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“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. It was years ago. But this place, I know it’s just a beach, and a lighthouse but it reminds me of her so much. In the winter we’d walk along this strip of beach, bundled up from head to toe because she believed a little fresh air, no matter how cold it was, was good for the soul. In the spring, she’d get takeout from the restaurant and bring the whole family here to have dinner and watch the sunset. In the summer this is where we came to swim and spend the day in the sun. And the fall, we’d always come to see the harvest moon takeover the sky and rise above the lighthouse. It’s silly, but coming here makes me feel like I’m keeping the tradition and her memory alive.”
It was far from silly, and he was sad that she thought it was. It was nice to honor her mother’s memory. “It’s not silly,” he said.
She met his gaze, warm dark brown eyes full of gratitude. “Thanks.”
He was beginning to arrange the puzzle pieces together that made up Ella Moretti, but he still had a few missing links. “Is that why you live with your grandfather?” he asked.
She took a deep breath and stared out to the water. “I didn’t move in with him until five years later when my dad got arrested for dealing drugs. And that is my story.”
He wasn’t expecting that, and the way she blurted it out was as if she wanted to get it out of the way. As if she’d been living with the stigma her whole life and she just wanted to move past it. Living in such a small town everyone probably knew. It was a badge she didn’t earn but had to wear anyway.
Suddenly, he remembered what his grandfather had said to Vinny earlier. Embarrassed for his careless words, Lucas felt the need to try and make amends.
“I’m sorry about my grandfather calling you—”
She waved her hand. “It’s okay. When you have a dad in jail it kind of comes with the territory. Besides, it’s nothing worse than what the kids in school would say.”
“Kids can be cruel,” he said.
“Lucky for me most of them moved away right after graduation.”
“Do you still talk to him?” he asked. “Your dad I mean.”
“Every third Friday of the month.”
Lucas stopped for a moment as realization dawned on him. “That’s why you were on the bus. You were coming home from seeing him.”
She nodded. “The bus ride home is usually pretty miserable but not this last time.”
“Really?” he said with a stupid grin. “And why was that?”
“I conned some poor unsuspecting soul out of his black jelly beans.”
He laughed. “If I remember correctly, there was no conning. I was happy to share.”
“So you think.” Her long eyelashes fluttered, brushing against the apples of her cheeks.
“Next time I’ll be more careful then.”
They continued walking until they came upon a red and black plaid blanket spread out on the sand. Ella didn’t hesitate, sitting down on the plaid square, resting her arms on her legs and holding her coffee in front of her.
“Is this a small-town thing?” he asked, motioning to the blanket. “You sit on other people’s blankets?”
She smiled. “It’s my blanket. I got here a little before you and laid it out for us.”
“Setting the mood?” he asked with a wink.
“Shut up and sit down.” She laughed and patted the spot next to her.
He did exactly as she said. She pulled out her phone and glanced at it before pushing it back into her hoodie pocket.
“Almost time,” she said, staring out to the water.
“Almost time for what?”
“Sunset. I don’t know how your sunsets are in California, but here in Maine, there’s nothing prettier.”
