The Coast Road Home

by Vickie McKeehan

  Aubree glanced down at her feet, but not for long. She couldn’t hold what she knew in any longer. “I heard from Alice Kenley who used to be Gilly’s next-door neighbor that she heard Marley crying out on the patio just about all night.”

  “Has anyone seen her, Marley, not the neighbor?” Gideon asked.

  “No, not since yesterday. Sydney mentioned this morning that Marley talked to Hayden for a bit and that she planned to go check out the community garden near the lighthouse. Hannah was there for most of yesterday and said Marley never stopped by.”

  The grapevine might not be such a reliable source of information, but it couldn’t be ignored. Not in this case. Even Gideon could see the importance of sending someone over to check on Marley. “Where’s Gilly? She’d be the one to send over a scout to check things out. If Marley’s in distress, we need to know about it.”

  “I’m on it,” Sheena volunteered, picking up her cell phone and dialing Gilly’s number.

  “Tell Gilly she needs to make it look real, come up with a good enough story. We don’t want the woman to think we’re busybodies fishing for gossip.”

  “You mean people who poke their noses in where they don’t belong?” Sydney offered as she joined the others behind the counter. “Step lightly with this one. She’s prickly about people feeling sorry for her.”

  Which was why Sydney turned to Sheena. “Make sure Gilly doesn’t overplay her hand.”

  Marley hadn’t shown an interest in anyone. Not in a long time, certainly not in the last twenty-four hours. She’d been too busy feeling sorry for herself.

  In the sunny kitchen, she puttered with the coffeemaker and fixed breakfast listening to music on Spotify—Phoebe Killdeer to shake her awake, Pat Benatar to kick her into action, and Martha Wainwright for a little raw inspiration.

  She made herself eat the oatmeal she’d thrown together, a concoction of oats, fresh chunks of apple, vanilla, and a little sugar to sweeten the mixture. To her, it tasted only slightly better than the hospital food she’d been eating.

  Knowing she needed to stop wallowing in a sea of self-pity, she decided to try to find the energy to socialize. Even going out for a drink would do the trick. Since Malachi had invited her to listen to his band, she decided to take him up on the offer.

  But to do that, she’d probably need to do something with her hair. She tried to remember the last time she’d gone to a stylist and couldn’t. A new look might be just the thing to get her out of the doldrums.

  The knock on the door brought her out of her reverie and into the present. She moved to answer the door with all the enthusiasm of a person walking through molasses. Through the peephole, she saw Gilly on her porch with a dog and turned the knob to let them in.

  The huge animal barreled into the living room, skidding to a stop only when Gilly told the canine to halt. “Merlin, sit,” she commanded, using her mom voice.

  Marley took a step back from what looked like a bear but watched as the oversized thing plopped its butt down on the floor. “Is that a dog?”

  Gilly let out a chuckle. “Yeah, a Newfoundland mix. I know he’s huge, but he’s like a big teddy bear. And he’s the reason I’m here.”

  “Didn’t you just get off work a few hours ago? What are you doing here so early?”

  “I didn’t work last night, but I have to go in tonight. I’m here to ask if you’d do me a big favor.”

  “Sure, if I can.”

  Gilly went into her spiel like she was out of breath. “I need you to watch Merlin for me.”

  “What? Me? Why me?”

  “Because I’m desperate. And Merlin knows this house. I don’t think it’d be fair to you to dog sit at our house. And since Simon is out on the boat all day with a group of tourists from Japan, he can’t take him out on the water with him like he usually does.”

  Marley was beginning to suspect that something was off. “Did someone send you over here to check up on me, like maybe Dr. Nighthawk?”

  Gilly feigned offended. “Of course not. What would make you think that?”

  Lifting a sore shoulder, Marley dropped onto the sofa in front of the dog to nuzzle his chin. “He does seem to be a good boy. Aren’t you, Merlin?”

  The dog licked her fingers and then got closer to tongue her face.

  “I think we’ll get along fine,” Marley concluded. “Sure. I’ll watch him. What time does he need to be back home?”

