Chapter 3
Willow Cove population not nearly enough. Lucas thought as the cab headed into the small town.
Lucas felt like he was transported onto a movie set. He didn’t think it was possible for towns to actually look like this. There was literally an ice cream shop where the building was made to look like a pink cup filled with vanilla soft serve. And there was a cherry on top. Of course, there was. Why wouldn’t there be? It just added to the ridiculousness of it all.
Street signs were pieces of wood nailed to a longer piece of wood and hand painted.
Part of him could understand why his father wanted to leave. This place seemed more like a theme park than a place to live. A large sign sat at the edge of what looked like the heart of town with the words ENTERING WILLOW COVE COME FOR THE LOBSTER ROLLS STAY FOR THE PEOPLE.
As the taxi driver, Frank—an old man with slicked back gray hair and thick lined skin—continued on and passed the sign, the town transformed into something out of a travel guide. Multi-colored buildings lined the main strip, flags and signs hung above doorways, benches sat along the sidewalk, surrounded by baskets of soon to bloom flowers. Cobblestone streets led down alleyways filled with more shops and ending at a row of docks jutting out into the water. Lobster traps were piled along the docks, and colorful buoys covered buildings like a coat of paint.
It suddenly didn’t seem so ridiculous, and when Lucas spotted the bright red signs cut out in the shapes of lobsters pointing down at Joe’s Lobster House, he imagined what life would have been like if his father had stayed in Willow Cove and taken over the restaurant.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t imagine it. His father, who spent most of his days in custom tailored suits and ate out most nights wasn’t the type of man to work in a place that’s biggest claim to fame was a lobster roll.
Joseph Prescott was a cold-hearted businessman who thrived on telling people no, especially his one and only son. Lucas spent the first twenty-one years of his life trying to please his father and make him proud. He never felt like he had, and when he’d found those unopened cards, it was like a light bulb had turned on in his head.
A man who could lie to his face, tell him his grandfather didn’t want anything to do with him, and went out of his way to make sure he never found out the truth wasn’t a man he wanted to please. Quite frankly, he couldn’t give two shits about making his dad proud.
He felt like a caged lion, stepping out into the wilderness for the first time, experiencing the feel of soft grass beneath his paws, and roaming freely with nothing blocking him at every direction.
Lucas had lived his life full of barriers set in place by his father and now, six years since that eye-opening day in his father’s office, he lived his life for himself—a concept that had once been so foreign to him.
“That’s your granddaddies place,” Frank said, pointing at the wood carved lobster signs in the distance.
“I figured as much,” Lucas said. “You know my grandfather, I assume.” It was a small town, and if it was anything like the movies or TV shows, everyone knew everyone.
“Sure do. Known Joe since we were twelve years old. He finally grew into his ears.”
Lucas laughed. “What’s he like?”
Frank met his eyes in the rearview mirror. “Joe’s a good man, and don’t let town gossip convince you differently.”
“Town gossip?” Lucas asked.
“Oh you know… the he-said-she-saids and what-nots. None of it holds any ground. Just a silly competition that went too far.”
“Competition?”
Frank laughed. “You really aren’t from around here.”
Lucas had already established that earlier when he and Frank basically played a game of twenty questions in which Lucas wasn’t able to ask a single one.
“No, I’m not.”
“Your grandfather is part of a town rivalry dating back to 1968.”
“That’s the year he opened his restaurant.” Joe had told him that much in a series of letters over the years.
“Also the same year Vinny’s Lobster Shack opened its doors. It’s been an all-out battle over whose is the best ever since. The Prescotts and the Morettis don’t get along, and it’s very rare that you’re friends with both. You make a choice when you step through one of the two doors, and that choice is for life.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Maybe so, but friendships have been lost and lovers have been pinned against each other for decades.”
“All of this over a stupid lobster roll?”
Frank gasped. “First lesson of Willow Cove: don’t ever disrespect the lobster roll. Better yet let’s stick with lobster in general.”
“I didn’t realize I needed to be schooled,” Lucas joked, but when he met Frank’s blue eyes in the mirror he knew he was far from joking.
“Second lesson. Have you seen Willow Cove?”
“We’re here aren’t we?” Lucas asked completely confused, wondering if maybe Frank was hitting the bottle before making his rounds.
“Not the town,” he scoffed. “The movie.”
Lucas had heard about it, and if he remembered correctly, it’d come out in the late nineties. “Can’t say I have,” he said.
