The Beach House

by Vicky Jones

  “That might be our only option, though, in the circumstances.” Shona smiled at Chloe’s confused reaction, her eyes twinkling. “No one will buy the idea that we’re just friends. I can’t keep my hands off you.”

  “But you think it’s OK for you to do that if you’re my sister?” Chloe said as she raised an eyebrow.

  Shona blushed. “Oh yeah. I guess I didn’t think that one through, did I?”

  Chloe laughed. “It’s OK, I knew what you meant. But either way, we’re gonna have to be careful in plain sight. Lucky for us there are a lot of war widows around, so no one will bat an eyelid if they see my sister living with me now. They’ll just think my poor husband is lying in bits somewhere on a battlefield. Never to be seen again.” A smile formed at the corners of Chloe’s mouth, her finally feeling free from Kyle’s vicious clutches. “And we can’t have none of that caper you got going on there,” she joked, nodding down at Shona’s wandering hand which was now brushing the inside of Chloe’s thigh.

  “Can you blame me? I got the most gorgeous girl in all the world next to me.” Heeding Chloe’s words, she lifted her hand away and lay back in her seat. “You smell that air? Every mile we drive we’re getting closer to the ocean, I know it.” She stared off into the horizon then breathed in a huge lungful of air, letting it out slowly.

  Their journey took them through the plush greenery of Arkansas, the landscape noticeably changing to drier, dustier plains as they drove day and night, weaving their way onwards through Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and finally across the border into California, via the bridge over the Colorado river.

  “Welcome to California. The Land of Milk and Honey,” Chloe said, a glimmer of excitement in her tired eyes. It was just after seven o’clock that Thursday morning and their long journey was almost at an end. With their final destination ever closer now, she turned onto the highway that led straight to the coast. In the fields on either side of the road were swathes of yellow poppies blowing gently in the light breeze, still going strong in the late summer warmth.

  “Do you know where we’re going?” Shona asked, looking at all the road signs they passed along the way.

  Staring straight ahead, Chloe nodded, the tiniest smile at the corner of her mouth. “Yes. I know exactly the place,” she replied.

  Passing through Greenfield, then Salinas, the scent in the air seemed to change hour by hour as Shona lifted her nose and sniffed. The ocean was close; she could sense it. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back as the car ate up the miles.

  “I wanted to surprise you with something. It’s not far now,” Chloe said, looking sideways at Shona, who was staring out of the window for her first longed-for glimpse of the ocean she’d craved to be near for so long.

  Twenty minutes later, Chloe took a turnoff that began to lead down to a sandy path and there, at the end of it perfectly nestled next to the ocean, was a sight that made Shona gasp.

  “What have you done?” she said, her mouth hanging open, her eyes wide.

  “I made a few enquiries before we left Mississippi. I, well… I wanted you to have something special to come to after everything you’ve been through. I know this was your dream so…”

  Chloe stopped the car and Shona, her legs feeling like jelly, climbed out of the car.

  “All I need to do is go and see the realtor before they close at five and pay the deposit.” Chloe reached out for Shona’s hand. “It’s ours, Shona. It’s our new home.”

  Shona was in shock and put both hands up to her mouth. The beach house was an exact replica of the one where she’d spent a week back in 1956 with Dorothy down in Gulfport. It was almost identical to the postcard she’d bought as a memento of that week. Save for a lick of blue paint on the window frames and a touch-up of the white weatherboarding, it was just perfect.

  Shona turned to Chloe, tears in her eyes, unable to believe what she was seeing. “How did you know?”

  Chloe reached into her purse and took out the postcard of the beach house that had originally belonged to Shona, with numerous pinholes in each corner.

  “When I saw Dorothy that first time, when I wanted to find out more about you, she let me stay the night in your old room. I saw the postcard pinned above your bed that you’d left. Dorothy explained what happened with that Lucy girl, that she gave you her copy of the postcard to take with you. I somehow just knew it was important to you. When I left the next morning, I asked Dorothy if I could keep your postcard and she said ‘yes’, if I promised that one day I would make your dream a reality. So here we are.”

