Page 41 of Meant for Me (Magnolia Bay #3)

twenty-four

“A melia!”

She pulled away from Linc’s hug, squinting across the park. “Did you just hear my name?”

“I think so.” Linc turned, searching the shadows around the lot. Another shout echoed across the field, and a light flashed over the hill behind the gazebo. What in the world?

Then a flashlight beam shot across his face. He shielded his eyes with his hand, scowled. “Who is that?”

Amelia’s mouth opened. “That’s…everyone.”

She was right. Sure enough, the whole town crested the hill, converging on the park, holding lanterns, toting flashlights, wearing headlamps.

Sheriff Rubart led the charge with an umbrella, flanked by Sadie and Harper and Mrs. Peters, wearing a clear plastic rain slicker.

Even Peggy, the eighth-grade teacher, wasn’t far behind them, marching alongside a handful of other teachers Linc recognized from town.

There was Pastor Todd and Isaac Bergeron and Mayor Landry, Madame Paulette in an oversized poncho.

Several deputies, Captain Sanders from the fire department.

Sawyer Dubois, in a graphic tee featuring a guitar, his long hair dripping.

Cade and Owen yelled as they jogged toward them. “There she is!”

Miley, with a dark hoodie over her head, tagged close behind with Trish and Rosalyn. Bringing up the rear was Mama D and Farmer Branson, who gallantly held an umbrella over her head.

“She’s here!”

“She’s all right!”

“We found her!”

The shouts mingled—the inaccurate last one making Linc smirk—as ten people tried to group-hug Amelia at once. Her eyes widened and her back stiffened before Linc lost sight of her completely in the mob of ponchos and ball caps.

There was only one person missing.

But that was his fault. Linc waited a moment, then whistled between two fingers. “Let her breathe.”

Everyone backed off, except Mama D, who kept one arm around Amelia. And okay, that was fair, because she’d dealt with enough over the last few weeks. She’d earned it.

Amelia’s eyes flicked from one person to another. “What is everyone doing?”

“Looking for you.” Mama D squeezed her tight, and to Linc’s surprise, Amelia didn’t edge away.

Rosalyn stepped forward, nestled in next to Cade. “You had us worried sick!”

Linc looked toward the crowd, then back at Mama D. “But how did anyone even know that she was missing?”

Cade snorted, wrapping his arm around Rosalyn. “Madame Paulette heard Sheriff Rubart dispatch the deputies to start searching for Amelia.”

Finally, the man had come to his senses. Linc nodded at him, eyes narrowed. “Glad to hear you shoved protocol where it belonged.”

“Yeah, you big softie.” Trish winked at him.

Sheriff Rubart frowned, flustered. “Well, the storm was getting worse, and…” He paused. “The bigger question is what was Madame Paulette doing on the police scanner?”

All heads turned toward the dance teacher.

Madame Paulette shrugged sheepishly. “I keep an eye on things.” She regally lifted her head. “Never know when one might meet a fireman.” She winked.

Captain Sanders coughed. “Uh, we’ll work on that, Sheriff.”

“You really all came to look for me?” Amelia pulled in her lip, eyes big and cautious as she took in the crowd smiling at her.

“Of course.” Rosalyn couldn’t help herself. She sidled in for a hug on Amelia’s free side. “You’re one of us.”

Amelia coughed, and Linc could tell the moisture on her cheeks wasn’t from the downpour. She smiled, cautiously, then wider. She looked up at Mama D, then Rosalyn, and then Linc. “Thanks.” Her soft voice carried through the group, as everyone murmured how glad they were that she was okay.

The rain started again, lighter this time, colder. Miley clapped her hands. “Okay, I love a good mush fest, but let’s take this party back to Chug a Mug.”

“But it’s closed.” Trish frowned.

“I know the owner.” Miley rolled her eyes. “Hot chocolate on the house.”

Everyone cheered.

“Can we go?” Amelia asked Linc, her eyes wide, smile hopeful.

At this point, he’d give her a pony if she asked. But he also had to find Zoey. Had to try to try to fix his mistakes while they—God willing—were still fixable. He opened his mouth to explain when another figure appeared in the shadows by the gazebo.

Zoey.

His heart stammered. Would God grant him one more answered prayer tonight? He touched Amelia’s arm. “Go on ahead with Mama D. I’ll meet you there soon, okay?”

Amelia followed his glance to Zoey, and understanding lit her eyes. “Okay.”

Linc met Mama D’s gaze, and she winked. “Don’t worry. I won’t let her out of my sight.”

Then, before Linc could move, Zoey was running, scooping Amelia into a hug.

