Sweet Cravings

Chapter Eight – The Lighthouse

Bri

Morning broke clear and bright, the storm swept out to sea, leaving the air scrubbed clean and sharp with salt. Sunlight spilled across the harbour, turning the water into a sheet of molten silver. Bri stood at the window, watching gulls' wheel against the endless blue, Sky humming softly as she lined up her new wooden bunny beside Bun Bun.

“Goin up lighthows today, Mama?” Sky asked, eyes wide with excitement.

Bri smiled, smoothing her daughter’s curls. “Yes, baby. The lighthouse.”

Gem groaned from the bed, pulling a pillow over her head. “You two are insane. Climbing stairs before coffee? Cruelty.”

Bri laughed, tugging on her sneakers. “You’ll survive.”

The path to the lighthouse wound through a garden bursting with roses and wild daisies, the sea whispering beyond the rocks. Bri breathed deep, her heart lighter than it had been in years. The storm had scrubbed the world clean, and for the first time in so long, she felt scrubbed clean too—like maybe she could start over.

Sky darted ahead, Bun Bun clutched tight, her giggles ringing like bells. Bri followed—then smiled when she saw him.

Sebastian stood at the base of the lighthouse, sunlight gilding his dark hair, his boys flanking him like miniature sentinels. He looked up at her, storm-gray eyes catching hers, and smiled—a slow, easy curve that made her pulse skip.

“Morning,” he said, voice warm as summer.

“Morning,” she managed, hoping her cheeks weren’t as pink as they felt.

Gem sidled up, smirking. “Well, look at that. Fancy seeing the guys here this morning.”

Bri shot her a glare, but Gem only winked and sauntered toward the steps.

Inside, the air was cool and faintly scented with old wood and salt. The spiral staircase stretched upward, narrow and steep, sunlight slanting through tiny windows. Sky clung to Bri’s hand, her little legs pumping, while Zack and Alex bounded ahead like puppies, their laughter echoing off the walls.

Sebastian fell into step beside her, his arm brushing hers as they climbed. “You okay?” he asked softly.

She nodded, breath catching—not from the climb, but from the nearness of him. “Just… a lot of stairs.”

His smile was quick, teasing, he held out his hand to her, “Worth it though.”

And somehow, she believed him, she placed her hand in his and he pulled her up the stairs.

The climb felt endless, each turn revealing another stretch of worn steps and another sliver of sky through the narrow windows. Bri’s calves burned, her breath came short, but she didn’t mind. Sky’s chatter filled the air—questions about boats and birds and whether the lighthouse had a secret door—and Bri answered every single one, her voice light with laughter she hadn’t heard from herself in years.

When they reached the top, the world exploded into light and colour. The harbour glittered below, boats bobbing like toys, the ocean stretching vast and endless. Wind tugged at Bri’s hair, cool and sweet, carrying the cry of gulls and the distant hum of the Fayre. For a moment, she just stood there, breathing it in—the salt, the freedom, the dizzying sense of possibility.

Sky squealed, pressing her face to the glass. “Big water, Mama! So big!”

Bri laughed, her heart swelling—and then Sebastian was there, standing close, his boys pointing out boats, his presence steady and warm. For a moment, she let herself look—really look—at him. The way the sunlight caught in his hair. The way his smile softened when he glanced at his sons. The way something unspoken flickered in his eyes when they met hers.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” he said quietly.

She swallowed hard, nodding. “Yes.”

But she wasn’t looking at the view.

Sebastian

He’d seen a lot of views in his life, but nothing compared to this moment. Bri, with the wind tossing her long hair, sunlight painting her skin in gold, her eyes wide and full of something he couldn’t name. When she said “Yes,” her voice soft and trembling, he knew she wasn’t talking about the ocean.

And God help him, neither was he.

He wanted to stay there forever, suspended in that fragile pocket of time where everything felt possible. But the kids were already tugging at his sleeves, eager for the next adventure. Reluctantly, he led the way down, the spiral staircase echoing with laughter and the patter of small feet.