  Shona walked towards the beach house in a daze.

  Chloe walked up behind her and whispered in her ear, “It’s still early enough to go get the keys. You wanna stay in your new home tonight?”

  “Our new home,” Shona corrected. “Chloe, I don’t know what to say. How can I ever show you just what this means to me?”

  “Just make every day count. That’s all I want, Shona. Just you and me, for always. In our forever home. Now, let’s go get those keys.”

  Chapter 2

  Sunnybrook was the name of the town only a mile up the road from the beach house. Just after they passed the welcome sign, they drove around the first corner of the town square, which was flanked on each side by small local businesses and the usual array of stores. After the town’s garage came the local family butcher’s, the drugstore and a small boutique hair salon. There was also a shoe repair shop, a candy store and a little bakery. At the end of that row was one of the roads leading out of town. Chloe continued to explore the town’s amenities, pulling around the corner to the next side of the square where a smart-looking bar was situated.

  “Looks like a nice place. Friendly. Named after the owner, it would seem. Bertie’s,” Shona said, reading the sign above the door of the bar.

  The seating area underneath two blue and white striped awnings was populated by a small group of women laughing and fooling around. The deck area was immaculately scrubbed and presented, and there were small shrubs in planters at each edge of the front and umbrellas fixed to each bench seat. At the corner of that side of the square was the post office and next to that was a gorgeous little flower shop.

  Nice, Chloe thought, remembering how much Shona loved pink roses.

  Next door to the flower shop was the diner, then the grocery store. On the third corner of the square was the police station with only one patrol car parked outside, and the town’s gas station adjacent to it. As Chloe did a second loop of the square, Shona pointed at the one place that had piqued her interest more than the others, the garage.

  “Hey, you reckon there might be the chance of a job there?” Shona asked, her eyes keen.

  “I dunno, what does that sign say?” They drove closer until Chloe could read it clearly. “Auction. Next Week. Hmm…well, maybe when the new owners open up?”

  “Yeah, I guess,” Shona replied, a little downcast. “How about that bar?” She pointed over to Bertie’s. “Maybe I could get some work in there? Be a bit different to what I’m used to but I learn quick, so…”

  Chloe laughed and gave her a cheeky smile. She refocused her eyes on the road, a thought crossing her mind as she drove around the town square. Spotting the realtors’ office next to the flower shop, she pulled up in the nearest parking spot.

  “I won’t be a minute.”

  About twenty minutes later she reappeared holding a brown envelope and a big set of keys. Shona jumped in her seat like an excited puppy.

  “For real? It’s ours?” Shona grinned.

  “Our new home. Bought outright. Cost almost all of the money I brought with us from my savings, but I don’t care. No one can take it away from us.”

  Shona looked shocked. “You had that much money? In cash? In the car all this time?”

  “I went to the bank before we set off, remember? My father used to put money in my account all the time for me, and there was my salary too that I hardly spent any of while I was with Kyle. I had no frie
nds to go out with. Well, apart from those few times we met up. But strawberry shakes aren’t that expensive.” Chloe smiled at the memory of her meetings with Shona in Ed’s diner. Her face then hardened. “It’s the least my father owes me after what he did. Oh, I know I could have been all proud and said I didn’t want a penny from him, but I ain’t stupid. That money is the key to our future, and it’s mine by rights anyway. I see it as the inheritance I’ll never get. And I can do so much more good with it than my father ever did. It buys us our dream, Shona. I asked the realtor to arrange for it to be furnished too. Nothing major, just the basics like a bed, couch, tables. Enough to get us started.” Chloe’s defiant expression melted into worry. “You ain’t mad at me, are you?” She bit her lip. “I just wanted it to be perfect for you.”

  Shona waited for a few seconds of contemplation, before her face lit up. “No, of course I’m not mad. I’m too excited to be proud right now too. You call it inheritance from your father, but you know what I call it? I call it compensation. Come on, what are we waiting for? Get us back there!” Shona shrieked until Chloe turned the key in the ignition and floored the gas pedal, sending them roaring off back along the road they came in on.

