Chapter 21

Jack sat in his truck in front of the Watson family’s home for a long minute. The house was a small one-story set on the banks of a river that ran through Blushing Bay. It’d provided lots of river fun growing up. Memories pushed their way into his mind as he finally threw open his truck door and walked to the covered porch.

Maybe he should’ve called before coming over. Not that he ever had before. These doors were always open to him. He wasn’t sure if that was true anymore, though. He hadn’t been here since Chris’s death. The family’d had a mountain of food dropped off by loved ones after the funeral. Jack had stopped by and eaten quietly with other members of Chris’s family. He’d felt like a traitor among them, though. He’d been the last person to see Chris alive. Maybe if he’d been paying better attention, or if he’d been listening instead of watching for the big fish they were going to catch that day. Maybe then his friend would still be here.

His thoughts played back all the what-ifs and maybes as he climbed the steps to the front door. He rarely ever had to knock because Mrs. Watson had always seen him coming.

He knocked against the wood three times, his knuckles stinging from the force. He’d always wondered why she didn’t have a doorbell. It was a modern convenience she refused, just like a dishwasher and a microwave.

Footsteps scurried from somewhere inside the house—she was no doubt putting things in their place before opening her home to a visitor. Then the royal blue door opened to him, revealing a woman he’d missed. Just seeing her flooded him with regret that he’d stayed away all these months. Fear also speared his heart. Maybe Mrs. Watson wouldn’t welcome him the way she always had. He should’ve checked on her. Chris would’ve wanted him to.

“Jack!” Mrs. Watson pulled him over the threshold, past the royal blue door, and into her arms. She was a petite woman, but she had surprising strength. She’d never had any problem manhandling her six-foot-two son or his six-foot-plus friends. “Oh, Jack. If I’d have known you were coming I’d have made lemon bread.”

His favorite.

“I guess I should’ve called.”

Mrs. Watson pulled back and frowned. “Called? Don’t be silly.” She pointed at the kitchen table. “Go. Sit. I don’t have lemon bread, but I do have cinnamon pound cake.”

“I’m not hungry, really.”

Her dark eyes grew darker. They were the same eyes that Chris had had. “You don’t have to be hungry for cake to sit down and eat it.”

Pain and affection bubbled up as he obeyed and sat down at the small round table, meant to seat only four, but he’d known it to seat up to seven or more. “I’m sorry I haven’t been here in a while.”

“You’ve been busy. I understand.” Mrs. Watson busied herself as she’d always done. She seemed to be doing surprisingly well, although he hadn’t expected her to be sitting in a dark corner sobbing. She was a strong woman. Even at the funeral, she’d kept a positive attitude, claiming that Chris was in a better place.

Jack had held on to her beliefs, adopting them as his own. He needed to believe that Chris was okay, too.

A moment later she slid a plate of cake in front of him along with a cup of coffee.

“Thank you.” He watched as she settled herself beside him.

“I’ve been wondering if you’d ever come see me again,” she said.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. I’m just glad you’re here now. It’s too bad Harry isn’t home to see you. He’s mentioned you quite a lot since Chris’s accident.” She didn’t flinch at the words. She really was doing okay.

“I didn’t want to impose. I always came over with Chris. I just—”

“You’re family to us. I saw all your baby teeth fall out and even took you to the doctor a few times. You’re like a son to me.” Her eyes teared up. Patting his hand, she sighed. “It’s like the prodigal son has returned.”

Jack shook his head. He had no idea she’d felt that way about him. “I came because I wanted to tell you about a new venture I’ve started. It was Chris’s idea, actually.”

“Oh?” She pulled her own cup of coffee to her. Her soft brown eyebrows bounced lightly as she drank and waited to hear what he’d have to say.

Jack took a deep breath, then he proceeded to tell her all about the plans that he and Chris had made together. They didn’t want to be commercial fishermen forever. They’d dreamed about opening their own coastal building business. And now, Jack was turning that dream into reality.

“This is just wonderful,” Mrs. Watson finally said, visibly fighting off tears. “He’s still accomplishing things beyond his grave. Because of you.”

