Wish Upon a Shell

by Kay Correll

  Julie took off her apron and hung it by the door. She pushed out into the sunshine and took a deep breath of the salty air. Yes, this was just what she needed.

  She headed to the beach, slipping off her shoes as soon as she got to the sand. She wandered down the beach towards Lighthouse Point, the place that never failed her, the spot where she could always sort out her thoughts.

  Julie walked on, the afternoon sea breeze drying her tears as they slipped down her cheeks. She didn’t really know why she was crying. Not really. She’d just met the man about a week ago, right? So why did she feel so empty without him? That was just… silly.

  She dashed away the last of the tears. She never cried, and didn’t know why this man had the ability to reduce her to a weeping fool, but she was finished with that. Julie continued down the beach and made her way to the point. She picked up a lone shell, then dropped it onto the sand. She was not going to be sucked into the silliness of Lighthouse Point.

  The sun ducked under the gathering clouds and the wind picked up, chasing away the earlier humidity. Out at sea, she could see a storm beginning to make its way to shore.

  She sighed and turned back towards town, she was well aware of how quickly storms could come racing onto shore. The beach was mostly clear of walkers now that the weather was turning from beautiful sunshine to dark gray, ominous clouds. She walked on, refusing to think about Reed.

  One step, then the next. Away. Away. She was walking away from any and all memories of him.

  A sharp pain in her foot jolted her back to reality. She stumbled and splashed into the ocean, soaking herself. She sat up, still surrounded by the shallow waves. Her heel burned in the saltwater. She raised her leg and looked closely. Blooded flowed from a cut on her heel.

  Could the day get any better? She stood up and hopped on one foot until she could sit down in the dry sand, not that it mattered since she was dripping water.

  She’d better call Tally or Susan to come get her. She reached for her phone in her back pocket and pulled it out. It was dead, of course. It had drowned in a watery grave of seawater when she fell.

  She looked down the beach and it was empty. Everyone had hurried to get inside before the storm hit.

  * * *

  Reed headed down the beach. He wasn’t sure if he passed many people or not, because he’d given up the customary quick smile and nod after the first person he passed. He watched his newly tanned feet and the occasional wave that rushed over them and walked on, lost in thought.

  Susan was right, of course. He’d no business trying to start up anything with Julie. How could she possibly be interested in a man who was leaving in a few weeks? After what Susan had told him about Julie being afraid of people leaving, how could he do that exact same thing? It wasn’t fair to her. Maybe Susan was right and he should just leave the island and head back west.

  Make a decision, man.

  A rumble of thunder in the distance called to him and he looked out across the sea. Big thunderheads rose above the horizon. He glanced towards Lighthouse Point and figured he could make it there and back before the storm. It might be nice to walk and watch the storm roll into shore anyway.

  He continued down the beach, lost in his thoughts. The way Julie made him feel. Actually feel, after all these years. The way her chestnut brown hair danced in the breeze. Memories of Julie’s quick smile, her laugh, the sound of her voice, all of that came crashing back on him. He admitted he missed her. She’d been a friend. Someone to help him through this strange thing called vacation.

  The winds picked up, cooling him as he walked, and he didn’t want to turn around. He wanted to make it to the Lighthouse, needed to make it there for some strange reason. He felt a hand on his shoulder, a gentle push. He spun around. No one was there. Again.

  “Hey. Over here.”

  He almost imagined he heard Julie’s voice calling him. That was crazy. He turned and started to walk back to the inn. No lighthouse this time, he’d better get back before the storm hit.

  He felt another twinge on his shoulder, like the faintest resting of a hand.

  Turn around and look, Boo.

  Now he really was imagining things. But he did turn back towards the lighthouse and swept his glance over the wide beach. A lone woman sat on the sand, waving her arms.

  “Hey. Over here. Hey.”

  That was Julie’s voice, he knew it, even as the words broke apart and were tossed in the wind. He paused, uncertain what to do. Susan had warned him to stay away. He should just turn around right now.

