by Ellie Hall
Chapter 12
Carter
Carter didn’t immediately return to the Sandy Shore Inn. Instead, he walked along the beach, wondering how everything had gone so wrong. He picked up a smooth, flat rock and skipped it over the water, but a big wave came and swallowed it up.
Claudia’s family story was so sad and he’d never opened up and shared his family tragedy with anyone. Everything had been perfect with her just as it had been with his mom and dad. He should’ve known better than to trust that the beginning of a relationship with the most beautiful woman, inside and out, that he’d ever met could result in anything other than loss. The familiar emptiness he’d tried to fill with fame, with things money could buy, with meaningless time spent with women, seized him. It turned him inside out, leaving him with a hollow ache in his chest.
More than anything, other than having Claudia back, he wanted his guitar. Instead, he sat down in the sand and let the melody of the water, washing to shore drown out his thoughts.
Carter wasn’t sure how long he sat in the sand, but he returned to the inn later than usual and slept in until noon the next day—much like he used to when he was on tour.
If Claudia didn’t want him in her life, he was left with nothing. He dug his phone out of his pocket and dialed his manager, Joey.
“I knew you’d be back,” Joey said around a whoop of laughter. “We all think a woman is going to fix us, but we’re broken men, Wilde. And that’s why you’re famous. All those female fans want a piece of you because they want to be the one to fix you.” He laughed again.
The words grazed Carter’s awareness as falsehoods. He’d left the rehab facility and fixed himself. Claudia hadn’t done a thing other than let him fall for her. Admittedly, he’d fallen hard, but the idea that he was irreversibly broken snagged in his thoughts. It just wasn’t true. It couldn’t be, could it?
But Joey went on about interviews and the upcoming tour.
Carter had to get together with the band for pre-promo, to practice, and the rest of it. He only half-listened. If he couldn’t be with Claudia maybe he should follow through with the tour.
“Where are you, anyway? I’m sending Alana Winstead from Music Nation Daily for an exclusive interview after Wilde’s sudden disappearance and monthlong hiatus,” Joey said as though reading a headline.
The mention of the interview reminded Carter of Claudia’s assignment. They’d spent plenty of time together. Hopefully, she had everything she needed. Well, except for one thing. He never told her that he loved her.
A heaviness settled over him, pressing him down, keeping him on the phone with Joey as he reviewed the many ways the musician was going to be bigger than ever.
It was well past breakfast and even lunch before Carter slogged his way over to the Coconut Cove Café for something to eat. He was in a daze, wondering how he’d practically skipped across the street to the dock for weeks, eager to see Claudia. He could hardly put one foot in front of the other, knowing that things were over between them.
From nearby, someone shouted, “There he is.”
Carter looked up, blinking into the bright sunshine.
A gaggle of starry-eyed fans mobbed him. He practically fell over in the sand next to the dock leading to the restaurant.
They asked him where he’d been, for his autograph, and snapped selfies. He felt closed in despite the wide blue sky above. He didn’t miss the attention at all and when a sleek black car pulled up, the heaviness that he’d been feeling, practically crushed him.
They were coming for him.
The door opened. A pair of feet wearing stiletto heels emerged, followed by its owner: a woman who’d seen the inside of a plastic surgeon’s office countless times and had an artificial personality to match. She wore a tight red dress and looked as out of place in Blue Bay Beach as he suddenly felt as Wilde, the subject of her interview.
But he didn’t want to draw any more of the chaos his fame caused to the quaint town. He turned from the restaurant and met Alana Winstead, internet gossip extraordinaire, on the street. As he got into the sleek black car, he spotted a gorgeous face gazing at him from the patio adjacent to the café.
He lifted his hand to wave, but the car pulled away, kicking up sandy dust as it sped out of town.
“So, Wilde is back,” Alana purred.
“Not exactly.”
“Tell us about your sudden departure from the Rockers in Rehab show.”
“No comment.” The heaviness was still present, but with it also came a hefty sense of resentment. Carter felt all wrong sitting on the leather seat in yet another pair of boardshorts he’d bought at the shop in Blue Bay Beach. Not only that, he felt wrong giving an interview. Carter was just a guy who liked to play music. He wasn’t the larger than life rock star he’d been made out to be.
“Rumor has it you found yourself a cute little plaything. Do tell us the details, Wilde. What’s her name?”
“No comment,” he repeated in a low tone of warning. Why had he agreed to the interview? Why had he handed over control of his life to managers, agents, and other people in the music business? He didn’t want to give them or Alana anything not only because it was personal, but because he no longer had Claudia in his life.
“Oh. Time away from your handlers has made you feisty. We get a wild version of Wilde. I like it.” Alana tossed him a coy smile. “Are you looking forward to the tour this fall?”
“No comment.” When Claudia interviewed him that first time, he’d given the same answer to all her questions much as he was doing then, only he’d give anything to snog Claudia one more time.
Alana shifted irritably as though upset her usual tactics weren’t getting the results she wanted. “There’s a lot of speculation going around. Hoopla and drama surrounding your name. Some say you’ve thrown your career down the drain.” Clearly, she changed her approach.
