Windswept

by Julie Carobini

  Chapter 17

  They would all find out soon enough.

  After the proposal, Sophia had asked to be alone with Wade. Meg and the others had all given her a "knowing" look, but reluctantly gave them their space with a "promise to meet up later for a celebratory drink!"

  Back in her room now, Sophia curled up on her unmade bed and shuddered. The look on Wade's face at what she’d had to say, well, she would not forget that for a long time.

  "I don't understand," he said to her as they stood on the beach. "Is it the ring? Did I do this wrong?"

  She shook her head, that heavy lump of tears making it difficult to speak. "Wade, no. I ... care for you very much. I've missed you for weeks and was so looking forward to seeing you today."

  "But not marrying me." His handsome jaw had set firmly, his mouth pressed into a line.

  Her voice was a harsh whisper now. "I didn't expect this, Wade. I am just now finding my way here and I had hoped to get to know you better."

  He nodded but hurt marred his face. "I've already learned all I needed to know, Sophia. I love you."

  A tear trailed down her face until she tasted salt. "You've given me so much. Safety, stability, and you've comforted me so as I've dealt with rebuilding my business."

  "Do you love me?"

  He was a beautiful man. Handsome. Kind. She hated the sadness in his eyes and dropped her gaze to where he had placed the ring before she'd ever had a chance to give an answer to his proposal. With a trembling hand, she slipped it off of her finger and held it out to him.

  His eyes were clouded and she'd forever regret that.

  "I'm sorry." A sob hitched her voice. "But no. Not love."

  Now that she was back in her room, Sophia shut off her cell phone and called the front desk to ask that calls to her room be blocked. Then she burrowed more deeply beneath her comforter, until something landed with a plunk on the floor. She sighed and peered over the side of the bed.

  Jackson's iPad. Or, rather, her iPad.

  She winced and carefully retrieved it, checking the screen for damage. With a flop, she settled against her pillow and opened it up. Priscilla had come all this way for mermaid sightings. Well, and to see Meg. Of course.

  Sophia shook her head. If only life could always be so lighthearted. She exhaled and made a quick search for Christian's interview, the one Liddy had told her about. It came right up. The photo was captioned "CJ Capra." With his beard rugged and fully grown out, he looked like he had lived in the wilds for many months instead of weeks.

  * * *

  Interviewer: Tell me about the heroine of your book?

  CJ: She's brave.

  Interviewer: How would you describe her?

  CJ: Eyes like wild willow; supple, radiant skin; and hair of raw umber, windswept, like smoke.

  Interviewer: Wow!

  CJ: And a tail.

  Interviewer: (laughter) Sounds like you've actually seen her ... this mermaid.

  CJ: Nightly ... in my dreams.

  Interviewer: Hmm. So, you're having a hard time moving on without her.

  CJ: Most difficult thing I've ever done.

  Interviewer: Other than writing a book about a mermaid, that is.

  CJ: Oh, no. I did that on porpoise.

  * * *

  She laid there on that bed and read the interview from beginning to end, then re-read it, alternately laughing and flicking away wayward tears. Christian had a way of pulling diverse emotions from her. She saw that the night she'd been so depressed and he'd cheered her up with those awful reviews he had received.

  Sophia set the iPad aside, laughing at the memory. Even in her darkest moments, he could make her laugh.

  "Oh, Chris," she whispered into the night. She'd been angry at Christian for ducking out of the hotel without telling her where he'd gone, but after a while, she simply missed him. Their friendship. Wondered how he was and if he would ever surface in her midst. If only she'd had a chance to say goodbye before he'd gone.

  She sat up. If only she'd had a chance to say goodbye ...

  Sophia threw back the covers and padded across the room. She began to dig through her bags, searching for a piece of paper that had been crumpled and flattened more times than she could count. When she'd found it, she scanned the words again. So many painful, often degrading expressions in one, grammatically incorrect sheet of paper.

  Your dresses are ugly—especially that red one.

  Makes your hips look large.

  Will never sell.

  Tears began to form, these larger than the ones she'd shed after hurting Wade. She knew her stepfather had no good excuse. He was truly repentant when he'd found out she read the lengthy diatribe, the letter that Gia had shoved in her face. Still, despite his apology, their relationship never quite recovered from that.

  The realization sobered her. How many times had unkind words filled her own thoughts or her mouth in private? How much worse for them to be made public and therefore remain unforgiven?

  Tears flooded her eyes now, racing down her cheeks like rain on a sheet of glass. Her hand shook as she stared at the water-streaked note, taking in her stepfather's final line:

  You might as well stay here.

  "Oh, Daddy," she whispered. Christian was right. Her stepfather had wanted her to stay there, with him, in Italy. The letter was written to make her stay, but it had pushed her away faster. The idea of staying behind had never even crossed her mind.

