In Shelter Cove (Angel's Bay)

by Barbara Freethy

  The woman finally looked away from Nancy and set her fabric on the counter. When she turned to Brianna, her dark eyes widened in disbelief. “You!”

  Brianna wasn’t sure how to respond. The woman looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t remember why. She had a rather nondescript appearance—brown hair streaked with gray, a thin face, no makeup except for a streak of pink on her lips.

  “So it’s true. You’re here now,” the woman said, “Donald told me that, but I didn’t believe it. You have a lot of nerve.”

  Brianna looked to Nancy for some help, but her mother-in-law seemed frozen.

  Then Stella came around the counter, gently pushing Brianna to the side. “Fiona is looking for you, Brianna. I can take care of you, Mrs. Hanlon.”

  Hanlon. Lorene Hanlon, the wife of the security guard Derek had allegedly assaulted. Brianna swallowed hard.

  “My husband still has headaches and dizzy spells,” Lorene Hanlon said, her eyes burning with anger. “He hasn’t been the same since Derek attacked him. And now you’re back trying to convince everyone he didn’t do it? Who the hell do you think you are?”

  “Here’s your change, Mrs. Hanlon,” Stella interrupted. “And your fabric. You’re all set.”

  Lorene took the money and the bag from Stella, then left, giving the door a furious slam on her way out.

  “You okay, hon?” Stella asked with concern.

  “I’m fine,” Brianna said as she took a deep breath to slow her racing heart.

  “I forgot to warn you that Lorene comes in here sometimes,” Nancy said, finally finding her voice again. “We usually just avoid each other.”

  “I’ll have to do the same.”

  “I’ll get Lucas,” Nancy said, moving away.

  Brianna turned to Stella. “Thanks for stepping in.”

  “No problem. Listen, whatever Derek did or didn’t do, you’re not him. Most people around here understand that. And those that don’t, well, that’s their problem.”

  Unfortunately, it was her problem, too, and one reason she’d worried about bringing Lucas to Angel’s Bay. She could deal with Lorene Hanlon, but she wasn’t about to let anyone make Lucas feel bad for something that Derek probably hadn’t even done. Probably? She shook the doubt out of her mind. She couldn’t stop believing in her husband now.

  After her shift at the quilt shop, Brianna went to lunch with Nancy and Lucas at the Crab Shack, then they picked up some groceries and stopped by the Kanes’ house to get Digger. When she finally returned home with Lucas and the puppy, Brianna found a note taped to her front door. It was short and to the point: “Kite flying, three o’clock.”

  Jason hadn’t signed it, but she knew it was from him. It was also almost three.

  “Who’s it from, Mommy?” Lucas asked.

  For a moment, she was tempted to lie to him. In fact, she was tempted to track down Jason and tell him not to come, but it was a little late for that. She’d already told Lucas that Jason was fixing the kite.

  “Jason is going to bring your kite by in a few minutes,” she said as she unlocked the door.

  Lucas squealed with delight. She hoped he was more excited about the kite than about seeing Jason, but she suspected it was a little of both. Lucas craved adult male attention, and while his grandfather provided some of that, Jason was younger and more like a father figure. She just had to make sure that Lucas didn’t start seeing him that way.

  A few minutes later, the doorbell rang. Lucas was on her heels as she answered it. He greeted Jason with an exuberant hug that seemed to take the man by surprise, but he quickly recovered.

  “Hey, buddy. Look what I’ve got.” Jason held up a red and purple kite that looked nothing like the one they’d made the day before.

  Lucas stared at it in amazement. “It’s so big.”

  “And not at all familiar,” Brianna added. “Did you buy a new kite?”

  Jason shrugged. “I made this one. I used some parts of yours.”

  If he had, she couldn’t recognize any of them.

  “Ready to give it a test run?” Jason asked.

  “I guess we can go out front,” she said somewhat reluctantly. She’d rather not be seen running around the neighborhood with Jason Marlow.

  “We need more room,” Jason said. “I know a good spot. You’ll need jackets; lucky for us, the wind is picking up.”

