16 Lighthouse Road by Debbie Macomber Page A

“Hey, that’s cool.”
    Cool?
    She’d done it again. Once more she’d set herself up for disappointment. She should’ve known Bobby’s response would be inadequate at best.
    He waited on a customer, and Cecilia slipped off the stool, ready to start her shift at the restaurant.
    â€œWe’ll talk later,” Bobby called after her.
    She nodded. This was about as deep as any conversation went with him. The man just didn’t get it, and nothing she said or did was going to change that.
    Before long, the restaurant started to fill up. Escorting customers to their tables, answering the phone and manning the cash register kept her busy. She preferred it that way. It was when she had time on her hands that her thoughts automatically drifted to Ian. The John F. Reynolds had pulled out of Cedar Cove two days earlier. She’d watched it on the evening news, which had shown the massive aircraft carrier gliding through the protected waters of the cove.
    Cecilia had sat intently in front of the television. She couldn’t have stayed away even if she’d wanted to. Ian was gone. Deployed for six months. She wondered if he’d write. She could go to the library and e-mail him herself, but she wasn’t convinced she should. And yet, that was exactly what she longed to do.
    Dammit, everything was so complicated! She didn’t understand her own feelings, and certainly not his. All these contradictory emotions—anger and yearning and regret. Well, she had six months to think about the divorce and how she should proceed. Ian had time to think, too. His leaving was good for them both, she told herself. Still, she had to admit she hated the idea of not seeing or talking to him for half a year.
    Ever since the news broadcast, Cecilia had thought aboutwhat she should’ve said the day they met at the cemetery. She was sorry she’d been so quick to take offense and realized Ian hadn’t been trying to upset her when he asked about the credit card. He’d been clumsy. It occurred to her later that he was no more skilled at expressing his real feelings than she was. She wished she’d hugged him before they parted. It would have felt good to have his arms around her again.
    Cecilia was getting ready to leave for the night when her father came looking for her.
    â€œDid you hear about Ian?” he asked.
    â€œHear what?”
    â€œHe might be back.”
    â€œIan?”
    â€œYou said he was on the John F. Reynolds, didn’t you?”
    Cecilia frowned in confusion. “You mean the carrier’s returning to Bremerton?”
    â€œThat’s the way it sounds. I heard two sailors talking, and they said there’s something wrong with the navigational gear.”
    Cecilia knew she shouldn’t be pleased, shouldn’t listen to gossip, either. She’d heard rumors such as this before, and they hadn’t been true.
    â€œYou can ask them yourself,” Bobby said with a shrug.
    â€œI think I will.” She entered the bar, which by this time was thick with cigarette smoke. Two sailors sat at the counter, nursing mugs of beer.
    Cecilia walked over to them. Both men turned to her, smiling in welcome.
    â€œBobby here just told me you have some information about the John F. Reynolds, ” she said.
    The heavier of the two nodded. “Join us?”
    â€œNo, thanks, I’m on my way home. Can you tell me what you know?”
    The two shared a look of disappointment. “I got a buddy on the John F. Reynolds ,” the first one said, “and he e-mailed me that they’re having some technical problems.”
    â€œThen it’s coming back?” Eagerness crept into her voice.
    â€œMaybe. He thinks so, but—”
    â€œFor how long?”
    â€œHe isn’t sure it’s returning to port. Won’t know for a day or two. Why do you ask?”
    â€œMy husband’s on board,” she said quickly.
    Both men looked at