Chapter 4
Luke
The sight of the Georgia state line filled Luke with a sense of purpose as he steered his Range Rover toward a rest stop. Hadley Cove was not far now, and with it, the hope of a brighter future for him and his son. The long drive had taken its toll on his body, and he relished the chance to get out of the car. Pushing open the door, he took in a rush of fresh air as Jeremiah clambered out of the passenger side.
“Here.”
Luke grabbed a few dollars from his pocket and gave it to Jeremiah. “See if the vending machine has anything good.”
He took the cash without a word and walked away. Jeremiah had barely spoken to Luke since breakfast, and even then, it was only to ask him to pass the salt.
After a few minutes, Jeremiah returned, handing the cash back to Luke. “The vending machine is broken.”
“Well, we can try again at the next rest stop.”
He placed a hand on his son’s shoulder, but Jeremiah pulled away and trudged toward the passenger side.
“Are we going?”
he asked, an edge of annoyance in his voice. “It’s so hot out here.”
Luke nodded in agreement. “You’d better get used to the Georgia heat. I think it’ll be cooler on the coast though. At least, let’s hope it will.”
He climbed back into the driver’s seat, eager to hit the road again.
The car ride dragged on, in silence, broken only by the monotonous hum of the engine and the country songs on the radio. Luke tried to start a conversation with Jeremiah but was met with brief and disinterested responses.
Luke knew it would take time for Jeremiah to come around. He promised himself he would be there for him from now on, phasing out of his job and working part time remotely so he could focus on repairing their relationship. No more late nights at the office, or business trips. Luke was all in for his son, and nothing would stop him from being the father Jeremiah needed.
“Are you hungry?”
Luke turned to Jeremiah. “We can stop and get something. Or we could wait until we get to the house.”
Jeremiah shrugged and continued staring at the window.
“So, is that a yes?”
“No, I’m gonna take a nap.”
“Alright then.”
Almost two hours later, Luke leaned over and shook Jeremiah awake. He slowed down as they were passing a sign.
Welcome to Hadley Cove. Population: 1883.
“Eighteen eighty-three?”
Jeremiah said, yawning. “There were more people than that at my school.”
Luke let out a chuckle. “Things are going to be quite different here than they were in Chicago, but in a good way.”
Turning onto Main Street, they passed by a couple of small shops and businesses, including First Coastal Bank, the Hadley Cove Post Office, and Phil’s Diner.
“Look! It’s a palm tree!”
Luke said, pointing to one next to Gary’s Garage. “Did you see it, Jer?”
“Yeah, I saw it. This place is lame. And people are looking at us.”
Sure enough, Luke noticed a few people walking down the street in front of Lindsey’s Beauty Shop gawking at their jet-black Range Rover, confirming they were outsiders in this small town.
As they turned down Ocean Drive, they passed by All Creatures Animal Hospital and Second Chance Rescue. Luke wondered for a moment if Jeremiah would be interested in adopting an animal. They had never had one in Chicago since Kate had been allergic to dogs.
“There’s sand on the road,”
Jeremiah commented.
“Well, the beach is right over there, so that makes sense. Do you want to stop and check out the water?”
“No. I just wanna get my stuff unpacked.”
“Well, we’re almost there.”
As they drove down the street, the scene outside their car window transformed into a picturesque vision of Southern charm. The bungalow-style houses that lined the street were adorned with intricate details and had porches that extended out into the front yard. Trees on the sidewalk had Spanish moss draping down from their branches, giving the street an otherworldly feel.
The white picket fences that separated the front yards from the sidewalk, along with the well-manicured lawns, completed the idyllic scene. Luke pictured himself sitting on one of those porches, sipping iced tea and taking in the slow pace of life in Hadley Cove.
He noticed that some of the houses looked older than others, but that only added to the charm. It was as if the town had been frozen in time, preserving its history and old-fashioned way of life.
Luke drove for a few more minutes, turning onto a quiet, tree-lined street that was a welcome relief from the heat. The houses were more spacious here, with verdant foliage that lent a touch of privacy and seclusion. As they approached their new home, Luke pulled up next to the moving truck in the driveway.
“We’re here. This is it, fourteen twenty-two Muscadine Drive.”
Luke stepped out of the car and gazed up at the large, two-story cape cod house. It was exactly as he remembered it from the pictures he had seen on Zillow and the virtual walkthrough with the realtor. The dark brown color of the house and its forest green shutters blended in with the surrounding trees.
As Luke walked up the driveway, the sound of someone clearing their throat caught his attention. Turning around, he saw an older woman across the street, watering her plants and smiling at him. Luke smiled back and gave a friendly wave. She took his gesture as an invitation to cross the street.
“Hey y’all! I’m Ada Harrison, your new neighbor.”
Luke shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, Ms. Harrison. I’m Luke Grayson, and this is my son, Jeremiah. We’re new here.”
“Oh, call me Ada. I already knew you weren’t from around here.”
Luke arched his brow. “You did?”
“Everyone knows everyone here in Hadley Cove. Other than the tourists that come every summer to the beach, we don’t get too many new residents around here, especially in this house. Where did you say you were from?”