  “I don’t know,” she said, hesitating. “I can’t leave Digger here alone yet. He’ll tear up the house. And I just brought him back from the Kanes’.”

  “Your puppy will love where we’re going. There’s a lot to explore, and he can’t get into any trouble.”

  She was more concerned about the trouble she might be getting into going out with Jason. But if they were going to do this together, she’d rather do it away from her house. “All right. Let’s go.”

  Jason’s Jeep was parked in Patty’s driveway. As he opened the back to stash the kite, she caught a glimpse of a wetsuit and a couple of beach towels.

  “Do you dive?” she asked.

  “Some, but mostly I surf. We get some good waves along the coast, especially when the storm pattern is right.”

  “Sounds dangerous and cold.”

  “It’s challenging and fun,” he returned, a sparkle in his eyes. “Man against nature. It’s the ultimate contest. You should try it.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Sometimes it’s more fun to actually have an adventure, instead of just reading about it in the library,” he said with a smile.

  She was already regretting sharing that with him. Ignoring his comment, she settled Lucas into the backseat with Digger, then got into the front and fastened her seat belt.

  “So where are we going?” she asked as Jason pulled out of the driveway. “Somewhere out of town, I hope?”

  He shot her a quick look. “It’s been a long time since a girl wanted to hide me from her parents.”

  “I don’t want to hurt Rick and Nancy. They mean a lot to me.”

  “I don’t want to hurt them, either. There’s a good spot just south of here, where the wind blows like a freight train and there’s a lot of room to run. Derek and I used to fly our kites there. It took a while to get there on our bikes, but it’s not far by car.”

  Turning her gaze out the window, she watched the streets go by, picturing two young boys pedaling to the beach with their kites. What an innocent time that had been. Neither of them would ever have imagined their lives would turn out the way they had.

  As they left the downtown area, the scenery turned more rural. Although there were several large houses going up along the coastline, eventually those were fewer and far between. She saw a sign for Angel’s Bay Art Colony, and in the distance she could see a circular building with lots of windows. Next to it was a string of small cottages. “What’s over there?”

  “A community art center. Wyatt and some of the other artists had it built about fifteen years ago. The studio is in the main building; the smaller cottages overlook the sea and provide artistic inspiration for visiting artists. The local art scene has grown tremendously in the past decade.”

  “Is that where Derek painted?”

  “Sometimes, but he usually worked at Wyatt’s house. He lives about a mile down the road. You can’t see his place from the highway.”

  A few minutes later, Jason pulled off to the side of the road and parked at the edge of a wide, flat field. Good. She didn’t want to worry about Lucas and the puppy running along a narrow cliff.

  Lucas had his seat belt unbuckled the second Jason turned off the engine. He was reaching for the door when Brianna reminded him to wait. She wanted to get hold of Digger’s leash before he took off without them. The puppy was just as excited as Lucas to explore new territory. When she got the dog out of the car, he hit the ground running, taking her along with him. Fortunately, he ran only a few yards before stopping to sniff the wildflowers and paw at the ground.

  While Digger was digging, Jason squatte
d down next to Lucas, showing him how to hold the kite. Brianna didn’t think they’d have any trouble getting it up in the air; it was windier than heck. She’d pulled her hair back in a ponytail, but several strands had already blown loose and were whipping about her face. Her skin tingled from the sun and the salty breeze. Even though she was a little cold, she also felt invigorated for the first time in a long time.

  “Okay, Lucas, give it a shot,” Jason said, stepping back.

  “Aren’t you going to show him how to do it first?” she asked, surprised by his willingness to turn the kite over to Lucas.

  “It’s his kite. He should be the first one to fly it.” Jason gave Lucas an encouraging nod. “Just hang on tight, Lucas.”

  Lucas took off running, and in seconds the kite blew up behind him. Brianna felt a sudden rush of worry. What if the kite went too high and dragged Lucas toward the edge of the bluff ? But Jason was already running next to Lucas, keeping pace with her little boy.

