* * * * *
Pushing open the front door of his grandmother’s home, laughter floated past him. The merry sound, a deep chuckle as thick and rich as chocolate, had him taking a step back to glance at the number on the door. He hadn’t walked into the wrong house. He’d just stepped into something new. Crossing the threshold again, he quietly shut the door and slipped from his shoes. He avoided the plank in the hardwood floor near the staircase that creaked and continued on down the hall and into the living room.
Her back greeted him as she sat on the tufted white couch facing the French doors. He watched her head tilt toward the couch and heard the foreign sound again. Over the years, he’d never heard her laugh. He recalled one incident when he was about twelve and had been stuck in a tree he’d attempted to climb in Neptune Park. She’d let out a single guffaw, staring up at him in the tree. Then she’d recovered herself and fetched a ladder to rescue him. He gave up tree climbing after that and had never heard even a chuckle from her. Until now.
As he approached, he felt too conspicuous. Whoever she was talking to, he was glad if they made her happy. He didn’t want to spy on her or eavesdrop. Landon veered into the kitchen, bypassing the living room entirely, and pulled a Coca-Cola out of the fridge. He popped the tab lid and took a sip. The first fizz tickled his nose and nearly made him sneeze.
He rubbed a hand over his nose and took a seat at her kitchen table. Coca-Cola reminded him of his father. Landon Beau III prided himself on eschewing coffee and tea. He was only able to do so because of the massive refrigerator stocked with bottles of Coca-Cola in his office. As a child, he loved spending Saturdays at father’s work. Drinking Coca-Cola and finishing up his homework while father reviewed documents and made phone calls. They’d leave at lunch and grab a burger together before heading out for a game of catch at the field near their house.
I wonder if he still goes out for burgers on Saturdays. I do.
They hadn’t resumed the practice after college. Being an employee was very different from being a son. Landon had no desire to head back into the office on the weekend, especially not with his boss. Living back at home, even if their home was enormous, didn’t make him seek out his father anymore either. He still hadn’t returned his father’s phone calls and father had finally stopped calling.
“Penny for your thoughts?” his grandmother’s voice interrupted him as he took another sip.
“Who were you on the phone with?” Landon asked. “I heard you laughing when I came in and still see the smile on your face. Do I need to meet this man and threaten him to treat you right?”
His grandmother waved off his concern and chuckled. She grabbed the pitcher of sweet tea from the fridge and poured herself a glass. Landon got to his feet to pull a chair out her at the table, opposite him.
“I was actually on the phone with your mother.”
“Really?” Landon was glad he hadn’t taken another sip after he’d returned to his seat. He might have snorted it accidentally.
“Yes. I thought a lot about our talk. And I realized something. You were right.”
“Sorry, could you say that a little louder? I want to remember this moment.”
“Oh you stop,” Grandmother said, waving him off for his impertinence. The smile in her eyes told him she wasn’t all that sad to be wrong. At least something had gone right with his move. “I also realized something else.”
“What was that?”
“How could I ask you to make up with your father if I wasn’t ready to do the same?”
Landon didn’t reply. He’d been thinking about the man too, he couldn’t pretend he hadn’t been. Dropping Kim off at her house, he’d been puzzling over her suggestion that he ask his father to take on the development and presumably other local projects so he could stay here. Sitting across from his grandmother now, he understood why he couldn’t.
“What am I supposed to say to him?”
His grandmother reached across the table and took his hands in hers before he could pull back or try to cover his face.
“He is your father. He loves you Landon. He only wants the best for you.”
“I was so sure this would be a success. And now he knows it isn’t. He knows I lost all my backers. Well, almost all, I’m still tracking down the last one. But he knew that before I even told him. I can’t imagine these phone calls have been about anything more than asking when I’m coming back.”
“Isn’t that a fair question?”
He sipped from his Coca Cola, the tart sweetness cutting through the bitter taste in his mouth. He’d come to the slow realization that he had to see his father. He didn’t want to have a strained relationship like his mother and grandmother. He valued the man’s opinions and wanted his advice about the new venture Kim had dangled before him. But more than anything, he wanted the man’s respect.
“Grandmother, I need to stay here. I have to make my own life. I need to be here.”
“Why?”
“Because I owe myself another chance. I owe her the life she deserves. And I want to be here for that. I don’t want to go back to Savannah and crawl back to the company. Because of course, he’ll take me back. He’s never expected that much out of me anyway.”
“Who is this woman? Do I know her?”
Landon squirmed and pulled his hands from hers. He took a final long sip from his soda, the bubbles slowly popping as the syrup slid down his throat.
“So I do know her.”
“Grandmother, I’ll be more than happy to introduce you. But I need to get everything sorted out. I need to figure out my next steps, where I’m going, and what I’ll be doing when I get there.”
“I think to move forward you have to confront your past.”
He shivered. She had no idea how prophetic those words were for him. She couldn’t be talking about him and Kim. She didn’t know the specifics. But he understood her general point.
“If you want to show him you can do this on your own, whatever your next plan is, then accept your failure, man up, and tell him. Talk to him.”