Jack swallowed. “This was his idea. He started this.”

“And you’ll finish it.”

Jack looked down at the table, willing his own emotions to settle down. “I wasn’t sure if you’d be happy about this.”

“Of course I am. I couldn’t be prouder. Harry and I will see you Friday at the grand opening. We wouldn’t dream of missing it. Then you’ll come back for dinner one night next week, and maybe bring someone special.”

Jack shook his head. “No. There’s no—” Grace filled his mind.

“You’re hesitating. There is someone,” she said, winking at him.

“Not anymore.”

She gave him her infamous assessing look. He and Chris had sworn the woman had been born with a lie detector inside her. “I’m not so sure about that.”

Jack forked the last piece of cake into his mouth and drank the rest of his coffee while he caught up with Chris’s mom. Then he stood, ready to leave.

Mrs. Watson held open her arms and gave him a big hug. “Once family, always family. Those are unbreakable bonds, Jack. You remember that.”

Jack pulled back and looked at her, surprised at a thought that had struck him as quick and unexpected as lightning. Once family, always family. Unbreakable bonds. “Right. I’ll see you and Mr. Watson on Friday.” He walked to his truck, his heart pounding painfully in his chest.

Once family, always family.

What if he extended the same hand to Tammy that Chris’s mom had just extended to him? She wasn’t his stepmother anymore, but she’d been family once. And she would always be Grace’s family. He’d claimed that he’d tried to forgive Tammy, but had he really?

Jack climbed into his truck and drove toward Mrs. Smith’s house. He nearly turned around before pulling into the driveway of the old house where Tammy Donner was staying these days. Parking, he climbed the steps and rang the doorbell. He had no idea what he’d even say when he saw her. All the things he seemed to say around Tammy were accusative and angry.

Ms. Smith opened the door. “Hello. You’re one of the Sawyer boys, aren’t you?”

“Yes, ma’am. I was hoping Mrs. Donner was home.”

Mrs. Smith nodded. “Yes, of course. Come in. She doesn’t get many visitors. Aside from her daughter, of course.”

Jack listened as the older woman led him inside. The house was old and in need of a lot of renovations he noted as he followed her into the living room.

“Watch that board,” Ms. Smith said just as Jack stubbed the front of his shoe. “It’s loose.”

“I see that.” He sat on the couch and clasped his hands in front of him. Maybe this wasn’t the greatest idea. He and Tammy might end up arguing. If Chris’s mother could still welcome him into her family, though, then he could at least try to be civil to Tammy. Grace had told him that her mother was trying to make up for her mistakes. And even though he’d acted differently, he didn’t want Tammy to carry around any undue blame and regret. It wasn’t Tammy’s fault that Grace had gotten hurt. It was his.

“I’ll go get her,” Mrs. Smith said.

A couple of minutes later, Tammy shuffled inside the room, almost stubbing her slippered feet on the same loose board. Jack cringed at the thought of Tammy falling down. She didn’t have the reflexes to catch herself—not in her condition.

“Jack,” Tammy said, taking a step closer. “Why are you here? Is Grace all right?”

He nodded. “This doesn’t have anything to do with Grace.” Or it did, but not everything to do with her. “I came because I owe you an apology, Tammy.” He’d thought the words would taste bitter in his mouth, that they’d be hard to say. Instead, a weight seemed to lift off his chest as he continued. “I blamed Grace’s boating accident on you and that wasn’t fair. Grace was out there because of me. It’s my fault.”

Tammy could’ve agreed. She could’ve called him a certified jerk. He’d have deserved that. Instead, she smiled at him the same way she’d been doing every time she looked at him lately. “Have you met my daughter? She’s strong-willed and she does exactly what she pleases. That’s one of the reasons, I assume, that you fell in love with her.”

The comment kicked Jack hard in the chest. Everyone knew how he felt about Grace, except Grace. He should’ve told her.

Now it was too late.

Silence swam between them in the dimly lit room. Jack glanced around at the lighting sources. Tammy needed more light to navigate safely, especially with loose boards popping out of the floor.

