Angels in Seashore Cove (Love and Laugh in Seashore Cove Book 2)

by Maggie Van Well

“Angie, you’re making a scene. We have to go!”

  “Let me go see my—”

  Pulling her against his lean body, Jack lowered his head until his lips were a mere fraction away from hers. Well, this was certainly an unusual tactic to change her focus.

  Then her essence shuddered, as if being filled with emotion, right before he kissed her.

  Love. Intense and unending engulfed her the second his lips swept over hers, and she gripped onto his shoulders, kissing him back with all the passion fifty-one years on Earth and sixteen years in Heaven could not erase.

  Then a shock of bright light exploded behind Angie’s closed lids. Visions of an ICU room, her in a white hospital gown and Jack lying lifeless on the bed. She’d kissed him then too, the first and only time while they were alive.

  Lifeless. Because of her.

  “Angie!”

  The mournful cry of her sister stopped any more memories from crashing through. She pulled away from Jack’s kiss, jubilant, yet terrified to find her sister heading right for them.

  Overwhelming love sored through her. She had no idea what consequences there would be, but she had to hold her sister again.

  “Angie, please,” Jack whispered.

  “It’s too late.” She looked at the man she now remembered she loved, silently pleading with him to forgive her. “I’m so sorry.”

  He closed his eyes, his face wrapped in angst. “God help us then.”

  A flash of blinding light pulsed through the town freezing everything it touched. Jan went motionless, stationary in the act of reaching out to Angie.

  Nothing moved.

  Cars stopped in the middle of the street, people stood still, their faces frozen in a variety of expressions of humor, concentration, and sorrow. No one blinked. No one spoke.

  Birds hovered, frozen in flight, and an airplane soaring far overhead was silent and still.

  Even the gentle breeze that had been present only seconds ago, ceased, its stillness apparent in the circling leaves that had paused in mid-flight. There was no sound except for their nervous breathing. Even smells had disappeared. Angie thought to herself, this must be what being in a vacuum was like.

  “What’s happening?” she whispered.

  “I think we’re about to find out.” Jack’s gaze settled on two illuminated bodies floating down from Heaven, their wings spread out majestically as they gracefully touched the earth. Instantly the wings vanished and the glowing bodies turned into the forms of Jude and Adriel.

  “My dear children, it seems we have a bit of a dilemma on our hands.”

  “Oh Adriel, Jude…my sister—I’m so sorry.”

  “It is alright.” Showing a rare sense of human understanding, Jude’s eyes displayed remorse. “It is our mistake not yours. We knew the chance we were taking when we sent you here as before. The odds of this happening were even beyond those of Heaven’s understanding. That seems to be a pattern with you and your charges. Indeed this whole hamlet.”

  Angie had no idea what he was referring to, but at the moment she didn’t care. All she could think about was her sister; the look on her face was of someone who’d seen a ghost.

  Which technically, she had.

  Angie reached out, wanting to touch Jan, but afraid of what might happen if she did. “She saw me.”

  “This is known to us.” Jude searched Jan’s face. “We heard your cry for help, and ceased time when we saw what was happening.”

  “We didn’t know what to do,” Jack said.

  “It happens.” Adriel’s gaze fell on Angie. “Are you alright?”

  She nodded and quickly swiped her cheeks of the evidence of tears.

  “Angie, my child, come.” He held out his hand.

  Tentatively she took it and allowed him to lead her over to her sister. A sob escaped her throat, unable to stop herself from brushing her fingertips along her face. She needed to talk to her again, tell her how much she loved her.

  Tell her how sorry she was for leaving without saying goodbye. “Please release her. Let me speak to her.”

  Adriel placed a hand on her shoulder. “You know I can’t do that.”

  Sorrow, so great it threatened to steal her breath, overtook her. “Please!” Yes, she begged. She’d drop to her knees if she had to. She turned to her guardian, hoping he could see the pleading in her eyes. “Just let me say goodbye.”

