—Local news post shared to Wayward Harbor Online Community Group
Lucy had gotten in the habit of stopping at the Scuttlebutt before work to top up on caffeine and some baked goods, but mostly to visit with Willow.
She missed having somebody to chat with. Over the last couple of weeks since starting at the Keel, she hadn’t gotten to see much of Nick. Most days he’d already left for work when she got up, and he went to bed about an hour after she got home. Even if he showed up at the bar for supper, it was different talking while people were looking at them.
Today was Tuesday, so Lucy had the day off. But she’d still driven into town just to have the company of a friend. And when Willow was busy with a customer, brewing more coffee or checking on things back in the kitchen, she would pull her notebook out of her tote and work on ideas for fun cocktails and shots.
Movement beyond the glass snagged her attention—a tall woman with curly red hair pulled back into a loose ponytail.
For a second, Lucy thought she’d caught her own reflection in the window at a weird angle, but then the reflection turned and looked over her shoulder, and she realized it was a woman on the sidewalk. And Lucy would have bet the cranberry orange scone sitting in front of her that this was the woman people kept confusing her with.
When the door opened and the woman stepped in, Lucy looked down at her notebook, though she watched the woman in her peripheral vision. They really did look a lot alike, though the other woman was a few years older and her hair was a more subtle shade of red.
She listened to Willow taking her order—just a coffee—and was about to take a bite of her scone when the woman walked directly to where she was sitting.
“You’re Iris Macauley’s daughter, right?”
“Yes. Helen’s granddaughter.” Lucy tried to keep her voice light, but the Iris thing was getting old.
Though, itwasbetter than the Fairee thing, she had to admit.
“I’m Taylor Perkins.”
“I’m guessing you’re the woman people keep mistaking me for.”
Taylor smiled, but her lips were tight and the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “My hair’s a little darker than yours, but it’s hard to miss, I guess. Do you mind if I sit with you for a minute?”
Lucy wasn’t getting the friendly extrovert who wanted to make a new friend vibe, but she nodded and tucked her notebook away in her bag. Taylor set her coffee and napkin down on the table before pulling out a chair. Her body was stiff, and she immediately started smoothing the napkin as though trying to decide what to say.
“How old are you?” she blurted out.
Lucy sat up straight, frowning. It was kind of a personal question, even for a getting-to-know-you conversation, but especially asked in such an abrupt way. “I’ll be thirty in three weeks.”
Taylor nodded, and then inhaled sharply as if steeling herself to do something unpleasant. “And who’s your father?”
Oh no. No, no, no.“I don’t know. He’s not on my birth certificate, and my mother doesnottalk about it.”
“I’m sorry.” She picked up the napkin, twisting it nervously. “This is so awkward.”
“It’s been awkward for a bit now, so we may as well keep going,” Lucy said, because she needed to know exactly what Taylor was fishing for.
“I remember, when I was four or five, my parents fought a lot. I know it’s normal for most parents to argue, but not mine. They were really quiet people. And these werebadfights. I don’t know if they actually split up for a while, but I do remember my dad not being around a lot and my mom crying.”
Lucy’s skin prickled, and her fingers tightened around the handle of her coffee mug. She knew she should say something because Taylor was obviously struggling to come up with the next step in the conversation, but she couldn’t find words that made sense.
Does my father live here in Wayward Harbor?
Does Helen know?
Does Nick know?
“My dad passed away about five years ago, from a heart attack,” Taylor said softly.
Emotions flashed through Lucy’s mind.
Mourning a man she’d never met. Sorrow for Taylor. Anger at Iris. At the man who might have been her father and didn’t claim her. At Helen, if she knew and kept it from her. Loss.
So much loss.
