Chapter 2
As early morning sunlight flooded the small second-story room where Abby slept with Sally at her feet, she blinked her eyes open. A glance at her phone and she saw it was only 6 AM. Early, but that was her third morning at the beach house, and like the last two, she didn’t intend to waste it. Getting up to head downstairs and turn on the coffee, Abby watched Sally peek one eye open at her. “Yes,” Abby said to her. “I am awake, and in about fifteen minutes, I hope to be walking on the beach.” Sally yawned, and Abby snorted a laugh. “Lazy Gus, if you want to come along, you need to get a move on.” The moment held, and she could almost hear the internal debate in her dog's head. Finally, Sally stood and hopped down to follow Abby.
In less than fifteen minutes, Abby, with a still reluctant Sally on her lap, was back in her Adirondack chair sipping a fresh cup of rich, black coffee. Scanning the horizon, she was glad to see the weather was cooperating still. Only a few white clouds dotted the sky. In June along the Oregon Coast, rain and wind were always a strong possibility. In fact, storms, some quite wicked, blew through at any time of year. Abby remembered it was prudent to take advantage of a sunny morning when she could. “Which direction shall we try today?” she asked her friend. “I think it's time we ventured out a little further.” Sally responded with a glance and a snuggle closer on her lap. “Oh, come on, you love chasing the seagulls, and you know it.” All the little dog did was sigh, and Abby chuckled. “Okay, five more minutes while I finish up this…”
Before she completed her sentence, Abby saw a flicker of yellow and a glimpse of movement along the beach to her left. Abby narrowed her eyes to try and bring the image of something on the shore into a clearer focus. It was still a good distance down the sand, but if she had to guess, a person was walking the edge of the waves racing up the shore. The yellow was most likely a jacket or maybe a windbreaker. As Abby continued to stare, the figure of a person grew clearer. Realizing her quiet moment was in danger of being interrupted, she felt an irrationally strong sense of frustration. Even after only three days, it seemed to her as if she owned this small stretch of beach behind the house. The last thing she wanted was to share with tourists.
But it was only one person, and not exactly a horde of moms and pops with screaming kiddos in tow. There was a strong possibility the person would stroll right past and not stop to say hello at all. He might be enjoying his own special solitude as well. Sipping her coffee again, Abby made up her mind to just wait and see while keeping an eye on the stranger's progress. After another couple of minutes, it was clear the person was looking down at the sand as he walked. A beachcomber. Someone merely looking for a prize that might have washed up with the tide overnight. Harmless and very likely to pass without even noticing her. Feeling a little less invaded, Abby relaxed and finished her cup. She would leave it on the arm of the chair, and once the beachcomber passed, get up quietly and walk in the opposite direction. A good plan.
Unfortunately, Sally was not aware of it, and as soon as she spotted the person along the shore, she stood up on Abby's lap. Realizing what was unfolding, Abby tried to soothe her pet with a few strokes. “Shhh,” she whispered. “It's okay. Just let him pass.” Sally was having none of it, and the hair on the back of her neck stood up. “Shit,” was all Abby got out before the little dog shot off her lap like a missile, barking up a storm as she raced down the beach.
Jumping up, Abby raced after her. “Sally, no.” It did no good, and in only a few moments, the dog raced up to the stranger, who wisely stopped moving as the dog yapped up a storm.
“Well, hello,” Abby heard the beachcomber say and registered the voice was gentle, and the speaker was a woman. Somehow that information made the upcoming interaction seem less embarrassing. “You seem to have a lot to say about it.”
As Abby reached them, she puffed out a breath of frustration and scooped up Sally. “I’m so sorry.”
The woman waved a hand. “Don’t be. That little creature is just protecting you.”
“Thank you for understanding,” Abby said looking into her dog's brown eyes. “But you, Miss, need to have better manners. This beach doesn't belong only to us.” She tried not to think about how just a minute before she believed the same thing.
When the woman didn’t comment, Abby looked up and realized the stranger was staring at her. Hard. Abby furrowed her brow, not sure what to do. Had she somehow offended the beachcomber? As she opened her mouth to excuse herself and scurry back to the safety of her chair, she watched the woman shake her head. Finally, she said something. “Abby? Is that really you?”
Abby froze. There was something familiar in the way the stranger said her name. A little extra emphasis on the A maybe. But it was enough to make her blink and look harder at the woman. “Toni?” she whispered at last as their eyes met. Toni nodded.
Suddenly, Abby was thirteen again, back at the beach house, racing down the sand to see if Toni and her family had arrived already. The excitement of seeing her so special “summers only” friend beating in her chest. Here they were decades later. If not for Sally squirming to get down, she was not sure how long she would have stood there just staring, but the little dog brought her back to the moment. “I can’t believe this,” she whispered.
In response, a broad grin spread across Toni’s face. One so familiar and enduring Abby felt time slip for a moment, but then Toni was laughing. “Me either,” Toni said. “Incredible. I never in a million years thought I'd see you here.” Abby agreed, and only by setting Sally down was she able to gather her emotions. For some reason, seeing her old friend, her old crush basically, after all that time and on this specific trip, filled her with hope. Perhaps that was why she was lured here by her memories? To meet Toni again.
