Page 17 of Only You

“It’s nice to make your acquaintance, Lucy. Do you like milkshakes?”

“I love them.” She grinned.

“Why don’t we let your dad and Colin talk while we go in the back and make one.” Katherine grinned.

“Okay!”

“We’ll talk later,” Katherine said, touching my arm.

“I didn’t know you had a kid,” Colin said as we walked over to the bar. “How old is she?”

“Lucy is eleven. Her mother passed away a year ago, and she came to live with me. It’s been really tough.”

“Were the two of you married?”

“No. She was just a girl I had dated for a while. The week after we broke up, she told me she was pregnant. We tried to make it work for a few months after that, but there was no use.”

“Beer?” Colin asked.

“A beer would be great. Thanks. Listen, Colin. I’m really sorry about not keeping in touch after I left town.”

“You did for about a year and then fell off the face of the earth.” He smirked. “But I know you weren’t in the best headspace then.”

“You can say that again. I’m sorry about your mom and dad. I know that had to be tough on you and Katherine.”

“Yeah. It was tough, but we made it through.”

“Mara told me that Katherine was the one who renovated Harbor Estates.”

“She did. A couple of years ago. It was her biggest project.”

“I bet.” I chuckled. “What’s going on with you? Married? Kids?”

“Not married yet, but hopefully soon. My girlfriend, Adalyn, owns the art gallery in town.”

“Oh yeah? I just got in today, and you’re my first stop.” I smiled. “I haven’t made it anywhere else yet but the house.”

“Everyone in town will be happy to see you.” He held up his beer bottle.

“Dad! This is the best milkshake.” Lucy walked over with a grin.

“How about we go get a table and order some food?”

“I’m not eating a lobster roll,” she said.

“You don’t have to, but I sure am.” I smiled.

Katherine took our order, and as we waited for our food, I stared at my daughter as she sipped her milkshake. In the year she’d been with me, I’d never seen her like this before. It was as if life was breathed into her again. Should I have been surprised? No. That was what Harbor Falls did to people.

“I know we’ve only been here a few hours, but what do you think so far?” I asked her.

“I don’t know. It’s pretty, and the people seem nice.”

“Yeah. The people are nice.”

CHAPTER 6

Hannah