Seeking the Future

by Brenda Kennedy

  “It was Drew’s idea.”

  “Wait? What?” Skylar stutters. “Why would Drew want to move to Savannah?”

  “You don’t know?”

  “No. I haven’t spoken to him.”

  “He started a business near Tybee Island.”

  Skylar sits down; she looks pale. “He finished the catamaran that Xander was working on?”

  “I remember that Xander and his dad were building a sailboat by hand, but he never had a chance to finish it,” I say.

  Rachael says, “Drew and Daniel have been working on finishing it since Xander’s death. Drew had an idea about a way to pay tribute to Xander. He said he talked to you about it, Skylar.”

  Skylar looks away before looking back to Rachael. “He did, but I thought since we broke up he would do it in the city he lives in.”

  “What are you guys talking about?” I ask.

  Skylar looks at me in frustration. “You know about the boat Xander was building with his dad before his death?”

  “Yeah, but what does that have to do with Drew moving to Savannah?”

  “He wanted to finish the boat, turn it into a bar, and anchor it on shore near Tybee Island. He hadn’t thought of a name for it, but he thought it would be a nice tribute to Xander. I guess since Drew doesn’t sail, he thought the catamaran would make a great stationary bar.”

  “Is it big enough to be a bar?”

  “His plan was to make it a beach bar with outdoor seating only. I saw only a sketch of his plans, but yeah, it looked like a great idea. No food, just beer and some mixed drinks, some bar stools on both sides of the boat. It was in its rough stages, but I thought it was a great idea. A first of its kind.” She frowns. “And it’s warm here, so it could be open all year round.”

  “That is a great idea.” Skylar frowns at my enthusiasm, and I suddenly understand why. “But now whenever you go to Tybee Island, Drew will be there.”

  “Yeah. Every single time I go there to get away, he’ll be there,” Skylar says.

  “Skylar,” Rachael says sadly. “I wish you two would talk. He’s been so sad since the break-up.”

  “Rachael, he made his feelings very clear to me. There’s nothing for us to talk about.”

  “Okay, I didn’t mean to interfere.”

  “You didn’t. But it’s over between us.”

  Connor cries and Mom goes in and gets him. “Let’s continue the party, shall we?” Mom asks.

  “Party,” little Connor says, clapping.

  We replay some of the games that Skylar insisted we get for the baby shower. I think Connor’s favorite game is Pin the Tail on the Donkey. I know this only because we have to keep playing it. It’s a light and carefree day. Everyone has a good time and we all play with Connor. He is the main attraction at this party.

  When it’s time to open gifts, Connor has his gifts to open, and Nichole has her gifts for Connor to open. I’m happy to see that Connor wasn’t left out. He wouldn’t like sitting around watching his grandma open presents.

  She’s happy and laughs when he gets a potty chair. He claps with excitement when he gets a train set. As they open the gifts, I see a man walking around outside near the back of the property. My heart races when I see it’s Brett. I don’t want to draw attention to anyone or cause unwanted fear. I look around the room and everyone is playing with Connor and his new toys. This won’t be good. Is he here because of Connor? Is he here because of Nichole?

  “What does he want?” Skylar asks.

  My eyes dart from the window to Skylar.

  Nichole looks fearful and says, “How does he know we’re here?”

  I can hear the fear in Nichole’s voice; I’ve heard it in my own voice many times. “Maybe he doesn’t know. Take Connor into the bedroom and we’ll see what he wants.”

  “Ava, don’t go out there,” she pleads.

  “It’ll be okay, Nichole. He can’t hurt me.” I say it like I mean it. So why does fear run through my mind?

  When Nichole closes the bedroom door, Skylar stands from the floor with me. She looks at me in surprise. “What? You don’t think I’m going to let you go out there alone, do you?”

  “I’m calling 911,” Mom says.

  “Call Chase,” Skylar says.

  “Ava, don’t go out there,” Mom pleads. Rachael doesn’t say anything. She remains stoic on the couch. She saw what he did to Nichole at Thanksgiving. I’m pretty sure it’s the first time she’s ever seen such evil from a human being.

