Remnants (A Golden Beach Novel)

by Kim Loraine

  After letting the dog sniff and piss on every shrub in the front yard, Sully finally stepped inside his quiet home. The air was scented with cinnamon rather than the smell of emptiness. That pulled a soft smile to his lips. Dot had left him breakfast. Bless her. Sure enough, a tray of cinnamon rolls sat dead center on the kitchen island. Still warm. The woman was a saint.

  With a brief glance at the note, he let out a sigh.

  Don’t give any to Zeus.

  He’s old.

  You’ll kill him.

  I’m serious.

  A chuckle escaped as he plopped a gooey roll onto a plate and cut a small piece for Zeus. The dog’s tail wagged so hard he almost fell as Sully held the piece high above him and made him sit before offering the treat.

  “You’re a senior citizen now, buddy. You’ve earned this. Just don’t tell Dot.”

  His heart swelled as Zeus met his gaze. This dog was the definition of unconditional love. Always there, always trusting, never asking more than Sully had to give. A bittersweet ache took hold at the thought of the last sixteen years he’d spent with Zeus by his side. The truth was, Dot was right. Zeus had a limited number of days. Sixteen was already older than a lot of dogs his size. He rubbed his fingers along the soft fur between Zeus’ ears and grinned when the dog let out a harrumph and laid at his feet.

  Crushing silence settled over the house as Zeus slept and Sully ate. Sloan hovered on the edge of his thoughts like a curse bent on destroying him.

  Chapter 2

  Fifteen years ago

  Sully stood outside the open classroom door, a heavy weight on his chest while he worked to calm the rapid pulse of his heart. Sloan was in there, he knew it. He knew because he’d been waiting for her, watching from his poorly concealed hiding place at the end of the hall. She’d breezed in, smiling and laughing with her friends, her blond waves flowing down her back. God, she was the most beautiful girl he’d ever known.

  With his shaking hands balled into fists, he closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. He told himself he could handle this. She was just a girl—just Sloan. He’d talked to her every day since their first meeting a month ago. There wasn’t anything different about this time. Except there was. She might crush him today. Because today he was going to ask her out.

  “Are you going to stand there all day, or are you coming inside?” Her voice sent chills over him. As he opened his eyes, he came face to face with Sloan. “Carson?”

  He forced a laugh and wiped his palms on his jeans. “Yeah. I . . . uh,” he started, but he couldn’t come up with anything else to say because she took his hand and squeezed.

  “Hey, you okay?”

  He stared down at their linked fingers. This was how they should be. Connected. “Can we talk for a minute?”

  Her bright smile made his stomach flip. “Sure.”

  He walked them back into the hallway and didn’t let go of her hand. Sully leaned casually against a locker while playing his thumb over the inside of her palm as he worked up the courage to say what he’d been planning.

  “Sloan, I was thinking . . . we should, um . . .” God, he couldn’t get the words out. He cleared his throat and tried again. “I want to take you out.”

  Her eyes widened. “What?”

  Shit, that wasn’t the reaction he’d been hoping for. “On a date,” he clarified, feeling like an idiot.

  “I . . . that’s . . . um—” Oh God. She was going to say no. The back of his neck warmed as his cheeks burned with embarrassment.

  The bell rang before she could say anything else, and for the first time, he was thankful he had to go to class.

  He’d never been so attentive during history class. Sully needed to distract himself from the girl directly in front of him, so that meant he listened and took notes. He wrote down practically everything Mrs. Autry said, most of it probably unnecessary. With five minutes until the bell rang and released him from this prison, he finally allowed himself a glance at Sloan. She reached up to stretch her arms as she leaned back in her seat. God, her hair brushed his desk and the scent of her shampoo hit him. The anxiety in his chest made him so uncomfortable, he almost got up to ask to be excused for the bathroom. He needed to get away from Sloan before she could hurt him by denying him. He slid out of his seat and he began to stand, but a piece of paper, folded into a triangle, fell onto his notebook, stopping him in his tracks.

