Coastal Erosion

by Rachelle Paige

  Kim winced. She hated thinking of herself like that. She hadn’t been actively spying on behalf of the SCL. Although, she supposed, that’s exactly what Landon putting her on his project had done. She couldn’t be mad at him for either involving her in his work or for admitting the conflict to Paul. She’d been in the wrong. She accepted responsibility for her part in her downfall.

  “I do want to say that as sad as I am that we’re losing out on that land, I think this is a developer who has some good ideas.”

  Titters started again and Roger stared at her like she’d slapped him.

  “I don’t necessarily agree with the buildings he’s proposing, but he does have an eye toward public space and incorporating the natural elements where he can. This isn’t some kind of slash and burn project.”

  “Are you defending him?” Roger sputtered, his face turning red.

  “No, no, no,” Kim waved her hands in front of her in protest and glanced around the room, taking in the horrified and shocked expressions. “I think he sees potential. I think he’s just looking in the wrong spot.”

  “Kim, thank you for your loyal service,” Lily nodded at her and Kim took the hint and took her seat. “I’m sorry to hear about the job. I hope you’ll find something else local soon. I speak for all of us when I say we’d hate to lose you. Your work has been invaluable to us.”

  Kim nodded and opened the notebook to a page. She didn’t hear another word of the meeting. Instead, she focused on doodling and swirls and again trying to figure out what she wanted to do next. After pizza and a movie, Grandma Rose left Kim and Scooter to get acquainted. She’d never been around dogs as a child and been somewhat leery of them as she got older. The practical side of her knew the amount of work and expense to become attached to an animal with a far shorter lifespan of a human tipped the scales toward not owning a dog. But Scooter could change her mind she’d decided.

  After a final trip outside before bed, Scooter sat right next to Kim on the couch and put his head in her lap. She laced her fingers through his thick black fur, stroking his chest and occasionally earning a lick for her efforts. The companionship had calmed something inside her. The agitation at seeing Landon again had eased and subsided. A crazy part of her wanted to tell him everything. Maybe he’d help her through sorting out her emotions, even if she didn’t quite understand how that worked. Was talking to a dog anything like talking to a higher power? She didn’t what she could believe in anymore or where to put her trust.

  The scrape of metal chair legs against the wood floor snapped her head up. She’d missed the rest of the meeting. She didn’t even feel a smidge of guilt. She’d been so lost in her own troubles, and she’d only figured out one thing with Scooter the night before. She owed herself another chance with Landon. She could frame that as being the bigger person or admit she’d been wrong to run off and not explain the truth at the time. No matter what they had said or how they had acted, ever since he left the week before graduation and she lost the baby, they’d both been in survival mode. She knew she’d been seeking self-preservation and distance. She could only offer him grace that his actions and words had been for the same end.

  She managed to sneak out of the room and away from the crowd without drawing any further attention to herself. She hopped in her truck and drove the few miles back home. If she knew Lily, then she could expect a phone call and probably a face-to-face meeting in the next few days. She didn’t want to talk about anything now. She felt too raw. Pulling into her driveway, she skipped up the front step and put her key in the lock. She heard nails tapping against her hardwood floor and a thud thud thud. Opening the front door, she was nearly shoved backward by Scooter. The dog had seemed so docile and almost timid last night and at her grandma’s house. His eagerness shocked her.

  “Okay, okay, good to see you too,” she bent to pet the dog on the back as she walked inside. “Are you bored? I need to get out of this house, let’s go for a walk.”

  Scooter walked in a circle a few times, nearly banging into the wall, and she grabbed the leash he must have carried to the front door. Bending down, she attached it to his collar and straightened. She dropped her purse on the ground inside the door, shoved it aside with her foot, and shrugged out of her blazer. An hour without a phone sounded marvelous.

  They walked out the still open door into the bright sunshine. Kim locked the door behind her and Scooter practically pulled her arm out its socket as he strained against the leash.

  “Hey, give me a break. I don’t have any experience doing this sort of thing.”

