“Bye.” She watched him grab his keys and walk out the door. She listened to him start his truck, then drive away. She glanced around at the empty house. The pervasive silence seemed to echo within her. Waiting. Always waiting.
She couldn’t keep this up. She had to do something, come up with a plan, sort through the commitments awaiting her return to Austin. Anything. Yet everything was on hold whiled Ian figure out where he stood with the Holdens. Until then, all she could do was pray for him and try to make herself useful.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ian stepped out of his truck and closed the door firmly behind him. With a mix of anxiety and uncertainty, he slowly lifted his gaze to stare at the Texas Coastal History Museum, which housed the research lab for Holden’s Marine Construction & Salvage. Finally, he put a baseball cap on, pulled in a deep breath, and walked up the museum’s stairs.
Deborah called, “Cut! Ian, that was great. Let’s do that again. This time with the cap on first, then take it off.”
He got back into the car. They did the exit again. Then a third time. Deborah still wasn’t satisfied. “Let’s do it one more time. This time—”
“You’re killing me, Deborah,” Ian said with a sigh. “I need to see Rick. Surely, this can wait.”
She wavered in very un-Deborah-like fashion. Finally, compassion filled her brown eyes. “All right, Ian. I think we’re good for now. Go on.”
With a relieved sigh, he headed through the front doors, past the lobby, and into the Mariposa exhibit. Two empty stools sat in front of a curved wall that was covered in a huge glossy underwater photo of the wreck. Rick was nowhere in sight. Was Treasure Hunters looking for a pre-meeting confessional interview? Deborah confirmed it. “Ian, I’m sorry but we really do need a confessional first.”
Ian sat on one of the stools and looked into the camera. “Might as well get it over with. What do you want to know?”
“Tell us why you lied to Emily about your feelings for her.”
“I didn’t want to hurt Emily. In the aftermath of the wreck, we miscommunicated our feelings for each other. She though that… Well, you know what she thought. I didn’t know how to tell her the truth.”
“How did that last fight impact you?”
Suddenly, he felt like he was back in that moment, seeing Emily throw away the friendship bracelet, hearing the disapproval in Rick’s voice. “I was devastated.”
“Ian, you have to give us more than that.”
He blinked and refocused on the camera. “I… I can’t. It’s too hard not knowing how everything will shake out or even if I still have a place with the Holdens.” He swallowed hard. “Is there any way Phil and I can talk in private?”
Deborah frowned. “Ian, come on, this is an essential part of the narrative.”
His jaw clenched. “Listen, I realize that this is a storyline to you, but it’s my life. It’s important to me.”
Deborah hesitated a moment, then nodded. “All right, Ian. Let’s get you a mic’d up so that we can lose the boom. All nonessential personnel will clear the set.”
That wasn’t what he’d asked for, but apparently it was all he would get. He held still as the sound technician fit him with a microphone. The rest of the crew scurried away. Deborah spoke with the two cameramen before returning to talk with Ian. “Rick will be out in a few moments.”
With that, Deborah left Ian with the two cameramen Fred and Drake. It was nothing more than a facade of privacy. The rest of the production crew would watch on a monitor in a nearby office where Deborah would call the shots. He understood the necessity of filming this moment, but it still felt invasive. Maybe that was because the producers and executives were now calling the shots in his personal life. Maybe they had been all along. He just hadn’t realized it. Now that he did, it was hard not to resent it.
He glanced down at his bare left hand. He’d left his wedding band in Ava’s care. It had been hard to pretend that they were only good friends with maybe a hint of something more during the press tour. Part of him wanted to throw caution to the wind and tell the entire world that they were married. However, a lawsuit was the last thing he needed to deal with right now.
His phone vibrated in his jacket pocket announcing an incoming text. Guessing it might be from Ava, Ian pulled it out to find out he was right. You’ve got this, babe. I’m praying for you.
He smiled before realizing he was probably supposed to be angst ridden. He was to a point, but he had Ava. Even if he lost everything else, that would be enough for him. A sound behind him sent his phone plunging back into his pocket. He stood to greet Rick.
