The Wrong Kind of Love (Boys of Jackson Harbor 1)
It’s not that I wanted the traces of Ethan’s wife to be washed out of the house, but I thought he might better be able to move on if he didn’t keep her things right where she’d need them if she suddenly came back from the dead.
Maybe that means he’s ready to move on now. Maybe I at least did that for him.
Ethan
The weekend before Christmas every year, Jackson Harbor closes part of Lakeshore Drive and turns the street in front of the lighthouse into an ice-skating rink. Lilly likes to go after dark. The big houses along the water are decorated for Christmas and the lights sparkle on the ice. She says she feels like a fairy princess skating in the moonlight.
This year, when I suggested Nic could take her, she squealed with delight. I knew Nic wouldn’t deny her when she asked. So that brings me here, to the edge of the skating rink, watching the two girls who own me, heart and soul, skate hand in hand.
It’s not long before Lilly spots me and drags Nic in my direction. “Daddy!” she says, launching herself at me across the ice. “How was your day?”
I stoop to my haunches and wrap her in a hug. “It was a good day, Lillypad. How was yours?”
Her eyes go big, and she grins. “It’s about to get better,” she whispers.
I pinch her nose and swallow hard. “I hope so.” I stand up to greet Nic. “How are you?”
She dodges my gaze and pastes on one of her obligatory smiles. “Fine. I hope I’m not ruining your plans. Lilly said you had a date, but I didn’t realize you’d be here.”
I shrug. “It’s not like you’re in my way.”
She swallows. “Right.”
“I saw your sister at the clinic again today.” I tuck my hands into my pockets. “So, you two made up?”
She shrugs and turns to watch Lilly, who’s returned to skating circles on the ice. “She’s the only family I have.”
“That’s not true.” My voice is husky. “You have my mom and Lilly; you have my brothers and Shay.” You have me. “They might not be your blood, Nic, but they are your family. They will be regardless of what’s between you and me.” I swallow hard. “And regardless of where you live.”
She still doesn’t meet my eyes as she speaks. “You have no idea how lucky you are to have your family. I know it’s a cliché to say, but they’re amazing.”
My brothers and Shay and I have had our own issues, but there’s a reason we’ve all settled down in Jackson Harbor when jobs could have pulled us all over the country. “I don’t take them for granted.”
“Good.” She closes her eyes for a beat, and then finally looks at me. “Thank you, Ethan. I mean it. I think it’s good that you let Lilly go through her mother’s things. I’m sure it wasn’t easy to let go of the rest either.”
“It was time. Past time, really.”
She nods then looks back to the ice, desperate to get away from me, as always. “Have a good time tonight.”
After she skates away, my sister comes to stand by my side. “Are you ready to do this thing?” she asks me.
I nod. “I’m ready.”
“You look like you want to throw up.”
“That’s because I’m afraid she’s going to reject me. Again.”
“She won’t.” She smacks me on the back. “You’ve got this, brother.”
“Thanks, sis.” I take a breath and walk out to the lighthouse, where I slowly climb up to the top.
Nicole
“Nicky!” Lilly shouts, wrapping her arms around my legs. “Will you climb to the top of the lighthouse with me?”
I turn in that direction and frown. “I don’t know, sweetie. It’s late. Are we allowed up there after dark?”
“Sure we are! Daddy takes me every year so I can see the Christmas lights. And all the people ice skating look like miniature dolls.” She tugs on my hand, a movement that makes us both wobble in our ice skates. “Please, please, please?”
“Of course. That sounds great.” I really don’t know that I’m capable of telling that sweet face no.
We change out of our ice skates and head to the lighthouse. As I slowly start to climb the stairs, Lilly races past me. “Come on! Don’t be a slowpoke now!”
“Looks like I’ll get my workout in today after all,” I say with a laugh, picking up the pace.
Her enthusiasm is contagious, and I chase her up the spiral staircase. There’s a door at the top, and Lilly stops in front of it. “I need to tell you something important.”
“I thought we were going to look out the windows at the Christmas lights,” I remind her.
She nods and holds up a finger. “Whatever happens in there, you and me are always gonna love each other. Daddy promised. Me and Nic, to the moon and back.”