Forever Friends

by Sarah Mackenzie

  It was a saying their own mother had said repeatedly, often after a toy had broken or a favorite watch or bauble had gone missing.

  “I’ll see you soon,” she said.

  Dan arrived exactly eight minutes later, just as Renee was taking cherished family photos and artwork off the walls, placing them in higher, more level locations.

  “I’m so glad to see you,” Renee said, as Moe practically jumped in her arms.

  “Down, boy.” Dan pulled the hound back, but she laughed and scratched him behind the ears.

  “Yes, and you too, you big goofball.”

  Dan pressed his lips to the small spot between her cheek and her ear, a lingering kiss that fell somewhere between innocent and insinuating. “I brought plenty of plywood and caulk. Let’s seal your windows. We should take down the front porch swing, too.”

  “Good idea.” She gave her best game face though inside, she was terrified. What if she lost the cottage? Seashell Lane had been her home for forever. This was where she and Russell had taken Tansy home from the hospital. It was where she and her daughter watched Nora Ephron movies every Friday night, chowing through bowls of popcorn. It was where Tansy had tramped up the front steps, her face aglow as she held up the crisp manila envelope from USC. It was where she and Sadie had dreamed up Hester’s.

  She couldn’t imagine living anyplace else.

  She took a deep breath. “So, where should we begin?” Instinctively, she added, “Would you like a glass of iced tea?”

  “Maybe a rain check.” Dan laughed. “Literally. How about you just stick Moe inside and help me hold up these boards as I go?”

  Thankfully, he had brought along his drill, which made the process move much faster. She focused on the tasks at hand, while covertly watching the muscles in Dr. Dan’s forearms flex and relax as he held up the planks of wood and drilled them into her house. She admired the concentration in his eyes, the determination across his face.

  He might break her heart, it was true, but that risk was worth taking. A good man like this was worth risking everything for.

  “Dan,” she began, her voice shaking, “I—”

  “Renee! Dr. Hanlon!” Sadie called, bursting from her own front door and running toward them. She had Lincoln wrapped in her arms and was breathing hard. “I’m so relieved to see you guys.”

  “Are you okay?” Renee knotted her brows. Sadie was white as a ghost. She thought of the baby. “Take a few deep breaths. What’s happening?”

  Sadie breathed in and out, before stammering. “I can’t get a hold of Ethan. I…I don’t know what to do. He’s in Boston. I’m so worried about him, and now I’m afraid for our house. I went out in the garage and faced the spiders and got the flashlights, but there aren’t enough batteries and the windows aren’t covered and—”

  “Have you tried calling his work?” Renee interrupted.

  Dan stopped his drilling, recognizing the hysteria in Sadie’s voice.

  “I haven’t,” she murmured. “I’m afraid of sounding dramatic. Am I being dramatic? I mean, this storm is all probably a bunch of hoopla, right?”

  “Actually no,” Renee said softly. “It sounds like this storm is most definitely going to be a big deal.”

  “Dr. Han-don? No shot today!” Lincoln shook his head emphatically. It was utterly adorable, and made all three adults give a small smile.

  “No shot today, buddy,” he said gently. “I promise.”

  Every part of Sadie’s body seemed to be shaking. She bounced Lincoln against her hip. “I know I need to protect the house as best as I can. I just buckled down and googled what to do.”

  “Google?” Dan set one of his tanned hands on Sadie’s shoulder. “Listen. Why don’t you and Renee head inside and try to get ahold of Ethan again? I can handle storm-proofing both of your cottages.”

  Renee’s heart warmed.

  “Really?” Sadie said.

  “Really.” He chuckled in that easy way of his. “I like to feel like my epic tool collection is not in vain.”

  Still holding Lincoln, Sadie gave Dan a hug with her one free arm. “Thank you. You are a hero. I don’t want to sit around like a damsel in distress, but I’ve never really used power tools.”

  “No big deal. I happen to love it.”

  Renee suggested they hurry back to Sadie’s house, volunteering to pack a small overnight bag for Lincoln while Sadie called Ethan’s office downstairs. “We’ll want to be at Bree’s,” she explained. “Her house is on high ground away from the oceanfront. It will be much safer than Seashell Lane.”

