Summer Island Book Club

by Ciara Knight

  Julie cleared her throat. “No problem, and sorry for the inconvenience and for my choice of friends. My only defense is that we were children when we met.”

  “I understand embarrassing friends.” He looked to Dustin, who held his hands up.

  “What?” he asked with an innocent smile.

  “You both look exhausted and hungry.” Wind clapped her hands together. “I know, beach barbeque. We’ll bring food, you bring the beverages, and we’ll cook at sunset together.”

  “Did you check the weather?” Julie blurted, as if that would halt the Wind Lively show.

  “It’ll be fine.” She waved off the notion that her plan was flawed, and Julie prayed Trevor and Dustin would make a quick escape before she continued her attention-seeking show.

  “Thanks for the offer, but we’re really busy.” Trevor shot Dustin a sideways back-me-up-here look.

  Dustin clapped his hands together once. “Sounds like a great idea.”

  “Good. ’Cause my friend here needs a fun night out. She’s been on her own too long and needs some social time. If she remembers how. Heck, she was married twenty-something years.” She cupped the side of her mouth and play whispered, “He’s not around anymore, though, so she can have fun again.” Then dropped her hand to her side and announced, “It’s settled. Five-thirty at the end of our street.”

  Trevor opened his mouth, but Dustin shot an arm out in front of him as if protecting a child when slamming on the car brakes. That’s what Julie wanted to do: slam the brakes on this conversation.

  “We’ll see you both at five-thirty.” Dustin pressed his palms to Trevor’s stomach, which appeared to not even jiggle at the motion, and pushed him out the door.

  Julie collapsed onto the step stool, feeling like she’d been in her own wreck. She had been—attacked by a Wind Lively waterspout and had the whiplash to prove it.

  Wind threw open her arms, as if waiting for her standing ovation. “You’re welcome.”

  Julie didn’t know what to do about the date or about the impending return of her old friends, but she knew one thing—it felt as if her life was finally about to be shaken up. And if she were being totally honest with herself, there was a tiny part of her that wasn’t altogether unhappy about that.

  Chapter Four

  The afternoon turned to evening, and Trevor had accomplished most of the rebuild. He only hoped it would work when he was done. Dustin hovered around looking at his watch every thirty seconds and grumbling something about being late.

  “You go ahead.” Trevor waved him off, still analyzing the remaining bolt, not sure why it was left over.

  “Not without my wingman.”

  “You didn’t just say that.” Trevor rolled the bolt around in his palm, realizing he had little confidence the engine would work. What had he been thinking? He’d come here to make a new life for himself, but all he’d made was a mess.

  “You’re procrastinating because you’ve lost your game.” Dustin looked at his watch again.

  “I didn’t lose something I never had.” He stood, shoved the extra bolt into his pocket, and stared down at the large metal object sitting on the blanket at his feet.

  “Listen, man. You need to find your confidence again. You used to rule the world of dating. Women still look at you like you’re a god, but you don’t notice anymore.”

  Trevor had never lacked confidence. He’d played on the football team in high school, graduated top of his class in college, climbed the corporate ladder to CEO, but something had happened in recent years. He assumed being cheated on would do that to a man. Not a feeling he liked. Determined to put the engine back, he went to assess the tubes and wires that needed to be tucked out of the way. “Have you seen zip ties?”

  “No, but nice deflection.”

  “I haven’t noticed any women flocking around me.” Trevor headed for the house to escape the invitation and Dustin’s constant nudging for Trevor to date.

  “Man, you’re blind. That Jewels woman fell at your feet.”

  “That happens when a person is knocked down.”

  “I meant it metaphorically.” Dustin huffed and slammed the glass sliding door behind him.