  They were shouting and laughing as the kite blew toward the heavens, the red and purple colors lighting up the grayish sky. Unexpected tears gathered in her eyes. She’d never seen Lucas so happy, so free from the somber quiet that had surrounded them for so many years. This was exactly what she had wanted for him.

  She stumbled as the leash suddenly jerked in her hand. Digger had decided the guys were having too much fun without him, and soon she was running just as fast as they were. She didn’t know how many trips they made back and forth across the bluff, but finally Lucas and the dog got tired, both collapsing to the ground in a mix of delighted barks and giggles.

  Jason pulled the kite back to earth. His hair was tousled from the wind, his eyes lit with pleasure. He looked young, happy, and carefree.

  “Your turn,” Jason said, holding the kite out to her with a smile.

  “I’m fine.”

  “You can’t come out here and not fly the kite.”

  “I just ran two miles chasing you, Lucas, and the dog.”

  “Give me the leash.” She saw nothing but encouragement in her eyes. “You should do it, Brianna. It’s exhilarating to let the wind carry you away. I want you to feel it.”

  His words held a promise that was too tantalizing to resist.

  Lucas offered words of advice as she started to jog down the bluff. She didn’t intend to go far, but once the kite took flight, she felt as if she was soaring right along with it. It was an incredibly freeing feeling. Her feet had been planted on the ground for years, her head down, plowing through her daily life without any real joy. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d looked up, the last time she’d dreamed about anything.

  The wind wrapped around her like a blanket of love. She heard voices whispering in the air and had the absurd thought that the angels were singing. And somewhere in that chorus was Derek’s voice—lighter now, not filled with sadness and guilt but buoyed by love and hope. It’s time for your dreams now, Brianna. Make them big, make them bold, make them real.

  She didn’t realize she was crying until she stopped running, and Jason and Lucas looked at her with concern.

  She wiped her cheeks with her hand and smiled. “Just the wind,” she lied. “That was incredible. Thank you.”

  Jason nodded, his knowing gaze seeing past her excuses. “You’re welcome. You deserved that.”

  “Do you think I’ll win the contest, Mommy?” Lucas asked.

  “I don’t think it matters, honey, as long as you have as much fun as you did today.”

  “The fun isn’t over yet,” Jason said unexpectedly. “Do you feel up to a little more exploring?”

  “I do! I do!” Lucas said, the dog barking in agreement.

  Jason laughed. “I’ve got two takers. What about you?”

  He held out his hand to Brianna, and she took it without thinking. His fingers curled around hers, jolting her with delicious heat. She hadn’t felt so warm or so connected to a man in a long time. It was terrifyingly good. She pulled her hand from his grip and took Lucas’s hand instead. This was the guy she needed to hang on to.

  Jason led them down a long, winding path to the beach below. Surrounded by the tall bluffs, the beach was very protected, the wind surprisingly nonexistent.

  “It’s called Shelter Cove,” he told her.

  “I can see why. It’s so calm.”

  “It provided shelter for three survivors of the Gabriella,” he said. “They were clinging to boards from the ship when the storm tossed them here.”

  “It’s beautiful.” The shallow water was a pretty blue-green, the current gentle. Only hundreds of yards away on the other side of the point were wild, crashing waves, but a natural land barrier protected this strip of the beach.

  “Digger wants to go in the water,” Lucas announced.

  She glanced down at Digger, who was straining on the leash held by Jason. “Should we let him go?”

  Jason nodded. “I don’t think he can get into too much trouble here.” He let the dog off the leash, and Digger dashed toward the sea.

  Lucas immediately followed.

  “Don’t get too close to the water,” she warned him. Lucas had taken swimming lessons since he was two and loved the water, but he’d never been in the ocean. Fortunately, he was distracted by the shells lying along the beach and squatted down to explore them.

  She drew in a breath and let it out, feeling even more at peace in this quiet cove where the wind had dulled to a dim roar. “I do like the sea. There’s something about standing on the edge of the continent that makes me feel both big and small at the same time.”

  “Any desire to see what’s on the other side of the horizon?”

  “I’ve already been there.”

