Summer at Firefly Beach: The perfect feel-good summer romance

by Jenny Hale

  Wes poured Hallie’s drink into a large glass and topped it with a hand-painted paper umbrella—his signature.

  “Let me know if you two need anything. I’ll be at the end of the bar.”

  Hallie thanked him and then answered Ben’s quizzical look, trying to be positive, relishing the fizzle of happiness Wes had provided them. “We can check out the gallery, but later, okay?” She took a long drink from her glass, the smell and taste of summer filling her. “I need more moments like these,” she said, turning to Ben. “If I’m going to have to face all this, I’ll need you to help me balance it with a little sunshine.”

  Ben offered an understanding nod.

  “You always know how to make me feel better.” Hallie remembered when, at the age of fifteen, Ben had said he’d marry her one day. They’d had a long discussion about it. He wanted to have a big family with at least two boys who were just like him, because he could take them fishing. He’d also teased that three was a good number because they could hold their own as a backyard football team, which had made her laugh. He’d promised Hallie that as soon as they were old enough, he’d ask her, and he assured her they’d never break up. When she questioned him about how he was so certain, he’d said, “Because whenever you’re upset, I’ll just make you feel better.” Life had moved along, and their lives had gone in different directions, but they’d always remained best friends. She was glad she hadn’t ruined what they had by trying to have a relationship.

  “It’s nice being with someone who has no agenda, no pressure.” She peered down at her empty ring finger once more. “Jeff was a good friend, you know? And we muddled it up with dating each other,” she said, her introspection making its way out. Ben was always there to listen, though, and she liked telling him things, so she didn’t mind. She swirled the little umbrella in her glass, the ice clinking against the side with the movement, and set it onto the bar.

  “Jeff wasn’t a friend,” Ben said, picking at the corner of the label on his bottle. He smoothed it back out and looked at her.

  “We went to work functions together for a year before he asked me out. I’d call that a friendship.”

  Ben stared at her silently, as if her line of conversation was frustrating him.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.

  Wes went to the back to get their dinners, leaving them sitting together at the empty bar.

  “You didn’t notice that Jeff was trying to get you to go out with him the entire year? I could see it plain as day.”

  “None of it matters anyway,” she declared, meeting Ben’s stare. Even through his slight frustration, those blue eyes of his were so comforting and familiar. “I’m only thirty. I’ve got loads of time to settle down. I’m not dating anyone else for a good while.” She dared not allow the dark thoughts to come back in right now. Best to stick to the lighter reasons she and Jeff hadn’t worked out. “He made me feel like I wasn’t good enough. He actually told me once that I’m not grounded. What does that even mean?”

  “Never change that about yourself,” Ben said emphatically.

  “So you think I’m not grounded too?”

  “I didn’t say that.” Ben tipped his beer up and took a swig before setting it down and returning his attention to Hallie. “You’re plenty grounded. You’re just overly optimistic. I understand the difference because I know you so well.”

  Hallie considered this, but was distracted by the grin that spread across Ben’s face, his earlier irritation gone.

  “What?”

  “For example, you actually believe you’ll win when you buy a lottery ticket and you’re genuinely disappointed when you don’t.” He shared a warm look with her, their common experiences from years of being side by side giving her life again. “I love that about you.”

  In the face of a difficult day, Ben had made her smile. It was his gift, a talent that had been perfected over years of practice.

  She’d originally only sought out one drink, not wanting to have too much and end up crying on Ben’s shoulder when the heavy thoughts set in like she knew they would, but he was making her feel so much better, reminding her of the good times. It was as if being with him had erased the awful things that had happened—even if only for a little while—and she changed her mind about that one drink.

  “Ben, I’m thinking… After dinner, let’s find a quiet spot on the beach, where we can talk until we forget what drink we have in our hands. I don’t want to go back to the guesthouse until I’m racked with exhaustion and I can just fall into bed and not have to think about everything.”

  He looked thoughtful. Then, with a wink, he said, “Your wish is my command.”

