Читать книгу Forever Her Hero - Belle Calhoune - Страница 12

Chapter Three

As Sawyer drove down Seaview Avenue, he felt a strong sense of nostalgia sweep over him. With his window down he could smell the tangy scent of the ocean as it permeated the air. The high-pitched cries of a flock of seagulls drifted toward him from the beach. The pink gingerbread-style house that sat on the corner of Seaview Avenue and Ocean Street had been there for as long as he could remember. He tooted his horn and waved at the owner, Mrs. Kingston, who was outside watering her rosebushes. She squinted at first, then began to wave enthusiastically as soon as she recognized him. Yes, this was what he’d yearned for while he was overseas. Home. Hearth. A feeling of being connected to his community.

He began to slow his Jeep down as the Trask home came into view, its bright yellow color a departure from the classic Cape Cod–style homes surrounding it. The historic house was built by his great-great-grandfather, sea captain Adam Trask, for his young bride. He’d built a widow’s walk on the second floor so that his bride could look out to sea for his return. His parents had lovingly restored the home when his father had inherited it some thirty years earlier.

Sawyer parked his car in the driveway and made his way to the front door. It swung open well before he even planted a foot on the front porch. His father, Samuel, was standing at the door, a perplexed look plastered on his face. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a barrel chest that spoke of strength. He’d been told on more than one occasion about their shared resemblance—the same caramel skin, full brows and deep set eyes. “Well, come on in, son. We were wondering when you were going to show up,” his father drawled as he pushed open the door and ushered him inside.

Sawyer felt a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach as he stepped inside the house and came face-to-face with his mother. Was he about to get a tongue lashing for not immediately coming to the house after his arrival in Buzzards Bay? The moment he saw her, his spirits lifted. After all this time away from home, she was a sight for sore eyes. At barely five feet, she was petite and small boned. Despite her salt-and-pepper hair, she still looked at least ten years younger than her actual age.

At the moment her pretty face was marred by a deep scowl. She placed her hands on her hips. “You’ve been back in town for three days without a word or a call. Nothing!” His mother slashed her hand in the air for emphasis. “Sawyer Trask! I know I’ve raised you better than that!”

He should have known, he thought miserably. In a small town like Buzzards Bay, it was near impossible to keep a secret. As much as he’d thought he could pull it off, word of his arrival had already reached his mother’s ears. So much for his coast guard training in stealth maneuvers!

“Mom, I’m so sorry,” he apologized. “I should have come straight to the house. Or at least called to tell you I was back.” He held up his arms to give her a hug, but she pushed him away.

She looked him over with a critical eye. “You’re so thin,” she said. “What were they feeding you over there?”

Of course his mother noticed his weight loss. With her eagle eye and attention to detail, it wasn’t surprising that she would see what others didn’t. He’d lost twelve pounds during his bout with cholera, most of which he’d put back on in the months afterward. He was still down five pounds or so. His parents had no idea that he’d contracted cholera and had hovered near death for almost a week. By the time he was on the mend, he hadn’t seen the point in telling them about his brush with death. It would only have made them worry about him more, he’d realized. And, despite the risks he frequently assumed in his profession, he didn’t want his parents to lie awake at night thinking about his safety. They had enough to worry about with his younger brother, Daniel.

“I ate plenty over there,” he said with a grin. “Nothing that could compare to your home cooking, but it was decent.” He leaned down and wrapped his long arms around her, lifting her slightly off the floor in the process. She let out a little squeal and ordered him to let her down. When he placed her back down, he planted a kiss on her cheek. The sweet smell of home lingered around her like perfume—the scent of baked apples, cider doughnuts and cinnamon all reminded him of growing up in this loving environment. Warm hugs and down-home cooking came to mind.

Like a whirlwind, his brother, Daniel, came crashing down the stairs. Tall, broad-shouldered and thick, he headed straight for Sawyer, enveloping him in a bear hug that nearly toppled him over. As usual, his enthusiasm was off the charts.

“You’re back! I knew it, I knew it.” Daniel kept him in a tight grip until Sawyer had to practically wrestle his brother in order to come up for air. He put his arm around Daniel and pulled him close. Even though Daniel was twenty years old, he had the childlike nature of a ten-year-old. He was a kind and gentle soul who was often misunderstood because of his developmental disability. People tended to judge him by his physical age and were taken aback by his stunted emotional development.

“Hey, I promised I’d be back by Fourth of July, didn’t I? I’m a month early,” Sawyer pointed out, holding up his palm so Daniel could high-five him.

His father frowned at him. “Where are you staying, son? I know you gave up your condo when you left the country, so I imagine you’re looking for a new place.”

“We’ve got plenty of room here if you need a place to rest your head.” His mother winked at him. “We won’t even charge you rent if you wash a few dishes now and then.”

