Holiday Kisses

“I’ve seen enough to know she’s in good hands.” Both Kendall and the lighthouse. They’d take care of each other. “Do you know much about its history?”

“No. I just knew it was isolated and needed work.” Kendall took another bite of carrot. “That’s kind of my sweet spot.” She inclined her head as if assessing Calliope. “Do you want to see the best part?”

“I would love to.” Hands clasped behind her back, she followed Kendall back outside and through the door of the lighthouse tower. She got the impression Kendall didn’t have a lot of friends, or even patience for people. She decided to wear the invitation to stay longer as a badge of honor.

“I’ve got blue in mind for the door.” Kendall shoved the thick door open and moved a brick in front to brace it open. “Red’s overdone, don’t you think? It fits the cottage though. I’ve been trying to air the place out. Sorry, it’s still pretty musty.”

“I’ve always liked how history smells.” Calliope hadn’t realized how spacious it was in here. A nice-sized room with windows along the rounded sides and a curving black metal staircase leading up to the next level.

“I’m not sure if the city plans to furnish it once the restoration is done. But I would think this served as the engine room.” She shrugged. “I’m still learning about the architectural style of these beauties. A few of the upstairs windows have been blown out or obscured, but there’s five floors before you get to the gallery.”

“I know an architect who could help you figure some things out. If you need,” Calliope added, thinking of Xander. “Not that you do.”

Kendall shrugged again. “Couldn’t hurt. I want to do the job right. Whatever that takes. Watch your step. Some of these stairs need sanding down. And the railing’s a bit iffy. Let’s head up.”

Calliope followed Kendall up and around, and up and around. Just when her head started to spin, a grimy glass door awaited them.

“I’ve already removed the railing. So not sure if you want—”

“Oh, I want,” Calliope whispered and pulled open the door. The wind hit her square in the face. She took only one step forward and kept one hand firmly against the lighthouse wall.

Kendall followed her but appeared to have no qualms about walking the edge of the terrace hundreds of feet above the ground. “I’m hoping to go authentic to the time it was built.”

“If you know Willa at the Flutterby, I believe her grandfather worked here once upon a time.” Calliope’s stomach pitched as Kendall’s boot landed centimeters from the edge. “It might be worth checking with her to see if she or her mother has any of that documentation.”

“Good idea, thanks.” Kendall reached up to tighten her long, brown ponytail. “It’s funny. I’ve been kind of waiting for this place to tell me what it needs. What it wants. I bet you’re the only person in this town I can say that to and you won’t think something’s wrong with me.”

“Oh, there might be a few others,” Calliope said. It was cold up here, as if the sun had forgotten how to shine. The wind whipped against her face, caught the thin fabric of her dress, but she continued around until she reached the perfect spot.

Here. Oh, here. Calliope pressed her hand against her pounding heart. The ocean expanded into its own world far into the distance. The spray cascaded up, tiny droplets of briny, sun-kissed water dotting her face. If she just stared straight ahead, everything on the periphery vanished. And all she saw was unending, peaceful, perfect ocean.

“Doesn’t get much better than this, does it?” Kendall stood on the edge of the platform, no doubt unaware of how nervous her balancing act made Calliope. “Almost makes you forget there’s anything else but this.”

“You’ve seen a lot, haven’t you?” Calliope asked as she shivered against the cold and tried to forget how high up they were. “You’ve been to a lot of places.”

“More than I can count. I went where the army sent me.” She brushed a hand over the scars that covered her shoulders and neck, and inched up the left side of her face. “It’s nice to have the perspective, you know? As vast as this ocean is, that’s as vast as the desert over there is. Opposite sides of the same coin. It’s quiet there. When there aren’t bombs going off or gunfire exploding.” She forced a smile as if worried that she’d made Calliope uncomfortable. “Or the screaming. The anger. I got so tired of the anger.”