by Jenny Hale
“I need to talk to you before we all go down for breakfast,” Mama said.
Hallie sat up and stifled a yawn.
“I found Lewis. I asked the police officer who’s been helping out with the trespasser if he could find him, and it only took a couple of hours.”
“Lewis?”
“From Aunt Clara’s letter. Ready for this? He’s seventy-eight years old and he lives just outside of town.”
Hallie forced herself to focus, this information not making sense. “This Lewis and Uncle Hank share a last name and they’re close in age—Uncle Hank has to know him.” She rubbed her eyes, gaining concentration. “Why do we have family that we don’t know about? Could he have been ostracized for some reason? If that’s the case, I’m not sure we’d want him coming around.”
“But, don’t forget that Aunt Clara wanted us to find him. Uncle Hank must know more about this than he’s letting on. However, when I told him I’d found Lewis, he closed right up and said that if I brought him here, he wouldn’t give him the inheritance. Uncle Hank is the only one with the combination to the safe. So I’m stuck.”
“Wow.” Hallie rubbed her eyes, still trying to wake up. This was a lot to take in first thing in the morning on a hangover.
“Uncle Hank isn’t happy that we’ve found him, and he’s in a rotten mood this morning because of it. I’m hoping being around the family at breakfast will calm him down. It isn’t good for him to be so upset.”
Hallie’s head was now throbbing. “Definitely not. And at some point, he’s going to have to give one of us the combination to the family safe. What would we do if something happened to him?” She ran her hands over her face, not comfortable with the conversation. She needed to calm Uncle Hank down as soon as she could.
“Is Ben up yet? He’s great with Uncle Hank.” Still holding the champagne bottle, Mama went over to the doorway. “Maybe you can go get him, and the two of you can come to breakfast together as a unified front.”
Unified. Hallie closed her eyes and remembered the feeling of his arms around her. “Okay. I’ll go get him.”
She got herself ready for the day and then headed to the guesthouse. The first thing she observed was that Beau’s water bowl was gone from the porch, which meant that they hadn’t taken their morning walk. She wondered how Ben had gotten away with not walking Beau—his dog loved the water and would pout by the door, making them all feel guilty until Ben took him out. Perhaps he’d stayed up late after she’d left last night, and he was still sleeping.
She knocked twice. When he didn’t answer, she let herself in. Only the natural light coming through the windows lit the white space, the gentle slapping of the gulf outside the lone sound around her.
“Ben?” Hallie noticed the perfectly placed throw pillows on the sofa, the absence of Beau’s dog bed in the corner of the living room, Ben’s computer not wedged onto the side table, the clean kitchen counter… She zeroed in on a single piece of paper lying there and picked it up, running her eyes over her name. She read the note in Ben’s handwriting:
I have to go back to Nashville. Sylvan Park just got offered a spot as the opening act in a pretty prominent festival. They want to record a new single and then see if we can squeeze out a few more cuts for the album with what they’ve got written faster than we’d all planned, although I need to meet with them to find out specifics first. Please tell everyone I’m sorry I had to leave and I love them all. Text me if you need me.
She looked up, disappointment swimming around inside her. She didn’t know how to move forward with Ben, but she’d thought she would at least get the chance to figure it out. Now he was gone, and with Uncle Hank not doing well and Aunt Clara’s wishes to take care of, Hallie couldn’t just run after him. And she probably shouldn’t anyway. She pulled her phone from her back pocket, not even sure what she wanted to say.
When she opened the screen, she had a text waiting from Ashley. They’d exchanged numbers the last time they were together, and Hallie had meant to keep in touch but then everything had happened with Jeff… She read the text.
Hi Hallie. Ben isn’t answering his phone. Is it all right if I come over to see him? I need to talk to him.
Hallie’s mouth was dryer than even the champagne had made it, her stomach feeling like it had a bowling ball sitting in it. The image of Ashley smiling and chatting with her at the Christmas party flooded her mind, and she felt horrible that things hadn’t worked out between Ben and Ashley. Even though nothing had happened, Hallie knew how she’d felt in that moment with Ben and the things that had crossed her mind, and it all made her feel responsible for the breakup in some strange way.
But just as concerning was the fact that Ben had left town without even telling them in person. That wasn’t like him at all. It was so unlike him that Hallie’s heart was pounding. Why hadn’t he just come to the main house to say goodbye to everyone? Was there some other reason for him to have left this way? Did it have anything to do with last night?
But then she took in a steadying breath. Ben had set his job on the back-burner to bring Hallie here. She had no idea about the time frame this band had or the amount of work that had been piling up for Ben. He was too considerate to even mention anything like that while she and her family were dealing with so much. Perhaps there was no other reason for leaving the way he had other than the fact that he just needed to get there. It was conceivable that the band had to have things done as quickly as possible, and Ben was just the type of person to give it everything he had.
She called Ashley.
Ashley answered immediately.
“Hi. It’s Hallie. I saw your text.”
“Hi Hallie! I was just wondering if it would be okay with the family if I stopped by to see Ben. Is he there? I’ve tried to call him, but I just get his missed-call message. And he isn’t answering my texts either.”
