Chapter Five
Tug watched Paul as he waved goodbye to Amanda and the kids. “Hard to say goodbye to something that special, isn’t it?”
“Hardest thing I’ve had to do in a long time.” Paul dropped his hand.
“When are you going to make it official and marry that girl? You can’t just be the hero. You two should be married.”
Paul gave Tug a look. “Is this really the time for that talk, Tug?”
“Feels like as good a time as any.”
Paul sighed, then looked in the direction they’d just ridden off. “I know,” he said. “I just don’t want to push her too hard, or she might back off.”
“It’s been three years since Jack died. The longer you act like the family friend, the harder it’s going to be to shake that role, and I know you want more.”
“I do, absolutely, but—”
“But if something happened, you would regret it the rest of your life. She loves you. Those kids love you, and they deserve the stability of a father in the home.”
“Amanda is a wonderful mother. They are just fine without me.”
“I don’t dispute that. But God made a family—a mother and a father—for a reason. And you love them.”
“I do.” Paul walked over and dropped the tailgate on his truck. He set a five-gallon bucket of tools on the ground and started pulling plywood from the back. “It’s not like I haven’t thought about it. In fact, I was thinking about talking to her father if I pick them up after the storm, get his approval for when the right timing comes along.”
“Good idea.”
“Thank you…and it’s complicated. You know?”
“Things are never as complicated as we make them,” Tug said. “Most of the complications are just what-ifs that couldn’t even happen.”
“Suddenly, you’re a shrink.”
“Eighty years of experience speaking here, Paul, and I’m only butting in because I think it’s what you want and you’re too chicken to do something about it. And I love you like a son. You two deserve to be together.”
“Well, if this is the day for all things sappy and supportive”—Paul set down the board and balanced it against his leg—“I’m worried about you, Tug. You haven’t been the same since Maeve died. We all miss her, but you’ve lost your spirit.”
“I’m not the same,” Tug admitted. “A piece of me died with her. I don’t know if I’ll ever get over it.” He lowered his head, quiet for a long moment.
“We’re here for you. You know that, right?”
“I know.” He lifted his gaze to meet Paul’s. “I’ll be fine.”
“I don’t want you doing anything crazy during this storm. I want you to come stay with me.”
“That’s crazy.”
“No, it’s smart.”
“Are you afraid I’m going to throw myself into the ocean like one of those shells that keep washing up with the messages in them?” He’d been low for a long time now, but he’d never do anything like that.
“Tug, some days, yeah, frankly. I’ve seen the signs and I’m worried.”
“I’m sorry I worried you.” The last thing he wanted was to cause his friends to worry. “The diner is all boarded and sandbagged. The only opening we’ve got is the front door and the back exit. I’m only doing to-go orders until the storm comes. Then I’ll shut down. Promise.”
“Then you’ll come to Paws with me.”
“I can stay at my house. Always have. Never have had a problem down there. That place is built for these storms.”
“No.” Paul shook his head. “Nuh-uh. We’re manning this together. Don’t fight me on this. I could use your help. Sheltering safely in place was part of the design when we rebuilt Paws Town Square. Take advantage of it. You know you’re not going to leave The Wife in your house. One window breaks and freaks her out—no telling where she’ll end up. New York City or Bermuda maybe? Please, man.”
That was true. And The Wife was funny about storms. “Fine. I’ll come to Paws.”
“Good. Now, let’s finish up this place and mark The Shell Collector off our list.”
They lifted the last few boards into place and double-checked all the windows and doors.
Tug thought of the many times he’d done this for Maeve. “The way this place sits back off the beach on this dune, it’s not likely to have any debris issues. It’s made it through a lot of storms. I’d be surprised if she even wobbles,” Tug said. “You know Jarvis was a shipwright. He worked on boats, and this thing is built like a battleship.”
“Good. I’d like very much for it to be standing when this storm passes.”