  “That’s right; you’re a world traveler. I forgot.” He picked up a rock and tossed it into the ocean. “The farthest trip I’ve made is to Hawaii.”

  “To surf?” she asked.

  He smiled. “There are some monster waves over there.”

  “I can imagine.” She sat cross-legged on the sand, letting her fingers trail through the grains.

  Jason sat down next to her, stretching out his long legs, and they watched Lucas and the dog playing on the beach. She hadn’t felt so content in a long time.

  “You’re quiet,” Jason commented.

  “It’s peaceful here.”

  Another minute ticked by, and despite the beauty of the scene, she could feel tension building between them. “Why don’t you just ask me whatever it is you want to ask?” she said finally.

  Jason shot her a quick look. “What are you talking about?”

  “I can feel your curiosity.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest, feeling as if she needed to be careful, needed to protect herself.

  “Why Derek?” he asked finally.

  She drew in a quick breath. It was an easy question, wasn’t it? She’d met Derek at his art gallery. She’d been invited to an exhibit by one of her parents’ friends. She’d been running late, having gotten caught in an unusual Southern California rainstorm. She’d dashed into the gallery and paused by the front mirror to check her appearance. As she’d run her fingers through her hair, a man came up behind her, his gaze meeting hers in the mirror. She’d been startled by his beautiful hazel eyes, which seemed to change colors as he stared at her. She hadn’t been able to look away, and neither had he.

  “So many people looked past me,” she murmured. “I was practically invisible to my parents, but Derek saw me. He made me feel like I was the most important person in the room. When we met, he told me that if he were still painting, he would have wanted to paint me, because he’d never seen eyes as blue as mine.” She cleared her throat, feeling a little awkward. “I suppose you think that was quite a line.”

  “You do have beautiful eyes,” Jason commented.

  “Derek had great eyes, too. He swept me off my feet. We had a six-month whirlwind relationship of dinner and dates. Everything was fast and intense. I was twenty-five years old, and I’d never had
as much fun with anyone as I had with him. I didn’t want it to end, so when he asked me to marry him, I said yes. And when he brought me here to Angel’s Bay and Nancy pulled me into her arms and squeezed me as tight as she could, I felt like I’d come home. She told me I was going to be the daughter she never had. And Rick was just as warmhearted and generous. The Kanes were everything I’d imagined a family to be.”

  “And you never had a doubt, never thought to yourself, This is a little too fast? Do I really know this guy?” he asked

  She moistened her lips. “Maybe I did. But I was young, and when Derek was around, it was easy to push those doubts aside. He had a big presence. When he was in the room, everyone knew it.”

  “That’s true.” Jason’s gaze clung to hers. “But what about after the trial, Brianna? You sat in that courtroom and heard the testimony. You didn’t believe any of it? You didn’t see the holes in Derek’s story?”

  “I saw the holes in your case,” she retorted.

  “And during the last five years, no doubts? None whatsoever?”

  “Let’s talk about something else,” she said abruptly.

  “Am I getting too close?”

  “Tell me more about this cove and the survivors who washed ashore here. Or else let’s just go.”

  Jason hesitated, “Fine, we’ll change the subject for now. There were three men who landed here. They had no idea that most of the survivors had made it to land a few miles north. They lived on the beach, in the caves when the weather was bad.” He pointed to the outcropping of rocks at the far end of the beach. “When the tide is low, you can go inside. The caves extend deep into the bluff. There are still some etchings on the walls from when the men hid out there.”

  “Can we see?” she asked, feeling a tingle of excitement at the prospect.

  “The tide is coming in now, so it would be too dangerous. While the water doesn’t reach the back of the cave, you could easily get stuck in there for a few hours. We can come back when it’s low—it’s something to see. Derek and I discovered the caves together. We went in expecting to find a skeleton or gold from the wreck, but all we found were some marks on a wall. That didn’t stop other kids from exploring. Colin got sucked out to sea by a riptide one day and almost drowned. He claims an angel saved him, but I think he just got lucky. After that, the caves were roped off for a while, and most people just forgot about them. They’re off the beaten track.”