He laughed. "It's in the smile. You three all have the same smile."
"What can we do for you, Matt?" Grace asked, leaning against the wall. I could see his cruiser sitting in a driveway a couple of houses down the street.
"I was just pulling in and saw a truck full of boxes in your driveway. I know you said your sister was coming in today, and I wondered if I could help carry some stuff in." He gave a warm smile. I felt like I had walked into some 1950's sitcom where the sheriff really was everybody's friend. I wondered if all sheriffs in small towns were like this.
"Thanks, Matt, but I don't think Sam has that much,” Grace said. “She's only staying for a little while.”
"Erm, well, actually..." I blushed. Grace knew I was coming to visit, but she didn't think I would actually move in. She had mentioned it, but had never officially asked. The ache in her voice when she had called to ask me for 'just a couple days' had told me she needed more than that. "It would be great to have a little help."
Grace frowned and popped her head out the door to get a look at my very full truck.
"Yeah, there is more in there than I thought. We can at least wait until it's not quite so hot out, though. How about in an hour?" Grace asked with only a hint of embarrassment.
The sheriff nodded. "I'll go change out of my work clothes and see you girls in an hour." He flashed a smile and headed back down the driveway.
"Bye, Matt!" Avery called out as he walked away.
"Is that normal?" I asked, turning to Grace.
"What?" Grace looked at me, confused.
"The sheriff just ringing your bell and asking if you need stuff unpacked? Does he help you with your groceries too?" I gave her a pointed look.
Grace rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Oh, it's not like that. He helps everybody. He and Betty were neighbors forever, and he looked out for her. When we moved in, he started keeping tabs on us too. He's more like a big brother than anything."
Grace waved her hand to dismiss whatever ideas might be brewing in my head. "Besides, he's too old for me."
"He is kind of cute," I murmured, peeking out the window to watch him walk away. He moved confidently, but with a slight limp.
"Too old. And what is all your stuff doing in the driveway, Sam?" Grace glared at me. Avery went to the window and acted like she wasn't listening.
"I came to help you. You asked if I could," I replied nonchalantly.
Grace didn't buy it for a second. "I asked if you could come and help me out if you had time. You are supposed to be racing this summer—you said it was supposed to be your best season yet!" Her voice’s pitch rose like our mom's used to when she was angry.
"I told you Cora got hurt. When the doctors told the sponsors she wasn't going to be racing this season, they backed out." I shrugged and walked to the kitchen, but Grace grabbed my shoulder and spun me around to face her.
"So get a new sailing partner. You are good at sailing, Sam. I won't have you waste your season just because I need a babysitter." Her blue eyes searched mine.
"I can't,” I said. “The season was already in session when she got hurt, and it just isn't possible, okay? I don't want to talk about it. Just know that my racing season was already over when you called. At least here I can help you out." I shrugged like it was nothing, but it killed me inside. "Let me at least salvage something from this summer."
This was supposed to be my year. Cora and I had flown up the rankings last year, and the season had been ours for the taking. Then Cora went swimming with some friends, dove into shallow water, and injured her back. The doctors said she was lucky she was still able to breathe on her own and that she would walk again with some therapy. Her sailing days were over, and so was our partnership. I might have found someone else to sail with if the sponsors hadn’t backed out, but without them, I didn't have a boat. It was one of those horrible series of events that just spiraled out of my control.
Grace glared at me. I knew she was angry that I was there. I was supposed to be sailing and going to school, not coming home to help raise a child. I knew that Grace was strong and smart enough to do it on her own, but I didn't want her to put herself through that. She had started nursing school last year so she could give Avery a better life, and I knew that if she didn't have someone to help watch Avery while she was in class, then she would have to quit. My dreams were already on hold; I didn't see a reason to postpone hers too.
"I am not happy about this, Sam, but I'll take it." Grace's eyes fell to the floor for a moment before meeting mine again. "You can have Betty's room."
Grace relaxed when I wrapped my reassuring arms around her. She needed me. And in all honesty, I needed her and Avery. With my racing season and sailing future in shambles, I needed something to keep me going. Avery was the perfect reason.
"I seem to recall someone saying there were chocolate chip cookies,” I said to my older sister. “I haven't gotten one yet, and that sounds delicious."
I pretended not to notice she wiped her cheek with the back of her hand.
"They should be finished cooling. Come on, you two, we should eat them while they're still warm." Grace squeezed my shoulder and let Avery run in front of us to the kitchen. I smiled. I could get used to calling this place home.
***
The sheriff returned to our porch in exactly one hour. He wore a white t-shirt with a fishing logo, a pair of khaki shorts, and a ball cap with the same fishing logo as the shirt. Even wearing very casual clothing, he still somehow managed to exude an aura of authority. He quickly looked at my messy packing and figured out the best way to get everything into the house. Avery, Grace, and I followed his orders as he handed boxes off the truck and kept us moving. His methodical ways had the truck unpacked and in the house in almost no time.
"I just realized I didn't actually introduce myself when we first met," he said to me as he lifted the last box from the truck. Grace and Avery had gone inside to get more lemonade and cookies ready. "I'm Matt Grinswald. I'm the sheriff here in town."
"Nice to meet you, Sheriff Matt," I answered with a grin. He laughed and hoisted the box onto his shoulder. Despite the limp, he carried the heavy boxes with ease.
"Your sister says you race sailboats?"
"Yup. I like to sail double-handed races. So, two sailors on one boat." I held the front door open as he walked in. The box joined a neat pile in the room that was once Betty's. I wasn't looking forward to unpacking, but at least everything was out of the truck. It was a good thing too because rain started to splatter on the windows. We walked into the living room where Avery sprawled across the couch, tired from carrying in boxes. Grace was bustling around in the kitchen.
