Page 53 of The Lighthouse at the Cove
Ten thousand likes?
When she clicked on the Coral Cove hashtag used byThe Traveler’s social team, she found that her article had been posted on other news feeds. It was starting to go viral!
“Go, little article, go,” she whispered. She peeked at the names of the people who likedThe Traveler’s post,and when a familiar name caught her eye she groaned.
“Oh no,” she muttered. “This cannot be real.”
On closer inspection she realized she’d read the name right.
Hayes Walker had liked the post.
Her ex-boyfriend. The man who had destroyed her heart and her faith in love. The jerk who had taken George away.
She clenched her jaw. The sooner she forgot about him, the better. And he needed to leave her alone.
Her phone began to ring, and she was grateful to see her sister’s name on the display.
“Hey, Kam,” she said.
“Hey, sis! I haven’t heard from you in a couple of days. Whatcha been up to? Anything new with Mr. TDH?”
Kaiah hugged her knees to her chest. “He’s fine. We’ve been busy planning the festival. It’s really coming together.” She summarized their last few days, all the events they’d coordinated for the big event, even the icing fight she’d just had in the kitchen with her two favorite bakers.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Kam said. “Let me get this straight. You just made cookies tonight with a widower and his six-year-old. And you had a food fight? With icing?”
“That’s right.”
“Wow. You guys are one big happy family now, huh?”
Kaiah’s cheeks reddened. “Um, I wouldn’t call it that. It wasn’t— I mean, I’m not trying to be—”
“Hey, relax. I think it’s really nice you guys have kinda bonded while you’re there. That’s all.”
While you’re there.The words echoed in Kaiah’s mind. “Yep, it’s been fun to be here.” She moved her hands over the dark blue microfiber blanket, determined to switch topics. “So how are things with you and Devon?”
“Good. Busy.” She paused for a moment. “And you’ll never guess who called me today.”
“Who?”
“Dad.”
“Wow, really?” She pressed her lips together. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d spoken to her dad and Veronica. Maybe Christmas?
A familiar ache radiated in her chest. She longed for the family she’d had before they’d lost Mom. Maybe she could find that kind of family again someday. But after her breakup with Hayes, she’d lost hope. On the other side of love was heartache, no matter what. So why even bother?
“Yeah, I was surprised too,” Kam replied. “It’s still weird to me that we live in the same state yet only talk to each other a couple times a year. Whatever. He said he was thinking of me. He even put Veronica on the phone.”
“And how are they doing?”
“Fine. He talked about the grandkids and how Veronica is going to be a grandmother again. Stuff like that.”
“That’s nice.” Kaiah yawned. “Sorry, Kam, you’re not boring me. I didn’t get much sleep last night. I was up all night writing. My new article is posted onThe Travelerwebsite and the local newspaper here. It’s getting tons of likes and shares on social.”
“That’s amazing, Ky! You need to send me the link.”
“I will.” She hesitated. “Oh, and do me a favor, sis. Don’t text and ask about Mr. TDH. I think Reid saw your text on my phone the other day. It wasmortifying.”
Kam laughed. “Did he ask you about it?”