Carrying his ever-present clipboard, Rick set it on the stool, then grabbed Ian’s hand in a fierce shake before pulling him into a brief hug. “Welcome back, Ian.”
Ian met his mentor’s brown eyes and found only sincerity and concern staring back. “Thank you, sir.”
“I know things were tense when you left, but we’ve missed you around here.” Rick gave Ian’s shoulder a firm pat, then picked up the clipboard. “Let’s go over this week’s schedule, shall we?”
“Ok.” Ian took a seat.
Rick propped his line-backer frame onto the stool across from Ian. “I’ve given you tomorrow off, since it will be Friday anyway. I figured you’d need the time to recover after playing pirate and going on that press tour.”
He swallowed hard. “You saw that, huh?”
“You were everywhere, son.” Rick pulled a page from the clipboard and handed it to Ian. “Here’s next week’s schedule. We’ve a real need for your expertise on this dive…”
Rick went on talking about work as though everything was normal between them. Maybe it was. Yet, how could that possibly be? Refocusing on the assignments Rick was giving him, Ian tried to contribute coherently to the conversation. Finally, Rick finished up. “Well, like I said, I’m glad to have you back. Can’t wait to get you back in the water. I’ll see you Monday.”
“Sounds great!” Ian shook Rick’s hand. Though he hated to mention it with the cameras around, he could leave without asking, “Is Emily around?”
“Afraid not. She had a doctor’s appointment. Her mother went with her. Justin is taking care of a few things on the Emily Jane, so that the boat will be ready on Monday.”
“Ok. I guess I’ll catch up with everyone sometime later.”
“Great. I’ll let them know you asked about them.”
“Thanks.”
Rick waved, then looked at the camera. “Y’all wanted to interview me, right?”
“Yes, sir,” Drake said. “Is your office OK?”
“Sure thing.” Rick gave Ian a parting nod and followed Drake out of the exhibit.
Knowing Deborah would want his reaction, Ian looked into Fred’s camera. “Well, that went better than expected. I’m looking forward to getting back to work and reconnecting with everyone in due time. See you back on the Emily Jane.”
He gave a two fingered salute, worked the lapel microphone free and left it on the stool. Grabbing his schedule, he made a bee-line for his truck. Deborah caught up with him, but he managed to tactfully avoid her attempts to convince him to bare more of his soul on camera. He left the crew behind with one more friendly wave.
He barely made it out the parking lot before he had Ava on speaker phone. Her voice filled the car. “How did it go?”
“It was weirdly normal. I still have a job. Rick seems fine with me. I can’t understand it.”
“Well, it’s been more than a month, Ian. Maybe they’ve had time to cool down and realize you didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”
“Maybe.”
“When do you go back to work?”
“Monday.” His phone buzzed as he stopped at a stoplight, so he glanced down at it. “I just got a text from Phil. He says Emily finished her doctor’s appointment and is at the beach with her mom. I should go talk to her.”
“Ok. I’ll keep praying. Love you!”
> “Thanks. Love you, too!” A quick right turn had him heading toward one of the Holden’s favorite beach spots. He parked beside Emily’s Wrangler. The trailer attached to it told him she’d likely taken out the ATV that had been fitted with hand controls. Pulling in a deep breath, he set off down the twisting, turning path through the dunes to the beach.
Emily’s mother Jane was the only person in sight. She sat on a beach chair with a book in her lap. A sand quad was parked behind her. That blue four-wheeled bike had been used by Ian a thousand times before. However, the chocolate Labrador pup lying in the sand beside Jane’s chair was completely unfamiliar.
Its tail began to wag as Ian walked closer, then it got up to investigate him. Jane turned in her chair, removed her sunglasses, and smiled. “Ian! It’s good to see you. Phil told me you might stop by.”
“Hi, Miss Jane. It’s good to see you too.” Ian held out his hand for the puppy to sniff. After receiving an approving lick, Ian gave the dog’s head a quick rub before stepping into Jane’s hug. Petite and auburn-haired like her daughter, she had a refined, elegant air about her and a penchant for chunky jewelry. “How are you?”
