A Brand New Ending (Page 52)

“Why? What do you have in mind?”

He rolled over her with a masculine grin that sent delicious shivers down her spine. “To make you be very, very loud. To christen all the rooms in the house.”

Her eyes widened. “We can’t do that. It will create tons of laundry.”

“I’ll make it worth your while.”

“I don’t think—”

He shut her up with his mouth on hers. Ophelia didn’t care about anything after that.

Chapter Nineteen

Two weeks later, Kyle headed into the Market to grab some fresh fish for dinner that night. As usual, the owner, Fran, ran over and engaged in the normal small-town chatter that Gardiner was known for. Mia had taken over her PR campaign, and Ophelia was one of her best customers, so he enjoyed the pride that surged from her obvious affection for his family.

Family.

The word caused a warm rush of pleasure. Their Sunday dinners together had become like a treasure. He’d finally met Chloe, and loved watching her interact so closely with Ethan and Mia. They’d all ridden horses together, then curled up with the Disney movie Moana.

Hei Hei had even begun to tolerate him.

Chloe was the newest addition to the tight-knit crew. Once again, the inn and farm had made a difference to another person. This place was important, filled with a goodness and warmth he hadn’t found in a very long time.

Ophelia had done that by opening her home to guests. His job might seem important because of all the attention, money, and fame, but hers was so much more so. Every time he looked at her, he fell in love with her a little bit more.

He shook his head, then refocused on the conversation with Fran.

“Take the haddock,” she insisted. “It’s on sale and so fresh, it probably swam over here.”

He laughed. “Done. Can you throw in some crab cakes, too?”

“Absolutely. I’m also sending over some of the new Cajun catfish that’s new. Tell me what you think of it.”

“Thanks.” Kyle waited while Fran jumped behind the counter to help get him settled. He nodded at a man who walked over and stood next to him.

“Can you grab me some haddock, too, my love?” the man asked.

Fran’s giggle reminded him of a teenager’s.

And holy crap—was she blushing?

“Of course, Tony! Anything for you!” She stumbled behind the counter, and seemed to try to rush.

Curious, Kyle studied the giant, stocky, dark-haired man Fran seemed to be crushing on. He sported a scraggly beard, glasses, and was dressed in old jeans and a gray hoodie that stated: DO YOUR STEPS.

Suddenly, the man narrowed his gaze on Kyle. “Hi, I’m Tony. You look familiar.”

“Hi. Kyle. Nice to meet you,” he said. They shook hands. “Sorry, not sure I’ve seen you around before.”

“That’s okay, I just need a minute. My memory is kick-ass.”

Kyle grinned, politely waiting either for the recognition or for Fran to get him his fish so he could leave.

Tony suddenly snapped his fingers. “Got it. You’re Kyle Kimpton! Patrick’s son, right?”

Ice trickled down his spine. He didn’t understand why this man seemed happy to see him, but he didn’t want to find out. “Yeah. Sorry, I don’t know any of my father’s friends.”

“I’m his AA sponsor. Damn, what a pleasure to get to meet you. Patrick talks about you all the time.”

Shock cut through him. “He does?”

“Hell yeah. Told me how you took care of the farm and the animals when he was drunk off his ass. And all about your big success as a screenwriter. He fucking lights up when he talks about you, and Patrick isn’t the lighthearted type, you know?”

Kyle’s head spun as he tried to figure out how to reply. “Yeah, he’s more like John Wayne. The strong, silent type.”

“Definitely. So you in town from California?”

“Yeah, I’m working on a new project. Be here for about another six weeks.”

Tony nodded. “That’s great. Have you seen Patrick yet?”

He stiffened, glancing away. His voice came out cold when he finally spoke. “No.”

The man regarded him with a shrewd gaze. “Yeah, I get it. No judgment here, dude. Your dad was really fucked up and did a lot of bad stuff. If you see him, it may be hard trying to reconcile the man he is now with the asshole you used to live with.”

Kyle’s eyes widened. “Umm, are you supposed to say stuff like that? If he’s trying to recover and all, doesn’t hearing about your screw-ups make things worse?”

Tony grinned. “Nope. It’s about the truth, and Patrick knows it. Admits it. Every day, he let alcohol strip away his humanity and choices. Now, every day, he rebuilds. Remembering who he was is a part of that. It’s about balancing the guilt with the intention of making amends.”

Kyle stared at the gray hoodie’s message in a different light. DO YOUR STEPS. Recognition dawned as he linked it to the organization that had helped so many addicts.

Tony caught his gaze and leaned in, as if his next words were critically important.

“But you know what AA is really about? The crux of it is one simple lesson: we all deserve to give ourselves a second chance. It doesn’t negate the pain we put others through, and it’s not a get-out-of-jail-free card. Reparations still need to be made. But without second chances, we’d be stuck in the gutter for life.”

Kyle stared at him, unable to form words.

Second chances. The same thing he’d been begging for from Ophelia. How ironic to meet a stranger who knew intimate things about him and his father, and preached the same thing Kyle needed from the woman he loved.

Tony continued. “Listen, your dad’s one-year sobriety anniversary is April thirtieth. If you can be there, it may be something you want to attend. He’ll tell his story, and children of alcoholics sometimes find some healing in listening to parents recall the truth.”

The ground shifted beneath his feet, but Tony stared at him with a raw honesty he respected. He hated the lump in his throat and swallowed past it. “I’m sorry. I’ll be back in California for a while by then.”

“Got it. Well, if you’re able to stop by and see him before you leave, I know it’d make a big difference. But I also understand if you can’t.” He drew out a card from his pocket and pressed it into his palm. “Call me if you ever want to talk, or have questions about your dad, or anything.”

Fran appeared before them and handed Kyle the wrapped packages. “Here you go. Tell Ophelia I said hello.” Her gaze snagged on Tony.

It was obvious she wanted Kyle to leave, and he tamped down a chuckle.

“Thanks, Fran. I will.” He turned to Tony and hesitated. His gut churned. “Bye, Tony.”

Tony gave him a grin that lit up his whole face. Kyle noticed his front tooth was crooked and a bit yellow, but Fran didn’t seem to mind. She looked pretty smitten.

“It truly was an honor to meet you, Kyle.”

He left the store, his mind whirling. His father had talked about him to his sponsor. Told him intimate secrets about their relationship and termed himself an asshole. Was it possible? Could a man get sober and really change? Or was it just another illusion that would suck Kyle in and hurt him all over again?

He pushed the thought out of his mind and drove back to the inn.

Ophelia turned to him and whispered the words in humbled reverence.