After they caught their max, they sailed back into port. Austin taught Brooklyn how to tie a proper knot and how to prepare the buoys. At the dock, Austin showed Brooklyn how to secure the boat, and then he helped her onto the wooden walkway and handed her his keys.
“Can you pull my truck up so we can load the fish into the back?”
She nodded and ran up the dock and to his truck. They had only been dating a few weeks when he had let her drive. At first, her nerves made her so jumpy she could barely turn the wheel, but after weeks of practice, she had no problems driving his truck.
The guys were waiting for her when she pulled up. She stayed in the cab until Austin came around to the driver’s door. She scooted to the middle as he climbed in. “Where now?”
“The homeless shelter.”
Brooklyn looked at the three coolers in the back, filled with fish. “Aren’t you going to sell any?”
Austin shook his head. “Not today.”
“Wow” was all she could muster.
“What?” he asked, looking over at her. His grin was wide, pulling his cheeks up, adding to his boyish charm.
She shook her head. “Nothing. I’m just in awe.”
He turned and quickly gave her a kiss. “Maybe tomorrow you’ll volunteer with me after church.”
“I’d like that a lot.”
The next day, she went with him to volunteer at the homeless shelter, and every Sunday after that, and even though the food donation was kept private, everyone there seemed to know Austin was the one who brought in all the fish.
NINETEEN
Carly stood in the doorway of Brooklyn’s room. The two women stared at each other. Carly’s expression was unreadable. Brooklyn’s, however, questioned what Carly was doing. She was dressed in jeans, probably Gloria Vanderbilts or some other older-era fashion line, with a red polo and white sweater cuffed and draped over her shoulders. Every day since she had showed Carly the finished room, she had made an effort to dress better, which secretly made Brooklyn happy. She saw her daughter’s expression each time Carly came down for breakfast. At first, shock, which turned into the biggest, cheesiest grin she had seen on Brystol’s face. While Brooklyn and Carly hadn’t always been the best of friends, they were cordial and respected one another. Carly had expectations of Brooklyn, who failed to meet many of them. Mostly on a daily basis. And Brooklyn . . . well, the only thing she expected from Carly was for her to be present in her daughter’s life.
“What are you doing?” Brooklyn finally asked after Carly let out multiple audible sighs. She set aside the rendering she was working on and watched as Carly strode into her room. She stopped at the window and peered out. That was one of the best things about the house and the inn, so many rooms had a view of the ocean, and Carly had had the keen sense to decorate the rooms to reflect the beauty of the outside. The bedrooms were white with wrought iron beds. Small touches of navy blue created enough pop to make the room feel homey, beachy. Shells that Brystol had collected over the years added to the decorations. But it was the battery-operated candles in the windows that really set these rooms apart from the others. Brooklyn knew Carly did this so the seamen had a guiding light back home. Surprisingly, she felt at home here, despite the tension between the two of them.
“We should go out.”
Brooklyn was confused. This was a woman who not only refused to leave the house but who also hid her granddaughter from the town, and now she wanted to go out? Although Brooklyn knew she wasn’t much better. Last night she had a chance to go downtown with Simone and Brystol, but she chose to stay home, complaining of a headache when she was fine. Truth be told, she didn’t want to run into Bowie. Rumors had spread that he was married, which made Brooklyn feel like a total fool for thinking he was flirting with her. “Where exactly would you like to go?”
Carly turned. She smiled at Brooklyn before turning to gaze out the window. “Do you know what today is?”
Unfortunately, she did. She knew the date all too well despite many attempts over the years to forget it. “I do.”
“Tonight, your friends will gather on the beach . . . my beach . . . and celebrate the life of my son, their friend. They’ve done this every year, and tonight marks the fifteenth anniversary. Austin’s been gone fifteen years, Brooklyn.”
There were two things she wanted to say. One, they weren’t her friends anymore—at least she wasn’t sure she could call them that—and two, she was fully aware of how long Austin had been gone. She had a daughter to remind her of that every day. Instead, she sat there silently, watching Carly.
“Why would they do this? Sit on my beach where I can see them?”
In that moment, Brooklyn wanted to hug Carly, but she couldn’t move from her seat. All she could do was answer her honestly. “I think it’s because this was where we always hung out with Austin. This was our place, our beach. This was our home away from home. You made us all feel like we were your children. I don’t think they’re doing it to hurt you; more so, they’re probably trying to show you they still care and trying to hang on to a little bit of the lives they had back then.” Brooklyn couldn’t be certain of this, especially since no one had come around to check on Austin’s mom. If they had put in as much effort to remember Carly as they had her son, then maybe she wouldn’t have turned into a recluse or closed the doors on the inn. Brooklyn’s efforts weren’t much better, but at least she spoke to Carly.
Carly breathed in deeply. Her hand clutched the windowsill as she started to cough. Brooklyn was by her side instantly, guiding her to the bed. She rubbed her back, like she had seen Simone do numerous times since her arrival, and tried to soothe her. When Carly pulled her hand away from her mouth, there was blood. Brooklyn didn’t say anything. She had suspected something was wrong when Carly had phoned her, Brystol had shared her suspicions of the same with her, and now this. She ran to the bathroom and came back with a handful of tissues and a wet washcloth. Carly cleaned herself and returned to the window as if nothing were amiss.