“How long has it been?” Toni asked, although when Abby glanced at her again, she felt like Toni knew precisely. Just as she did.
“Too long?” Abby answered raising an eyebrow, and they both laughed.
“Yes, too long,” Toni agreed. “I really can’t believe this. But your name is different. Although when I saw Abby, I…” The sentence drifted off. For a moment, Abby was sure Toni intended to say she hoped it was her old friend, but then the thought seemed silly. The possibility they both wondered about each other was too good to be true. Besides, it was likely Toni was straight, had a husband, kids, and even grandchildren. There was no reason to think she was a lesbian. Even being a tomboy back when they were close did not mean Toni was gay.
Putting all those random thoughts out of her mind, Abby decided to clear things up for Toni right away. “I was married to a woman for twenty years,” she said. “I took her name.” Toni didn't say anything for a long pause, and Abby watched her face to see what the reaction might be. For all she knew, Toni could be deeply set against the LGBTQ lifestyle.
“I see,” she finally responded, the slightest glimmer of disappointment in her soft blue eyes. “And your wife? Is she with you?”
Abby shook her head, and for the first time since the nasty separation, she felt good about her next sentence. “We're recently divorced.” Then, feeling surprisingly confident after her declaration, she smiled and nodded back toward the beach house. “Toni, would you like a cup of coffee?”
Chapter 3
The sense of things jumping back and forth in time did not leave Abby for the rest of the morning. Toni leaning against the kitchen island, taller of course, but just as confident, drinking coffee was surreal. Even when they talked about how Toni retired from the US Army and moved to the area four years before, how she never married or had kids, and lately spent her days beachcombing while keeping an eye on a few houses for an out of state rental company, Abby could not shake the sense of déjà vu. As if time somehow shifted, and she was right back in the same place. Just thirty-seven years later. “You okay?” Toni asked her.
“What?” Abby responded with a start, not realizing her distraction was so apparent. “Yes, of course. Just can’t believe it’s you.”
Toni grinned. “Same.” The smile was genuine and confident. Exactly like she remembered. Although, there was a sexy quality to it that she didn’t recall. Definitely impossible to miss now though.
Abby raised her coffee cup to her lips to hide a blush she felt rising to her cheeks. Sipping, she surveyed her friend. Definitely sexy. “But why retire here?” Abby asked needing to keep the conversation going. The last thing she wanted was for the conversation to peter out and Toni to leave. For some reason, it seemed very important they reconnect.
There was a long pause. So much, Abby almost apologized for asking something so personal, but then Toni set down her coffee mug. Their eyes met, and there was a seriousness in Toni's that again made Abby feel as if she was falling back through time. As if what the woman would say next held significant meaning. “Because some of my fondest memories are wrapped up in this beach,” Toni finally answered. Her gaze did not waiver, and Abby suddenly found herself holding her breath. “A lot of memories which include you.”
The moment held, and although Abby could think of a hundred ways to answer, none of them found the way to her tongue. Instead, she just nodded. It was Toni's turn to blush, and she glanced away, as if suddenly interested in the wall hanging over the fireplace. “I should go,” she said straightening up. “It was great to see you again, Abby.”
“Wait,” Abby said putting her own mug down so quickly the coffee splashed over the rim. “You don’t have to go yet.” Then she caught herself. Seeming desperate for her company would not be appealing. “I mean, it’s great to see you again too. Maybe, you know, we could get together again. I’m here all summer.”
Toni nodded but started to move toward the door just the same. “I'd like that. I'll call you,” she said, and then in a rush, she was gone. The exit was so abrupt, Sally raised her head from where she was sleeping on the sofa and looked around. Feeling a little rejected, Abby went to sit by her and stroked her back.
“I know,” she said to her little friend. “That was weird, right?” Sally glanced up at her as if in agreement. “Well, hopefully she’ll call, and then maybe I won't make her feel so uncomfortable that she runs away.”
By the seventh day, Abby was both heartbroken and pissed. She had thought of Toni and pretty much nothing else for a week, but the woman didn’t call or even send a text. Even though Abby went to the Adirondack chairs every morning at the same time and watched for her, the beachcomber did not appear. Of course, Abby could have reached out to her. She had the number, but when Toni said she would call, Abby believed it. At this point, too much time had passed to not make it awkward if she called. Letting out a frustrated breath, she resolved to let the whole thing go and get started on her book. Writing was a new hobby for her, and she was eager to try her hand at it. There were so many stories tumbling around in her head, the time was here to let some of them out. A lesbian suspense novel could be fun. But exactly where to begin?
Putting Sally down, she stood from her chair and headed back to the beach house. As she did, a man she never met before came walking around the side of the house. It was clear he did not see her, so thinking perhaps she would just stay quiet and see what he was up to, she stopped. Unfortunately, she forgot that Sally was not so patient, and the moment her little protector saw the man, she was off to the races, barking her head off. “Sally!” Abby said breaking into a run to chase her. If the stranger was up to no good, she worried he might not appreciate being “caught” by a shiatzu mutt. Luckily, all he did was stop and wait for her, not looking especially happy about the situation.