“Oh, hanging in there.” She sat back on the beach chair. Taming her trademark set of bangle bracelets, her blue eyes warmed as she looked at the dog. “I see you’ve met Bo.”
Bo nuzzled his hand. Ian knelt to pet him. “I did. He’s a friendly guy. Whose is he?”
“Emily’s.” Squinting one eye, she shrugged. “Well, technically, he belongs to the whole family.”
Ian’s eyebrows lifted. “You let Emily get a dog? I mean I know she’s wanted one for forever, but what happened to your strict ‘no animals in my house’ rule?”
“I decided I could bend it a little. Besides, she’d have gotten one already if she hadn’t had to postpone moving out. It only seemed fair to give her this little bright spot.” Jane patted Bo on the back, causing the dog to rest his head on her knee.
Ian nodded and scanned the beach again. “Is she around?”
“Riding the dunes. She should be circling back this way any minute.”
“How is she? Or should I ask her that?”
“I think she’d rather tell you about it herself.”
He frowned. That didn’t sound good. Before he could question her more, the purr of a motor grew louder. Jane turned toward it, shielding her eyes from the midday sun and grabbing onto Bo’s leash. “There she is now.”
Emily barreled down the beach on her adapted four-wheel bike. Ian stood and slid a hand into the pocket of his black leather jacket. Spewing sand in a turn that brought her dangerously close to the chair, Emily finally stopped short about ten feet away. She removed her helmet, freeing her shoulder-length cinnamon curls, then met his gaze with warm brown eyes. Her eyebrow lifted. “About time you showed your face.”
So this was it. The moment of reckoning. The moment that would decide whether he would be a part of the Holden family. He swallowed hard and prepared to apologize. “Emily—”
She stood. Stood! And, gave him a mischievous grin. His mouth fell open. “You can walk?”
“I can run.” She winked. Clapping her hands, she backpedaled, calling, “Come on, Bo!”
Jane let Bo off the leash and he took off after Emily as she ran off down the beach away from them. Ian followed at a walk, watching her go. “Thank You, Lord. She’s OK.”
Bo sped by him on the way back toward Jane. Emily waited for Ian to catch up with her. He shook his head in awe as he stopped a few paces away. “This is amazing! Congratulations, Emily! When did this happen?”
She slid her hands in the back pockets of her jean shorts and grinned. “A few weeks ago. I guess I just needed more time to heal.”
“Have you been diving yet?”
“Not yet, but I will soon.”
“That’s great.”
She smiled, then gestured down the beach away from her mom. “Walk with me?”
“Sure.” They only made it a few quiet paces before Ian pulled in a bracing breath. “Emily—”
“Ian—” she said at the same time.
They both stopped to look at each other. Normally, Ian would have let her speak first, but he pressed on. “I’m so sorry for everything. I should have told you the truth from the beginning.”
Emily sighed. “I’m sorry, too.”
“You… You are?”
“I know what it’s like not to be able to tell someone you care about the truth.” She offered a hesitant smile. “In fact, the whole truth is that… Ian, I’ve been in love with you since I was sixteen.”
“Sixteen?” The air rushed from his lungs as though he’d been punched. “Emily, you said it had only been a couple of years.”
“I know.” Biting her lip, she stared out toward the ocean and shook her head. “It’s actually been twelve, and I never said a word until a few months ago.”
“Why didn’t you?”
She met his gaze again. “You weren’t a Christian. No way would my parents have let me date an unbeliever. Maybe I should have said something, anyway. Maybe if I had then things would be different now, but it’s too late for maybes. What’s done is done. The past is over. I forgive you. I hope you can forgive me too.”
Fighting through his confusion, he nodded. After all, how could he not forgive her when she’d just forgiven him? He swallowed hard. “Where do we go from here?”