“Do you have a toolbox?” he asked, breaking the silence.

Tammy looked perplexed. “We are a couple of old women, Jack. Of course we don’t have a toolbox.”

Despite himself, he laughed. “I have mine in the truck. I’ll go get it and fix that board on the floor.”

Tammy followed his gaze. “I’ve tripped over that thing I don’t know how many times.”

“Do you have lightbulbs to replace the two that are burned out there and there?” He pointed at the ceiling fan light and the one in the hallway that were no longer working.

“I’m not sure, but you don’t have to—”

Jack stood. “I don’t do anything I don’t want to do, either. I’ll be right back.”

Jack spent the next two hours fixing one thing after another in the home as the two women watched him, chattering and giggling among themselves.

When Jack was done, he wiped his brow with the back of his hand.

“Let me get you a glass of water.” Mrs. Smith hurried into the kitchen.

“Thank you, Jack. I really wasn’t expecting this,” Tammy said.

He looked at her. It was the first time he’d really seen through his hatred. There wasn’t really any hate there anymore. Now he just saw a fragile woman he’d allowed to come between him and Grace.

What a fool.

He took the glass of water from Mrs. Smith and drank. “Thank you.”

“No, thank you,” Tammy said. “I mean it. This means a lot to me, Jack.”

They stood with less than two feet between them. Jack remembered the fear he’d felt when he’d seen Chris’s mom earlier. She’d quenched that fear with a hug. Then she’d told him, “Once family, always family.” He didn’t exactly feel that way toward Tammy, not yet at least, but he felt something. He stepped forward and awkwardly wrapped his arms around the frail woman, giving her the smallest of hugs.

Grace leaned back in her chair and sighed. She’d spent the last half hour of her shift completing paperwork for an online college program at a nearby university. She could complete the first two years online while working here at Sawyer Seafood Company. Then she’d have to figure out a way to take one class a week at the university, but she’d worry about that later. She’d always dreamed of having a college degree.

Grace glanced up at the clock. Five minutes until closing. She printed out the scholarship applications she’d found for the university as well. She’d fill these out right after she did the other thing she’d decided she was going to do for herself. Her mom had challenged her to just one thing, but Grace had decided why stop there?

She grabbed her paperwork and closed up the office, then hopped down the steps. The animal shelter didn’t close until six. She had time to go look around. She’d never had a pet before. For one, pets were expensive. Also, Grace was always too busy taking care of her mother’s needs to worry about those of a pet. A pet didn’t just take, though. A pet offered comfort and company, which Grace wouldn’t mind having these days. Especially with Jack out of her life again. For good this time.

The animal shelter was loud as Grace opened the metal entrance door. Various barks pierced her ears all at once.

“Do you mind if I look around?” Grace asked the young girl at the reception desk.

“Help yourself. We close in forty-five minutes, though.”

Grace nodded and headed toward a door that led to the kennels. She took her time walking past every cage and looking into the eyes of each dog up for adoption. A lot could be learned from looking into an animal’s eyes. Or a person’s. She’d known she’d love Jack as soon as she’d met his gaze at ten years old. She hadn’t known it’d be different from the brotherly love that was expected of her back then, but she’d known that he was special.

Grace stopped in front of every kennel. There was a pit bull. A shaggy mutt. A beagle. Some type of Doberman pinscher. Grace scooted past, feeling the need to apologize to all the animals she’d mentally turned down. Then she paused on a black miniature poodle. The fur looked touchably soft. The dog’s eyes were hopeful as she met them.

Hope. That’s what she was looking for in her life. Hope.

“Hey, there, girl,” she said, bending down and holding out her hand to the dog. The dog’s tail wagged as she sniffed Grace’s fingertips through the cage. “What’s your name? Huh?”

The dog’s tail wagged some more.

“I like you, too. Want to come home with me? Hope?”

The dog propped her front paws up on the door of the kennel, and Grace took that as a yes. Hurrying back to the lady behind the reception desk, she started the paperwork to bring Hope home. A college degree and a dog. This was a good start to chasing after the desires of her heart.

