanted him to be. This festival’s going to work out after all.”
The nearby stage was set and waiting for the live bands to start. Across the way, Mr. Johnson and a crew from his electrical
company buzzed in and out of the lighthouse carrying bags of tools, giving Kaiah a grain of hope. Maybe, just maybe, the lighthouse
would shine for the first time in decades.
“Everything looks fantastic,” Mayor Whittington said as she sidled up to them. She held up a handful of note cards. “I’m ready
to start whenever y’all are.”
Becca looped her arm around Kaiah’s shoulders. “It’s going to be great.”
“I think you may be right,” Kaiah agreed.
The mayor divided a look between them. “Thank you both for making this day a reality. Truly, it’s a small miracle we’re all
standing here right now.”
“It was all Kaiah’s idea.” Becca gave Kaiah’s neck a squeeze in a half hug. “Without her, this never would have happened.”
Kaiah smiled. “It’s been fun.”
The mayor’s assistant took her arm. “We should get you ready for the ceremony,” the young woman said.
“I’d better go,” the mayor told Becca and Kaiah. “I’ll see you after.”
“Miss Kaiah! Auntie!” Piper called while she and Astrid held hands and raced toward them with Becca’s parents, Blake and Sue,
following closely behind them.
“Hi, Mommy!” Astrid hugged Becca’s waist.
Kaiah took Piper’s hand. “Are you two ready to see the lighthouse glow? And watch those fireworks?”
“Yes!” Piper and Astrid hollered in unison while bouncing up and down.
Becca and Kaiah shared a smile. Then Becca pointed behind Kaiah. “Look at the crowd.”
A swarm of folks had begun to gather near the lighthouse and the marketplace. The sun had dipped under the horizon, and with
darkness setting in, there was a hum in the air. Everyone was waiting for the main event.
“Where’s Daddy?” Piper asked.
Kaiah stared beyond the crowd to where a fire truck was parked, but she could tell that it wasn’t from his station. “I’m sure
he’ll be here soon.”
And she hoped so. She couldn’t imagine watching the opening ceremony without Reid at her side—not after all their planning.
It only seemed right that they’d experience the festival together.
For the next several minutes Kaiah stood with Becca and her parents, along with Astrid and Piper, while the crowd continued
to grow around the lighthouse. Darkness deepened over the cove, and the buzz of the chattering crowd, along with the tide
rolling on the shore in waves, filled the air. Piper held on to Kaiah’s hand while they waited for the ceremony to begin.
Once the streetlights began to pop on one after the other, Mayor Whittington took the stage.
“Good evening. And welcome, everyone, to Coral Cove’s first Light the Dark Festival. I’m Susan Whittington, and I’m honored
to be the mayor and to have the opportunity to welcome you to our festival. For the next six days we’re going to come together
to celebrate our town’s rich history, and whether you’ve lived here your whole life or you’re visiting us for the first time,
I’m so glad you’ve come to join us. Many years ago, this lighthouse saved the lives of a group of sailors during one fateful,
stormy night . . .”
A hand on Kaiah’s shoulder startled her, and she turned to find Reid standing behind her, clad in his uniform and wearing a wide smile.
“Reid,” she whispered. “You made it!”
“Daddy!” Piper yelled.
People around them turned to stare.
Reid shushed Piper and pulled her into his arms. “Listen to the mayor, okay?” Then he met Kaiah’s eyes. “Sorry I’m late,”
he whispered. “We had to take care of a few things before we came out here.”
“I’m just glad—” she began, but her words were cut off when the lighthouse suddenly lit up with thousands of white lights.
Then the lamp atop the black-and-white frame suddenly burst with light, and in an instant, the historic structure was brought
back to life.
Kaiah gasped as the crowd erupted into a chorus of applause. She couldn’t believe what a majestic sight it was, watching the
light sail miles into the ocean, cutting through the darkness. She could only imagine how those sailors must have felt that
night with nothing to guide them but the light from this very structure.
Reid’s strong hand massaged Kaiah’s shoulder. “We did it, Ky,” he whispered in her ear. Would hearing his deep voice say her
name always send a zip of heat racing through her body? She hoped so.
