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“Well, I should probably get going,” he said. Luke wanted to kiss her again, but thought it might be a little strange in front of Lisa. He’d have to wait until next time. “I’ll call you tomorrow. Or later today, technically.”
“Sounds like a plan. Good night Luke.”
“Goodnight Emma.”
Luke stepped off the porch and walked toward his car. “Thanks again for everything, Lisa,” he called out as he waved goodbye. “You’re a lifesaver.”
“It’s no big deal,” Lisa said, brushing off his comment. “I’m game to watch Riley anytime.”
As Luke drove home, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment wash over him. The night had been magical, and he couldn’t remember the last time he had felt so alive. It was only after moving down to Hadley Cove and cutting back on work that he had truly started living again.
Gazing out at the starry sky above, Luke knew that life was full of surprises. Who would have thought that he would find himself in this small town, surrounded by such wonderful people? It was a reminder that sometimes, the best things in life came when you least expected them.
As he pulled into his driveway, Luke couldn’t help but smile at the memory of Emma’s laughter ringing in his ears. He knew that he would see her again soon, and he couldn’t wait for their next adventure together. Life was good, and he was grateful for every moment of it.
Luke entered the house with a slow, measured pace, carefully placing each step on the balls of his feet so as not to wake Jeremiah. After hanging up his keys, he ascended the stairs.
Jeremiah opened the door and peeked out, rubbing his eyes. “You’re home late,” he mumbled.
Luke put on his poker face. “Yeah, I had a lot of fun catching up with old friends. Hope I didn’t wake you.”
“No, I was just getting ready for bed when I heard you.” Jeremiah let out a deep, prolonged yawn.
“Well, you better get some rest. You got school early in the morning. I’ll see you then. Goodnight Son.”
“Yeah, I know. Good night Dad.” Jeremiah said, closing the door.
As Luke settled into his bed, he couldn’t shake the guilt of keeping a secret from Jeremiah. He knew he needed to tell his son about Emma, but he didn’t want to disrupt their newfound stability.
He had no idea how to even start that conversation with Jeremiah, so he reached for his phone and Google searched for some advice, as he had several times before. Maybe this time, he’d discover something new. The articles he read were a mixed bag, but the one common thread among them was the importance of honesty and communication.
Luke decided he would sit down and tell Jeremiah this weekend. His stomach knotted with anxiety at the idea of doing so, but he knew he owed his son the truth. Truth is love, he thought to himself.
Luke reached over to the nightstand to plug his phone into the charger, the soft click of the charger echoing in the silence of the room. Rolling onto his back, he stared up at the ceiling, his mind wandering.
Memories of Kate flooded his mind, as they often did. He missed her terribly, and the pain of her loss never seemed to fade. Luke had never been particularly religious, but after her diagnosis he found himself searching for answers in prayer. Yet, every time he tried, he felt as if his prayers were falling on deaf ears. But after Kate’s passing, he stopped praying altogether. He couldn’t help but ask himself why bad things happened to good people. It was a question that plagued him constantly.
And now, Luke found himself in another difficult situation with his son. He knew that the conversation with Jeremiah could make or break the future of their mending relationship and his happiness with Emma. Kate always had a way with Jeremiah that he realized he didn’t possess, and couldn’t blame anyone but himself for that.
But as he lay in bed, the weight of the situation felt heavier than ever. So, with a deep breath, he closed his eyes and tried once again, whispering a prayer to God.
“Please help me with my son.”
It was a simple plea, but he hoped that somehow, someway, things would work out for the best.
Chapter 29
Emma
Emma’s eyelids drooped as she stood up from her desk and walked through the classroom, monitoring her students’ progress on the practice test she had assigned. After last night’s exhilarating celebration of her birthday with Luke, she had barely slept. She returned to her desk and took a sip of her coffee.
“Okay, everyone, pencils down and bring your tests to the front. I’ll get them back to you tomorrow. Have a great rest of your day!” she called out.
The students, Jeremiah included, gathered up their belongings and turned in their practice tests on the way out of the classroom. Although after school study sessions were not mandatory, she had hinted to anyone who showed up would receive extra credit in class. She just didn’t realize how popular the sessions would become; she only had eight students today, but last week she’d had double that number.
Emma gathered her belongings and switched off the lights as the classroom emptied. As she walked down the hallway, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She smiled as she checked Luke’s message, asking about her day. She quickly responded, inviting him over to her place that evening. He replied within seconds, promising to stop by.
She beamed with excitement, envisioning the two of them walking on the beach and dining on her deck with the ocean in view.
