Chapter 66 Tide Between
Tide Between
After a couple of hours of exuberant laughter echoing across the sound from them whimsically running around the yard, the four return to sit on the deck and catch their breath.
“Jaxon, what are we doing for dinner?” Catherine asks.
“Are you staying the night?”
“No, I plan on heading home a little later.”
“Are you sure? You can stay in my bed and I’ll take the couch.”
“I appreciate it, but I’ve got a few things to do in the morning.”
“Okay, well… what do y’all want?”
“Jaqueline, what would you like to eat?”
“Umm… pizza!” she says, grinning.
“Pizza it is! Jaxon, go ahead and order it. Then you can go pick it up,” Catherine playfully demands.
Sara laughs, “Go ahead and do that, Jax!”
“Really? Y’all are teaming up on me now?” he groans as he heads inside to place the order.
“Ten bucks says he’s calling Bennie’s.”
“I can’t take that bet—I know that’s who he’s calling,” Sara says through a laugh.
Jaxon comes back out. “I called it in. I won’t be gone long, I’m only going to Ben—”
“Bennie’s!” Catherine and Sara say in unison.
“Yep… time for me to go.”
“Daddy, can I ride?”
The word Daddy hits Jaxon like a punch to the chest wrapped in a hug. He freezes. Just for a second. Then turns, wide-eyed, the emotion sneaking up fast.
“Absolutely,” he says softly, holding out his hand for her. The two begin walking down the steps. He turns back toward the porch, shooting Sara a grin and a thumb up, silently mouthing she just called me daddy.
As the two set off on their daddy-daughter pizza run, Catherine disappears into the house. A few seconds later, she comes back holding two beers. She pops the caps like she’s done it a hundred times on this porch.
“I like your style,” Sara says, grabbing one and settling into the chair beside her.
Catherine takes a slow sip, then sighs. “Today was… a lot to take in.”
“I can only imagine. Probably feels like you’re walking through a dream. Or a memory you forgot you had.”
Catherine nods. “Probably. All of that aside—even though I never got the chance to know her—I’m really sorry about Claire.”
“Thank you,” Sara says, her voice softening. “Losing someone is never easy. But it wasn’t sudden. We had time to prepare… or at least we told ourselves we did.”
“I know that lie. We told it too, when we lost our mom.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, well… grief’s a bitch. Doesn’t come in waves. It claws.”
Sara looks away, blinking fast. “Yeah. It does.”
Catherine sets her bottle down on the railing, leans back in her chair, and studies her. “So. Moving away from the heavy stuff—what’s going on with you and my brother?”
Sara lets out a nervous laugh. “Straight to the point. I like it.”
“I’m not big on sugarcoating. Makes things stickier than they need to be.”
“Well, there’s nothing going on. We’re friends.”
Catherine raises an eyebrow and tilts her head like she’s heard this song before. “That’s the first lie you’ve told since you walked out here.”
“I’m serious. There’s nothing going on.”
“Come on, Sara. Friends don’t look at each other like that. Like the whole damn world disappears when the other one walks in.”
Sara shifts in her seat. “Jaxon’s a great guy. Unlike anyone I’ve ever met.”
“Mhm. And yet you keep saying nothing’s going on.”
“There are complications.”
“Like what? You’ve known each other for years. You’re raising his daughter. You live across the hall. That man would burn this place down if he thought it would make you smile. What exactly are you waiting on?”
Sara hesitates. “He had something with Claire.”
“And you think loving him would betray her memory.”
Sara doesn’t answer. She doesn’t have to.
Catherine leans forward, voice low but cutting. “Let me ask you something—and don’t lie. When you close your eyes at night, is it her you’re thinking about… or him?”
Sara swallows hard, the bottle suddenly heavy in her hand.
“Look,” Catherine says, softening just a little, “I get it. You feel guilty. But here’s the thing… Claire’s not the one across the hall. Claire’s not the one chasing Jaqueline through the yard. Claire’s not the one he looks at like she’s the only thing tethering him to this damn world.”
Sara looks down, voice barely a whisper. “It still feels wrong.”
“You want to know what would be wrong?” Catherine’s voice tightens.
“Letting that man walk away again. Letting him go through life pretending like you’re just a friend when everything about the way he looks at you says he’s already yours.
You’re scared of betraying the dead? Fine. But don’t betray the living too.”
They sit in silence for a few beats. The wind stirs the trees. Somewhere in the distance, a gull cries.
“I know you care about him,” Catherine says finally. “The question is—are you brave enough to do something about it?”
