Page 34 of Fools in Love

Should Tom tell Kate the truth? He’d always gotten the feeling that he could trust her. But still, there was that fear that he’d be putting everything he’d worked hard for on the line.

“I guess it was just luck,” he said quickly. When she gave him a look, he knew she wasn’t satisfied with his answer. But at that moment, he spotted movement in the water and drew her attention to the pod of dolphins swimming alongside them.

He smiled as Kate took videos and tons of pictures as they continued up the coast. He had plans to stop at a little spot that he knew where they could anchor and enjoy a few hours alone.

Thankfully, the conversation never returned to his transfer. Instead, they talked about the local area and other trips he’d taken on the sailboat.

The coastline grew taller, with the cliffs hovering over the water’s edge.

Pride sat in a lower valley than the lands to the north of town. Here, huge pine trees filled the landscape above, keeping the coast wild and free of all the people settling or building homes there.

To the south of town, there were more and more homes. Edgeview sat further inland, but there was a small portion of the town that sat along an inlet. He didn’t usually sail south unless the winds happened to carry him that way.

Today, the winds drove him directly where he wanted to go.

When they pulled into the secret cove, he let down the sails and dropped anchor. He was thankful that they were the only ones there.

“What now?” Kate asked, looking around. “Gosh, it’s picturesque. There isn’t a soul for miles.” She leaned on the railing and looked at the sandy beach.

“Now, we load up the dinghy and row ashore to enjoy our very own private beach for a few hours.” He pulled her into his arms. When he kissed her, she melted against him.

“You have a dinghy?” she asked when she pulled away, causing him to laugh.

“Yes, it’s inflatable. Sit, I’ll get everything ready.”

He’d purchased the sailboat the year after moving to Pride. He’d used some of the money he’d saved up after his father had been locked up. The sale of the house, the three cars, and his mother’s life insurance, not to mention all the money that his mother had hidden away from his dad, had been more than he’d imagined.

There hadn’t been much left after purchasing the house here in Pride, but he figured the best way to alleviate his guilt about the money was to purchase Fool’s Run. That way, every time he went sailing, he’d think of his mother and brother. It was his way of being closer to them, at least in his mind.

The first few times he’d gone out, Nick or his father had ridden with him, sort of like training wheels. Even Kate’s uncle, Allen Masters, Brook’s father, who also worked as a Coast Guard trainer, went out with him a few times. He’d learned most of what he’d needed to know from them.

His first overnight trip had been to the cove. He’d dropped anchor and had spent the night worrying about the sailboat drifting away.

The next time he’d sailed overnight, some of that worry had disappeared. After about a dozen or so trips, the worry had dissipated completely.

He’d purchased the inflatable dinghy after realizing he couldn’t reach the cove without one. It was big enough for two people and the supplies they would need.

He loaded up the small cooler that held their lunches and a basket he’d stuffed with a large beach blanket, his snorkeling gear, and anything else they would need.

Lowering the dinghy had taken some practice. The first time he’d tried, it had ended up upside down. Now, however, he was a pro at it.

Getting down the ladder was easy enough for him, but he had to help Kate climb down, which was a slow process. Still, she was great and didn’t seem afraid at all.

Once she was settled across from him, holding onto the cooler and basket, he pulled out the two plastic oars and started rowing towards shore.

It took less than five minutes to row to the small private beach.

“Do you come here often?” she asked when they hit the sand.

“Almost every weekend during the summer. I usually bring Nick, Brook, and a few other friends.” He helped her out of the dinghy. “We’ve had a few bonfires here.” He motioned to the spot that someone had made long before he’d started coming there. Large round rocks encircled a firepit, and massive driftwood logs had been pulled near it so people could sit and enjoy the fire.

“It’s a perfect spot,” she said, moving slowly across the wet sand and then finally sitting down in the dry soft sand.

He’d noticed she’d been using her hurt leg a little, almost as if she was testing herself.

“One of my favorite places. I’ve looked at the land to see who owns it.” He motioned to the cliffs above them that surrounded the small cove. “No one does. It’s State Forest land.”

He pulled out a blanket and tossed it down in the sand, then set the basket of food on top of it and handed her a cold water.