by Fiona Rivers
A couple of weeks later, Adalyn decided she needed to get out of New York for a while, hoping a change of scenery would help heal the unbearable heartache and misery she felt. But first, she needed to decide where she wanted to escape to.
As she and Hannah sat on her bed, looking at old pictures from their childhood, Adalyn came across one of her, Hannah and their grandmother standing on a beach. It was the last time they had seen their grandmother before she passed away. Turning the picture over, she took note of the handwriting on the back: Harbor Falls, 1994. She was only seven years old at the time.
“Remember when we went here?” She handed Hannah the picture.
“Yeah. Grandma rented a house there the summer before she passed away. I remember when we built those sandcastles and mine was better. You got mad and kicked it down.” She laughed.
Adalyn had been up all night thinking about the trip they took to Harbor Falls all those years ago. Although she didn’t remember much, she did remember the soft sand and the soothing sound the waves made as they crashed into the shore. She also remembered the light breeze and the smell of the saltwater air that filtered through the open windows of her Grandmother’s summer beach home. The more she thought about that place, the more drawn to it she became. Harbor Falls would be the perfect place to escape for a few days. Just long enough to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and away from her impending divorce.
She’d made flight arrangements the next morning and reserved a car at the airport for when she arrived in South Carolina.
“Call me when you get there, so I know you made it safe,” Hannah spoke as she hugged her sister goodbye.
“I will.”
“I wish I could go with you. You know I would, right?”
“Of course.” A small smile crossed Adalyn’s lips. “But I think I need to do this alone and take some time to reflect on everything that’s happened.”
“I don’t blame you. Just try to find some peace while you’re there.”
“That is exactly what I intend to do.” She gave Hannah one last hug goodbye before heading to the long line that awaited her at the security checkpoint.
4
Adalyn pulled into the tree lined winding drive that took her to Rosie’s Bed and Breakfast. The Inn she’d be staying at for the next three nights. After parking the car, she took her bag from the trunk and smiled as she walked through the doors of the Victorian styled bed and breakfast.
“Welcome to Rosie’s.” An older woman behind a small white desk smiled.
“Hi. I’m checking in. The name is Adalyn Richards.”
The older woman held out her perfectly manicured hand. “Nice to meet you, Adalyn. I’m Rosie, the owner of this fine establishment.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Rosie.” Adalyn lightly shook her hand.
“Follow me up the stairs and I’ll take you to your room. You can leave your bag here and I’ll have Carl bring it up.”
Adalyn followed Rosie up the long winding staircase as she took in the pristine Victorian style décor. When they reached the top of the stairs, Rosie led her down the hallway to room three. Sliding the key into the lock and opening the door, Adalyn stepped inside. Immediately, she was enthralled by the quaint room. Two wingback reading chairs, an all-season fireplace, and a lawyer’s bookcase/desk made up the Victorian style room. Adding to the charm of it all, were the mint green walls and floral comforter that was draped across the four-poster queen sized bed.
“Over here is the en-suite bathroom.” Rosie opened the door. “Complete with our finest collection of bath amenities.”
“Thank you. It’s perfect.” Adalyn grinned as she stepped over to the window and admired the immaculate garden view.
“You’re not from around here, are you?”
“No. I’m from New York City. I just needed to get away from it all for a few days.”
“Well, my dear, you’ve come to the right place. We serve a gourmet breakfast in the dining room every morning at nine a.m., and we also have freshly brewed coffee throughout the day in the living room up until six o’clock.”
“Thank you, Rosie.”
“If you need anything at all, just ask.”
A knock came at the door and when Rosie opened it, a tall and older gentleman stepped inside with Adalyn’s bag.
“Adalyn, this is my husband, Carl. Carl, meet our newest guest, Adalyn.”
“Nice to meet you.” He held out his hand.
“And you as well.”
“We’ll leave you to get settled,” Rosie spoke as she and Carl walked out of the room.
Adalyn picked up her bag, set it on the bed and began putting some of her clothes in the chestnut dresser that sat next to the desk. She’d already felt more peace than she had in a very long time.
As she drove along the South Carolina coast, pieces of memories filled her mind about the time she and her sister were there visiting their grandmother. The ringing of her phone startled her back to the present and she was pleasantly surprised when she saw her mother was calling.
“Hi, Mom. How’s Italy treating you?”
“Adalyn, I’m back in New York only to find that you’ve gone on a trip alone. What is going on? Your sister won’t tell me a thing.”
“Why are you back already? Did something happen?”
“Yes and no. As much as I loved Italy, I missed you girls and I wanted to come home. I’ve brought someone back with me I want you to meet. When will you be back in New York?”
“I just got to Harbor Falls today. I’ll be flying back in three days.”
“Harbor Falls? Why are you there?”
“It’s a long story, Mom, and I’ll tell you everything when I get back.”
“Did something happen with you and Darren?”
“Yeah. Something did happen. Like I said, I’ll explain everything when I come home.”
“Alright. Stay safe and I’ll see you soon.”
