Nantucket, page 16
“That’s just what I mean. . . .” Liam said, shaking his head.
Cadie saw tears glistening in his eyes. “Hey,” she teased gently. “There’s no crying, remember? Even when I’m gone, I don’t want you guys to be gloomy. I want you to celebrate.”
Liam nodded.
“Promise?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.
“We’ll try,” he said, “but I can’t promise.”
They heard a sound outside the window and they looked up to see a hummingbird hovering near the new feeder. A moment later, another tiny bird buzzed by, squeaking and scolding, and then they chased each other, hovering and dancing in midair.
“I’ve never seen a hummingbird,” Cadie whispered in awe.
“Never?!”
She shook her head. “I don’t think Aidan has either.”
“I’ll go get him,” Liam said, getting up. He hurried down the hall, and even though he was only gone a short time, by the time they got back, Cadie was sound asleep.
“Do you see them?” Liam asked softly, pointing out the window.
Aidan nodded. “That’s so cool,” he whispered. “They found it in no time.”
“They did,” Liam agreed.
As the afternoon went by, Aidan grew tired of watching the birds and Liam pulled down the squeaky attic stairs from the ceiling and climbed up into the dusty, hot attic to look for the box of books from his childhood, and when he came back down and set it on the porch, Aidan excitedly pulled it open and peered inside.
“Let’s read this one,” he exclaimed, pulling out a dog-eared copy of Robinson Crusoe.
“That’s a good one,” Liam said with a nod as Aidan climbed onto his lap.
An hour later, when Cadie came out onto the porch, Liam was still reading out loud, but Aidan was sound asleep. “Now I understand why you always wanted to live on an island by yourself,” she teased. “Is Aidan going to be your man Friday?”
Liam looked up in surprise and smiled. “That may have been where the idea originated . . . and he might be. You never know!”
“You do realize he’s asleep, don’t you?”
“He is?!” Liam said, moving so he could see Aidan’s face. “And here I thought he was just a good listener.”
Cadie sat down next to him and watched a pair of cardinals fluttering from the scrub pines to the birdfeeder.
That evening, Levi and Emma caught the last ferry back to Nantucket, but by the time they got to the house, Liam was the only one still awake. “Your mom tried to stay up,” he said, meeting them on the porch.
“That’s okay,” Levi replied, shaking his head. “We tried to catch an earlier ferry, but there wasn’t room for the car.”
Liam nodded and then turned to the pretty young woman standing next to him. “You must be Emma,” he said with a smile.
Emma smiled back, revealing a dimple in one cheek. “I am . . . and you must be Mr. Tate,” she said, extending her hand. “I’m so pleased to meet Levi’s dad!”
Liam was immediately enchanted. “I’m pleased to meet you, too, but please call me Liam. I don’t think anyone’s ever called me Mr. Tate before!”
“Very well,” she said with a grin. “Liam it is.”
They chatted quietly for a few minutes and Liam confirmed that, if Cadie felt well enough the next day, the boat was ready.
Chapter 38
“I can’t believe you still have her!” Cadie exclaimed when she saw the old Chris-Craft tied to the dock. She looked at Levi, on whose arm she was leaning. “This is the boat I told you about—the one your dad restored when he was in high school.”
“I know, Mom,” Levi said, smiling at his mom’s enthusiasm. “She’s beautiful.”
Liam came up on her other side. “Soo . . . what do you think? Should we take her for a ride?”
“Really?!” Cadie asked.
“Really,” Liam said with a nod.
“I . . . I don’t know,” she answered uncertainly. “I don’t want to ruin everyone’s fun.”
“You won’t ruin anyone’s fun,” Liam assured her. “C’mon,” he said, taking her other arm.
“C’mon, Mom!” Aidan called from the dock. “C’mon, Emma!”
“We’re coming, Aid,” Emma called back as she carried one of the coolers and the beach bag down to the dock and set them in the back of the boat.
“Don’t forget your life jacket,” Liam called, pointing to a small vest lying on the dock.
