Page 9 of Love Like Ours

Chapter Three

There was so much that she was thankful for. In the past weeks, she had tried to focus on the positive things. The small situations that made her happy. Like being back at work at the restaurant. She loved being in the middle of the hustle and the bustle while knowing every single face around her.

Hearing her name called, she turned and quickly filled another order from a couple she’d gone to school with. The fact that they were on their third child made her briefly question her own life choices.

She’d been so focused on her art and making movies over the past few years that she’d never once thought about marriage or having her own family.

Lucas and Avery were happily making that dream come true. In her mind, she had plenty of time to go off and make something of herself.

Then, as if being struck by lightning, it dawned on her. Her mother would never get to hold her grandchild.

Her heart sank as tears threatened to roll down her cheeks.

“I need a break,” she told her friend and coworker, Juliette.

Juliette Elliott had been in her grade in school and had started working at the restaurant when she had. The two had a lot more in common than she’d imagined. They were the same height and weight, had the same color hair, and both loved old black-and-white horror movies. They’d spent their summers hitting all the old movie festivals together.

“You okay?” Juliette asked, concerned.

“Yeah,” she said and dashed down the hall towards the kitchen. Using the back door, she stepped out into the snow and continued walking until she realized she’d gone all the way to the beach without her coat on.

Wrapping her arms around herself, she allowed the tears to fall. She closed her eyes and just breathed as the pain of knowing her mother wouldn’t be there for those special moments filled her. Her mind flashed to so many things she would miss. The birth of her first grandchild. Holding the baby and seeing it walk for the first time when it got older.

Sophia and Lucas had had their grandfather, their dad’s father, in their lives when they’d been children. She could only vaguely remember her grandmother, who had died when Sophia was six.

Their grandfather, Lucas Marcus Rodriguez, had passed away at the age of eighty-four, the year after she and her mother had moved to Pride. It had been a deep loss. Nothing like she was feeling for her mother now, but she knew that her mother and Lucas Sr. had been as close as a father and daughter could be without really being related.

From the moment her mother had married her dad, her grandfather had done all he could to protect his daughter-in-law.

Her mind switched gears to her own wedding. If she found someone worth marrying, her mother wouldn’t be there for that either. Who was she going to go dress shopping with?

She was being selfish. Loads of other people didn’t have their parents.

“You’re going to freeze if you stand there much longer like that.” The voice directly behind her made her jump.

She spun around and saw Palmer walking towards her with a blanket in his hands. She didn’t say anything as he wrapped the thick warm thing around her shoulders.

“Everything okay?” he asked as his eyes ran over her face slowly.

How had she never realized that his eyes were a deep rich molasses color? His face was covered with a dark stubble, matching his hair, which was tucked under a stocking cap. He was wearing a thick tan snow coat, black cargo pants, and work boots.

He looked even better than she remembered, better than he had in her dreams all of these years.

“I…” Her voice cracked, and she coughed.

“See, you’ve already caught a cold.” He took her shoulders. “Let’s get you inside.”

After two steps, she pulled free. “No, really, I… I’m just on my break.” She motioned the way she’d come.

The beach was only three blocks away from the restaurant, and when she’d worked there before, she’d spent many of her breaks at the beach, enjoying the weather and the sound of the waves crashing. “I have to get back.” She started to walk in the opposite direction than he had been trying to lead her. Then she stopped and turned with a frown. “Where did you come from?” she asked. His dark eyebrows rose slowly. “I mean”—she motioned to the blanket—“with this?”

He chuckled. “I’m renting the cottage just there.” He motioned to the small beach home that sat just beyond the tall grass.

“You’re renting Brook’s place?” she asked.

He nodded. “I’ve been living there for a few years now. I like the view.” He motioned to the ocean behind them.

She smiled. “It’s why I take my breaks here.”