This is part 2 to the chapter Lighthouse, please read that first.
The car ride had been a bit awkward but Keefe didn't seem to mind letting her take the reigns on getting him to the doctor's office. Once he was seen, she waited in the lobby to make sure everything was okay and to take him wherever he needed to go once he was all finished up. Sitting in the muted lobby chair gave her a moment to reflect on what had happened and suddenly she needed to take a couple of deep breaths. What had happened last night with the boat crash had been crazy and way out of what she was trained to do but she was glad to see that it had worked out and that it would all be over soon.
Or so she thought until Keefe came out with his leg in a brace and crutches.
"Are you his girlfriend?" asked the nurse who accompanied him to her.
"No! No, I'm just the one who found him, I wanted to make sure he gets home safe." Sophie rambled, blushing at the insinuation.
The nurse frowned at her, "He won't be able to drive for a while and he needs to rest. Do you live nearby?" she asked Keefe.
He shook his head, "I usually sail here from the mainland and my boat is wrecked, I'll have to fly out."
The nurse tutted, "The airport across the island is closed because of the damages from the storm. You'll have to sail back on another boat."
Sophie frowned at this, there weren't any tourist boats from the mainland during the winter, he would have to find passage on a trading boat and no one would likely be leaving for a couple of weeks.
"You'll have to come home with me then," she stated like it was something easy, like she wasn't inviting an entire stranger into her home. "Just until we can figure something out."
Keefe looked worried, "I don't want to impose, I'm sure I can find something."
Sophie sighed, "There won't be any boats for weeks and I have plenty of space, if you don't mind the old rattling of a lighthouse that is."
Keefe smiled, "I don't mind one bit, thank you."
Sophie helped him back into her car and got ready for the short ride home.
Before she pulled out of the parking spot she turned to him, "I have to ask, have you been coming here from the mainland for a while now?"
Keefe couldn't meet her eyes, embarrassed, "Oh just every now and again. I've always been good at sailing and it was a relief to get away from everything."
Sophie nodded and started the drive home, "I used to live on the mainland as well, grew up on the west shore. There's a sort of peace here, I know what you mean."
She could feel him looking at her but kept her eyes on the road.
"I never thanked you, you probably saved my life," he murmured, almost mesmerized by the thought.
She waved it off, "No worries, it's part of the job. Well, kind of."
"You help boats caught in storms?"
"More like look for them usually, I keep up the lighthouse so boats can find their way back to land and avoid the harsh rocks."
He was still studying her, "have you saved anyone before?"
Sophie blushed, "It doesn't happen often but I will admit that usually I let the coast guard handle it and call it in." She turned into her driveway.
"Why help me then?" he wondered.
She sighed, trying not to look him in the eye as she turned off her car, "I've seen your boat before and I knew it wasn't a fishing boat. You sail here every Tuesday, I was always curious as to who owned that little blue boat and why they sailed here. I guess a part of me felt connected to it and I knew the Coast Guard wouldn't be able to help you in time so I knew I needed to do what I could."
Keefe was staring at her intensely now, almost with awe, she realized as she finally met his eyes. He sucked in a quick breath, "Thank you... I don't know what... just thank you."
She nodded, having noticed just how blue his eyes were and not trusting her voice to answer. He broke the spell and turned to get out of the car. She shook her head of her thoughts and went to follow him to the house.
After she let him in she realized that he was going to have a hard time with the stairs and his brace, "You'll have to sleep on the couch for now but it pulls out and I'l bring down some sheets."
He nodded, thankful, and sat on the cushy chair nearby so he could prop his leg up on the coffee table. Sophie showed him where the remote for the TV was and where all the food was stored before having to go check on the lighthouse's long list of things to maintain for the day.
When she finished, it was close to dinner and decided to start it early. She entered the living room and saw Keefe watching an old rerun.
"Is there anything you want for dinner? I'm thinking of making pasta," she said as she leaned on the doorway.
He paused the TV and smiled sheepishly, "Pasta is good, could I help? I feel bad just sitting on your couch."
She thought about it for a moment, she didn't really need much help but decided to let him feel useful. "Sure, you can sit at the table and chop the garlic." He smiled, happy to be helpful, and started his slow journey to the kitchen table. His smile was contagious and she smiled as she went to grab the ingredients.
