Lost Innocence

by Jannine Gallant

  “Think of it as a way to lower your power bills.”

  “Funny. I’ll talk to you later, Nina.”

  “Sure. Have a nice evening.”

  She stood without moving until he entered his house, then finally turned to go back inside. Even though she’d basically come to the same conclusion, her heart ached. The hell of it was, she felt as if she’d just lost something precious. Something she’d never really had to begin with.

  * * *

  The local news blared on the old TV squatting on the corner cabinet in the living room. She could afford a new one, but they’d built them to last in the good old days, and she enjoyed the nostalgia of a happier time. Lynette sat on the rug in front of the screen, dressing her Barbies. She wasn’t addicted to electronics the way other kids were. Not that she had a choice. Lately, though, she complained more and more. The whining grated on her nerves.

  Her attention swung back to the TV screen when the anchor introduced the next story. Cameras flashed to a live shot of a reporter standing in front of the convenience store in Siren Cove. Her grip on the remote tightened as she turned up the volume.

  “The Lottery Commission has confirmed the winning ticket worth over three million dollars from Wednesday night’s drawing was purchased right here in the store behind me.” The perky brunette threw out a hand to point to the Gas ’n Go sign above the door. “So far no one has come forward to claim the prize. For now, the mystery of who in this community is a millionaire will remain just that, a mystery. Back to you, Fred.”

  “It could have been a tourist who bought the ticket, you brainless bimbo,” she muttered.

  But the good news was Nina hadn’t cashed in her winning numbers. Not yet, anyway. She’d searched the woman’s whole damn house, looked through every pocket in every pair of shorts in her room. She’d sifted through piles of clothes to make sure the ticket hadn’t fallen out into one of the drawers. She’d checked the laundry basket downstairs, but it had been empty, as was the hamper in her bedroom. Then she’d scoured Nina’s desk and searched the kitchen counters just in case the precious square of paper was lying around out in the open. She’d even looked in her paint supply boxes in the room set up as a studio to make certain the artist hadn’t stuffed the ticket in with her brushes. But the key to her peace of mind was nowhere to be found.

  Her gaze darted back to the blond head bent over the dolls, then rose to the portrait hanging above the mantel. Lynette, holding a striped kitten in her arms, her face so joyous and carefree. Tiger had been dead for decades, but not her precious one.

  Pain shot through her temples. She dropped the remote and pressed her hands to her head. The image in the picture blurred, and light blue eyes changed to silver in her mind. The long, blond hair was exactly the same, as was the eager expression. The happy laughter had drawn her like a magnet, and a deep-seated exhilaration filled her when she’d discovered the source. Fate throwing her a bone after her fruitless search of the artist’s home.

  Soon she would have her heart’s desire back where she belonged instead of the sullen impostor who rarely smiled anymore. The day of reckoning was near.

  First, though, she needed to reclaim her ticket to financial freedom. Then and only then would she and Lynette be safe. If the lottery ticket wasn’t in Nina’s home, maybe it was in her car or her purse. She’d find it eventually. That much was a given.

  Chapter Seven

  Teague used a crowbar to rip out a series of rotted planks, then carried the armload to the dumpster. With a grunt, he heaved them over the side. All he needed was two more uninterrupted hours, and he’d have the porch floor repaired. Wiping sweat off his brow with his T-shirt sleeve, he turned around and frowned.

  “What the heck are you doing?”

  Out on the patchy front lawn, Keely’s feet wavered over her head before she went down with a thump. “Trying to stand on my hands.”

  “You almost landed on Coco.” Teague returned to the porch to rip out the next section.

  “I’m bored.” She sprawled on the grass beside the dog and banged her heels against the ground. “And hungry. When’s dinner?”

  He let out a sigh. “Can you eat a snack? I’d really like to get some more work done before I fix a meal.”

  “Maybe Stella should have cooked dinner.”

  “It’s only five thirty. Can you please stop pounding your feet like that?”

  She paused with her heels off the ground and glanced over. “You’re making way more noise than me. I bet you’re bugging Nina with all that racket.”

