When We Are Enough (Valiant Hearts #1)

60. Emmy

Chapter 60

Emmy

W alking through the Founder’s Day Festival, my thick jacket snug around me, holding Patrick’s hand and Stormy’s leash in the other. The cold winter air nips at my cheeks, but I’m warm and happy. The boardwalk is alive with activity, stalls set up along its length, each one bustling with tourists and locals alike.

The businesses opposite, all freshly painted and restored after the hurricane, display festive lights and garlands in their windows, while the smell of roasted chestnuts and cinnamon wafts through the air, mingling with the salty tang of the sea.

We pass stalls selling handmade Christmas ornaments and steaming cups of hot cocoa, homemade cakes and secondhand books. Children run past, their laughter rising over the sounds of a live band playing cheerful holiday tunes.

As we stroll through the bustling festival, Mayor Elaine Roberts appears up ahead, her round figure and auburn curls unmistakable as she chats animatedly with the sheriff at the mulled wine stall. She catches sight of us and strides over, her eyes lighting up, the sheriff a step behind her.

“Patrick!” Mayor Roberts stops in front of us, her face lighting up with genuine warmth. “I can’t thank you and your crew enough for all that you did for the community after the storm. And the Valiant Hearts and all the volunteers were incredible.”

“She’s right. You did great, son,” adds the sheriff.

Patrick smiles, a hint of pride gleaming in his eyes. “Just doing our part. It was a team effort.”

Mayor Roberts nods appreciatively and bends down to pat Stormy. “Well, it didn’t go unnoticed. The town owes you a great deal.”

“Giving me a leave of absence was more than enough thanks,” Patrick replies.

Mayor Roberts glances at the sheriff. “About that.” Her tone is serious. “Unfortunately we’re not going to be able to give you that time off after all.”

Patrick’s face tenses, but before he can react, the Mayor bursts into laughter. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding.”

Patrick smiles, shaking his head. “You had me there for a second.”

She grins. “Just keeping you on your toes. Now, you and Emmy go enjoy the festival. You’ve earned it. And enjoy that extended break. I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more.”

As the Mayor and the sheriff move on, I squeeze Patrick’s hand. “Let’s go see your mom before the pageant starts.”

We spot Ruby’s stall a few minutes later, adorned with beautiful sculptures and oil paintings of the surrounding landscape. Nora and Riley are working alongside her.

“Hey, Ruby!” I call out, smiling as we approach.

She looks up, face lighting up as she spots us through the crowd. She’s wearing a deep blue linen dress over leggings and boots, a hand-knitted oversized cardigan on top to keep her warm.

“Emmy! How are you enjoying the festival?”

“It’s a great vibe,” I reply, glancing around at the bustling boardwalk. “How’s everything going here?”

“Really good, actually,” Ruby says, Nora and Riley nodding beside her. “People are really loving the beach glass pieces.” She points to a handful of ceramic vases that have been inlaid with pieces of multi-colored beach glass.

“I’m not surprised. They’re so beautiful.”

She reaches under the table and pulls out a small, delicate box. “I have something for you. It’s an early Christmas present.”

I take the box and Ruby pulls me into a tight hug, kissing my cheek. She releases me and insists I open it now. Inside is a beautiful silver necklace, the pendant a piece of blue glass polished to a high shine. It's simple yet stunning, the glass catching the light in a way that makes it seem almost magical.

“That piece of glass is from the sculpture that was broken in the storm. I thought you might like to have it.”

A lump forms in my throat and I run my finger over the smooth surface of the glass. “Thank you. It’s beautiful.”

Holding the necklace, I can’t help but think about how all the broken pieces inside of me are smoothing over, slowly but surely, leaving a sense of completeness and wholeness. Everything feels more peaceful, and I have a sense of contentment, as if my life finally makes sense and fits together just like it should.

Patrick does the clasp up for me and then leans in, his arm around my shoulder. “It’s perfect, just like you,” he murmurs in my ear, the heat of his breath sliding over my skin, curling around me.

“I have something for you, too,” Ruby says, passing Patrick a rolled piece of paper tied with a ribbon.

He opens it to see the sketch Ruby did of me the first day I arrived. For a few seconds all I can do is stare at it. She captured the old vulnerability, the pain behind my eyes, and Patrick glances at me. He sees it too. His soft thumb brushes over the drawing, like he’s reaching into the past, letting me know it’s all going to work out.

He turns to his mom. “I love it, thank you.”

I’m still looking at the portrait in his hands, barely recognizing that person. Seeing how much has changed, knowing that I’ve weathered a storm and come out on the other side stronger and more whole… It’s a weight being lifted, allowing for a sense of lightness, freedom— joy . And with each passing day, the feeling only grows stronger.

