Page 17 of The Lighthouse at the Cove
Reid’s smile was sheepish—and adorable. “Hope we didn’t wake you.”
“Nope. I’ve been up since seven.” She leaned on the doorframe. “What’s up?”
“Do you like pancakes?” Piper asked, her expression hopeful.
Kaiah bent and touched Piper’s button nose. “I do. How about you?”
“Yeah.” Piper clapped. “Did you have breakfast?”
Kaiah held up the empty wrapper. “Only if you count a smushed granola bar.”
“Me and Daddy want to make you pancakes.” Piper grabbed Kaiah’s hand. “Let’s go!”
Kaiah slipped the wrapper into the pocket of her jeans. “I’m ready.” She allowed Piper to steer her down the steps and into the house, where Ariel lounged on the back of the sofa, snoring loudly.
“Hey, Piper,” Kaiah whispered, tapping the little girl’s shoulder. “Your cat snores.”
Piper cackled. “Sometimes she wakes herself up because she snores so loud.”
Kaiah shared a grin with Reid.
“Can I see a picture of George?” Piper asked when they reached the kitchen.
Kaiah unlocked her phone and scrolled to the last photo she’d taken of George, sitting on her deck smiling in a sunbeam. She felt a boulder drop into the pit of her stomach as she took in the photo of her best buddy.
“He’s a beautiful golden retriever,” Reid said, standing over her shoulder.
Piper pulled the phone closer to her. “He looks nice. I think he’d be best friends with Ariel.”
“He likes cats,” Kaiah said. “But most cats don’t care for him.” She set her phone on the counter. “How can I help with breakfast?”
Reid found the pancake mix while Kaiah started a pot of coffee. Her stomach was rumbling a few minutes later as the rich aroma of coffee mingled with the pancakes sizzling on the stove. Reid plated the pancakes, and the three of them sat at the table and smothered their breakfast in butter and syrup. Piper kept Kaiah and Reid in stitches while she shared stories about school.
After they finished eating, Piper jumped from the table. “I need to show you the story I wrote in school last week,” she exclaimed before racing out of the kitchen.
“I wish I could bottle that energy,” Reid said. “Want more coffee?”
Kaiah shook her head and then stacked their plates. “No, thanks. Everything was delicious.” She carried the plates to the sink, where she began rinsing them off. “I feel bad that you’re feeding me again. Maybe I can buy you lunch or something.” When Reid remained silent, she craned her neck over her shoulder. He sat in his chair stone-faced, and his reticence sent heat surging to her cheeks. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No, no.” He gathered up their coffee mugs. “I was just wondering...” He paused again. “Do you have plans today?”
“I don’t have a car, so nope, no plans.”
“Would you like a tour of Coral Cove?”
Piper slid through the doorway. “Are we taking Miss Kaiah out?”
Reid kept his focus on Kaiah. “Are we?”
Kaiah smiled. “Yep. I think I’d like that.”
“What do you think of Coral Cove?” Reid asked Kaiah. He was holding his daughter’s hand as the three of them meandered down the boardwalk that afternoon.
The sky above them stretched across in a soft blue, and seagulls called to one another while the waves crashed against the shore. Clusters of sunbathers scattered along the shore. Young families walked together along the water’s edge, and teenagers played volleyball in the sand. In the distance, fishing boats bobbed in the water while sailboats glided along, their colorful sails flapping in the breeze.
Reid couldn’t have asked for a better day to show Kaiah around town. Earlier that morning, they had jumped into his Suburban, and he gave her a windshield tour of the surrounding neighborhood before they parked on Main Street. They visited several stores before Kaiah insisted on buying lunch for them at Frank’s Seafood Grill. He wasn’t surprised to find that he was enjoying this day with Kaiah even more than the last. Their conversation effortlessly ebbed and flowed, and her genuine delight in his daughter’s endless anecdotes warmed his heart.
Kaiah tented a hand over her eyes while she watched the waves. “As a travel reporter, I’m surprised I’ve never heard of this place. It’s breathtaking here,” she said. “I feel so at home, you know? It doesn’t feel touristy. And the food was delicious—probably some of the best shrimp I’ve ever had.” She turned toward him. “It reminds me of the beach towns we visited in New England when I was a kid. Those were some of my best memories of my mom. And you know what? Those trips inspired me to travel the world and write stories about the places I visited and people I met.”