  Go to her, Boo.

  “I hear you, Sunshine. I hear you,” he whispered.

  He raised a hand in a wave and jogged down the beach towards Julie.

  Chapter 13

  Julie looked down the beach and saw a lone man jogging towards her from around the bend. He’d heard her, thank goodness. She watched as he got larger as he approached.

  Her breath froze in her chest.

  Reed?

  Seriously?

  With all the people on the island, Reed was the one to rescue her?

  He jogged over to where she sat on the beach. She saw him look at the blood on the sand and drop down beside her. “You’re hurt. What happened?” He looked her over from head to toe.

  “I cut my heel on something sharp. I was going to call Tally or Susan, but my phone is dead.”

  Reed shucked off his shirt, his chest gleaming in the soft light—not that she noticed. He gently tied his shirt around her foot. “I’ll carry you.”

  “No, I can walk. Just help me up.”

  He stood and reached down to pull her to her feet. She winced when she put weight on her foot. It was going to be a long walk home.

  “You could go get my van and come pick me up.” That was an idea. Much better than walking with her foot wrapped up in his shirt.

  Reed paled a bit. “I… don’t drive.”

  “Really? Oh. Well, that won’t work then, will it?” She stood balancing on one foot. “You could call Tally or Susan.”

  “Didn’t bring my phone. I’ve kind of gone off the grid this week.”

  “Well, that’s that. Let’s walk.” She took a tentative step. It hurt a bit, but she could manage. The shirt would at least keep the sand out of the wound. “We should go before the storm hits.”

  Reed glanced out at sea, looking surprised to see the incoming clouds. “The storm is coming in faster than I thought. We should hurry.”

  She leaned on him and they headed down the beach. His strong arm wrapped around her, supporting most of her weight. He held her steady and secure. She ignored the fact it felt so very good to be wrapped up in his arm.

  Totally ignored it.

  “You doing okay? You could sit here and I’d go for help, but I’m afraid the storm will hit before I can get back.”

  “No, I’m fine really.” She didn’t want to sit and have him leave her behind. She wanted to continue to walk down this beach, leaning on him.

  The subtle scent of Reed’s spicy aftershave drifted around her. Not that she noticed that, either.

  Then the rain hit. First a few large drops of rain splattered around them, then it came down and pounded them with its fury.

  She stumbled a bit and he caught her as she started to fall. Before she had time to protest, he swooped her up in his arms. “I’m carrying you the rest of the way. I can see the inn from here. We’ll get Susan to help you when we get there.”

  She wanted to protest, to tell him she was fine and she could walk on her own, thank you very much. But… it felt so good to rest against his chest. She could feel his heart beating against her. His bare skin heated her through her thin t-shirt. The t-shirt that was now clinging to her in an almost indecent way.

  He bent over, trying to protect her from the worst of the storm. She tucked her head against his neck and clung to him, the rain sliding over them as he hurried towards safety.

  Before she could convince herself to tell him to just put her down, he
was climbing the steps of the inn. He pushed through the door from the deck and headed into the lobby.

  Susan looked up from the reception desk. “What…”

  Reed stood with her in his arms, dripping all over the lobby floor. “She’s hurt. She’s got a nasty gash on her foot.”

  Susan rushed out from behind the desk. “Is it bad? Are you okay?”

  “I’m okay. Reed is exaggerating… I think.” There was a lot of blood soaked into Reed’s shirt.

  “Jamie, can you cover the desk?” Susan called out to her son as he came out of the office to see what the commotion was. “Sure. Everything okay?”

  “Yes, I just need to help Julie.” Susan turned to Reed. “Can you carry her over to my cottage? It’s right outside the kitchen door.”

  “No problem.”

  “I can walk.”

  Susan dismissed the suggestion with a wave of her hand. “No, you can’t. Not until I get a look at your foot.”

