29. Chapter 29 #2
Mom’s silent but I can picture her smiling. “If you want the cottage, it’s yours. We can figure out details later. I’m planning a trip down there to visit Grandpa in a few weeks, actually.”
I briefly consider telling her about the note and Emma, but decide against it for now.
“That’s great, mom,” I say, distracted by a light bobbing along the horizon. Could it be? “I’ve got to go, though. I’ll call you soon.”
We hang up, and the light grows brighter with each passing second. Soon enough, everyone makes their way from Mugs and Memos, and we form a line down the docks. As the boat gets closer, I spot her, her wild hair blowing in the breeze, Midge tucked safely under her arm.
She doesn’t wait for the capitan to fully dock before she jumps over the edge, and winces landing on her feet.
I’m running to meet her, dodging past half the town that’s congregated on the old wooden planks, and when she spots me, her face lights up in a smile.
I all but tackle her with the biggest hug I can muster, her face buried into my chest, the smell of the salt water in her hair tickling my nose.
From somewhere behind me, I hear Eden’s unmistakable cat call, and slowly, people join in and begin clapping.
When Lainey breaks free from our embrace, she grins up at me.
“You’re safe,” I whisper, finally letting out the breath that’s been stored in my chest since the moment I knew she was missing. Her family joins us, and she breaks away to give each of them hugs too.
“I’m sorry,” she says, when she finally gets to her dad. “Your boat is gone.”
Her dad frowns and takes her by the hands. “I don’t care about that boat,” he says. “I care about you . You’re here safe, and that’s all that matters.”
“Yeah but…it was the last place—” she gulps, and glances out at the water. “I failed you. I failed the family business.”
“Lainey, honey. You didn’t fail anything. Look at me, my girl. You think I can keep going out there, fishing for money as old as I am? I’m ready to retire.” He grins but Lainey wipes at her eyes.
“You love fishing,” she says. “And our books—”
“Don’t you worry about those books,” he says. “We’ll be fine. We’ll figure something out. We always do.”
Lainey bites her lip, and her dad pulls her into another hug. “I’ve gotta ask you though, kid. What possessed you to take the boat clear down to Haven’s Harbor by yourself like that?”
Lainey looks down at her boots. “There was a fishing tournament. I thought if I could win, we’d be okay for a while. It was a twenty thousand dollar grand prize.”
Archer shakes his head. “I’m sorry I ever made you think you had to carry this family while I recovered.
Twenty thousand dollars isn’t worth losing you.
There’s no amount of money in this world that would make me willing to risk your safety.
” He glances down at her foot. “Do you need to see someone about that?” Lainey glances at Lucille and winces.
“I think I’ll try icing it at home first.”
Archer trails her line of vision, understanding dawning on his face. “Good idea.”
Lainey makes her rounds around the community, and one by one, they all meander back to their homes until it’s just Lainey and I left.
We sit on the bench overlooking the dark water, the stars above dancing and winking at us.
When she lays her head on my chest, warmth spreads through me, and I can’t help but smile.
“I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t come back,” I whisper. “You don’t understand the worry, pain, and stress I felt.”
“I know,” she sighs. “I’m sorry. I won’t ever do it again. This time you really, truly do have my promise.” She intertwines her fingers in mine, and I give them a squeeze. “I don’t want to do this for the rest of my life,” she murmurs.
“You don’t have to,” I tell her.
“What else am I going to do, though? I don’t mind helping Huck out when he needs it, or anyone else—I really don’t—but it’s not something I want to do forever.”
“Well,” I say, my eyes meeting hers when she turns her head up to look at me. “What do you want to do?”
She shrugs and points her eyes skyward. “I’ll figure it out. For now though, I’m kind of exhausted.”
She moves to stand, and I get up quickly, ready to help her up.
She leans on me, her bandaged ankle thoroughly iced and much less swollen.
Lucille had come back with ice earlier and insisted she let her wrap it.
She also insisted Midge come stay with her tonight, and I swear Midge’s eyes tripled in size at the suggestion, before Lainey declined the offer.
Midge stirs underneath the bench, stretching and letting out a lazy yawn. “I almost forgot,” I say. “I bought something today.”
She arches an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
“Yep,” I say and rock back onto my heels. “I bought the cottage. Or…I’m buying the cottage, I suppose. I talked to mom earlier. I’m leaving the firm for good and branching off on my own.”
She grins and smiles up at me. “So you’re really, truly, staying, huh?”
I nod, my grin matching hers. “I was actually heading to Charlotte this morning to pack my things. I tried to find you to tell you I was leaving, but I saw you and the boat were gone, and didn’t really think much of it.”
Lainey grimaces. “Sorry about that.”
I wrap my arms around her and nuzzle into her hair. “So you’re doing accounting here?”
“Yep. I’ve already got my first paying gig,” I say proudly. “I’ll be Mugs and Memo’s official accountant starting next month.”
Lainey raises an eyebrow. “Do you understand what you agreed to? Lucille kept her books at one point, you know.”
I laugh. “I like a good challenge.”
“I can’t believe you’re staying,” she says. When I pull back, she’s smiling.
“What can I say? Lucille’s starting to grow on me. I sure would hate to leave her.” I wink, and she lets out one of those melodious giggles that lights up my entire life. I’m staying so I can hear that giggle for the rest of my life, if she’ll have me.