Chapter 15
LOGAN
Logan’s chest expanded with an emotion he couldn’t explain as Abby bent over Max’s bedside and kissed him good-night. Was it love? Happiness? Awe? All of the above? He wasn’t sure. But he could stay here forever, cocooned in Max’s room with the two people he cared about most in the world.
There had been a time—after the accident that left him paralyzed—when he wasn’t sure he’d ever have a family. Especially when his fiancée dumped him, claiming she wasn’t cut out to be with “someone like him.” He’d been gutted but couldn’t say he’d blamed her. He hadn’t felt worthy of her love, anyway. Even after he’d learned to walk again, his self-worth hadn’t returned.
It wasn’t until he met Abby that he realized his character mattered far more than his physical capabilities. When it came to letting go of his stubborn pride, he still had work to do, but Abby made him want to do better. To be better.
She flashed him a smile as she slipped out of the room, leaving him to complete the bedtime routine—a few more chapters from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe , followed by nightly prayers.
Even at eight years old, when some kids might resist the ritual, Max soaked up the time together. Perhaps because he’d lost his parents so young.
Logan still remembered the day his parents died. The day his faith, joy, and childlike wonder withered before his eyes. He’d been almost as old as Max. And he’d had to grow up way too fast.
How much longer until Max insisted on being too old to be tucked in? How much longer until moments like this one became nothing but a memory?
Logan tugged on the collar of his T-shirt. It suddenly felt too tight. He didn’t want to think about losing Max, either to his biological father, if he ever returned, or to the natural progression of growing older.
For now, he’d focus on cherishing whatever time he had left.
“Ready to find out what happens next?” He sat on the edge of Max’s bed and cracked open the well-worn book to where they’d left off the night before.
“Yeah!” Max cheered, nestled against a mound of pillows. “Can Tyler read with us, too?”
Logan’s heart warmed. What a sweet kid. Tyler had arrived only yesterday, but Max had already taken the boy under his wing, looking out for him like a big brother. Despite all Max had been through—losing his mother as an infant, his father’s disappearance, enduring crummy foster parents—he had a better outlook on life than most adults. He could easily be jaded and mistrusting, and yet, he genuinely cared about other people with a maturity far beyond his years.
“That’s a nice thought, bud, but I think Tyler is already asleep. Maybe we can ask his mom tomorrow night?”
“Okay. And maybe she can read with us, too. It might cheer her up.”
Logan furrowed his brow at the unexpected comment. “What makes you think she needs cheering up?”
“Because she was crying.”
Logan’s pulse kicked up a notch. Why was Piper crying? And why had Max witnessed it? He struggled to imagine an appropriate scenario for Piper to cry in front of Max. “When was this?”
“Today. After school.”
“What happened?” Logan kept his tone even, but warning bells blared. Was this some sort of shady manipulation tactic? Ensnare the sympathy of their kid?
“I went upstairs to see if Tyler wanted to play. She was in the hallway, coming out of the bathroom. Her eyes were all red and stuff. And she wiped her nose with a Kleenex, but she doesn’t have a cold or anything.”
“I see. Did she say anything to you about why she was crying?”
“No, she just said hi. I asked her if Tyler could come outside and play. She said yes, but after his bath. I waited for him in the backyard for-e-ver . My baths never take that long.”
“That’s because you holler to get out after five minutes,” Logan teased. Who knew convincing a kid to bathe would take the skills of an expert negotiator. “Maybe Tyler likes taking baths.”
Max shook his head. “He doesn’t. He said the best thing about car camping is not having to take a bath.”
“Car camping?” Logan’s thoughts flew to the jumble of belongings in the back seat of Piper’s Jeep, and his pulse spiked with adrenaline.
“Yeah. He said that’s what his mom calls it. It sounds fun. Except for going to the bathroom at gas stations. Those are gross.” Max made a face.
Logan kept his cool, despite his knotted stomach. He’d been right. They were living out of their car. But why?
