Forever, With You

“Yes,” she said. “Yes, I’d like that a lot.”

CHAPTER TWO

The main street was lined with people, some waving flags, others holding balloons. As with most national holiday events, Sunset Harbor was going all out to celebrate Labor Day. The town was decorated beautifully, with bunting and lights strung between lampposts and trees, streamers tied to fences, and a small carnival.

As they walked along the busy streets, Emily held on tightly to Chantelle’s hand, sensing that the little girl was overwhelmed. But every time she looked down there was a grin on Chantelle’s face. It filled Emily’s heart with joy to know she was happy. But it also filled her with much more; a sense of peace, of contentment. She’d wanted children of her own for a while, but she hadn’t realized quite how much enjoyment she’d really get from spending time with Chantelle.

Emily couldn’t help but notice that Daniel, on the other hand, seemed tense. In the busy crowds he seemed on edge, like a hawk sensing danger on every street corner. He’d certainly taken naturally to his role of protector, but he seemed to be lacking somewhat on the bonding front. Emily hoped it was just teething problems, that he would relax as time went on and learn to enjoy parenthood as much as she was. He needed to learn how to be a dad, not just a father.

Through the crowds Emily spotted her Sunset Harbor friend Cynthia Jones from the bookstore. As always, Cynthia had dressed up for the occasion in a sparkly blue skirt, sparkly red shirt, and sparkly white cowboy hat. The whole ensemble clashed horribly with her dyed orange hair.

Seeing Cynthia made Emily feel anguished for the first time in a while. Just a few weeks ago she’d called on the older woman for advice after she and Daniel had discovered that Chantelle existed. Now here she was walking down the road hand in hand with Daniel and his surprise kid, acting like a happy family. Emily couldn’t help but fear her judgment.

But when Cynthia caught sight of them all, she grinned widely and waved. Emily could see approval in her eyes.

“Chantelle, let me introduce you to a friend of mine,” Emily said.

She and Daniel took Chantelle over to where Cynthia was standing. The older woman embraced Emily immediately.

“I knew it would all work out in the end,” she whispered into Emily’s ear as she hugged her tightly.

Emily squeezed back. Cynthia had given her so much support and friendship since she’d arrived in Sunset Harbor eight months ago, and she felt a rush of gratitude in that moment.

“This is Chantelle,” Emily said finally after their embrace ceased.

Cynthia knelt down so she was eye level with the little girl. “I’m so happy to meet you, Chantelle. I think you’re going to really enjoy Sunset Harbor.”

Chantelle became shy and clung to Emily’s leg. Emily couldn’t help herself from stroking the girl’s soft blond hair, feeling an overwhelming maternal sensation inside of her. Again she was struck by how quickly and instantaneous her love for Chantelle was. And she noted how the feeling seemed to be mutual. Chantelle had gone from clinging to Daniel last night to clinging to Emily this afternoon.

Just then a young, thin man with tousled mousy hair approached them.

“Owen,” Cynthia said to him, “you remember Emily, don’t you? From the B&B?”

“Of course,” Emily said, holding her hand out to shake. “You came to tune my piano.”

Owen nodded in agreement. He seemed like a shy man. “How is everything going there now? If I recall, you were in some kind of hurry to get everything fixed up.”

“I was,” Emily replied. “Fixing up twenty rooms in twenty-four hours is not an experience I want to repeat any time soon! But thank you for your help tuning the piano. It sounds fantastic now.”

Owen smiled. “I’m glad to hear it. It was actually quite a pleasure working on an antique piano like that. I’d love to get the opportunity to play it again some day.”

“You’re welcome to come anytime,” Emily said. “Having a resident piano player in the B&B is a future goal of mine. I just don’t have the money at the moment to pay for it.”

“Well,” Owen said, smiling his kind, shy smile, “how about I come and play for free? The exposure would be very useful for me and you’d be doing me a favor.”

Emily was thrilled. “That would be fantastic!”

They exchanged phone numbers and she waved goodbye to Owen. Emily was delighted to have a piano player for the inn.

“Come on, Chantelle,” Emily said, buoyed by her meeting with Owen. “Let’s go to the carnival.”

Taking the lead of the family, Emily directed them to the tents where there were traditional games, a coconut shy, and a shooting range.

“Why don’t you see if you can win Chantelle a toy?” Emily suggested to Daniel.

He gave a sort of lost, helpless look, almost as though he were embarrassed that he hadn’t thought of doing that himself.

“Sure,” he said, smiling in a somewhat forced way. “Just watch this.”

Emily patted Chantelle’s shoulders as they watched Daniel pay the man at the booth and take aim with the pellet gun. Then with three perfect shots he hit the target. Chantelle jumped up and down and started clapping.

“Go on,” Emily encouraged her. “Go and choose a prize.”

Chantelle rushed over to the booth and chose the biggest fluffy teddy bear.

“Why don’t you thank Daddy?” Emily prompted.

Chantelle hugged the bear tightly and looked shyly at her feet as she mumbled her gratitude. Daniel’s tense expression returned. Emily reached out and squeezed his arm reassuringly, as if to tell him he was doing fine. She made a mental note to reinforce Daniel as often as possible, to reward him and comfort him; he was clearly struggling.

Just then they bumped into Serena.

“Oh my God!” Serena cried as she looked from Chantelle to Daniel to Emily. “This is… SO awesome.”

Emily hadn’t had a chance to tell anyone about Daniel’s return, let alone about the fact that he’d brought Chantelle with him. Serena had been one of the people who’d been there for Emily, supporting her through those tough weeks when Daniel had been AWOL. She knew it meant a lot to her young friend to see them all together, happy and united.

Serena bent down to talk to Chantelle. She had such a natural ability to connect with people that Emily could see Chantelle instantly warm to her.

“You know, they sell rainbow cotton candy here,” Serena was saying. “With sparkles in it! Do you want to come and get some with me?”

Chantelle looked up at Daniel and Emily. They both nodded their encouragement. As they watched Serena and Chantelle walk hand in hand over to the cotton candy booth, Emily felt a sudden sense of loss, almost grief. The little girl had only walked to the other side of the street and already Emily felt her absence. This must be what other moms feel like, Emily thought to herself with a smile.

Just then, Daniel pulled Emily close to him, as though seeking her comfort and reassurance.

“You’re doing fine,” she told him as she leaned her head against his shoulder.

“I don’t feel like I am,” he replied. “I feel like I’m constantly waiting for a disaster.”

“That makes perfect sense,” Emily reassured. “You’re a dad now. You have dad instincts.”

Daniel laughed. “Dad instincts, huh?” he joked, sounding at ease for the first time since they’d left the inn. “Is that like spidey sense?”

Emily nodded vigorously. “Only a thousand times better.”

As they fell silent and watched Chantelle and Serena at the cotton candy stall, Emily felt content and gloriously happy. Happier, even, than she’d ever thought possible.

Then Serena and Chantelle came bounding back, Chantelle’s face sticky with sugar.

“Try some, Emily!” she cried, showing the sparkly rainbow cotton candy to her.