Page 166 of Always Be an Us

"Okay," Grandpa says. "Help me up."

I rise and take his hand pulling him to his feet. But then he quickly falls back to sitting, dragged by something on the end of his fishing line.

"Quick help me," he says, his eyes wide. "I think I caught a big one.

I squat and put my hand over his, helping him pull. My eyes immediately widen at the strength of the force in the opposite direction. It really must be an enormous fish.

The catch fights back, trying to drag us into the water, but I dig my heels in and lean back.

"Come on," I mutter. "Come on out you sucker."

Finally, the line slackens and we pull with all our might, as the fish leaps into our boat slapping on the floor violently.

"Jesus." It's the largest pike I've ever seen in my life.

"I got it." My Grandpa says and laughs in pure elation. "I finally got the damn bastard. I told you I would."

I don't approach the fish, for fear that its violent dancing will knock me into the water. "Is it real?"

"Of course it's real, Emma Jane! I told you. It’s a strange little town we live in."

A surprised laugh escapes me as Grandpa pulls me into a celebratory hug. We laugh and jump together and when the fish finally stills, we approach it to extract it from the hook.

That's when we see that Grandpa's fishing hook isn't the only thing in its mouth.

There's something else, an orb that makes my mouth drop open and my heart stop.

Deep in the fish's mouth, near its throat, about the width of a coin is a shining pink pearl.

Grandpa is all smiles when we get to the Pink Hotel, ready to tell everyone of his feat. I'm eager too to announce that we found a Pink Pearl. It's so unbelievable that I can barely believe it myself. Amelia is going to have a heart attack when she finds out. I'm not sure yet if we can keep it. If the FBI doesn't confiscate it, or if they say I can keep it, I would like to put it back in the Pink Hotel where it belongs.

As Grandpa and I step onto the lawn, the air is ripe with smells of cotton candy, and noise and children playing around the stands. Kites float in the air, and frame the sunset and chatter fills the atmosphere. It’s such a nostalgic scene, I’m instantly elated. I wish I could have brought Remy, but I didn’t want him barking at strangers and causing a scene, so we left him home.

Through the crowd, I search for Declan, eager to tell him what I've found.

"Dr. Han!" Grandpa waves. The minute Grandpa spots the poor doctor, he makes a bee-line for him and immediately steers the innocent man away from his date, likely telling him about the pike and the pearl.

I glance around, still searching for Declan over the heads of everyone else. It seems everyone in town is already here and I even notice some unfamiliar faces. I finally find Rachel and Amelia standing near the entrance of the hotel, quibbling about something. Sandy is beside them, looking amused. And then there's Declan’s dad standing with Micah.

Finally, a few feet away I find Declan.

He's standing alone with his hands in his pockets, staring straight at me. Underneath his sleeve, one of his biceps is still wrapped in a bandage and as he walks to me, his movements are slightly awkward, favoring his wounded side.

I still can’t believe I almost lost him.

My heart squeezes in fear again, but I refuse to let it overcome me and take away my happiness at this moment.

A lovesick smile sits on his lips, probably the same one spreading mine as I run to him.

"Hey," he says when I reach him. He drags me close and kisses me on the lips right there in front of everyone, making my heart feel like it's exploding out of my chest. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." We haven’t had much time together due to the chaos of everything and my body lets me know how much it misses him, practically purring into his touch.

"I have to tell you something, Declan. The most amazing thing happened."

"In a bit," he says. He glances at someone over my shoulder, signaling them.

"Why?" I try to look back, but he doesn't let me, keeping his hand on my chin. "What's going on?"

---