  He settled back into his chair and tried to calm the racing of his heart as he carefully unfolded the note.

  Yes.

  —Sloan

  The broad grin stretching across his face couldn’t be contained as the bell rang and he stood as nearly everyone in the class made for the exit. Everyone except Sloan. She turned around, eyes sparkling with unconcealed excitement.

  “So, when did you want to go out?”

  Instead of being a gentleman, he took her into his arms and kissed her. He should have waited for their date, but he’d been dying to feel her lips against his.

  “Mr. Sullivan,” the teacher said, a hint of exasperation in her tone. The two of them broke apart and Sloan’s cheeks burned a bright pink. “Public displays are against the rules, you know that. I’ll see you for detention after school.”

  He nodded, unable to wipe the smile off his lips. Sully took Sloan by the hand. “Worth it,” he whispered into her ear.

  ~ ~ ~

  Sully’s breath came in harsh gasps as he ran along the beach, chasing the sunrise. He’d slept like shit, replaying his interaction with Sloan at the library fire over and over in his mind. He’d been such an incredible asshole. Did she really deserve that? Maybe. Now all he could think about was that moment when he’d been ready to ask her the most important question a man can ask. Instead, she’d moved on without him and he’d been excised from her life. In a matter of days she was gone. Not a word from her in fifteen years. He’d made a decision as she walked away. There would never be another woman who got close enough to hurt him like that again. His future wasn’t paved with wedding vows and baby blankets. And that’s how he wanted it to stay.

  He pushed himself to run faster and harder than normal, and forced his focus on the sensation of his bare feet on the warm Virginia sand rather than the burn of his muscles. He ran until he couldn’t take it any longer and his legs gave out. Cool water met his skin as he fell into the waves. He let the ocean wash over his bare chest and swam out far enough to float on his back and stare at the sky while the colors changed. He couldn’t let one encounter with the woman he’d planned to spend a lifetime with destroy his hard-won control. She’d left him, he fell apart, but he picked himself up and moved on. If he’d truly made progress over the last fifteen years, he would be able to continue his life even with her in the area. He didn’t know why she was back, and he wasn’t going to ask.

  By the time he made it home, he felt better. He could do this. He’d all but convinced himself she was here for a short visit, that maybe she was already gone.

  His phone vibrated on the counter as he showered. He could hear the clatter of the damn thing as it fell into the porcelain sink. Who the fuck was calling him at six in the fucking morning? Stepping out of the old claw-foot tub, he wrapped a towel around his waist and snagged his cell. When his mom’s picture flashed on the screen, his heart leapt into his throat. After a brief hesitation, he answered with shaking hands.

  “Mama? What’s wrong?”

  “I need you to pick me up, Kurt.”

  A sinking feeling took hold. She thought he was his dad. This was one of her bad days.

  “Where are you?”

  “I . . . I was going to the grocery store but they won’t let me in. I want to make a cake for Carson.”

  “The stores aren’t open this early, Mindy. Stay where you are. I’ll be there soon.”

  He wanted
to fucking cry. His dad had been dead six years now. Ever since they lost him, her bad days outnumbered the good. Dressing as quickly as possible, he raced to his car, hoping his mom would stay put. Thank fuck this town was tiny. He drove the short distance to the supermarket and saw her immediately. Pacing in front of the locked door clad only in an old pink housecoat and slippers, she wrung her hands around a tissue. His heart broke for the look on her face.

  “What happened to the car?” she asked as soon as he got out.

  “It’s in the shop. This is a rental, Mindy.”

  Her frown deepened. “You look . . . taller. Did you cut your hair? You need a good shave. You know I don’t like you with a beard.”

  All he could do was nod as he helped her into the passenger side. He made sure she was buckled before closing the door and walking to his side. Then he closed his eyes and took a deep, steadying breath before getting inside.

  “Thank you for coming to get me. What kind of store isn’t open when the sun comes up? Ridiculous.”