It was weird to cook with another person in her lighthouse. She had always lived here alone, even when she was dating Fitz since he always needed to be at the firehouse. It was kind of nice to have someone to chat with as she stirred the noodles and made the sauce. Keefe set the table and they sat down to eat.
"So about the future," Sophie started, "you might be stuck here for a while."
Keefe looked at her nervously, "I don't want to impose, if there is a hotel or anything nearby I'm happy to go there."
"No," Sophie said quickly, maybe a little too quick, "I think it's better if you stay here. I really don't mind. Plus the Inn Keeper is a little overwhelmed with the Valentine's Day festival this weekend."
"Oh?" he smiled, "that's nice, does the town usually have festivals for holidays?"
"It does but the Valintine festival is what we're known for. A lot of people from the city on the other side of the island make the trip out to see it. We have this huge bloom of pink and white flowers that we decorate the town with, everyone gets involved," Sophie said, remembering that she would need to go help Bianca out soon like she said she would.
"We don't do anything like that on the mainland, that's cool," Keefe said. "Is there anything I can do to help since I'm here?"
Sophie smiled at his willingness, "I'm not sure there's much you can do with your leg in a brace. I'm going down tomorrow to drop off a package and help put some of the flowers out but you can come along and see if there's anything you could lend a hand to."
"I would like that, thank you." Keefe started to clean up his plate and Sophie couldn't help noticing his easygoing attitude with his whole situation. He got into a boat crash, almost broke his leg, and got stranded on an island for a week yet he was excited over a stranger's town festival. It warmed her heart a little.
After the cleaning was finished, she helped Keefe back to the couch and set him up for the night. "I'll be upstairs but call me if you need something!"
He nodded and she went up to her room. She had never found living alone in the lighthouse to be cold and lonely like the townspeople might try to imply, but she did have to admit that Keefe helped liven the place up a bit.
The next morning she loaded up her car and she brought Keefe to Bianca's flower shop. It took a while to get Keefe out of the car and set up on his crutches but they made their way in and found Dex maning the counter.
"Hey, Dex!" Sophie greeted, dropping off the box of sea shells she had promised Biana.
"Hey Sophie," Dex said suspiciously, looking at Keefe. "Who's this?"
"Oh! Of course, this is Keefe. He's got stranded during the storm and is staying with me until there's another boat to the mainland," Sophie told him and Keefe gave Dex an awkward smile. It was clear that something was off with Dex but Sophie couldn't quite place it and decided to let it go. "Is Biana around?"
Dex, finally looking at her, said, "No, she went into the town square with her first batch of flowers about five minutes ago. She wasn't sure if you had too much to do with the storm." He smiled apologetically.
"No problem," Sophie sighed. "Ok, Keefe, I guess we'll take the grand tour of the four blocks our small town has to offer." She led them through the shop and down a couple of blocks to the town square. She made sure to walk slowly so Keefe could keep up with his crutches. Once they made it to the town square she saw the town in full force setting up for the festival. Everyone was setting up tables and hanging flowers.
"Sophie!" a voice cut through the crowd and Sophie saw Biana on a ladder waving her hands. Biana rushed down the ladder and met Sophie halfway, "Who's this?"
"This is Keefe, he was caught in the storm and is staying with me until the next boat to the mainland goes out," Sophie said, wondering how many times she would need to repeat the phrase for the rest of the day. "He wanted to help if you can think of anything for him."
"Oh," Biana said, obviously excited by the handsome boy offering to help, "what are you good at mystery boy?"
Keefe smirked, "It's Keefe and I'm good at drawing if that is of any use."
"Perfect, you can help with the banner over by the bakery," Biana pointed to the other side of the square. Keefe gave Sophie a mock salute and made his way over there. Sophie was a little worried about how the rest of the town would take to a stranger but knew he could handle himself.
"Girl you have got to be kidding me," Biana said, snapping Sophie's attention back to her friend.
"What?" Sophie said, oblivious to Biana's tone.
"What do you mean what! You've got one of the most gorgeous men I've ever seen living in your house by yourself after you rescued him and it seems to me that you're smitten. Could you get any luckier," Biana exclaimed.
"Quiet down would you," Sophie said, embarrassed. "I am not smitten, I'm just being a good lighthouse keeper."
