Chapter 8 #2
“Oh!” The older woman’s green eyes sparkled. “How exciting! I’m Betty Sue, and this is Ted. What would you like to know?”
“Tell me about your shop and what you like about being here in Coral Cove,” Kaiah said, adjusting her pen to take notes.
After the interview, Kaiah and Becca returned to the sidewalk, where a young woman walked a golden retriever. Kaiah’s heart
squeezed as she approached the woman and the dog. The sweet canine reminded her of George. “Would it be okay if I pet your
dog?”
“Of course!” The woman stopped in front of her. “This is Maizy.”
Kaiah bent and began to stroke the dog’s head. “What an adorable name,” she said, and Maizy responded by licking Kaiah’s hand.
The simple gesture nearly broke Kaiah’s heart in two. She missed her Georgie so, so much.
Kaiah gave the dog a few more pats before the young woman and Maizy headed down the street. Kaiah’s heart felt heavy as the
pair disappeared from view. “Want to walk on the beach for a while?”
Becca consulted her watch. “Sure. We have some time before I need to pick up the girls from school.”
They walked out onto the sand, and Kaiah peered over at the glorious lighthouse that seemed to watch over them.
“Okay, Kaiah,” Becca began, “I want to know about you.” She rested her gaze on Kaiah’s face. “Are you single?”
“Yes.”
Kaiah was almost certain Becca’s eyes sparkled.
“By choice?”
“Not necessarily.” Kaiah took a deep, steadying breath. “I recently got out of a relationship. It was his choice to end things, but looking back now, I suppose it was for the best.”
Becca’s symmetrical face filled with sympathy. “He hurt you.”
“He did. But what hurt the most was that he took my dog.”
“Wait. He took your dog? Seriously?”
“Yes. Actually, George was our dog. We adopted him together. Some days he lived at Hayes’s house, and some days he lived at mine. Taking care of George
together—I thought that meant we were making a commitment to each other, a real commitment.” Kaiah shook her head and looked out toward the waves where a few couples walked at the water’s edge. “Ridiculous,
right? How could a dog we picked out together guarantee we were going to get married and raise a family together?”
Becca stood next to her quietly, taking in the information. “I’m so sorry he hurt you, but it sounds like you deserve better.
And you should totally sue him for custody of the dog. And add in a few bucks for emotional damages.”
Kaiah burst out laughing, and Becca joined in.
They walked in silence for a few moments, and the sound of the waves and the crying seagulls filled Kaiah’s ears. She recalled
her conversation with Becca when they were sitting in the bakery, and she wanted to know more about Reid and his late wife.
Courage surged through her veins, and she turned to Becca. “You mentioned you and Cash went on a double date with Reid and
Brynn the first time you went out,” she began. “How did Reid meet Brynn?”
Becca slipped her hands into the pockets of her jeans.
“Brynn had been my best friend since first grade, when her folks moved their family here. She always had a crush on Reid, but he never gave her a second look until the homecoming dance freshman year. I had no idea that they were ‘talking.’” She made quotes with her fingers.
“I guess Brynn was afraid to tell me, and Reid didn’t think it was important to inform me that he was flirting with my best friend.
But they went to the homecoming dance together, and that was that.
After we graduated, Brynn and I went to college in Wilmington, and Reid went through the fire academy.
He was determined to make it work with Brynn, so he came to visit her every chance he could. ”
Kaiah smiled. “That’s so romantic. When did he propose?”
“After we graduated. They were married about a year later. She was a math teacher at the middle school where I worked. And
when they got married, everything seemed like it just fell into place. She’d always been my best friend, but then she became
my sister.”
Kaiah crossed her arms over her middle and found the courage to ask the question that she’d been so anxious to ask. “What
happened to her?” she asked softly.
Becca sniffed and then rubbed her eyes. “Car accident.” Her voice was rough. “It was horrible. Reid still blames himself to
this day.”
Kaiah’s breath caught in her throat. She could feel a twinge in her heart for Reid, for Piper, for Becca. Brynn was loved
by so many, and they all still grieved for her.
And poor Reid blamed himself for it all.
“I knew something was very wrong that day.” She touched her chest. “Before I got the call, I could feel Reed’s anguish. It
nearly tore me apart.” She wiped her eyes.
Kaiah was quiet for a long time. “I’m so sorry,” she finally managed to say.
“Thank you.” Becca cleared her throat. “My . . . my mom and I do our best to stay involved in Piper’s life.
And I’m grateful that she and Astrid are close too.
” She looked up at the sky, sighed, and then pointed her gaze back at Kaiah.
“It’s been a long four years. I keep hoping Reid will meet someone and settle down again.
I know it might feel hard—of course it would.
But it would be so good for him, and for Piper.
” She paused. “He hasn’t dated since Brynn passed away. ”
Kaiah nodded.
They walked toward the sidewalk, and then Becca nodded toward the intersection. “Want to visit a few more businesses before
we go?”
“Absolutely.”