Page 65 of Tides of Change
Harper smirked. “But do you get writer’s block?”
“All the time,” I admitted. “It helps to step away for a bit. Or, you know, kill off characters from Thanksgiving dinner.”
The table erupted into laughter, though Noah scrunched his forehead in confusion. The warmth of the family surrounded me, and I felt something I hadn’t in a long time—belonging. This wasn’t just a meal. It was a home.
Then, as if to cement that thought, Noah piped up. “Grandma, tell Mr. Ethan about the time Daddy got stuck in the fence.”
Garrett groaned. “Oh, come on.”
His mom grinned. “It’s a classic.”
“I like this story already.” I smirked as Garrett glared at me.
Carol launched into a tale about five-year-old Garrett, a game of hide-and-seek gone wrong, and a broken redwood fence. Bythe time she finished, my stomach ached from laughing, and Garrett had dropped his head into his hands.
“I should never have brought you here,” he muttered.
Noah patted his arm. “It’s okay, Daddy. I got stuck on top of the jungle gym this week.”
Garrett sputtered. “How did you get down?”
Noah shrugged his shoulders. “I fell.” He stuffed a roll in his mouth.
A look of horror swept across Garrett’s face, and he paled.
I chuckled and shook my head. “This is the best Thanksgiving I could have asked for.”
And it was.
As I looked around the table—the way Harper teased Garrett, the way his mom beamed at her grandson, the way Garrett’s hand lingered just a little too long against mine when we reached for the same dish—I felt something shift inside me.
I wanted this. Not just today. Not just a dinner invitation. Butthis. A life that included Garrett and Noah and embarrassing childhood stories told over pumpkin pie.
Could I really walk away from this?
Would danger always keep me at a distance?
Garrett caught my eye then, his expression questioning. As if maybe he was wondering the same thing.
And for the first time since I’d come to Seacliff Cove, I wasn’t sure I wanted to leave when Ballard caught Finch.
As we finished dinner, Carol turned to Noah and smiled. “Would you like to stay the night? You can help me decorate the Christmas tree tomorrow.”
Noah’s eyes flew wide. “Really?”
“Of course,” she said warmly. “You have extra clothes and a toothbrush here, so you don’t even have to go home and pack a bag.”
Noah turned to Garrett, bouncing in his seat. “Can I stay, Daddy? Huh? Huh? Please?”
Garrett chuckled. “All right, buddy. But be good for Grandma and Grandpa.”
“Yay!” He threw his hands into the air.
“It’s settled.” Carol stood and started gathering dishes.
“Please, sit down and relax. We’ll do the dishes.” I raised my eyebrow at Garrett and dared him to disagree.
He shot from his seat. “Uh, yeah. Sit down, Mom. You cooked. We’ll clean up.”