  Inside the house, Trevor didn’t find any reprieve, but he didn’t want to go to some beach party with women he’d met earlier that day. He wasn’t seventeen and hard up. It felt wrong, even after signing the divorce papers. He needed time to adjust to single life again. He needed to be on his own for a while more than anything else. He’d thought since he had waited until he was forty to marry, he’d get it right. Apparently, he’d been mistaken. Just like his own parents who he’d judged for so long, his marriage failed too. The only decision in his life he’d ever regretted was getting married in the first place, but when she said she never wanted kids, it felt like fate for them to be together. No other woman wanted a man who probably couldn’t give them a baby. He’d learned that the hard way at a young age. “I’m not going. You go.”

  Dustin plopped onto the couch like he was back to being his college roommate, begging him to skip studying to go hang out. “Man, I thought you’d snap out of it by now.”

  Trevor avoided that conversation and picked up his phone to look up engine repair guys near him. He swiped up to find the news app headline: “Business Mogul Rhett Darington Engaged to Lingerie Model Marsha Thompson.”

  Fire erupted inside Trevor. No. Not already. The final divorce papers were only signed weeks ago. He tapped the image of his ex-wife in the arms of another man and read further. We find it shocking after Marsha’s recent divorce from the once-hailed “most handsome bachelor,” Trevor Ashford. Yet, we can’t turn our eyes away from the Marsha love life train wreck. Will she crush another man into becoming a hermit, or will Rhett be able to handle this gold-digging beauty?

  “What is it?” Dustin asked, sitting up straight. “I know that look.”

  Everything inside Trevor screamed that he wanted to punch something or kick something or scream something at the world. It wouldn’t help, though. He eyed the picture and felt nothing for the woman with the fake smile and false intentions. That was his past, and he needed to look toward his future. “It’s nothing.”

  Dustin snatched the phone from Trevor’s hand. “No, are you serious? That woman is pure evil.”

  “No, she’s not.” Trevor knew her better than most, and evil wasn’t the problem. For such a beautiful woman, she lacked confidence, and she’d sucked his from him over the seven years they were married.

  “You’re still defending her? How could you still be in love with that woman?”

  Trevor blinked, shaking his head, shedding the eight-year-old fog from his brain. “Love her? No, I don’t even like her. But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel sorry for her. That woman is damaged and will never be happy.” He took the bolt from his pants pocket and handed it to Dustin.

  “What’s this?” Dustin asked.

  “You said you’d pay to have my engine fixed. If that’s the price you want to pay to go tonight, I’m in.”

  “Really?” Dustin tossed Trevor’s phone down on the table. “Yes. Let’s go. Well, after you shower. Dude, you stink.”

  Trevor looked down at his hermit appearance and made a decision. It wasn’t time to hide from the world. It was time to start living again. He wasn’t looking for romance, but dinner on the beach sounded easy and fun. How long had it been since he’d had either of those things? “I’ll pay you back when I can move some money out of my investment accounts.”

  “Nope, it’s my gift to you. And me.” Dustin laughed. “I hate boat work.”

  “I never would’ve guessed.” Trevor headed up the stairs but paused. “One thing, though. I’m not going to hook up with a woman. I’m going so I can start enjoying life with some friends. Got it?”

  “Breaking hearts already?” Dustin lifted his arms over his head and turned to the four corners of the room, announcing, “Ladies and gentleman, our heavyweight heartbreaker is back.”

&
nbsp; Trevor shook his head and escaped to the small master bathroom. Master was a strong word. It was small and in need of repair, but it was quiet, and it was his.

  After his shower, he headed downstairs, determined to have a fun night. The article had said one thing right… He’d been hiding from the world, and it was time to crawl out of his hole. Especially if he wanted his new business venture to take off. Two broken-down boats were only the start. After one season, he hoped to buy more boats out of the proceeds and build up to being the most sought-after charter company on the East Coast.

  When he was done getting ready, it was only five o’clock, so they still had time to go to the store to buy some beverages and make it to the beach before sunset. He only hoped this Jewels woman wasn’t looking for something serious. He’d keep his distance, but he knew what it was like to be recently divorced, so he’d be kind. Friendship. That’s what he wanted from her, nothing more. Sure, she was pretty, in a mothering sort of frumpy way in her shorts and too-big top, but that wasn’t enough. He’d learned that the hard way. It didn’t matter what she wore. Even in a formfitting dress, with a pretty smile and slim waist, he wouldn’t look twice. Not tonight. Not ever again.