  He rolled his eyes as she tossed one of his more frequent comments back at him. “You’re the only one I hear complaining. I’m sure you can find something to do to alleviate your boredom if you put your mind to it.”

  “What does alleviate mean?” She sat up straighter. “Hey, here comes Nina now.”

  Teague glanced across the street as Nina left her house and headed toward her car, her long, toned legs displayed to perfection in running shorts. He swallowed against a suddenly dry mouth. “She’s leaving, not coming over here.”

  Keely scrambled to her feet, setting Coco into a barking fit. “Nina! Hey, Nina! Where’re you going?”

  Turning in their direction, she smiled. “Down to the beach for a run.”

  “I want to go to the beach. I haven’t been a single time since we got here.” His daughter braced her fists on her hips and scowled. “Why can’t we ever do anything fun?”

  Teague let out a sigh. “Not this evening, Keely. I want to finish fixing this porch.”

  Nina strolled down the driveway and stopped at the edge of the lawn. “I can take her with me if you want.”

  “Can I, Daddy? Please?” Keely jumped up and down while Coco ran around in circles, barking. “Please? Please let me go.”

  He met Nina’s amused gaze. “If she takes you, she won’t be able to run.”

  “That probably wouldn’t be the end of the world.”

  He crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t want to put you out.”

  “I offered. I wouldn’t have if it was an imposition.”

  In the face of her determination, Teague caved. “Fine. I’ll get the booster seat for you.”

  “Yay!” Keely raced toward the truck, apparently afraid he might change his mind. “I’ll get my seat.”

  He met Nina at the end of the driveway and lowered his voice. “Are you sure you don’t mind? She can be a handful sometimes.”

  “I think I can manage one small girl.” She glanced down. “And a dog. My guess is they’re a package deal.”

  “If you’re up for it.”

  “Sure. We said we’re going to be friends, right?” She held out her arms. “This is me, making a friendly gesture. Anyway, I like Keely. We’ll have fun.”

  “Well, thank you. I appreciate this because I really do want to finish repairing the porch this evening.”

  “You’re welcome.” When his daughter appeared around the side of the pickup with her booster seat, Nina patted his arm. “I’ll see you later. Maybe we’ll bring back pizza or something.”

  He couldn’t help taking her hand in his to squeeze. “You rock.”

  “I know. See you later, Teague.”

  After a minor struggle to get the booster and Coco into the back of the Mini, the pair drove away with Keely hanging out the window, waving. He waved back. He’d rather be going to the beach with them than working on the damn porch. On the other hand, he didn’t want someone punching through the rotted boards, so the repair was a must.

  After finishing the demolition, Teague began replacing the boards and screwing them down, thankful the understructure had been treated and was still sound. As the evening shadows stretched across the yard, his pace slowed, and he glanced up more frequently. When the hair on the back of his neck rose, he scrambled to his feet to scan the yard and street. Nothing in the quiet cul-de-sac appeared out of place, but the juncos in the trees had stopped twittering. To the west, a bank of fog was
rolling in, chilling the moist evening air.

  I should have told Keely to take a jacket.

  He resisted the urge to call Nina. His daughter wasn’t going to freeze, and she’d be disappointed if he cut her outing short. He needed to work on tamping down the overprotective streak that had emerged after Jayne’s death. Moving to a quiet, safe town had been a proactive step. Letting go of his anxiety was proving more difficult and was undoubtedly the cause of his current paranoia.

  A squirrel eyed him from the walkway, its bushy tail twitching, before it scampered away. Somewhere in the woods behind him, a blue jay squawked. After taking a final look around, he went back to work. If someone had been in the vicinity, they were gone now.

  * * *

  Nina zipped the fleece jacket she’d had the forethought to bring with her up to Keely’s chin, then rolled the sleeves until her hands were visible. “There, that should keep you warm.”

  “Thank you.” She stroked one hand down the front. “It’s soft.”

  “And cozy. Do you want to walk farther, or are you getting tired?”