  Adriel’s expression turned pained, his own eyes filling with tears. “My child, when you died, Jan was devastated. I held her in my arms every night as she cried out for the Father to take her too. Her pain was so great, all the guardians wept. It took her years to get over losing you. Would you really have her go through that again?”

  All that anguish she’d caused her beloved sibling. Anguish, she now knew was her own fault.

  “No.”

  “Say goodbye now. She might not hear it, but she will know.”

  Carefully, she wrapped her arms around Jan’s waist, body so stiff Angie feared she would snap her sister in two. She laid her head on Jan’s shoulder, unable to stop herself from squeezing her tight. Then she cried for all the sorrow she’d caused her, cried for the times together they’d lost.

  Angie would never hear her sweet voice again, smell her special scent, or feel her hug. She closed her eyes and allowed her essence to merge with Jan’s.

  For one brief second, their souls touched, and joy sprinted through her being. “I love you, Janny.” She placed a lingering kiss on her cheek. “Goodbye.”

  Angie turned away, directly into Jack’s arms. He kissed the top of her head, whispering comforting words. They soothed her enough to take one last look at her sister.

  Jude stepped forward and kissed Jan’s forehead. When he pulled away, a small circle of blue light appeared where his lips had touched her skin. The circle grew until it encompassed her whole head, then it slowly faded away. “All she will remember now is a loving memory. You must go now.”

  Angie kept her eyes on Jan, even as Jack took her hand. She walked backwards, through their custodio, until the cloud closed and all she saw was their front door.

  She’d managed to hold it together, managed to find the strength to leave.

  All because of Jack.

  She faced him.

  Jack stared at her, and then, without a word, pulled her into his arms and into the most passionate kiss she’d ever experienced.

  What she’d felt before, did he feel it too? Did he remember how they wound up in Heaven? No, he couldn’t have. If he did, she wouldn’t be in his arms right now, letting him lead her to the bedroom.

  Could she do this knowing what she knew? Could she betray his trust?

  Being in Jack’s arms, making love to him, had been something she’d dreamed about for most of her life. This would be the only chance she’d have to tell him how she felt without words.

  Just this once.

  Angie opened her lips, her kiss becoming more intense, more desperate.

  Jack pulled away, the burning desire in his eyes making her flush with excitement. Then he swept her into his arms, carried her into the bedroom and kicked the door shut.

  ***

  Dianna stood at her front door, her hand on the knob, urging herself to turn it. She knew who was on the other side, she could see his car parked in her driveway, but the idea of looking him in the eye now had turned her into a mass of quivering nerves.

  No, this wasn’t her. She’d run last night and look where that had gotten her. Never again.

  She yanked the door open.

  “Hi.” Sean stood on her front step, that one word resonated his uncertainty.

  Okay, Dianna. Remember what you’d decided. Never let them see you cry.

  “Since when do you ring my doorbell?”

  He shifted from foot to foot. “I wasn’t sure if I’d be welcome or not.”

  She laughed, and damned if she didn’t do a good job at actually sounding surprised. “Why on earth wouldn’t you be welcome?”

&nbs
p; She moved aside, and he tentatively stepped over her threshold, as if he were certain she was about to hit him with one of her famous right hooks. “I did kinda sneak out on you this morning.”

  Inwardly she seethed. Oh so you knew that was an awful thing to do? And yet you still did it.

  “Oh, that.” She waved it away. “Yeah, that wasn’t too cool, but whatevs.”

  Sean closed the door behind him, his face boldly proclaiming he wasn’t sure if he should believe her or not.

  She turned away and headed for the kitchen. So this is what it’s going to be like now? Before, they always took what the other said at face value. No questions, no uncertainty. Now, it seemed he questioned every word she said. Ah, the differences between friendship and lovers.

  “Do you want something to drink?” She opened the fridge, her hand on a bottle of Killian’s.

  “Killian’s, if you have it.” He took a seat at the island.

  She grabbed the bottle, popped the top and then poured the lager into a chilled mug. She slid it across the counter to him.