“Hey,” Nora says, staring at us with a grin. “We better go. The auction for the pageant is in a few minutes. Is Maddy enjoying herself?”

“I assume so,” I reply. “I’ve barely seen her since it all started this morning.”

“Alright, let’s get over there before we’re late.” Nora ushers us away from Ruby’s stall, and then strides around us, weaving through the crowd, the three of us smiling at friends and neighbors that we pass.

We arrive at the temporary stage set up for the pageant, which is festooned with twinkling lights and silk flowers, and a festive banner reads Miss Harbor’s Edge Pageant. I pick Stormy up so he has a better view, smoothing down his festive woolen sweater.

Women in pretty evening gowns, furry boots, and jackets stand in a line behind the microphone. The sight sends a surge of cold running through me, but I breathe through it, steadying myself, Patrick squeezing my hand without needing to be asked, and staying right with me until I look at him and smile.

I no longer need to push those traumatic memories about my talent coach away, boxing them up and hiding them in the darkest corners of my mind to fester and grow. Instead, I'm learning to breathe through them, allowing them to flow through me like a river, carrying away the pain and leaving me feeling lighter and more at peace.

“I’m okay,” I whisper. “Thank you.”

Nora accepted me pulling out of the pageant much better than expected, even though it took me a few days to work up the courage to let her know I wouldn’t be competing. Pulling out wasn’t about giving up; it was about protecting myself, prioritizing my own well-being over others’ expectations.

It felt like a big step for me, a significant shift in my mindset. I’m learning that it’s okay to put my own needs first, to not be pushed around by other people’s wants and demands, no matter how well-meaning they might be. It’s a realization that I have the right to take care of myself, to nurture my own peace and happiness.

And when Maddy offered to take my place, it all seemed to work out for the best.

After that day at my parents’ beach house, when I realized I still had the capacity to forgive Maddy, everything began to shift. She made a huge effort to call every day, and after she quit her job, she’s been driving down to visit and take me out for lunch. She laid the groundwork for us to move on, piece by piece rebuilding the bridge between us.

Maddy has even become friends with Nora and Riley, and for the first time in a long time, having her around doesn’t feel like a constant reminder of all the ways I don’t live up to the standards she set.

Nora catches my eye and grins, before stepping onto the stage and up to the microphone, looking confident, beautiful, and composed, her curly blond hair piled high on her head, wearing a sleek winter jacket cinched at the waist.

“Good afternoon, everyone! Thank you all for coming out today to support our wonderful contestants and, more importantly, our community. This year, the pageant is raising money for Christmas presents for children in need, as well as to help pay the medical expenses of our beloved local resident Joe Heart, who’s battling lung cancer. So, please, dig deep when you bid for a date with one of these beautiful women.”

The crowd bursts into applause and Stormy lets out a little bark. I spot Maddy on the stage and wave. She looks absolutely gorgeous, with her lips a bright red and her blond hair pulled back from her face. She waves back, her smile radiant.

Joe Heart makes his way over to us slowly through the crowd. His eyes are misty with tears, and he looks at Patrick with gratitude and something deeper. He reaches out, and Patrick takes his hand, shaking it firmly.

Joe clears his throat, before speaking in a low voice as the women on the stage step forward one at a time. “Danny would have been so proud of the man you’ve become. Thank you for everything, for paying my bills for so long, for checking on me after the divorce. For always being there and making sure I was never alone.”

Patrick’s usual tendency to deflect or change the subject is nowhere to be seen. Instead, he meets Joe’s gaze with unwavering sincerity. “Thank you, that means a lot.” Then, Patrick opens his arms and pulls Joe into a tight hug. “We’ll always be family. And I’ll never stop missing Danny.”

Patrick’s words are full of raw honesty, and Joe returns the hug fiercely, clinging to Patrick. They stand there for a moment, two men bound by their shared loss.

As they pull apart, Joe pats Patrick on the back, his eyes still shiny. “I mean it. Thank you, son.”

Patrick nods, his own eyes glistening. “Always, Joe. Always.”

A deep sense of contentment settles over me. This is what love looks like—open, honest, and unafraid to show vulnerability. It’s a lesson I’m learning every day, and with Patrick by my side, being my authentic self gets easier all the time.

On the stage, Nora has started the bidding. The contestants continue to step forward, and the bids come rolling in. Maddy steps up, and Mike immediately raises his hand, offering a generous bid for a date with her.

The crowd cheers as the mayor, acting as auctioneer, acknowledges him as the winner. I find myself clapping along, my heart swollen with pride for this community, for this place that’s become home.