Page 69 of Sea La Vie
“Don’t you worry about those books,” he says. “We’ll be fine. We’ll figure something out. We always do.”
Lainey bites her lip, and her dad pulls her into another hug. “I’ve gotta ask you though, kid. What possessed you to take the boat clear down to Haven’s Harbor by yourself like that?”
Lainey looks down at her boots. “There was a fishing tournament. I thought if I could win, we’d be okay for a while. It was a twenty thousand dollar grand prize.”
Archer shakes his head. “I’m sorry I ever made you think you had to carry this family while I recovered. Twenty thousand dollars isn’t worth losing you. There’s no amount of money in this world that would make me willing to risk your safety.” He glances down at her foot. “Do you need to see someone about that?” Lainey glances at Lucille and winces.
“I think I’ll try icing it at home first.”
Archer trails her line of vision, understanding dawning on his face. “Good idea.”
Lainey makes her rounds around the community, and one by one, they all meander back to their homes until it’s just Lainey and I left. We sit on the bench overlooking the dark water, the stars above dancing and winking at us. When she lays her head on my chest, warmth spreads through me, and I can’t help but smile.
“I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t come back,” I whisper. “You don’t understand the worry, pain, and stress I felt.”
“I know,” she sighs. “I’m sorry. I won’t ever do it again. This time you really, truly do have my promise.” She intertwines her fingers in mine, and I give them a squeeze. “I don’t want to do this for the rest of my life,” she murmurs.
“You don’t have to,” I tell her.
“What else am I going to do, though? I don’t mind helping Huck out when he needs it, or anyone else—I really don’t—but it’s not something I want to do forever.”
“Well,” I say, my eyes meeting hers when she turns her head up to look at me. “What do you want to do?”
She shrugs and points her eyes skyward. “I’ll figure it out. For now though, I’m kind of exhausted.”
She moves to stand, and I get up quickly, ready to help her up. She leans on me, her bandaged ankle thoroughly iced and much less swollen. Lucille had come back with ice earlier and insisted she let her wrap it. She also insisted Midge come stay with her tonight, and I swear Midge’s eyes tripled in size at the suggestion, before Lainey declined the offer.
Midge stirs underneath the bench, stretching and letting out a lazy yawn. “I almost forgot,” I say. “I bought something today.”
She arches an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
“Yep,” I say and rock back onto my heels. “I bought the cottage. Or…I’m buying the cottage, I suppose. I talked to mom earlier. I’m leaving the firm for good and branching off on my own.”
She grins and smiles up at me. “So you’re really, truly, staying, huh?”
I nod, my grin matching hers. “I was actually heading to Charlotte this morning to pack my things. I tried to find you to tell you I was leaving, but I saw you and the boat were gone, and didn’t really think much of it.”
Lainey grimaces. “Sorry about that.”
I wrap my arms around her and nuzzle into her hair. “So you’re doing accounting here?”
“Yep. I’ve already got my first paying gig,” I say proudly. “I’ll be Mugs and Memo’s official accountant starting next month.”
Lainey raises an eyebrow. “Do you understand what you agreed to? Lucille kept her books at one point, you know.”
I laugh. “I like a good challenge.”
“I can’t believe you’re staying,” she says. When I pull back, she’s smiling.
“What can I say? Lucille’s starting to grow on me. I sure would hate to leave her.” I wink, and she lets out one of those melodious giggles that lights up my entire life. I’m staying so I can hear that giggle for the rest of my life, if she’ll have me.
30
Emma 1963
“Where do you think you’re going in your condition, young lady?” Mom stands in front of the door I was about to escape out of.
“I’m fine, Mom. Really. It’s just a cold.” I try to push past her, and her stance only grows stronger.
