“Can I ask you a question?” she asked after pulling away. His hands dropped to hers, their fingers locking together.
“You can ask me anything.”
“If I choose to sell the inn and go back to my job, would you come with us?”
“Does your SUV have a trailer hitch?”
“Yes, why?” She was confused by his question.
Bowie smiled. “Because we would need it in order to tow my work trailer. I mean, I’d have to buy one, but there’s no way in hell you’re leaving Cape Harbor without me, Brooklyn. I would’ve gone with you last time if you had asked.”
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life.”
“I’ve made two,” he told her. “The first one was letting Austin stake a claim over you. I should’ve told you from the beginning how I felt. Longing for you for six years was pure torture.”
“And the second?”
“Not following you. Not chasing you. Not looking for you.”
“That’s like three.”
He shook his head. “It’s one. I should’ve gone after you, but I was a coward and thought you would return . . . when you didn’t, I was hurt and angry. I felt like I had wasted so much time being there for you through everything with Austin. I couldn’t understand why you would turn your back on me, of all people, and yet you had. I let my pride get in the way, and I let anger rule my thoughts. When I met Rachel, I tried . . . I really did . . . I went through the motions, but it just never felt right.”
“Not that it matters, but why are you getting divorced?”
Bowie sighed. “Because I can’t . . .” He paused, and all the color drained from his face. “Oh my God.”
“What?” Brooklyn demanded, frightened by the tone in his voice. “What is it?”
“She left me because she couldn’t get pregnant. She said it was me, that I was the problem. But clearly that’s not the case.”
Brooklyn laughed. She hadn’t meant to, but it sneaked out. “Nope, there’s a live wire teenager here to prove her wrong.”
Bowie put his hands on the top of his head and looked to the sky. He started to laugh.
“Look, if you need time—”
“For what?” he interrupted.
“To figure shit out. To make sure this is what you want.”
“The only thing I need to figure out is how to spend as much time as I can with you and Brystol. I mean, I want to be with you in every way possible, and on the other hand, I want to ditch out on work and spend days on end getting to know my daughter. I am completely in love with you, Brooklyn, and you better love me back, or we’re going to have some issues,” he said, smiling. “Do me a favor?”
“What’s that?”
“Stay. At least until Brystol graduates, and then we’ll go wherever you want. Give my parents four years to be grandparents.”
“We’ll stay,” she said as she leaped into his arms. They kissed deeply as he held her to his body, waves lapping at his feet and drenching his shoes. As he set her down, a big wave crashed to shore, soaking them both. They briefly gasped for air before laughter took over. It had been years since she had laughed this hard.
“We have to tell Brystol,” Bowie said, changing the mood.
She nodded in agreement yet offered nothing else in return. She wasn’t sure how they would break the news and feared her daughter would be so hurt that she would reject them both.
“First, I think she needs to see us together like this.”
“Is that so?” Brooklyn asked, raising her eyebrow.
“Unless you’d rather have some secret romance. I mean, that could be pretty exciting, sneaking away to make out.” He pulled their joined hands up and kissed hers. “I’ve waited over twenty years for this moment, to tell you freely, without judgment. I’m too old to play games. And now with Brystol, I think we could give her the family she’s never had. If that’s what you want.” He shrugged. “I don’t know—maybe I’m reading things that aren’t there.”
She exhaled. “You’re not. I want to be with you, Bowie. I have since long before that night. Life threw us off track a little bit, but I don’t think it’s too late for us.”
“Neither do I. As far as telling her, I’d like to wait until after Carly passes. They’re close, and I don’t want Brystol upset with her grandmother during this time.”
Brooklyn wiped a tear away from her cheek. “I can agree with that.”
Together they started back toward the house, Brooklyn picking up her shoes before climbing the wooden staircase. Inside, the house was fairly quiet with the exception of the construction going on next door. Brooklyn felt like they should go check on the day’s progress but also had faith in their crew to get the job done.