  Scooter sat and stared. Goosebumps raised on Kim’s arm. Her grandma had said Scooter seemed more human than dog. Maybe she was on to something. And maybe she could talk to him about her problems.

  “Does your owner do this? Talk to you and stuff?”

  The dog wagged his tail and started to pant. His tongue lolling out the side of his mouth only added to her impression that he was humoring her. Since the realization that she didn’t have any friends and that the one woman she did know she kept at arms length, she decided opening up to Scooter might be good practice in making friends.

  “Okay, let’s walk. But take it slow. We have to walk on the street.”

  They resumed their walk and the dog led her toward the beach. Almost as if he had a honing device, he found the barely visible path the locals took over the dunes and shimmied his way through. Kim thought his total underestimation of his size was particularly endearing. He’d tried to snuggle against her the night before and had ended up nearly smothering her under a mountain of fur. He didn’t understand that he was a big Newfoundland mix, not a Yorkie.

  Sinking into the soft, powdery sand on the edge of the beach, Kim trudged toward the water. If she didn’t end up with too much sand in her wedges, she’d be able to walk home comfortably. A few seagulls cawed as they circled overhead. Low tide provided ample food for the birds and plenty of trouble for a dog to get into. Scooter pulled against the leash.

  “No, I don’t want you running off. Let’s stick together okay?”

  Scooter stopped pulling and again they resumed their steps. The crisp sea breeze offered a respite even as salt hung so thick in the air she could lick it off her lips. She stopped and Scooter sat next to her. Raising a hand to shade her eyes, she stared out over the water, past the rippled sand and small tide pools, toward the ocean.

  “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” A familiar voice asked just past her shoulder.

  She took in a steadying breath. She’d promised herself a second chance. Here he was.

  “I didn’t think you ever stopped to go to the beach,” she replied, loudly enough for him to hear as she spoke into the wind.

  Landon approached and stood at her side. She didn’t peek up at him. She slipped her hands into her pockets to keep from doing something crazy, like reaching for him. Or letting him pull her in to rest her head on his shoulder and bawl. She didn’t know if she’d be able to trust herself with letting her emotions out. She’d startled poor Trish. Better to keep everything bottled up inside.

  “Who is this?” he asked, nudging her shoulder slightly to indicate Scooter, not that she needed the nudge.

  “It’s not what you think,” she turned to him to read his expression. But his eyes didn’t give a hint to what he was thinking or feeling.

  “My grandma is dog sitting but she asked if I would mind taking him for a couple days.”

  “Oh right, the emergency.”

  She flinched. References to that night and terrible fight put her on edge. When she didn’t see him react, she nodded.

  “Exactly. This is Scooter and he’s a new friend.”

  “Has he changed your mind on dogs?”

  With a decided shake of her head, he started laughing. She relaxed. They’d managed to mention both the past week and a vague reference to their shared past without a fight. She’d take that as progress.

  “Can I apologize for getting you fired? Again? I wanted to work wit
h you. As much as you want to deny it, we are a great team. We fit together. We enhance each other.”

  “Maybe we used to be.”

  “I hate that you’re not working on this with me. I came here to work with you.”

  “Why?” she held her breath. Would he tell her what she wanted to her? Could she trust his words?

  “Because I’ve missed you.”

  Scooter suddenly turned and pulled her along with him. He began to prance and whine. She knelt to pet his chest, hoping to calm him.

  “Scooter? What are you doing here?” Phil exclaimed approaching them ahead of Trish, Charlie, and a woman Kim had never seen before.

  “You know the dog?” Kim stood to brush the sand from her knees and dropped the leash.

  Scooter raced ahead to the giggly little boy eagerly running toward him. Watching the pair was like watching lovers reunite at the airport. Kim felt slightly jealous. She’d never had anyone so excited to see her. Maybe she should get a dog.

  “I do. He’s my buddy’s dog. Why are you watching him?” Phil asked.

  “My grandma is dog sitting but he got a little lonesome,” Kim conceded as the rest of Phil’s party approached and stopped.