  “Oh, I don’t want to barge in—”

  “Nope.” Renee held up her hand. “Stop it right there. We’re friends, business partners, and neighbors. You and Lincoln are always welcome. And Ethan for that matter.”

  The relief in Sadie’s eyes made her want to scoop up the woman in a hug and assure her it would all be okay.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Sadie stood in front of the bay window staring out at the gray sea, strangely anxious about calling Ethan’s office. Renee had taken Lincoln upstairs, asking him if he could help her pack while his mommy made a phone call. Sadie had to smile as she imagined the items her toddler would deem important during the storm, likely his blankie, a favorite book, and his fire truck.

  You know, just the essentials.

  She took a deep breath before pressing the “call” button. Should she provide some sort of explanation for calling the main line versus his cellphone? Would Patty Hubbard, the IT department’s administrative assistant, simply assume Ethan had forgotten his phone at home or that the couple’s wires had been innocently crossed in the confusion of toddler parenthood? Only spouses whose calls were being rejected would reach out this way, and Patty would know that better than anybody.

  “Hello, how can I help you?” Patty trilled.

  “Patty, hi. It’s Sadie Landry,” she said. Sadie wished she had a better rapport with Patty. Truthfully, she’d been standoffish toward the middle-aged woman at the holiday party out of loyalty to Ethan. Patty was the right-hand woman to Ethan’s awful boss, Frank Marlow, and she seemed to have no trouble doing his dirty work, whether that meant canceling important meetings at the last minute or withholding previous company-wide benefits, like early dismissal Fridays.

  “Oh. Sadie Landry?” Patty replied, her voice strangely warmer than usual. “How are you doing?”

  “Um, okay? I guess?” Sadie fumbled. “And you?”

  “Hanging in there,” Patty sighed. “As you can imagine, things have been pretty tense around here following the layoffs.”

  “Layoffs?” It seemed as if the living room tilted, rising and crashing down on one of the choppy waves in the cove.

  “Well, sure. It wasn’t like Ethan was the only one to get let go.” Patty lowered her voice. “There were at least five associates on Marlow’s hit list, and they all got the boot. I had to deliver the letters myself. I’m sorry I had to be a part of it, and I’d appreciate it if you passed along those sentiments to Ethan.”

  Sadie suddenly felt weak. She set a hand against the window to steady herself.

  “When did that all…start?” she asked, not wanting to reveal the fact she hadn’t known her very own husband was unemployed while simultaneously searching for more answers. “The, um, layoffs.”

  Patty whistled. “Ethan was the first to go, and that was what? Three weeks ago now? And it’s just continued in a steady stream ever since.”

  “Three weeks ago,” Sadie repeated hollowly.

  “Time flies,” Patty said, which she thought was weird when one considered the remainder of that idiom. “Anyway, what can I do for you, Sadie? Do you have a question about Ethan’s severance package?”

  A question? Sadie had nothing but questions.

  “I, um… I was just curious…” Sadie racked her brain for a plausible reason to telephone the administrative assistant of her husband’s former employer. A severance package seemed like safe territory, and
it was certainly a topic Sadie was interested in. “Um, Lincoln threw up on the paperwork. Could you email me another copy of the severance package?”

  Perfect. No one could argue with a toddler throwing up.

  “Oh, dear…yes, yes, of course I can,” Patty said. “What’s your email address? I have a pen and paper right here.”

  Sadie rattled it off.

  “Is there anything else I can help you with, Sadie?”

  Unless Patty Hubbard could track down her husband or prevent a hurricane there certainly was not.

  “Thanks for your help,” Sadie said. “Have a nice afternoon.”

  “Uh-huh. You, too. I heard that big storm we’re having is headed right your way. Getting worse all the time. Take care.”

  “I will,” said Sadie. “You stay safe too.”

  Click.

  Sadie tried to blink, but it was impossible to move.

  Things are a little unpredictable right now.

  Ethan’s words from their pie shop conversation suddenly rang loud and clear. That hooded look she’d seen in his eyes—he had been hiding something from her. It wasn’t the baby that he’d been referring to but something else entirely.

