Page 30 of Waves of Reckoning (Echoes of Camano Island #1)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

“K nock, knock,” Nikki said as she entered her sister’s room with a wide grin on her lips.

“Hey.” Trish smiled as she sat up in bed.

“Hey,” Nikki returned.“How was therapy?” she asked, setting down the bag of personal items she’d brought on the table.

Trish didn’t reply.

It had been two weeks since Trish opened her eyes, and she’d only started therapy four days ago. She could tell she was frustrated by the progress, but it was to be expected. Plus, the doctor had already prepped them on what to expect.

Nikki turned to stare at her expectantly.

“How is Amy?” Trish asked, attempting to change the subject.

“Amy’s fine. She’s over at Lot 28,” Nikki answered. “Now, back to your therapy. How was it?”

Trish released a heavy sigh. “Tedious,” she responded, looking away from Nikki.

“It’ll get better. Just hang in there. You’re making great progress,” Nikki said with an encouraging smile. “I brought you something, but I had to sneak it past the nurses,” she said, pulling a Hershey bar from her pocket. Trish’s eyes lit up as a bright smile lifted her lips.

“I remember this was your favorite candy back when we were kids.”

“It still is,” Trish replied, holding her hand out for the chocolate.

Nikki laughed at how eager she was. She placed it in her hands and watched her with a tender smile as she removed the top of the wrapper and took a bite of the chocolate bar. Her moan of satisfaction caused Nikki to chortle.

“I remembered how you would take all of your money to buy these Snickers bars and how I had to vouch for you every time with Dad for buying it even though he forbade you.”

Trish released a laugh of her own. “I remember.”

“Those were some great times,” Nikki reminisced. A melancholic smile graced her lips as she looked out the window at the moving objects. “We were happy and had more freedom to be children.”

She turned to see Trish looking at her with remorse in her eyes. “Having parents who only required perfection really did a number on us, huh?” She sighed dejectedly.

Nikki walked over to sit on the bed.

“I’m sorry I didn’t give Amy to you, Nikki. I should have trusted you,” Trish spoke, her eyes clouded by regret. “My greatest regret has been giving up my daughter.” Her voice broke at the end as she struggled to keep in her tears.

“Trish, losing Amy was not your fault,” Nikki spoke with assurance. “Our parents are the real culprits here. I understand now that you had no choice. What you did took courage, and I want you to know I am proud of you.”

“I don’t think Amy will see it that way,” Trish said, tucking her chin into her chest.

“Trish, Amy understands that your choices weren’t as varied back then. All you have to do now is be honest with her. I promise you, she’ll understand.”

Trish nodded her head in understanding. Nikki reached over and held her sister’s hand. Trish turned to look at her.

“I’m very proud of the woman you are today, Trish.

What happened to you back then could have broken you, but it didn’t.

You took control of your life, and you made something great.

Those are the same qualities I see in Amy.

She is not easily broken. She is a determined young woman, and I’m beginning to witness that she has a very caring heart, just like you. ”

Trish’s face lit up at this. “I still can’t believe she’s actually here, on Camano Island,” she marveled.

“All because of your own efforts,” Nikki reminded her with a smile.

Trish returned her smile. “I love her so much already, and it keeps growing every time I see her. It’s so much that it feels like my chest would burst open.”

“I know what you mean,” Nikki agreed.

Trish’s eyes took on a faraway look as she said, “I remember when the doctor first placed her in my arms. I was overwhelmed with love for this little human life that I had made.” She turned hopeful eyes to Nikki. “I can’t wait to shower her with all the love she deserves.”

Nikki smiled knowingly.

“Speaking of love, when are you going to finally admit that you have feelings for Paul?” Trish asked, staring directly into her sister’s eyes.

Nikki’s eyes widened in surprise as she sputtered to speak, “Wha-what are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about how his eyes follow you whenever you’re not looking, and I witnessed you do it to him too. I picked up on it from the first day you both came here.”

“Trish,” she cautioned. “I don’t think it is a good idea to entertain those thoughts, especially with everything going on.”

“You’re making excuses,” Trish deadpanned.

Nikki felt warmth cover her hand resting on top of the bed, and she looked back at Trish staring at her in understanding.

“I know you might be feeling a bit scared, but you deserve to be happy, and I can remember from back when you were in high school that Paul was the only person who made you happy. It’s time to give yourself the chance to be happy again.”

“I’ll think about it,” Nikki promised with a reassuring smile.

* * *

“Nelly, it’s so good to see you,” Nikki greeted the gray-eyed, silver-haired woman sitting by a table close to the door in Lot 28.

“It is nice to see you too, my dear. How is your sister?”

“She’s much better. She improves daily.”

“That’s great news. It’s good to know my prayers were answered. Thank you, Lord,” Nelly praised, looking at the sky.

Nikki gave a small chuckle at the woman’s flamboyant gesture. “Thank you for what you’re doing, Nelly, and please don’t stop doing it,” she encouraged.

“I will keep praying, then,” Nelly said.