Adalyn’s mother left for Italy three months ago. She was only supposed to be gone a month but decided to extend her vacation and she wasn’t supposed to be back for a couple of more months. She didn’t tell her mother what happened between her and her husband because the last thing Adalyn wanted was for her mother to worry about her like she always did. Now, she was home and she’d brought someone back with her. The thought made Adalyn happy because her mother hadn’t been since her father passed away eight years ago.
5
Two days had passed, and Adalyn was in love with the quaint coastal town. While she was walking down Harbor Street doing some shopping, she came across a corner space with a for lease sign in the window. She stood on the sidewalk and looked inside the window. It was a great space from what she could see and the wheels in her head started to spin. “No,” she thought. She couldn’t. But a little voice inside her told her she could. Taking her phone from her purse, she dialed the phone number and set up an appointment to view the space. Within thirty minutes, Gloria, the realtor, unlocked the door and Adalyn stepped inside. Her vision became clear as she walked around the space and she realized this was the perfect opportunity to make her dream come alive. Art was her passion and she’d always dreamed of owning her own art gallery. When she’d mention it to her husband, he’d told her she wouldn’t have time to run a business if she wanted a child. So basically, the ultimatum was either an art gallery or a baby. Since a child wasn’t in her near future anymore, and she was soon to be out from the grips of a marriage, it was time for her to start living her dream.
“I’ll take it.” She swallowed hard as she looked at Gloria.
“Excellent, Mrs. Richards. I’ll draw up the lease agreement and we can go over the details in my office.
“It’s Ms. Richards.” She smiled.
After looking over the lease, Adalyn also spoke to Gloria about houses for sale in the area. Gloria was ecstatic because one had just gone on the market a few hours before Adalyn called her about the store space for lease.
“I
have the perfect house that just went on the market today.” She beamed. “It’s immaculate and turnkey ready. I believe it’s the perfect house for you. If you have time, I can show you it now.”
Adalyn followed her to the property, and when she pulled into the driveway and her eyes fixated on the light gray Hardie sided two story home with white trim, white shutters and a red front door with beautifully designed etched glass in the middle of it. Before she stepped inside, she already had the feeling this would be the perfect home for her.
“The home is twenty-three hundred square feet with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The owners renovated the entire house this year. Everything is brand new, right down to the flooring,” Gloria spoke as they toured the lovely space.
Adalyn fell in love with the home from the moment she stepped inside, but the one thing that sealed the deal was the panoramic ocean views and the two-tiered deck and stairs that led down to the beach. Money wasn’t an issue. Not only did she have her savings, but she would also get a large sum of money from the divorce settlement.
“Why did the owners want to sell if they just renovated the place?”
“Mr. Waters got a job transfer to Florida. It was very unexpected.”
“And when would the house be available for move in?”
“As soon as we get the finances in order, it could be as early as next week.”
Adalyn put in her offer and Gloria immediately called the owners who graciously accepted. In a matter of a couple hours, she had become a homeowner and the owner of an art gallery. As scary as the thought seemed about starting over somewhere completely new, there a was newfound excitement inside her she’d never felt before.
“What?” Hannah said as she and her mother sat on the couch staring at Adalyn as if she’d lost her mind.
“You’re moving out of New York?” her mother asked.
“I am. You know my dream has always been to open up an art gallery, and Harbor Falls is the best place to do it.”
“You can open an art gallery here in the city,” her mother said.
“I can’t believe you’re leaving.” A pout formed across Hannah’s lips.
“I need to do this. I can’t stay in this city anymore. Not after what Darren did. I need to make a fresh start and I believe Harbor Falls is the perfect place to do that. Everything felt so right when I was there.”
“Well, I don’t want you to leave, but you need to do what you feel is best for you,” her mother said as she stood up and hugged her.
“Thanks, Mom. And I want you to know I approve of Antonio. He’s seems like a wonderful man and I can tell he makes you happy. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting regarding my divorce to attend to.”
Adalyn sat next to her lawyer at the long table with the cherry finish across from her soon to be ex-husband. She couldn’t even look at him anymore after what he’d done. He didn’t have a clue she was moving to Harbor Falls and that was how she wanted to keep it. In fact, she didn’t want much. Only her share of what was rightfully hers.
“He can have the penthouse and all of the furniture,” Adalyn spoke to Darren’s attorney. “The only thing I want is the money I’m entitled to. I have no interest in the company or anything else.”
“And what about the emotional distress suit?” Darren’s lawyer asked.
“I’m dropping it. I just want this divorce finalized as quickly as possible.”
Adalyn and her attorney walked out of the room, and as they were exiting the doors to the building, she felt someone lightly grab her arm.
“Why aren’t you fighting me for anything?” Darren asked.
“Because no amount of money or possessions could ever repair the damage you’ve done to me.”
She turned on her heels and walked out the doors, hoping that would be the last time she’d have to see him.
6
The past two weeks went by quickly for Adalyn as she prepared for her move to Harbor Falls. Between ordering furniture for her new house, getting everything in order for the art gallery, she had lost track of the days. To make it even sweeter, her divorce from Darren was finalized thanks to her attorney having connections with the judge. Everything was all set and the money was placed in her account. Now, the time had come to say goodbye to her family and friends.