  “My knight in shining armor,” she teased.

  He laughed, his gaze lingering on her in that way it did when they got to talking. She’d rattle on and on about whatever was on her mind, and just when she realized she’d been dominating the conversation, she’d notice how he was looking at her like he was right now, and it always seemed like he didn’t mind at all.

  Wes handed Ben the receipt and his card. Ben signed the slip of paper and grabbed the bags. “But dinner first! Let’s see if we can bring some Firefly Beach cheerfulness back to the cottage, shall we?”

  She hoped they could.

  SIX

  “I haven’t seen Hank yet,” Ben said, as he sipped another beer while they sat in the sand, the waves rushing up to their bare feet. It was pitch black outside and Hallie couldn’t get the idea out of her mind that someone could be hiding down the beach, walking past her window tonight. She rolled her head on her shoulders, trying to feel as calm as Ben looked sitting beside her.

  “Sydney said Uncle Hank was asleep before we’d even left to get dinner. He had a pretty traumatic day with the fall, and she didn’t want to wake him.”

  Their plans to lift everyone’s spirits over a nice meal had been dashed. Mama said she would have her dinner later. After spending the afternoon calling the local police department and then speaking to a few home-alarm companies to get installation quotes, she didn’t have much of an appetite. So Sydney and Robby ate with Ben and Hallie, and the four of them spent most of the meal talking about fixing the old tree swing for Robby. Ben told Robby he’d work on it tomorrow.

  They’d eaten rather quickly, and afterwards, Sydney had thought it best if she and Robby locked up and stayed inside, so they’d opted to watch a movie, but Ben insisted on taking Hallie to the beach, since she’d asked him to at Wes and Maggie’s. They’d stopped off at the guesthouse and grabbed a few things. In a flash, Ben filled his cooler with ice, bottled beer, and the rest of the wine to bring with them, Hallie following him inside since she was a little spooked by the trespasser that Uncle Hank had said he’d seen. Then they went down to the water.

  The stars were like diamonds in the inky sky as Hallie lay back on the quilt Ben had set out for them, causing Beau to shift positions. The dog sniffed her empty wine bottle and then stretched out along the blanket.

  “I hope Uncle Hank is in better spirits tomorrow. I’m really worried about him.”

  Beau let out a snort and moved, curling up next to them. The dog’s sudden change in position caused Hallie to jump, her senses on high alert, but Ben had assured her that he could flail around and make it look like he knew ju-jitsu—it was a great party trick he’d learned—and he’d scare off anyone who came into view. Hallie resolved that she needed more wine, but Ben lay down next to her and twisted to face her so she stayed put.

  Hallie looked him in the eyes.

  “You’re tense,” he said.

  She nodded.

  “Seeing your uncle struggling has to be tough when you’re already dealing with your own grief.”

  Grief. That word had so many dimensions for her. “Maybe you can work your magic and make Uncle Hank smile,” she said, giving him her total attention, losing herself in his face, in an effort to relax.

  “Ah, I don’t have any magic,” Ben said, turning his f
ace toward the stars. “I wish I did.”

  There was an unusual vulnerability in his voice just then that Hallie had never heard before. What she loved so much about Ben was the fact that he always seemed to have everything under control. It centered her and gave her a sense of safety she couldn’t get with anyone else. So his slight falter caught her attention.

  “You okay?” she asked.

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” he said, his tone lifting just a little.

  Hallie rolled over and propped her chin up on her hands, wondering what could possibly be bothering him. Something clearly was. “Everything all right with work?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Ashley?”

  Ben smiled, putting her at ease. “Ashley’s just fine. You’re worrying for no reason. Standing, he reached down for her hands, pulling her up with him. “We’re supposed to be forgetting about everything tonight, remember? Time to make you laugh again.” Without warning, he scooped Hallie into his arms. Then, out of nowhere, he started toward the waves, swinging her as if he were going to toss her in.