  “You OK?” Shona asked, her excitement to get home marred by concern for Chloe’s strange silence on the way back to the beach house.

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” Chloe replied, fidgeting in her seat. “Just had a funny feeling pass over me a few minutes ago. It’s nothing, probably just butterflies.” She smiled and pulled into the front yard of the house. Before the car had even fully stopped, Shona jumped out and raced up to the porch steps.

  Chloe, however, exited the car much more tentatively. Her face creased in confusion as she looked back down at her seat. Oblivious, Shona began bouncing around the veranda that bordered the perimeter of their new home, listing off the tasks she couldn’t wait to start doing to fix up the house. As she reached the porch steps again after a full circuit, she looked over to Chloe, whose face had turned pale. The smile fading on her own face, Shona walked over and saw what Chloe was staring down at.

  A small patch of scarlet blood had stained the white leather driving seat.

  “What’s that?” Shona asked. Chloe remained silent, as if in a state of shock. “Are you OK?” Shona reached out for Chloe’s hand, her touch waking Chloe out of her daze.

  “Huh? Oh, yeah. I’m fine. At least I think I am.” Chloe pulled at the back of her lemon yellow cotton skirt.

  “Is it your time?”

  Chloe shook her head. “No, it’s not due yet. I felt a little discomfort down there, when I got back into the car before. I was just so excited to show you the keys that I guess I must have stretched my leg too far getting in my seat.”

  “You’re still healing…from that night that Kyle…” Shona paused, her fists clenching as if by automatic response to the thought of what Kyle did to Chloe. She lay a gentle hand on Chloe’s shoulder.

  Chloe nodded. “Maybe.”

  “Or…do you think it was me, last night? Did I hurt you?” Shona’s voice quivered as the thought crossed her mind.

  “No, not at all,” Chloe reassured. “I’m sure it was just me forgetting I have to be careful for a little while, with moving too sharply. Honestly, Shona, you are the gentlest, most considerate person I could ever wish to share my body with. It’ll be fine, I promise.”

  “I swear, if I ever see that bastard again, I will kill him for what he did,” Shona blurted out.

  Seeing Chloe visibly shaken by the memory, Shona softened and wrapped her arms around her. She led Chloe to the porch swing and sat her down. “Don’t worry, I’ll be OK,” Chloe said. “I’d better go clean myself up,” she added, standing up and walking into the house to the bathroom.

  “OK, baby, I’ll take care of the car seat,” Shona replied.

  Half an hour later, they strolled down to see the beach for the first time. Nothing but the brightest blue ocean was up ahead, filling the space between the edge of the powdery white sand and the horizon. They sat down on the beach and both took in a huge lungful of sea air.

  “This place is just perfect,” Shona began. “I feel so free here. So safe.”

  Chapter 3

  Chloe and Shona strolled down the beach, feeling the warm water lapping between their toes. They sat down on a blanket and stared out onto the horizon, catching a glimpse of a flock of seagulls diving for their lunch. The sunlight danced across the surface of the ocean.

  “I love it here,” Chloe said, exhaling. “I feel so great wearing these clothes too.” She pulled at her loose skirt and cotton undershirt. “I don’t have to wear those god-awful skin-tight skirts anymore. I couldn’t breathe in those things. It feels so amazing to have the sand between my toes.”

  Shona laughed. “I didn’t see any problem with those skin-tight skirts. From where I was standing you looked pretty amazing. That first day I saw you on that balcony, well. You didn’t wanna know what I was thinking.” Chloe swatted Shona playfully. “Yep, looking up at you on that balcony? I knew I was in trouble,” Shona continued.

  Chloe leaned back into Shona’s lap, watching the calm water roll up and down on the shore, the crashing waves far off in the distance.

  “Can I ask you something?” Shona said.

  “Of course.”

  “Did you ever in your wildest dreams think you would one day settle down with a woman?”