  “Six…-ish…probably. I’ll text you when Simon’s boat docks. It could be later than that.”

  “Where are the kids?”

  “They’re at daycare. But unfortunately for us dog owners, there’s no doggie daycare to rely on in a pinch, like now, not anywhere around town anyway. I’ll just grab a nap before my shift starts, and you can call if you have any questions about Merlin.”

  “He looks like he’d have a hearty appetite.”

  “Oh, he does. I brought over a bag of food to tide him over until tonight.”

  Marley still thought the story seemed fabricated, but she watched as Gilly dragged a bag of dog chow up to the porch. The gesture convinced her that the story might have merit. Maybe the pooch ate the furniture or something if he was left alone all day in the house.

  After Gilly had gone, Marley took a seat on the steps. While the dog nuzzled her side, she rested her hand on his head. “Well, if it is made-up, it’s a darn good ploy. You do look like you could eat a sofa and still go after the chairs. We’ll see if you’re to be trusted.”

  If Marley had known that Gilly reported back to the nosy busybodies that the scheme had worked, she would’ve been furious. But since she was unaware of the subterfuge, she brought the dog with her wherever she went that morning, even to the hair salon.

  Though Merlin didn’t care for the smells of hair dye and permanent waves, he patiently stretched out next to the open door and took a nap.

  While Abby Bonner snipped and trimmed her unruly mass of hair, the two women got to know each other.

  “Wow, I’ve never been to Wisconsin. What’s it like in the wintertime? Is it as cold as I imagine?”

  “Ever seen the movie Fargo?”

  “Sure, blinding snowstorm and freezing cold.”

  “That’s what it’s like. The lakes freeze over, and there’s nothing much to do when the weather’s bad.”

  “I’d go crazy if I couldn’t get outside. The kids would, too. They love going to the beach more than any other activity.”

  “Cabin fever is a real thing,” Marley said and then clammed up for the rest of the time she sat in the chair.

  It didn’t escape Abby that Marley had avoided talking about children. “How long’s it been since you’ve done anything with your hair anyway?”

  “A year maybe.”

  “Wow. Okay, that’s a long time in between cuts. You should know I did something a little different. I cut it in a nice long, angled bob that’s shorter in the back and longer on the sides, easy to take care of. The cut sorta makes you look a little like Mila Kunis,” Abby added as she handed Marley a mirror to check out the back. “Tell me what you think.”

  “You did an excellent job,” Marley began as she admired the sleek style. “This is exactly what I wanted. Abby, you tamed my hair. You’re a hair genius.”

  The young woman beamed at the praise. “You have to show this off and not keep it to yourself. I hope you’re planning to go out on the town tonight and let loose. And this is the hairstyle for a party.”

  “I don’t know about letting loose, but I thought I’d go over to The Shipwreck for a drink and listen to live music.”

  “Great idea. You remember a band called Moss Radley, a grunge band from the 90s?”

  “Sure. Who doesn’t?”

  “That’s Malachi Rafferty. He was the lead singer. He formed Dark Horse after his wife died of cancer.”

  Marley slumped in her chair, the excitement of the new ‘do wearing off in an instant. So much dying. Why was everyone always dying?

  “Did
I say something wrong?” Abby asked.

  “No. Not at all. It’s just that…I need to get going. How much do I owe you?”

  Abby threw out a figure, and Marley handed her a credit card. “Thanks so much for fitting me in.”

  Abby slid the card and handed it back to Marley. “No problem. I even make house calls when the situation is warranted.”

  “Good to know.” Marley snapped her fingers to wake the dog. “Come on, Merlin. Let’s go shopping.”

  Walking down the street with Merlin on his leash, Marley felt lighter in spirit, felt less pain in her side.

  Reclaimed Treasures had a dress in the window that caught her eye. She stopped to admire the flowery print and the ruffle trim. “What do you think, Merlin?”

  The dog sniffed the window, slobbering and leaving drool on the glass.

  “Yeah. Me, too. I like it. Looks like a one-of-kind sort of outfit,” Marley noted. “Let’s go in and see if it fits.”

