Page 37 of The Lightkeeper

“I could make some plaques to hold them if you want, Lou,” Jamie chimed in, offering up his woodworking skills I’d learned about earlier when I’d complimented Ailene’s dining table. She was quick to gush about the skills of her oldest son who had his own custom furniture business.

While his siblings went back and forth about his drawings, Kit sat there in silence like a lighthouse watching the day go by.

I sank my teeth into my bottom lip, knowing I shouldn’t say anything—knowing I’d hear about it another day when we were alone—but I couldn’t stop myself.No one deserved to just sit and watch as life passed them by.

“I suggested a show at the gallery,” I chimed in. “Then buyers could learn about the subjects… and the artist…”

Kit’s furious gaze captured mine, staring like I’d just pulled a pin from a grenade.

Lou’s eyes went wide like saucers, and then a smile slowly spread over her face. “That is…perfect.”

“No.” Kit’s fork clanged onto his plate. “Not doing a show.”

“But we could sell tickets. Meet the artist. A behind-the-scenes look at the process and the subjects from the source.”

My eyes bugged wide. That wasn’t what I’d meant. I didn’t want to put Kit on the spot, I just thought he would want that exposure for his work.

“No.”

“You can’t hide in the lighthouse forever,” Frankie charged, her quick inhale of regret following a second later.

Everyone looked at Kit, his eyes glittering with the sharp shards of anger and pain. “Enough, Frankie,” he warned with a voice I hadn’t heard before—a tone so raw it sounded as though his vocal chords had physically bled over the words.

“We don’t have to do a ‘meet the artist’ or any kind of presentation,” Lou said, softly backtracking on the idea while trying to tamp down the tension. “I was only excited about the suggestion because I think a gallery show with the new drawings would put me so much closer to what I need for the inn.”

The fight went out of Kit in a hot whoosh, hearing the despair in his sister’s voice. I had no idea what inn Lou was talking about, but Kit’s reaction told me all I needed to know about its importance to her—and the lengths he’d go to help her.

The muscle in his jaw bulged, one last protest before he replied, “Fine, but I’m not giving any presentations about the damn drawings.”

Lou bounced with excitement in her seat. “Okay?—”

“You could just have Aurora there to do it,” Frankie added, her nonchalant tone carrying just a hint of something more. “Then Kit wouldn’t have to say anything,” she went on, looking at me. “You could just explain all the cool facts about the stars and snails to everyone.”

“Not necessary?—”

“It would be better anyway since she knows the most about them.” Frankie barreled right over his protest, her eager stare making it practically impossible to deny her.

“Yes, that would be perfect,” Lou agreed and reached for my hand. “If you can spare the time, I mean. It would be so hopeful, and I just know everyone would love it. Plus, just think, then you’d get to educate people in town about the animals that live along the shores; it’s really an opportunity for you, too.”

I stared at her, my mouth moving open and shut.“I… sure,” I said with a weak smile, adjusting my glasses to block Kit’s stare from burning a hole through my forehead.

“Wonderful.” Gigi clapped her hands. “We’ll make some special jams, won’t we, Ailene?”

“Of course.”

“Sea Star Strawberry,” she envisioned, drawing a chuckle from the whole table except for Kit, the thread of his groan vibrating underneath the lighter rumble.

“Let me know what you pick, and I’ll whip up some complimentary candles,” Frankie added.

The way they all jumped in to help made my chest tighten. Don’t get me wrong. I loved my dad. We were like two peas in a pod, having the same interests. The same preferences. And similar personalities. But it was always just us and sitting at this table with these people… it made me long for a family like theirs. So full of life and varied personalities—an entire ecosystem in itself.

The rest of dinner passed in a flurry of conversation about the gallery show which lead to insight on the local inn that Lou wanted to purchase and that spiraled to the furniture Jamie would make for the inn, the assistance Violet would give on growth and management since she came from a hotel-owning family though I gathered she didn’t speak to them anymore, the custom candles Frankie would make to fill the lobby, and finally, circled back to Kit… and the paintings of his Lou wanted to hang on the walls.

“I hope he sells,” Lou said when Kit and Jamie stood to clear everyone’s plates. Gigi followed them into the kitchen to get dessert. “Whoever he is, I hope he sells to me.”

“He will,” Frankie said calmly, tipping back in her chair.

“You can’t be certain.”

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