Page 52 of Sea La Vie
I smile, knowing that it's just like my dad to say the perfect thing at the perfect time.
“So basically, what I’m saying is, have fun with the guy. Don’t worry about what happens next. Just enjoy what’s happening now.Let someone else spoil and take care of you for once.”
I glance at the clock above us on the lamppost. “Shoot, Huck is going to kill me,” I say, turning on my heel.
“Don’t forget what I said!” Eden hollers.
I throw my hand up and wave as I jog across the street to Huck’s diner.
Eden’s advice sounds easy enough, but am I capable of letting my guard down enough to let someone in to take care of me?
21
Tate
“This should get you started,” Al says, then slams his rusty tailgate shut. I took Eden’s advice and called him for some gardening equipment. An hour later, he showed up with a tiller, a couple shovels, and starters for a few varieties of dahlias.
“Just make sure you water ‘em and sing to ‘em everyday.” Miss Kat says with a wink.
“You’ll keep my secret?” I ask, looking between the both of them. They glance between each other then nod.
“We’ll keep your secret, as long as you don’t break her heart,” Al says. “Lainey’s a special girl.” He says it like it’s a secret.
“I have no intentions whatsoever of breaking her heart,” I promise. He studies me, his thick salt and pepper eyebrows drawn together.
“Can I ask why you’re doing this?”
“I wanted to do something for her for once,” I answer. “I want to show her how much she means to me.” I lean against the tiller and cross my arms.
Al and Miss Kat nod, seeming to approve my answer. “Let me know when you’re ready for me to pick it up,” Al says and raps on his tailgate with his knuckles before sliding behind the wheel, Miss Kat joining him on the opposite side.
Soon, it’s just me, a tiller, some downloaded YouTube videos, and a bunch of overgrown dirt.
“Well, don’t you look nice,” Lainey says, eyeing my fresh clothes and hair still damp from my shower. Tilling Lainey’s garden left me ravenous but I knew I needed to get cleaned up first.
Lainey’s wearing her black apron over her cut offs and her hair is thrown into a ponytail. “Thanks. I could say the same about you,” I say with a wink. Lainey’s cheeks flush and I don’t think I’ll ever get used to having that effect on her.
“Do you have a second?” I ask her.
Lainey glances around the crowded diner. “Sure. What’s up?”
“I found Emma Calhoun’s son,” I tell her. “Or rather, Emaline Aiken. Grandpa was right.” A smile spreads like a wildfire across her face, and she lets out an adorable squeal.
“Do you think…you’re related?”
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “I found an article where he took over his dad’s law firm a few years ago. It was kind of sad. Apparently his dad, Emma’s husband, died unexpectedly of a heart attack.”
Lainey frowns. “Was there anything about Emma in the article?”
“There wasn’t,” I say. “But I did find an email for him on his website.”
Lainey bounces on her heels. “Did you get ahold of him?”
I nod. “Yes and no. I sent him a message explaining who I am and what we are trying to do. Hopefully he doesn’t think we’re crazy and gets back to us so we can put the pieces of this summer love story back together.”
Lainey’s eyes sparkle. “Hey, Sid’s over in the corner booth.” She hitches a thumb over her shoulder, and I scan the busy tables until I find his bald head and handlebar mustache. “He says he needs to talk to you.”
Huck comes bustling through the door to the kitchen at that moment and sets a steaming plate of french fries and a cheeseburger down in front of me. “I’m not letting you order here again without a little help,” he says through a smile. “You’re not allergic to cheeseburgers, right?”