“Stream it or whatever it is you youngsters do these days and watch it. That movie put us on the map. Some call it a cult classic, but we here in Willow Cove call it the best damn thing that ever happened to us.”
“I’ll put it on the list,” Lucas said, surprised he was actually considering it and not just saying that to appease Frank. “Anything else I should know?” he asked with genuine interest.
“One thing and probably the most important.”
Lucas met his eyes in the rearview mirror. “I’m listening.”
“If you happen to bump into a Moretti, it’s best to keep walking. You don’t want to get tangled in that mess.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Frank gave him a nod. Lucas doubted the whole feud was as bad as Frank was making it out to be. Just an old man with nothing better to do than spread gossip.
Lucas focused his attention out the window. The multi-colored shops gave way to front yards and driveways, leading to houses that overlooked the water. There was much he didn’t know but one thing he was definitely sure of was that he wasn’t in L.A. anymore.
He glanced down at his phone to check the time when he noticed a new text message. Expecting it to be his partner he opened it and was pleasantly surprised when it was Ella.
Good to know. Hope everything goes well with your grandfather.
A girl he met not even five hours ago showed more compassion in that time than either of his parents had his whole life. There was something about her that was special, and he was damn happy that he happened upon that bus.
He typed a response in his phone.
Well find out soon enough. Almost there.
He hit send, and a couple seconds later a new text appeared.
Fingers crossed.
He pictured her crossing her fingers, long hair blowing across her face, a big encouraging smile directed at him.
“Here we are,” Frank said, snapping Lucas out of his daydream. He took a deep breath, ready to finally meet face-to-face the grandfather he knew so little about. It had been years coming, and while he wished he could find a way to recover all the lost years, he was grateful for what was ahead of them.
Lucas reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He grabbed a twenty and held it out to Frank, but Frank waved his hand in refusal. “First ride is on me.”
“I couldn’t,” Lucas said with a shake of his head. “Please. You came so far out of your way.” He held the twenty over the seat and closer to Frank.
Frank didn’t budge, throwing a glance over his shoulder. “You can and you will. Just make sure to use me in the future, and it’ll be worth my while.”
Reluctantly, Lucas shoved the twenty back into his wallet. “You got a deal.” Lucas shook Frank’s hand and slid out of the backseat. Frank popped the trunk and once Lucas had all his belongings, he tapped the roof of the bright orange cab.
Frank gave a beep as he drove off down the road. Lucas turned to the house—a large brown Victorian with white accents and a wraparound porch. Entirely too big for one man.
There were two rocking chairs to the right side of the porch, and Lucas wondered if his grandfather ever sat in them and with whom. For all he knew, he was all alone out here with no family to rely on.
Not anymore. Lucas was going to change that. There was no reason for him to be alone in the world anymore. His dad had tried to keep them apart but he’d failed, and Lucas found satisfaction in standing here, knowing if his dad ever knew he’d probably flip a gasket.
Knots twisted in his stomach, and while he was excited to finally get to meet the man he’d developed a relationship with over the past few years, he was also a little scared. An emotion that took him by surprise, but if he was completely honest with himself, it wasn’t all that surprising.
He didn’t want to admit it, but what if his grandfather looked at him and only saw a product of his father, a man who completely erased him from his life? The thought poked at his insecurities and swirled around in his mind.
Before he could think on it any longer, the front door opened and his grandfather stepped out onto the porch. Dressed in a bright green Hawaiian shirt and khaki pants, Joe Prescott walked down his steps without hesitation. He moved well for someone in his seventies. His gray hair was combed back, revealing a prominent forehead. Dark blue eyes softened as he took Lucas in. A smile formed beneath his bushy mustache.
Lucas moved to meet him halfway. “Hey,” he said as they approached each other. Lucas went to hug him then hesitated, not sure what the proper greeting was. Maybe a handshake would be better. Or just a simple “hey” would suffice. His father was not an overly affectionate man, and maybe he got that from his old man.
“Get over here,” Joe said, pulling him into a tight hug. He held Lucas, patting his back with vigor. Joe’s hands went to Lucas’ forearms, and he stepped back, looking him over before pulling him back in again. This time his hold was even tighter.
The twisted knots from earlier unraveled, and any doubts or reluctance vanished into the cool crisp spring air. Lucas relished in the embrace, finally understanding the warm comfort of a grandparent’s hug.