  The dog’s tail wagged furiously as he sat at Trish’s feet, and Charlie fiercely hugging him.

  “Phil, good to see you again,” Landon reached out a hand for a shake.

  “You two know each other?” Kim reeled her head whipping back from one to the other in shock.

  “He’s the worst temp I’ve ever had,” Phil joked. “But where are my manners this is my wife, Trish, my son, Charlie, and our cousin Shannon.”

  Landon reached over to shake hands with all of them. Kim sucked in a breath when he shook hands with Shannon. Was this the cousin Trish had been mentioning? The woman was gorgeous, tall enough to be a model and with the trim figure too. She didn’t have any wrinkles on her golden skin and her dark eyes and hair gave her an exotic flair. She was everything Kim wasn’t. And probably exactly who Landon should be with.

  A moment ago she’d been marveling that universe had given her exactly what she’d ask for; Landon confessing that he’d come back for her. That he missed her. For a split second, she’d had hope. And then her hopes were flattened like a wave crashing against the shore, pummeling the rock into the fine sand under her shoes.

  “Kim, I’m so glad I ran into you. Do you think you’d be around this week to come take measurements?” Trish asked totally oblivious to Kim’s current state.

  “Absolutely. I’ve got nothing but time.” She felt Landon stiffen at her side. She hadn’t meant to put him on edge.

  “Good. And if you have him, bring Scooter by. Charlie adores this dog. I’m pretty sure we were left off the dog sitting list because Mark was worried we wouldn’t give him back.”

  She chuckled but didn’t feel the laughter, and even to her own ears, it sounded forced. Take Landon and the dog? No way. Kim gave herself a mental shake. What was wrong with her? Neither of them belonged to her. She needed a shower and lunch and a movie. And maybe to divulge all of her secrets to a dog. Not necessarily in that order.

  “I have to get going. Nice to see you all and to meet you Shannon.”

  She reached for the leash from Trish and then hurried away. She didn’t want to see what she feared was a meet-cute, the introduction of a couple in some terribly adorable fashion at the start of a romantic comedy. How awful to finally be reunited with the love of her life only to have him destroy her career and make her relive the most painful and gut-wrenching experience of her life before he found love again under her nose with someone younger, slimmer, and better? But maybe that was just her life. Maybe she just lost.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Landon scanned over the paper in his hands, the letters jumbling together. His mind couldn’t focus or make sense of the words. Leaning back against the mahogany chair, he took a sip of his Coca Cola. The fizz of the bubbles sliding down his throat had him scrunching up his nose. He glanced down at the papers again. He had to get on with work. After running into Kim on the beach earlier that day, he’d had a hard time focusing.

  According to Paul, Nathan, the new engineer had the permits well in hand. With any luck, he’d be able to start breaking ground on the construction of the model homes and the streets of the neighborhood. His idea would soon become reality. And he had to get to work. Lurking around the engineering office when Kim had been on the project had eaten up some of his carefully laid out time.

  He’d worked with an architecture firm in Savannah to draw up plans and he’d found backers to bring the capital. Now he had to do everything else and that started with builders. He’d decided to try to work with a local group instead of bringing in guys from Savannah. He wanted this project to draw community support, even if Kim had intimated that seemed unlikely.

  The click of heels on the hardwood floor gave Landon the excuse to drop his papers on the table. Lists of reputable and recommended builders to contact had been compiled for him a month ago. He just had to make the first step and pick up the phone.

  “Good day?” his grandmother asked as she approached.

  Landon pushed his chair at the head of the dining room table back and moved to kiss her on both cheeks. She took the seat of honor and he shuffled his papers, sliding easily on the smooth surface to his chair at her right.

  “I think so. The engineering firm has everything they need from me at the moment. But I have to lock a builder down.”

  “You don’t want to use your father’s company?”

  Landon shook his head. “No. The drive from Savannah alone would make the project unreasonable.”

  “But he does have builders on staff, doesn’t he?”

  “He does. But I’m trying to start my own company here, grandmother.”

