Summer by the Tides

by Denise Hunter

  The neighborhood was silent except for the nattering of a nearby squirrel and the bits of gravel crunching under their feet.

  “Nick and I started dating around Thanksgiving. He pursued me relentlessly for weeks, but I was . . . reluctant. Not on account of him specifically—he seemed nice enough—but it’s my nature to be a little guarded. I don’t let people in easily.” She tossed him a smile. “You might’ve noticed.”

  The one he returned made her toes curl in her sandals.

  “Anyway, after a while I started trusting him. I let him in, let down all my barriers and allowed myself to fall in love. At least I thought I was in love. I’m not so sure now.” She shook her head. “I don’t know why I’m telling you all this. I haven’t even told my sisters this much.”

  “Maybe you just needed to get it off your chest. It won’t go any further.”

  She believed that. The Connor she was only beginning to see wasn’t the type to gossip behind someone’s back. He’d listened thoughtfully so far, and it felt good to be heard. She thought of Emma hiding her separation. And Nora, keeping her pregnancy under wraps. What drove the Monroe sisters to keep secrets from each other? Something to ponder . . . another day.

  “So . . . ,” she continued. “Fast-forward to May twenty-ninth. My relationship with Nick had been exclusive for months and had grown quite serious. The GM was set to retire in June, and I walked into the GM’s office to find Nick and the owner, Evangeline, talking about me. He was running me down, and it was obvious from what she was saying that she was promoting Nick instead of me. After hearing this, while I stood mute and in shock, he kissed her. It was quite the intimate embrace, let me tell you. Clearly not their first.”

  The image made her chest feel hollow all over again. But was that heartbreak she was feeling? Or simple disillusionment?

  He gave her a sad smile. “I’m sorry, Maddy. That must’ve been very hurtful.”

  “Evangeline didn’t even know we’d been dating, because Nick had convinced me to keep our relationship on the down low at work. I’m pretty sure he was only playing me, playing Evangeline, the whole time.”

  “May twenty-ninth . . . That was the day I called about your grandma.”

  “Right. That’s why I didn’t answer your calls. I kind of fell apart after what I saw. I wanted to hide from the world. I was so . . . hurt and angry.”

  “Who wouldn’t be?” He drained the rest of his tea, making a slurping sound as he reached the bottom.

  “By the time my best friend, Holly, dragged me from my sleep-drugged coma, you’d already left quite a few messages.”

  “Did you confront that tool you were dating? Quit your job?”

  Maddy shoved her hands in her pockets. “Not really. They saw me, realized what I’d seen and heard. I left and haven’t spoken with either of them since.”

  “Man. He got off way too easily. Want me to beat him up for you?” He glanced at her, looking half serious.

  Maddy gave him a wan smile. “I’m not sure which was more hurtful—the way he stabbed me in the back professionally or betrayed me personally. The fact that it all seemed so premeditated, that I was blind to it, is what’s stuck with me the most. It’s made me really unsure of myself.”

  “I get that.” His voice was low and rumbly. “It’s one thing to distrust others, but when you can’t trust yourself, it throws everything into question.”

  She glanced at him, then fell into his warm gaze, feeling wonderfully understood. “Exactly.”

  He brushed his hair back. “Listen, Maddy, we’ve all been mistaken about people a time or two. It sounds like this Nick was a real con artist. And that’s on him, not on you.”

  “That’s exactly what Holly says.”

  “That doesn’t make it any less hurtful, I know. But something I’ve always hung on to . . . When I can’t trust others and I can’t trust myself, I can always trust God. He’ll work it all out, you know?”

  “Yeah. I think I lost sight of that for a while.”

  She’d left God in the dust quite some time ago, in fact. She’d been so busy trying to prove herself at work. And then Nick came along, and he was yet another distraction.

  “Don’t beat yourself up, Maddy. God’s still right where you left Him.”

  The thought washed over Maddy like a cool waft of water on a hot summer day. Connor was right. She gave him a sideways glance, wondering, not for the first time just who this man was. Sometimes people were not at all who you thought they were. But she was starting to see that sometimes this was a good thing.