“You’re right. Let’s drive up and see them. I want to talk to him in person. And you can finally see our house. We’ll leave in the morning, but let’s surprise them. I don’t want him to deliver a prepared speech.”
“Okay, I’d better pack.”
Without another word, his grandmother set off toward the staircase and her master bedroom. He wanted to shout after her that they’d only be gone for a day, and they’d come back tomorrow night. But he decided against it. She liked to be prepared. He appreciated that. He felt the same way. Try as he might, he couldn’t figure out how to prepare himself for the coming confrontation. He’d rather be taking Kim out to dinner. But the curt nod she’d given him as she leapt from his car that afternoon hadn’t been encouraging.
He needed to come up with a plan. Time was officially running out.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Kim nudged the large spool of brown craft paper with her foot, letting the paper unroll as it traveled the length of her living room until bouncing against the wall opposite. Pulling the roll of painter’s tape out of her back jeans pocket, she ripped the paper off the roll and secured it to the floor. She considered the blank canvas in front of her. She could let her mind imagine and create anything she wanted. She had no limitations for this project. All she had to do was come up with a design and implement a plan.
Too bad she couldn’t figure out a plan for Landon.
She shook off the thought. Kneeling, she pulled the pencil from behind her ear and began sketching the images she’d seen in her mind’s eye at Phil and Trish’s bar yesterday morning. Her fingers created swirls and loops. She let herself focus on the task at hand and that alone. Immersing herself in her project, she felt transported into the water alongside the mermaids. Flowing hair and necklaces concealed their modesty as the mermaids swam in the water, brushed their locks, or sat on rocks to touch up their make-up with clamshell compacts.
She r
eached the end of the paper all too soon and with it came crashing back to dry land. And reality. She couldn’t stop herself from feeling emotionally invested in this project. Didn’t Landon realize he held their future in his hands? Why didn’t he try to fight harder?
A knock on the door spun her around, and in a few steps, she’d crossed over to open the door and greet her unexpected guest.
“Grandma, hi. This is a nice surprise.” She hugged the woman the moment their eyes connected.
“Hi honey. I was over at the beach with some friends and thought I’d stop in and see how you are.”
“That was sweet. Come on in.” Kim took a step back out of her grandma’s arms and let her pass first.
“Wow what’s that?”
Kim smiled as she shut the front door behind her. Her grandma examined the craft paper. The older woman had slipped out of her sandals. She slowly walked from one end to the other.
“I know I haven’t done much figurative before. This is just an outline, to get an idea. I don’t know if I’ll be able to put everything in but—”
Her grandma shushed her and cut her babbling short.
“This is wonderful. It’s so large. What is it going to be?”
“This is only part of the project. Remember the bathroom at the bar? This was my idea.”
“Honey, this is spectacular. I bet you’ll start getting more commissions after this.”
“I don’t know.” Kim shifted her feet from side to side and pushed back her hair.
She felt large and awkward suddenly. Like no matter where she stood, she’d be on display. Exposed. The word made Kim pull the neck of her t-shirt up higher. Her art had been a late discovery. Born out of necessity, the hobby had become her passion but she never intended to make her projects public. Hearing praise for her work made her feel vulnerable.
“I think it’ll be a fun project at least,” Kim replied. “Can I get you a tea? Do you want sun tea after going to the beach?”
“That would be lovely.”
Grandma didn’t protest her change of subject but she hung back in the living room for a few minutes. Kim poured two tall glasses with the last of her sun tea. Grabbing her stash of lemon cookies, she arranged several on a plate and then set the kitchen table. Grandma Rose wandered in and took a seat at the table and Kim served her. She remembered how faithfully and patiently Grandma Rose had taken care of her that summer. With plenty of other grandchildren to worry about, Grandma had always made time for Kim. Taking her home to St. Simons to help her heal and to let her cry, never asking any questions, just offering her unconditional love and support. Her love had been a balm on the wounds of her heart. Kim was grateful for any opportunity to return the favor.
“Can I ask how the date went last night?”
“Oh, I almost forgot about that. So much has happened. Last night seems a long time ago.”
“What’s happened?”
Kim took in a shuddering breath and laid her hands flat on the table. She had nothing to hide. But plenty of confusing emotions and conflicting thoughts to sort through. Grandma was a good listener.
“Dinner was lovely and afterwards we strolled through Neptune Park under the stars.”
“Ooh and did you kiss him?”
Kim shook her head. “No. I… Maybe this sounds silly. I know that that part works. We’re…umm…good together. I mean I was ready to marry him at one point.”
Grandma nodded along and Kim cringed. Discussing bedroom activities with family was the most embarrassing topic she could think of. Grandma didn’t recoil in horror or wink or nudge her in a knowing manner.
Kim cleared her throat. “I don’t want to put everything on the line again. I want to take things slow.”
“Completely understandable. Good for you. But I want to circle back.”
Leaning forward, Grandma scanned her face. Kim wanted to flinch or hunch her back or somehow make herself smaller. But she knew she’d never be able to escape the caring scrutiny of her closest family.
