Chapter 25
TWENTY-FIVE
The smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the kitchen as I lean against the counter, watching the sky slowly change colour over the ocean outside. A soft orange glow spills over the counters, bathing the room in warmth as steam billows from the coffee machine and curls into the stillness of the early morning. It should feel peaceful, but my mind won’t stop racing through the endless list of tasks waiting for me.
The kitchen counter I need to build for the MacNeils’, which I haven’t even started yet. And I wanted to have it finished and installed by the end of the week. Then there’s the set of kitchen chairs for Donna that need to be fixed and refinished, still sitting in my workshop, untouched. And Frank Gillis is building a new barn and I said I’d help with his stall doors. And shelves in the feed room…
Not to mention the work around my own house, which Liam has been doing most of.
I rub a hand over my face and blow out a breath. But the creaking stairs pull me from my thoughts, and I turn to see Liam step into the living room as he makes his way towards the kitchen. He’s wearing just his sweatpants hung low on his hips, and my gaze automatically drops to trace the lines of his abs and chest before lifting to meet his blue eyes.
“Morning,” I say, my voice quiet as I try to shake off the tension I’m feeling.
“Morning,” he replies, rubbing his eyes. Then he stops before me and his brows draw together. “You’re overthinking.”
A hollow laugh escapes me. “Yeah. I have too much to do.”
Liam observes me for a moment, then moves to the coffee machine. He hands me my now filled mug and sets another pod to brew. “Who’s nagging you?”
I furrow my brow as I stare at the back of his head. “No one.”
He glances over his shoulder with a confused expression. “No one’s been rushing you for their jobs?”
A sigh escapes me as I see where he’s going with this. “No…”
He nods thoughtfully, turning to face me as he crosses his arms and leans against the counter. “Hm. So, no one needs anything right now, and everyone understands your busy schedule…”
My eyes narrow as I stay quiet, not wanting him to win this one.
But he smirks, because he knows he already did. “And don’t you want to spend time with your niece and nephew today?”
“Of course I do,” I say, rubbing a hand over my face as guilt stirs with the realization I’ve only been seeing them for Sunday dinner at Mom’s. Which definitely isn’t enough.
Liam takes his coffee from the machine, watching me carefully. “It’s ok to slow down sometimes. You don’t always have to be working.”
I lean back against the island opposite him, the warmth of the coffee grounding me as I take a sip. And I know he’s right.
“Yeah,” I murmur, nodding slowly. “I know.”
We stand in the quiet stillness as the warmth of the sun filters through the windows and wraps us in its soft glow. We sip our coffee in comfortable silence, and I slowly let go of everything that was on my mind earlier.
“Your mom said something yesterday…” Liam says softly, breaking the silence.
I look up to see him watching me carefully, the sun shining in his dark hair, making his blue eyes seem even brighter. While I was initially a bit surprised to hear he went to the store yesterday and spent the afternoon with Mom, it actually seems to have been good for him. Since I got home last night, I’ve noticed a quiet shift in him. A subtle lightness, like something deep inside has loosened or lifted… though I can’t quite put my finger on what that is.
“Yeah?” I ask.
He nods slowly. “She said your dad died on the boat.”
My heart skips a beat, and my eyes quickly drop to the coffee in my hands. I pause for a moment as I watch the steam curl upwards, until I nod. “Yeah.”
“That’s why you stayed,” Liam says softly. “Why you do all this.”
I swallow hard, feeling the familiar ache in my chest whenever I allow myself to think about Dad. When I lift my eyes to Liam’s again, he’s watching me with understanding. Because he knows exactly what this feels like.
“Yeah,” I say, nodding again.
He sets his coffee on the counter and steps forward, pulling me into his arms. He says nothing as he holds me, and my arms wrap around him as I take a deep breath in, finding comfort in his touch.
And he’s right. Staying here in Torrin Cove and taking over the family business was never my choice… it was my promise. I couldn’t even consider leaving to pursue anything else, and selling off everything my grandfather and my dad worked so hard for. Dad loved it on the water, and I do too… even on the hard days when all I can think about is him.
So I stayed. And I continue to put everything I have into his passion, our town, and our family.
For him.
After a moment, Liam pulls back just enough to meet my eyes. His gaze is full of understanding, and a strength I didn’t expect.
“Doing what’s best for your family is brave,” he says quietly. “But being brave means knowing when to think of yourself too.”
My chest rises and falls with a heavy breath as I look into his eyes, and he brushes a thumb across my cheek.
“Your family loves you,” he says. “And not because of what you do, or how much you give. They love you for exactly who you are.” He then drops his hand from the side of my face and rests it over my chest. “Mo chridhe.”
The Gaelic words flow over me, soothing even though I don’t know what they mean. But the sound of them, and the way they feel coming from him, makes my heart soar. My head drops to his shoulder as I breathe him in, and Liam holds me tight against him.
