by D G Barnes
hEARTS
OF
EMERALD BAY
D.G. Barnes
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
Copyright © 2018 by D.G. Barnes
All rights reserved.
ISBN-13: 978-1-9994529-0-2
ISBN-13: 978-1-9994529-1-9 (ebook)
Cover Design: Stefanie Fontecha - www.beetifulbookcovers.com
Editing: Diane Tibert - www.dianetibert.com
DEDICATION
For my 8th grade English teacher. It may be 40 years late, but here’s my homework.
and
for my Padawan
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to give a special shout out to Melissa Brayden, a wonderful author in her own right. Melissa was kind enough to give me advice and words encouragement as I worked on, and sometimes struggled with this story.
Thank you, Melissa.
CONTENTS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Epilogue
Chapter One
Except for the towel draped across her backside, Dana Lawson lay naked on the massage table. A pair of skilled hands moved over her back, kneading her tired muscles. The scent of lilac and soft instrumental music filled the air creating an atmosphere of peace and relaxation. Dana needed this; she deserved it. Besides, what was wrong with pampering one’s self after working hard. Over the last 12 days, the 35-year-old author had visited ten cities in Canada and the US, spending several hours at each location signing copies of her latest book, What the Heart Desires.
Dana loved meeting her fans and chatting with them, even if it was for only a few fleeting moments as she signed their copy of her book. She gladly endured the rigors of planning and executing a whirlwind book tour to see the joy on the faces of her readers. Her signings took place in bookstores, from large retailers, such as Chapters and Barnes & Noble, to small, privately-owned shops, such as the one in her hometown. Regardless of the venue, the people were the same: happy about the new book and excited to meet their favorite author.
What the Heart Desires had been a labor of love, and she had spent many long hours working on it. She worked late into the night, tweaking paragraphs and sentences, sometimes skipping meals while she was ‘in the zone’ as she liked to call it. Dana became so lost in the world she was creating with her keyboard that the real world passed by unnoticed. During those times, only blurry vision from fatigue or lack of food, or a bladder that refused to wait any longer could pull her out of the zone.
This was her tenth book, her second this year, and as with the others, it had met with great enthusiasm. Everyone from her editor to her publisher had thought it would immediately soar to the top of the best sellers list, and it did. But not for the reason she expected. Though she had maintained her usual style and theme with this book, it had sparked controversy. It wasn’t because it was a lesbian romance novel or that the love scenes were somewhat descriptive; nope, that was fine. It had been the mere hint the protagonist may have had a taboo relationship with her aunt when she was attending a nearby college that had caused many people to speak out against the book.
There were also many people interested in reading about such dark secrets, and thanks to social media, her fan base grew right along with her profits. In no time at all, the book’s popularity skyrocketed, and it spent several weeks at the top of The NY Times Best Sellers list. The hate mail dropped off to nothing after a few weeks.
For several minutes, the masseuse worked on a particularly tight muscle on the inside of Dana’s right shoulder blade, the source of an ache that had plagued her for the better part of a week. Finally, after the attractive Asian woman worked her magic, the muscle relaxed, and the bothersome knot melted away. The discomfort had pestered her for so long, she had forgotten what it felt like to not have it, and as the pain faded, she breathed a long moan of pleasure.
“If I didn’t know better, I would think you just had an orgasm,” a voice to her right said.
She snorted and turned her head to look at the woman who lay on the massage table a couple of meters from hers. After her best friend Jenny’s constant urging, she had given in and came for a massage; she was now delighted she had. “Almost as good as one,” she replied with a broad smile. “Lien has very talented hands.”
Lien laughed as did her co-worker who was tending to Jenny. “You are too kind, Miss Lawson.”
“It’s true, Lien,” Dana said with a contented sigh. “You are very good at what you do.”
Dana felt Lien’s hands move to her lower back, and a little tingle of excitement raced through her. She let her mind wander, imagining what it would be like if Lien’s hands were touching her in other places, more intimate places. Lien was a beautiful woman. Tall, thin, with long jet-black hair and a brilliant smile. She was also quite straight. God, how long had it been since she had been with someone? More than a year had passed since Gail had walked out of her life to be with Clair.
Gail had blindsided Dana when she sat her down one evening and told her she was leaving. Dana couldn’t understand why—she thought things were going great between them—but Gail believed Dana favored her writing over spending quality time with her. She felt Gail was being ridiculous and told her as much. Gail had simply sighed and shook her head slowly, pointing out the fact that Dana hadn’t at all noticed she had already moved her belongings out, and that’s when she told her about Clair. Dana was devastated, and it was then she decided to put the idea of any sort of romantic relationships aside and lost herself in her work.
Lien’s fingers moving up her spine brought her attention back. Shit! She cleared the memory from her head and enjoyed the rest of her massage.
“I think I need a vacation,” Dana said after several moments.
“Pardon!” Jenny replied wide-eyed.