“He isn’t here, but he left a note. I found it this morning. He’s gone back to Nashville for work.”
The line was silent for a pulse before Ashley said quietly, “May I come over anyway? I really need to talk to someone, and you know him so well…”
Another twinge of guilt snaked through her. But she reminded herself that nothing at all had happened last night, and it wasn’t her fault if things hadn’t worked out between Ben and Ashley. “Have you eaten? We’re making a big breakfast. Why don’t you come over and we can talk after.”
“I wouldn’t want to impose.” Her voice sounded vulnerable.
Hallie was certain her family wouldn’t mind having Ashley there. If anything, her presence might keep Uncle Hank civil when they brought up the topic of Lewis. “You wouldn’t be imposing at all! Please come.”
“Okay, I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“Great. See you soon.” Hallie ended the call and headed back to the main house to help Mama set a place for one more at the table.
* * *
Ashley scooted her chair under the table and put her hands in her lap politely. “Thank you, Mrs. Flynn, for having me over this morning,” she said to Mama. Her blonde hair was tied up into a ponytail, showing off her high cheekbones. She had an innocence to her face that revealed her honesty and kindness, but she seemed a little hesitant, not nearly as carefree and happy as when they’d been at the party together. The circumstances were clearly affecting her.
“It’s lovely to have you with us. Pass Ashley the potato casserole, please, Sydney,” Mama said, sitting down beside Uncle Hank.
Robby got onto his knees to reach across the table for the salt. “Where’s Ben?” he asked.
“He had to leave unexpectedly for Nashville to work. Something with one of his bands…” Hallie told him.
As soon as she said it, Sydney regarded her with unsaid questions. Her sister’s expression made Hallie feel as if she’d done something to drive him away, but she knew that it was Sydney’s desire to protect Robby that was making her question the situation. It didn’t stop the tingling sensation from crawli
ng up her neck, the responsibility for Ben’s leaving falling upon Hallie’s shoulders despite her attempts to think otherwise.
“I’m so sorry to hear that,” Mama said. “I wish he’d had some breakfast before leaving. I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”
“Maybe that means he’ll be back soon,” Robby said, his hopes showing in his expression.
“Maybe!” Sydney told him, as she passed a bowl of eggs to Uncle Hank.
Every day that they spent at Firefly Beach, the Flynns had breakfast together with Aunt Clara and Uncle Hank. It was their time. Aunt Clara had said that the only way to start the day was with prayer first and then family. Prayer would guide them and family would ground them. They had lively conversations around the table; they shared stories, laughed, and even helped each other through their concerns. But now the atmosphere was empty, just like the old Steinway that sat in the front room. They were present in body, but not present the way Aunt Clara had insisted they be. On the surface, they were still behaving like they had, but things had changed at Starlight Cottage for sure.
“Ashley, how are your grandparents?” Mama asked.
“They’re doing well. Mimi and my gramps are getting ready for his seventy-ninth birthday. The house is full of relatives. Mama’s throwing them a party and we’ve all been helping her plan it.” She raised her eyebrows and smiled. “Y’all are more than welcome to come!”
“Thank you, Ashley. That’s kind of you to ask. We’ll see if we can swing by, but we’ve been busy with things since Clara passed.”
Ashley’s gaze dropped to her lap out of respect for Aunt Clara. “Yes, ma’am. I understand. It’s a difficult time, I’m sure.”
“It is,” Mama admitted. “And there are a lot of loose ends to tie up. Like finding out about a family friend named Lewis, right Uncle Hank?”
Perhaps Mama thought blurting it out in front of Ashley would be the best way to handle it, but Hallie would’ve danced around the topic a bit first. Mama wasn’t one for beating around the bush, though.
Uncle Hank pursed his lips. “He isn’t a friend.”
“Who is he then?” Mama asked, urging him with her eyes to tell them.
“He’s someone who’s been gone from my life for quite some time, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
“Even if Aunt Clara saw things differently?”
“Clara got overly sentimental at the end. Or maybe she knew we’d all feel so dreadful she could ask outlandish things of us and we’d feel obliged to appease her.” He sent a remorseful look over to Hallie as soon as he said it.
Hallie understood exactly why. Uncle Hank knew that by saying that, he was suggesting Hallie’s list could be one of those “outlandish” requests and that Hallie would appease Aunt Clara in her grief. He’d encouraged Hallie to finish the list, and he knew that his predicament wasn’t so different from hers. She stared at him until he broke eye contact, clearly recognizing what she was thinking.
Ashley quietly piled hash browns onto her plate.
“You always told her you’d do anything for her. I remember hearing you say it over and over growing up,” Mama said to him. “Why is this any different?”
“It just is. Case closed.”
His eyes began to fill up with tears and he cleared his throat, digging into his eggs, so Mama dropped it. It wasn’t like her to make a guest ill at ease, and even in her grief and her struggle to do right by Aunt Clara, she wouldn’t start today.
“Do try the breakfast casserole, Ashley,” she said, her voice lifting as she handed Ashley the serving spoon. “Feel free to take some home with you. We have more than enough.”
