Sunkissed Days

by Chase, Samantha

  And it hurt more than anything else ever had in her life.

  “…all I’m saying is I’m a grown man who can make his own decisions and I’m tired of everyone treating me like a damn child or some sort of invalid!”

  Okay, she’d lost track of the conversation and yet somehow Pops was still carrying on about not evacuating.

  “Just…promise me you’ll think about it,” she quickly interrupted before he went on again. “You know we’re all doing this because we love you, so…try not to be so angry, okay?”

  “Hmph…”

  “Pops…”

  “Fine. I’ll think about it,” he said before quickly adding, “but I’m not going anywhere.”

  She laughed softly. “I love you, Pops.”

  “Love you too, sweet pea. When are you coming to visit? We missed you for Fourth of July.”

  “I know…”

  “And you didn’t come in June like you said you would…”

  Yeah, life had been hectic and she was working with a company who needed a major system overhaul and she couldn’t get away, so…

  “I’m finishing up with a client next week so I’ll look at my calendar and see if I can grab a week to come down. How does that sound?”

  “Sounds like you’re making excuses, but that’s just me,” he grumbled.

  Okay, so maybe she hadn’t wanted to go and visit because whenever she was there, so was Jake. It was like he was more a part of the family than she was and it was just…awkward. Mallory had considered asking her then-boyfriend Scott if he wanted to go with her for the Fourth of July celebration, but then thought better of it.

  Avoidance was way better. The last time she was bold or defiant was that summer with Jake and…

  “Here’s your mother,” Pops said, once again interrupting her thoughts. “Distract her with stories about what’s going on with you so she’ll leave me alone. Maybe start talking about whatever computer system you’re working on. I know I find that stuff hard to follow, I’m sure she will too. And with any luck, she’ll forget all about hassling me about leaving my home.”

  “I’ll try,” she said with a smile and then he was gone and she could hear him handing the phone back to her mother.

  “He’s exhausting, Mallory.”

  “I know, but…you have to see things from his point of view. That house is his whole life. It’s his security. Leaving there–even if it’s only for a day or two–is going to stress him out a lot.”

  “It’s stressing us all out. Believe me, there’s a lot of work that goes into evacuating. We have to secure the house and make sure we have all essential documents along with sorting through everything and just taking the necessities. I’m telling you, I’m a nervous wreck!”

  “Is it really bad that he wants to stay?”

  “Sweetheart, I understand why he wants to, but at his age, it’s just not practical.”

  “Are you sure no one can stay with him?”

  “Jake’s offered and I have to tell you, I’m not feeling good about that either.”

  “Why not?”

  “This storm is big. Really big. We’re looking at the possibility of a Category 4 hurricane when it makes landfall, and basically landfall is…”

  “You,” Mallory said sadly. “Magnolia Sound is the coast so there is no land before you.”

  “Exactly,” Susannah said. “Georgia and Beau already have a place for us about forty miles inland. It’s a townhouse they own and rent out but it happens to be vacant so we’re all going there. Well…almost all of us are going.”

  “Mom…I really wish there were something I could do, but…”

  “I know, I know. I appreciate you even trying. Georgia was here earlier having a fit and all she managed to do was make things worse. He was almost ready to pack a bag and then she came over and carried on and now he’s acting like a petulant child. I tell you, it’s maddening!”

  “I know Aunt Georgia is not the best in these situations.”

  “She’s not the best in any situation. Honestly, she’s almost as obsessed with this house as Pops is! I think that’s what got him so worked up again. He accused her of wanting him out of the house so she could somehow try and take it from him!”

  “No!” Mallory cried with a small laugh. “I mean I know there’s been a lot of heated discussions about her wanting the house, but…how could Pops possibly think that she could use a hurricane evacuation to take it from him?”

  “At one point he accused her of being some kind of witch who caused the storm,” Susannah said with a hint of amusement. “Look, Georgia is my cousin and I love her, but I swear I want to strangle her sometimes.”

  “As do her kids,” Mallory said with a laugh.

  “Oh, that reminds me! Parker’s graduation party has been moved to mid-September. I have the date written down here somewhere. Georgia wants to have the party at the country club, but your cousin desperately wants to celebrate someplace fun and a lot less formal. And if I know Parker, she’s going to want the kind of party that will make her mother crazy.”

  “That’s reasonable. It’s her party, right? But…wait. I didn’t realize there was even going to be a party. I thought Parker wanted to go away somewhere rather than have a whole big thing.”

  “They’re doing both, but the vacation is coming first. You know your aunt loves to throw a party, even if it’s not the kind of party the guest of honor wants.”

  That was the truth. Her aunt was the belle of the ball of Magnolia Sound when it came to throwing parties; she lived for occasions to host one. “I’ll mark my calendar but text me the date when you find it, please.”

  “Can do.” She sighed. “Okay, I need to go pack up. We’re heading out in the morning and there’s still so much to do.”

  “You’re just packing up the basics, right?”

  “That was the plan, but a bunch of us are helping out the local eateries and getting as much food from them as possible to help cut their losses. Some places closed shop already, but Henderson’s Bakery and Café Magnolia put the word out that they had food ready for anyone heading out of town. I’m planning on getting some things for Pops before I go.”

