Page 118 of Tide Over

I push to my feet and lean down to press a kiss to the top of Theo’s head. “Will you be ok here for a bit?”

He looks up at me with a simple nod. “Yeah.”

Dad meets my eyes, giving me a gentle nod, knowing what I need to do.

I step out the front door and down the steps, feeling strangely calm as I reach the edge of the yard. I step onto the worn path through the tree line, pushing back the overgrown branches which show it hasn’t been used in years. Not since Nick and I grew up and moved away. But as I walk through the familiar path, I can still hear Nick’s laughter as he ran through it from his house next door, and my soft footsteps as I snuck over to meet him at night so we could go to the beach and throw rocks in the water.

Soon, I’m standing on the other side, staring at Nick’s parents’ house. I hesitate for a moment before I walk up the front steps and knock on the door.

I hear footsteps on the other side, then it swings open and Leah, Nick’s mom, is standing before me.

Her eyes widen as her hand flies to her mouth, and she gasps. “Liam,” she whispers, rushing forward to pull me into her arms. “Oh my god, sweetheart, I’ve missed you.”

Tears sting my eyes as I hold her tight. “I’ve missed you too.”

“Liam?” Nick’s dad, Phil, rounds the corner, and his face lights up as he sees me. “Oh my god, Liam!” He pulls me into a tight hug when Leah lets me go. “Oh my god,” he says again. “How have you been?”

I nod as he releases me and wipe my eyes. “Getting better,” I say. “And you?”

He nods, his expression softening. “Getting better.”

“Will you come in?” Leah says gesturing inside the house. “I want to hear all about what you have been getting up to.”

“Actually…” I glance back towards the path leading to my parents’ house. “You want to come over? There’s… someone I want you to meet.”

Leah’s eyes light up and she steps forward. “Oh?”

I chuckle, holding my arm out for her. “Yeah.”

I grew up surrounded by love, in a home that made me feel safe and warm no matter what. And now, I know that same love in a different way, from the man who found me when I was broken. He picked me up, quietly putting me back together again, while showing me that life is worth living. Having my family meet him, with the most important people in my life all gathered at one table, is a feeling I can’t even describe.

And Nick is here with us.

We sit around the kitchen table late into the night, talking, laughing, and sharing stories about Nick so Theo can get to know him, and we can remember him.

Finally, the weight in my chest is lifted, and a feeling of warmth settles deep into my soul.

And as I slip my hand into Theo’s and gaze into his eyes, I’m so happy to have my heart here with me.

FORTY-THREE

The scentof fresh coffee fills the air as the morning sunlight streams through the windows, bathing the kitchen in a warm, golden glow. I close my eyes as I take a deep breath in and feel the warmth on my skin, letting this peaceful feeling wash over me.

Gentle hands slip around my waist from behind me as soft lips press against my neck. I smile, tilting my head as Liam trails kisses over my skin.

“Morning,” he murmurs against my neck.

“Morning,” I say, opening my eyes.

I turn in his arms and meet his icy blue eyes as they sparkle in the sunlight, so bright they almost look translucent. But my eyes drop to his smile, and my heart skips. I press my lips to his as he holds me against him, kissing him soft and slow, just like the peaceful morning that surrounds us.

Miss Bobber weaves between our legs, purring loudly until I chuckle against Liam’s lips and glance down at her. “Someone needs attention.”

Liam nods. “I do.” Then he gently grabs my face and kisses me again.

I laugh against his lips, returning his kiss before kneeling down to give Miss Bobber some love too.

Once the coffee finishes brewing, we each take our mug and just like we’ve done every morning this week since returning from Inverness, we head into the sunroom.

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