Ashley smiled and glanced over at Uncle Hank under her lashes. “Thank you so much.”
* * *
After breakfast, Hallie and Ashley left their sandals on the porch and took a walk on the beach. Hallie was glad for the sunshine and the squawk of seagulls overhead to lighten the mood. The wind rippled her shirt as they made their way past the sea grass and over the white dunes. They walked until the tinkling of Aunt Clara’s glass wind chime on the back porch was but a faint sound under the rush of water around their feet.
“What do you think is going on with Ben?” Ashley said, putting her hands in the pockets of her shorts as she kicked a gurgling wave, the spray spitting out in front of them.
“I don’t know,” Hallie said honestly. Even if there was something new between them, it wasn’t like him to leave Hallie when she needed him. He never did that. “I think he might just be really busy at work.”
“No. I don’t think so.” Ashley’s voice was tentative. “I’m sure he told you that we broke up.” Her lip wobbled and she turned toward the sea. “When I got to Firefly Beach, I’d asked to meet up with him so I could get some kind of closure. Our breakup seemed so sudden; I don’t understand it.”
Hallie hated to see Ashley so sad. “Want to talk about it?”
She took in an anxious breath. “I thought things were fine, and then a couple of weeks ago he came by the house and told me he didn’t think we should date exclusively, that it wasn’t fair to me. I have no idea what he meant by that because I didn’t want to date anyone else. How could dating him be unfair to me when he’s all I want?” She blinked away tears.
“This happened a couple of weeks ago?”
“I remember the very day. I’d just come home from work for my last day before my time off. It was a Friday, and I was hoping he was coming over to make plans for the night because the weather was perfect for drinks outside. We’d talked about going to The Gulch. I’d hoped we could maybe go out and have a nice dinner and a glass of wine or something at one of the rooftop bars.”
Two Fridays ago was the day Hallie had called Ben to ask him to come with her to Firefly Beach. And like a flash, she remembered their exchange when Gavin came to pick her up: she’d asked him why it was a natural reaction to make her feel like she had to be afraid of everyone she dated.
He’d returned, “You don’t have to be afraid of them.”
It was all starting to come together… He didn’t ever seem to like people she dated because he was afraid of them. How long had he felt this way about her? The spot on her chest tingled where his fingers had first been. She rubbed it to make it stop, unable to get a breath.
“I invited him over because I wanted an explanation… I waited, offering him iced tea, letting him chat with Mimi, until the last possible minute, when I could ask him to tell me why, but he didn’t give me an answer. He said he had to go, and he wouldn’t stay. You know him so well. What should I do?”
Hallie did know Ben well, but this side of him wasn’t her expertise. In fact, he was surprising her at every turn. She thought about those blue eyes, the silver flecks in them as he looked at her last night, how easy it had been to know his thoughts when for so long she’d been unable to decipher them.
Hallie didn’t know what to say. The truth was, she had no idea what to do.
FIFTEEN
Feeling alone, Hallie stood in the open area of the guesthouse, looking around. For what, she wasn’t sure. She already missed Ben’s little pile of papers on the counter, his headphones resting on the arm of the sofa while he typed on his laptop. She inhaled, wondering if she could catch his scent to decipher what kind of emotion she felt when it hit her, but even that was gone. She still needed Ben to get through this, but she wasn’t sure how to be around him now. Perhaps he knew that would happen and that was why he left. There was no “perhaps” about it. That was exactly why he’d left. No matter what, he’d never put work above the people he loved.
There was a knock at the door and Hallie nearly jumped out of her skin, the trespasser still in the forefront of her mind. Without Ben, she was jumpy. The late morning sun was coming in at a slant, casting long shadows through the room, every one of them jabbing her insides with mild apprehension. As open as the little bungalow was, there was no window in the door, probably for privacy since it opened right into the living space. Bec
ause she couldn’t see who was on the front stoop, she resolved to put a new door in if she was going to spend any length of time there. With everyone else in the main house, no one could hear a thing way out here.
Hallie opened the door slowly with a firm grip on the knob, ready to slam it shut on anyone with less than favorable intentions. She peered through the crack she’d made between the doorframe and the door to find Gavin, to her relief, holding an enormous paper-wrapped parcel. The tension in her shoulders released and she opened the door wider.
“Hi,” he said, his face lifted in excitement. “Your sister said you were probably out here. I have something for you. May I come in?”
Hallie stepped back to allow him to enter. He walked over to the kitchen area, stopping momentarily to assess his surroundings, and she had to keep her mind in the present when he stepped over to where Ben had been when they’d opened the champagne.
Gingerly, Gavin set the parcel on the kitchen island. “Unwrap it,” he insisted.
Curious, given his enthusiasm, Hallie pulled the twine ribbon loose, the paper slackening around the shape inside. With a tiny tug, she drew the paper from under the heavy object and then lifted it off, revealing what had been covered.
“Oh my goodness!” she said with genuine happiness. She peered down at a larger version of her photograph, matted in burlap and framed in black just the way she’d said she’d have done it. It looked so lovely that she had to remind herself it was her own work.