  “If he loses power, what good will it be?”

  “Baked goods will keep,” Susannah said. “And I just plan on getting sandwiches from the café that can go in a cooler.”

  “Where’s Gertie? Did she leave already?”

  Gertie had been Pops’ housekeeper for longer than Mallory was alive. She was practically family. “She was out of town visiting her family and when the news first mentioned the storm, we told her to stay put.”

  “That was smart of you, but I’m sure she’s worried.”

  “She only comes in once a week now,” Susannah said. “I think she’s ready to retire but she doesn’t want to leave Pops.”

  That sounded like Gertie, all right.

  “Okay, sweetie, I’ll call you once we’re settled.”

  “Be safe, Mom. And please keep talking to Pops. Maybe have…have Jake talk to him. I’m sure he’d listen to him before anyone else.”

  “Hmm…you may be right. I’ll do that. Have a good night, sweetheart.”

  “You too, Mom. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  Once they hung up, Mallory’s stomach growled loudly and she went back to the kitchen to make herself a sandwich. She didn’t have much to choose from and ended up with ham and swiss on whole wheat. Not the most inspired dinner, but with her plate in hand, she went back to the sofa and turned on the TV, hoping to catch the weather report.

  “And now the latest on the storm that has the mid-Atlantic coast holding its breath. Hurricane Amelia has picked up strength as she seems to be heading directly toward the Carolinas. With the projected path, the storm should make landfall late Thursday night. The first evacuation orders have been issued to all coastal residents up and down the Carolina coast, with mandatory evacuation orders expected to go out within the next twelve hours. Residents on the barrier i
slands, Outer Banks, and Magnolia Sound areas in North Carolina look to be in the direct path of Amelia. Right now, this is a Category 2 hurricane, but predictions have it hitting Category 3 after midnight tonight with the possibility of hitting Category 4 by the time it makes landfall. And we all know when winds range from 131 to 155 mph, they can cause catastrophic damage to property, humans, and animals. Severe structural damage to frame homes, apartments, and shopping centers should be expected. Category 4 hurricanes often include long-term power outages and water shortages lasting from a few weeks to a few months, so again, it’s important for any remaining residents to have a significant nonperishable food and water supply at hand.”

  Her appetite gone, Mallory tossed her sandwich back onto the plate and grabbed the remote to change the channel. There wasn’t anything she could do from here–last she checked not only was Garden City, New York still eleven hours from Magnolia Sound, but she also had zero ability to stop a hurricane.

  “Oh, but if I could,” she murmured, standing and taking her sad dinner back to the kitchen and tossing it into the trash. “Now what do I do?”

  Unfortunately, her first thought was to reach out to Jake and beg him to convince Pops to leave in the morning with everyone. It would be a completely legitimate reason for calling, but…

  “Screw it. I don’t care about how I feel or how Jake may feel about me calling. This isn’t about us, so…if he doesn’t like it, too bad.”

  Sometimes you had to put your own feelings aside and do the uncomfortable things–the things that make your heart ache and make you feel like you’re going to be sick. And as she scrolled through her phone and pulled up his number, she was seriously glad she didn’t take more than a couple of bites of her sandwich because…

  “Hello?”

  Just the sound of his voice was enough to make her want to pass out.

  GET REMIND ME NOW

  About the Author

  Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than forty titles under her belt! When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.

  Where to Find Me:

  Website: www.chasing-romance.com

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  Also by Samantha Chase

  The Enchanted Bridal Series:

  The Wedding Season

  Friday Night Brides

  The Bridal Squad

  Glam Squad & Groomsmen

  The Montgomery Brothers Series:

  Wait for Me

  Trust in Me

  Stay with Me

  More of Me

  Return to You

  Meant for You

  I’ll Be There

  Until There Was Us

  Suddenly Mine

  The Shaughnessy Brothers Series:

  Made for Us

  Love Walks In

  Always My Girl

  This is Our Song

  Sky Full of Stars

  Holiday Spice

  Tangled Up in You

  Band on the Run Series:

  One More Kiss

  One More Promise

  One More Moment

  The Christmas Cottage Series:

  The Christmas Cottage

  Ever After

  Silver Bell Falls Series:

  Christmas in Silver Bell Falls

  Christmas On Pointe

  A Very Married Christmas

  A Christmas Rescue

  Life, Love & Babies Series:

  The Baby Arrangement

  Baby, Be Mine

  Baby, I’m Yours

  Preston’s Mill Series:

  Roommating

  Speed Dating

  Complicating

  The Protectors Series:

  Protecting His Best Friend’s Sister

  Protecting the Enemy

  Protecting the Girl Next Door

  Protecting the Movie Star

  7 Brides for 7 Soldiers:

  Ford

  Standalone Novels:

  Jordan’s Return

  Catering to the CEO

  In the Eye of the Storm

  A Touch of Heaven

  Moonlight in Winter Park

  Wildest Dreams (currently unavailable)

  Going My Way (currently unavailable)

  Going to Be Yours (currently unavailable)

  Waiting for Midnight

  Seeking Forever (currently unavailable)

  Mistletoe Between Friends

  Snowflake Inn