  Julie hid away in her room with Houdini at her side. The little rascal always provided the comfort she needed and had been a blessing since Joe died. Why did everyone think she needed to get out of the house and socialize, to start dating, to move on with her life? What was wrong with the way she was living?

  She stroked Houdini’s soft fur and relaxed to the sound of his snoring. With eyes closed, she took a moment for herself after dealing with Wind all afternoon. That woman was something. Had she always been that vivacious? Yes. Memories flooded in of Wind cheering on top of the lunchroom table on game day, or doing backflips down the hallway because it was Friday, or singing between classes as if providing an impromptu concert.

  Back then it was fun and exciting. The girl lived for attention her entire life, probably because she never got any at home. How could she with six brothers and sisters? When the four of them were alone on Friendship Beach, though, life was perfect and calm. Perhaps tonight, despite only going to the end of the road and not to Friendship Beach, she’d feel a little of that calm that might provide a temporary light in the darkness she’d felt over the last few years. That heaviness she carried in her chest that ached on occasion even now.

  Knock. Knock. Knock.

  “Come in.” Julie shifted Houdini from her neck and rested him on her belly so she could sit up.

  “Hi, Mom. Can I come in, or are you going to throw something at me?”

  “You’re always welcome, hon. I promise not to throw anything.”

  Bri peered out the door as if to check to make sure no one followed her and then shut it and crawled up on the bed beside Julie. “Oh my goodness, you told me about Wendy when I was growing up, but to be honest, I thought you exaggerated. That woman is all energy and needy. How are you two friends?”

  Julie thought for a moment, but it didn’t take long to extract the information from her memory. “I know she is a lot to take in at first.” Julie stroked Houdini, who purred his approval. “You know, in the last few hours of chatting with Wind, I can tell you that she focused the conversation on me and my life and shared little of her own. I know she broke up with someone recently but didn’t elaborate. She is working on a new show, but I don’t know where. She arrived on Summer Island early so she could help her second oldest sibling this week while she recovers from some minor surgery. Which doesn’t surprise me at all, because as big of a personality as she has, she has an even bigger heart. That woman would do anything for you without question.”

  Bri snuggled up into Julie’s side to pet Houdini, causing him to stretch and then rolled over with a playful slap and giggle sound she’d learned was called dooking. “Really? I’d think she was too self-absorbed to notice anyone else.”

  Julie smiled. “Did I ever tell you about when Tom Wallace dumped me the night before the homecoming dance? The four of us—Kat, Trace, Wind, and I—all planned on going together with our dates. He wasn’t even going to tell me and planned to leave me at home waiting in my dress the night of the dance, but Kat found out through a friend that he was taking another girl.”

  “What? That scoundrel.” Bri stiffened. “I hope you ran him over with your car.”

  “I never even had to think about how to handle it because Wind took care of it.”

  “What did she do?”

  Julie laughed. “You mean after she found out and was so mad she took a one-hundred-eighty degree turn and spun out, taking out a stop sign and almost ending up in a neighbor’s pool?”

  “What?” Bri shot up. “You could’ve been killed.”

  “We were young and thought we were indestructible. Anyway, she snuck out of her house that night, took shoe polish, and wrote all over the school windows that Tom Wallace had herpes.”

  Bri covered her mouth. “Oh my goodness, that’s so mean.” She dropped her hands to her lap, as if remembering what he’d done, and said, “Good for her.”

  “That’s Wind—protective, giving, loving, and exhausting all in one conversation.” Julie realized something in that moment. “You know, I jumped to the conclusion that Wind wanted to invite those two men out tonight to the beach because she wanted the attention, but that’s not the case.”

  “It’s not?” Bri asked.

  “No. She did it because she thought that’s what I needed. The woman doesn’t stop to ask. She makes assumptions and pulls the trigger on the craziest schemes before you know what’s going on. That’s what I always loved about her. I never knew what would happen next. She kept life interesting.”