“You got a dog?” Krista asked on the phone the next afternoon.

“I did. Her name is Hope. She’s such a cutie,” Grace told her, sitting on her living room floor and running a hand over Hope’s back.

“Hold up. I’m coming over. I love dogs. Mind if I bring Abby? I’m supposed to stop by and pick her up from work. Her car is in the shop.”

“Sure. The more the merrier,” Grace said, surprising herself. She wasn’t the same girl she’d been a few months ago, overworked and doing everything on her own. Now she had friends. She had a new job with decent hours, a dog, and she was planning to finally go get that degree her grandmother had wanted her to have. She wanted that degree for herself, too.

Fifteen minutes later, the doorbell rang and Hope took off toward the sound.

Krista and Abby bypassed hellos with Grace and immediately dissolved into “Awws” over the fluffy black pup.

“She’s gorgeous,” Krista squealed, pulling the ball of fur into her arms.

Abby reached a hand over and petted the top of the dog’s head. “She’s such a sweetheart.”

The three sat on the floor and fawned over the dog as they took turns cuddling and cradling her like a little baby.

“Maybe I need a dog, too,” Krista said.

“It doesn’t take the place of a man,” Abby pointed out.

“Better in some ways.” Grace pulled the dog back to her. “She loves unconditionally. I bet Hope will even like my mother. It’s a great setup.”

“Still haven’t heard from Jack, huh?” Krista frowned.

“No, and I’m not going to. It’s over between us. I have my mom and a new dog to look after.” Grace smiled as the poodle’s tongue scraped along her cheek. “And I’m going to start online college classes soon.”

“What?” Krista and Abby said in unison.

“That’s amazing, Grace,” Krista added.

Grace nodded. “I’ll be too busy for a relationship anyway.”

“Wait a minute. Is that your plan? To be too busy to think about Jack?” Abby shook her head. “Because if it is, it’s not going to work. I know from experience.”

Grace and Krista frowned at Abby now.

“But this is not my pity party. I’m fine. I’ve loved and lost, which is way better than never loving at all.” Abby narrowed her eyes at Krista.

“Hey!” Krista complained. “That is so not fair. I’m busy working as a nurse and saving people’s lives every day, thank you very much. Besides, it’s Grace’s love life we’re talking about right now.”

Grace held up both hands. “No love life. I’m done. It’s just me and my dog.”

They all returned their attention to Hope, who proceeded to squat and pee on Grace’s floor.

“No, no, no. Don’t do that.” Grace shot up and ran to go get paper towels.

“What does your landlord think about Hope being here?” Krista asked.

Grace froze with the paper towels in hand. Right. She’d never had a pet before, so she’d never had to consider that some places didn’t take pets. “Oh crap.”

Abby waved a dismissive hand. “If he threatens to kick you out, then you call his bluff and tell him you’ll gladly leave. There’s like five vacancies in this complex. If you leave, that’ll be one less check he’ll collect each month. He’ll probably just ask you to pay a deposit or something.”

Grace exhaled. “Oh. Good.” Because she’d move before she considered bringing Hope back to that shelter.

Krista stood and headed to the fridge. “Can I get some water?”

“Of course.” Grace continued toward the spot that Hope had left on the floor and cleaned it up.

After drinking a glass of water, Krista collected the little dog back into her arms. “Can I be Hope’s godparent? So if you die, I’ll get ownership.”

Grace shook her head. “That’s so morbid.”

“I’m a nurse. What do you expect?”

All three women laughed. It was better than crying. Grace wanted to do more laughing, she decided, mentally adding that to her list of desires.

On Thursday morning, Jack took a break from his current job and headed over to Sam’s bright and early.

“No fishing today,” he said. “I need your help.”

Sam continued to pull his fishing boots on. “What do you mean ‘no fishing’?”

“I checked the books. The deliveries are caught up on and Dad can go out with a few of the temporaries. They need the kind of training that only he can provide anyway.”

