Page 64 of Hearts at Seaside
Pete crouched beside Sky and hugged her. “Looks like she loves you, too, sis.”
Sky sat cross-legged on the grass as both she and Joey calmed down. Joey nipped at her fingers, and Sky was all too happy to lavish her with more love. Pete’s chest was tight at what he had to tell Sky, and as the day wore on and closing time for his father’s store neared, he knew he had little time before his father would hit the bottle and there would be no reasoning with him.
He noticed new ink on Sky’s shoulder and brushed her hair to the side. “New tat?” She’d begun getting tattoos after their mother died, and though most of them were easily hidden beneath her clothing, Pete wished he could get to the root of what caused her to wear her hurt in colorful, permanent ink, and help her heal.
“Yeah.” She craned her neck and looked over her shoulder.
Upon closer inspection, Pete made out the trunk of a tree, with deep roots that spread along her shoulder blade.
“It represents you and my other dork brothers. Roots? Get it?”
Pete arched a brow. Yeah, he got it, all right, and it was a great metaphor.
“I know it looks funny without the top of the tree, but when I was designing it, I realized that I have no idea what my life will be like, so I left it like a blank canvas. I’ll fill it in some other time.”
“Well, I’m honored.” He couldn’t help but wonder what type of tattoo his father’s alcoholism might incite—and he hoped that was the only thing it incited. He’d kept this from Sky for so long that he’d thought of a million ways she might react, the worst of which was spiraling right back down a dark and lonely tunnel, as she had after their mother died.
“Come on. Let’s go hang out on the deck and talk.” Pete reached for her hand.
Sky jumped to her feet. “Come on, Joey. He sounds serious. I might need reinforcements.” She took Pete’s hand, and they headed down the sandy path toward the house. “Are you going to lecture me about finding my niche?”
“I wasn’t going to. Although, now that you bring it up…”
She bumped him with her shoulder as they stepped onto the deck. He watched her settle into a chair and gather her long hair over one shoulder. She sighed and stretched her arms out on the armrests.
“You are so lucky to live on the water.”
“Yeah. I am pretty lucky, I guess.” Every second that passed made it more difficult for Pete to begin explaining. He leaned forward in his chair and took her hand in his once again, hoping the connection would ease the blow of his words.
“Sky, I need to talk to you about Pop.”
She smiled. “He looks great. You should have seen his face when I walked in. He was so surprised. Totally worth the drive.”
“Good. I’m glad.”
“Pete. You look like you have something really bad to tell me. Your face has thatoh nolook.” She drew her eyebrows together and pinched her mouth into a tight line, mocking him. “Whatever it is, it can’t be worse than when you told me about Mom—” Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh no. Is Dad…?”
“No. No, Sky. Dad’s not dying.”Yet.
She let out a loud breath. “Oh, thank goodness. Then what is it?”
“This is really hard to say to you. I know how much you love Pop and that you look up to him.”
“Who wouldn’t? He runs his own business, he’s always in a good mood, he went to every one of my track meets and to my graduations, and he totally loved Mom with all his heart. Still loves her with all his heart.” She shrugged. “He’s the best father anyone could ever have.”
Pete looked down at his hands, then met her gaze with a serious one. “Sky, Pop has a drinking problem, and I’ve kept it from you, but it’s gotten out of hand.”
“Oh, please. He’s always had a few drinks, but that doesn’t mean he has a problem.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“I know it doesn’t, but the fact that he drinks himself into a stupor every night does.” He paused, letting his words sink in.
Sky’s brows drew together again; then they relaxed and a smile began to curve her lips. “Right,” she said tentatively. A second later her eyes filled with worry. “Wait. What? You aren’t kidding?”
“It’s true, Sky. It started right after Mom died, and it’s only gotten worse.”
“No. You have to be wrong.” She shook her head. “No way.”
“Sky—”