  “Until she was gone and you were left behind.” Bri scratched Houdini’s head.

  “Is that what you think?” Julie realized she’d been struggling with that same assumption for a long time, but it wasn’t true. “You know, that night that I was dumped for homecoming and Wind made that crazy gesture, do you know who really came to my rescue?”

  “Who?”

  “Your dad.” Julie felt the warmth bubble up inside her at the memory. “He was a year older and had plenty of girls to choose from, but when he heard what his so-called friend had done, he came to my house and asked if he could have the honor of taking me to the dance.”

  “He did that?” Bri beamed with pride. “I knew you two went to the dance and were inseparable from that night forward, but you never told me that story.”

  “Yes, that’s what I loved about your father. He was a good and honest man. We had a great life together.” Julie stroked her daughter’s hair.

  “I miss him, too,” Bri offered.

  Before they fell into the pit of mourning, Julie decided to focus on the positive. “You know, I may have thought about art over the years, but if I had the choice to make again, I wouldn’t change my decision. I’m happy here. This is my home. My friends didn’t feel the same way, and they had a right to live their lives the way they wanted to, so I let them go.”

  “Sounds like Wendy isn’t the only friend who put others before herself.” Bri crawled to the end of the bed, stood up, and held out her hand. “I think you need to go tonight, Mom. If not to meet a new guy, then to spend time with your old friend. She sounds great. A little much, but a good friend to have.”

  “I think you’re right.” She set Houdini in his favorite little spot between two pillows, stood, and straightened her button-down shirt.

  Bri opened the door, but before she could leave the room, Wind bolted in with a gasp. “No, no, no.”

  “What?” Julie asked, not sure she really wanted to know the answer.

  “You’re not wearing that grandma-frock. You’re too pretty and far too young to be caught dead in that.” Wind opened her closet and rummaged through until she pulled out a sundress. “Here. Wear this.”

  “On the beach? With the wind?” Julie shook her head. “I’m not in the mood to be arrested for indecent
exposure when that skirt flies up, and how am I going to sit on the sand? I’ll be extracting grains from unmentionable places for days.”

  Bri smiled. “I don’t know, Mom. I think you’ll look nice.”

  “Great, now you’re ganging up on me?”

  “It’s settled. Wear the dress. Bri, get my makeup bag off the dresser in my room.”

  Julie eyed the sundress she’d bought two years ago but had never worn. “Fine.” She took it, knowing they were both right, that hiding in her home the rest of her days wasn’t a way to live. But the idea of meeting a strange man on the beach after all these years churned her stomach up into knots.

  “Stop that,” Wind said bluntly.

  “Stop what?” Julie slid on the dress, feeling the silky fabric against her skin.

  “Overthinking it. We’re going to the beach to roast some hotdogs and watch the stars and surf. To have fun. That’s it.” Wind cleared her throat and took off in another conversation direction. “Your daughter’s cool. Good job on that one.”

  Julie chuckled at her sideways compliment and eyed herself in the full-length mirror. If she was honest with herself, she did look pretty in the dress. The way the material was cut made her waist look tiny, and it was long enough to hide her slightly loose skin on her thighs.

  Wind shoved Julie into a chair, snagging the makeup bag and a hot iron before Bri could step into the room. They attacked as if commencing brain surgery on a dying patient. Memories flooded in of their high school makeover nights, where the four of them would do facials, nails, and hair for one another. They had been the best times of Julie’s young life. And she’d missed them more than she’d allowed herself to believe. In a week, she’d be facing all three of them, though. Would it be a blessing like before, or a curse to show her how much she’d missed in life remaining in Summer Island while they had all gone off to live full lives?

  Despite everything she had said to Bri, she still worried that in the end, she’d face a different truth. That now that Joe was gone and her friends and daughter had lives, she had nothing in this world left. At forty-nine, she’d lived her life, and that was a depressing thought. One she knew she had to face and change, despite how scary it was. Tonight would be the first step in the right direction. A step toward a new chapter.