  “I need to see what he wants. I’ll stay close to the house, I promise.” Skylar and I slowly walk outside, closing the door behind us. I get a knot in my stomach. Even my baby knows this doesn’t feel right. I try to control my breathing. This man is so much like Connor, and I feared Connor with every fiber of my being. “What do you want, Brett?”

  “My wife and my grandson, for one.”

  How can he know she’s here? She bought a new car since she’s left him. Does he know that she got custody of little Connor? I have no idea. “She’s not here.”

  “Do you really play for me a fool, Ava? I know my wife’s whereabouts better than you. And I know she’s in that house with my grandson.”

  “She’s not your wife,” Skylar scolds. “Remember the divorce?”

  “Now, Skylar,” he says calmly and eerily. “I can see that you could have benefited from a man like my son or me.”

  “My ass. You touch me, Brett, I can guarantee I’ll be the last person you touch… ever. You won’t live to see another day. Your death will be nothing like the smooth transition to hell that Connor had. You’ll be screaming like a bitch just before I watch you take your last breath.”

  “What’s going on here?” a familiar voice asks.

  Chapter Five: Where Evil Roams

  Chase

  When I walked up to Skylar and Ava, they had no idea I was even there. I let Skylar finish before I let my presence be known. She had some things to say, and I liked listening to her. It’s not very often that women stand up to Brett and let him know how they feel. Brett’s intimidating and women fear him, as they should. He’s a dangerous man.

  “What are you doing here, Brett?”

  “There’s the man who’s sleeping with my wife, my daughter-in-law, and her friend.”

  “I’m not your daughter-in-law, you sick bastard.”

  “And Nichole isn’t your wife,” Skylar says, taking a step forward.

  I reach out, holding her wrist, I keep her from walking closer to him. I think he’s trying to bait them, but I’m not sure why. If he thinks I’m sleeping with all three of them, he’s crazy… and sick. “There’s a restraining order, Brett. What are you want?”

  Brett cups his chin with his hand. He’s wearing a suit and tie and looks very professional, although he’s anything but. “Oh, yes. How can I forget about the protection order you filed on my wife’s behalf.”

  “Brett, she’s not your wife, and you need to leave,” I say calmly.

  Ava says, “We already told you, she’s not here.”

  “She’s right, Brett. Nichole’s not here and you need to leave.”

  When I see Ava fidget, I say, “Go inside and call the police.” Without a word, she and Skylar retreat into the house. I walk to the back of the yard closer to where Brett is standing. “What are you doing here?”

  “I came for Nichole and my grandson.”

  I stand tall and say, “She doesn’t want anything to do with you. And if you remember, you gave up your rights to your grandson.”

  “I’ve recently had a change of heart,” he says smugly.

  “There’s a restraining order, and this is my home. I want you to leave and not come back. I’ve been nice, but now I’m telling you. Stay away from Ava, Skylar, Nichole, and her son.”

  He smiles. “I need to go, but I have a feeling I’ll be seeing you around.”

  I step closer and lower my voice. “Brett, I’m telling you, I’m a law-abiding man, but if you hurt Ava, Nichole, Sk
ylar, or anyone I remotely care about, I’ll hurt you. And if I’m pissed enough, you might even be joining your son in the deep dark depths of hell.”

  He tosses his head back and laughs. “You don’t have the balls.”

  “Don’t underestimate what a man will do to protect his loved ones. But of course, you’re clueless about that, since you’re the one who hurts them.” I squint my eyes. “I mean it, Brett. I won’t file charges on you, I’ll let you go a free man and take care of you in my own way, on my own terms. You’ll soon regret the day you were born.”

  He turns to leave with a snicker on his face. “I’m leaving now, but I’ll be back.”

  I watch as he walks away before I walk back into the inn. Nichole is visibly shaken although she tries to hide it. “He’s gone,” I say. I wish I could say he won’t be back, but I can’t. I can’t be certain of anything when it comes to Brett Emerson. I know I need to step up my game when it comes to Ava. I wasn’t lying when I told him to not underestimate what I’ll do to him or to anyone else who tries to hurt Ava. I’ll go to jail a happy man, knowing he can’t hurt her again. The police come and take a report. I need to do something. I can’t have him being a threat to the people I love. The police can order a warrant for his arrest, but they’ll have to find him to arrest him. And even if the police order a warrant for his arrest, Brett can say that he didn’t violate the restraining order because — we told him — Nichole wasn’t here.

