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Frank gasped. “First lesson of Willow Cove: don’t ever disrespect the lobster roll. Better yet let’s stick with lobster in general.”
“I didn’t realize I needed to be schooled,” Lucas joked, but when he met Frank’s blue eyes in the mirror he knew he was far from joking.
“Second lesson. Have you seen Willow Cove?”
“We’re here aren’t we?” Lucas asked completely confused, wondering if maybe Frank was hitting the bottle before making his rounds.
“Not the town,” he scoffed. “The movie.”
Lucas had heard about it, and if he remembered correctly, it’d come out in the late nineties. “Can’t say I have,” he said.
“Stream it or whatever it is you youngsters do these days and watch it. That movie put us on the map. Some call it a cult classic, but we here in Willow Cove call it the best damn thing that ever happened to us.”
“I’ll put it on the list,” Lucas said, surprised he was actually considering it and not just saying that to appease Frank. “Anything else I should know?” he asked with genuine interest.
“One thing and probably the most important.”
Lucas met his eyes in the rearview mirror. “I’m listening.”
“If you happen to bump into a Moretti, it’s best to keep walking. You don’t want to get tangled in that mess.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Frank gave him a nod. Lucas doubted the whole feud was as bad as Frank was making it out to be. Just an old man with nothing better to do than spread gossip.
Lucas focused his attention out the window. The multi-colored shops gave way to front yards and driveways, leading to houses that overlooked the water. There was much he didn’t know but one thing he was definitely sure of was that he wasn’t in L.A. anymore.
He glanced down at his phone to check the time when he noticed a new text message. Expecting it to be his partner he opened it and was pleasantly surprised when it was Ella.
Good to know. Hope everything goes well with your grandfather.
A girl he met not even five hours ago showed more compassion in that time than either of his parents had his whole life. There was something about her that was special, and he was damn happy that he happened upon that bus.
He typed a response in his phone.
Well find out soon enough. Almost there.
He hit send, and a couple seconds later a new text appeared.
Fingers crossed.
He pictured her crossing her fingers, long hair blowing across her face, a big encouraging smile directed at him.
“Here we are,” Frank said, snapping Lucas out of his daydream. He took a deep breath, ready to finally meet face-to-face the grandfather he knew so little about. It had been years coming, and while he wished he could find a way to recover all the lost years, he was grateful for what was ahead of them.
Lucas reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He grabbed a twenty and held it out to Frank, but Frank waved his hand in refusal. “First ride is on me.”
“I couldn’t,” Lucas said with a shake of his head. “Please. You came so far out of your way.” He held the twenty over the seat and closer to Frank.
Frank didn’t budge, throwing a glance over his shoulder. “You can and you will. Just make sure to use me in the future, and it’ll be worth my while.”
Reluctantly, Lucas shoved the twenty back into his wallet. “You got a deal.” Lucas shook Frank’s hand and slid out of the backseat. Frank popped the trunk and once Lucas had all his belongings, he tapped the roof of the bright orange cab.
Frank gave a beep as he drove off down the road. Lucas turned to the house—a large brown Victorian with white accents and a wraparound porch. Entirely too big for one man.
There were two rocking chairs to the right side of the porch, and Lucas wondered if his grandfather ever sat in them and with whom. For all he knew, he was all alone out here with no family to rely on.
Not anymore. Lucas was going to change that. There was no reason for him to be alone in the world anymore. His dad had tried to keep them apart but he’d failed, and Lucas found satisfaction in standing here, knowing if his dad ever knew he’d probably flip a gasket.