“I think I need a vaca—”
“I heard what you said. I just can’t believe that’s what you said. You haven’t taken any real time for yourself in I don’t know how long.”
She sighed. Her best friend was right. It had been forever since she took the time to relax. “I know. I know.”
“Any idea where you’d want to go?”
She shrugged. “I was thinking someplace quiet by the ocean. Maybe rent a cottage for the summer.”
“The whole summer?” She studied her friend intently, one eyebrow raised. “Who are you, and what have you done with Dana?”
She chuckled. “No, I’m serious. I need to get out of the city for a while. Recharge. Who knows, maybe I will find inspiration for another book.”
“Oh, I agree,” Jenny said. “It will do you a world of good to get away. I just didn’t expect you to suggest it. And to want to go away for such a long time. Not really the Dana I know and love.”
“I’m not that bad,” she said in mock annoyance.
“Yeah, you are,” Jenny said with a chuckle and winked.
“Okay, ladies. All done,” Lien said when there was a lull in the conversation.
“So soon?” Dana whined playfully.
<
br /> “I’m afraid so, Miss Lawson. We’ll leave you two alone to get dressed.” Lien left the room with her co-worker behind her.
Reluctantly, Dana sat up and swung her legs over the edge of the table, watching Jenny do the same. They sat facing each other, the towels over their laps. She glanced at her friend, stealing a quick peek at her bare breasts before quickly looking away. Though Jenny was her best friend and had been since the eighth grade, she couldn’t help but admire the woman’s sexy form. Jenny stood the same height as her at 165 centimeters. Her flowing blonde hair hung over her shoulders, and her blue eyes sparkled. A small band of freckles she found adorable crossed the bridge of her nose.
Dana had tried to move their relationship in a romantic direction while they were in university. They had spent one incredible night together, wrapped in each other’s arms, making love by the lake. But in the end, Jenny knew she wasn’t in love with Dana and couldn’t love her that way. The experience had brought them closer together though, strengthening their friendship and creating an indelible bond between them.
When the two women finished dressing, they left the spa and got into Jenny’s car. Steering her vehicle onto the street, Jenny headed for Dana’s uptown apartment.
“I was thinking,” Jenny said. “If you really want to spend the summer by the ocean, you’re welcome to use my summer place in Emerald Bay.”
“No, Jen. I couldn’t do that. You may want to use it.”
She glanced over at her and smirked. “No, I insist. As you know, I’m going to be in Europe and then Vancouver for the better part of the summer, so it’s not an issue.”
Dana sat quietly thinking about it. She had spent a weekend or two there with Jenny each summer since she had bought the place five years before. It was in a quaint little town not too far from the city, and the house had a commanding view of the ocean. It would be perfect.
“Okay. If you’re sure it’s not a bother.”
“Great!” Jenny replied as she pulled her car up to the entrance of Dana’s building. “Give me a few days to have the place opened up and made ready, then it’s all yours for as long as you want.” She placed a hand on Dana’s knee and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“No rush. Remember, I have to fly to LA this week for that spot with Ellen,” she said wearily.
“You don’t sound enthusiastic about it. I thought you were looking forward to meeting Ellen.”
She gave her friend a grimace. “Meeting Ellen, yes. Flying across the continent again, not so much.”
Jenny laughed. “I understand. Well, rest up. Try to enjoy your trip to LA, and your oasis by the sea will be ready and waiting for you when you return.”
After unbuckling her seatbelt, Dana shuffled over, wrapped her arms around the pretty blonde, and gave her a squeeze and a soft kiss on the cheek. “Thanks, Jen. You’re the best.”
“My pleasure, sweetie.”
Dana stepped out of the car, shut the door, and leaned in the open window. “Call me later?”
“Of course.” Jenny winked and shifted her Lexus into gear.
Chapter Two
Dana sang along with the song that blasted from her car stereo. Katy Perry would cringe if she heard her rendition of Dark Horse, but Dana didn’t care. She had been in a good mood when she left her Spring Garden Road apartment that morning, and her spirit improved as the city disappeared from her rearview mirror.
After she had finished packing three suitcases and a travel bag, the ones now containing her entire inventory of clothes and all the items she may require over the next eight weeks, she loaded them into her convertible. Before she left, she stopped by apartment 1A, home of her landlord.
Maggie answered the door wearing a nightgown and housecoat, both pink and tattered, and fuzzy slippers. A cigarette hung from her mouth, and a cup of coffee rested in her free hand. The woman, in her mid-60s, beamed happily when she recognized her.
“Dana! So nice to see you.” She pulled the cigarette from her mouth, coughed, and motioned her inside. “What can I do for you, my dear?”
The last thing she wanted to do was walk into the smoke-filled apartment, but her mother had raised her to be polite. She stepped in far enough to let Maggie close the door before speaking. “I wanted to…” She coughed as she inhaled a lung full of second-hand smoke. “I will be out of town for the summer.”