Sky squealed when he swung her over the last step like she was flying, her curls bouncing as she landed in Bri’s arms. They felt like a family, something he and the boys had never experienced with Bella.

God he was falling and falling fast. The feelings this tiny woman was bringing out in him was completely new, nothing inhis past could compare, not even Bella.

Outside, the air was warm and bright, the garden humming with bees. Zack tugged on his hand, voice bright. “Daddy, can we go to the beach now? Please?”

Alex chimed in, eyes wide with excitement. “Sky too! She wants to come!”

Sebastian glanced at Bri, her curls tumbling in the breeze, her laughter soft as Sky bounced on her toes. Something inside him tightened—hope, sharp and sweet.

“Join us?” he asked, his voice low, almost careful.

Her pulse skipped; he could see it in the way her breath caught. When she nodded, smiling, it felt like sunlight breaking through clouds.

“We’d love to,” she said.

And for the first time in a long time, Sebastian believed in second chances.

He wanted today to matter. Bri was leaving tomorrow, and he wasn’t ready to let her go—not without giving her something to hold on to. Something that would make her think of him when Montana felt too far away.

First, they grabbed their beach bags and headed into town. The streets were alive with colour—bright awnings fluttering in the breeze, the scent of salt mingling with fresh bread and sugar. When they stepped through the doors of the little bakery, warmth wrapped around them like a hug. Chalkboard menus lined the walls, and the air was thick with cinnamon and vanilla.

The boys pressed their noses against the glass display, eyes wide. “Hey, Dad,” Zack said, tapping the case. “Sky loves pink cookies. Let’s get those.”

Sebastian smiled, heart tugging at the thought. They know her favourites already. “Good idea.”

The woman behind the counter gave the boys a wrinkled smile before turning to him. “Ahh, you boys know little Sky? Her and her mommy have become my favourite customers this week. And you’re right—those are Sky’s favourite.” Her voice was warm, like honey.

Sebastian grinned. “We need a picnic for the beach—plenty for six of us. And definitely those pink cookies.”

“Coming right up,” Doris said, bustling behind the counter. “You’re making memories today.”

He hoped she was right.

Once they had their basket—stuffed with sandwiches, fruit, and cookies—the boys raced ahead toward the beach, their laughter trailing behind them. Sebastian followed at a slower pace, the weight of the basket in his hand and something heavier pressing against his chest. Their girls, he thought, and the words felt good. Dangerous, but good.

The beach was alive with colour—striped umbrellas dotting the sand, gulls wheeling overhead, the scent of coconut oil curling through the breeze. Sunlight danced on the waves, turning the water into molten silver. Sebastian rolled up his pant legs and chased the boys to the surf, their shrieks ringing like bells. For a moment, he let himself laugh—really laugh—the sound mingling with the crash of waves.

But when he looked up and saw Bri walking toward him, sunhat tilted, Sky skipping at her side, his laughter caught in his throat. She was barefoot, an almost translucent wrap covering what looked like a pink bikini underneath.... Hell, Seb junior was definitely excited, and she hadn’t removed the cover up yet, God help him when she did.

She had a shy smile on her face as she drew near, he couldn’t help the grin that spread accross his face, as he joined her on the blanket he and the boys had spread out.

“Well hello Gem, don’t you look fetching in your beach attire, it’s so good to see you.” He smirked at the sarcastic comment, turning to Gem.

“Ahh is little Gemima feeling left out?” He grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder, before marching to the shore.

Her shrieks of surprise soon turned into laughter as all three kids started to chant “throw her in, throw her in.”

Sinning her into a bridal hold, he swings her towards the ocean, “one....two...” She screamed, “don’t you fudging dare Sebastian Connor.”

He chuckled and dropped her on her feet, and turned to the kids, “sorry guys, she is scary.”

The rest of the afternoon was so full of laughter, and he was right, when Bri took off that wrap....let's just say he had to spend a long-time waist deep in the cold water.