  An uncontrollable laugh escaped him. Ridiculous was right.

  ~ ~ ~

  Sloan sat on her front porch nursing a mug of coffee after her morning run. She liked to observe the world around her as it woke up. Today, she watched as a huge moving truck parked in front of the house across the street. She frowned. When had the big craftsman home been up for sale? A monster of an old Chevy truck followed, pulling into the driveway and lurching to a stop with all the finesse of someone running late for an appointment.

  “Oh, bleeding hell,” she heard the driver say as the vehicle started rolling backward before he set the emergency brake. She chuckled, taking in the scene playing out before her.

  The tall man driving the Chevy jumped out of the truck and slammed the door before rushing up to the crew of workmen who were already preparing to unload.

  “Sorry, I’m here. We had a bit of a mishap with the alarm clock this morning and the baby kept my wife up all night with his teething. Anyway, I’m here now. Terribly sorry to keep you waiting.”

  One of the men nodded and murmured something before shoving a clipboard and pen at the house’s owner. Before long, the house was unlocked and crates of all this family’s worldly possessions were being unboxed and loaded into the home. What kind of people were her new neighbors? The man was obviously British from his distinct accent. What brought them to Golden Beach?

  After finishing her coffee, she stood and stretched, the chill of the morning replaced with late summer warmth. A sleek silver SUV pulled into the driveway across the street, stopping Sloan from making her way inside. She wanted to see the wife, assess her and make plans for either building a friendship, or staying away. Lord knew, Sloan needed friends. Things around town had been . . . tense. She’d hoped after fifteen years, being the daughter of the disgraced former mayor would have slipped people’s minds. It hadn’t.

  A lovely woman with long dark hair stepped out of the car and opened the back door. She leaned in and after rummaging a little, pulled out a sleepy baby boy. Two little girls piled out of the car on the other side, both chatting in tiny animated voices with the most charming English accents.

  “Evie, Ellie, stay out of the way of the movers! Don’t run.” The woman was an American by her voice, and she looked about Sloan’s age. A loud crash followed by a wail filtered out of the house and she rolled her gaze heavenward. “Lord, give me strength. Or wine.”

  Sloan grinned. She liked this woman.

  Tonight, she’d bring her new neighbors a bottle of wine. She grabbed her mug and headed inside. There was so much work to be done around this house after her grandfather’s death. The sooner she started, the sooner it would feel like her home rather than an inheritance she had no idea how to handle. She’d made the choice to move here rather than sell the place. Now it was time to make it hers.

  Hours later, she’d tackled clearing out the study . . . mostly. She really had hoped to make more progress, but it turned out, her grandfather had been something of a hoarder. In addition to the thick layer of dust covering every surface, he’d accumulated piles of coupons, mail, newspapers, and magazines. But it was the manila folders stacked in one corner that contained his tax returns for the last fifty years that had finally made her throw in the towel. She was hungry, sneezing from all the dust, and she needed to get groceries for the week.

  After she freshened up and grabbed her purse, Sloan went over her shopping list and added a bottle of wine for her new neighbors.

  The parking lot of Hank’s Red Apple Grocery was full, of course. Everyone was out doing their shopping on Saturday morning and this was one of the only markets in town. She’d have to see them, talk to them, and wonder if they were remembering her father’s scandalous exit from office.

  She walked the aisles with purpose, grabbing her items and moving through her list as quickly as possible. It was surprising how easily she was able to avoid the gazes of other shoppers, until a sharp pain raced up her leg.

  “Ouch,” she said as she turned to see who had run into her.

  A sweet little face looked up from where he was pushing a child-sized cart. “Sorry.” His voice was high and thin and the bright red flush on his cheeks made her heart soften.

  “It’s okay. I was just surprised. Where’s your mom?”