Before Sara can answer, the familiar sound of tires crunching gravel rolls in like thunder. Jaxon’s truck. Jaqueline’s laughter filters through the open window like a song she hasn’t heard in years.
Catherine stands up, brushing the wrinkles out of her jeans. “You don’t have to tell me now. But think about what I said. Because I told him the same thing—be selfish. For once in your life, go after what you want.”
She pauses at the door and glances back over her shoulder.
“You two drive each other crazy. That’ll either ruin you… or it’ll be the kind of love most people only get once. If they’re lucky.”
And with that, she walks inside—leaving Sara on the porch, alone with her thoughts, her silence, and a heart that suddenly feels like it’s burning from the inside out.
The pizza disappears slice by slice. Jaqueline eats three like she hasn’t had a meal in days, leaving behind a trail of half-eaten crusts as evidence.
After dinner, the four head down to the dock. Catherine and Sara slip into conversation while Jaxon is left to watch.
“Damn, did all three of y’all forget about me?” Jaxon asks.
“Not at all,” Sara teases. “We’re just talking.”
“What about you, Jaq?”
“No, Daddy. Just girl stuff,” she says while curled up in Catherine’s lap.
The group erupts in laughter.
Jaxon watches them, his chest heavy and full all at once. This is everything I’ve ever wanted. A family. But as much as he tries to stay present, his mind won’t stop whispering. This isn’t real. Sara isn’t mine. She’ll go back home soon. She’s just the woman raising his daughter. That’s it.
Sara gives him a look—one of those silent, gut-punching looks—like she knows exactly what he’s thinking.
“Jaxon, after all these years, I still can’t believe you have this place,” Catherine says, looking out toward the water.
“I know, sis. I think about it every day. It’s a big change from the high-rise in Charlotte.”
“That never suited you. You were never meant for a big city. You were made to wake up to this.”
Sara looks toward the sound, her heart hitching. Those words cut deep.
She remembers a year ago—thinking about opening another catering location, trying to chase a future somewhere new. Then Claire got sick. And everything stopped.
“Sara?” Jaxon says.
“I’m sorry, I was just thinking. What did I miss?”
“I was asking if Jaxon ever told you about his old apartment?” Catherine teases.
“No, he hasn’t said anything.”
“Oh, it was beautiful. Downtown. A few blocks from the stadium. He used to take us to games sometimes.”
“That sounds nice.”
“It was… but the traffic was a nightmare.”
“I bet. I’ve only been to Charlotte a few times for conferences. I enjoyed it, but I’ll say this—I like this better than a high-rise.”
“I like this girl, Jaxon,” Catherine says as she stands up. “Try to keep her around.”
“She’s not subtle about anything.”
“Oh, I know. She got me while y’all went to get pizza.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I like that she’s blunt.”
“She’s an attorney. Kind of comes with the territory.”
“Jaxon, don’t let her get away. Don’t spend the rest of your life wondering what could have been. Again. Ask her to stay,” Catherine whispers while hugging him.
“Okay, sis. Have a safe ride back. Love you.”
“Love you too, Jax. I’ll let you know when I make it back to Raleigh.”
She gives him one last look—the kind older sisters give when they’ve said everything they can—then turns to Sara.
“Sara,” she says, stepping in for a hug. Her arms wrap tight, like she means it. Like this is more than a goodbye. “Take care of my brother. And when I come back to visit, you better still be here.”
Sara smiles, trying to keep it light. “I’ll do my best.”
But Catherine doesn’t let go right away.
Her voice drops low, just for Sara’s ears. “You want to know what scares him the most?”
Sara stiffens slightly in her arms.
“It’s not the loss. It’s not even being alone. It’s getting a taste of everything he’s ever wanted… and watching it walk away. Again.”
Sara pulls back, her eyes stinging now.
Catherine meets her gaze, calm but sharp. “And you, Sara? You’re everything he ever wanted—wrapped in the one person he thought he lost forever.”
Sara blinks, breath catching.
“So don’t just take care of him. Love him. Loudly. Recklessly. Like you’re not afraid of what comes next.” Catherine’s lips twitch into a half-smile. “Because he’s not afraid of falling for you, Sara. He’s terrified you won’t fall too.”
Then, like nothing happened, she pulls away with a wink, turns to Jaqueline, and crouches down.
“Jaqueline, it was so good to meet you, sweetie. I’m glad you’re getting to know your dad. I’ll see you soon.”
“Me too. Bye, Aunt Cat.”
As Catherine walks toward her car, Sara’s still standing frozen—her heart in her throat, and Catherine’s words echoing louder than the sound of gravel crunching beneath her tires.