“Ms. Lewis?” he asked when she approached and picked up Sally at the same time shushing her.
“Yes?” she replied. “Is something wrong?”
“No, I just wanted to introduce myself. I’m Eric. I’ll be filling in for Toni while you’re here.”
Abby’s heart skipped a beat. Was it possible she put Toni off so much she no longer wanted to be the house’s caretaker while she was in it? No, that was ridiculous. Something was wrong, even if Eric didn’t say so. “Okay,” she said setting Sally back on the ground. “But can I ask what happened to Toni?”
Eric nodded, his face somber. Abby held her breath. If the news was too bad, she was not sure she could take it. Not when she was just starting to feel so much better about life. “Toni was in a car accident last week,” he explained. “Pretty bad.”
“Oh my God,” Abby said covering her mouth with both hands. “Is she all right?”
“I think so, but she’s still in the hospital over at Bayshore Medical. That's why they asked me to fill in for her by watching the rentals.”
Abby processed the information. Toni. Hospital. A week. That was why there was no call. “I see,” she finally said. “Well, thank you for coming by, but I'm fine.”
“Don’t need anything?”
“No,” she said turning away ready to be done with the conversation. She was already making a plan. Bayshore Medical was over thirty minutes away, and Abby didn't want to waste another minute. Getting to the hospital as soon as possible was priority number one. Toni needed her. She was sure of it.
The look on Toni’s face when she opened her two blackened eyes dismissed every doubt that plagued Abby on the drive over from the beach. “Hi,” was all the woman said as a smile lit up her face. The word was enough.
“Hi,” Abby said taking Toni’s hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “How are you feeling?”
Toni squeezed her hand back. “Better now,” she said, and the words made a flutter of pleasure bloom in Abby's stomach. Her intuition was not wrong. The old connection, the chemistry between them, was still as strong as ever.
“Good,” Abby said. “Do you know how much longer you’ll be in here?”
Toni started to shake her head, but clearly, it hurt. “Not sure,” she said with a grimace. “The concussion means I need someone to keep an eye on me. Hopefully, not much longer.”
Before Abby could answer, there was a light tap at the door, and then a young, Hispanic doctor slipped in. Small in stature, easily under Abby's five-five, she made up for it in confidence. Her look was bright and intelligent, and Abby liked her instinctively. “Well, Toni, you're looking better,” she said while taking a penlight from her pocket. “I see you have a visitor to keep you company.” The doctor smiled at Abby before leaning in to shine the light in Toni’s eyes. First inspecting one and then the other. After the assessment, the doctor stepped back and slipped the penlight away.
“Well, Doc, can I get out of here today?” Toni asked with a smile.
The doctor pursed her lips in thought and then nodded. “I think that can be arranged,” she said. “As long as you have a ride home and someone who can stay with you a few days. I still want you supervised.”
“I’ll do it,” Abby blurted surprising even herself with the offer. Both Toni and the doctor looked at her.
“Are you sure?” Toni asked. “That’s asking a lot. I mean…” Her voice trailed off with uncertainty. True, the offer was a little spontaneous, but Abby was not about to take it back. She loved the idea.
“I'll take you back to the beach house with me,” she explained. “There's plenty of space, and you can rehab with the sound of the ocean waves to soothe you.”
Somehow having Toni in the house felt like the most natural thing in the world. She was propped up on one of the two sofas, able to see out the open double doors to the sea. There was a stronger breeze than there had been lately, and it tugged at the colorful blue and white curtains that flanked the opening. “We should check the weather forecast,” Toni suggested picking up her phone from the white, wicker coffee table. “I think I see a thunderhead out there.”
Abby laid down her dishtowel after finishing up dishes from an early dinner and came closer to Toni on the couch. She looked hard out the doors, and although she was not a meteorologist, she did not think the black clouds edging the horizon looked pleasant. “That looks nasty,” she murmured. Her friend had only be
en out of the hospital for two days. The first day was a little awkward, but Toni slept through most of it, and Abby set her timer to check on the woman every thirty minutes. It was probably overkill, but she took her duty to keep an eye on Toni very seriously. Today, she seemed much better.
“A good, long sleep without nurses prodding me every ten minutes,” was Toni’s answer for the improvement. “And being here with you, of course.” Abby smiled at that. Although they still needed to talk about whatever it was reawakening between them, the mutual attraction was evident. It was as if both were waiting, albeit unknowingly on Abby's part anyway, for the other to return here, to pick up where they left off, if not more. Much more.
“Anything?” she asked while Toni studied an app on her phone.
Toni nodded. “Yes,” she answered. “Definitely in for a blow.
Suddenly, there was a crack of thunder, and Abby glanced out the open doors to see three strikes of lightning streak across the sky. They were beautiful in their power, but a hint of anxiety threatened in the back of her mind. A significant early summer storm could be bad. How would the beach house fair if it was too fierce? Undoubtedly, the building withstood the worst of thunderstorms over the years. Sally apparently didn’t like the thunder either because she jumped down from the other couch and slipped under it to hide.
Summer Loving Page 9