Chapter Eighteen
The gallery had called Lindsey in for a meeting that morning. Her paintings had sold—not just one or two but every piece they had. The owner wanted more, and he wanted to feature her work on an ongoing basis for his Cape Cod location and for his gallery on Martha’s Vineyard. She should be so happy, and on the surface she was, but deep down she was so torn up inside. Lindsey slipped off her patent leather pumps and left them in the sand. Her parents took Maris for the day, so she could meet with the gallery staff. Still outfitted from the occasion, she walked down her stretch of beach, feeling the hem of her dress wisp around her knees.
The day was gray and cool for summer. Lindsey stepped closer to the ocean, letting the surf wash over her feet as she walked. She wanted to share her news with Damien. After all, he’d helped to make it happen. Now, all her dreams were coming true, except for the one where she and Damien shared happily-ever-after. Failing with Matthew had hurt and embarrassed her. Losing Damien left her broken. Spots flickered in her vision. Lindsey faced the ocean and inhaled the heavy sea air. Damien hadn’t just walked away—she pushed him.
Her limbs trembled and she hugged her waist. Would he ever trust her again? Sure, he’d texted her last night and seemed willing to talk, but could he really move past what she’d done? Lindsey dug her feet into the wet sand. As much as she screwed up, maybe Damien never planned to stick around anyway, and her mistakes made for an easy exit. Was he waiting for her to slip up and let him down, just like everyone else had? If so, she didn’t disappoint. Her chin wobbled. She had been waiting for Damien to disappoint her, too. He had been so good to them—too good to be true, except he was.
She pressed a fist to her chest, and tried to push away the ache. Damien had held her hand during labor, helped her overcome every contraction, and when Maris made her first appearance he was the one to cut the cord and welcome her into the world. She’d never forget the look in his eyes when Maris clutched his pinky finger—he’d simply melted. He had tested her new name, and the syllables slid slowly over his tongue, like he was uttering something precious and beautiful. It’s just right. She’s just right. Damien’s words were branded into her memory. The moment had taken her breath. He was right. She’d damaged two relationships when she chose to find Kate. She’d driven a wedge between Maris and a loving father. The wind carried away her whimper.
Damien had created her baby a dream nursery, one that could have rivaled any magazine spread. It had come from the heart. And when he touched her, kissed her, those moments were real and profound. She’d felt his heart thud wildly against her chest. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She didn’t bother to swipe them away. Lindsey stopped. Suddenly she could feel eyes on her back. She turned slowly and knew it would be him before she saw his face.
Her heart tumbled. Her breath stilled inside her throat. Damien was on the beach, only feet behind her. She’d thought of him endlessly since he’d left, and poured over all the things that remained unsaid. Now that he was there, his eyes locked on hers, Lindsey was rendered speechless. What did you say to a man you’d cut to the core, yet wanted to see more than anything else in the entire world?
“I was wrong,” he shouted the words to be heard over the waves smashing against the sand. “You told me I wouldn’t be able to move forward until I faced my past, and I have. I met my sister.” He moved closer, and with each step Lindsey’s breath quickened. She was afraid of what he had to say, afraid to hope for the impossible. When he opened his mouth to speak, Lindsey held her breath. “You were wrong, though, too. I already had a family of my own. One comprised of two people who I care about above all else.”
Lindsey wanted to go to him, but her feet stayed firmly planted in the sand. The tide was rolling in, and the waves smacked her ankles.
“I told you once before, and it still holds true. I love you, Lindsey, and I love Maris. You’ve both wrapped an anchor around my heart.”
The words made hope leap into her throat. “Damien, I lost you when we were kids, and again when you left the cottage. I can’t set myself up to lose you again, but I know I did a terrible thing by finding your sister against your will. That you had a reason to walk away.”
He took a step forward, then another, slowly closing in on her. His eyes held a mix of fear and desperation. Was he afraid of losing her? Afraid of being rejected? Her heart wanted to accept his words, to run into the solid arms that would wrap around her like a safety net.
“I kept telling myself that I searched for your sister to help you, when in reality it was for me all along. I wanted you to connect with her in hopes you’d be able to find closure, and make a future with me and Maris.”
