“Good morning!” their mom said, almost singing the words as she sat down. She was already dressed and ready for the day. Their mom smiled at both of them before realizing that she was the only one smiling. Then, she said more seriously, “How are we this morning?”
“Drained,” Casey said. Faith filled the coffee pot and clicked it on. “Isabella kept us up last night. She misses her daddy.”
Their mom looked thoughtful, an undecipherable expression lurking below her features. “It’ll all work itself out.”
Faith poured a cup of coffee for Casey and set it in front of her. “I’m sure it will be okay eventually, but last night was pretty rough.” She opened the fridge and pulled out the cream. “Isabella’s holding in more than we think.”
Their mom stayed quiet. There really wasn’t much to say about it.
Faith poured two more cups of coffee and brought them to the table with a few spoons. Without saying a word, the three women stirred their drinks. Faith’s eyes burned from lack of sleep, her head heavy with exhaustion. She hadn’t slept well after they’d finally settled Isabella back down. She’d been worried about her niece. What would her little life be like now that her daddy would be living so far away? She couldn’t believe Scott hadn’t even texted Casey. That was so out of character. Were things that bad between them? And she kept relaying last night with Jake. The journey back had been silent and she’d given him the briefest of goodbyes when she’d left. She didn’t know what else to do or say. All these thoughts had been swimming around in her mind all night, making her restless.
Before she could ponder any further, Isabella came walking in, her hair wild and bunched up, and her blanket in her hands. She’d slept hard it looked like.
“Good morning, Isabella,” Casey said gently. “I can’t believe you’re up.” She stood and offered her chair to her daughter. “Do you want some breakfast?”
Isabella nodded.
“What are we going to do with Jake today, Mom?” Casey asked, probably trying to steer the conversation away from her and Scott.
Faith felt her shoulders slump. She’d forgotten they were supposed to do something nice for Jake. It had seemed like such a good idea when they’d discussed it yesterday, but now she was hoping she wouldn’t have to see him again. It was just too hard. She liked him so much, but they just couldn’t make things work. Neither of them would budge.
“I think we should cook for him tonight—make a big seafood dinner,” their mom said.
“We’ve already made him breakfast. Why don’t we go out and get drinks or something?” Casey suggested.
Their mom shook her head. “I don’t know if Nan wants to do that. I’d like to include her.”
“If there’s a chair, I’ll have drinks,” Nan said, coming in. She walked slowly, taking each step with great care. “Good morning,” she said, taking a seat.
“Why don’t we decide after we all get ready for the day?” their mom said. “Getting freshened up might make everyone feel a little better. I’ll make Isabella her breakfast. You two go get yourselves together.”
Nan watched her daughter carefully. Mom was up to something, and Nan—ever the observer—could tell. Mom didn’t want to go anywhere, she wanted them to get ready… Faith couldn’t help the fizzle of excitement that was rising up. It reminded her of the very last time they’d come to their cottage as kids. Her mom, who could always keep a secret, but allowed little clues to leak out all over the place, had told the girls they were going to have a girls’ day out. They’d expected to go to the movies or something, but when they got in the car, it was full of car games, snacks, and toys. Their bags already packed, they were headed to the Outer Banks. They hadn’t even known they were going. The cottage was destroyed the next year. Faith couldn’t help but think how Nan’s advice to take a chance rang true that time. Had her mom not decided to take them there that day, they wouldn’t have had that last memory—that memory of a time when the real world hadn’t begun yet. It had been a good summer—before they’d all gone their separate ways.
Faith decided to follow her mom’s lead and get ready for the day. For all she knew, her mother had planned something fantastic. “Casey, I’ll let you know when the shower’s free,” she said, gathering her cup and spoon and walking over to the sink. Casey, clearly thinking the same thing as Faith, had perked up about as much as she could, nodding, her face set in a hopeful expression. Poor Casey needed something to take her mind off of everything.
Her mom’s expression had changed over the last few hours. She seemed antsy, edgy, like she wanted to go and do something but didn’t at the same time. Faith had suggested the beach, but Mom had claimed she’d already had too much sun, and she wanted to stay in. She’d even whispered that they should all stay in for Nan’s sake. What had started as excitement was turning to anxiety as her mom puttered around, clearly trying to fill the time.
“I told Jake that we’d make him dinner tonight,” she said, smiling for their benefit. “I know you didn’t want to cook for him, but I think he’d like it, and it would give me a chance to cook. I love cooking, you know, and I haven’t really had much of a chance. I’d like to try my hand at some seafood dishes.”
Both Casey and Faith agreed, more so just to keep the conversation going. Faith was worried to see Jake again. She liked him so much, but they just couldn’t make things work between them. Faith was also on the edge of her seat, waiting to find out what their mom had planned. Whatever it was, it seemed pretty important, because she’d never seen her mother look this anxious. She kept looking at the door and checking her phone. Isabella was playing with her dolls in the floor by Nan’s feet.
Then, there was a knock at the door. Faith hadn’t expected a visitor, but she could see her mom’s body slump in relief. What was going on? Her mother got up, opened the door just a crack, and then, with a smile like Faith had never seen before, she swung the door open wide. Casey gasped and Faith’s jaw nearly hit the floor.
“Daddy!” Isabella dropped her toys and went tearing over to Scott, jumping into his arms. The little girl who had missed her daddy so much last night put her head in the bend between his neck and shoulder, her back hiccupping in quiet sobs. So this was her mom’s big secret. It was the very last thing Faith would have ever thought would happen.
“Hey, baby,” he said, dropping his suitcase in the doorway and wrapping his arms around her. He looked over at Casey tentatively, meeting her gaze.
When Faith looked at her sister, Casey’s relief was palpable. Her eyes were glassy with emotion, her smile trembling in uncertainty. This strong, beautiful woman who could command a courtroom was looking at her husband with so much vulnerability on her face that Faith’s conclusion was solidified: Casey was head over heels in love with this man. He could make the most secure, resilient woman she knew become defenseless. Because Casey loved him. Faith hadn’t ever loved him like that because she hadn’t been able to experience having his love in return. Scott was Casey’s whole world, and there were no two people better for each other, and it seemed like things might finally be looking up for them.
“I wanted to respond to your texts and calls,” he said, still holding Isabella. She’d stopped crying and had turned her head, resting it on his shoulder. He was rubbing her back, his eyes on his wife. “So I figured I’d stop by…” He smiled, and Casey stood up.
“And?” Casey stood and walked over to him until she was only inches from him, the space between them full of unsaid words.
“That was all I needed to hear.”
“Really?” she said, relief on her face.
“We have a lot to talk about,” he said. “But if you’ll try, I will too.”