  Beau jumped to his feet, letting out a playful bark.

  “Ben! Put me down! I’ve got my favorite shirt on—it’s gonna get wet!”

  He pretended to throw her, making her squeal while she tried to get free, Beau running into the crashing waves and then back up onto the sand. Just as the tide rushed in, Ben set her down, the salty water washing around their ankles, playing games with her balance. She held on to him to keep steady. In that moment, with Ben holding her, the familiar scent of honeysuckle and salt, and the tiny flashes from the few fireflies that had emerged, Hallie felt like her younger self. If only she could unlearn the things that she now knew to be true, if only they could go back to the times where their ice cream flavor was the biggest decision they had that day…

  “Thank you for tonight,” she said. “Being with you makes everything better. I don’t know how you do it…”

  Ben grinned and shook his head, clearly a little baffled himself at how he could make her smile so easily.

  Another wave crashed around them and she held on to him more tightly. “Actually, I do know how you do it. It’s just you being you.”

  His gaze lingered on her face, nearly swallowing her, as if he wanted to say something. He licked his lips ever so subtly, and she found her fingers intertwined with his. All her fears and sorrows slid out to sea with the tide, and the warmth of his touch made her feel like everything would work out. As they stood there, the rush of wind struggling to get between them, he pressed his lips together like he wanted to tell her something important. She willed him to say it, but he didn’t.

  “This looks fun,” Sydney said, walking over the dune. “Much better atmosphere than in the house.” She reached down to pat Beau’s side as he greeted her, his wagging tail rippling the blanket he was sitting on. “Robby fell asleep before the movie even got started, so I locked up and came out to find you.” The ring of keys for the property dangled from Sydney’s finger. “I need a break,” she said, her honesty evident in her tone. “I’m exhausted too, except if I try to sleep…” Sydney shook her head, but her thought was derailed, something sheeting over her face as she noticed Ben and Hallie’s hands. Sydney shared a silent moment with Ben, an odd look on both their faces, before Ben let go of Hallie and turned toward the water.

  Snapping out of whatever it was, Sydney lifted the lid of the cooler and sunk her hands into the ice. “Anything left in here? I need a drink.” She pulled out a bottle of beer and twisted off the cap. While tipping it up to her lips, she shut the cooler, dropped the large keyring on top, and slumped down onto the blanket, crossing her legs.

  Hallie turned to Ben for an explanation but he had his back to her, looking out over the water.

  “What are the others doing inside?” Hallie asked, her curiosity still hanging in the air. She sat down next to Sydney and took the beer out of her sister’s hands, drinking from the bottle and then handing it back.

  “They’re all asleep now. Mama got up for a while and rushed around the house, trying to clean up for Uncle Hank, but I think she wore herself out and she turned in for the night. I spent most of the time with Robby, trying to entertain him.”

  “I’ll get that swing up for him tomorrow,” Ben said, turning around. He grabbed Beau’s ball from beside the blanket and chucked it down the beach, the moonlight illuminating the yellow enough to see it splash into the surf. Beau galloped through the sand after it.

  “Thanks, Ben. I think he’ll really like that.”

  Beau returned, dropping the ball at Ben’s feet, his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth as he panted in heaving breaths, his tail swishing back and forth incessantly. Ben threw the ball again and off he went, kicking up sand behind him.

  “Y’all want anything else from the cooler before I take it up to the guesthouse?” he asked. “I think I’m heading back.” He gave Hallie a fluttering glance, making her wonder what had caused the change in atmosphere. Just moments ago, he looked like he had the world to tell her, and now he was leaving them.

  “Stay,” Hallie urged him, grabbing one more beer.

  “I’m beat,” he said with an uplifting look. “And you and your sister could probably use the time to talk.” He opened the cooler and set a row of beers in the sand.

  “Maybe she can help me figure out how to complete Aunt Clara’s list.” Hallie nudged her sister playfully, trying to keep things light.

