by Kay Correll
“No… I didn’t know how to, and he didn’t give me any time. He stormed out of here, not that I blame him.” Courtney leaned over and grabbed another tissue from the box beside the couch. “I really messed this up.”
“I think you should tell him what happened. Tell him about Kurt. He’ll understand.” Tally’s heart broke for all her granddaughter had endured. The abuse, the fear. She was so thankful all of that was behind her now. But she could understand why Courtney reacted how she did when AJ reached past her face.
“I don’t know how to tell him. I feel so ridiculous for not leaving Kurt sooner. I was so young and naive. For so long I believed him when he said I did things that made him hit me.” Courtney shook her head. “I was so… foolish.”
“It is not your fault.” Tally was stunned by her granddaughter’s words. She hadn’t realized Courtney blamed herself. “You did leave. You got Bobby to safety.”
“But I let it go on so long. Believed Kurt. If I tell AJ everything, he’ll know how foolish I was.”
“None of this is your fault. None. It took strength to leave him. To believe in yourself instead of Kurt’s words. That’s what abusers do. They convince you that somehow if you’d just be better, just act more how they wanted you to, then they wouldn’t get mad and hit you.” She took Courtney’s hand. “But you are one of the strongest women I know. Look how far you’ve come. Look what a fabulous mother you are. You should feel proud of yourself for escaping your background and making such a good life for you and Bobby.”
Her granddaughter’s brows knitted together in doubt. Tears filled her eyes again like an unrelenting storm.
Tally reached over and touched Courtney’s cheek. “I’d give anything to take away what happened to you. If things could have been different for you and Bobby. I just thank God every single day that you and Bobby were brought into my life. That I found you.”
Courtney leaned against her and started crying softly. “I’m so glad we found you, too.”
Tally just held her and let her cry. Tally’s heart clenched, and she physically ached to see her granddaughter in such distress.
Courtney finally quieted and pushed herself up, swiping away the last of her tears. “Thank you for being here for me.” She fingered the rose gold pocket watch hanging from the chain around her neck as if gathering comfort from the mother she never knew.
“Always.” Tally smiled at her granddaughter’s caress of the heirloom. “I think you should tell AJ what happened though. Tell him everything. He’ll understand.”
Courtney sighed and pushed her hair away from her face. “You’re probably right.”
“It will do you good to tell him. It’s not a terrible secret you need to keep. Kurt is a horrible human being, but he is your past. Maybe AJ can help you move on.” Tally paused and looked directly into Courtney’s eyes. “I do think AJ is a good man. I like him.”
“I guess I’ll tell him. If I ever even see him again. He was pretty upset with me.”
“I think tonight is the perfect time to tell him.” She eyed Courtney.
“I don’t know.”
“I do. I think you should call him, meet him, tell him.”
Courtney’s lips curved into the hint of a smile. “Man, you’re a tough one, aren’t you?”
“I am. Especially with those I love.”
Courtney called AJ, but he didn’t pick up. Not that she really expected him to. She left him a brief message saying she wanted to talk to him. Then she texted him for good measure, telling him she was sorry and needed to talk.
Still no answer.
Tally’s phone rang, and she quickly answered it. “Hey, Susan, I’m over at Courtney’s new place, can I call you back? No, she’s fine. She’s just trying to find AJ Hamilton.”
Tally looked over and tilted her head. “Really? Well, that helps. Thanks, Susan.” She tapped off the phone and stood. “Let’s go.”
“Where are we going? I’m a mess.”
“Go wash your face then. We’re headed to The Lucky Duck. Susan’s son, Jamie, saw AJ there. He’s sitting at the bar drinking a beer. ”
Courtney didn’t even question how all this happened and suddenly AJ was found. Susan, Julie, and Tally always seemed to know everything about everyone on the island.
“Give me just a minute.” Courtney hurried to her bathroom, splashed water on her face, and threw on just a hint of makeup. She quickly returned to the front room. “I’m ready.”
“Good, let’s go.” Tally opened the door, and they walked out into the salty night air.