  He looked behind him at the end of the aisle just as a tall woman with perfectly styled hair came around the corner. A woman Sloan couldn’t help but recognize. Livia Prentice. They’d been best friends in high school. Now, she had nothing but anger on her face while she stormed toward her wayward child. “Ben, what are you doing? I told you not to wander off.” She grabbed his hand and tossed a quick, “Sorry,” over her shoulder before heading back the way she came.

  Sloan returned to her shopping but was stopped again when Livia’s gasp caught her attention. “Wait, Sloan Carmichael? Is that really you?”

  Sloan’s heart sank, but she turned to see Livia stalking back down the aisle with Ben behind her. “Hi, Liv.”

  “Brycen told me you were back. I just couldn’t believe you’d show your face after . . . everything.”

  The churning ache in her stomach intensified under Livia’s scrutiny. “It’s been a long time.”

  “But no one will ever forget it. You know small towns. And then there’s everything that happened with you and Sully senior year. No one wants you. Sully’s still in town. People like him. People can’t keep any sort of secret around here. They know you ruined him.”

  Sloan fought back the urge to defend herself. “Like I said, it was a long time ago. We’re adults now. Things are different.”

  Livia cocked an eyebrow. “I heard you got divorced. I always thought you’d be the one who ended up with a fairy-tale love story. Instead, you’re more like an after-school special.”

  With a sigh, Sloan looked at her watch. “Look, Liv, as much fun as it’s been to rehash all my painful memories in the middle of Red Apple, I’ve got a lot to do.”

  Livia’s lips turned up in a snide smile. “Take care of yourself, Sloan. You look tired.”

  A headache built between Sloan’s eyes from the effort it took to bite back a retort. Livia had been a bitch in high school, which was the real reason their friendship hadn’t survived. She clearly hadn’t changed. Eyes trained on the checkout register, Sloan held her head up high and paid for her items without glancing back. Livia was right, this town was small and Sloan would have to prove she belonged before things would get any easier.

  The moving truck across the street was finally gone, and Sloan was ready to relax with a glass of wine and a book. But first, she needed to welcome the neighbors. Armed with a bottle of red wine and a plate of brownies she’d bought, she crossed the street and made her way up the driveway. She could hear the soft strains of music playing and the sounds of a family chatting at the
end of a busy day. She almost turned around, not wanting to intrude, but decided even if she just dropped off the welcome to the neighborhood gifts, it was a gesture she wanted to make sure she made.

  She smiled to herself as she rang the doorbell. A neighborhood with families meant Christmas decorations, trick-or-treaters, and kids playing outside. That’s what she wanted.

  The door opened and the man she’d seen this morning smiled at her. “Hello. Can I help you?”

  His smile was wide and genuine as he took her in and something about him was strangely familiar, but she couldn’t place the resemblance. “I’m Sloan Thomas. I live across the street.” She gestured to her house. “I thought I’d bring you guys some sugar and alcohol. Moving sucks.”

  A laugh fell from his lips and he dragged a hand through his messy hair. “Right you are. I’m Drew Tensley. It’s nice to meet you, Sloan.” He glanced behind his shoulder and then back to her. “Come on, then. Anyone who brings such an offering should definitely be invited to share it with us.”

  Everything felt a little awkward as she followed him inside. She was intruding. Maybe she should go. But then she thought back to Livia’s words about people in the town. This was an opportunity to make a connection. Boxes sat in the middle of the hallway, children’s toys littered the stairs, and the small voices of the little girls she’d heard earlier filtered down the stairs as she passed.

  “How old are your kids?”

  Drew sighed. “Evie and Ellie are nearly four and our little Oliver is just a year.”

  “I wondered if they were twins when I saw them this morning. They’re adorable.”

  He snorted. “Adorable little hellions. They’re lucky their mum is so patient.”

  Drew’s wife walked out of the living room with their baby son asleep against her chest. “Patience is a skill I had to learn after managing construction crews. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to get a bunch of men to follow the instructions I laid out day after day.” She smiled and Drew pulled her in for a hug. “I’m Grace, by the way.”