“Downtown, people gather at Memorial Point and . . . well, I guess the word I’m looking for is celebrate. They’re going to honor all the fishermen who have died at sea. Why they chose my son’s date is beyond me, but regardless, they did, and I would like to go. I would like for us to go as a family.”
Brooklyn gave in. Attending was the last thing she wanted to do, but Carly was sick, and if this was what she wanted, she would give it to her. She could deal with going downtown, mingling among people she really didn’t remember. But going down to the beach tonight was out of the question. That was the last place she wanted to be. Once the remodel was finished on the inn, Brooklyn was out of there. Cape Harbor held memories she’d buried long ago, and that’s where she wanted to keep them.
Brooklyn drove Brystol, Carly, and Simone downtown. She parked as close as she could to First Street. There were barricades in place to keep traffic away from the street fair, which Brystol excitedly detailed for her mother, telling her which stop had the best fried dough, freshly squeezed lemonade, homemade ice cream, and the most beautiful jewelry. Brystol, of course, had bought a mermaid ring the night before when she came down with Simone.
As they walked along the street, memories came back tenfold for Brooklyn. She stopped in front of Hershel’s Candy Store and watched the taffy puller stretch the taffy into figure eights. Next to the machine, a man dressed in all white set out a tray of freshly dipped caramel apples, some candied and others rolled in nuts. Her stomach growled, and she set her hand over it, as if to calm it down. It had been years since she tasted any of Hershel’s candy, and she wondered if he still owned the place.
“Mom, did you come here when you lived here?”
She nodded at her daughter’s question but kept her eyes on the displays. “All the time. I would buy your grandma her Mother’s Day and birthday presents here, knowing full well that she didn’t have a sweet tooth because I knew she’d share with me. Monroe and I used to come here after school and
buy the taffy just as they were pulling it off the spindle. That’s when it’s best, when it’s a little warm.”
“Hershel passed away about four years ago,” Simone said from beside her. “His sons run the business now and have expanded it down the coast.”
“That’s sort of sad; it was a staple of Cape Harbor.”
Judging by Simone’s sigh, she must’ve agreed. Everyone but Brooklyn moved. She stayed, mesmerized by the taffy and remembering how she used to love watching it when she was younger. Someone knocked on the window, startling her. She looked up and found a familiar face waving at her. She knew she couldn’t run anymore and decided to step into the store.
“Brooklyn Hewett, I heard you were back in town.”
“Hey, Clint, it’s good to see you.” She leaned in and gave her former classmate a hug. “I am back in town, for a little bit at least.” Growing up, Clint would occasionally hang out with her group of friends. At one point, he had a crush on Mila, but that never went anywhere.
“Is it true the inn is reopening?”
She nodded and added a genuine smile. “Bowie and I have been renovating like crazy.”
He shook his head. “I remember how heartbroken everyone was when Mrs. Woods shut the door. My dad tried to buy it, but she wouldn’t even entertain an offer.”
Brooklyn wasn’t sure what to say. She didn’t have any excuses for Carly’s behavior, so she steered the conversation toward him. “I’m sorry to hear about your dad. I didn’t know until now.”
“He lived a long, happy life—that’s for sure.”
“He made a lot of us happy and kept the dentists in town in business. It’s good to see you’re doing your part and helping the economy.”
“What can I say; it’s in my blood. I hadn’t heard you and Bowie were an item; is this recent?”
Brooklyn blushed. “We’re not. Carly hired us separately to renovate the inn. Once it’s done, I’ll be back to work and living the dream.” She threw up jazz hands and did a little dip to the side. She had no idea what spurred her to do this, but she felt like a complete boob. “I should probably go. It was good seeing you, Clint.”
“I’m about to head out—gotta get provisions for the bonfire. I’ll see you there?”
She smiled and nodded as she headed out the door. There was no use in telling him she wouldn’t be there. By the time she caught up with her family, Brystol was deep into a bag of cotton candy, had a balloon tied around her wrist, and was wearing some light-up headband with tinsel hanging off in every direction.
Carly linked arms with Brooklyn and strolled down the street as if she owned it, proudly showing off her family and expertly dodging every question about where Brooklyn and Brystol had been by simply stating that Brystol spent every summer here, leaving people to ponder where the hell Carly had been. If the people of Cape Harbor were surprised to see Carly out and about, no one said anything. Most acted like they hadn’t seen her in days, not years, and to Brooklyn this was concerning. During the few years she’d spent here when she was younger, everyone was up in everyone else’s business. No one could do anything without a rumor starting or word spreading faster than wildfire. There was a reason gossip was called tea; it was because every nosy neighbor used the drink as an excuse to gossip.
The four of them continued through the street fair; each stop at a vendor turned into a twenty-minute gab session for people to fawn over Carly. After the fourth or fifth table, Brooklyn had had her fill. It was enough for her to become a recluse, and she could now completely understand why Carly shut herself off. Everyone was talking about Austin as if it were yesterday or last year when he passed, not fifteen years ago. She had loved Austin more than anyone aside from his mother, so she understood a little bit but felt like the town using his passing to come together every year since was a bit too much.
