Page 62 of We Thought We Knew It All
The next morning, I left early, anxious to get home and see my family. Dylan and my dad both left the next day. They had to get back to work.
Life tried to regain its normal rhythm, but nothing felt normal to me. The boys went to school. We made heaps of progress at the restaurant. Opening day was coming and I had confidence we’d be ready.
It was Friday morning and we were ahead of schedule so I gave the work crew the day off. It was the first time in a while that I didn’t have any obligations. No book to work on, no kids to take care of, no business to start.
I stood on the beach clad in my old wet-suit, with a board under my arm. It’d been a while and the waves were rolling today. My mind drifted back to Jamie teaching Jackson to surf and then even further to my mom teaching me. If there was anything that could make me feel like myself again, this was it.
I ran into the water and paddled out, realizing how a lack of surfing had made me ridiculously out of shape. I scooped my arms through the water, relishing the burn that traveled the length of my biceps and into my back as I moved and stretched.
When I was far enough out, I sat up and kicked around. There weren’t many people out today, so the waves were mine for the taking. I chose one deliberately and started moving furiously to stay ahead of it. When I pushed up, I tucked my legs underneath me and stood up, wobbling slightly before regaining my balance. It turned out to be an easy ride and I let it carry me in until it turned to foam.
I almost turned to head back out when someone caught my attention on the beach. Morgan ran toward me, her arms spread wide. I walked up onto the sand and dropped my board moments before she lunged at me, not caring that I was sopping wet.
“Uh, hi.” I laughed for what felt like the first time in days.
She released me and was still grinning from ear to ear. Taking my hands in hers, she looked me in the eyes. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“It’s perfect.”
It clicked and I knew exactly what she was speaking of. I’d sent her the early draft of my new book. A warmth spread inside me, replacing the nervousness the thought of that book elicited.
“It’s okay?” I asked.
“Cal, it’s closure for all of us. You gave us such a gift.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I made my mom read it. Afterwards, I found her looking at pictures of my brother and smiling.Smiling. She’s been in such a dark place for so long. The way you painted Troy - he wasn’t just another nameless victim in a senseless shooting. Heck, the way you painted all of us. You made us, our friendship, seem… I don’t know. Does invincible sound cheesy?”
I smiled. “No, invincible sounds pretty damn good.”
“You know what my mom did? She took me with her to Matthew’s parents’ house. Did you know I’d met his grandfather before?”
I shook my head no, even though the image of Morgan and Seth sitting next to each other soon after the shooting wasn’t one I’d soon forget.
“Publish the book. I want the world to see us as you do. I want the world to know that even when we break, we can be invincible.”
I grabbed my board and looped my arm with hers, knowing she was right. She led me to the parking lot and I followed her back to my house where she sat beside me as I sent the full draft to my editor.
When I’d submittedEmma,I’d been terrified. Now I felt liberated, empowered.
* * *
Our opening went well,but every time I walked through the door, I was reminded of how excited Jamie had been for me. He’d been a part of this place. So had my mom. Neither of them were there.
My dad called to wish me luck and to my surprise, so did Dylan.
But the rest of my family was there.
An arm wrapped around my shoulders and I looked up to see Colby grinning. He’d been trying to cheer me up for days. Jamie had once been his best friend, but I would always be his sister.
Jay and Morgan joined us. When the four of us were together, it still felt like a fifth link was missing. I spent the opening talking to reviewers and people who’d come just to see the restaurant that was inspired by the enigmatic Emma Bay. We’d made it into a new South Florida guide book. This place was going to succeed, I could feel it.
Every bite that came out of the kitchen was fantastic. The drinks were well made. All the hard work and invested funds were paying off. But I still couldn’t bring myself to be happy about it.
Over the past week, Jackson and Liam both asked about Jamie. They’d grown fond of him and missed him. I didn’t know what to say to them so I just said I didn’t know where he was. In truth, I knew that he was back in Georgia, back in his old life - the one where he didn’t talk to any of us.
The time finally came for Morgan to rejoin her husband in London and I was sad to see her go. She brought a joy to life that I’d missed.
I took the boys to Jay’s for dinner on the Monday after opening since the restaurant was closed on Mondays. Amber greeted us and immediately led the boys outside to play. Jay hugged me tightly as he always did. I still had trouble seeing him and Jamie as brothers. They were so different. For one thing, Jay was dependable.
