Lilac Lane (Chesapeake Shores #14)(62)

Every store was offering holiday discounts in anticipation of the crowds that would be coming for the parade, the arts and crafts festival on the green and the fireworks.

“It’s like something out of a picture book,” Kiera said as she walked across the green with her father on the day before the holiday. She glanced at him. “What’s your favorite part?”

“The parade,” Dillon said at once. “Everyone’s included. The town’s veterans lead it off, wearing their uniforms. Businesses create floats, each one trying to outdo the next, and none of them the least bit professional. I think that’s the charm of it—that they’re made out of love of the tradition. The high school band plays. Half the kids in town join in and walk the parade route just to be a part of it.”

Kiera studied her father’s expression. “You’ve really come to love it here, haven’t you?”

He nodded. “And that’s no disrespect to the life I had in Ireland or to my roots there. It’s a matter of adapting to where I am now and the people I’ve come to love as my own family.”

“I wonder if I’ll ever know that sort of peace and acceptance,” Kiera said wistfully. “I keep saying that my home is in Ireland, but when I think back to my life there, it was never easy, not as an adult. I wonder what it is that’s drawing me back there.”

“It’s not always the place,” Dillon told her. “It’s the idea of the place, the memories it holds, even the bad ones, because there’s a sense of security in that. This new place holds a lot of uncertainty for you now. It’s not familiar.” He held her gaze. “Just remember one thing while you’re considering what’s right for your future. Home isn’t just a place. It’s family, and you have that here, Kiera.”

Impulsively, she hugged him. “I’m so glad you and I have found our way back to each other,” she told him quietly. “I know it’s my fault that it took so long. You can’t imagine how deeply I regret that, especially that I had so little time with my mother before we lost her.”

“It’s in the past. The shame would be not to hold tight to what we’ve found again.”

She met his gaze. “You’re saying I should stay,” she said, wishing he would make it so much easier by making it a demand, not a suggestion. But as they both knew, the decision was hers to make, not his. If he tried imposing his will, no matter how welcome it might be on the one hand, on the other it would only stir her rebellious temper.

“I’m saying that you’ll do what’s right for you when the time comes that the decision has to be made. Just don’t be swayed by expectations, mine or yours.”

“Mine?”

“You’ve a knack for thinking that you don’t deserve more from life, Kiera. You expect the worst to come your way. Remember that, and that you have a choice. You can still reach for your dreams. It’s never too late for that.”

It was a lovely sentiment, but she’d stopped dreaming years ago. All the ones she’d ever had had proved elusive.

Dillon smiled. “I can see you building up to an argument,” he told her. “Here’s the thing to remember about dreams. They don’t come true just by wishing for them. Life gives back what you put into it. Work hard and you can achieve even the most impossible of dreams.” He held her gaze, his steady and reassuring. “You know quite a lot about working hard, my darling girl. Put that to good use and the rest will follow.”

Kiera wished it were as easy as he made it sound. Even through her usual skepticism and doubts, though, she felt just the tiniest glimmer of hope.

*

With the sun already burning down soon after dawn, Bryan was glad he’d gotten out even earlier than usual for his morning run. As he turned onto Lilac Lane, he found himself hoping to spot a bit of color in his garden, specifically sunlight glinting off auburn hair setting off fiery sparks.

As much as he hated to admit it, he missed the early mornings he’d spent with Kiera in the peacefulness of his garden. They’d exchanged few words, just worked companionably side by side to defeat a common enemy: the weeds that seemed to grow even more robustly than the vegetables.

He sighed. It was this crazy cooking competition they’d been drawn into; Kiera eagerly from what he’d been able to tell. She seemed oddly happy about the battle lines drawn between them and the end to their truce. It shouldn’t bother him the way it did. In fact, he should be thrilled not to be bumping into her in his own backyard. He liked his solitude. He’d been content with his own company for years. Why did it bother him so much now to have no one around to listen, to offer a supportive comment or even a feisty retort?

When he’d reached his back deck, he glanced over at the small cottage next door.

“Blast it,” he muttered to himself and went back down the steps and across the small patch of grass separating the houses. He banged on the back door impatiently.

“What on earth?” Kiera demanded when she opened the door. “Is the world coming to an end?”

Bryan winced. If he’d come over to make peace, he’d gotten off to a shaky start.

“It’s hot out,” he said.

She stared at him unblinkingly, as if he’d announced the sky was blue. “So it is,” she said. “I’m told that’s not uncommon for July.”