“The day your ex visited, I forgave my parents. Forgiving them released a part of me that was still tied up in anger and guilt.”
Lindsey nodded as tears dampened her cheeks. “Just like when I stood up to Matthew for the first time. Oh, Damien, I’m so sorry. I took the decision out of your hands and with it the opportunity to heal from the experience. Please forgive me?”
“I screwed up, too, Linds. When I left, I didn’t realize it was because I needed to find Kate. All along, in the back of my mind, I knew I was going to open the file and go to her.”
“Then maybe, if you’re ready, we could try again.” She choked out the words and clasped her elbows tightly.
“You deserve better than how I’ve acted. I already forgave you, and if you’ll forgive me too, I’ll spend every day working to be the man you and Maris deserve.” Damien’s voice shook and his feverish eyes searched her face.
“Will you stay on Cape Cod? When your father’s house sells, will you want to leave? What if you decide you want to be close to Kate, and move to Boston?” she said.
“The Realtor emailed me last night to let me know the house sold, and I’m standing here. I can visit Kate at school. And who knows where she’ll want to move when she graduates? Maybe it will be to Cape Cod. She’s never been here before. In fact, she’s never even seen the ocean. Her jaw hung open the whole ride here. All she’s ever known are the slums of Boston.”
Lindsey’s brows knitted together. “She’s here?” Had he brought Kate here, to meet her?
“I needed to talk with you alone first. She’s waiting in the car.” Damien waded through the water to stand directly in front of her. The tide had risen just below her knees and the cold water had goose bumps running up her legs and over her arms. She didn’t care.
“Lindsey, do you love me, too?” He stood at arm’s length with his hands at his sides.
“The day you stole my lunch box, you stole my heart. I’ve always loved you, Damien.” Water sloshed up her legs as she closed the distance between her and Damien. She placed a hand on either side of his cheeks and pressed gently. “I’m ready to fight for this. For us.”
“You told me family is the most important thing, and you’re right. Let me be part of your family, Lindsey. Let me be a husband to you and a father to Maris. I can’t promise we won’t disagree, or that things will be perfect all the time, but together we can make anything work.” He stared at her, unblinking, waiting for a response.
When she said nothing, he stepped forward again. He stood so close she could see the worry lines that seemed to pop up on his forehead and face overnight. This hadn’t been easy on him, either. He whispered her name, and his voice held a quiet determination. “No more running from problems. No more fear. We have to have trust. Not just in each other but trust that we’re always on each other’s side. Because both times we’ve broken trust, it was because we wanted something that the other needed.”
Lindsey’s heart thumped wildly in her chest. Damien was pouring himself at her feet. He wanted things she’d only wished for on birthday candles and shooting stars. In the middle of the water, he dropped to one knee and her heart jammed into her throat.
The ring in his hand shimmered and sparkled under the afternoon sun that was poking through the clouds.
“Lindsey, will you start a life with me in this cottage by the sea?”
She stepped forward and lifted her hands to the sides of his face. He wasn’t playing around this time. He wanted her and Maris. She let the tears stream down her cheeks.
“I’d start a life with you anywhere.” Her words were breathless but it was all the encouragement he needed.
Damien slipped the ring on her finger. He stood up, and wrapped her into a hug. Had she ever felt more secure? More loved?
“Lindsey, you gave me a wonderful gift by finding my sister. Kate is warm and sweet—” He stopped mid-sentence and they both turned to the high-pitched squeal from the beach. Kate was standing on an embankment, clapping her hands and doing a little dance.
“I don’t mean to spoil the moment, which I caught on camera by the way. I’m just so excited!” Kate shouted down to them. She was already half running, half sliding down the sandy hill.
“She’s very bubbly and very enthusiastic. I think you’ll love her.” Damien’s words tickled Lindsey’s ear and she couldn’t contain her wide grin.
“I know I will.” She’d love everything about their life together. Even when things were difficult, they’d make it work, because they’d already weathered the storm together and had come out stronger.
Damien framed her face with his hands and kissed her with the salty waves splashing around their legs and sand beneath their toes. They’d found their way home, together.