Page 21 of Tide Over

Theo’s sister steps forward with a big smile. “Hi! I’m Heather, the sister. Nice tofinallymeet you.”

Theo rolls his eyes and heads into the kitchen, but she ignores him and continues, gesturing to the other guy on the couch. “This is my husband, Chris. And my kids are around here somewhere…” she trails off, glancing out the window.

“Mason already introduced himself outside,” Theo says as he sets the cooler on the counter. “They’re in the backyard. He’s digging for worms.”

Heather lets out an exasperated sigh. “I knew it.” She rushes for the back door and whips it open. “Mason Cameron, I asked foroneday without any mud!”

She disappears into the backyard, and I cautiously step further into the room as Jimmy and Chris take their seats again with a laugh, and Theo snorts, opening the cooler.

Theo’s mother smiles warmly, wiping her hands on a towel as she steps closer to me. “Hi Liam, I’m Cynthia. Come in and make yourself at home.”

I smile at her, but it feels forced. The internal war inside me starts up again, as I take in how lovely and welcoming these people are. Since arriving in Torrin Cove, I’ve felt like I’m on a roller coaster. The highs, allowing me to feel the peace this welcoming town and Theo’s home brings me, then the lows, when I remember why I can’t have that.Because this isn’t my home.

My fingers twitch at my side as I continue to stand near the doorway, not sure what to do. But Cynthia notices my discomfort, and gently places a hand on my elbow, guiding me into the kitchen.

“So, what did you bring us?” She peers over the kitchen counter, where Theo is preparing the mackerel to cook. “Oh, lovely!” She then smiles at me. “We’re having lobster as well, so looks like Theo caught our whole meal tonight.”

Theo lifts his eyes and smirks at me. “Yup. Thewholething.”

I huff out a laugh, shaking my head at him. “You wish.”

Suddenly the back door crashes open, and Heather comes in, dragging a mud-covered Mason with her.

“Don’t touch anything,” she says with a sigh as Mason smiles widely while he wiggles his fingers. “Chris, please tell me we brought more clothes.”

“On it,” Chris says as he stands, grabbing a bag from the corner of the room. Then he follows them down the hall as Mason shrieks with delight and Heather lets out a groan of disapproval.

“Unbelievable.”

I look down at a little girl standing beside me, with her hands on her hips as she shakes her head. And I can’t help but let out a laugh at the drastic difference between this girl and her wild little brother, with her hair in perfect braids, clothes clean and pristine, and not one bow out of place.

“Isla,” Theo says, picking up the plate of fish, “this is Liam.”

Isla holds her hand out to me, and my brows lift in surprise as I reach out to take it.

“Nice to meet you,” she says with a polite nod. “Now excuse me, I have to help Nanny make dessert.”

I look at Theo, not quite sure how to respond to this well-mannered and intelligent little girl. Theo just laughs as Isla joins her grandmother in the kitchen and he gestures for me tofollow him to the back patio. I close the door behind us as I step outside, taking in the big backyard with huge trees. There’s a peaceful, babbling brook running through it, and Mason’s toy trucks are strewn about in the mud where he was digging for worms.

Theo fires up the barbeque and I take a deep breath of the crisp air. So far… this isn’t so bad.

I turn around as the door opens again, and Jimmy steps out. He smiles and hands Theo and I each a beer, holding up his drink in a cheers. “Didn’t think you’d barbeque without me, did ya?”

“Never,” Theo mutters with a sly smile. “How would I ever get it right if you weren’t here to tell me what to do?”

“Atta boy.” Jimmy laughs and takes a seat on one of the chairs on the patio. “So, Liam. How are you liking Torrin Cove so far?”

I lean against the patio railing and give him a soft smile. “It’s nice. Kinda feels like home.” And suddenly my smile falters and panic rolls through me. I didn’t mean to say that, and I don’t even know where it came from.

But Jimmy just smiles back at me. “And where’s that?”

“Inverness,” I say with an uncertain edge to my voice, as I try to just keep my shit together and get through this.

“Ah,” he says happily. “I know some folks up that way. Or knew, anyway. It was many years ago. What’s your last name?”

My heart pounds as I stare back at Jimmy, frozen as I face a possible connection to back home I’m not ready for. What if he knows my family, and knows what happened… and I have to explain why I’m here, and not with them.

I consider giving him a fake last name so I can continue to hide away, but as Theo glances at me over his shoulder, I realize he doesn’t know it either.

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