Chapter 26
Elias
I’m glad to be home.
Clo missed me. Corbin really missed me. Apparently cleaning up bird poo is really low on his list of enjoyable things to do, especially since we have fifteen new ones adding to the cleanup.
“There she is,” I say as I hear the back patio door open. “Didn’t think you’d be up so early after us getting in so late yesterday.”
Nora, with Goldie’s teacup full of sugary sweet coffee in hand, settles in the seat beside me.
Clo hops off my knee to go say hello. When I’d knocked on her bedroom door earlier to retrieve my bird, Nora woke up enough to mumble her approval for me to enter and was breathing heavily before I left the room.
“I’m tired,” she says with a yawn, “but there’s no way I’d miss our slow morning time together.”
My chest fills with warmth. Clo investigates her teacup and tries to dunk his head before he gets shooed away. He settles for sitting on her shoulder and grooms her hair. I could stare at her all day with messy hair, sleep in her eyes, and a serene smile on her face.
So beautiful.
“Thank you for taking me there,” she says absently, eyes drifting to the slowly rising sun. “That means more than you’ll ever know.”
“Glad to.”
“I can’t help but think we were too late.” Her voice turns hoarse with emotion. “A month ago, they could’ve been reunited. What a cruel twist of fate.”
I reach over and take hold of her hand. “That’s one way to look at it. Or you could look at it that you found him just in time. He’s alive, though old, and will get to know his daughter and granddaughter. That’s something, honey.”
A smile tugs at her lips. “I like when you call me honey.”
“Good to know.” I wink at her. “Is there anything we need to do before your mom gets here?”
She sits up and nods. “Call your mom to take the house off the market. At least until we figure out what’s happening with Grandpa. Mom wants to bring him home, but then I don’t know what her plans are.”
Before finding Amos, I’d held out hope Nora would stay here with me. But now that her long-lost grandpa is in the picture, I wouldn’t fault her for wanting to go to the city to be with him if that’s what her mother decides.
“Dad and I could build a temporary wheelchair ramp,” I suggest, words tense. “For Amos.”
“Oh, I didn’t even think about that,” Nora says absently. “How long do you think it’ll take Mom to get the legalities sorted?”
I’m quiet for a moment as I ponder her words. “Don’t know. I’d imagine they’d be in the business of reuniting families, not keeping them apart. Your mom seems tough and capable. If she’s anything like you or your grandma, I think she’ll handle it just fine.”
The quicker Sandy gets Amos here, the quicker she might get Nora out of here. That becomes a real fear, and it clings to my back like rabid squirrel. I can’t shake it off or ignore it.
We don’t speak again until the sun fully comes up.
Then, I abandon my empty mug and take hers from her.
Once I pull her to her feet, I clasp my hand around hers.
I take her on a walk around my house as I point out different plants and ideas I have for future flowerbeds.
When we make it to her grandma’s cottage, we stop by the strawberries in the backyard.
They’re ripe for picking and smell sweet.
I kneel down to pluck a few off the vines, dust them off on my T-shirt, and then offer her a handful.
“Breakfast.” I smirk at her. “Well, pre-breakfast. I’ll make you some eggs and bacon shortly.”
She eats the strawberries and smiles. “These are berry good.”
We share a laugh and then I pick a few more for her. The strawberries are good, but the company is even better. Clo has found his way over to the birdbath and is happily splashing all around.
I wish this could be our morning every day.
Maybe one day it will.
Nora handles the bird business in the aviary while me and Dad tackle wheelchair ramps.
We’re making two so Amos can go out the front and back.
I’m grateful for Nora’s help with the budgies, especially since we have so many more to look after.
They’ll need homes soon, but we can only do so much at a time.
Mom was a little sad to take the “for sale” sign out of the yard, but she was thrilled to know the reason why.
After we finish up for the day, my parents leave.
“Want to grab lunch at The Budgie Café?” I ask after we’ve both showered off our filth.
“The answer to that question is always yes.”
Twenty minutes later and we’re sliding into a booth. Lo and behold, Grandma Dot is working. Her gray hair is pulled back in a severe bun that “gets rid of crow’s feet” and her smile is wicked as she approaches.
“Well, I’ll be darned,” Grandma Dot says as she ruffles my just-fixed hair. “My grandson actually brought a girl for me to meet.”
I groan and shake my head. “We came here for food.”
“Nonsense. You came to show off your lady.” Grandma Dot gives Nora a playful push. “Scoot on over, doll. I need meet the girl who has my Elias smiling like that.”
Nora peeks over at me beneath her long, dark lashes and her cheeks turn pink. I’m busted. I can’t help but stare at her every chance I get. She’s easy on the eyes and I like watching her face light up when she’s happy.
“I’m Nora Everhart,” Nora says and offers my grandma her hand.
“Of course you are,” Grandma Dot says, ignoring the handshake and hugging her to her.
“You’re a spittin’ image of the old coot.
In fact, I remember you when you were no taller than my kneecaps.
Always had an eager look in your eyes like you were waiting for something good to come your way.