They quickly made their way to The Lucky Duck. Tally stood inside the door with her and nodded toward the bar where AJ sat nursing a beer. “Go. Talk to him. I’ll talk to you later. Call me if you need me.” With that, Tally turned around and walked out of the tavern, leaving Courtney alone to slay her dragon.
She dragged in a breath of fortifying air, walked over, and slipped onto the barstool next to AJ. “Hi.”
AJ glanced up at Courtney then went back to methodically eating the nuts out of a small bowl in front of him.
“I tried calling. I texted.”
“Yep.” He tilted back his head and took a long swallow of his beer, still not looking at her.
“AJ, can I please talk to you? I know you’re mad, but please let me explain.”
“Not much to explain. You thought I was going to hit you. That I was the kind of man who would hit a woman. Everyone in my life seems to think the worst of me. I get that. It is what it is.” He sounded like he was having a big old pity party, and truth be known, he was. He was just so tired of everyone thinking the worst of him. He’d always been polite, even gentle with her, but she thought he would hit her.
She rested a hand on his arm, but he ignored that, too. Well, he tried to ignore it.
“I don’t. I just…” Her voice cracked.
That did make him turn to look at her. He could hear the raw pain in her voice.
“I saw your hand coming toward me, and I reacted like…” She shuddered and closed her eyes. After a moment, she opened them and looked directly at him. “I reacted like I was used to reacting. I dodged away so I wouldn’t get hit again.”
“Again?” His eyes narrowed, and he searched her face.
“I… Bobby’s father… he…” Tears flooded her eyes, and she stopped, struggling to compose herself.
AJ looked at her closely, threw some bills on the bar, and stood up. “Come on. Let’s go outside where we can talk.”
She slid off the barstool and followed him out of The Lucky Duck.
“There, let’s go to the gazebo.” He pointed to the empty gazebo down at the end of Oak Street.
They walked silently down the sidewalk then climbed the stairs to the gazebo. She leaned against the railing, so he did too, waiting for her to begin talking again.
He sensed more than heard her take in a big breath of air. “I left Bobby’s father because he hit me. He hit me a lot. I finally got up enough nerve to leave him. I took Bobby, and we went on the road, hiding from Kurt.”
His heart squeezed in his chest, and sympathy mingled with anger. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea.” He raked his hand through his hair, feeling like a fool for making this about him after all she’d gone through.
“He found us, though. Here on the island.” She turned and looked out toward the bay at the end of the walkway.
He swiveled around, looking down at her.
She continued but didn’t look at him. “I should have left him sooner. I don’t know why it took me so long. He said I made him do it. That if I didn’t make him mad, it wouldn’t happen. It sounds so silly when I say it now.” She traced her finger along the top of the railing. “But when he got rough with Bobby… well, I knew we couldn’t stay.”
He let her take her time, telling her story on her own terms.
“When Kurt got here and found us, well… he hit me again. But Eddie came and stopped him.” She reached up to touch her face as if feeling
Kurt’s blows.
His heart twisted. She’d gone through so much. How could anyone hurt her like that?
“Anyway, the police came and took him away, so finally, Bobby and I were safe.” She turned to him then. “But when your hand came flying past my face… I just instinctively ducked. I couldn’t sort out the past from the present.”
He reached out—ever so slowly—to touch her face. Her hand rose to meet his and pressed it against her cheek.
“I would never hit you. Ever. I’m sorry I scared you. So sorry I brought all this back up to you. And I’m so, so sorry I stormed out without letting you explain.”
“I just wanted you to know I really didn’t think you would hit me. It was all me. Just my messed up past making me react like that.” Her voice was low and broke his heart in ways he wasn’t prepared for.
He wiped away her tears then slowly pulled her into his arms to hold her against him. Letting her cry. Letting her feel his warmth and protection.
That Kurt guy better never show his face or… well, AJ made no promises about keeping himself out of the papers if the man ever showed up.
Courtney leaned against him, and he held her close, stroking her hair, trying to give her some of his strength.
