Page 79 of The Lighthouse at the Cove
People around them turned to stare.
Reid shushed Piper and pulled her into his arms. “Listen to the mayor, okay?” Then he met Kaiah’s eyes. “Sorry I’m late,” he whispered. “We had to take care of a few things before we came out here.”
“I’m just glad—” she began, but her words were cut off when the lighthouse suddenly lit up with thousands of white lights.
Then the lamp atop the black-and-white frame suddenly burst with light, and in an instant, the historic structure was brought back to life.
Kaiah gasped as the crowd erupted into a chorus of applause. She couldn’t believe what a majestic sight it was, watching the light sail miles into the ocean, cutting through the darkness. She could only imagine how those sailors must have felt that night with nothing to guide them but the light from this very structure.
Reid’s strong hand massaged Kaiah’s shoulder. “We did it, Ky,” he whispered in her ear. Would hearing his deep voice say her namealwayssend a zip of heat racing through her body? She hoped so.
She took in his dark eyes. “Yes, we did, Reid. Yes, we did.”
“And now I’d like to declare the Light the Dark Festival officially open,” Mayor Whittington called into the microphone. “Let’s celebrate Coral Cove!”
Just then awhooshof color sailed into the air and was followed by a crackingboom. Kaiah jumped and then laughed at herself as fireworks exploded in the sky. Reid pulled her against his side as Piper’s hands flew to her face, her mouth agape as she watched fireworks of red and blue, green and purple fill the sky and reflect on the water.
“Oh!” Piper exclaimed as more fireworks flared. “Look at that one! And that one! Ohwow!”
Kaiah’s eyes found Reid as he whispered to his daughter, who balanced in his arms. He was so dashing with his dark eyes reflecting the sparkling light. She wrapped her arm around his trim waist, leaning her head on his shoulder and wishing the moment could last forever.
All too soon, the grand finale filled the black canvas with hundreds of colored lights streaking and exploding in the air, causing everyone on the shore to gasp with delight. When the colors faded away and smoke and silence were all that was left, they all clapped and cheered—especially Piper and Astrid.
Kaiah stepped away from Reid. The fireworks had come to a close too quickly. She pulled out her camera and captured the lighthouse, lit up in all its glory against the dark sky.
A local band had set up on the stage during the fireworks show and now began the twangy opening chords of “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” by Brooks & Dunn. The crowd instantly gravitated toward the honky-tonk tune, and a few couples began to break into a line dance. Others moved toward the shops, pulling out their wallets as they perused the wares.
The Light the Dark Festival was officially open for business.
“Do you want to get some popcorn or ice cream?” Reid’s father, Blake, asked the girls, and they both responded with happy cheers. “Let’s go,” he said.
Becca reached for Piper. “Come with me, Piper,” she told her niece.
Reid set Piper down, and Becca took her hand. “Have fun.”
Kaiah watched Becca head for the market with her parents and the girls while the enticing scents of hot coffee, fresh waffle cones, and creamy red velvet funnel cakes wafted over her.
Reid took her arm and led her toward the fence that lined the path to the lighthouse. She studied the beautiful structure, admiring how it stood against the clear, dark sky speckled with bright stars.
“Did you know the lighthouse lamp had been repaired?” she asked Reid.
He shrugged, but Kaiah saw his lips twitch ever so slightly.
She swatted his muscular bicep. “You goof! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It was a surprise.” He rested his arm on her shoulder and craned his neck to take in his handiwork. “What do you think?”
She lifted her fingertips to the side of his face and gently pulled until his gaze met hers. “It’s perfect. Everything is. Did you call in a favor to get the weather cleared up?”
His eyes held a mischievous glint. “I may have folded my hands and put in a request or two. However it happened, I’m just thankful we’re blessed with this incredible weather tonight. We’ll worry about the weather for the beach cleanup and the picnic tomorrow. Maybe I’ll submit a couple more requests.”
They leaned against the fence and glanced over at the marketplace, which was bustling with activity while the band continued to play.
“Thank you,” he told her, looping his arm around her shoulder.
She looked up at him, searching his face. “You keep saying that, but I really didn’t do anything.”
He chuckled. “Right.” Then he pointed to the market. “You just made this happen. That’s all.”
