Chapter 35
Brad and Becky were due into the Wilmington International Airport at eight thirty tonight. Then Josh would pick them up and
the rest of the family would meet them at the beach house. Maggie had tried to tell them they’d be jet-lagged, but Becky wouldn’t
hear of putting off the gathering till the next day. She’d missed her kids and grandkids.
All Saturday night and Sunday morning Maggie fretted about her mother finding a way to reach Brad and Becky. She’d been astonished
in the past by her mom’s craftiness. She had a wicked way of getting what she wanted.
But Josh was right—she didn’t have superpowers. Maybe she’d decided she’d already caused enough turmoil just by revealing
their secret to Erin. Maggie could only hope.
After her phone call with Josh yesterday, Maggie had called Erin and cleared the air, going so far as to apologize for hiding
their relationship.
“You don’t owe me an apology,” Erin said. “I admit my feelings were a little hurt at first, but once Josh explained about
the anniversary... I get it. I really do. And it’s still a little weird thinking of you and Josh, you know, together . But I’m getting used to the idea. If you make each other happy, I’ll be rooting for you guys.”
Maggie was enjoying the sunny Sunday afternoon on the beach with Josh and Zoey when he got a text. She glanced his way as
an ocean breeze, carrying the scent of coconut sunscreen, cooled her skin.
Josh lifted his sunglasses and squinted at the screen. “Oh boy. That was Mom. They’re at LaGuardia and their flight to Wilmington
was canceled.”
Maggie deflated. Every minute ticking by made her nervous. “Oh no.”
“What’s wrong, Mommy?” Zoey dug a shovelful of sand from the hole nearby.
“Mamaw and Papaw will be a little late getting home.”
“They’ve got another flight,” Josh said. “But it’s not till tomorrow morning.” He gave Maggie a knowing look. They both wanted
to get this big reveal over with.
“They won’t be home tonight for the party?” Frowning, Zoey lowered her pail.
“I’m afraid not, honey. We’ll have the party tomorrow when they get home.” She glanced at Josh. “Did they say what time?”
“Their flight lands at one thirty. Erin will pick them up now since I have a tour.” He glanced down when another text came
in. “They’d still like everyone to come for supper. We’ll have the party then, Cupcake.”
“Okay...”
Zoey’s sulk reminded her so much of Ethan’s, Maggie couldn’t help but grin. “We’ll keep all the decorations up. And maybe
you can draw some pictures for the front door.”
“Yay! I’m gonna draw one of me with Mamaw and Papaw on the beach.”
“I’m sure they’d love that,” Maggie said.
Seemingly satisfied, Zoey went back to digging her hole.
“They’re gonna be exhausted,” Maggie said.
“They’re getting a hotel for tonight.” He lowered his voice. “They’ll get some good rest. Maybe this will work out for the
best.”
“I’d agree with you if I could just believe my mom won’t try to reach out to them.”
“If she’d wanted to get hold of them and had a way, she’d have done it by now.”
“That’s true.” Maggie tried to believe it, but she had been tricked by her mother one too many times to underestimate her.
***
The next evening Josh drove toward the beach house. The party was no doubt in full swing by now. He was eager to see his parents
after spending the summer apart. But he was also nervous. He planned to stick around until after Erin’s family left. That’s
when he and Maggie would break the news that they were dating.
He’d spent a lot of time weighing how that information might be received. Maggie was more optimistic than he was. When you
grew up with a “golden child” for a brother, you came to accept that you would never quite measure up.
It would’ve been easy to resent his brother, but Ethan had always been so easy to love. He had been down to earth, humble,
and well aware of his own shortcomings. He rooted for his little brother and tutored him when his grades fell—mostly because
Josh was too busy with girls and sports to bother studying. But remaining eligible was important and Ethan always stepped
in to help when Josh got desperate.
Ethan had always been Dad’s mini-me, not only in looks but in interests and intelligence. He’d relished the position—who could blame him? He’d thrived under Dad’s mentorship and taken his advice. Their mom was less biased. She’d attended Josh’s every game and cheered him on. She was proud of him, though often frustrated by his lack of effort in his classes.
But once the siblings had left the house, Ethan and Erin off to college and Josh into the maritime academy, things seemed
to balance out. By the time Josh earned his pilot’s license, his parents seemed proud of him. And when he’d started his business
and eventually bought the Carolina Dream , they’d cheered him on.
But then Ethan had died.
