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“She is, though she’s struggled to write the last few weeks.”
Because of him. Pain knifed through his chest. It shouldn’t be this way. Instead of being an asset, he was a liability. “Hopefully, I can change that. Is she out there or at the beach?”
“She’s in California through sometime Friday. They wanted her there for the announcement and some promotional events.”
“Do you know where she’s staying?” Megan asked.
“Are you, uh, planning to go see her?” Piper gave a hopeful smile.
“Yes!” Megan answered before he could.
“I am. Break time is over.”
“They put her up in some fancy hotel. I can ask which one.”
“Do you know where she’s staying at Kiawah?” That seemed a better option to Graham.
“I sure do. I’ve been there a bunch of times.”
“It has to be a romantic reunion. Don’t you agree?” Megan remained intent on scripting the reunion.
“What can I do to help?” Piper leaned closer to the screen.
ChapterForty-Six
Graham couldn’t seethe ocean, but he could smell it and faintly hear the waves crashing against the shore in the distance. His heart pounded almost as loudly as the surf as he climbed the steps to the condo building where Erin was renting. He approached the door with Megan behind him. Reece, Alex, and Jace stayed out of sight below.
“Hold on. Let me get ready to film,” Megan said lowly. “Move to the left a little so I can see her face. Perfect.”
He switched the bouquet of red roses to the other hand and knocked soundly on the front door. His heart raced as he waited. And waited. There was no doorbell, so he knocked again. And waited. “She’s not here,” he conceded. The flight Piper told him Erin would be on from California had arrived a little before midnight last night, and her car was here.
“I’m calling Piper.” Megan initiated the call, though he wasn’t sure how Piper could help from Spain. “We’re all here at the condo. We knocked, but your mom’s not answering.”
“After a week in California, she probably hit the beach.”
“It’s not raining now, but it was on our way down here, and it’s still cloudy.”
“That won’t stop her unless it’s lightning or a hurricane. Though she could be sleeping or on a bike ride. I’ll call her now and text you to confirm. I like the idea of surprising her on the beach better, anyway. Don’t forget, I want a video.”
“We gotcha. It might be from a distance, but Alex and I will both get this on film.”
Was there a chance Erin was inside and didn’t want to see him? He should have contacted her to tell her he was back and wanted to see her instead of trying to surprise her. Too late now. They were committed to seeing this through.
Piper informed them which boardwalk Erin would take to and from the condo to the beach before hanging up.
“She’s walking on the beach,” Megan read the text aloud a minute later. “Everyone put on your camouflage.”
The girls and men pulled camouflage jackets over their shirts. Graham thought it was overkill but knew better than to buck his daughter’s order. She wanted a show. While it wasn’t as spectacular or involve the logistics of timing a Black Hawk to fly over pulling a banner—one of the over-the-top ideas Megan and Alex advocated for—he’d planned a meaningful way to surprise Erin.
“Erin’s wearing a blue rain jacket, and she’s near the Sanctuary hotel now,” Megan read the text.
Reece looked at the map they’d gotten at the security gate. “Here we are, and here’s the hotel. The map shows a couple of boardwalks on a street just past the hotel. We’ll drop Dad at the middle boardwalk. Megan and I’ll take the south position. Alex and Jace take the north boardwalk.”
Jace handed one set of binoculars to Graham and another pair to Megan.
“Hurry up, people,” Megan ordered. “Search and rescue time.”
Though no one’s life was in danger, his future depended on this mission’s outcome.