Austin was, by all accounts, the perfect person, according to the people they ran into. If there was an elderly person needing to cross the street, he not only stopped traffic but would get out of his truck to help them. He held doors and carried groceries, he would stop and help someone weed their garden, and he told his mother he loved her every day.
Aside from the kindness, he had the good looks. From the moment Brooklyn had met him, she was smitten, lost in his rich brown eyes. She saw her soul mate when she gazed into his eyes and knew that he was her future. Others thought the same. Some hadn’t cared that he had a girlfriend and had tried their best to grab his attention. At times, it worked. At times, Austin paid too much attention to someone who wasn’t Brooklyn, and those times resulted in them fighting. And as with most couples, hurtful words ensued. Through it all, Brooklyn wanted to be with Austin. She never had any doubt in her mind, even when he told her those dreams were hers and not his. Even when he said the most hurtful words possible. And even when she opened her heart again on that fateful night.
“Brooklyn.”
The sound of her name and the tugging on her hand brought her attention back to the street fair. They were on the sidewalk with people passing by. She couldn’t remember how she got here, too lost in her thoughts about Austin to pay attention. But Simone was standing beside her, facing the wall, shielding Carly.
On instinct, Brooklyn put her arm around Carly. “What’s wrong?”
“She’s tired. It’s too hot out here,” Simone answered for her.
“Let’s go home, then.” She contemplated her words as she waited for Carly’s approval. Carly looked around, almost as if she were checking to see if people were staring. Brooklyn knew what she was doing and acted. “Just hold my arm. No one will be any the wiser because you’ve been holding it for the past hour and a half. Simone will be on your other side, and Brystol will clear a path for us.”
Carly patted Brooklyn’s hand and said, “Thank you.” They did exactly as Brooklyn laid out. With Brystol leading the way, looking like an angry teenager, very few people tried to stop them. Many said hi, and Carly returned the sentiment but kept walking. Inside Brooklyn’s SUV, she blasted the air conditioner and pointed it directly at Carly.
“That was fun,” Carly said jovially. Simone laughed, but Brooklyn gawked at her like she had three heads. The woman had almost passed out, had spent far too much time in the sun talking to people she hadn’t seen in years, and had had to leave due to exhaustion. That was fun for her? In some sense, Brooklyn thought it probably was, since Carly never left the inn.
Later that evening, they could smell the bonfire and hear the laughter. Brooklyn planned to go work at the inn to occupy her time, while Simone said she would start dinner. Brystol wanted to read, but Carly had other plans.
“I think we should go.”
Brooklyn wasn’t having it. “No.”
“It would be awkward if I went by myself. Everyone knows you’re here.”
Thanks to you, the gossip mill, and the field trip you made us take. “You barely made it through the street fair.”
Carly brushed off the statement. “I just needed a little water.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Carly walked over to Brooklyn and took her face between her hands. The two focused on each other, and Brooklyn felt tears start to prick her eyes. “I’ve made many mistakes in the years since Austin died. I closed myself off, changed my whole life because of heartbreak. I know you’ve done the same.” Carly paused as she worked through a coughing fit. This concerned Brooklyn. She wanted to tell Simone what happened earlier and talk to her about getting Carly in to see a doctor—if not in town, then one in Seattle.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, dear. I’m tired of watching the world go by. Since you and Brystol arrived, I’ve realized how much I’ve missed. I’m reenergized. Simone was right—I needed the inn to reopen so I could find my purpose.”
“Sometimes there are things worth missing, like what’s going on outside. It’ll make you sad.”
“How do you know? Have you been before?”
Bro
oklyn shook her head. “No, but I imagine they talk about Austin.”
“Maybe that’s what I need. It’s what she needs.” She turned toward the staircase and yelled for Brystol.
“Yes, Nonnie?”
“Sweetie, some of your father’s friends are having a little party outside—would you like to go with me?”
Brystol stared from her grandmother to her mother. Brooklyn sighed, feeling defeated. “We’ll go for a little bit.”
Carly clapped her hands together before she hugged Brooklyn. Without thinking, she smiled. Maybe Carly was right, and they needed this. It could be the closure the family needed.
Before they ventured to the beach, Brooklyn made sure she had a couple of bottles of water for Carly. With Simone in tow, they walked through the backyard and started down the wooden staircase leading to the beach. In a matter of seconds, Brystol was on the beach with her knees in the sand and Luke licking her to death. Brooklyn felt her heart drop to her stomach. She didn’t want to do this. She didn’t want to see the people she’d abandoned.
However, it was too late to turn back now. Her eyes slowly found the bonfire, and with it, the faces of those she had left behind all staring at her. She swallowed hard, and she stood there, taking in each and every glare. Everyone looked the same to her. She hadn’t forgotten a single one of them.
She had turned to go back to the stairs when someone grabbed her hand. She glanced down at the manicured hand and followed the arm up until she met the soft eyes of Monroe. “Don’t leave,” she said, motioning toward the bonfire.
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