Page 51 of Lovers at Seaside
“Last time I was here you said I didn’t learn, but I did.” Ignoring her heartache and focusing solely on making him proud, Parker said, “‘Control.’ I’m here against your wishes. ‘Confidence.’ I love you, Abe Stein. Your brother loved you. And I’m so glad I had a chance to get to know you.”
His fingers closed a little tighter around hers. “Good girl.”
Helga replaced the mask, and the room went silent again. Abe’s chin bobbed, and she removed the mask again.
“Lacroux.” The softness of Abe’s voice did nothing to lessen the force behind his words. This frail, bedridden man, hovering between life and death, possessed more authority per syllable than any man she knew.
Besides Grayson.
Grayson leaned closer, his eyes damp and his voice tender. “I’m here, sir.”
“You done good.” He inhaled a few jagged breaths. “You big fool.”
Parker laughed and cried, glad that what were sure to be some of Abe’s last breaths were happy ones.
Helga lowered the railing on the side of the bed so Parker could give him one last, long hug.
When Abe’s frail arms embraced her and he whispered, “I love you, too,” Parker shed more tears and silently thanked Bert for leaving her the letters. She’d never know if Bert had meant for her to visit Abe, but she had to believe this was meant to be. She silently prayed that Abe would pass without pain and with a feeling of peace. As she held him, she sent another thanks to the heavens above, for Grayson—his strength, his support, and his insurmountable love. Without Bert, she wouldn’t have come to Wellfleet, and without Grayson, she wouldn’t be holding Abe.
Maybe Sky was right and the universe really did know exactly what they needed.
Chapter Twenty
PARKER PADDED INTO the living room late in the afternoon, looking sleepy and sad with her tousled hair and puffy eyes, but when she saw Grayson, her lips curved into a grateful smile. Christmas was right behind her. The lovable pup had remained by her side since the minute she’d climbed into bed when they’d arrived home after visiting Abe. Grayson had lain with them until Parker had fallen asleep. Too restless to lie still, he’d come into the living room and called to check on Abe—and Helga. Over the last few days of calling to check on Abe, he’d learned that Helga had been in love with Abe for years, and he worried about her. He’d also phoned Sky, since she and Parker had become so close, and she must have filled everyone else in, because he’d heard from his father, Hunter, and Pete. Pete said Jenna and Sky were reaching out to the other girls.
Grayson held his cell phone to his ear, listening to Matt, who had called a few minutes ago, and wrapped his arm around Parker. He whispered, “Hey, sweetheart.” Into the phone he said, “Hey, Matt. I’ve got to go. Parker just got up. I appreciate the call.”
“I’m here if you need me,” Matt said. “Give Parker my condolences. Love you.”
“Will do. Love you, too.”
He set his phone on the counter beside the wooden box Helga had given them when they were leaving. She’d told Parker it contained Abe’s most treasured things, and he wanted her to have them. Parker hadn’t been up to looking inside it, but there was plenty of time for that.
“Matt sends his condolences.”
“You told him?”
“I told Sky, and I guess Sky told everyone. I’m sorry, she’s just—” He realized what Sky was doing and knew it would make her feel better. “She’s treating you like family. She worries, so she thinks everyone should.”
She tipped her chin up. “That’s nice.”
“Yeah, she’s pretty thoughtful.”
Christmas pushed between them, and Grayson petted him.
“Are you hungry?” Grayson asked, but Parker was moving from his arms, having spied the basket of goodies he’d prepared a few days earlier.
She sat on the couch rifling through the basket, fighting for space as Christmas nosed in beside her. “Peanutandpretzel M&M’s? Snickers? Twizzlers? Laffy Taffy?” Her mouth and eyes widened when she got to the bottom and found the movies. “Psycho, The Blair Witch Project, The Cabin in the Woods, The Ring.Grayson…”
“I wasn’t sure what flavor of horror you liked, but these seemed like your go-to remedies for sadness.”
She set the basket aside and went to him. “They were.”
“I didn’t get tequila.”
“I don’t need tequila, and honestly, I don’t need these things, either. I need you, Grayson. You’re my go-to remedy now.”
He hated to tell her the news about Abe, but Matt had reminded him that one of the hardest things for him to deal with when their mother passed was that he hadn’t received the message until two hours after the rest of the family knew. He’d been teaching a class, and his cell phone had been turned off. With that in mind, he sat down on the couch and brought Parker down beside him, holding her hands in his.