Looks like you haven’t lost your spark, kiddo. ”
Grandma Dot hollers for one of the other waitresses to come over. “Bernie, I’m on break. Can you take this table?”
Bernie arches a brow. “You want me to take your order or something?”
“No, I want you to load it up in your minivan and take it home,” Grandma Dot deadpans. “Of course I want you to take our order. Elias will want an iced tea. Three lemons. Don’t make it sweet or he’ll have a tantrum.”
Nora sniggers and I groan, rolling my eyes.
“I’ll have a lemonade and Miss Nora will have—”
“A Goldie Special,” I blurt out.
When Bernie stares at me in confusion, Grandma Dot sighs.
“Sweet tea, three lemons,” Grandma Dot clarifies. “Tell Keith to bring us some jalapeno cornbread for an appetizer. Thanks, sugar. Hurry along now.”
Bernie, who’s no older that Nora, grimaces at being bossed around by Grandma Dot, but in the end, she obeys. Everyone obeys Grandma Dot. She’s kind of scary if you don’t.
I probably should be annoyed my grandma crashed my date, but since it has Nora smiling, I don’t mind. But if she tries to get me to bus her tables after we eat, I’m drawing the line.
“When I first met your grandma,” Grandma Dot says, side-eyeing Nora, “she smuggled in a budgie. Freshly rescued from that piece of sh—”
“Shiitake mushrooms,” I finish for her, my voice louder. “Grandma, this is a family establishment.”
She cackles. “Such a good boy.” Then, she grows serious. “Wayne Harker was selling the pitiful little thing. Ticked your grandma off something fierce. Good ol’ Amos was always by her side, rescuing those creatures right along with her.”
When Nora tells Grandma Dot that Amos has been found, she doesn’t act surprised. And it’s not because my family already spilled the beans.
“Figured he’d pop back up,” Grandma Dot says with a shrug. “She always claimed he promised he’d come back. Goldie believed it and would give the evil eye to anyone who suggested otherwise.”
Lunch is entertaining. With my grandma, it always is. She only griped at Bernie three times. I guess she’s getting soft in her old age. After our bellies are full and we’ve hugged the crazy old lady I love, we step back outside.
The scent of seawater and ozone wafts its way toward us.
Dark skies chase away the sun as a storm rolls in.
In the distance, the lighthouse flashes more prominently the usual during the day.
As we head for the truck, thunder booms loud enough to rattle your teeth and is followed by a crackle of lightning that illuminates the entire sky.
Then, without any more warning, the clouds release the rain.
Nora screams and I grunt, both of us running toward the truck. But, when I stop, she keeps going.
“Nora!” I call out after her.
She laughs over her shoulder as the rain soaks her to the bone and splashes her way down Wing Whirr Way. I’m not fast by any means, but there’s a pep in my step to catch up with her. Not sure what’s going on in her head but sticking around while there’s lightning doesn’t seem too smart.
I reach her side, grab her hand, and continue to run with her. She points at The Icehouse. Eager to get out of the soaking rain, I bolt alongside her. We burst into The Icehouse, earning more than a few curious stares. Silas’s eyes widen at the water mess we’re leaving on his wood floors.
“I’ll clean it up later,” Nora shouts to him. “I have to do something!”
Silas shrugs and shakes his head. I chuckle as she tugs me through the bar to the stairs that lead to Goldie’s spot. When we reach the landing, she breaks free to run over to the bell on the wall. Then, she clangs it over and over, proclaiming Amos is coming home.
A few people come upstairs, including Silas, Reverie, and Monroe, to see what all the commotion is about.
When she’s panting heavily from exertion and quits ringing the bell, a full-bodied shiver runs its way through her.
I take hold of her chilled hands and pull her to me.
Then, I grab her wet cheeks and bring my nose to hers.
“That’s my cue to leave,” Monroe grumbles, taking his family with him.
Rather than kiss her like I want to, I drink up the happiness shining in Nora’s pretty blue eyes. Her smile is infectious and I smile too. I like that she looks at me like I’m somehow contributing to her good mood. My thumb drags over her slick cheek, and I inhale her lemony scent.
My lips press to hers and she sighs as if she’s been waiting all day for this moment.
I know I certainly have. This kiss is gentle and reverent at first, but when she twists her fists into my drenched T-shirt and pulls me closer, a possessive growl rattles from me.
I kiss her deeply, hoping to somehow put my mark on her that’ll have her wanting to stay here forever.
I’m not sure how long I kiss her for, but another clap of thunder has us pulling apart. Her cheeks are flushed and her eyes hooded. With her blond hair matted to her head, she’s somehow more adorable than ever.
“I like kissing you,” she reveals with a grin.
“I love kissing you.”
Her eyes smolder hot. I don’t want to ruin the moment, but I ache to ask her what her future looks like and if it includes me. I’m also fully aware that this might not be the best time. She has enough to worry about with Amos coming home.
“If we end every date with a kiss like that,” she murmurs, smirking at me, “I might just go on one with you every day.”
It’s not a definitive answer, but it’s one I’ll cling to with hope.