  Chloe sat up and gazed deep into Shona’s blue eyes, surprised by the frankness of the question. “You’re my soulmate, Shona. You had me intrigued every time I saw you in that canteen. I couldn’t face being apart from you. It was like torture.”

  Shona pulled Chloe into an embrace and kissed her. “I wanna grow old with you, Chloe. I never wanna be without you, not now that I’ve found my soulmate too. I never thought I’d ever find peace and here it is. And it’s all thanks to you.”

  Later that evening, Shona and Chloe sat talking over what name they should put on the house deeds. They knew they couldn’t use Jackson or Bruce as that would be far too easy for someone to look up if they wanted to find them.

  “What about Clark?” asked Chloe.

  Shona grinned, tears in her eyes remembering Dorothy. “It’s perfect. Shona and Chloe Clark. Sisters,” Shona added with a wink.

  Chloe leaned over to Shona. “No sisters do what we’ve been doing these last few nights in there.” She lifted her eyes in the direction of their bedroom. Shona’s cheeks reddened. Then her smile faded.

  “Chloe, I read a news article a few weeks ago saying that all homosexual people were sick. Am I ill?”

  “Well,” Chloe began, “if you are, then I don’t ever want you to get better.” She leaned over the table and kissed her. “Now, do you want to fill this in or shall I?”

  Shona grabbed the pen from Chloe’s hand and wrote their names down on the house deeds in black bold ink.

  After dinner, Shona and Chloe sat on the porch swing facing the ocean.

  “Hey, I was thinking,” Chloe began. “Maybe I should get a different car? It’s quite distinctive and I don’t really wanna remember the reasons I got it,” she added.

  “Sure. Probably for the best in case anybody is still looking for us. You stand out like a sore thumb.” Shona chuckled. “What will you get instead?”

  “Oh, I don’t know yet. Something more functional. That car ain’t worth a damn on the sand out there.”

  “I know.” Shona paused. “Beautiful beast, though. I remember the first time I saw it up close.” She laughed and nudged Chloe with her shoulder, recalling her painful first introduction to the Chevrolet’s shiny red hood.

  “Yeah, I know. You ain’t never let me forget that one, have you?” Chloe nudged her back.

  “I still got the bump,” Shona replied, rubbing the back of her head.

  Chapter 4

  “What you doing?” Chloe asked, finding Shona at the kitchen table hunched over a notepad.

  “I found some nice writing paper in t
he drawer over there, thought I might write to Elbie. Tell him we made it outta Daynes after all. I was gonna give him our new address so he could come visit. Once we got that spare room all decorated nice like,” Shona replied, her eyes glowing.

  “That’s a lovely idea. Make sure you say hi for me.” Chloe paused and looked down at the letter Shona was writing. “I guess I should write to Mother. Let her know I’m OK. Even though she’s an old dragon, she’ll still be worried she hasn’t heard anything. More so because she won’t know what to tell the townsfolk.”

  “Are you sure? If you send it from here, she’ll see the postmark and know where we are,” Shona remarked.

  “OK, maybe that was a bad idea, then.” She turned to wander back to the living room.

  “Hey, I got an idea. Why don’t I ask Elbie if he minds sending the letter to your mom for you? I could put it in the envelope when I send this letter. That way the postmark will say Tennessee.”

  Chloe turned around, her eyes wide. “You think he would?”

  “Of course he would, it’s Elbie. You know how much he loves you.”

  Chloe’s face melted into a relieved smile. She walked back over to the table and wrapped her arms around Shona.

  “I was thinking, I might drive into town tomorrow morning and have another look around to see if anyone’s hiring. I’m still gonna need a job, especially if that garage isn’t open for business at the moment.” Shona leaned against the frame of the bathroom door just before bedtime, aiming her voice through the thin strip of light that glowed through the edges. “I could get some work at the grocery store, maybe, or in the—” She stopped, hearing Chloe retching. “You OK in there?” Shona tapped on the door, then tried the handle. Just as it clicked open, the door pulled away from her and Chloe appeared, dabbing her face with a towel.