He rocked back on his heels, his hands stuffed in his front pockets. There was no point in waiting any longer to tell his parents about his new accommodations. He cleared his throat. “Well, I have some news. I bought Mr. P’s lighthouse. It’s my new home.”

“That is so cool!” Daniel shouted. “I can’t wait to sleep over at your house.” He started jumping up and down with excitement and pumping his fists in the air.

His parents exchanged a knowing look. His mother’s lips were pursed. His father was stroking his chin, a contemplative look etched on his face.

“What? Is there something wrong with that?” Sawyer asked, suddenly feeling defensive. “You two look pretty grim.”

His mother shrugged. “No, there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s your decision, son. But I do have a question for you. Does this decision to buy the lighthouse have to do with Ava and the kids?”

Sawyer pulled at his ear. He detected a hint of disapproval in his parents’ attitude. He let out a huff of air. “I made a promise to Billy that I would watch over the twins. Not being able to do that over the past year...” His voice trailed off as emotion took over. “I feel like I let Ava and the kids down. Now I’m close enough to really be of help to Ava.”

The expression on his father’s face was a mixture of shock and dismay. “You’ve gone to great lengths to keep your promise to your cousin. Don’t you think buying the lighthouse is a bit excessive?”

“Not at all. What you’re forgetting is that I’ve always wanted to live in the lighthouse,” he reasoned, his tone firm and decisive. “You know how I used to go on and on about it when I was a kid. By buying Mr. P’s house I can accomplish two goals at the same time.”

His parents still looked baffled. He caught his mother discreetly nudging his father in the side, and he knew a lecture was about to commence.

“That’s all very honorable, son. It says a lot about who you are as a person,” his father acknowledged. “But we just think it’s high time you started building your own family. If you focus too much on Billy’s family, how will you ever find time for a personal life? It’s time you meet a nice girl and settle down.” His voice sounded soothing yet firm.

The beginnings of a smile tugged at the corners of Sawyer’s mouth. He had this conversation with his parents every few months or so. Even though he wasn’t yet thirty, they wanted their son to be married with children and living in domestic bliss. They wanted to bounce grandchildren on their knees. A random image of Ava fluttered through his mind, and he forced himself to shake it away.

“Helping them out won’t get in the way of a personal life,” he insisted. He glanced back and forth between his parents. Something didn’t feel right about this conversation. He felt as if he was missing some crucial piece of information. “Why do I have the feeling something else is going on?”

Again, his parents shared a private look. “Your uncle Troy is a little sensitive about you and Ava spending so much time together,” his mother explained in a low voice. She paused for a moment. “He thinks it doesn’t look right. Before you left for Africa, he made it clear it was an issue for him. We didn’t have the heart to tell you, especially since you’d been so supportive to Ava and the kids.”

Uncle Troy was his father’s brother, as well as being Billy’s dad, and they’d always been the best of friends. A stab of guilt pierced him at the thought that his actions had created tension within the family. After all, they’d all been through so much. Although Uncle Troy had spoken to him about his objections, he’d had no idea the topic had been broached with his parents. “We’re just friends, Ava and I. That’s all we’ve ever been, ever since we were kids.” He threw his hands up in the air. He was battling against a rising sense of irritation. “I can’t believe this is a problem. Ava and I were friends long before she married Billy.”

His words hung in the air for a moment like a live grenade. He probably came across as sounding petty, as if he were a kid on the playground arguing over territory. He knew he was acting defensive, but it annoyed him to no end the way his family minimized his long-standing friendship with Ava. They acted as if he didn’t have his own relationship with her outside of Billy. On some level he felt as if everyone in the family was dancing around the fact that he and Ava shared an unbreakable bond. Didn’t his feelings matter at all?

“Son, you’ve been an amazing support system for Ava and the kids. And of course, we all know the depth of your friendship.” He patted Sawyer on the back. “I don’t see why you shouldn’t continue to be there for them. We all love them. But I have to admit I do worry about the strain it will cause within the family. Troy and Nancy have already suffered the loss of their only child. We just don’t want to add to it. Family has to stick together.” His rich voice was filled with emotion, and Sawyer knew his father was torn between his brother’s wishes, his own son’s needs and what might be right for Ava’s family.

But he wasn’t going to give his father a free pass. He couldn’t believe what he’d just heard tumbling from his lips. Family has to stick together? Had his father really said that? Wasn’t Ava part of his extended family? And wasn’t he honoring his cousin’s bequest by standing by Billy’s family?

“The last time I checked, Ava and the twins are part of this family, too.” Try as he might, he couldn’t manage to keep the anger out of his voice.

Needing to cool off, he walked outside where he found Daniel kicking around a soccer ball. He joined in, knowing that spending time with his brother was the best cure for his current mood. Hearing his parents voice their concerns hit him hard. They were forcing him to think about all the reasons he could never be with Ava. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t already harbored these doubts, but hearing someone put them into words served as a brutal reminder.