  Nor had it ever crossed her mind that her birth father was out there, somewhere still. And that she had a brother. If she had learned nothing else in all these years, it was that life was unpredictable. So were people. Her half-sister proved that. Sometimes, nothing made sense.

  Like why in the world she would hold onto her stepfather's note for this many years and allow it to damage her confidence as it had. She took one more glance at the letter, seeing it differently now. "I forgive you, daddy," she said. And then she ripped the note into tiny pieces and deposited it into the trash.

  It was time to go. Christian had taken off—how many times before? A dozen? Two? Always the same. A carry-on, a personal item, and everything else would be shipped. Not that he owned much else. He'd kept his items in storage too long, paying that ever-growing bill each month, unsure of what was actually in that unit. For all he knew, a family of rats had taken over and were feasting on morsels served on his mother's china.

  But he'd made a change in his travel plans this time. This time, Christian had not shipped a thing. Instead, he loaded up the car, anxious to get on the road. Rather than jostling through airport security, he'd be taking the highways from California to Nevada to Utah to Idaho until he found wide open space in Montana.

  He got behind the wheel, loaded up the GPS on his phone, released a long-held breath, and headed out. He hadn't traveled by car in years. As he drove, his mother's voice popped into his head. What was it she used to say? Some kind of traveling mercies?

  Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us on our way.

  He laughed aloud at the prayer his mother had always said, not in a mocking way, but because he hadn't realized, until now, that he'd stored the words somewhere in his brain all these years. His laughter died away and he wished he could call her now.

  As he drove, the world moved past him at a high rate of speed. Or was it he who moved past it? Christian reminded himself to breathe. Life was good. His book was doing well. He'd built a strong team despite the odds. He'd overcome his own dumb mistakes to come out on top.

  It was enough, wasn't it?

  He was approaching the inn. Could not avoid it. Well, not easily. Sea Glass Inn was south of where he had been staying these past few months. If he kept his eyes on the road, he knew he could avoid a glimpse altogether. But a flicker of a memory called out to him and he glanced at the inn one last time. Though he'd lived there for months, the place really hadn't felt like home the last time he'd stepped inside those doors.

  Had it?

  He swallowed
back that memory, one that had started out with possibilities but had ended in lost hope. His heart began to race, so much that he could feel his pulse beating in his throat. In a split second of decision, he thrust his blinker on and changed lanes. One more walk on the path that wound its way around the sea, he told himself. Just one more walk.

  Sophia had awoken early, sleep elusive. One glance at her phone told her what she could have guessed: They all knew.

  What happened?

  Are you okay?

  Do you want some gelato delivered to your room? (That last text was from Priscilla.)

  She held her head in her hands, knowing she would need to face them all soon.

  And yet ...

  And yet, surprisingly, she knew she could. She had done what was right. The decision was painful. In the end, though, Wade had wanted something from her she wasn't ready to give.

  The sound of the sea swept through the open window. She shivered, but reveled in a roar that, though still somewhat new to her hearing, had become welcome. Expected. Despite the early hour, Sophia got out of bed, brushed her teeth, combed her hair with her fingers, and got dressed. She pulled on a soft sweater and leggings, and headed out for a walk.

  The sea was as it always was. Ferocious. Beckoning. Distant. Approachable.

  He meandered along, surprised by the coolness of the morning. How many times had he strolled this path or sat in the shade wearing nothing but shorts and a worn tee? He stopped at his usual bench, unable to fathom staying for long in this temperature.

  That's when he spotted the chapel, warm lighting emanating from within. He slipped inside the small, bright building, and found her there. He froze. She seemed to freeze as well. They stood across from each other, staring.

  She opened her lips, as if to speak, her eyes imploring. Yet she said nothing.

  He took a step toward her, and she toward him.

  Sophia tilted her head, her voice probing, "Chris?"

  The voice that had been branded in his mind, that sang out in his dreams. Man, she was beautiful. "It's me."

  "I ... thought that was you." She paused, her eyes sweeping over him. He couldn't tell if she was shocked or angry, or a little of both. "You shaved."

  "I did."

  She didn't say anything for a few seconds, and then, "You look good."

  "Hmm."

  Something shifted in her countenance then. He thought he saw a flit of anger quickly replaced by a small smile. "Don't 'hmm' me."

  A broad smile broke out across his face and he hung his head.

  "Why did you ... shave, I mean?"

  "I was tired of hiding."

  She only nodded. "I read your interview."

  He sobered and searched her face for affirmation. He didn't just want that from her right now, he needed it.

  "It reminded me, somehow, of our time together." She paused, her voice quieting. "I have something important to tell you."

  Something like ... let's run away together?

  Nervous laughter left her. "Though if I knew I'd see you here I would have at least showered and put on makeup."

  And mess with perfection?

  When he didn't say anything, she gave her head a little shake, her voice trembling. "Everything you said about my stepfather was right. I'd hung onto his letter far too long." She shrugged. "It's gone now. I've let it go completely."

  "Sophia," he said. "I'm so glad."