She took in his dark eyes. “Yes, we did, Reid. Yes, we did.”
“And now I’d like to declare the Light the Dark Festival officially open,” Mayor Whittington called into the microphone. “Let’s
celebrate Coral Cove!”
Just then a whoosh of color sailed into the air and was followed by a cracking boom. Kaiah jumped and then laughed at herself as fireworks exploded in the sky. Reid pulled her against his side as Piper’s hands
flew to her face, her mouth agape as she watched fireworks of red and blue, green and purple fill the sky and reflect on the
water.
“Oh!” Piper exclaimed as more fireworks flared. “Look at that one! And that one! Oh wow!”
Kaiah’s eyes found Reid as he whispered to his daughter, who balanced in his arms. He was so dashing with his dark eyes reflecting
the sparkling light. She wrapped her arm around his trim waist, leaning her head on his shoulder and wishing the moment could
last forever.
All too soon, the grand finale filled the black canvas with hundreds of colored lights streaking and exploding in the air,
causing everyone on the shore to gasp with delight. When the colors faded away and smoke and silence were all that was left,
they all clapped and cheered—especially Piper and Astrid.
Kaiah stepped away from Reid. The fireworks had come to a close too quickly. She pulled out her camera and captured the lighthouse,
lit up in all its glory against the dark sky.
A local band had set up on the stage during the fireworks show and now began the twangy opening chords of “Boot Scootin’ Boogie”
by Brooks & Dunn. The crowd instantly gravitated toward the honky-tonk tune, and a few couples began to break into a line
dance. Others moved toward the shops, pulling out their wallets as they perused the wares.
The Light the Dark Festival was officially open for business.
“Do you want to get some popcorn or ice cream?” Reid’s father, Blake, asked the girls, and they both responded with happy
cheers. “Let’s go,” he said.
Becca reached for Piper. “Come with me, Piper,” she told her niece.
Reid set Piper down, and Becca took her hand. “Have fun.”
Kaiah watched Becca head for the market with her parents and the girls while the enticing scents of hot coffee, fresh waffle
cones, and creamy red velvet funnel cakes wafted over her.
Reid took her arm and led her toward the fence that lined the path to the lighthouse. She studied the beautiful structure, admiring how it stood against the clear, dark sky speckled with bright stars.
“Did you know the lighthouse lamp had been repaired?” she asked Reid.
He shrugged, but Kaiah saw his lips twitch ever so slightly.
She swatted his muscular bicep. “You goof! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It was a surprise.” He rested his arm on her shoulder and craned his neck to take in his handiwork. “What do you think?”
She lifted her fingertips to the side of his face and gently pulled until his gaze met hers. “It’s perfect. Everything is.
Did you call in a favor to get the weather cleared up?”
His eyes held a mischievous glint. “I may have folded my hands and put in a request or two. However it happened, I’m just
thankful we’re blessed with this incredible weather tonight. We’ll worry about the weather for the beach cleanup and the picnic
tomorrow. Maybe I’ll submit a couple more requests.”
They leaned against the fence and glanced over at the marketplace, which was bustling with activity while the band continued
to play.
“Thank you,” he told her, looping his arm around her shoulder.
She looked up at him, searching his face. “You keep saying that, but I really didn’t do anything.”
He chuckled. “Right.” Then he pointed to the market. “You just made this happen. That’s all.”
She smiled and threaded her fingers with his. “We did.”
“Lieutenant Turner,” the mayor called as she walked over to them.
“Looks like everything’s off to a great start.
Everyone’s buzzing about the lighthouse and the fireworks.
Plus the shopping that’s happening—it’s off the charts!
” She shook Reid’s hand and then Kaiah’s.
“Thank you for your help with the festival. Truly.”
“You’re welcome,” Reid said.
Kaiah nodded. “I’m relieved it all came together.”
The mayor made a sweeping gesture toward the vendors. “You guys have put in the work, and now’s the time to enjoy it. Go have
some fun,” she said before moving on to talk to more folks milling about near the lighthouse.
Kaiah grinned up at Reid. “You heard the mayor. Let’s go.”