  Julie settled back against Reed’s chest, savoring the last few moments of him holding her close… even though she’d told him to leave her alone and never come see her again.

  * * *

  Reed was going to have to explain to Susan how this wasn’t his fault. Not at all. He’d run into Julie by accident. And it was a good thing he had or she’d still be sitting out there alone, pummeled by the storm. The thought made his heart pound in his chest, and he tightened his hold on her.

  He’d fully intended to stay away from Julie. This wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t. It was just a… nice coincidence. Well, not nice, because Julie was hurt. His thoughts ping-ponged along.

  She felt so darn good in his arms. He wished they’d been miles further away and he could have carried her on and on, resting against his chest. Her one arm was wrapped around his neck, and the scent of her hair teased him as drops of rain dripped from her hair onto his bare skin. He wanted to bury his face in her hair, but of course he couldn’t do that.

  But he wanted to.

  He carried Julie into Susan’s cottage.

  “Set her down on the couch. I’ll get the first aid kit.” Susan shot him a look that clearly said I told you to stay away.

  It wasn’t his fault.

  He reluctantly walked over to the couch and eased Julie down on it. Her arm slipped away from around his neck. He wanted, more than anything in the world, to just pick her right back up.

  Susan tossed him a towel. She sat beside Julie, wrapped another towel careful around her, and opened a first aid kit. “Let me look at this.”

  “Ouch.” Julie winced as Susan cleaned the cut.

  “Doesn’t look like it needs stitches, but it’s going to hurt like all get-out for a few days.”

  Reed peered over Susan’s shoulder.

  “Great timing. I’m going to be so busy this week getting ready for Camille’s mother’s party.”

  “You really should stay off of that for a few days. I’ll use some butterfly bandages to close it and I’ll wrap it up, but really, you should give it a few days to heal.”

  “That’s not going to happen.”

  “You should listen to Susan.”

  “A lot of people should listen to me.” Susan’s eyes met his.

  Julie looked at Susan, then back at him. “What’s going on with you two?”

  “Nothing.” Reed shook his head.

  “Yes, something is. Susan?”

  Susan sighed. “I caught him going out to find you. He said he’d figured things out, made his peace, and wanted to… I don’t know… date you? But I told him to stay away from you. Really, Julie, he’s leaving soon. I don’t want you to go through that again.”

  “I did listen to you. I understood and agreed with you, but I didn’t go looking for her. I just found her, hurt, at Lighthouse Point and brought her back here to you. It was a… coincidence.” Or fate, he was beginning to believe it was fate.

  Julie looked from Reed to Susan. “I think this is for me to decide, isn’t it?”

  “It is. But… I really don’t want to see you hurt again.” Susan stood up, then leaned back and settled an afghan around her friend’s shoulders. “I’m going back to the inn. You two talk. I’ll drive you home and get you settled when you’re ready.”

  Julie sat quietly after Susan left. Reed dropped down beside Julie, alternating waiting for her to say something, and thinking he should speak first.

  “You were coming to find me?”

  “Earlier I was. Before Susan talked to me. She has a valid point. I am leaving.”

  “So… you think you’ve really made peace with your past?”

  “I have.” He reached for her hand. “I know it’s too late, but I have put the past behind me. I’m sorry I didn’t figure it out before we… well, I don’t know what we are, or what we were going to be. I’ll leave the island now. I’ll leave you alone, like you asked me to.”

  “You don’t have to leave.” Her voice was a whisper.

  “But, I should. I honestly don’t think I could stay here and not see you.”

  * * *

  “I don’t want you to stay here and not see me.” Julie hoped she didn’t live to regret her words. “I want you to say here and spend more time with me. I don’t know where we’re headed, but I know I enjoy being with you.”

  “I like spending time with you, too.” Reed sat on the couch by her side and pulled the fluffy blue towel around her shoulders when she shivered.

  But she wasn’t shivering from cold. She didn’t think a nice dry towel would help her.