  He cradled the beer in his hands, but didn’t take a sip. Instead, he simply stared into the reddish liquid.

  Dianna stood in front of him, across the island and leaned her forearms on the cool granite, folding her hands. “So, what’s up?”

  Lifting his mug, he brought it to his lips, as if in need of the liquid courage. “I just thought we should talk about last night.”

  “Okay.” She looked him right in the eye. No way was she going to turn into the whiney female he’d wronged, which was clearly what he’d been expecting.

  “Last night was—”

  “Educational,” she interrupted, suddenly not wanting to hear exactly what he thought. If the words a mistake or worse, no big deal fell from his lips, he just might get that whiney-with-an-impressive-right-hook female after all.

  Besides, it wasn’t a lie. She’d learned a lot last night. About sex, about him, both the good and bad.

  “Yeah, well, anyway. I wanted to apologize for leaving.”

  “No biggie. I mean you did have an appointment.” She stopped just short of sneering the last word. Any kink in her armor and Sean would know in an instant that she was burning up inside. If he could act like last night was just a fun roll in the hay, so could she.

  “Yes, but I could have at least woken you, or left a note.”

  She stood straight and shrugged. “What’s done is done.”

  “Yeah.” Sean glared at her, and if not for the fact she knew better, she’d swear he looked jealous. “So what did you do today?”

  Her brow furrowed. Was it just her agitated state, or did that just sound like an accusation? “Not much. Baked a cake, delivered it, chilled out in town.”

  She thought about telling him about meeting up with Dean, but bringing him up right now didn’t seem like the best idea in the world.

  Sean didn’t respond. He simply drank from his mug, taking a larger gulp than normal.

  Was this what it was going to be like between them now? Awkward silence? No idea how to act around each other?

  She truly had lost her best friend.

  “Um, so I was just about to go over to Kate’s when you showed up…”

  “Right.” He stood, taking one last sip of his drink. “I’ll just go.”

  She couldn’t leave it like this. If nothing else, she wanted her best friend back. “You want to tag along?”

  “No.”

  Dianna recoiled from his curt response. “Okay, fine.”

  “I have a date.” He stared at her. Like really stared.

  So she had no choice but to hide the pain from the knife that had been metaphorically lunged into her chest at his words. “With Trudy?”

  He nodded, his nostrils flaring.

  Sean’s mood confused her. She was unaccustomed to feeling this way with him. Was he angry? Why?

  “Great. I like her.” Which was true, she did. “Have a good time.”

  “Yup.” And with that one clipped word hanging between them, he left.

  Finally letting go of her emotions, she sank into the chair by the front door. So that’s it. All her suspicions over who Sean Donovan really was had been confirmed. Sex with her last night. Sex with Trudy tonight.

  Her body shook to the point her teeth chattered. She hadn’t felt this way since Josh and Amanda’s parents were killed. Her beloved Aunt and Uncle had meant everything to her, and losing them nearly collapsed her world. How did she ever get past it?

  Her family. Friends.

  She had to go out. Had to be in the company of those who loved her. If for no other reason than to escape the empty pit that awaited her in the depths of her being.

  With a determination that bordered on defiance, Dianna left her home and headed across the street to Kate’s house. She wasn’t looking for sympathy, or someone to pity her. All she wanted was a friend close by to make her laugh while she was dying inside.

  “Hey girl!” Dianna greeted when Kate opened the door. “Hope I’m not disturbing.”

  Kate snorted. “Like you care.”

  Dianna laughed. And damn did it feel good. “Of course not.” She walked in and hugged her friend, making sure not to hug too tight or too long.

  Moments later Kate’s husband, Jake, walked in looking ridiculously handsome in a worn T-shirt and cut-offs. “Hey, Dianna.”

  “There’s your devilishly handsome husband.” She winked at him. “I thought you’d taken to hiding from me, Dr. Jake.”

  Just as she suspected, his face turned bright red and he swallowed hard. “I’m going to—I’ll—Alex! Drew!” He turned and ran, looking for his stepsons.