  “You seem a bit distracted. I’m just wondering if maybe getting your father’s firm involved would help keep you on schedule.”

  Landon winced. He knew she meant well. And her assessment had been spot on. He’d been distracted. He’d come to St. Simons to start his life, ideally with Kim at his side. But he hadn’t managed to smooth anything over with her. The walk on the beach had been nice. She’d laughed and smiled and had made light of their fights.

  A spark had flickered when he’d first seen her at the meeting with the island council members. The tinder had started to catch fire when he’d asked her to dinner. But then he’d nearly trampled all over the twigs and extinguished the whole thing. Seeing her today, he felt the low, slow burn of the still glowing embers. Maybe he’d make a bonfire yet. But he wouldn’t be able to stay if he didn’t get his development off the blueprints and onto the ground.

  “I don’t think your father would hold helping you over your head. He wouldn’t use this against you.”

  “I know.” Landon took a sip of his soda, his fingers slipping on the glass. He returned the beverage to a coaster, slow and deliberate in his actions to buy himself time to consider. His father didn’t expect anything from him, other than to show up, not cause a scene or make problems, and eventually take over the organization. Landon expected so much more out of himself.

  After the talk with Phil a few days earlier, their conversation had stayed with him. He’d never stopped to consider how shallow and empty his personal life had been since Kim. Saying the words aloud to Phil, he’d had to take stock of them. He had countless friendly acquaintances and was never alone at an event. He never had to be alone any other time either, although in Savannah he never felt sure if the come-ons and flirtatious banter had to do with himself or his position and family.

  He’d never had to pretend with Kim. She’d understood and respected him, the man, from the beginning. She’d detested the idea of society. Before meeting her, he’d never stopped to think about what he was doing at this gala or that fundraiser. But her assessment that it was a lot of people peacocking to one another had stuck with him. Precisely because she hadn’t been off the mark.

  L
andon never had the chance to introduce any of his family to Kim. He couldn’t imagine his parents’ reaction. But he knew his grandmother would love her. She’d see a strong, determined, hardworking woman much like herself. Grandmother would have supported his cause if he’d needed it, he felt sure.

  “Landon, there is no shame in relying on your family’s connections.”

  “I know, Grandmother. I just want to do this for myself. I want to build something tangible, real on my own. Maybe then I’d feel worthy to take over the company one day and merge it with mine.”

  “You’ve always been worthy. But I do worry about you.”

  “Me? Why? I’m great.”

  “Are you?” She reached over to hold his hands and squeeze them.

  She held his gaze and the softness of her eyes struck him. She’d glared at him, laughed with him, and let him know she thought something hew was doing was untoward throughout the years. She could convey a thousand expressions with the flutter of her lashes. But this expression, he couldn’t decipher.

  “I can’t help but notice you’ve never introduced me to anyone special.”

  Landon frowned. In his entire life, she’d never prodded him about anything. He’d always happily offered up any tidbit about what he was up to. He had kept one part of his life hidden away from everyone though. Twisting his neck from side to side, he felt the gold chain catch in the stray hairs on the back of his neck. The weight of the engagement ring Kim had shipped back to him pressed against his chest.

  We should be celebrating our tenth anniversary, not still figuring each other out.

  “I don’t know what to tell you, Grandmother. Maybe love isn’t in the cards for me.”

  “That’s hard to believe,” she said, dropping his hands and sitting up straighter.

  “It’s the truth. I…”

  The words stuck in his throat. For years, he’d been putting off people interested in setting him up with this woman or that. He’d had the best, and he’d be hard pressed to settle for something else. Of course, he did try. He’d dated a woman casually, only to keep his mother and her friends off his case. But breaking her heart and explaining that marriage wasn’t for him had been terrible. She’d bawled during the entire drive back from dinner to her house. He hadn’t expected that after six months together she’d be waiting for a proposal after every fancy meal out. Telling her some of the truth had seemed the kindest way to let her down. And she’d ended up married to a friend of his in less than eleven months. But that incident, nearly four years earlier, had shaken him off any type of date and he’d thrown himself into his work.