  "I just wanted you to know"

  He nodded. He knew a decision like that must have taken some introspection and he longed to know more. But she was likely here to plan her nuptials and he had interrupted her. No doubt she would be getting married soon—if he were in Wade's shoes he wouldn't want to wait either.

  He took a step back. "It was good to see you, Sophia. I am on my way out of California now."

  Those eyes of hers held him, bright like emeralds. She began to nod, then stopped. Flashed her eyes at him. "Don't go."

  He stepped toward her again, reaching for her like an old friend.

  She shook her head, her eyes pooling now. "Chris."

  He pulled her close, their faces inches apart. She traversed his face with her gaze and allowed the gentle touch of her finger to travel down the length of his scar.

  "Does it remind you of that night?" she whispered. Her gentle breathing rose and fell, and those eyes of hers searched his depths. "In the bar?"

  He swallowed. "Sometimes scars remind us of things we'd rather forget.” He reached for her hand, the one caressing his face, and held it against his skin, breathing her in. "But they can also remind us of how far we have come."

  Her eyes closed. "Sometimes they really do."

  He released her from his embrace and stepped back. "I'll never forget you, Sophia. I know you are engaged, and I ..." He exhaled, forcing himself to do the right thing. "I wish you all the happiness that you deserve."

  "I'm not engaged."

  He hadn't known what else to expect from this unexpected meeting, but hearing that Sophia was not engaged? Not in the running. At all.

  He quirked a smile at her. "Really."

  "Really." She smiled wide at him now, then quickly sobered. She tilted her head, watching him. "What are you going to do about that?"

  He did not hesitate. All at once Christian scooped Sophia into his arms, hugging her so tightly her feet lifted from the ground. He flashed her a wicked grin. "How's this for starters?"

  Her smile reappeared. "Perfect."

  When he finally set her back down, his mouth found hers, and he kissed her like a man once lost at sea ... who had finally come home.

  Dear Reader

  If you’ve read all three Sea Glass Inn novels, thank you so much for keeping me writing! And if this is your first—welcome!—I hope it won’t be your last.

  * * *

  Sea Glass Inn really is a magical place. You may have already guessed this, but I used to work in the hotel industry. I was an operator, front desk clerk, sales manager, and later, an event planner. Guess you could say travel is in my heart—and now in my books!

  * * *

  I sincerely hope you were whisked away by Sophia’s story. Here’s a fun behind-the-scenes tidbit: my daughter, Angie, a fashion designer herself, provided the sketches for the cover model’s sketchpad. I’m a grateful momma!

  * * *

  Speaking of gratefulness, I’m thankful to my husband, Dan, for his sacrificial support and love; as well as to my parents and children for always loving and supporting me, Dan and Elaine Navarro, and Matt, Angie, and Emma. Also a thank you to my editor, Denise Harmer, for connecting with me all those years ago, and to my sister-in-law, Rita, for answering fashion business questions for me.

  * * *

  For those who haven’t read the end of Windswept yet—I see some of you flipping to the back to read this, haha!—I won’t spoil it except to say that book 4 picks up where book 3, this one, left off. (Though this novel does NOT end on a cliffhanger!!)

  * * *

  Beneath a Billion Stars, book 4 of the Sea Glass Inn series, will be here in summer 2019. Will you watch for it? I hope so.

  * * *

  Oh and one more thing: If you enjoyed Windswept, would you help me spread the word by leaving a review or two? I would be SO grateful!

  * * *

  Thank you for reading,

  * * *

  Julie

  Also by Julie Carobini

  Pick up a free story for your e-reader here: www.juliecarobini.com/free-book/

  Sea Glass Inn Novels

  Walking on Sea Glass (book 1)

  Runaway Tide (book 2)

  Windswept (book 3)

  Beneath a Billion Stars (book 4)

  * * *

  Cottage Grove Mysteries

  The Christmas Thief (book 1)

  All Was Calm (book 2)

  The Christmas Heist (book 3)

  * * *

  Otter Bay Novels

  Sweet Waters

  A Shore Thing

>   Fade to Blue

  The Otter Bay Novel Collection (books 1-3)

  * * *

  The Chocolate Series

  Chocolate Beach (book 1)

  Truffles by the Sea (book 2)

  Mocha Sunrise (book 3)

  The Chocolate Beach Collection (books 1-3)

  About the Author

  JULIE CAROBINI writes inspirational beach romances and cozy mysteries … with a twist. She is known for spunky heroines, charming heroes, quirky friends, and the secrets they keep. Her bestselling titles include Walking on Sea Glass, the Otter Bay Novels, The Christmas Thief, and more. Julie has received awards for writing and editing from The National League of American Pen Women and ACFW, and she is a double finalist for the ACFW Carol Award. She lives near the beach in California with her husband, Dan, and loves traveling and hanging out with her three 20-something kids. Grab a free eBook here: www.juliecarobini.com/free-book