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“He didn’t mean it, you know. He’s still hurting from losing his mom.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Luke told her.
“I work as a substitute teacher at the high school. I’ve seen kids his age throw tantrums and say all sorts of things they don’t mean, just because they don’t know how to manage their emotions.”
Luke sighed. “I’m not really sure what to do anymore. I feel like I’ve tried all the advice from the ‘experts’ online and even got professional help. We tried therapy, and even though I still go, I can’t get Jeremiah to go back with or without me. And we moved down here for a new start, but I’m not sure if it only made things worse. I feel lost up the creek without a paddle.”
“I think the best thing you can do right now is to just be patient and understanding with him. He’ll come around on his own time.”
“Thanks,” Luke told her. “It’s nice to hear there’s light at the end of the tunnel.”
“There usually is.” Emma walked over and opened her door. “I’ll see you around.”
“I guess you will. It is a small town, after all.”
Emma got in her car and drove off, watching Luke walk back into the house in her rearview mirror. She found comfort in knowing someone like Luke had moved in to the house. He would take good care of it, she thought. After all, he took good care of Riley when he didn’t have to. He was handsome, kind, and had a heart for animals. Emma couldn’t help but wonder if she really would run into him again. A part of her felt guilty for wanting to, although Chad had left her.
After pulling into her driveway, she turned to look at Riley in the backseat. “Riley, you gave your momma a big scare. I’m never letting you out of my sight again.” He tilted his head, gazing at her, before letting out a bark.
“Okay, Okay, we can go inside.”
As she closed the front door and walked into the cottage, she thought about the prayer she had said a week ago while she was searching frantically for Riley. Maybe second chances do exist.
Chapter 10
Luke
Jeremiah stayed in his room for the rest of the day and night, only emerging to use the bathroom occasionally. At around 8:00 pm, Luke put a tray of food outside the door and went his room, exhausted from a long day of unpacking and organizing their new house. He grabbed a book off his nightstand and creaked open its pages before settling against the pillows. As he turned each page, he struggled against the drowsiness, but eventually his eyes grew heavy and he drifted off to sleep with the book still lying on his chest.
The following day, he woke up early to prepare breakfast, hoping that the aroma of freshly cooked pancakes would entice Jeremiah to come downstairs. To Luke’s delight, it worked, but only long enough for Jeremiah to fix himself a plate, pour a cup of juice, and retreat back to his room. Regardless, Luke thought it was progress as he trailed behind Jeremiah out of the kitchen.
“Hey, I think I’m going to get a haircut. Do you want to come with me?”
Jeremiah shook his head. “No. I don’t need a haircut.”
“Well, do you want anything while I’m out? Anything I can pick up at the market? Or at the diner?”
“No.” Jeremiah continued up the stairs without looking back.
“Okay,” Luke said. “I should be back in a couple of hours. Text me if you need anything.”
He waited for a response from Jeremiah, listening for any signs of movement from his son’s room. He heard the latch of Jeremiah’s door click shut, and his footsteps gradually faded away.
Luke let out a deep sigh, and his mind filled with thoughts of what could go wrong in his absence. He finished his coffee in one desperate gulp, hoping the caffeine would calm his frayed nerves, but the knot of worry in his stomach remained.
As Luke drove away, he couldn’t shake off the images of Jeremiah getting into trouble or making impulsive decisions. Jeremiah was going through a tough time, grappling with the loss of his mother and the challenges of adolescence all at once. It was a heavy burden for any young man to bear, and Luke felt the weight of it as a father. The world was a complicated place, and Luke knew that Jeremiah was vulnerable to its pitfalls, especially in his absence. His protective instincts were on high alert, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease and apprehension.
Upon turning onto Main Street, Luke’s attention was drawn to the bustling activity of the townspeople, moving in an almost constant stream. After circling around the block a few times, he finally found a parking space in front of the salon. He stood in line for almost an hour, just to get a trim that took all of twenty minutes. But the hairdresser did a good job, and under her careful, practiced hand he felt his hair fall away from his face. Now that his shaggy hair was gone, he started to feel human again.
After leaving the salon, he looked up and down the street, spotting the beach all the way on the other end. The air smelled like freshly watered flowers paired with the subtle scent of the salty sea breeze. He had lived in Hadley Cove for over a week now, and still hadn’t actually set foot on the beach. Putting his car keys back in his pocket, he turned and headed toward the stretch of sand, crossing the road on the way.
As Luke arrived at the entrance, he took off his shoes and felt the warm sand beneath his feet. Inhaling deeply, he fixed his gaze on the ocean waves lapping against the shore and could hear the rustle of the palm fronds in the breeze. He savored the opportunity to appreciate the moment without any hurry. There hadn’t been much time for him to do so back in Chicago.
Despite the number of people out and about today, he noticed there was hardly anyone at the beach, except for a young family playing in the water nearby where he stood. He remembered when he and Kate used to take Jeremiah to the lake in the summer. Jeremiah loved swimming with Luke, while Kate would stand on the dock and take pictures. He made a mental note to look for those photos, thinking it would be a good idea to frame some and put them around the house. It might remind Jeremiah of the fun times they had together.
At that moment, Luke heard barking to his right. He turned and was pleasantly surprised by the sight of Riley and Emma walking down the beach toward him. It was good to see her again, but he wondered if he should feel guilty about feeling that way, since it had only been a year since Kate’s passing.
“Hello again,” Emma said.