Linc’s heart jumped, fresh emotion burning his eyes.

Mama D stepped back as Amelia hugged Zoey in return, their heads buried next to each other, two wet curtains of dark hair.

They rocked back and forth until finally Zoey pulled away, smoothed Amelia’s hair back from her face, and said something Linc couldn’t catch but that made Amelia laugh.

Then Amelia’s voice, clear as day. “Give him a chance, okay? I did.”

Well, he was just going to puddle right onto the ground, wasn’t he? The question remained, would Zoey take Amelia’s advice?

Zoey looked up after that, right at him, her smile fading a little as their gazes locked. His breath hitched.

“Let’s go, now.” Mama D’s voice was soft as she led Amelia to the rest of the group whisking up the path toward the coffee shop.

Zoey wiped her eyes and made her way toward Linc, the voices fading as half the town crested the hill and rounded out of sight.

He met her halfway, wet grass squishing beneath his shoes. Zoey’s hair and clothes were soaked, mascara smudged under her eyes. Still, she hung back, cautious. “I see you found Amelia on your own. You were right.” She shrugged, offering a sad smile. “You don’t need me after all.”

Oh, man. That was so far from true. His chest burned, and he wished he could take back every awful thing he’d said.

He coughed, words tumbling together for escape, sticking in his throat.

“No, you were right. I told her everything . The truth behind what she overheard, her mom in jail, the chance that I’m not her real father. ”

“Wow.” Zoey’s shoulders relaxed. “Seemed like it went well.”

“We agreed neither of us wanted to take the paternity test.” He swallowed. “She said she wants me to be her real dad no matter what.”

“Linc, that’s amazing. I’m glad to hear it.” Zoey’s eyes glistened. She was too far away for a hug, and he hated what that maybe meant. Hated how that tightened his chest and made his stomach drop. “Happy for you both.”

The pronoun choice jabbed. You. Not us .

Didn’t she know there was none of that without her ?

He fought the urge to snatch her up. Kiss her. Make things right between them without having to use words. But he’d gotten them into this mess with his hurtful comments, and he’d make it right the same way. By talking.

Even if it cost him.

He drew a breath. “I need to tell you a story.”

She tilted her head, surprise lighting her weary eyes. “You don’t tell stories.”

“I also don’t dance, and we’ve been down that road a few times.”

She crossed her arms. “You don’t have to do this, Linc. You made your thoughts really clear earlier. I just came to check the lamppost for Amelia, thought she might have come here.”

“Your hunch was right.” Linc nodded. “She did.”

“Then I saw the crowd, and wanted to make sure she was okay.”

Of course she did—because that was Zoey. Unselfish to the same fault that he was selfish. He reached toward her, but she stepped back.

He started anyway. “Once upon a time…”

* * *

Zoey narrowed her eyes, but Linc kept on, crossing the wet grass as she continued inching back. “There was a young boy whose mom got really sick. He didn’t have any grandparents or other family, and his father was uninvolved, more interested in his career and side relationships than his family.”

“One day, the mother went to the hospital and never came home, while the dad decided that was the perfect time to turn his hobbies into addictions.”

Oh. Her heart stammered.

Linc inched forward, close enough to touch her now, but he didn’t. Did she want him to? Yes . Her heart ached for him, her arms ached to touch him. But his earlier words still rang in her head, rejecting her…

He stood still, hands shoved in his pockets. “The boy tried to make him happy, but nothing worked. The dad was gone more and more, until finally the courts got involved.”

Zoey froze. She knew he was a foster kid, but?—

“The boy’s father signed away his parental rights, right there in the courtroom that day. Surrounded by business suits and security guards and hard wooden benches, the boy became an orphan. Just like that.”

Oh my gosh. The ache spread. “Linc…”

“His last memory of his father was through a curtain of tears, as he was physically dragged off. Sliding on his belly across the courtroom floor, screaming, while his father looked the other way.”

No wonder. Hot tears crested her cheeks. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”

“I never told anyone that.” Linc looked down, then up. “And I don’t tell you now for pity. I just wanted you to know why it was so important to me that Amelia never have that memory for herself. That’s why I didn’t take your advice—even when you were right.”

Ha. She’d hardly gotten it right. And yet…“Everything turned out the way it was supposed to.” Working for good…mostly, anyway.

“Not everything. Not yet.” He reached out, pulled her hand free from her pocket, threaded their fingers.

Her skin lit on fire. “I’ve always been alone, Zoey.

I had foster parents who took care of me, but it was never a family.

It was a job for them. It’s why I never tried to make us more than friends before. ”

Her weary heart soared. “You mean…you thought about it before?”