  How—and why—had Ethan kept this news from her? Where had he been going these past three weeks on the days he claimed to be driving to Boston? Where was he now for that matter? He wouldn’t, he couldn’t, possibly be cheating while she was pregnant with their second child, could he? He’d never betray her like that and besides—she forced a small laugh—how would he have the energy? They both could barely manage to brush their teeth at night, right?

  Sadie looked around at their beautiful, freshly renovated kitchen. They’d spared no expense, from the custom cabinets to the terrarium window she’d insisted upon despite her black thumb.

  The joke was on her, yet again. If Ethan was out of work, how would they possibly afford this home? It wasn’t as though she expected to be bringing in the big bucks from Hester’s…

  Panic built inside her, threatening to cut her mooring, send her adrift on a sea of terror.

  Sadie started when she felt Renee’s hand on her shoulder. She had Lincoln balanced on her hip, looking as natural in a caregiver role as she did in the kitchen.

  “You okay?” she said with a frown. “Were you able to get ahold of someone from Ethan’s office?”

  Sadie nodded, trying to find the strength to keep her voice even. “I spoke to Patty, the department’s admin. She told me Ethan was laid off a few weeks ago.”

  Her eyes widened. “Oh my God. Are you serious?”

  “As a heart attack.” Sadie grabbed her chest. “Speaking of which, excuse me if I just go ahead and have one right here.”

  Renee set Lincoln down and pointed toward a pile of forgotten toys in the family room. “Oh! That cash register of yours looks fun. Why don’t you go show me how to use it?”

  “It fun.” Lincoln barreled off. “I show you, Miss Renee!”

  Renee returned her attention to Sadie, her voice now lowered. “Ethan’s been without a job for three weeks now?”

  “Apparently.” Sadie blinked away tears. “What does this all even mean? Why wouldn’t he tell me about losing his job? And where has he been going in Boston if not to his job?”

  But for once, Renee didn’t have the answer, which made Sadie feel all the worse. It was a silent confirmation to Sadie that this was bad, really bad.

  Renee pulled Sadie close and promised, “We’ll ride this storm out together.”

  She held back tears and simply nodded against Renee’s shoulder, which smelled faintly and delightfully of pie dough.

  The front door opened and then slammed shut with a fury, likely having been propelled forward by the angry wind. Renee and Sadie jumped, locking eyes.

  “Do you think it’s—”

  “Ethan,” Sadie murmured, before rushing for the foyer. “Ethan! Thank God you’re—”

  But it was Dan Hanlon standing in the hallway with Moe pacing at his feet. Was his dog always this anxious? Or was it some sort of ominous animal sixth sense? Judging by the deep crease in Dr. Hanlon’s forehead, Sadie guessed the latter.

  “No luck getting in touch with Ethan?” he asked.

  Sadie shook her head. “To be honest, I’m more worried than ever.”

  “So you heard the latest weather bulletin then?” Renee and Sadie shook their heads. “It’s officially a category one hurricane, and we’re sitting directly in its path. We only have ninety minutes before the storm hits.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Oh my God.” It was actually happening, and the reality socked Renee in the stomach. She’d been anxious and a little scared up until this point, but now she was terrified. “Do you think the cottages are going to be okay?”

  “We’ve done what we can.” Dan rubbed Moe’s head, trying to console the sweet dog. “It’s time to take shelter.”

  “Let’s go to Bree’s then. Immediately,” Renee said, jumping into action. “I’ve packed a bag for Lincoln; it’s just at the bottom of the steps. Anything the rest of us need, Bree will have it. Sound good?”

  Sadie looked pale. “But what about Ethan?”

  “Send him a message. Tell him where we’ve gone.” Dan was already moving toward the front door. “We can’t waste a single second. Time to roll.”

  Renee watched as Sadie lifted Lincoln into her arms and kissed his head, rubbing her face against his soft baby skin. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling his sweet, innocent smell. Oh, how Renee missed that smell.