And then, as often happens when someone passes away, his brother became larger than life. The golden child was now immortalized
as a hero.
And Josh was okay with that. His brother had been special. He was a hero and deserved to be remembered and celebrated. Josh would be the first in line to sing his praises.
All these thoughts haunted him as he turned onto Bayview Drive. A heavy feeling in his gut weighted him. Tonight he had to
tell his parents that he was dating the hero’s widow.
And he was almost certain that, once again, he would fall short.
“Welcome home,” Josh called as he spotted his mom chatting with Erin in the living room, Mia perched on her lap.
Mom’s brown eyes twinkled and a smile bloomed at the sight of her son. She set Mia aside, jumped up, and enveloped him in
a hug. “Oh, it’s so good to get my arms around you! You seem taller.”
He chuckled as he let her hang on as long as she wanted. “Pretty sure I haven’t started growing again, Mom.”
She cupped the back of his head. “And your hair is longer. Are you growing it out? Because that didn’t work out so well for you in high school.”
He had a cowlick at the crown of his head. “I’ve just been busy.”
She leaned back and took his face in her hands, her gaze sharpening on him. “You look tired. Have you been sleeping?”
“I should be asking you that. You guys have gotta be jet-lagged.”
Mom tucked her short brown hair behind her ears. What looked like chandeliers jangled under her lobes as she spoke. “We got
a good night’s sleep at a Fairfield Inn last night. The staff was so nice. They hunted down a foam pillow for your dad—you
know how he hates the feather ones. We went to bed at five and slept till eight this morning. I feel like a new woman.”
Maggie entered from the kitchen and leaned against the wall.
It was all he could do not to sweep her up in his arms and kiss her right on her sweet mouth. “Hey, Mags.”
“Hey.”
“There’s my hardworking son.” Dad stepped through the French doors. He seemed a few pounds heavier, but a summer in Europe
would have that effect.
Zoey slid from his arms, joining Mia on the sofa as Dad pulled him in for a quick hug. “Good to see you.”
“You too. Seemed like a great trip.”
“It was. But it sure is good to be home in the US of A. Business good?”
“Terrific. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so tan.”
Dad patted his gut. “Or so f—”
“Dad!” Erin said. “Not in front of the kiddos, please.” She’d lectured them about complaining of weight issues in front of
the children.
“Oh, right, right.” Dad’s grin widened. “On that note, let’s eat!”
By the time they finished the grilled burgers, corn on the cob, and Maggie’s deviled eggs, the sun was setting and the temps had fallen to a comfortable eighty degrees. The beach was deserted and the seagulls soared overhead, drifting on the breeze. The ever-present roar of the waves comforted Josh.
He’d been too anxious about the upcoming conversation to eat more than one plateful. But his family had been too busy talking,
laughing, and catching up to notice. His parents were full of humorous anecdotes from their trip. And they wanted to know
everything that had happened while they’d been away.
Maggie caught them up on the swim lessons she’d been teaching. Mia got a high five for her progress in the pool. Owen had
been playing baseball and helping his dad with the landscaping around the church. Erin was preparing to return to her position
at the high school in two weeks, same as Maggie.
“And what have you been up to this summer, Zoey?” Mom asked.
“I been building sandcastles on the beach!”
“I hope your mom took pictures,” Dad said.
“Of course I did. She’s the best little castle builder on the island.”
“Only when Uncle Josh helps me. And then we eat supper and he always lets me help put the dishes in the dishwasher ’cause
I’m good at that.”
She’d made it sound like Josh was there all the time. Which, of course, he was. Josh glanced at Maggie, who began biting her
nails.
Dad leaned back in his chair. “Been coming over a lot, have you?”
“Every night,” Zoey said. “And he sings to Mommy and me sometimes, especially when he tucks me in. But not when Miss Sharon
stays with me ’cause then she tucks me in, but she sings bad.”
“Sharon from next door?” Mom addressed Maggie with a strained smile.
“Uh, yeah. She watches Zoey sometimes.”
It grew quiet around the table.
Erin shifted.
A frown crouched between Dad’s brows.
Mom wore a speculative expression as she glanced around the table, trying to read them like a detective reads a perp.
Josh studiously avoided looking at Maggie. But he didn’t want to make eye contact with his parents either. Which left him
fiddling with the saltshaker.
Finally Zoey’s giggle burst the bubble of suspicion. “Sometimes Uncle Josh kisses Mommy.”