Nikki reached over and grasped the older woman’s hand.

“I know you don’t mind keeping a poor old soul like me company, but I think someone needs it more than I do,” Nelly said, looking behind Nikki.

Nikki turned in the direction the old woman’s chin jutted toward, and her heart slammed against her chest when she saw Paul standing there staring back at her. He walked toward her, and Nikki felt as if her heart would beat out of her chest.

“Good afternoon, ladies,” he greeted when he stopped at the table.

“Good afternoon, young man. Have you come to steal my companion away?” Nelly asked, narrowing her eyes in a way to make her look menacing.

Paul released a small chuckle. “Only to borrow her, Miss Nelly.” He looked over at Nikki, a smile teasing his lips.

“Of course. You have my blessing,” Nelly released.

“Wait, I’m right here, and I didn’t agree to this,” Nikki sputtered in mock annoyance.

“Oh hush, child, and just go,” Nelly waved her toward Paul.

“Thanks, Miss Nelly. I owe you one,” Paul said gratefully, indicating for Nikki to follow him toward the patio area. Nikki turned to give Nelly a why’d you do that look. The woman stared blankly back at her before the sign of a smirk lifted her lips just as Nikki turned.

Paul led her across the patio and along the path toward the sandy beach coast in the distance.

The two kept pace with each other, but neither exchanged a word, both caught up in their own thoughts.

When they made it to the beachfront, Nikki allowed the sand to run over her sandals and through her toes as they walked along the grainy path.

They came to a stop at some distance down the beach and turned to look out at the blue waters reflecting the cloudless sky.

“You know, the last time we were on the beach like this, we were a couple, and I had a very important question I wanted to ask you,” Paul spoke, breaking the silence.

Nikki turned to stare questioningly up at him.

“I had a speech, the ring, and reservations for a restaurant back in Seattle for us.”

Nikki’s eyes widened in surprise, and her hands went to her lips, covering them.

“I was prepared to propose to you, Nikki,” he said seriously.

His confession caught her off guard, and her heart continued to hammer against her chest as all thoughts flew out of her head.

“But then you said we needed to break up, and like a fool, I agreed instead of fighting for you and for what we had.” He chuckled, the sound void of mirth.

“I loved you, but it wasn’t enough.”

“That’s not true, Paul. It was enough,” she refuted, finding her voice. “Maybe if you had asked me before my parents manipulated me the way they did, we would be different people walking on this beach right now.”

She turned and looked up at Paul, her eyes filled with regret.

“Those words that I spoke that day, they weren’t mine.

They were from my parents,” she revealed.

“They drilled it into me, convincing me it was for the best. I cried for a whole week after our breakup. That’s how much I loved you, but then I had to do what my parents expected of me, so I locked away my feelings and pushed on, trying to forget you and all that we’d shared.

” Nikki sighed dejectedly. “I have so many regrets,” she breathed out before looking up at Paul, her eyes full of sorrow.

“It’s okay. I’ve come to accept that it wasn’t our time,” Paul assured her. “Things played out exactly as they should have, and from it, I learned to love again, and I got a beautiful daughter in the process.” He smiled.

Nikki returned the smile.

“But now, the cards are squaring up right to this moment, and I am not letting the opportunity slip through my fingers again.” Paul turned to fully face Nikki, his eyes bright and determined.

“I love you, Nikki. I have always loved you, even in the times that we were apart, and although I am grateful for the life I lived with Natalie, to deny the fact that you’ve always been there in my heart would be to deny my happiness, and I am tired of doing that.”

Her heart skipped a beat, and the butterflies that had taken up permanent residence in her stomach skittered as they cascaded over each other. Her mouth opened, but no words came out.

“Say something, please,” Paul begged her.

As hard as she tried to say something, her tongue seemed fixed to the roof of her mouth, making it difficult for her to talk.

Paul’s face fell at her lack of response, and without a word, he turned to make his way back up the beach.

Her heart beat rapidly and a ringing sound in her ears as she panicked that she was about to blow another shot at happiness.

“Wait,” she managed to force through her lips. She couldn’t allow him to leave without her being able to voice how she really felt about him. How she’d always felt about him.

Paul stopped in his tracks and turned to face her once more, his eyes guarded.

Still, no words came from her lips, and when he made to turn and continue walking, she marched up to him and pulled his head down to hers. Their lips met in a slow, endearing kiss. At that moment, she was sure he could feel all of the love she had for him.

When they finally separated, her words rushed out unbridled. “I love you, Paul. I’ve never stopped loving you, and I don’t think I ever could, even if I wanted to.”

A broad smile made its way onto Paul’s face, and he drew her in for another sweet kiss.

“What took you so long?” he asked when they separated again.

Nikki gave him a sheepish smile.

“I’m sorry that it always takes a little more time for me to tell you how I truly feel,” she apologized. “I want you to know that this time I’m all in,” she promised.

Paul smiled lovingly down at her before fixing his lips against hers once more and lifting her into his arms.