Sam gave him an assessing look. “What kind of help do you need, bro? And why not just get Tristan to help you?”

“Because it needs to be you and Noah. Get dressed. I’ll explain at breakfast. Noah’s meeting us at the café.”

The three men sat over coffee and bacon croissants as Jack explained what he was asking them to do. It was fifty-fifty whether or not they were going to agree or give him an old-fashioned brotherly beatdown.

“You want us to go over to Tammy Donner’s house and build her a ramp?”

Jack nodded. “I already bought the lumber. It’s not much different from building a pier, I figure.”

Sam drank his coffee quietly.

Noah chewed his breakfast, his skin turning ruddy as he clenched his jaw.

“When you love someone, you love every part of them. Tammy is a part of Grace and, uh…” He hesitated. “Well, we all love Grace, right? She nearly died to make things right between our families. I figure we owe her this much.”

Sam looked between them. “I’m not thrilled that you canceled my fishing today, but I think this is actually a good idea. You’re a good man,” Sam said, scooting back from the table. “I’m in.”

They both turned to Noah, who was still frowning. “So I can’t be a good man unless I agree, too? Because I don’t like this idea.”

“You don’t have to like it. Just do it,” Sam said, taking the role of older brother. “Let’s go.”

Jack followed them into the parking lot. “Thanks. This means a lot to me.”

Sam glanced over his shoulder. “Look, I can believe that people change. You’ve changed a lot just over the last month.”

And all the credit for any good changes went to Grace. She’d changed him.

“All right. Let’s get this done. If we finish by noon, we can be in the boat by one or two,” Noah told Sam.

“And then some people will never change,” Jack teased, walking them out into the parking lot.

They didn’t knock on the door of Mrs. Smith’s and Tammy’s home. Instead, they just started building. Jack wouldn’t care if they did the work and left the two women to wonder how it’d gotten done. He wasn’t in this for gratitude. He was in it because it was the right thing to do for Tammy, who’d been his family once. And after all Grace had done for him, he owed this much to her, even if she never wanted to see him again.

That was a real possibility. He’d acted like a jerk lately—a big one.

The three men worked in unison without a single bicker, which might’ve been a record for them. Smooth, sanded wooden planks went down over the brick steps. Next, they added handrails. This was child’s play compared to the piers and docks, kayak launches, and boat shelters that Jack was building now. As they were building the last railing, the front door opened and Tammy peeked out. Opening the door wider, she stepped onto the porch and looked at their work. “What are you…? Jack, Sam, Noah? What are you all doing here?”

Pride surged up through Jack. It sure beat the hate that he’d felt when he’d seen this woman before. Unable to help himself, he walked right up to her and placed a sweaty arm around her.

“What does it look like we’re doing, Tammy?”

She brought two shaky hands to her mouth. “I don’t know what to say. This is so nice of you. I don’t deserve this kindness, but I’ll take it.” She shuffled forward, unable to pick up her feet and clear the ground. She didn’t have to bend her knees like she had when there’d been a set of steps. Now, she walked one foot in front of the other down the ramp, clutching the handrail, until she was standing in front of Sam first. She hesitated and then pulled him into a hug. Sam’s arms tightened around her, and Jack thought he couldn’t be prouder. Surprising them all, Noah didn’t wait for Tammy to come to him. He joined the brothers’ hug.

After a long moment, Tammy pulled away. “Mrs. Smith is gone, but she’ll be thrilled as well. She’s tired of dragging me up those blasted steps. You boys come inside. I’ll make sandwiches for you.”

They all started to argue, but Tammy wouldn’t hear of it. “You won’t work for free here. I can at least feed you. I’m not completely out of commission, you know.”

Jack smiled. He could see where Grace’s toughness had come from. “All right. We can have a few sandwiches before you guys head out on the boat, can’t we?”

Noah and Sam agreed.

“We did this with you, so the least you can do is help us catch some fish this afternoon, bro,” Noah said, climbing the ramp and heading into the air-conditioned home. “What do you say?”

Jack didn’t hesitate. “I say okay.”