They wandered through the market and soon found Sue and Piper. The six-year-old was holding a giant bag of popcorn in one
hand while licking a chocolate ice cream cone in the other. Reid laughed and shook his head as he admired his daughter’s palate.
Piper held the bag up to Kaiah. “Want some kettle corn?”
“Absolutely I do.” Kaiah took the bag. “Kettle corn is my favorite.” She pointed to a nearby bench. “Let’s sit down while
you finish your cone.”
Piper handed her kettle corn to Kaiah, and the foursome sat on the bench and ate their treats, watching people walk and talk,
dance and shop.
After snack time Reid visited different vendors with Becca and Astrid, and Kaiah spotted him paying for something before he
rejoined them at the bench. He sank down beside Piper and began wiping her hands with a napkin. “It’s almost eleven, kiddo.
It’s way past your bedtime.”
Piper shook her head and yawned. “But I’m not even tired.”
Kaiah and Reid exchanged smirks.
Kaiah had almost forgotten Reid was still working his shift. “Becca and I will take her home,” she offered.
“Thanks. I owe you one,” he said before tossing the napkins into a nearby trash can.
Becca and Cash walked over to them. Cash held a sleeping Astrid in his arms.
“I think it’s time for us to head home,” Becca said.
“Yeah,” Kaiah agreed. “This night went by too quickly.”
“I’ll carry her to the car.” Reid lifted Piper into his arms, and she rested her head on his shoulder while they waded through
the sea of people toward the parking lot.
When they reached Becca’s SUV, she unlocked the doors, and Reid and Cash loaded the two girls into their booster seats. Instantly
Piper closed her eyes, and both girls’ heads lolled to the side as they slept.
Reid kissed his daughter’s head, and she snored softly.
Kaiah smiled at the two of them. She loved watching Reid interact with his daughter.
When Reid straightened up and started toward Kaiah, his radio crackled.
“All available units respond to 1742 Glenn Avenue, Coral Cove, seventy-four-year-old man,” the voice over the radio blared.
“Head injury. Possible concussion.”
Cash kissed Becca. “Duty calls. See you tomorrow, babe,” he told her before giving her a quick peck.
Reid said good night to his sister and parents and then turned his attention to Kaiah. “I’ll see you bright and early for
the beach cleanup.” He pulled something out of his pocket and folded it into her palm.
“What’s this?”
“Something to help you remember Coral Cove.” He kissed her, and her heart skipped a beat as he and Cash double-timed it toward
the fire engine.
Kaiah slipped the little bag into her pocket. She couldn’t wait to open it after she tucked Piper into bed.
“Thank you for the ride,” Kaiah told Becca after she’d parked in Reid’s driveway.
Becca swiveled toward the back seat where the girls were fast asleep. “Do you need help carrying Piper in?”
“No, I’ll just wake her up.” She climbed out of the passenger seat and opened the back door. She rubbed Piper’s arm as she
unbuckled her. “Hey, Piper, time to wake up. We need to walk into the house.”
Piper groaned and snuggled deeper into the seat.
“Come on, sweetie. I need you to walk into the house, and then we’ll get you in bed, okay?”
“Nooo,” Piper groaned.
Becca shut off the SUV. “You carry her, and I’ll unlock the door.”
“Good idea.” Kaiah hoisted the sleepy girl into her arms and then carefully walked up to the house, where Becca had the door
unlocked and opened. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you,” Becca said. “You made this festival happen.” Then she paused. “And thank you for helping my brother smile again.”
Kaiah shuddered as a quick thrill slipped down her spine. Then Piper shifted in her arms and moaned in her sleep.
“You’d better get her in bed. See you tomorrow.” Becca jogged down the front steps and out to her SUV.
Kaiah carried Piper to her bedroom, where she managed to pull on her pajamas before tucking her into bed. Ariel curled up
in her usual spot at Piper’s feet, and Kaiah rubbed the cat’s ears before ambling across the hallway to the guest room.
She hopped onto the bed and pulled the small bag from her pocket. Inside she found a dainty beaded bracelet with the words “Coral Cove” spelled out in beads.
Her eyes stung as she pulled the bracelet onto her wrist. Then she flopped back on the bed, held her arm up over her head,
and studied the piece.
“I could never forget this place,” she whispered.