  Ben grinned and then whistled for Beau, who’d been distracted by something on the edge of the sea grass. Beau raced toward him. “I’ll be up at the guesthouse, Hallie,” he said. “See you in a bit.”

  * * *

  Hallie and Sydney lay on the blanket, their faces to the stars, the swish of the gulf waves lulling Hallie and quieting the remnants of her thoughts, already hazy from the beer. She’d forgotten all about the things that were weighing on her, or the fact that someone could be lurking on the property.

  “I keep thinking about how Aunt Clara used to make us picnic breakfasts out here,” Sydney said. Her knees were bent, and she was wriggling her toes and kicking up sand onto Hallie’s ankles. The gentle sensation of it was relaxing.

  “I’d hardly call them picnics.” Hallie laughed through her words. “She made Uncle Hank put the old porch table and chairs in the sand for us, and she had full-on serving dishes and tablecloths.” The memory settled like a light feather in her mind—gentle and soft. “It made me feel like a princess.”

  “Me too. She baked cookies just for us and let us eat them at the crack of dawn, remember? I miss that.” Sydney rolled onto her side. “I made sugar snaps for Robby last week and gave them to him for breakfast, but I just couldn’t pull it off like Aunt Clara. She made everything seem dreamlike.”

  “Speaking of dreams!” Hallie laughed before she could even share the memory. “Were you awake that night I had the really bad nightmare and Aunt Clara made Monster Dust?”

  Sydney smirked. “No. What happened?”

  “I think you were sleeping in the sewing room… I was probably six years old. I had a bad dream in the middle of the night, and Aunt Clara made a place for me to sleep with all kinds of pillows and blankets on the floor by her bed. Then she sprinkled Monster Dust all over the room. I think it must have been glitter. It worked, and I got to sleep, but the next morning, Uncle Hank dropped his wedding ring—remember, he always took it off to sleep—and it rolled away from him. He looked everywhere, crouching down, peering under furniture. He found it eventually, but it woke me up and I nearly screamed at first, thinking he was the monster because he was covered in glitter! It was on his cheek, in his hair…” Hallie burst out laughing, savoring the feeling of it. “He’d been all over the floor looking for his ring, picking up that glitter as he went. When I started to giggle, he couldn’t figure out what was so funny, but his face looked like a giant disco ball.”

  Sydney laughed out loud.

  “Aunt Clara couldn’t get it off him. Even
after he had his shower that day, we still found little shimmers on his skin.”

  Hallie and Sydney both continued chuckling until the silence took over, and they settled into a quiet calm. They hadn’t talked about anything of real importance since Ben had gone in, both of them reminiscing and clearly trying to find a respite for the day’s events. But, even under the spell of the night and the alcohol, something else had been bugging Hallie. She’d pushed it out of her mind this whole time, but it kept surfacing, so she figured she should ask.

  “Syd? I’ve been wondering what that look was that you and Ben had?”

  “What look?” Sydney kept her eyes to the stars.

  “When you first came out. There was a look.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about…” Sydney folded her hands and put them behind her head.

  “You didn’t deny it. You’re just playing dumb the way you do when you don’t want to tell me something.”

  Her sister took in a large breath and let it out. “I think we were both just… Trying to make sure that you don’t fall apart, as you say. I’m sure you probably could with all this going on. You were the closest with Aunt Clara. And it’s all coming on the heels of the Jeff situation.”

  Hallie didn’t believe her sister’s response entirely, but with her emotions surfacing again at the mention of Aunt Clara and Jeff, she’d already moved on from whatever Ben and Sydney had been communicating to each other. Despite her grief over things she hadn’t even uttered, the idea of the list was bothering her more than she’d let on. Hallie couldn’t fight the niggling feeling that Aunt Clara didn’t feel like she deserved her inheritance, that Hallie somehow needed to work for it. Perhaps it was just because Hallie didn’t feel terribly secure with her decisions lately. She felt pretty inadequate about most things at the moment.

  “What are you thinking about?” Sydney asked.