Maggie raised an eyebrow. “A vacation I hope and not something serious.” She crushed out her cigarette in one of the many overflowing ashtrays scattered around the otherwise well-kept apartment.
Dana nodded. “Yes. I will be spending it in Emerald Bay. At a friend’s summer house.”
“Splendid. I always thought you worked too hard. It’s about time you took some time for yourself.”
“I will have to agree with you there.” Dana tried to stifle a cough but failed.
“Is this friend going to be there with you? Maybe a new lady friend?” A mischievous grin lit up her face.
Dana chuckled. “No, Maggie. No new lady friends.” Maggie was a kind well-meaning person with a heart of gold, always having her tenants’ best interests in mind. Though, she did like to snoop and gossip.
“Too bad. Maybe you’ll meet someone new while you’re away,” she said with a cough.
“Maybe. Anyway, I wanted to let you know I would be gone and to make sure you had my cell number. Everything in my apartment is turned off or unplugged, so you don’t need to worry about that.”
“That’s wonderful, dear.” Maggie waved a hand dismissively as she pulled a smoke from the pack on the counter and grabbed the lighter. “I have your number on file. You go and have a great summer and do try to relax.” She pushed the cigarette between her lips and lit it.
“I will. You have a good summer too.” Dana turned to the door. She couldn’t wait to get out of the apartment. The amount of smoke she had inhaled during the short conversation had probably taken two years off her life.
Once outside, she took several deep breaths, and the burning in her lungs eased. She hoped the drive to Emerald Bay would be sufficient to air out the clothes she wore.
Dana slid into the driver’s seat and pushed a button. Motors came to life and whirred as the convertible top folded itself into its storage space. She slipped on a pair of Oakley’s and fired up the engine of her BMW. Leaving the parking lot, she intentionally barked the tires and grinned at the two teenaged boys who stared at her wide-eyed from the sidewalk.
Instead of taking the shortest route via Highway 103, she opted to travel along the scenic coastal road which would take her twice as long to reach Emerald Bay. It was worth it. On her right, lush green virgin woodland intermixed with golden hues of farmers’ fields. To her left sat the Atlantic, its waves crashing against rocky outcrops at some spots, while at others, it rolled gently onto sandy beaches. The salty ocean breeze filled her nose, and she breathed it in, relishing the scent. The view, for the most part, was spectacular, broken only by single-family homes and the occasional tiny hamlet that dotted her route.
Two hours after leaving her apartment, she passed a large roadside sign that welcomed travelers to the small town of Emerald Bay, population 1002. She couldn’t help but smile at the specificity of the count. Turning left, she headed toward the heart of the community. To say the town was colorful would be putting it mildly. All the buildings, houses and businesses alike wore bright coats of paint. The mixture of yellows, greens, reds, and blues made for a picturesque scene.
She was familiar with the street having traveled its length when she visited Jenny at the summer home. Yet, she had never bothered to stop at any of the shops or eateries. It was then her stomach growled, reminding her she hadn’t eaten anything since the muffin and coffee she had wolfed down at breakfast. She had planned on unpacking, then going to the grocery store to stock the summer home. Unfortunately, the town of Emerald Bay didn’t have what she considered a real grocery store.
Sighing, she turned off the road and pulled up to a long, single-
story building. The large, hand-painted sign that sat high on the roof read Emerald Bay General Store. An open porch ran the length of the building, decorated with old buoys and fishing nets. A pair of old fashion gas pumps, the kind with the transparent glass cylinder on top, flanked the steps leading up to the porch. On the porch, by the front door, a vending machine for soft drinks hummed noisily, the red company logo faded to almost white.
Dana exited the car, made her way to the entrance, and stepped inside. She paused for a moment, making a cursory survey of the store. There were rows of short shelves filled with canned and boxed goods. On the back wall, to one side, coolers with milk, juice, and other items requiring refrigeration glowed a soft white. There were also bins and shelves of locally-grown produce on display on the opposite side of the store.
Picking up a small shopping basket from the floor near the door, she headed toward the back of the store. She picked up a loaf of homemade whole wheat bread from a shelf next to an assortment of cookies, pies, and squares, making sure to take a small package of date squares for dessert. She pulled a carton of milk and a package of sandwich meats from one of the coolers. After collecting the rest of the items she would need to tide her over until she went shopping, she made her way to the counter.
As she approached, a girl, probably no more than 14 years old, emerged from a small office behind the counter. The girl didn’t notice her as she was too engrossed with her phone, her thumbs scurrying over the keys. Dana watched her for a moment. She wore a simple black tee shirt and a pair of those jeans which came off the rack pre-ripped. Her long brown hair hung down over her face. Dana wondered how she could maneuver without running into anything.
She placed her basket of goods on the counter a little harder than necessary. The girl jumped, almost dropping the phone as she looked up. Dana watched her, not saying anything as the girl’s face flushed red. She fumbled with the phone, tapped out a quick message and set the phone on the counter.