“What do you mean you were ready to marry him?” she finally asked, her voice soft and reassuring, like she was trying to calm a scared dog.
“He proposed when we found out I was pregnant.”
“And you accepted? Why didn’t you tell me before?” Shock colored her voice but not judgment.
Kim rolled her shoulders and her neck, forcing herself to relax. She had to start being honest to herself and to Grandma Rose.
“Because… Grandma you are the most confident woman I know. You’ve never second-guessed any decision you made. You knew Grandpa was the one for you and you never doubted that. I knew he was right for me, but when I went through everything at the hospital, I didn’t want to hold him back. But then he came back. And I started thinking about your words that maybe he was tied down to me. This morning he picked me up and we went on a drive. I had an idea. You know the old decorator building we’re always talking about on Frederica Road?”
“Of course. It’s beautiful.”
“Don’t you think it would make a cool condo building?”
“Hmm,” Grandma said, resting her chin in her palm in consideration. “I don’t know. That’s an interesting idea. The biggest problem I see is the location. It’s right off the main road. That’s got to be loud.”
Kim hunched forward. She didn’t want to hear more negatives against the idea. She wanted more optimism. She wanted him to stay. And if this idea wasn’t going to work then what idea would?
“What about that building that was built for office space but never filled a few miles up? It’s still off Frederica, but it’s back from the street about the same distance as a single family home would be. And they have parking.”
“Oh, I forgot about that one. Thanks, I’ll add it to the list.”
“What list? Why did you drive to search for property with him?”
“Because I want him to stay.”
“And this is your solution?”
The question, asked so softly, had her eyes burning with unshed tears. Her future didn’t come down to his choice, only he would be affected. But she yearned to be a part of his life, forever.
“He came here to develop a big piece of property,” she replied after a halting breath. “That fell through, and now I’m saving that land. But we have plenty of other buildings throughout the island that are sitting vacant. Wouldn’t it be cool to utilize those? To create something useful out of buildings that are deserted rather than mar the remaining stretches of virgin land?”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way, but I like that.”
“His investors pulled out but I think he could find local backers.”
“Definitely. Islanders want to protect the land and the integrity of the community. I think with some work these could be promising ideas.”
“Too bad he doesn’t think so. He shot down every idea I had today. It’s so frustrating, I feel like he isn’t pushing hard enough for this. Like he’s content to let everything fall apart, and he’ll just go back to Savannah.”
Grandma didn’t reply. Kim stuffed a cookie in her mouth and ate it in two bites. She drained her sun tea to wash down the crumbs and got up from her spot at the table to place her glass in the sink. Movement in the backyard caught her attention and she watched a bird fly past. Free. Untethered. She’d never been like that. Maybe life would be easier for her if she was, if she moved past Landon and stopped caring.
A gentle touch on her elbow snapped her head to the left. Grandma smiled at her, a soft expression that reflected in eyes deep with pity.
“Honey, who is this man? What’s his name?”
“I think you and his grandmother know each other.”
“We do?”
Kim nodded slowly. “He’s Marie Smith-Thomson’s grandson.”
“Let me talk to Marie. Don’t worry, I won’t say specifics. I’ll call her tomorrow and invite her to lunch. You may join us if you want to. But I want to talk to her about this grandson of hers and get to t
he bottom of his intentions.”
Kim’s mouth gaped open, and she couldn’t find her voice. Her grandma gave her a quick peck on the cheek and was out before Kim could process her words. She heard the front door open and shut, but by the time she reached it, Grandma Rose had disappeared. For better or worse, whatever was coming, Kim knew Grandma Rose would make something happen. Either she’d be making plans for a future with Landon or one without him for good.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
At his grandmother’s insistence, he’d put the top up on the convertible. When they’d driven out of St. Simons, the sun shone brightly overhead. As they neared Savannah, however, the skies had darkened to a murky blue gray. Living near the water his entire life, he’d long ago grown accustomed to how swiftly a bright blue sky darkened with an oncoming storm and vice versa. This change was slower, a more gradual descent into darkness which promised a longer lasting shower. By the time Landon took the exit off the highway and drove through the outskirts of town, the stone on the grand buildings stood in stark contrast to the nearly pitch black sky.
“Fitting,” he muttered.
“Don’t mumble dear,” his grandmother corrected from the passenger seat.
He turned into the drive of his family home, a large structure that had always reminded him of the Medici fortress in Florence. The home took up nearly an entire city block. Behind the towering stone perimeter was a courtyard where he’d learned to ride a bike amidst the fountains and benches. He stopped the convertible at the end of the small alley, directly in front of the detached garage doors.
She patted her hair. The short, pageboy cut seemed to be exactly the same as always. If her hair dared to move out of position, he’d be shocked.
“You look wonderful,” he assured her.
Tilting her head back, she raised an eyebrow as if to dare him to suggest she was nervous.
“Are you ready?” she asked, crossing her arms and staring at him direct.
“No, but I need to see him anyway.”
“Did you call to see if they’d be home?”
Coastal Erosion Page 18