Finally, she looked up at him and gave him a tentative look. “So, we’re all good now?”
He wasn’t sure he’d ever be good again. Not after hearing what had happened to Courtney. A fierce wave of protectiveness swept over him, too strong to deny. He reached out, painfully aware of how slowly he moved his hand, and tilted her chin up so he could look directly into her eyes. “Yes, things between us are fine.”
As much as he wanted to kiss her at that moment, he knew the timing was all wrong. So he gently wrapped his arms back around her, and they both stood looking out over the water.
Chapter 14
“Momma, you’re taking forever.” Bobby danced from foot to foot. “Mr. Hamilton isn’t gonna wait all day, you know.”
“I have to finish packing the picnic lunch.” Courtney peeked into the picnic basket. Sandwiches, chips, fresh fruit, and a jug of lemonade. She added a tin of cookies. She’d packed enough for a dozen people even though it would only be AJ, Bobby, and her.
AJ had surprised her when he asked if she wanted to go on a picnic today and include Bobby. She’d said yes if she could bring the food, since she wasn’t sure that AJ was up on food six-year-old boys liked. Not that Bobby was a picky eater, but he did have his favorites.
“Do you have your swimsuit on under that? You said we could go in the ocean.” Bobby eyed her.
She’d slipped on shorts and a t-shirt over her suit. “I do have it on. Go grab our beach bag.”
Bobby raced over and picked up the bag with towels, flip-flops, and suntan lotion. “Hurry up. We want to be ready when Mr. Hamilton gets here.”
She turned at the sound of a knock at the door. Before she’d even taken a step, Bobby had tugged the door open. “Hey, Mr. Hamilton. We’re all ready. Well, Momma is almost ready. Girls take forever to get ready, don’t they?”
AJ stepped inside and looked at her appreciatively. She self-consciously tucked a wisp of hair behind her ear. She’d be glad when it grew out enough to pull it back. “I’m ready, too.”
AJ stepped aside and she and Bobby walked out the door.
“Oh, boy. Look at his car. It’s a convertible. We’re going to ride with the top down?” Bobby danced around in excitement.
“We sure are. You have to wear your seatbelt though.”
“I always wear my seatbelt. Momma makes me.”
“It’s a good rule to have.” AJ took the picnic basket from Courtney and placed it in the back seat. He leaned close to her and whispered, “You look very fetching today.”
Fetching? Who said that anymore? But, somehow, it sounded just right coming from him. A warm blush crept over her face. He looked rather good himself. He’d gotten a haircut, and his thick, brown hair no longer had that slightly shaggy, in-need-of-a-trim look.
“Does Bobby need a car seat or something?”
“Yes, let me grab his booster seat from my car.” She took Bobby’s seat out of her car and fixed it in AJ’s. Bobby climbed in and fastened up.
AJ opened the car door for her, and she slipped into the front seat. He climbed in and they headed off to Lighthouse Point. The wind tousled her hair into a wild mess, but she didn’t mind. She felt carefree for the first time in a very long time. Riding along in the car with Bobby and AJ, the wind on their faces, seemed like a perfect way to spend a glorious afternoon.
AJ glanced over at Courtney. She looked beautiful with her hair tossing about and a wide smile on her face. She tilted her face to the sunshine. This was turning into a perfect day.
He pulled into the parking lot near Lighthouse Point. Bobby scampered out of the car. “We should hurry and get set up. Then we can go in the ocean, right, Momma?”
AJ grabbed the picnic basket then popped the trunk. Courtney looked inside and laughed. “You thought of everything, huh?”
“I wasn’t sure what all we needed.” He looked at the umbrella, beach blanket, and three chairs. “Overkill?”
“We could leave the chairs and just use the blanket. Come on, I’ll help you carry it all.” She took the beach blanket and her tote bag.
He balanced the umbrella on one shoulder and carried the basket in his other hand.
“Now, can we go?” Bobby skipped down the path to the beach.
They walked after him with their load. They found a spot near the lighthouse to spread out the blanket while Bobby raced down to the water.