I know his words are true. I’ve suppressed myself for so long, burying who I really am, so my family won’t have to face yet another heartbreak if everything falls apart. I know they will accept me for who I am… but the fear is for them. If the store crumbles, if the crew leaves… all my family’s hard work and passions could be gone in the blink of an eye. Even if I know deep down that won’t happen, I can’t even let myself consider the risk. The weight of that fear has been enough to keep me silent and hiding.
But Liam’s words still echo in my mind. Being brave means knowing when to think of yourself too. I’ve held it all in for so long, pushing down the truth that I’m gay, and afraid to admit it even to myself to protect my family. And finally letting that part of me out, even just here behind these walls with Liam, has released years of relentless pressure. Here, with him, I can finally breathe.
And it feels so good.
I lift my head from his shoulder and find his lips with mine, letting everything fade away so I can appreciate this moment with him.
Because I’m pretty sure I’m in love with him.
His hands slide up my back, pulling me closer as he kisses me with the same need I’m feeling. And as we stand here in the kitchen, wrapped up in each other and bathed in the soft morning light, Miss Bobber rolling around in a sunspot on the floor… it all feels so right.
Liam then chuckles against my lips as I feel Miss Bobber at our feet. He pulls back to look down at her as she goes full attack mode on his foot. We both laugh as she nearly climbs his leg with wide, wild eyes, and he gently shakes her off.
“Wild cat…” he mutters with a smirk. Then he looks up at me. “The kids will be here soon, good thing she has energy.”
I huff out a laugh as she darts around the kitchen island and the jingling of the bell on one of her toys sounds from the living room. “I’d say she’s ready.” My gaze then drops to his bare chest, and I run a hand over his pecs, taking in the feel of him under my touch. “But I don’t want you to have to get ready yet.”
He draws a slow breath in as his eyes follow my hand on his chest, then lower to my sweatpants. His hands grip my hips tighter as he pulls me against him, his lips hovering over mine. “Same.”
He steps into me, backing me up against the counter as he presses his lips to mine again. This time with heat and urgency. His tongue slips past my lips, and I immediately open for him, wanting everything he has to give me. His hips press into mine and I moan into his mouth as I feel him against me. I want to pull him even closer, take more and give him everything I?—
A knock on the door brings us both back down to reality, and Liam steps backwards with wide eyes, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Well, shit,” he says with a heavy breath.
I shoot him a pointed look and shake my head. “You’re the one who invited them over.”
He rolls his eyes and exits the kitchen, heading towards the stairs. “Just answer the door.”
I watch him for a moment as he disappears into the hallway to go upstairs and grab a shirt, then I head to the door and open it to Heather, Isla, and Mason.
“Uncle Theo! I brought my diggers!” Mason happily holds up his bag full of toy trucks with a big smile on his face, and dirt already smeared across the front of his shirt.
Isla rolls her eyes, clutching a stack of books to her chest. “He crawled into the ditch to get them.”
Heather sighs, ushering the kids inside as I hold the door open for them with a chuckle. “I didn’t bother changing him this morning, but I brought extra clothes,” she says, handing me a bag.
I take it and glance down at Mason as he kicks off his shoes. “I could just dunk him in the ocean.”
His eyes widen as he looks up at me. “Can you?!”
“Oh my god,” Isla mutters, heading towards the kitchen. But she stops suddenly as she stares into the living room.
I follow her gaze to see Miss Bobber rolling around on the rug with her toys.
“She’s. So. Cute. ” Isla drops her books on the kitchen island and rushes over to her, Mason quickly following. They drop onto the rug with her, and she looks up at them curiously. But once they start dangling her toys for her, she’s in heaven.
“She is very cute,” Heather says, watching with a smile as the kids play.
I hear the creaking stairs through the laughs and giggles, then Liam enters the room, now wearing a t-shirt.
Unfortunately.
He takes in the adorable scene before him and smiles, then looks up at Heather. “Hey.”
“Hey, Liam,” she says. Then she shifts her gaze around the living room and kitchen. “I see all the work Theo has been making you do has paid off. It looks incredible in here.”
Liam’s eyes dart to me as he smirks, and I just roll my eyes. “I’m not making him do anything.”
She gives Liam a knowing look, pulling a laugh out of him. And the sound is so perfect that I can’t even bring myself to protest anymore.
“For real though, this is insane,” Heather says, running her hand along the kitchen counter, her eyes drifting up to the exposed beam where we took down the wall between the kitchen and living room. “Not only is this place actually livable now, it’s beautiful. Good job, guys.” Her gaze catches on the doorway to the sunroom, and she heads towards it. But she stops at the threshold and looks back at us with a shocked expression. “Now this is going to be amazing.”
I follow her to the room, leaning against the doorframe as she steps over the now carpetless hardwood floor, still covered with some plaster, and takes in the newly painted drywall and trim around the windows.
“Perfect place for morning coffee,” she says with a smile, gazing out at the view.
I smile too, my eyes flicking back to the living room. Liam is crouched on the carpet with the kids as they play with Miss Bobber. His eyes meet mine, and he gives me a lopsided smile.