  “Let’s keep going.” The girl waved toward the monolithic boulders out in the cove as they followed Coco up the beach. “Look at the fog on those rocks. It’s kind of spooky.”

  Nina smiled. “Those are the Sirens. Legend has it they were once mermaids who lured sailors toward the shore where their ships smashed against the rocks beneath the surface. There’s one old wreck way out in the cove, and people swear they’ve heard the ghosts of the drowning men who went down with the ship.”

  “That’s so cool!” Keely danced in a circle and flapped her arms. When she smiled, her missing tooth added charm to an already expressive face. “Have you heard them?”

  “I’m afraid not.”

  “That’s too bad. What happened to the mermaids?”

  “Lightning struck them, and they were turned to stone. Maybe the gods were angry at their impudence.”

  “What does impudence mean?”

  “It means they were bold and naughty and didn’t care about others.”

  Keely nodded solemnly. “Like the mean boy at school who called me a giraffe.”

  “Exactly.” When Nina’s phone rang, she pulled it out of her pocket to glance at the display. “I need to discuss something with my friend Paige for a minute. We keep leaving each other messages.”

  “Okay. Can I go talk to that girl over there?”

  Nina glanced in the direction of Keely’s pointing finger to a small figure some distance away. The girl ran across the sand toward the water, while a woman in a hooded jacket picked her way down the cliff trail to the beach.

  “Sure, but stay out of the surf.” Nina followed Keely and Coco at a slower pace as she answered her phone. “Hey, Paige. Thanks for calling me back.”

  “Sorry I didn’t reach you sooner. We so need to finalize plans for Leah’s bachelorette party. I can’t believe her wedding is in three weeks.”

  “Exactly. Will the end of this week still work to pick up the party stuff along with my art supplies in Portland?”

  “I’m afraid not. There’s a two-day auction at an estate sale in Idaho I really want to attend. I heard they have some excellent pieces. I can make the trip tomorrow or Tuesday if you’re free.”

  “Damn, I can’t.” Nina frowned. “I have a guy coming to replace my broken window Tuesday, and tomorrow is supposed to be sunny again, so I need to paint.”

  “How’d you break a window?”

  She flinched just thinking about the creep who’d searched through her underwear drawer. “Long story, and I don’t have time to explain right now. Don’t worry about the trip to Portland, Paige. I can go on my own.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive. We talked about having a theme for the party. Any brilliant ideas yet?”

  “Actually, yes. Since Leah’s style is totally flower-child retro, what about a sixties theme?”

  “You are brilliant! That’ll be a lot of fun.”

  Paige laughed. “I know, right? Also, I confirmed the stripper.”

  “A critical part of any bachelorette party.” Her gaze strayed up the beach to where Keely had reached the other girl. The two stood ankle-deep in the surging tide. “I talked to the owner of Castaways, and he agreed to the stripper on the condition he doesn’t show up before midnight.”

  “I’ll make sure our guy knows. Is there anything else we need to take care of?”

  “I don’t think so.” When a large wave rolled in, she raised her voice. “Don’t go in any deeper, Keely.”

  “Who’s Keely?”

  Nina returned her attention to her conversation. “My new neighbor’s daughter. I brought her down to the beach with me.”

  “That was nice of you.”

  “She’s a cute kid, and her dad was busy. Anyway, I’d better go.”

  “Okay, I’ll talk to you soon.”

  “Have fun at your auction. Bye, Paige.”

  Nina disconnected and returned her phone to her pocket, then glanced up the beach. The woman stood at the base of the path, beckoning to the other girl. After a few moments, the child bent to pet Coco before she left Keely’s side to plod through the sand. When Keely and the bedraggled dog ran back along the shoreline, Nina grimaced.

  “Looks like Coco got soaked by a wave.”

  Dripping wet and covered in sand, the dog shook twice before scampering out of Nina’s reach.

  Keely stopped beside her and spoke between deep breaths. “I told her to stay back, but she was being bad and didn’t listen.”

  “Good thing I keep a beach towel in the car. We should probably head back now.”

