Thomas Kinkade - The Inn at Angel Island

As they walked into the house together, Liza remembered how Claire had been waiting there the first night she returned. Even then, not knowing her at all, Claire had been ready to welcome her home. Just as she was there now for all of them.

Liza began to head for the house, then noticed that Daniel hung back. “Guess I’ll say good night,” he said.

“Aren’t you coming in?”

Daniel looked down at her and stuck his hands in his pockets. “Thanks, but it’s late. And it’s going to be hard enough for Peter and you to talk to Will without strangers around.”

“You’re not exactly a stranger,” she replied. “But I know what you mean. Thanks… Thanks for everything. We really appreciated your help today.”

He shook his head. “It was nothing. I was glad I could help. At least there’s a happy ending to the story, right?”

“Yes, to this one,” she said, thinking of the Hardys. Now that Will’s little drama had concluded, she and Peter would have to return to the dilemma of what to do with the inn. What had Claire told her to remember? Worry not.

Daniel gave her a curious look. She was tempted to tell him about the Hardys… to tell him everything. But they had all had enough stress for one day. It was best left for tomorrow.

Instead she asked, “Will you be back to work?”

“Bright and early. Tomorrow could be my last day.”

She didn’t like hearing that but nodded. “Okay. See you then.”

He looked about to walk away, then stopped. “Is there something on your mind, Liza?” he asked quietly.

“Um… no. It can wait.”

“Okay… but there’s something on my mind.”

He stepped closer and put his hands on her waist. Then he lowered his head and kissed her. Liza leaned into him, feeling his warmth and strength. Savoring the sensation of his lips on hers.

Liza felt breathless when they parted. She slowly stepped back and gazed up at him.

“Good night,” he said quietly. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She smiled, unable to speak for a moment. “Good night, Daniel,” she said finally.

He turned and walked back to his truck, and Liza headed for the house, feeling a bit light-headed and glowing with happiness, as if a low, steady flame had been lit somewhere deep in her heart.

She simply loved being with him. It didn’t seem to matter where they were or what they were doing. It was all good, as Will would say. She was going to miss Daniel so much when she left. But she didn’t dare think about that now.

LIZA found Peter and Claire in the kitchen, fussing over Will. The boy sat at the head of the table, still wrapped in the blankets but practically inhaling a bowl of soup and a big sandwich. Claire stood at the counter, fixing more food for him.

Peter sat at Will’s side, just staring at his son. “Now you’re sure you don’t need to see a doctor? Nothing hurts? You don’t feel dizzy or weak?”

“I’m okay, Dad. Honest,” Will managed between mouthfuls.

Peter nodded. “All right. You get a good night’s sleep, and we’ll see how you feel in the morning. Daniel said you need to drink a lot of liquids. You might be dehydrated.”

“He did? How does he know stuff like that?”

“He’s trained as a first responder, EMS,” Liza said. She walked over to Will and slung her arm around his shoulder, then planted a big kiss on the top of his head. She dropped down in the seat on his other side, across from her brother.

“You scared us to death, Will. The Cape Light bloodhounds were out, trying to sniff down your trail.”

Will’s eyes widened in surprise. “They were?”

Liza laughed. “Not quite… but almost.”

“We were worried sick,” Peter cut in. “Where were you all day, Will? We didn’t know what had happened to you.”

“I don’t know. Just riding the bike around.” Will shrugged. “It’s a pretty small island, I’m surprised you didn’t see me.”

Liza’s gaze narrowed, recalling how she had searched her assigned area for hours, even on foot. “It’s hard to find somebody who doesn’t want to be found, even in a place as small as this.”

“How did you end up in the cave?” Peter asked. “Were you hiding down there all day? I checked in the morning. We didn’t see you.”

“I didn’t go down there until it got dark. I got a flat on the bike, and I left it on the side of the road behind some bushes. I was near the caves and felt pretty cold, so I thought it would be a good place to stay for the night.”

“Was it?” Peter asked, meeting his son’s gaze.

Will smirked. “It was pretty creepy. All the bats and spiders and stuff.”

A good story to tell his friends though, Liza realized. A tale to swap when they boasted about their camping trip.

“So, why did you do it, Will?” Peter asked, his tone almost pleading. “Can you just tell me that?”

Liza sat back and looked at her nephew. He had stopped eating and was staring at the table, avoiding his father’s gaze.

Peter just waited, and Liza gave him points for patience.

Will shrugged. “I don’t know… I just felt like it.”

Peter let out a frustrated sigh. “You just felt like it? That’s all the answer I get? After what you put us through today?”

Liza gave Peter a quick look and shook her head. It wasn’t going to help if he went off the deep end and lost it.

“It must have been more than that, Will,” she said. “Can you just try to tell us how you’re feeling, what you’re thinking about right now? We were terribly worried, but we’re not mad, honestly.”

“We just want to understand,” Peter told his son.

“We really do,” Claire chimed in. “How can we help if you don’t tell us what’s wrong?”

Will slowly raised his head. He looked around at all of them. “I… I don’t want you to be mad at me.”

“I won’t be. I promise. Just tell us,” Peter said quickly.

Will looked at him, seeming doubtful. But then he stared straight ahead and said, “I don’t want to go back to Tucson. I want to stay here.”

Peter sat back as if someone had slapped him. “You want to stay here. Because you don’t want to come live with me half of the time, is that it?”

Liza saw him struggling to keep an even tone.

Will shook his head. “That’s not it. That’s not it at all. I would come live with you part of the time, but I just hate the way you and Mom are always fighting about it. Fighting over me. You’re so angry all the time. You make me feel like it’s all my fault.”

Peter looked shocked. “Of course it’s not your fault, Will. Your mom and I breaking up had nothing to do with you. We both love you very much.”

Liza felt Peter’s frustration, but she understood what Will was saying, too. Maybe he even understood intellectually that his parents’ divorce had not been because of him. But he didn’t feel that way deep inside. And almost two years later, they were still fighting about his living arrangements.

“I can just give up, Will,” Peter said softly. “I can just agree to let your mom have custody, and I’d visit you every other weekend. Is that what you want?”

Will shook his head. “Not really. I wouldn’t mind living with you, Dad… if you could be the way you are here.”

Peter looked puzzled. “The way I am here? On the island, you mean?”

Will nodded. “Yeah, like more fun and stuff. The way you were that day we went bike riding and when we took photographs together. The way you used to be before the divorce… Not all wound up and crazy and fighting with Mom over every little thing.”

Peter took in a long breath. He held Will’s gaze but didn’t answer for what seemed like a long time. Finally, he said. “Okay. I’m glad you told me what’s on your mind, Will. I need to think about this. It’s pretty serious stuff. We can talk more tomorrow after we’ve all had some rest. Is that all right with you?”