  “He knows I’m here,” Nichole says sadly.

  I look up at Skylar. “Would you take little Connor into the bedroom for a minute?”

  “Sure, no problem. Come on, little man, let’s play cars.” She stands and walks him into her bedroom.

  “The restraining order is still active, and we’ll renew it as needed. He kept his distance, but I’m not sure what he wanted.”

  “He wants me and little Connor. But why would he forfeit his rights to him and then come to claim him?”

  “I wish I knew.” It doesn’t add up. “Maybe he was hiding something when you applied for custody of him.”

  Nichole looks at me. “It was about the time that Lorraine died. Maybe he was hiding from that. What if, and I know it’s a far stretch, but what if he had something to do with her death.”

  “You don’t think he’s capable of such a crime, do you, Nichole?” Claire asks.

  “Sadly, I wouldn’t put it past him.” I look at Ava to see her expression and she doesn’t reveal one. She doesn’t reveal fear or concern. I’m sad to think about what she’s been through to earn such a blank expression.

  “Maybe someone should investigate that a little more?” Ava says.

  “I’ll call the chief tomorrow to see if there’s anything new going on.”

  “Did he say anything to you, Ava?” Marshall asks.

  “Nothing to speak of. He’s just being an ass.” She smiles to ease her father’s concern. Are you ready to have cake now, Nichole? We’re still in the midst of a party.”

  “Yes, let me get Skylar and Connor.”

  We have cake and little Connor plays with his toys. Ava acts as though what just happened is a thing of the past, while it’s still fresh in my mind. I’m worried about what Brett would do, not so much to Ava, but to Nichole. If he wanted little Connor, why did he waive his rights for adoption? If he didn’t want a divorce, why did he readily agree on one? Could he have had something to do with Lorraine’s death? Is there something the cops are missing with her death? Could wanting custody of little Connor be a form of torture, or something more serious?

  While Connor plays, Ava and I decide now would be a good time to announce her pregnancy. Up until this point, Skylar and Drew were the only ones who knew. We were going to wait until after her doctor’s appointment Monday, but then we thought that the timing was good with everyone already here. After Brett’s uninvited appearance, I wondered whether we should wait. Ava thinks we’ve waited long enough. She’s right, we have.

  “Ava and I have some news to share with you all,” I say.

  Everyone smiles and I think they already know the news we have to tell them. Ava stands with me and rests her hands on her belly. Without her saying a word, everyone congratulates us on the new addition to our family. I stand proudly and think that was easier than I thought it would be. They say pregnant women glow and are radiant; it must be true.

  I stand back and admire my wife as she mingles with our guests. Everyone’s happy and laughter fills the room. Brett’s gone, but he’s still fresh in my mind. Just before Nichole and little Connor leave, I’m happy to know that Rachael is planning on staying with them for a few days. I feel better knowing someone will be with her since Brett is back in the picture.

  As soon as the party’s over, Skylar leaves without saying goodbye.

  “Where’s she going?”

  Ava takes a deep breath. “A lot has happened today. It seems that Drew and his family are moving to Savannah.”

  “What? Why would he move here?”

  Ava sits down and says, “It seems he’s started a business near Tybee Island.”

  Suddenly I feel bad for Skylar. I know how much she likes that area, and it’s where she finds solace. “Is he doing it out of spite?” I hate to think that he would do it just to be spiteful since he knows how much she likes it there. Ava tells me that when they were together he discussed opening up a bar and now he’s gone through with it. “Is that where she went? Is she going down to talk to him?”

  “She didn’t say, but yeah, I would assume she has plenty to say to him.”

  I laugh. “Poor guy. It sucks to be him today.” The bell over the door dings, alerting us that someone is entering the inn. “I’ll get it.”

  Ava props her feet up. “Good, we have three rooms available.”

  “Okay, I’ll do my best to rent them all.”

  Walking into the foyer, I’m more shocked than surprised to see Drew standing there. “Hey,” I say. I like Drew even though he and Skylar are having problems. It does cause a slight problem since my loyalties lie with Skylar.

