A Walk Along the Beach(88)

    “I was out to see Harper this afternoon and found the bench you built. It’s perfect, Dad. Just perfect.”

His gaze shot up and he frowned. “I’d be happy to take the credit, but I didn’t build a bench. Wish I’d thought of it, though.”

“You didn’t? Then John must have had it done.” Thoughtful as he was and as much as he loved Harper, his name was the first to pop into my head if Dad wasn’t responsible.

Dad took a big bite and then set his fork aside. “Now that you mention it, Sean was in the hardware store a while back and purchased lumber. I wasn’t the one who helped him. He saw me and we exchanged pleasantries. I didn’t think to ask him what he intended to make. My guess is it was that bench.”



* * *



—

The following morning, just like clockwork, Sean came for his mocha. His eyes immediately sought me out. That, too, was part of his ritual. I pretended not to notice, but he knew. He always knew.

“Morning, Willa,” he said when he stepped up to the counter.

“Your usual?” I avoided eye contact.

“Please.”

My stomach twisted and I knew I had to say something. Looking up, I asked, “Would you mind if I joined you?”

Surprise filled his eyes, and for a moment he looked speechless. “I’d enjoy that very much.”

“Find a table and I’ll deliver your mocha.”

He paid and then walked to the table in the farthest corner of my small shop, which suited me. I didn’t want anyone listening in on our conversation. Once I finished brewing his mocha and poured myself a cup of coffee, I carried our drinks over on a tray along with a slice of coconut cake.

“Cake?” he said when I set the plate down, along with the fork.

“Coconut. I baked it this morning.”

    “For me?” He reached for it and took a bite. Savoring it, he briefly closed his eyes. “It’s even better than I remember.”

“You can take the rest of it home if you’d like.”

“The entire cake?”

I nodded and then nervously twisted my hands together in my lap. “I…I saw the bench.”

He grinned a bit sheepishly. “It’s my Christmas gift to you and your family. I knew the holidays would be particularly hard. I wanted to do something to let you know I’m thinking of you. Of all of you. I haven’t stopped loving you, Willa, and I won’t.”

I lowered my head, and the knot in my throat made it difficult to swallow.

“I haven’t given up on us. I love you and that’s not going to change. I’m here for however long it takes to win you back.”

I didn’t know what to say. He made it hard to resist. I could feel myself weakening and guessed it was all tied up in my lack of a good night’s rest.

As though he sensed the protective shield around my heart cracking, he asked, “Would it be all right if we had coffee together once a week? That’s all I’m asking. Just once a week?”

By all that was right I should’ve turned him down, but I found I couldn’t. “Only if I’m not busy.”

His smile rivaled the summer sun. “Great. How about Wednesday? Didn’t you once tell me that was your least busy day of the week?”

That he would remember that small detail told me that he had paid attention. “All right. Wednesday.”

I was rewarded with another brilliant smile. My body automatically leaned toward him, as if drawn by a powerful magnetic pull. I fought against it and nearly spilled my coffee, looking to escape him.

By the time Wednesday rolled around, I was agitated and nervous.

    “What’s gotten into you?” Shirley asked me that morning soon after we opened for business.

“Nothing.” I hadn’t told her, hadn’t told anyone I was taking time out of my morning to sit and talk with Sean.

Hands on her hips, Shirley glared at me. “Are you still not sleeping?”

“No…It’s worse than ever.” The melatonin didn’t work any better than the other sleep medication I’d purchased over the counter. Nothing seemed to cure my insomnia. In desperation, I’d made a second appointment with Dr. Annie. I’d given the melatonin a fair shot.

Sean arrived at the same time as usual, collected his order, and returned to the same table where we’d last met. Without a customer in sight, I didn’t have an excuse not to join him. Taking my mug with me, I sat down across the table from him.

“Do I look heavier than the last time you saw me?” he asked.

I grinned. “The last time I saw you was only a few days ago,” I reminded him.

“I ate the entire cake. It was delicious. I had it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Best cake in the universe.”

Sean knew exactly what to say to make me smile. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“Knowing you baked it for me was the secret ingredient.”

Unwilling to let him know how pleased I was at his appreciation, I lowered my head.

“So, how’s it going with your dad living with you?” he asked, easing into the conversation.

“Pretty well thus far, although I think we’re going to need to find another apartment soon. Snowball is bigger now, and we won’t be able to keep her hidden much longer.”