The Newcomer (Thunder Point #2)(95)

“And hello to you,” Sarah said, giving him a pat on the head

Then a whistle rent the air and he ran back down the stairs and across the beach to where the kids sat around a fire.

“Landon would probably like us to go inside and leave them alone,” Sarah said.

“So what? It’s a perfect night.” He pulled her chair closer.

She sighed and looked out over the water. “You really do have a perfect life.”

“Close,” he agreed.

“And now your son is here,” she said. “That’s everything, Cooper. That’s the whole thing for you.”

“Maybe. Spencer still has to apply for the job. Sounds like he’ll get it, though. I had no idea he was a championship coach. That’s pretty cool. I hope Spencer is up to the job of making the most out of Landon, for his sake. For the sake of college opportunities. And for the coach—he really wants an exit strategy after forty years.”

“Mmm,” she agreed. “How does it feel, really? Being a dad?”

He grinned. “Pretty damn cool. Doesn’t hurt that he’s an awesome and hilarious little kid, which I owe to Bridget and Spencer.” He chuckled and shook his head. “Bio-dad.” He laughed.

“Did you ever see yourself in this situation—the father of a ten-year-old?”

“Sort of,” he said. “In the back of my mind I thought I’d accidentally get married and have a kid or two, even though I had no idea what responsibilities that really entailed. I figured I’d grow into it. I thought I’d eventually tie myself down to a house, a couple of kids, a steady job that didn’t change every two years. I didn’t think it would take this long. I’ve always known I’m a one-woman man,” he added, giving her shoulders a squeeze. “But, I wasn’t ready at twenty-seven when Bridget was ready. I was still moving fast back then.”

“Are you saying you’re ready now?”

He turned and looked into her eyes. He smiled. “I’d better be—it’s here. And it feels pretty good. I don’t know how Spencer will like it here, but I couldn’t ask for more than this. I mean, come on—listen to that surf. Look at that sky.”

“What if this job hadn’t come open?” she asked. “What if Spencer and Austin weren’t here? And what if it doesn’t work out for them?”

“I guess I’d be on a plane regularly. Single parents do that all the time. It’s not the best situation, but it works.”

She leaned against him. The sound of lapping water at the shoreline and the laughter of teenagers on the beach was soothing. “You sound really unf*cked-up for an ex-helicopter pilot who runs a beach bar.”

He laughed at her. “And for the first time in a long time, I feel that way, too.” And he kissed her brow.

Nineteen

Ashley walked home after her shift and found her mother sitting on the front porch in the dark alone. “Why are you still up?” she asked.

Gina smiled and sighed. “Mac just left and I stayed out here. Did you have a good shift?”

“I did, but I’m tired now—I’ll sleep in a little tomorrow. Are you okay?”

“Oh, I’m okay. I was just thinking how lucky I am. Having Mac in my life—he’s such a good, strong man.”

“You’re acting kind of sad for someone who is planning to get married,” Ashley said, sitting down beside her mother on the porch.

“It’ll pass. Give me ten minutes. But I will say this—I look forward to not saying goodbye to him at the end of every day. And you know what worries me? I know this is going to sound very strange, coming from your mother—but I’ve never been a wife. What if I stink at it?”

Ashley giggled. “I bet you’ll get the hang of it.”

“I hope so. I want so much to be a good wife to him, and a good stepmom. I have no doubt he’ll be an awesome stepfather.”

“He practically has been, Mom. He’s been my stand-in dad for four years.”

“I guess he has, hasn’t he?”

“Well, it sure wasn’t Stu at the diner, or Downy’s dad, Ford. If I had any situation that I’d mention to a dad, or talk to a dad about, it was Mac. In fact, ever since all that drama with Downy, Mac seems to keep a real close watch on me.” She laughed. “He really is a busybody, isn’t he?”

“He is. In the best possible way. It used to frustrate me so much that he just thought of me as a good friend, but now I realize that all those years of friendship before romance has been a good thing. He’s a patient man—he knows me as well as you do. He’s easygoing and generous, not prickly like some men. I think Lou softened him up, taught him how to live with a woman.”

“I don’t know why you two are waiting to get married. You know that Gram and I could put together a wedding in a week. Two at the most.”

“But we haven’t really figured out all the sleeping arrangements.... We have to give it at least till the end of summer.”

“By the end of summer everyone will know their places, but you don’t have to wait that long. Eve and I have talked it out. For the past four years I’ve either stayed over at her house or she’s stayed here at least once a week, but it’s usually even more often. When she’s had enough of Lou and the younger kids, she might be here most of the weekend. And when I’ve had enough of—” She stopped suddenly and even in the dark, Gina could see a flush darken her cheeks.