  The thirty-something woman behind the counter greeted her with a wide smile. She had light brown hair and bright blue eyes. “Want to try it on? I saw you staring at it just now. You have a good eye. It’s a silky fabric that screams summer. And with your height, you’d look amazing in it.”

  “You think so?”

  “I do,” the saleswoman said, ignoring Marley’s facial bruises. She removed the outfit from the mannequin and led the way to a dressing room in the back. Chatting Marley up along the way, the clerk got her settled in the closet-like space. “I’m Keva Riverton.”

  “Marley Lennox.”

  “You’re new in town. I know because I haven’t seen you in here before. And since we’re the only option for fashion around here, it’s obvious you’ve not walked through that door before or I would remember.”

  Keva made a gesture toward her own face and added, “And the bruises tell me you’re the woman who had that awful accident out on the Coast Road.”

  “Observant,” Marley muttered as she stepped inside the dressing room and shut the door. “I’ve been here less than a week. I’m blown away by how friendly everyone seems.”

  From the other side of the door, Keva kept talking. “That’s what I thought. I’ve been here for six months, and I’m glad I made the move. It’s Julianne’s doing. You know, the principal at the elementary school. No, you probably haven’t met her yet. Julianne and I go way back to college. Anyway, it was Julianne who persuaded me to start over here. I moved here from Modesto. I ended up there after I got married, worked retail in women’s fashions at Macy’s for seven years. But after my marriage hit the skids, I felt devastated. I finally had to accept that my loser husband couldn’t keep his hands to himself. That was the toughest part. But Julianne let me know I could come here. I can talk about that awful time now that I’m away from all the hurt. But for a long time, I couldn’t. Julianne was the one friend who stuck with me through the divorce.”

  In the dressing room, Marley had a tough time getting out of her clothes. But she couldn’t get a word in to ask for help because Keva just kept on talking.

  “Anyway, once I got here, I haven’t regretted it, not one day. Since I started working here, the store has started carrying more clothing because, you know, that’s my specialty. And we just don’t have a lot of retail options in town, now do we? My manager, that’s Greg, he’s really good at finding plenty of furniture to fix up and recycle, hence all the unique pieces we have on hand. But the owner, that’s Julianne, she’s leaving it up to me to locate the best outfits out there. She’s trying to expand, but we’re basically locked in at this location. No room to grow much without getting rid of all this furniture first. Which is a roundabout way of saying, if you need furniture, it’s all going on sale soon.”

  Marley had tuned out most of Keva’s chatter while she managed to wriggle into the dress. But she had to ask for help in zipping it up in the back, which is why she stuck her head out and asked Keva to do it. Standing in front of the mirror, Marley studied her reflection. The outfit hugged her form like a second skin. The swirly skirt showed off plenty of leg. “I like it.”

  “It’s made for you. The colors in the pattern go with your hair and skin tone. Do you have shoes to go with it? Because I’m seeing sandals in a creamy color, I think. And do paint your toenails in dark red. It’s all about contrasts.”

  Marley wasn’t sure she could reach her feet. But it sounded like a good idea. “How much is it?”

  Keva lifted the price tag from under Marley’s arm. “It’s marked down.”

  “I’ll take it.”

  The salesclerk grinned, her eyes twinkling. “We’re not carrying shoes yet. But I have a pair of sandals at home that you’re welcome to borrow for the evening. They’d be perfect.”

  Marley returned the smile as she went back into the dressing room to get out of the dress. “You don’t have to do that.”

  “It’s no bother. What size shoe are you? I’d guess about an eight and a half or nine.”

  “You’re good. I’m a nine.”

  “That’s what I wear. I could run the heels over after we close,” Keva said, dangling the offer.

  “You’re not joking, are you? I’m not sure if you’re serious. You’re all so nice…overly nice to a stranger.” Marley emerged from the dressing room and handed off her credit card.

  “Modesto was different,” Keva explained as she headed to the front of the store and the cash register. “I’m sure wherever you’re from it wasn’t like it is here. Am I right?”