  “Okay.” Keely took her hand as they turned around. “That girl was nice.”

  “Yeah? Maybe you can see her again over the summer. Is she in your grade?”

  “She’s eight, and she said she’s homeschooled. That sounds really boring.”

  Nina glanced down. “We all like different things.”

  “Lynette said she doesn’t have any friends.”

  “That’s too bad.”

  “I was going to tell her where I live so she could come visit me, but then she had to leave.” Keely frowned. “I don’t know any other girls here to be friends with.”

  “Your dad mentioned summer camp. I’m sure you’ll meet plenty of kids your age.”

  “I hope so.” She skipped a couple of times to keep pace. “I’m hungry.”

  “Let’s order a pizza to take home. I don’t think your dad will have time to cook dinner tonight.”

  “Okay.” She laughed out loud, her shrill giggles carrying on the breeze. “Look at Coco. She’s rolling in that pile of seaweed.”

  Nina let out a sigh. “Perfect. My car will probably never smell the same again.”

  Convincing Coco to rinse off in the ocean was a challenge, but Nina finally got her up to the car with most of the sand removed, then wrapped the shivering dog in an old beach towel. It was well after seven before they picked up their pizza and headed toward home. She parked in her driveway and let Keely carry the pizza while she wrestled the booster seat out of the back.

  Teague shut his shed door and hurried to take the seat from her as they approached his pickup. “Good timing. I was just putting away my tools. How did everything go?”

  “We had so much fun.” Keely danced in a circle, clutching the pizza box. “I met a girl on the beach, then Coco rolled in seaweed, and we got a pizza with pepperoni and olives because Nina let me pick the kind I wanted.”

  “Sounds like quite an adventure.” He returned the booster to the truck, shut the door, and faced her. “It looks like Nina let you borrow her jacket. Did you thank her?”

  “Of course I did. Geez, Daddy.”

  Nina smiled. “Keely was very well-behaved. Coco, not so much. She’s kind of a mess.”

  “I’ll clean her up later. Thanks for getting the pizza. I’ll pay you back, but let’s go eat it while it’s hot.”

  “
Don’t be silly. Dinner, such as it is, is my treat.” Nina walked beside him up the porch steps. “Wow, it looks like you finished replacing all the damaged boards.”

  “I still need to stain them, but I’m happy to have gotten this much accomplished.” He waited until Keely disappeared inside with the pizza. “Thanks again for helping me out.”

  “I enjoyed it. Honestly, I haven’t spent a lot of time around kids since . . . well . . . I was one, but your daughter is entertaining.” Nina glanced down at Coco as she preceded them through the doorway. “The jury’s still out on your dog.”

  “She’s a work in progress.”

  When he put a hand to the small of her back to usher her into the dining room, she forgot all about Coco as the warmth from his palm spread downward. With a sharp mental reminder that they weren’t going to pick up where they’d left off after the last meal they’d shared, she stayed quiet while they ate, content to enjoy Teague’s interaction with his daughter. The man was patient and supportive yet firm, allowing Keely to chatter about their beach trip without letting her interrupt. Nina couldn’t help being impressed.

  When they finished the pizza, Teague sent his daughter upstairs to get ready for bed, then leaned back in his chair to study Nina. “You didn’t have much to contribute to the conversation.”

  “I was just thinking you’re a great dad. Keely is very lucky. You actually listen when she talks.”

  “Don’t most parents?”

  “You’d be surprised. My friend Leah teaches fifth grade, and she says parent disconnect is a huge problem. They can’t put their phones down for two minutes to interact with their kids.”

  “What’s the point of having children if you don’t enjoy them? Granted, everyone has an off day and needs a little time to themselves, but—”

  Nina laid a hand on his arm. “You’re a good man.” Releasing him, she pushed back her chair. “I should go.” Before the temptation to stay proves irresistible.

  He walked with her to the door then out onto the porch. They both paused to gaze up at the star-strewn sky.

  “The fog cleared out again.” His arm brushed against hers. “It’s a beautiful night.”