Page 21 of The Pumpkin Spice Spell
It’s only then that I notice it right by my feet.
A small glass bottle, the streetlight catching on it in the light, like a secret he’s left behind just for me.
Chapter 8
Tate
I thought I knew what loneliness was until I saw you pretending to smile for everyone else. You don’t have to pretend with me. Not ever.
-Tate
I’m crouched on the deck of my dad’s boat, knuckles raw and grease on my forearms, trying to loosen a rusted bolt that refuses to budge, when I hear the soft patter of tiny feet.The little feet stop next to me on the dock. “Hi! Are you a pirate?”I look up, blinking into the late afternoon sun, to see a little girl in a sparkly purple jacket, pigtails flying, one front tooth missing, and the biggest grin I’ve seen in days. She’s standing on the dock, arms crossed, like she owns the place.
Before I can answer, I hear a familiar low chuckle—that of my friend Remy, who owns the tree farm on the edge of town. He’s also Donna’s son and Finn’s brother. A long-time friend of mine. “This is Junie,” he says proudly, catching up with her and scooping her up easily. “She’s five now. Thought it was timeyou two met properly again. I also might have told her you’re a pirate.”
I feel something twist deep in my chest. She was three when I left, had chubby cheeks and soft curls and was still toddling around. Now here she is, bright-eyed and chatty, looking at me like I’m cooler than I am.
“Hi Junie,” I say softly, wiping my hands on a rag. “This was my dad’s boat. I bet it has a pirate history.”
She plants her little hands on her hips. “Daddy said you went away for a long time. Where’d you go? Prison?”
Remy chuckles behind her. “Not prison, kiddo, Tate’s a fisherman. Remember what I told you? Tate and I are buddies.”
Junie turns back to me, eyes wide. “Do you know where the treasure is? Every pirate ship has treasure.”
I crouch down so we’re eye level, the corner of my mouth tugging into a grin I haven’t felt in a long time. “You’re right. Only brave sailors can find it, though. Got a map?”
Her entire face lights up as she pulls out a wrinkled piece of paper drawn in crayon, with lines zigzagging everywhere. “I do! Daddy helped me!”
Remy crosses his arms and leans against the dock railing, watching his daughter with a tired fondness that makes my chest ache again. There’s more weight on him now, lines around his eyes I don’t remember, a quiet steadiness that wasn’t there before.
“It’s just me and her now,” he says quietly, catching my gaze over Junie’s head. “A lot has changed since you left.”
I nod slowly, carefully. “I heard.”
Remy and his wife split up. They had a very public divorce, and she lives in Boston. I’ve heard she hasn’t seen or talked to Junie in a long time. And I can't really understand that.Old Pete looks after Remy because he and Donna have been friends for decades. He isn’t a fan of Remy’s ex.
He nods too, but there’s nothing bitter in his voice, just quiet acceptance. “We’re doing okay.”
Junie crouches near an old crab trap, tapping it like she expects it to pop open and reveal gold coins. “Why’s this boat so rusty, Captain Tate? Did the treasure make it rusty?”
That makes me laugh out loud. “Exactly that. Pirate gold does that.”
She giggles and spins in a circle, making up a song about rusty treasure and crab pirates.
Remy watches her for a minute, then glances back at me. “I heard you’re planning on sticking around. That true?”
The question settles heavily between us, but there’s no judgment in his voice, just curiosity.
“I think so,” I say. “Yeah. I think I am.”
His smile is small but genuine. “It’d be good if you did. Missed you.”
I don’t know why that hits so hard. Maybe because it’s simple and honest. And real. And I need good people like that in my life. Maybe because I did miss this place, this life, even when I tried to convince myself otherwise.
“I missed a lot,” I say, and it comes out rougher than I expect.
Remy follows my gaze as Junie climbs up on the captain’s chair, pretending to steer the ship, humming to herself without a care in the world.