  Dianna just shook her head. “You’d think after being married to you, he wouldn’t be so beta.”

  “You don’t know him like I do.” Kate winked. “Trust me. Jake is definitely an alpha male.”

  Just like Sean.

  Shit!

  Kate linked her arm with Dianna’s and led her into the family room. Shrieks and hollers came from Kate’s son, Drew’s room. Her older son, Alex joined in along with Jake, apparently playing a videogame.

  “Want a drink? A beer maybe?” Kate offered. “No wine for you today.”

  Dianna sank into the lush leather sofa, trying not to think about her imbibing last night and what would’ve happened if she hadn’t.

  Or not happened.

  “No, iced tea is fine if you have it.”

  Kate prepared two glasses and then sat them down on the coffee table in front of the sofa. She sat next to Dianna and took her hand. “So how are you, my friend?”

  Dianna immediately stiffened. “Okay, why are you being so nice to me?”

  “Because I think, right now, you need someone to be nice to you.”

  She pulled in a sharp breath. “Why do you say that?”

  Kate squeezed her hands. “I saw Sean’s car parked in your driveway last night, and it was still there this morning.”

  She grabbed her glass with a shaky hand, taking a tiny sip. “So? Sean’s spent the night lots of—”

  “I saw him kiss you on your front lawn.”

  “What do you do—spy on me in your free time?”

  “Please. It was late, you were loud, and that’s rare for this end of the block.” She shrugged. “I thought it was my duty as a good neighbor to check it out.”

  She had a point. She and Kate were the last two houses on a dead end, so nothing went unnoticed. Barely two months prior, Dianna had discovered Jake and Kate’s secret affair because she was being a good neighbor.

  “You want to talk about it?”

  “What makes you think anything’s wrong?”

  “Because if it wasn’t, Sean would be at your house right now, or you would have gone with him when he left a few moments ago.”

  Unable to think of what to say, she took another sip of her drink, fighting to keep control.

  But Kate wasn’t fooled. “Dianna, look at me.”

  After a dee
p breath, she did as instructed.

  “You can’t always be the strong one. Sometimes, you have to let someone be strong for you.” Kate’s warm eyes and smile were like a sledgehammer to the wall Dianna had built since last night. It shattered and so did she along with it.

  “I lost my best friend,” she said in a husky whisper then laid her head on Kate’s shoulder, and finally let the wall fall.

  ***

  Sean ran his hands down Trudy’s back, pulling her closer as he slipped his tongue between her lips. He did his best to put his heart into the kiss, but no matter how hard he tried, he knew it wasn’t genuine.

  All he could think about was the kisses he’d shared with Dianna.

  How could she be so nonchalant over what they’d shared? Couldn’t she have at least been upset that he had a date with Trudy? He wasn’t going to tell her about it, thinking it not the right time, but he wanted some, any reaction from her about last night.

  Instead she’d acted like he’d treated her to a ballgame.

  The more he thought about it, the more he was convinced she’d somehow had it planned all along.

  That none of it made sense didn’t seem to matter anymore.

  And it pissed him off.

  “Whoa, whoa, Sean. Calm down, sweetie.”

  Trudy’s breathless words cut through his thoughts, making him realize that his kiss had grown way too intense way too fast. His hand had slid under her shirt cupping her breast through her bra. He didn’t even remember doing that, which irked him even more.

  He immediately withdrew his hand and pulled back. “I’m sorry.”

  She sat up, running her hand through her hair. “I want nothing more than to move to the next level, but I’m sure you understand why I want to take this slow.”

  “I do.” And he was relieved for it. If he were honest with himself, he knew he couldn’t make love to Trudy. Not now, at least. Thoughts of last night would capture his mind, and in his heart he’d be with Dianna.

  No woman deserved that.

  Her insistence that they take their relationship slow also saved him trying to explain why he didn’t want to make love. He’d have no choice but to lie and come up with a convenient excuse as to why he wasn’t attempting to get her into the bedroom. And God knows what he’d say if she were to be the one seducing him.