Biana scoffed, "I didn't realize being a good lighthouse keeper included hosting the attractive injured sailors or I would have signed up years ago. We both know you could have had him stay at the Inn or with Dex or something. You like him."
"It's only been a couple of days Biana," Sophie said, rolling her eyes.
Biana gave her a pointed look.
"Okay, fine, I admit that he's attractive and that he seems to be a very kind person but I hardly know anything about him. Plus, he's going to leave in a week, I couldn't like him even if I wanted to," Sophie sighed, glancing at Keefe as he helped paint the hearts on the banner. He looked up and caught her eye and she turned away, embarrassed to be caught. "What do you need help with Biana?"
Biana let Sophie switch the subject and they finished setting up all of the flower displays. Every once in a while Sophie would make sure to check in on Keefe and make sure that his leg was doing ok. When the sun started to set, they helped clean up, went back to Sophie's car, and headed home.
"Sophie?" Keefe asked once they got settled back inside the lighthouse.
"Yes?" she said, turning her attention away from fiddling with her coat and back to him.
"I um, I made you something as a sort of thank you," Keefe said nervously as he brought out a paper from his coat and handed it to her.
Sophie looked down at the paper and saw a sketch of... her. It was her laughing while she was hanging flowers from earlier. Sophie gasped, "You drew this? today?"
"Yeah," Keefe said sheepishly, "We finished the banner early and I didn't want to interrupt you while you were finishing up with Biana. You've got a beautiful laugh." He looked at her with earnestness and her voice caught in her throat, she sat down on the couch next to him.
It was one of, if not the most, touching thing someone had ever gifted her. To be noticed and appreciated like that gave her butterflies in her stomach. She looked at Keefe and blushed, "Thank you, this is incredibly kind. I wish I had the words to describe how touching this is. You're really talented."
"It's always been a talent of mine, especially with having a photographic memory," Keefe said, and she could hear the pride of his talent in his voice.
"Is that what you did on the boat? You drew and painted, didn't you? I remember seeing paint when I was trying to find you in the boat," Sophie questioned.
Keefe looked away, "It was my only escape, painting this town and its beautiful landscapes. I know everyone is doing their best to bring me home and don't get me wrong, I'm thankful, but I don't have much to go back to. I'm not very excited I admit."
Sophie, feeling brave, said, "Then don't."
He looked at her again and she could see a question in his eyes, but he said, "My whole life is set up there, I have a job lined up as a banker in the fall at my father's company."
"It doesn't sound like that's something you want to do, don't let it keep you," Sophie patted his arm. "We all have futures our parents thought we would lead, I don't think mine thought I would end up as a lighthouse keeper but it's what was best for me. I wouldn't have been happy if I followed every piece of advice they gave me."
"What else would I do," Keefe whispered like he was scared to put the idea into the world.
"Well you could be an artist, I'm sure the tourists would love to buy your paintings of the town," Sophie suggested.
Keefe shook his head, "You haven't seen my paintings, you don't know if I'm really any good."
"I've seen enough, I can tell you're talented," Sophie stated, confident in her answer, "Plus, the worst that can happen is that you don't like it and go back to your father's company to fulfill his dreams. Call it a detour."
Keefe smiled, "You really think I can do it? You'd bet on a stranger?"
"A stranger that gave me one of the most meaningful gifts I've ever received after helping a town he doesn't know? Yeah, I'd back him every time."
"Thank you... I just... thank you. You're one of the kindest people I've ever met," Keefe said, and she was suddenly aware of how close they were. Of how her hand was still on his arm in comfort and how he was looking at her lips.
"Can I?" Sophie mumbled nervously, "Can I kiss you?"
Keefe's eyes sparked, "I was hoping you would say that Foster." And closed the gap between them.
The kiss was thrilling and sent sparks through Sophie. They moved harmoniously and she threaded her hands through his hair as he pulled her closer by her waist.
"Keefe?" Sophie asked as they pulled apart.
"Yes," he murmured, smiling and playing with a lock of her hair.
"Would you be my valentine to the festive tomorrow?"
His smile widened, "I would love nothing more."
A/N: Hey y'all, happy holidays! I'm doing a couple of longer one-shots so I apologize for the delayed releases.
Has anyone read the graphic novel of Kotlc yet and what did you think?