  Marley followed the chatty woman and watched as Keva swiped the credit card through the reader. “It wasn’t quite as friendly, no,” she admitted. “What’s up with that?”

  “Don’t know. It’s sort of contagious, though. What part of town do you live in?”

  Marley read off the address.

  “That’s right around the corner from me on Beach Street. When the shop closes this afternoon, I’ll run home and get the sandals.”

  “Are you sure about this? Because I can make do with the shoes I have.”

  “I’m sure,” Keva stated, handing the bank card back. “In fact, why don’t we plan to go shopping for shoes next week on my day off?”

  “In Santa Cruz?” Marley prompted with an eagerness.

  Like a pro, Keva put the dress back on a hanger and bagged it up in clear plastic. “If you like. But there’s a bargain place over in San Sebastian. It’s a real hidden gem. Hannah Summers is the one who mentioned it the last time we had a girls’ night out.”

  “Is this the same Hannah that manages the community garden?”

  “It is. She tried to talk me into taking a second job there. But I’m no good at gardening. Every green thing I touch dies. Are you interested? Because I could tell her, Hannah, and she’d get in touch with you, I’m sure.”

  “I’m interested. I need a job.” She ran a hand over her sore ribs. “I won’t always be recovering from the accident.”

  “I’ll pass the word along. Looks like you’re all set. I’ll see you later after the store closes at six, say around six-thirty.”

  “That’s fine. Thanks for all the help, Keva.”

  “No problem. I’m glad to help another newbie settle in.”

  After leaving the shop, Marley made a point of crossing the street to the Hilltop Diner and grabbing two ice cream cones—one for her, one for Merlin. It was such a lovely day, she took their treats and walked to the park, plopping down on the first bench she came to.

  Merlin wanted to chase the squirrels, but she was able to lure him back each time he yanked on the leash by feeding him his cone. They finished off the ice cream before it melted into a puddle.

  She lifted her head to the blue sky and realized she liked it here enough that she could see herself settling in for good. But trusting her own judgment wasn’t easy. The flubs she’d made to get to this point still haunted her.

  Merlin seemed to sense her mood and was more forgiving as he licked the sticky off her hand.

  “Y
ou wouldn’t happen to have a brother, would you?” she asked him. “I could use a big, strong boy like you to keep me company.”

  The oversized canine flopped over on the grass, wanting her to rub his belly.

  She obliged, scrubbing her hands through his fur and working her way up to nuzzle his neck. “You’re an amazing dog, you know that?”

  Merlin flopped over, ready to wrestle, his big paws scrambling, somehow his head ended up in her lap.

  Having a dog was like the best therapy, she decided, as she wrapped her arms around Merlin and brought him closer.

  Across the park, she caught a glimpse of Scott, making his way toward the school. “It must be time for Hutton’s class to let out,” she murmured into Merlin’s ear. Do you believe in ghosts?”

  Merlin raised his head in Scott’s direction and let out a bark to prove he did.

  “That’s it then, it’s official, we’re both nuts. Let’s head home, shall we? I bet you’re thirsty.”

  Two hours later, when Simon picked up Merlin, Marley decided to point-blank ask him about the sale of the house. “I was just curious, but have you guys had any offers? I heard a rumor. It’s okay if you have.”

  Put on the spot, Simon Bremmer shifted his feet. “I know you just moved in here, but…yeah. We had a couple who looked at the house weeks ago and called the day you moved in to say they wanted to take it. You can stay here until they’re ready to move in. It’ll take weeks to close.”

  Marley realized Scott had been right all along. Chewing her lip, she forced a smile. “No, that’s okay. I’ll start looking for a more permanent place.”

  “It’ll take weeks to close,” Simon repeated. “You’ve only been here for a couple of days. We won’t kick you out.”

  With her mind made up, Marley pointed to Merlin. “Your dog is fantastic. I had a blast with him. Any time you need a sitter, you know where to bring him.”

  “Thanks for helping us out like this. And again, don’t panic about finding a new place. Take your time.”