His heart cinched at the thought of Piper and Tyler trekking into gas station restrooms, day after day. Piper may not be his favorite person, but he had to do something about their situation. “Did Tyler say anything else about car camping?”
“Not really. Just that he likes it better here with us.” Max sank deeper into the pillows and drew the blanket up to his chin. “How long are they staying?”
“I don’t know, bud.” They should receive the test results in a few days. Then what? Piper’s charade would be blown to smithereens.
“I hope they can stay a long time,” Max said with childlike innocence. “I like Tyler.”
“I like him, too.”
They shifted focus back to their book, but Logan struggled to concentrate. In between magic wardrobes and talking animals, his thoughts wandered to Piper and Tyler. He’d have to tell Abby what he learned from Max. But would she want to help the woman who’d stomped all over her husband’s memory?
Even as the question entered his mind, he knew the answer. Abby was the kindest person he’d ever met. A quality he admired, even on occasions like tonight, when her loving nature would put her in a difficult position.
After they’d finished their bedtime reading and moved on to their nightly prayers, Logan added a silent one for Abby. Then, with Max tucked in and drifting off to sleep, Logan joined her on the back patio.
Abby slouched in the wicker love seat, her heels propped on the edge of the brick firepit. The stillness of night surrounded her in silence, save for the crackling embers and soothing lull of the ocean waves below the bluff.
Even in the dim glow of the amber flames, worry lines etched her features, and weariness slumped her slight frame as she gazed listlessly at the moonlit waters.
Logan’s gut wrenched. Despite her brave face, the last couple days had taken a toll. He not only felt helpless to fix the problem, he’d be adding to her burden. Maybe he shouldn’t tell her about what he’d learned from Max? But would acting on his own to help Piper make things worse?
A stick snapped beneath his boot, and Abby turned, attempting a smile when she spotted him.
“Hey,” she said softly. “How did story time go?”
“Great.” The wicker creaked as he settled his weight beside her.
She instantly leaned against him, as if being close had become an instinctual habit, as if she drew strength from his presence. Oh, how he wanted that to be true. For the rest of his life, he wanted to be her main source of support.
He draped an arm around her, melting the moment she rested her head on his shoulder. Her familiar lilac scent mingled with the smoky aroma of smoldering logs, and he took a moment to savor the smell, solidifying the memory.
“I’m worried about Tyler.” Her confession sliced through the comfortable silence. “I overheard Piper on the phone this morning. She said something about money and needing more time. I think they’re in some kind of trouble.”
Logan gathered a breath. So much for his internal debate. He had to tell her what he knew. “I think you’re right.” He relayed what Max shared about Tyler’s car camping comments, and Abby listened, tears glistening in her hazel eyes.
“How awful,” she whispered. “Poor Tyler. And Piper. I can’t imagine what she’s going through. As a mom, that must be terrifying.” She wiped her damp cheek with the back of her hand, and Logan pulled her closer, squeezing her arm for comfort. While he hated to see her cry, he loved her tender heart.
“What do you think happened to them?” she asked.
“I have no idea.” The internet search of Piper’s name hadn’t revealed anything useful. Except that she’d lived in Blessings Bay and tended bar at the Sawmill during the time frame she’d claimed. She wasn’t on any social media sites as far as he could find, which made his sleuthing efforts even more difficult.
“Well, we have to do something to help them,” Abby said with compassionate conviction.
Logan grinned despite the somber mood. Man, he loved this woman. “I knew you were going to say that. No matter what Piper has put you through, you can’t resist helping someone in need.”
Maybe it was the warmth of the firelight, but he thought he detected a faint tinge to her cheeks. “Well, neither can you.”
“Touché. Although, I don’t have any bright ideas yet.”
“I might have one. Or, it might be the worst idea I’ve ever had. Either way, it’ll take a miracle to work.”
“Luckily, Blessings Bay is kinda famous for those,” he teased.
She tilted her head to meet his gaze, her perfect lips arched in the most kissable smile.
How was it possible that, with Abby, even when they found themselves in the bleakest of situations, he was exactly where he wanted to be?