  * * *

  Their brisk pace had slowed to a comfortable stroll as they continued along Bayview Drive. Connor felt Maddy’s eyes on him, and heat rose on the back of his neck as the moment lengthened.

  Finally he returned the look. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

  She squinted thoughtfully, tilting her head. “I don’t know. I’ve only known you a couple weeks now, and everything I thought I knew about you was wrong.”

  He lifted a shoulder. “I’m no big mystery. Pretty ordinary, really.”

  “Your sisters don’t seem to think so.”

  His sisters again. He rolled his eyes. “My sisters are little pests.”

  Maddy smiled, her eyes coming alive. “That’s what little sisters are supposed to be. I should know—I am one.”

  “They’re needy little suckers, and they butt in all the time. They hover like mother hens—especially since I lost Annie.”

  He winced. Now why had he gone and said that?

  “Annie?”

  “My wife. Late wife.” Well, now that he’d gone and spilled the beans . . . “This week was the third anniversary of her death, so it’s been a little rough. You might’ve noticed I was distracted when you came by my office the other day.”

  Maddy’s eyes softened. “I’m so sorry. That’s what your sisters meant when they said they didn’t want you to be alone this week.”

  He gave a wry grin. “Exactly how long was this conversation between you and my sisters?”

  “Not long at all. They were only explaining why they were in town the other day. You don’t have to talk about it. I just—I’m trying to get a picture of who you are, I guess. Now that I know you aren’t a beach-bumming womanizer.”

  A laugh rumbled out, foreign and pleasant, surprising him. That was twice now. “Well, I can see I have nowhere to go but up.”

  Her sheepish smile charmed him. “The bar was pretty low, I’ll admit.”

  They shared a smile, and his gaze roved quickly over her face. He took in the pleasant planes, noticing her small shapely nose, her sun-kissed skin, and the generous curve of her mouth.

  He pulled his eyes away, following a spotted plover that hopped across the street. It flew off at their approach.

  He was a private person. He’d never worn his emotions on his sleeve, but he didn’t think Maddy did either, and she’d been vulnerable with him. He could share a small piece of himself.

  “Annie and I were married for ten years. She passed away suddenly three years ago—an aneurysm.”

  “I’m sorry. I can only imagine how hard that must’ve been.”

  Maddy had obviously suffered regrets about things she’d done—falling in love, trusting someone unworthy of that trust. He wondered if she knew that regrets from things left undone could be just as painful. Maybe even more so.

  “My dad died suddenly when I was twelve.” Then she quickly added, “I know it’s not the same thing.”

  “Both are huge losses. That’s pretty young to lose a father.”

  “It was a shock—hard on all of us.”

  Their stories weren’t similar, not really. But they had some things in common. They both knew love could be a wonderful thing, and that losing it could shatter a person in two.

  “Whew,” she said, smiling at him. “This is some heavy conversation we’re having today.”

  “You’re easy to talk to,” he said, suddenly surprised at h
ow much he meant that.

  “Tell me about your family,” she said. “Your parents. Are they still living?”

  “Yes. My folks are great. My dad pastors a church in Jacksonville, Florida, and my mom is a social worker, though she’s planning to retire soon. We talk or FaceTime regularly, and they come here a few times a year at least.”

  “How did you and your sisters end up in North Carolina?”

  “This is where we grew up. Dad pastored a church in Whiteville, and Mom stayed home with us. Well, she worked part-time. We were blessed. How about you? I only know a little about your family from your grandma.”

  “Right. Well, we were raised in Charlotte—spent our summers here, of course, at the beach cottage. My mom stayed at home with us, and my dad was a salesman. He traveled around the state. During the summers we’d come to Seahaven, and he’d travel from here. We hated that he was gone so much, but the flexibility was nice.”

  “That must’ve been great, having summers here.”

  “It was.” Her smile fell, and her eyes dimmed until there was something wistful in her expression. “Until it wasn’t.”