  Sadie paused there in the living room, now staring at the family portrait they’d taken in the fall. Ethan and Lincoln were wearing matching flannel shirts while Sadie wore a white chambray dress paired with red cowboy boots. With the lush fall foliage behind them and the sun streaming into their squinted eyes, the Landry family looked nothing short of contented.

  “Do you know what Annette says about this picture?” Sadie murmured. “She calls it ‘The American Dream.’”

  Renee touched her back. “Sadie? We have to go.”

  An awful look spread across Sadie’s face. “The pie shop!” she exclaimed. “What if something happens to the Old Red Mill? If that goes down the tubes we can kiss Hester’s goodbye before we even get started.”

  “Does that mean…?” Renee looked questioningly at Sadie.

  “Yes,” Sadie confirmed. “I want to do it.”

  Renee burst into a huge smile.

  “But I have to do a final check-in with Ethan,” Sadie added firmly.

  “Of course,” Renee agreed. “I’ll contact Essie and see if she was able to secure the Old Red Mill.”

  A quick reply confirmed her fears. Essie wrote back: Me go out in this weather? I just had a blowout. No way am I risking it. You shouldn’t either. Whatever will be, will be.”

  Renee lowered her phone. “Dan? Do you think we have time to stop at the Old Red Mill and board the windows up?”

  He sighed, running a hand through his hair as he did some quick mental calculations. “Enough to make a difference. Let’s get Lincoln to Bree’s first.”

  Sadie and Renee agreed, and the four of them (plus Moe) hopped into his SUV. Despite his pleas for them to move fast, he knew to linger in Renee’s driveway just a few seconds longer. The women stared at their respective cottages for a long moment before Dan threw the car in reverse.

  “Mommy, why you cry?” Lincoln asked, rubbing away the fresh tears on Sadie’s cheeks.

  “I’m a little sad, baby,” she admitted.

  “What are you thinking about?” Renee asked.

  “My wedding reception,” Sadie said quietly. “It was when Ethan gave me the gift of this cottage, this larger-than-life present. It was supposed to be the start of our happily ever after.” She paused, tears caught in her throat. “It’s where we went from being a couple to a family.”

  “I know.” Renee reached into the backseat and squeezed her hand. “It’s hard driving away, isn’t
it? Like we’re abandoning our cottages, leaving them to fend for themselves.”

  “What if the hurricane destroys our house?” Sadie hiccupped. “What sort of sign of impending doom is that? My marriage might be crumbling. The house getting demolished would just be the cherry on top of our disaster sundae.”

  “Stop that,” she said. “You can’t think that way, especially now.”

  But just as they were pulling out of the driveway, Renee gasped. “Please, stop the car! There’s something I forgot.” She jumped out of the passenger door and ran for a mosaic stepping-stone in her walkway. She carried it back to the car and held it up. It read I love you, Mom! in pieces of multicolored glass. “Okay. I’m ready now.”

  They sped toward Bree’s Victorian on Starboard Court. “You called her first, right?” Dan said. “She knows to expect us?”

  “Uh-huh.” Sadie and Lincoln would be a bit of a surprise, but Renee knew Bree wouldn’t mind.

  Sadie and Renee ran Lincoln up to the front door while Dan and Moe waited in the car. Renee rang the doorbell twice and rapped against the woodwork, sounding as desperate as she felt. “Bree?” she said with each knock. “Bree!”

  The door flew open.

  “I’m so sorry, I was trying to hunt down a spare flashlight and didn’t hear the door! You should have just come in.” She was wearing a pair of tired sweatpants and an oversized Disney sweatshirt. Her hair was pulled into a messy topknot, and her face looked splotchy. Quickly, she pulled them inside. She gave Lincoln a little tickle on his cheek. “There’s the famous Lincoln Landry.”

  The toddler giggled. “Me Lincoln!”

  Renee nodded toward the little boy. “Can you watch Lincoln while we go and storm-proof the mill? We’ll be as fast as we can.”

  “Why do you have to go there?” Bree asked. “Are you going through with the pie shop?”

  Sadie and Renee both nodded at the same time. “I can’t wait to tell you more about it when we get back. Maybe over a stiff drink as we ride out this storm?”