“Just stay at the edge until I get down there with you,” Courtney called out.
“I know, Momma. I know.”
He wrestled the umbrella into submission. Kind of. It tilted crazily but cast a shadow across one edge of the blanket. Good enough. He placed the picnic basket in the shade.
“I should go let Bobby swim for a bit.” Courtney slipped off her shorts and let them drop onto the blanket. With another swift movement, she tugged off her t-shirt and let it drop beside the shorts. She wore a bright blue two-piece swimsuit, and she looked… fabulous. Better than fabulous.
He shucked off his t-shirt. “I’m ready if you are.”
They walked across the warm sand to the shoreline.
“Can I get in now?”
“Yes, I’m coming in with you.”
He watched while Courtney waded out into the ocean, holding Bobby’s hand. The gulf was calm today, with gently rolling waves. With a whoop, he raced into the water and swung his arm around in a large arc, splashing Bobby and Courtney. Bobby shrieked with laughter, held onto his mother’s hands, lifted his feet, and kicked up a waterfall of water in AJ’s direction. AJ responded with another good splash.
Bobby bobbed up by his mother’s side. “I can swim. Wanna see me?” Without waiting for a reply, he swam the short distance to AJ and climbed onto his back. “Look, Momma. I’m tall now.”
“Bobby, don’t go climbing all over Mr. Hamilton.”
“I don’t mind.” And he realized he didn’t. He swam a bit with Bobby riding on his back then stood up and tossed Bobby up in the air. Bobby laughed and came splashing down beside him.
“Do it again.”
He tossed Bobby up again and again until his arms grew weary. They all swam along the shore and splashed each other in a winner-takes-all water fight. Laughter punctuated the friendly battle. He grinned every time he heard her infectious laugh. They all finally waded to the shore, water running down their salty skin, and headed back to where they had spread out their things.
Bobby dropped down onto the blanket and grinned. “That was the most fun ever. Now I’m starving.”
Courtney grabbed a towel and dried off a bit, then wrapped the towel around her waist. “I’ll get the food ready.”
He watched her, her hair glistening from the seawater, her cheeks rosy from the sun. He dried off some and dropped onto the blanket by Bob
by.
Courtney had brought an impressive spread. Sandwiches of all kinds, cut fruit, chips, and cookies. “Wow, you know how to do a picnic.”
“I wasn’t sure what you liked… so I brought… um… a variety.”
“I’ll say.”
“I want the peanut butter and jelly sandwich.” Bobby reached for it.
“Bobby, our guest chooses first.”
Bobby scowled. “Okay, but he better not pick the peanut butter and jelly one.”
AJ smothered a grin. “I think I’ll take the ham sandwich.”
“Oh, good.” Bobby reached for his sandwich.
Courtney poured them all lemonade, opened the bag of chips, and passed out napkins.
As he took a bite, AJ realized he’d worked up quite an appetite playing in the surf. The plain picnic was perfect. The last “picnic” he’d gone on had been on a yacht with a catered picnic basket with fancy-named appetizers and very expensive wine. This simple meal suited him much more, to his amazement. He wasn’t sure what spell this island had cast over him—or maybe Courtney had cast a spell—but he’d grown to like more simple pleasures. And that surprised him very much.
“Can we go make a wish at the lighthouse now?” Bobby jumped up after consuming more food than AJ could believe a little kid could possibly eat.
“Let us finish our lunch first.” Courtney laughed. “You can go to the edge of the water and collect shells, but don’t go in without us.”
He raced to the shore.
“Does he ever run out of energy?” AJ watched the boy in amazement.
“Rarely. Though when he does, he drops off hard and fast.”
“He seems like a great kid.”
“He is.” She smiled. “He’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“Can I ask you something?” He wasn’t sure he should.
“Of course.”
“Did he do okay when you were on the run from his father? Did he understand what was going on?”
She put down her drink. “He understood some of it. He’d seen Kurt hit me. He tried to stop Kurt one time, and Kurt flung him across the room.”