  Her grandma had made many references to their family dysfunction, but she’d carefully left out all the details. He’d prayed for the sisters before he’d even set eyes on them. He’d been curious, but now he suddenly wanted to know everything about Maddy, including her family history.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “Your grandmother mentioned a splinter in the family.”

  “That’s putting it mildly. The last summer here was a total disaster. It blew our family to smithereens, and I’m afraid we still haven’t recovered. I’m not sure we ever will.”

  He gave that a moment’s thought. “Maybe this summer will be a healing one.”

  “Well, it hasn’t gotten off to the best start. Neither of my sisters is willing to give an inch.”

  “That can always change.”

  She seemed to fumble with her thoughts. Maybe having trouble putting them into words.

  “I don’t know how,” she said finally.

  “Well . . . our God is a God of miracles. He set the stars in the sky, created every living being, and parted the sea.” He nudged her arm. “It’s not the how, Maddy. It’s the Who.”

  Her eyes searched his until heat began to climb his neck again. Had he been out of line? Heaven knew he didn’t have it all figured out. He couldn’t even get his own life together. Who was he to give advice?

  She was shaking her head, a befuddled expression on her face. “Who are you, Connor Sullivan?”

  He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Aw, I’m just a man, Maddy. Nothing special.”

  She studied him for a moment longer. “I’m not so sure about that.”

  Her words warmed him from the inside out. He felt soft inside in a way he hadn’t felt in a long time. In a way he’d never thought he’d feel again.

  When his feet hit gravel he realized they’d already reached the marina parking lot. How had that happened? It seemed as if they’d only just stepped from the boat.

  He found himself reluctant to part ways with her. There was still so much he wanted to ask about her and her life. But they both needed to get to work.

  She came to a stop as they neared the turnoff for the restaurant and turned his way. Her softening toward him was evident in her relaxed expression, in her open posture. He’d somehow won her over in the last fifteen minutes, and it made him feel ridiculously heady.

  “This has been nice,” she said, those doe-brown eyes fixed on him. “Just talking.”

  He couldn’t stop the smile from blooming on his face. “It has.”

  “Again, Connor, I’m sorry for misjudging you. I hope you can forgive me and that maybe we can be . . . friends?”

  “Water under the bridge. And I’d love that, being your friend. Maybe I can take you out on the water again soon and actually put up the sails this time.” The offer rolled off his tongue before he’d had a chance to mull it over. Even so he felt no regret. Only hope.

  “I think I’d like that.” She glanced at her watch.

  “You’d better get in there before a chef quits or a toilet overflows.”

  The corner of her mouth ticked up. “You never know what’s going to happen, do you? I’ll see you later, Connor.”

  “See you, Maddy.”

  He was walking down the boardwalk with a silly grin on his face when she called his name.

  He turned, walking backward.

  Her long hair whipped in the wind, and the smile on her face made his heart stutter. She gestured at the restaurant. “Feel free to stop in anytime. You know, if you feel the random urge to bus a table or something.”

  He gave his chin a lift as he raised his hand in a wave. He just might do that.

  Chapter 16

  July 12, twenty years ago

  The summer was turning out much better than Maddy had expected. It seemed Jonathan had to work a lot, leaving Emma free to hang out with her.

  They’d taken the ferry to Bald Head Island and tooled around on a golf cart for an entire day. They’d taken the kayaks out in the bay and around Pelican Point. And they’d made many ice-cream runs, even though Emma often complained that she’d never fit into her wedding gown.

  Maddy also got to help with the planning of the wedding. It was going to be held in January at their church in Charlotte. That Emma trusted Maddy’s input made her feel all grown up. Mama, Gram, and Nora pitched in also, the five of them often huddling over a kitchen table that was filled with invitation samples, bridal magazines, and menus. Maddy couldn’t believe all the minute details involved in planning a single day. If she ever got married, she was going to elope! Emma hoped to get the bulk of the planning done over the summer so she could focus on school once August came.

