Chapter 4 Willa #2
“I can fly you there in my plane,” Ace offered, standing up beside her. “It’s faster than driving, and I was planning to head down to Miami today anyway for supplies.”
Rad looked stunned by the immediate outpouring of support. “I can’t impose like this.”
“Hey, this isn’t New York,” Ace said with a gentle smile. “Community takes care of community. No questions asked.”
Willa could see Rad struggling with his pride, wanting to accept help but not knowing how to ask for it. She recognized that battle, too. The fierce independence that came from being the only one responsible for everything, the difficulty of trusting others with the things that mattered most.
“Rad,” Willa said quietly, “I know what it’s like to face a crisis alone. I’ve been there. Please let us help.”
Something in her voice must have gotten through to him because his shoulders sagged with relief. “Tyler,” Rad called to his son, then walked over to where the boys were still discussing their volleyball tournament plans.
Willa, Margo, and Ace watched as Rad knelt beside Tyler’s chair, speaking in low tones they couldn’t hear, but Tyler’s face went pale with worry.
The teenager’s head turned toward Willa, and she gave him the warmest, most encouraging smile she could manage, the same one she’d used countless times with her own children when life threw them unexpected curve balls.
Tyler nodded slowly, and Willa could see him trying to be brave for his father’s sake. It broke her heart and made her proud at the same time. That young man who was learning too early that life could change in an instant, but who was handling it with grace and maturity.
They walked back toward the booth together, Tyler staying close to his father’s side.
“Thanks,” Rad said, his voice thick with emotion. “Tyler would like to stay here with you, if that’s really okay.”
“Of course it is,” Willa said, reaching out to squeeze Tyler’s shoulder. “We’ll take good care of him.”
“And I can get you to Miami in about an hour,” Ace added.
“Thanks, I can get a flight back to the nearest airport and…” Rad started.
“I have a supply run to make anyway,” Ace said, glancing at Willa with a meaningful look. “I usually stay at Willa’s mother’s house when I’m in Miami, so I can wait for you there, or come back here and fetch you when you’re ready.”
Willa felt her heart skip again. She’d forgotten that Ace often stayed at her mother’s house during his trips to Miami. June had always been fond of him, treating him like a son, and her guest room was more comfortable than most hotels.
“Thank you,” Rad said, genuine gratitude shining in his eyes. “Both of you. I don’t know how to repay this kindness.”
“You don’t need to repay anything,” Willa said. “Just focus on your father. Everything else will work itself out.”
“I should go talk to Chief Morrison,” Rad said, “let him know I’ll be away for a few days.”
“I’ll take Tyler to the lighthouse to pack some clothes,” Willa offered. “Then we’ll head to my house so he can get settled.”
As Rad headed toward the door, Tyler turned to Willa, his eyes far older than his fourteen years. “Is he going to be okay? My grandfather, I mean?” Tyler’s voice was hoarse.
“I’m sure he will be,” Willa said. “We just have to keep hope and good thoughts in our hearts for him. And I know your dad will do everything he can to help him. And in the meantime, you’ll be safe with us. I promise.”
Tyler nodded, and Willa could see him fighting back tears. “I’ve never been away from my dad before. Not since we moved here.”
“That’s scary,” Willa acknowledged. “But you know what? Andy’s been asking if you could have a sleepover. This just gives us a good excuse to make it happen.”
A small smile tugged at the corner of Tyler’s mouth. “Thank you, Willa.”
“Come on,” Willa called her kids. She paid her bill. “Thanks, Margo, I’ll check in later.”
“I’ll get all the details of the ceremony when I’m back,” Ace told Willa. “Would you call your mom for me and tell her I’ll be there a day earlier?”
Willa smiled. She had thought he was only going to Miami tomorrow, but hadn’t said anything when he’d offered to take Rad, claiming he was going there today.
“Sure,” Willa promised. “What did you want to talk to me about?”
“Oh…” Ace said, and Willa found herself holding her breath. “You wanted me to collect dresses for you, Grace, and Becky for the memorial?”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Willa said, feeling disappointed but she pushed it away.
What did you expect? Ace sees you as his best friend’s widow, that’s all.
She admonished herself. And what am I thinking?
Good grief, I’m a mother. I don’t have time for romantic entanglements.
Feeling better, she straightened her shoulders.
“My mother is coming down in five days’ time and will bring the dresses with her. ”
“Okay,” Ace said, giving her a salute as he turned and walked out, saying goodbye to the kids as he went. “Let me know how the volleyball goes, guys.”
“Sure,” Andy and Tyler chorused after him.
“He is so cool,” Tyler said.
“Yeah, he’s the best,” Andy agreed. “We must ask him to take you for a ride in his plane one day. It’s a water plane, and it’s awesome.”
“I’d like that,” Tyler said, wide-eyed.
“Come on, let’s go grab some clothes for Tyler,” Willa said
As they walked toward the door, Margo called out, “Willa, let me know if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Margo.” Willa waved as they left.
Outside on the sidewalk, Tyler looked up at the lighthouse in the distance, his expression thoughtful as Andy and Becky rushed toward Willa’s SUV. “It’s weird,” he said. “This morning everything was normal, and now my whole world feels upside down.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” Willa said, thinking of that terrible day ten years ago when her own world had been shattered by a single phone call.
“But you know what I’ve learned? Sometimes when everything falls apart, it’s because something better is trying to come together. It just takes time to see it.”
“Do you really believe that?” Tyler asked.
Willa looked back toward the coffee shop, and a picture of Ace popped into her mind.
She thought about her mother’s accident leading to this extended visit, about Rad and Tyler’s arrival in Sandpiper Shores bringing new energy to their small community, about all the ways that loss and love had shaped her life over the past decade.
“Most days I do,” Willa said honestly.
They climbed into Willa’s SUV and headed to the lighthouse.
As she drove, Willa found herself thinking about how her life had been turned upside down in a way that Tyler was feeling.
It had happened twice. First, when her father died eighteen years ago, and then Shaun ten years ago.
Then two weeks ago… Willa stopped herself as her heart squeezed and she recalled the terrible phone call from her Aunt Carmen.
How her world had seemed to stop, and a cold had gripped her heart.
Her first thought was to drop everything and hightail it to Miami.
But Carmen assured her that her mother was going to be okay, and she’d be mad if Willa disrupted her entire life just to visit her in the hospital.
Despite herself, Willa had smiled at that.
Yes, that was how her mother thought. Always practical.
Always grounded and always in control. She was Willa’s center, and she never wanted to think about a time without her mother or her aunt, either.
Her aunt had always been in her life, and the two strongest people she knew had also lost the men they loved.
Like them, Willa had had to find the strength to keep going.
She glanced into the mirror and saw the three teens in the back seat, although Becky was probably more of a pre-teen.
They were locked in a conversation, and she loved the way the boys included Becky, even if she was doing a lot of sighing and eye-rolling with that look on her face that clearly said: How can boys be this dumb.
Willa gave a soft snort as her eyes briefly landed on Tyler before looking back at the road.
A strange calm and feeling of certainty settled in her stomach, and she instinctively knew that Tyler would be okay.
His grandfather would get the best possible care at the hospital, which Willa knew well.
Especially with Rad by his side. She frowned at the weird, strong bond she felt towards Rad and Tyler.
Even to Rad’s father. A man Willa had never met.
Her frown deepened as did her thoughts as she pulled into the driveway of the lighthouse and parked.
As she climbed out and looked up at it, she got that deep feeling of connection to it that she’d had the first time she’d seen it or met Abe.
It was like she’d known them for her entire life.
Willa shook off the sensation and followed Tyler, Andy, and Becky inside.