It was odd to think about how the fame and persona was never what he wanted, but he’d let it be constructed around him because he hurt so much after losing his parents. He’d craved the attention, the adulation, and in his loneliest moments, he always had people surrounding him even if they were just there to snap photos and hear about his crazy antics—most of which were made up stories.
“Others are saying you’ve lost your edge. Gone soft.” Alana needling him, trying to find a weak entry point to get him to reveal something juicy.
But all he had was the truth. He was done hiding behind the name Wilde and Carter wasn’t the kind of guy to fake anything. Nor was he someone who’d give up. He sat up a little taller as his resolve lifted the weight that had been burdening him.
“My career? I don’t know. Just give me a guitar and the girl I love, and I’m golden.”
“Love?” Alana asked, leaning in. “Wilde is in love?”
“No, Carter. Me. Not the British bad boy rock star role I’ve played all these years.”
“Tell me more,” she said, intrigued.
“I’m done faking and hiding things inside. She taught me that. No one can hold a candle to her. She’s the light in my darkness.”
Alana asked a dozen more questions about the mystery woman who’d tamed Wilde, but he wasn’t going to share anything personal. He repeated, “No comment,” until she finally gave up. He’d said what he needed to say.
He told the driver to bring him back to Blue Bay Beach. He forced himself not to gaze out the window at Margot’s mansion as they passed so as to not reveal where Claudia lived. He knew if he did, the place would be surrounded by the press and fans before long. He didn’t want to bring that into her life, but he did want to bring her back into his.
As the car pulled in front of the inn, Alana asked, “One more question.”
“Go ahead.”
“If you give up Wilde, what will happen then?”
“I’ll just be me. Carter Wilde-Westcott.” He wouldn’t tell her that he was a bit afraid of what the future would bring, but he was ready to find out.
&nb
sp; The reporter’s question followed Carter to his room at the inn. Claudia told him to be himself, but who was that?
A guy who loved music, the ocean, Pina Colado smoothies—his stomach grumbled—and Claudia.
Before he went to get food, since he’d missed breakfast and lunch, and before he tried to formulate a plan to win Claudia back, he went to the church in town.
Again, it was quiet, but Carter felt a bigger presence that drowned out his doubts. He dropped down to his knees and let the long-held emotions run through him. He let the past go. Then, instead of praying for anything, he filled the next hour with everything he was grateful for, namely that he’d found himself again and love. Hope lit inside him and it was a bright, guiding light.
Carter’s stomach growled again. Feeling lighter than ever, he went to Coconut Cove Café. He wasn’t sure what he was going to say, but he knew how he was going to tell Claudia how he felt.
Unfortunately, Claudia wasn’t working. Betty was there and he realized she was just the person he hoped to see.
The older woman with hair as white as the sandy beaches lifted an eyebrow when he sat down in her section. “Come back to beg?”
“No, I was thinking more of a gig.”
She tilted her head in question.
“I wrote a song for Claudia and I’d like to play it. Here.”
The cook called Betty’s name for an order and as she hurried away, she said, “Hold that thought. I’ll be right back.”
Carter overheard another server named Eisley ask a customer if they’d like to donate to the weekly meal program called Coconut Cove Café Special Delivery that the restaurant provided for those in need. A plan formulated in Carter’s mind.
When Betty finally came back, he placed his order. “More importantly, I’d like to run an open mic night here at the restaurant. We can take donations for the Special Delivery program.”
She nodded. “I like that idea. I’ll run it by Billie, but I have a question. Why? Did you write a love song or something?” Betty waggled her eyebrows.
“That’s exactly what I did.” He smiled.
Carter had written half a dozen love songs since meeting Claudia and they were all for her. He’d found his muse in Blue Bay Beach and the muse never lied. He’d show Claudia how he felt about her and he’d tell her the best way he knew how. Though music.
Chapter 13
Claudia
Claudia paced on the lanai. The wind had picked up and the palm fronds rustled in the trees above. The ocean was choppy and the sun hid behind clouds.
She hadn’t left the mansion since she’d seen Carter walk away from the dock with a leggy blond dressed in red and then get in a sleek black car. She guessed he was back to being Wilde—and everything that went along with that persona, including hooking up with the blond. She’d never asked if he had a girlfriend. He probably had many, scattered across the cities he visited like Eisley’s ex-boyfriend from Baltimore.
If Claudia wasn’t entirely sure about breaking things off with him before, she definitely was after that spectacle. She’d avoided her phone and friends from work. Aunt Margot mostly slept. She’d become too weak to leave the house so Claudia had an in-home doctor visit. He informed her that her aunt was in fine health and her confusion and sleepiness was part of the aging process.
Thankfully, Claudia had the dogs to distract her. She’d even made them homemade treats.
She walked outside to get the mail and they scattered across the front drive, barking and running in circles. In the stack of letters and collection notices, there was one from Allied Financial—where her aunt had one of her accounts, which Louis was likely still trying to get his hands on.
Without the passwords and Aunt Margot being unable to go to their offices, she wasn’t sure how to address the issue. Thankfully, the letter indicated everything was in good standing, meaning Louis hadn’t figured out the passwords yet. She’d have to contact them on the next business day and explain the situation.
