Page 8 of Waves of Reckoning (Echoes of Camano Island #1)

Chapter Seven

I t was a bittersweet day that followed.

Nikki got up to see Ava packing her things, and her face fell. “I can’t believe it’s already been a week, and you’re leaving.”

She walked over and rested her head on Ava’s shoulder.

“Oh, I know, but work calls,” she said sorrowfully. “I wish I could stay longer.”

“You can just quit your job and move here,” Nikki teased.

“After you.” Ava laughed, reminding her that she didn’t live there either. “But you’re in good hands. I see I have nothing to worry about with Paul around.”

“Not really,” Nikki said wistfully. “He’s been a real angel. I don’t know how I’d have managed all along if he wasn’t around.”

“I still think there’s a future for the two of you,” Ava added playfully as she zipped up her carry-on.

“Not going there with you.” Nikki walked off to the kitchen, where she poured a cup of coffee. “Paul and I are just friends, and that’s the way it’s going to be. Now, how about we have brunch before you leave?”

“You’re always so good at changing the subject.” Ava shook her head.

“That’s why I’m a journalist.” Nikki grinned.

Ava rolled her eyes. “I’m going to wash up.”

“Okay,” she said.

The two lounged around the house all morning until it was time for brunch. “I can’t tell you how I’m going to miss the food here,” Ava said as they left the house and walked over to the Nestled Inn.

They ran into Dorothy as she wheeled the cart toward the elevator. “Hi, Dorothy.”

“Hello, ma’am.” She smiled and wiped her hand down the front of her apron. “I was just heading over to see if you needed any help with the housekeeping. Is now a good time?”

“Yes, Dorothy. We were just heading to brunch,” Nikki replied.

“Very well.” She smiled. “Enjoy.”

“Thanks, Dor,” Nikki said affectionately. Although she was just a staff member, Dorothy had been more like family to her since she’d been there.

The women entered the restaurant attached to the inn and found two other couples. She smiled and waved at them as she tried to maintain the family ambience Trish had obviously cultivated.

“I’m going to miss it here.” Ava sighed. “It really feels like a slice of heaven.”

“And here’s to your send-off,” Nikki said as Justin, one of the servers, brought a bottle of wine over to them.

Nikki had barely inherited the place, but it already felt like home to her. Not long after the wine, they enjoyed french onion soup with baguettes, followed by a rack of lamb with braised asparagus and squid-ink rice.

“I’ve never had this,” Ava said of the rice. “It’s very delicious.”

“Me neither, and so many other things Paul has introduced me to since I’ve been there. I can’t say my budget has ever allowed for frequent visits to Michelin-starred restaurants.”

“You can say that again,” Ava said as she cut into her lamb. “This is so juicy and tender it just melts in your mouth. How do they get it so soft?”

“Well, you’re not going to understand because you’re no cook,” Nikki teased.

“Hey, I cook,” Ava replied, feigning insult. “I cook a mean omelet, and my baked mac and cheese is to die for.”

“Ava, making it from the box and sticking it into the oven isn’t baked mac and cheese.” Nikki laughed.

“Fine!” Ava pouted. “But that’s why I’m friends with you. And now Paul.”

Nikki laughed. “Yep. Give me a second, will you? Do you need more wine?”

“No, I’m good with this,” Ava replied.

Nikki had to do some last-minute checks as she entered the kitchen to take stock of her inventory. Luckily, she was a foodie, so she knew about food pairings and how to sanitize a workstation.

“All good in here?” she asked Doug, the head chef.

“All good.” He smiled back. “How did you like that lamb?”

“It was perfect,” Nikki beamed. “Excellent service as always. Do you need anything? I’m going to head out for a few.”

He looked around. “Maybe some fresh herbs, dry rub, but that’s pretty much it.”

“Okay,” Nikki told him. “Keep up the good work,” she called to the rest of the staff as she walked out.

Kaylyn was by the front when she left, and she waved goodbye to them.

“How is this work?” Ava asked with a laugh as they got to the car. “This is just being paid for having fun and relaxing. Do you think maybe you can hire me?”

Nikki laughed. “Just get out of here, will you?”

“I’ll call you when I get home,” Ava said as the two hugged.

Nikki watched her leave, and sadness quickly descended upon her. She would miss the late-night conversations, the teasing, and the support Ava offered.

Her spirit was low when she returned to the house, and she walked aimlessly into the bedroom. She didn’t know much about her sister, and it seemed the whole town knew more than she did.

There must be pictures of her or keepsakes that could draw them closer. Nikki felt like a fake in her own sister’s home.

She sat on the edge of the bed, wondering where Trish would keep her personal belongings, when her eyes caught on the closet. She’d watched enough movies to know there was always a shoebox of things or a chest in the attic. Since there was no attic or basement, her best bet was a possible shoebox.