“I can’t believe you’re leaving me,” Luis cried as he hugged her.
“I’m not leaving you. I’m just moving to another state. We’ll still talk every day. Afterall, I am going to need your expertise for the art gallery as much as your friendship.”
He broke their embrace and gripped her shoulders. “As soon as the gallery is open, we’re coming to visit.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” A smile graced her lips. I have plenty of guest rooms.”
After saying goodbye to Luis, she headed over to her mother’s apartment. Saying goodbye to her and Hannah would be the hardest ones yet.
“You be safe and call me every day. Do you understand me, Adalyn Marie?” her mother spoke in a swift tone as tears filled her eyes.
“I will, Mom. Don’t worry. I can take care of myself.”
“I know.” She pulled her into an embrace. “I’ll miss you.”
“And I’ll miss you. I’m only a plane ride away.”
The tears Adalyn fought hard to hold back, made their way down her face. She promised herself she wouldn’t cry, but the tears won. After an emotional goodbye to her sister, Adalyn climbed into her brand-new white Jeep Wrangler and drove the ten and a half hours it took to get to Harbor Falls. She was tired and hungry and only stopped for food once earlier in the day. She knew she should stop and get something to eat before heading to the empty house that awaited her arrival. After pulling into the parking lot of the Seaside Bar and Grille, she stepped inside.
“Grab any table you’d like,” a handsome man with dark hair and a bright smile spoke from behind the bar.
Adalyn seated herself at a small table for two by the window with a spectacular view of the water.
“Here’s a menu for you.”
Adalyn turned her head and caught the smile of the man who greeted her when she first walked in.
“Thank you.” She took it from his hands.
“Can I get you something to drink while you’re looking over the menu?”
“I’ll have a glass of chardonnay,” she bashfully spoke as she could feel the heat in her cheeks rise.
“One chardonnay coming right up.” He playfully winked at her as he walked away to get her drink.
A fluttering sensation erupted, and she placed her hand on her belly to try and calm it down. Adalyn found the stranger behind the bar to be extremely handsome. About six feet two inches with a muscular build, short jet-black hair, baby blue eyes, a perfectly shaped nose and a five o’clock shadow that framed his masculine jawline. Her eyes caught every detail in the twenty seconds he stood at the table asking her for her drink order. How could they not? He was perhaps the most handsome looking man she had ever seen.
“Here’s your chardonnay,” he spoke as he set her glass down in front of her. “Are you ready to order?”
“I’m sorry. I haven’t even looked at the menu yet.”
Clasping his hands together, a smile crossed his lips as he spoke, “May I make a suggestion?”
“Of course.” Adalyn slightly bit down on her lower lip.
“We have the best lobster rolls you’ll ever find. Pair that up with a batch of our special seasoned sweet potato fries and you have a winner.”
“Sounds delicious. I’ll have that.”
“Excellent. I’ll go put the order in. Umm, if you don’t mind me asking, you’re not from around here, are you?”
“Is it that obvious?” Adalyn let out a laugh.
“No. It’s just I’ve never seen you before and I’d definitely remember if I had.”
Once again, the heat in her cheeks rose as she looked down in embarrassment.
“Your order will be up shortly. If you
need anything else, just wave. I’ll be at the bar.”
“Thanks. I will.”
She watched him walk away as she picked up her chardonnay and took a sip. While she was waiting for her lobster roll, her phone rang, and she saw it was Hannah calling.
“Hey. I’m sorry I didn’t call you yet.”
“Are you there? Did you make it okay?”
“I’m here. I’m sitting in the Seaside Bar and Grille having a glass of wine while waiting for my lobster roll and sweet potato fries to arrive. As soon as I’m done eating, I’m heading to the house.”
“Lobster roll? Since when do you eat that?”
“I’ve never had one. Anyway, the waiter suggested it.”
“Is he cute?” Hannah asked with curiosity.
“Yes. As a matter of fact he is.”
“Cute enough to date?”
“Hannah, I’m not interested in dating anyone, ever. Not after what Darren did to me.”
She looked over and saw the handsome man heading towards her table with a plate in his hand.
“I have to go. My food is here. I’ll call you later. Love you.”
“Love you too, sis.”
“One lobster roll and special seasoned sweet potato fries for the lovely lady.” He set her plate down in front of her.
“Thank you.”
“By the way, I’m Colin Young.” He extended his hand to her.
She was caught off guard. “I’m Adalyn Richards.” Her hand slipped into his as they lightly shook.
“It’s nice to meet you, Adalyn Richards.”
“Hey, Colin. I need you over here,” An older man shouted from across the bar.
“I need to go. Enjoy your lobster roll.” The corners of his mouth curved upward.
Adalyn got the feeling Colin Young was flirting with her. But everyone she’d met in Harbor Falls when she was there last had been so nice that she dismissed his flirting as being hospitable. She had just taken the last bite of her lobster roll when Colin appeared at her table.