  Jonathan seemed only too happy to let them handle the plans, coming around every so often to drop a kiss on Emma’s head and applaud her decisions. His job was planning the honeymoon, and he was keeping all those details to himself.

  The only negative was that the busyness was making the summer pass too quickly. And as much as Maddy was enjoying her time with Emma, it seemed as if the family was all too often going in opposite directions.

  Daddy, of course, traveled a lot, although he made time for each of them when he was home. The only time they were all together seemed to be Sundays, when they attended Gram’s church. Nora also seemed scarce, although to be fair, much of Maddy’s activities with Emma involved the sun, and ice-cream outings didn’t interest Nora, as she’d never had much of a sweet tooth. Was it the wedding planning, Maddy wondered, that had thrown everything off? Or the presence of an outsider in the house?

  Maddy shook the thought away and stared out the window as Emma drove them down the road toward the hair salon. Maddy was getting her hair cut today. She’d grown it out long, but it was a pain, always blowing in her face. And ponytails made her head hurt. She’d found a picture of a woman with a long bob in one of Emma’s magazines and thought that might do the trick.

  The picture! Maddy stuck her hands into her pockets, but they came out empty.

  “What’s wrong?” Emma asked from the driver’s seat.

  “I forgot the picture.”

  “You can just describe it, can’t you? We’re almost there.”

  “Please, can we go back? I don’t want her to get it wrong. What if she messes it up?”

  “Maddy.”

  “We’re early anyway. We’ll still be on time.”

  Emma sighed. “Fine.” She slowed the car and turned around in the bicycle shop’s parking lot.

  A few minutes later they were back home. Emma pulled the car along the curb and Maddy jumped out.

  The house was quiet except for the strains of jazz Jonathan always listened to while he worked. He called it big band music and was always making them listen to songs that had been popular way back in Gram’s day.

  As seemed to be the case recently, everyone was otherwise occupi
ed today. Gram and Mama had gone grocery shopping, and Daddy was traveling. Jonathan was working in his bedroom, and Nora was undoubtedly lounging in the shade somewhere with her nose in a book.

  Maddy took the stairs quickly, not wanting to irritate Emma further by dillydallying. She’d left the picture in the bathroom where she’d been trying to imagine what she’d look like with eight inches lopped off. She was a little nervous—she didn’t want to look even younger.

  She slid past her own bedroom door, then into the bathroom. There it was, by the sink. She snatched it up and turned just as a familiar lilt of laughter sounded over the strains of a saxophone.

  Maddy paused outside the bathroom door, looking farther down the hall to Jonathan’s door, which was partly open.

  “So I hear you’re the favorite grandchild.” Jonathan’s tone was teasing.

  “Not true. Gram is very fair—she spoils us all.”

  “I’ve been a witness to that, but from what I’ve seen I think your dad is just as guilty of that as your grandmother.”

  “Maybe so. Mama certainly seems to think so.”

  “You have a nice family, Nora. I envy you the siblings. I always wanted brothers.”

  “Not sisters?”

  He chuckled. “Um, no.”

  Nora emitted a giggle.

  Maddy frowned at the doorway. She’d never in all her life heard that sound come from Nora. She edged closer to the door, peeking in carefully. She saw Nora’s legs—she was stretched out on her stomach on the bed, directly across from where Jonathan usually worked at his desk. The singer continued warbling the melody.

  The conversation had moved on to their parents, and Nora was talking. “They argue sometimes—mostly about Daddy’s traveling. I wish Mama would just accept it. I mean, we miss him when he’s gone, but when he’s here, he’s really here, you know? She could do a lot worse.”

  “Emma said she harps on him a lot. But at least they’re still together.” There was a warmth in Jonathan’s voice that she’d only heard when he talked to Emma.

  Maddy’s stomach twisted. It didn’t sound as if Jonathan was working at all. And it didn’t seem right that Nora was alone with him in his bedroom, on his bed no less. On the other hand, he and Emma were obviously in love, and Nora would soon be his sister-in-law.