Claudia called the dogs. “Bella, Bear, Lulu, let’s go have a cookie treat.”
She didn’t have much of a sweet tooth, but if Coco’s Cones delivered, she would’ve ordered a pint for herself.
The dogs were sniffing a bush on the other side of the enclosed driveway area. She called them again.
The wind picked up and blew the mail from her hands. She scampered after it, dropping her foot onto the Allied Financial letter so it didn’t blow away.
“Come on, guys.” She picked up the letter. “Bella, Bear, Lulu,” she repeated. As soon as the three names were out of her mouth, she felt a zing of recognition rush through her body. Thankfully, it wasn’t storming like it had the month before, but she may as well have been struck by lightning—and not the kind that Carter caused.
She rushed inside and the dogs followed. After giving them each the cookie she’d promised, she hurried to the office and clicked on the computer. After finding the Allied Financial website, she entered in her aunt’s email user name then tried BellaBearLulu.
Voila. She was logged in. The customer dashboard appeared and indicated Aunt Margot’s seven-figure savings. Relief swept through Claudia and she leaned back in the chair.
Aunt Margot had said, “The dogs would do a better job of protecting my wealth than that old trout.”
Indeed they had. She’d be able to pay off the medical debt, whatever other costs they’d incurred for her aunt’s care and the bills that were past due.
She picked up the phone, ready to call Carter and tell him the good news when she remembered they weren’t friends anymore. They weren’t anything. A dark, dull feeling took place of the relief. Claudia held her head in her hands as the phone screen dimmed. Before it clicked off, she found the recording of the conversation between her and Louis. She thumbed through Aunt Margot’s files until she found her lawyer’s information.
She went ahead and called the lawyer and the police, prepared to do whatever it took to protect her aunt and her assets. No way was Louis going to interfere again. He’d done enough damage. As she glanced at her wrist to check if it was time to bring Aunt Margot dinner, she realized she’d done a great deal to let go of the past. Including, the recent past and the beginning of a relationship with a man who’d proved to quite possibly be the one. He understood her and her need for music. Doubt rippled through her mind.
Her phone beeped with a notification from the lawyer, requesting the recording. She sent it and saw that Carter had sent a second audio file.
She tapped it. His voice came through her phone, singing about how he’d been broken but found pieces he didn’t know he was missing. She caught references to the beach town, to playing the piano, and to her—her smile, her eyes, his love for her.
She clutched the phone to her chest, wishing things were different. When the song ended, she listened to it again before she brought Aunt Margot something to eat for dinner.
Claudia sat with Margot as she nibbled a piece of toast—her appetite had faded to almost nothing.
“Do you want to hear something?” she asked. She knew her aunt was tired, but she didn’t want her to go to sleep. She missed her sharp intelligence and sense of humor. She missed their shared laughter and her aunt’s stories, which were always entertaining, but usually contained a pearl of wisdom.
“Sure, darling.” Margot’s voice was thin.
Claudia played the song. It sounded tinny coming from the phone like an old record.
As it drew to an end, her aunt’s lips lifted into a smile. “Darling, you have no idea how much that young man cares about you. You’d been pining away, searching for the one for years. I've never seen you as happy as you’ve been since you met him. He seems quite special. You both picked up each other’s pieces and found a way to be whole, together.”
Claudia took her aunt’s thin hand then smiled, feeling yet another loss in the woman’s awareness. “Thanks. But you haven’t met him, Aunt Margot.” She wanted to ask if her aunt wanted to do so. Maybe hav
ing something to look forward to would keep her from slipping. Perhaps if she invited Carter over to visit, Margot would hold on a little longer.
“No, darling. You’re right. I haven’t met Carter. But I’ve heard the two of you play the piano together.”
Claudia’s heart pounded out a beat in double time.
“It was beautiful. I know you’ve had to do a lot of letting go in your life, but I wouldn’t let him go, darling.” Aunt Margot whispered the words. She closed her eyes then in an even lower voice asked, “Will you pray with me?”
Claudia squeezed her aunt’s hand and the two women prayed until Margot drifted back off.
Once she was sure her aunt was peacefully asleep, she slipped out of the room. The sun hadn’t quite set yet so Claudia walked along the beach path to town then the Coconut Cove Café. Everyone was probably worried since she’d asked for a few days off and hadn’t returned their calls or messages.
As she neared the dock, the faint strains of two women singing met her ears. The tiki torches on the rails of the restaurant patio were blazing and strings of lights reflected off the water, much like when they’d had the Beach Blast from the Past party. The sun cast the space in golden light as it dipped below the horizon.
Eisley waved her over. “I hoped you’d come to our open mic night. There’s a donation if you want to participate. All proceeds go to Billie’s Special Delivery, getting food to the people in our community who need help.”
“Wow. Whose idea was this? Wait. Let me guess, Betty was behind it.” Claudia smiled affectionately.
“Well, kind of, but actually, it was—” Eisley pointed to a guy with shaggy brown hair.
Carter sat at a table, clapping for the last act as they left the makeshift stage. He glanced over his shoulder as though wondering who was up next. His gaze landed on Claudia.