She got up and opened the closet door, and sure enough, she found a couple of shoeboxes. She was reaching for one of them when she knocked them all over, and she jumped back as the contents spilled onto the floor.

“Shoot!” she said as she crouched on the ground next to them. She wasn’t sure what belonged where, and she didn’t want Trish to know she was messing with her things.

But then a picture of the entire family caught her eye. She sat on the floor and looked at it. They were on the boat. This time on the neighboring Whidbey Island, and Nikki’s eyes watered as she remembered a time when they were together and happy.

There were several other pictures of family gatherings, school plays, and games that they went to.

She covered her mouth as the memories washed over her.

She was still going over the pictures when she spotted a folded manila envelope.

She checked the contents and saw that it was documentation about the adoption.

It seemed Trish had been trying to find Amy for a long time, and Nikki felt a tug on her heart as she finally understood. If Trish had given Amy to her, she would have never really been her daughter. There would have come a time when Trish would have wanted her daughter back.

She rifled through the other papers when she saw an envelope with her name on it. Her heart thudded as she opened it and read what she recognized as Trish’s handwriting.

Dearest Nikki,

I’m so sorry for all the pain I caused you so many years ago. I didn’t really

understand what it was like for you back then, not being able to have a child.

I guess you could say I was selfish. Looking back, I regret what I did. I could

have been assured that my daughter had a safe and loving home with you.

Instead, I robbed us both of time with her, and I caused you a lot of pain, and for

that, I am deeply sorry. I’m not sure we’ll ever see each other again. It’s become

too hard it seems, but I hope we will. I’ve missed you, and I love you with all my

heart…

Nikki couldn’t hold back the tears as she rocked on her heels and stared at the paper. They’d only seen each other at their parents’ funeral, and although living only an hour away, it hadn’t drawn them closer.

Nikki felt like the guiltier party since she was the one who walked away. Trish had just been waiting for her to make the next move, and she never had. Nikki would have still been in Arlington if Trish hadn’t been in the accident, and she felt ashamed.

The letter went on to say that she’d found her daughter, and though she was terrified that she might reject her, she still had to meet her.

Nikki was beside herself with emotion when someone knocked on the door.

She looked around at the scattered paper on the ground.

She started shoveling them together with her hands and putting them in the boxes.

She was sure she was getting it wrong, but she couldn’t just leave them there for others to see.

She eventually managed to open the door just as Kaylyn was about to walk away. “Oh, I didn’t realize you were here. What’s wrong?” she asked when she noticed Nikki’s tearstained face.

“Nothing,” Nikki replied, not wanting to be vulnerable in front of Kaylyn. “Why did you come by?”

“Nonsense,” the woman said as she ushered Nikki into the room. “You can talk to me. Is it Trish? Did you get bad news?”

“No,” Nikki said hurriedly. “Nothing’s changed.”

“Well,” Kaylyn said and steered her to the sofa. “Trish and I were very good friends, almost like sisters, and she used to confide in me about everything.”

“Everything?” Nikki asked reluctantly. “Even about me?”

“Yes. How did you think I recognized you when you walked in? It was as if I knew you too, so don’t be shy. Just tell me what has made you so worked up.”

She sat patiently, waiting for Nikki to gather her bearings.

“I was just feeling guilty that I seem to be the only one who doesn’t know who my sister is, and that’s no one’s fault but mine.

I found a letter that she wrote to me apologizing…

” Nikki said and started to cry again. “I was such an awful sister.”

“Oh, don’t say that,” Kaylyn said and hugged her. “You were both very young and confused, but she never harbored any grudges against you. And she always loved you.”

“I’ve always loved her.” Nikki sobbed. “But I was wrong, and now I might lose her and never get the chance to tell her how sorry I am.”

“No, don’t think like that,” Kaylyn said as she rocked her like a mother would her child. “She’ll be fine, and so will you, okay?”

Nikki nodded just before she pulled back and wiped her eyes. “Why are you here?”

“I was just coming to check in on you and to tell you we’re fully booked. We may need to get some more supplies as well because we’re running low on cleaning items.”

“Okay, I’ll see about that right away.” Nikki smiled. “Thanks for being a good friend.”

“No problem,” Kaylyn said and got up.

Nikki felt a little better after Kaylyn left, but not completely. It was hard for her to gather the remaining items for the shoeboxes.

That evening, she went to visit Trish. She lay as before, with her eyes closed and needles poking out of her arms, giving her sustenance and life.

She squeezed her hand. “I hope you can hear me, Trish, but I need you to come back. Please fight! I have a lot that I want to say to your face, like how sorry I am for being such an idiot for so long. And I will keep coming here every day until you wake up. You hear me! You know how stubborn I can be!”

She sighed as she looked at the still figure before her, but for the first time, she actually felt like she’d heard her.

She rose and kissed her bandaged forehead moments before she pulled back and noticed the single tear that escaped Trish’s eye.