  “You’re sure you’ve sorted everything out? You won’t just… quit again? I mean, I know you leave at the end of the month, but we’ll spend time together until then?”

  “I’m sure. We’ll spend time together. Every day if you’ll let me.”

  “I’d like that.”

  Before she knew what he was doing, he leaned in and kissed her. The kiss was soft and gentle, and his hand reached up to cradle her face. She reached her hand to cover his and lost herself in his kiss.

  He pulled away slightly and smiled at her. “I’ve been wanting to do that since the first time I met you.”

  “You… ah… you have?” Her words came in disjointed gasps.

  “I have. And you know what?”

  “What?” Her world was spinning out of control.

  “I’m going to do it again if you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t mind.” She tilted her head up. “Not one bit.”

  His lips pressed against hers again and he pulled her close, his heart beating in rhythm with hers.

  * * *

  Reed reluctantly pulled away. “I should go get Susan to drive you home.”

  Julie looked at him with the most adorably dazed expression. “I… uh… sure.”

  He smiled at her and tipped her chin up for one more lingering kiss. “I’ll be back.”

  He quickly went to his room and slipped on dry clothes, then met Susan and insisted on riding over to Julie’s house with them. There was no way he was going to let Julie fend for herself and hobble around alone in her cottage.

  When they arrived, Susan helped Julie change into dry clothes and settled her on the couch. “I’m going to stay with Julie for a while,” Reed assured Susan, although she looked more worried at his remark than reassured.

  “I could stay.” Susan bit her lip.

  “No, you go back to the inn. I know you’re busy getting everything ready for your big weekend. I’ll be fine.” Julie leaned back against the pillows on the well-worn couch.

  Susan wrinkled her brow. “Okay, but you call me if you need anything. Anything at all. And stay off your foot.”

  “Thanks for bringing me back home.”

  Susan nodded and hurried out the door. Reed settled down on a couch next to Julie, then jumped back up. “I should get you something to eat.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “Yes, I do. And I want to.”

  “Well, I am hungry. There’s a
loaf of homemade bread and some sliced chicken in the kitchen if you want to make sandwiches. Oh, and a bowl of fruit salad in the fridge.”

  Reed went to the kitchen and opened cabinets and drawers. He’d never seen so many pots and pans and different utensils. He didn’t even know what some of the pans were used for. The cabinets and drawers looked organized to perfection, no jumbled silverware, no junk drawer. He located the plates and glasses and put together their meal. He loaded a tray he found and carried it back into the front room.

  Julie sat with her foot propped up on the coffee table. “I see you found everything.”

  “I did. Your kitchen is a masterpiece of… well… kitchen stuff.”

  Julie grinned. “Though I have my old standbys, I’m always trying out new pans or a new pot or two. I really should go through the cabinets and give some away that I don’t use much anymore.”

  “I have one set of pots, and maybe a cake pan—not that I’ve ever used it. I do have microwaving down to a science, though.” He grinned at her and she widened her eyes in mock horror.

  “I know, I know. Can you imagine a man can live off of take-out and reheated left-overs from eating out?”

  She shook her head. “Sad. Very sad. Even though I’m at the bakery all day, I love to come home and cook a nice meal.”

  After they finished, he did the dishes and came back to find Julie sound asleep on the couch. He debated if he should wake her and help her back to her room, but he figured she was exhausted and might sleep the night on the couch. He’d just leave her be.

  He quietly covered her with a knitted afghan he found on the back of the recliner, leaned down and pressed a light kiss against her forehead, and let himself out the door.

  The storm had passed and the evening was clear with stars tossed across the universe, twinkling in the night sky. A sense of tranquility settled over him. He’d worked things out with Julie and all was right with his world.

  Chapter 14

  Reed knocked on Julie’s front door before daybreak. He was determined to help her today in any way he could. He knocked again, but there was no answer. He rang the doorbell. Still no answer. He walked around to her back patio and peeked in the window, hoping no one would see him and report him to the police or something.