That’s our plan.
When I bring my attention back to Heather, she’s looking through the hallway into Liam’s room. Or I guess, what used to be his room. His empty bag is still tucked in the corner, but his clothes are in my room, and every night, he’s in my bed.
Her eyes sweep over the neatly made bed, his bag the only sign of him ever being in there.
“Liam’s tidy,” she says, eyebrows raised.
I freeze, watching her peering into the room.
Fuck.
But Liam chuckles from the rug behind me. “It’s just where I keep my bag. I took a room upstairs.”
Relief floods through me as Heather laughs. “Well that makes more sense. No man is that tidy.”
I force a chuckle as well, trying to get my heart to settle the fuck down. When I meet Liam’s gaze, he gives me a reassuring smile, and I take a deep breath.
Randomly finding out the guy I moved into my house has been sharing a bed with me isn’t exactly how I want to come out to my sister.
“Ok, I need to go,” Heather says, reaching down to ruffle Mason’s hair as she walks past them towards the door. “Be good for your uncle, please,” Heather says, looking back at the kids. But mostly at Mason.
“I’ll make sure he is,” Isla says confidently, patting Miss Bobber as she rubs up against her.
Heather chuckles, shaking her head. “And have some fun too, Isla.”
But once Heather is gone, Mason jumps to his feet, looking up at me.
“Can we look for worms? Can we fish? Can we use my diggers in the sand? In the water? Can I dig a hole? Then fill in the hole? Can you throw me in the ocean like you promised?”
Liam stifles a laugh behind him, and Isla sighs loudly with a shake of her head.
I nod slowly, trying to contain my own laughter. “Yeah, bud. Why not?”
“Yeah!” Mason pumps his fist in the air. “Let’s go!”
Isla pushes to her feet with a sigh as Mason runs to the door to put his shoes on. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to read.”
I nod, placing my hands on her shoulders to steer her towards her books on the kitchen island. “I’ll bring a chair down to the dock for you.”
She smiles widely and picks up her books, clutching them tightly to her chest. “Perfect!”
Liam grabs one of the Adirondack chairs for Isla and takes it down to the dock while I help Mason bring his bag of diggers. He settles near the rocky shoreline beside the dock and dives into his project right away, digging a hole as if his life depends on it. Within minutes, he’s covered in mud and sand, grinning from ear to ear, and the happiest I think I’ve ever seen this kid.
We sit on the edge of the dock, drinking our coffee, as the warm sunshine offers a comforting contrast to the cool water as we dangle our toes in it. Liam chuckles beside me as we watch Mason play, and Isla lounges in her chair with a book, completely absorbed in her own world.
“You might have to dunk him in here after all,” Liam says, taking a sip of his coffee.
I huff out a laugh, watching Mason reach deep into his hole and pull out a handful of dirt. He sifts through it in search of worms, and when he doesn’t find any, he wipes his hand on his shirt and reaches in again.
“Or hose him off.” I shrug. “Pretty sure he’d be down for either.”
“I found one!” Mason says suddenly, jumping to his feet and holding his hand in the air. “I got a worm!”
“Awesome,” I say with a chuckle, watching as he runs up the dock towards us.
He holds it out proudly when he reaches us. “Liam, look!”
Liam laughs, leaning in to inspect his worm. “That’s a big one. You could catch two fish with that.”
Mason’s eyes practically pop out of his head. “Can I…?” His eyes dart to me.
“Well,” I say, pushing to my feet, “we do need something for lunch. Let’s catch some fish.”
He lifts both hands in the air and tilts his head back. “Yeah!! Best day ever !”
Isla glances up from her book with a furrowed brow. “Do I have to stop reading?”
“No,” I say with a laugh. “Read all you want.”
She grins, grabbing another book from her stack. “Best day ever .”
By the time I grab the fishing rods from the barn and Liam helps Mason bait his hook, the kid is vibrating with excitement.
“I’m going to catch two fish,” Mason declares, beaming as Liam passes him his rod.
“Two more than your uncle then,” Liam says, smirking as I hand him his rod.
I shoot him a look. “You’re full of it. You only caught a couple more than me.”
Liam huffs as he grabs a worm from the bait box. “More than a couple.”
Mason looks up at me with a furrowed brow, then to Liam. “Uncle Theo fishes lobster. Maybe he needs help with mackerel?”
Liam’s gaze slides to meet mine, a smug smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah,” he says. “I’d say you’re right.”
I set my jaw and bite my tongue, not willing to take the bait this time. Enough is enough. I’m a fucking fisherman. This is getting embarrassing.
We focus our effort on fishing for the entire morning, and by lunchtime, Mason caught his two fish.
Liam also caught two.
And I caught one.
For fuck’s sake.
But by the time evening rolls around and we load the kids into the truck for Sunday dinner at Mom’s, all is forgotten. It was a perfect day, and the worries I was feeling this morning have faded away, replaced by the love I feel for my family.
And Liam.