Aidan slipped it on, then stood still so Emma could help him with the buckles while Liam and Levi helped Cadie—who was all bundled up in a hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants, and her pink hat—into the front seat. Then, Levi climbed in back with Emma and Aidan, and Liam untied the lines and climbed in next to Cadie. “You okay?” he asked.
“Fine,” she said, feeling a nervous twinge in her stomach.
“Do you want a blanket?”
She nodded and Liam unfolded one of the blankets and gently wrapped it around her. “How’s that?”
“Good,” she said with a nod, and he smiled, hoping she was still strong enough to make the trip . . . and hoping he wasn’t asking too much.
The day before yesterday, after John left, he’d set to work, getting the boat ready. He’d cleaned a mouse nest out of the engine, drained out the old fuel, filled the tank with fresh gas, checked the fluids, battery, and plugs, and then towed Coop’s old, wooden skiff and an anchor out across the waves and been happily surprised to discover how smoothly she ran.
That morning, he’d packed sandwiches and Cadie’s pain meds in one cooler and drinks in the other; set out folding chairs, filled the beach bag with extra clothes and blankets, and made sure there were enough life jackets on board for everyone; finally, he’d clicked on his marine radio, pressed in the button on the handheld mic, and made a radio check to his friend Nate who had an old Gar Wood called Exodus docked in a nearby marina—and even though he hadn’t said his Coast Guard registration number in over twenty years, it spilled from his lips as if he’d used it just yesterday. “This is Tuckernuck II-Whiskey-Zulu-Victor-Five-Six-Niner-Five calling Exodus, over?”
“This is Exodus,” Nate had responded immediately. “Holy shit, man! Have you got ’er in the water?!”
“I do!” Liam had responded with a grin.
Liam pushed the starter and the faithful, old runabout rumbled to life, her Yacht Ensign snapping in the wind, and as he pulled away from the island, he looked over at Cadie. She smiled, her face glowing in the sunlight . . . and in that one precious moment, with the cool wind rushing all around her, she forgot about having cancer . . . and simply enjoyed being alive!
Fifteen minutes later, as they neared Tuckernuck Island, Liam eased back on the throttle and waved to a little girl who was standing on the shore.
Cadie waved too. “It hasn’t changed,” she murmured softly, gazing at the sandy landscape and the long grass, swaying in the summer sun.
“Some things never change,” Liam said as he guided the boat up alongside the skiff.
Transferring everyone and everything from the runabout to the skiff was a bit of a challenge, but they managed to pull it off without falling in, and then Liam rowed to shore. “Are you sure you don’t want me to row?” Cadie teased.
Liam shook his head. “Not this time.”
When they reached the beach, Levi hopped out, pulled the skiff up onto the shore, and helped Emma and Aidan out. Then he and Levi stood on either side of Cadie. “I can do it,” Cadie said. “I’m not an invalid . . . yet.” She steadied herself by holding on to the side of the boat, slipped off her sandals, pulled her sweatpants up above her knees, and started to walk slowly along the water’s edge. Liam and Levi watched protectively and then looked at each other with raised eyebrows, each thinking the same thing—she must be feeling okay!
Five minutes later, after spreading blankets and setting up chairs, Liam looked over to where Cadie was standing near the water’s edge. “I guess there’s no time like the present,” he murmured with an anxious smile.
Levi grinned, knowing what Liam had in mind. “Go for it!” he said.
As Liam walked toward her, Aidan called after him, “Can I come?” but Liam—whose heart was pounding—didn’t seem to hear him.
“No, you stay here, Aid,” Levi said, reaching into the beach bag for the Frisbee. “Here, catch,” he said, waiting for him to look back.
“All right!” Aidan said, a huge smile spreading across his face as he held out his hands. “Emma, want to play?!”
“Sure, Aid, just let me put on my sunscreen.”
Levi gently tossed the Frisbee to Aidan, and while his little brother hurried after it, he looked down the beach and watched his dad put his arm around his mom’s shoulders.
“Do you feel up to taking a walk?” Liam asked.