“Back where we started before everything went so wrong.” Emily reached into her back pocket and pulled out the silver charm bracelet. It chimed softly in the wind, reflecting the sun, mirroring the sea. Stepping slightly closer, she captured his gaze. “I shouldn’t have thrown this away. Will you put it back on me?”
He took the bracelet from her and stared down at the many charms he’d given her over the years. So many memories, so much of his life was symbolized here. All wrapped up in hers. He didn’t want to throw it away either. And, yet… Searching her face, he asked, “How?”
“How?” Her brow furrowed in confused amusement. “Just open the clasp—”
“No. I mean how can we go back to what we had? How can we act like the past few months didn’t happen?”
“I’m not saying it won’t be different, Ian. It should be. After all, what we had didn’t work. What I am saying is that I want to find a way to make this friendship work. We’ve been through too much together. You’re too important to me and my family. I’m not ready to lose you.”
He should put the bracelet back on her. It was an olive branch. That’s all. Yet, it felt like more. It felt wrong. “We can still be friends, but it can’t be the same.”
“Agreed.”
“Ok.” She was still waiting expectantly. Unless he wanted to be outright rude, there wasn’t much he could do besides put the bracelet on her. He tried. He really did, but his thumbs couldn’t seem to get the latch through the clasp at the right time. Shrugging, he gave up. “Maybe your mom can do it.”
“Let me help. Just hold the latch still.” Taking the clasp in her other hand, she had the bracelet latched in no time. “There we go. Good as new.”
He wasn’t sure about that, but he smiled and tugged his baseball cap a little lower. “Listen, I need to go.”
“Go? But, you just got here.”
Yeah, but his wife was waiting for him. “I know, but I just got back in town. I have a lot to catch up on at home. Plus, I need to work out some of the contract stuff with Treasure Hunters, since they’ve skipped the hiatus this year.”
“Oh.” Her brow furrowed slightly before she smiled. “Well, do you need help with anything? I can run errands now. Literally and figuratively.”
“Thanks for the offer, but I’ve got it covered.” He backed up a few steps. “We’ll catch up later, ok?”
“Sure.”
“I’m glad we worked this out.”
“Me too!”
With a parting wave, Ian headed back to where Jane waited. She was
playing fetch with Bo by the water, so he said a quick goodbye to her. He wasted no time in backing out his truck and heading toward home. He should feel relieved and happy. Instead, he just felt confused.
Emily had forgiven him. The Holdens were ready to reinstate him as part of the family. Yet, something felt off. It was too perfect.
It was almost like he’d wandered into some alternate reality where the last few months had never happened. But, it had. He had a wife to show for it. She was the one thing that did feel right about all this, and he couldn’t get back to her fast enough.
R
Not knowing how things were going between Ian and Emily was driving Ava to distraction. Needing something to occupy her mind, she turned on some worship music. She sang along while purging the refrigerator of all the food that had spoiled after Ian had left for Pirate’s Plunder so unexpectedly. That amounted to everything except the condiments and salad dressing. Even those smelled a little dubious. She tossed the ranch dressing in the trash bag.
“What are you doing here?”
Ava yelped. Clutching her heart, she turned to face the stranger standing in the kitchen doorway as if it was somehow perfectly normal for him to break into Ian’s house. Ok, so he wasn’t entirely a stranger. His handsome features, curly brown hair, caramel eyes, and swimmers build were familiar to her, since she’d just watched nearly three season of his reality show.
Somehow that didn’t translate to her brain or her hand, which immediately grabbed a knife from the counter. “Get out of here before I call the police!”
Justin Holden’s eyes widened as he held up his hands in surrender. “Woah, lady. I’m not a burglar. I have a key.”
“Why would you have a key to Ian’s house?”
“Because he gave me one. I’m Justin Holden.” He held out his hand. When she didn’t lower the knife, he crossed his arms and leaned against the counter. “My sister wanted me to set up a surprise welcome back party for him.”
Dismay battle with panic. “A surprise party?”
Justin’s dark gaze met hers in a strange mixture of amusement and anger. “I’m definitely surprised. And, yet, I’m not at all.”
Beyond the Tide Page 31