“We’re from Chicago,”
Luke said.
Ada eyed their Range Rover. “We don’t get many cars like that around here either.”
Luke smiled, trying to be polite. “Well, we’d better get inside. It was a long drive down and I know Jeremiah is probably ready for dinner.”
“I guess that’s my signal to get out of your hair for now. I’ve got to go and remind my husband Frank to take his meds, anyway. I’ll leave you boys to settle in and rest.”
“Thanks, Ada. I’m sure we’ll run into each other again.”
Jeremiah spoke up as she walked away. “She’s so annoying. Why does she have to be our neighbor?”
Luke shook his head and laughed. “Jer, be nice.”
As Luke walked over to grab their bags out of the car, he thanked the movers, who had already finished unloading all the boxes and furniture. After the moving truck pulled out of the drive, Luke and Jeremiah made their way up the paved walkway to the house’s entrance. As they entered the foyer, their eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in the details of the almost eighty-year-old house. Despite its age, the interior radiated a warm and inviting atmosphere, without a hint of mustiness.
“So, what do you think?”
Jeremiah shrugged, sparing only a glance at the house as he slumped his shoulders and trudged along behind Luke. “It’s whatever, I guess.”
“I know things haven’t been easy lately, but I was hoping this new house would be a fresh start for us. Can’t you try to be a little more positive?”
“Why does it even matter? It’s not like it would change anything. Can I go to my room and unpack now?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
Luke set down his bags and tried to push away his frustration over not being connected to his son. Releasing a long exhale, he looked around and was mesmerized by the house’s woodwork. His fingers trailed along the intricate designs carved into the panels and molding, admiring its craftmanship. In the dining room, he paused to examine the stained-glass window, marveling at the way the colors shifted in the sunlight.
As he made his way upstairs, he felt awestruck by the beauty of the house. The curved banister and carved newel post were stunning, and the wallpaper lining the hallway was a muted floral pattern that reminded him of his grandmother’s home.
Entering the master bedroom, a mix of emotions washed over Luke as he surveyed the space. Although the movers had dutifully placed his bed, dresser, and nightstand in their respective spots, the room felt both familiar and alien to him. The weight of grief pressed against his chest as the memories of Kate flooded back. Her absence seemed to echo in the room, and he missed her more than ever at that very moment. Somehow, someway, he would have to begin life again without her in this new place.
Luke dropped his bags onto the hardwood floor and collapsed onto the sheetless mattress. Staring at the ceiling, he let his mind carry him in a different direction. He wondered why anyone would ever give up such a beautiful home. Still, he was grateful to be the one to carry on its legacy.
Sitting up, he walked out to the hallway, leaving behind the contemplative thoughts in his bedroom. As he approached Jeremiah’s room, he noticed the door was cracked. He gently pushed it open and peeked inside, seeing his son unpacking his belongings.
“I’m going to order a pizza we can split for dinner,”
he said, leaning against the doorframe. “Want anything special on it?”
“Mushrooms,”
Jeremiah called back, without looking up.
Luke bit his bottom lip. He hated mushrooms, and Jeremiah knew it. “Okay, maybe I’ll get two then.”
He continued down the stairs, taking in the details of the house as he went. As he entered the kitchen, he rifled through the packet the realtor had left him, searching for the brochure of local restaurants. The kitchen was spacious and modern, with gleaming stainless-steel appliances and granite countertops. With a wonderful kitchen at his disposal, he promised himself he’d cook another time, but tonight was meant for pizza and relaxation.
Luke was grateful to find a menu for Gino’s Pizza. He dialed the number, placed an order for delivery, and then turned his attention to the daunting task of unpacking the mountain of boxes in the living room.
Rummaging through them, a touch of nostalgia tugged at Luke’s heart as he unearthed a framed picture of a beaming five-year-old Jeremiah. As he stood there, cradling the precious memento, he smiled at the memory of the happier times and only hoped they could create more someday. The fireplace mantel seemed to call out to him, as the perfect place to display it.
As he walked over, picture in hand, he saw something etched into the corner of the mantel. He leaned in for a closer look and saw the initials “A + L”
enclosed in a heart.
“Hmm...”
He smiled as he set the picture down next to it. The carving reminded him of Kate, and how he had gotten her name tattooed on his left pec the night of their high school graduation. She had laughed when she first saw it and told him he was ridiculous.
Luke had been in love with her since middle school. But they didn’t get together until their junior year, when Kate finally broke down and said “yes”
to being his date to the homecoming dance. They had been through a lot together through the years, including a long-distance relationship when he left for Harvard and she was at NYU, or when his father unexpectedly passed before their wedding.
The ache in Luke’s heart was a constant reminder of what he had lost in Kate. He longed to feel the warmth of her smile or hear her infectious laughter. Sometimes he would listen to a particular voicemail she had left for him while he was away on business, cherishing every word she spoke. He knew deep down that he had made mistakes, that he had taken their love for granted. If only he could turn back time, he told himself, he would do things differently.
Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Luke glanced out the side window before turning to call up the stairs. “Jeremiah, pizza’s here!”