“To the love shack?” Cadie teased.
Liam looked puzzled. “Love shack?”
“Don’t you remember what a hit ‘Love Shack’ was that summer?”
“I remember the song, but I don’t think I realized it was from that summer.”
Cadie laughed. “I did . . . and whenever I heard it, I thought of your cottage.”
“Is that why you have it on your phone?”
Cadie laughed. “It is—it always makes me smile.”
They walked slowly along the beach. “Let me know if you think we should turn around,” Liam said, pulling her closer. “I don’t want to overdo it.”
“I will,” Cadie said, looking up at him. “Liam, I can’t thank you enough for doing all this—every day, you do more . . . and I still can’t believe you’re willing to adopt Aidan.”
“Why can’t you believe it?”
“I don’t know. I guess because you have your life and your work . . . and you’re used to being on your own.”
“I’ve only been on my own for a couple of years. Before that, Coop was still alive . . . and I can’t really say that I’ve liked being alone. It’s just the way it worked out. Besides,” he said, “having Aidan will be like having part of you with me.”
Cadie smiled sadly. “I’m praying it works out. Aidan will have a great time growing up here . . . with Tuck by his side too.”
“Levi said Aidan’s father gave up parental rights when you got divorced—is that true?”
Cadie nodded. “Yes, and we haven’t seen him since—I heard he moved to an island in the Caribbean, so I wouldn’t worry about him coming back into the picture.”
“Well, that’s good. John was concerned he might throw a wrench into the whole thing.” Liam stopped walking. “I think the gate is along here somewhere,” he said, pulling back some branches. “Here it is.” They carefully stepped over limbs and bushes and stood in what once had been the front yard. Liam looked up and softly swore as Cadie whispered, “Oh, my goodness!” The wild rosebush they’d stepped under years earlier had grown so much that it now covered the entire house in a blanket of pink blossoms.
“I’ve never seen such a huge rosebush!”
“I know . . . and I can only wonder what it’s doing to the siding and the roof!”
Cadie pulled her phone out of her pocket, tapped the camera icon, and aimed it at the house.
Liam frowned. “What are you doing?”
“Taking a picture.”
“Your phone takes pictures?!”
Cadie nodded as she tried to fit the whole cottage into the photo.
“Here,” Liam said, “why don’t you stand in front of the cottage and I’ll take the picture.”
Cadie frowned. “I don’t think I want to be in the picture.”
“Why? You look cute.”
Cadie rolled her eyes. “I don’t know about that,” she said, but then she showed him which button to tap and reluctantly walked over to stand in front of the tremendous rosebush.
“Ready?” Liam asked, and when Cadie mustered a smile, he tapped the button. “Is there a way to see how it came out?”
Cadie walked over and tapped the tiny image in the corner and the picture filled the screen. “Hey, that looks great,” he said happily. “Look how your hat matches the roses!”
Cadie rolled her eyes again—she couldn’t believe he thought she looked “cute” or that the picture had turned out “great.” “I think you need your eyes checked,” she said good-naturedly.
“What? Why?” he said, putting his arm around her. Then he looked up at the house. “Let’s see if we can find a way in.”
They picked their way gingerly through the overgrown yard, and although the back of the house had just as many roses creeping over it, the door was visible. “Whoever owns this place has a terrible caretaker,” Cadie teased.
“I know—he should be fired!” Liam said, and as he jiggled the door, a pane of glass fell out and smashed on the granite steps. “Well, that’s convenient,” he said, reaching in and turning the knob. The door creaked open and as Cadie followed him inside, they heard scurrying paws.
“I think someone lives in here,” Cadie whispered, and a moment later, a skinny orange tiger cat scooted out the door. “Oh!” she said, putting her hand on her chest. “How’d she get in here?!”
“Looks like she might’ve come through a window,” Liam said, pointing to a second broken pane.
They looked around the room. “I guess it still needs work,” Liam said with a smile. “But I bet it would make a great studio—what do you think?”
Cadie looked puzzled. “An artist’s stu . . . do you mean for Levi?!”