  “Hey, how are you?”

  “I’m good. Your mom just left here.”

  “I just talked to her. Is Skylar here by any chance?”

  I walk closer to him. “No. Actually, I think she’s out looking for you.”

  “I was afraid of that. She’s pissed, huh?”

  Ava walks in and greets Drew warmly. Although he and Skylar broke up, we don’t hold any ill feelings towards him. “What brings you here?”

  “I’m looking for a room for a few days, maybe a week.”

  I look at Ava. There is no way she’s going to rent a room to Drew. Skylar will be livid when she comes home and finds out that Drew is our house guest for the week.

  “Are you serious?” she asks.

  “I am. Mom’s staying with Nichole. She told me what happened with Brett today.”

  “It’s very unfortunate, and it was a shock to all of us. I thought he was out of her life forever.”

  “I’m certain she did, too.” Drew shifts uneasily and says, “I know Skylar won’t be happy I’m here.”

  “No, she certainly won’t.” Ava smiles. “I guess we’ll know how she feels when you show up for breakfast in the morning.”

  Drew looks surprised. “You’ll rent me a room?”

  “Sure, but please don’t start any problems. We still have guests in the house.”

  “I promise, you won’t even know I’m here.”

  Once Drew is out of earshot, I ask Ava, “What were you thinking?”

  “I just keep remembering the blind date she forced me into when I had amnesia.”

  “Ava, the blind date was with me.”

  “I know and it worked out perfectly. You heard him; he said we won’t even know he’s here.”

  Skylar

  When I get to Tybee Island, the first thing I see is the catamaran near the beach. The name above the boat reads “Xander’s Port Side Cocktails.” I smile to myself since t
his is the name I came up with. My heart hurts at the thought of what Drew and I were together. We were great and I felt like I could conquer the world with him by my side. Now I can barely get out of bed in the mornings. I’ll never find another man like him. I know that. My heart races with excitement as I search the area for Drew. I miss him; I can’t deny that. The fact that he wants to move to the city I live in when we aren’t together upsets me. Trying to get over him is hard enough when I don’t see him. But how will I manage when I do have to see him?

  I’m relieved and disappointed when I don’t see him. Deciding to not waste the rest of the day, I take my chair from the trunk of my car and sit on the beach. I think about Drew, and I think about Ava. She’s happy now, but she wasn’t always like this. She’s been through so much. I wish I was there for her. I wish I knew what was going on in her life. My blood boils at the thought of what Connor did to her. I would have killed him, and I swear I would kill anyone who ever dares to even try to hurt her again.

  When I get home, Ava and Chase are in their bedroom. I shower and turn in for the night.

  The next morning, I shower and put my hair into a high ponytail, then I apply a little mascara and lip gloss, and I’m ready to start my day. It’s not like I have anyone to impress. I decide to wear jeans and a white long sleeve tee-shirt. Chase makes the coffee, and Ava and I warm the casserole and make some biscuits and turkey sausages. Chase doesn’t rush out to leave for work, and Ava seems more quiet this morning.

  “What’s wrong with you?” I ask.

  “Nothing, why?”

  “You seem distant, like something’s on your mind. You’re not worried about Brett, are you?”

  “No, not at all. I’m fine.”

  “Okay.” I take the plates and drinks out to the dining room before the guests start to stagger down for breakfast. It’s the weekend and the guests eat at a more leisurely pace than they do through the week. I’m not sure why. It’s not like the people who stay here are here for work. People who stay at the inn are here for leisure. Anyway, I’m grateful for the extra hour of sleep we get on Saturday and Sunday since breakfast is served an hour later.

  Like always, Ava and I sit with the guests for breakfast. Chase also joins us but usually he needs to leave for work. I’m standing at the beverage counter when I hear a familiar voice. The hair on the nape of my neck stands, and I know without a doubt it’s Drew. Oh, Ava’s gonna pay for this. Before I turn around, I try to calm my shaky hands. Someone walks past me and Drew’s familiar scent fills the air. I turn around and take my seat, hoping he won’t sit beside me. No such luck. With all of the empty seats at the table, he sits right beside me.