Liam nodded.
“Wow! He’d love it—why didn’t you ask him to come?”
Liam shrugged. “Because I wanted to come here with you . . . besides, I just thought of it. I’m probably never going to live here, but I don’t want to let it go either . . . so maybe we can fix it up and turn it into a studio.”
“That would be wonderful.”
Liam shook his head. “It’s the least I can do . . . for my son,” he added with a grin.
Cadie smiled and looked around. “Why did you want to come here with just me?”
Liam bit his lip and felt his heart pound. Then he took a deep breath. “Because . . . I wanted to ask you something.”
She gave him a puzzled look. “What?”
Liam reached into his pocket, pulled out a small velvet box, swallowed nervously, and slowly knelt down on one knee. “I already have Levi’s permission—I figured he was the one to ask . . .”
Tears filled Cadie’s eyes as she looked down at Liam’s handsome, tan face and gorgeous ocean blue eyes.
“Cadie, will you marry me?”
She shook her head slowly. “You want to marry me now?” she whispered in disbelief.
Liam pressed his lips together and nodded.
“Oh, Liam, you’re making the dream I’ve had in my heart my whole life come true. Yes, of course I’ll marry you!”
Liam smiled, stood up, and slipped the ring on her finger. Then he wrapped his arms around her and, lifting her off the ground, gently kissed her lips. “I love you so much,” he whispered.
“And I love you,” she murmured.
As Liam set her down, he felt her flinch. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, mustering a smile, and then held her hand up to admire the ring. “It’s beautiful!”
Liam looked at it too. “I guess we need to have it sized,” he said, realizing how loose it was on her thin finger.
She nodded. “Maybe you should hang on to it until we do. I don’t want to lose it.”
Liam searched her eyes and shook his head. “No, I want you to wear it. We’ll take care of it tomorrow.”
He kissed her again and held her for a long time. Then they looked around one last time, closed up the little cottage, and walked slowly back to the beach. As they drew near, Levi saw them coming. “Well?!”
Liam grinned. “You’re finally going to be legitimate!”
Chapter 39
As they pulled back up to the boathouse, the sky was on fire with gloriously pink and orange hues streaking across the sky. Cadie turned to Levi. “God has his paintbrush out,” she said with a weak smile.
Levi nodded. “I know! He puts the rest of us artists to shame!”
Liam hopped out and quickly tied the lines. Then he reached out and took Aidan, who was half asleep, from Levi’s outstretched arms and set him on the dock. “Don’t fall in,” he warned, steadying him. Levi handed Liam the coolers and bags, and helped Emma and Cadie out too. “I had a feeling this trip might be too much,” Liam said as Cadie leaned on him. “We probably should’ve headed home a lot sooner.”
“It wasn’t too much,” she insisted.
“Mmm,” Liam murmured doubtfully.
“Besides, I loved every minute,” she said, squeezing his hand, “and at this point, that’s all that matters.”
“Are you cold?” he asked, helping her to the truck.
“A little.”
He turned the truck on and clicked the heat to low. “I can’t believe I’m turning the heat on in August!”
“It might be August, but it feels like September.”
“Will you be okay while I bring in the boat?”
Cadie nodded. “I’m fine . . . just tired.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back.”
As Cadie watched Liam hurry back down the boat launch, she rubbed her abdomen, tears filling her eyes.
Levi and Emma loaded the coolers, beach bags, and chairs into his car, and Liam started to open the boathouse, but then he remembered the railcar was already occupied by John Alden’s sailboat. He swore, not wanting to take the time to load the boat onto the trailer, so he just locked the doors again.
“How is she?” Levi asked as he walked by with the last of their gear.
“She says she’s fine, but she always says that.”
“Well, we’re going to pick up the pizza. Do you want us to take Aidan?”
“No, he can go with us.”
“Okay, we’ll see you back at the house.”
“All right,” Liam said, hurrying down the ramp to make sure the boat was secure. “C’mon, Aid,” he called, and Aidan threw the stones he had in his hand into the water and hurried after him.