"You'll like our marina here then. I'm told it's perfect for sailboats. I prefer something with a motor myself, but Robbie says it's the whole reason he docks here," Sheriff Matt said.
I felt a shiver go through me. No way was he talking about my Robbie.
"Robbie?" I asked, trying to keep my voice level.
"Yeah, Robbie Saunders. He keeps a boat here when he's not racing. I don't give him any trouble, though. I know he's a billionaire and all famous, but around here, we treat him like he's local." Sheriff Matt gave me a serious look. "He's part of the town, and I don't like people messing with him."
"Oh, I won't bother him. I've actually met him already; I used to sail with him when we were kids." I said it like it was nothing; like Robbie hadn't been my best friend. I said it like I hadn't tried to contact him and failed. I had given up on ever finding him and talking to him. And here he was in my new little town. Fate was funny sometimes.
"Well, when he finishes his racing season, you'll have to go say hello. He usually shows up in town around mid-September. He's a good kid. Takes himself way too seriously, but he's got a good heart. He's been real good to the town. He's even donated a wing to the hospital and keeps the marina in good condition."
I nodded. Sheriff Matt continued on about the marina and the town, but I stopped listening. M
y brain raced. After we had moved, Robbie and I lost contact with one another. I had tried calling him a few times like when my parents died, but it had been a long time and his number had changed. I figured he had probably forgotten about me anyway. I had looked him up on the Internet, but all I ever found was his racing stats and tabloid rumors. After so many years of us being apart, it felt strange that I could run into him again. I wondered what he was up to, and if he was happy.
"Do you have a boat?" Sheriff Matt asked. I realized he had actually asked twice, but I was so lost in my own thoughts that I hadn't heard him the first time.
"No, I don't. I don't like to sail alone, so there isn't much point in me having one all to myself."
He nodded as if he understood. There was a lot more to it than that, but I didn't want to get into it. Thunder rattled the window panes, and Sheriff Matt peered out into the storm. His phone went off, buzzing in his shorts pocket.
"I figured that was going to happen. We're short-staffed today, so I'm on call if anything happens, and something always happens during a storm." He hit a button on the phone to check the message, and then put it back in his pocket with a sigh. "I'm needed at the station."
"Thank you for helping us get everything in before the storm hit," I told him with a smile. He waved his hand as though it were nothing.
"That's what neighbors are for. It was a pleasure to meet you, Sam. Avery, Grace, good to see you," he said, tipping his baseball cap. He picked up a cookie from the tray and headed to the front door. Avery waved from the couch as he stepped out into the storm.
I closed the door carefully behind him and went to my new room. Grace started working on dinner while I began to unpack the mounds of boxes. My mind still buzzed with the idea of possibly running into Robbie again. Despite the years, I missed one of the best things from my childhood: our friendship. I didn't hold out any hope he would remember his old sailing partner or the girl who gave him his first kiss. He was a billionaire and professional sailor, while I was just some girl he used to know.
Opening a suitcase and hanging the clothes in the closet, I wondered if he had ever tried calling me. We had moved all over the country when my dad started his new business, and our phone numbers kept changing. I eventually gave up learning our new addresses. I used to pretend Robbie called one of those numbers to look for me, but I knew he was probably too busy. As time went on, the possibility of the two of us ever reconnecting became slim. We had been just kids, and kids grow up. They change. They find new friends and forget the old ones; it was just the way the world worked.
"Dinner's ready," Grace called from the kitchen. I glanced around the room, already imagining my things hanging on the wall. I felt comfortable here. A soft smile crossed my face as I headed toward the dinner table. I felt comfortable here. Even if this wasn't where I wanted to be, I knew it was where I belonged.
Chapter 3
"Bye, Mike, I'll see you in a few hours," I called out to my boss, stepping out of the restaurant and into the warm autumn sunshine. The job at the restaurant wasn't the best, but it had paid the bills over the summer. Fall was just starting to touch the trees, turning them into glorious balls of fire against the blue sky. The change had come early this year, but I was enjoying the extra color in the trees.
"Make sure you're back in time!" Mike yelled after me. I raised my hand to acknowledge him, but I kept on walking. I had three hours before I had to pick up Avery, and then once her mom got home, I had to go back to the restaurant for a second shift. It was going to be a long day, but the extra time was going to ensure we could pay the bills this month.
I walked down the pier, heading to a small shack by the water. It was technically for boats bringing fresh fish in to the restaurant, but it was the perfect place for me to store my windsurfing gear during a shift. I had three hours, and the waves were calling my name.
"You heading out, Sam?" A strong, masculine voice asked from behind my shoulder. I turned to see Sheriff Matt, sitting on a bench overlooking the water. I grinned and went over to talk to him.
"Yup, I've got a couple of hours before I have to pick up Avery, and I thought I would go play in the water while it's still warm. How are you doing?" I asked.
"Doing quite well. Today's my day off, so I'm here enjoying the scenery. Might even go fishing off the docks in a bit. I caught a nice big bass there the other day, and I'm hoping he had some friends." The tall man gave me a big smile and adjusted his baseball cap.
"Well, I hope you catch them. Be sure to throw the little ones back, or they'll take away your fishing license," I teased him. He laughed.
"Always do. Speaking of little ones, how's Avery doing? Is she liking school?"
"She loves it. I'm so glad we were able to get her into the accelerated program. The teachers can't stop talking about how smart she is, and she can't stop showing me all the stuff she's learning. It's adorable." I grinned at Sheriff Matt. Avery was the bright spot in my world. She had made moving to Winchester worth it.
"That's so awesome. I'm glad that's working out," he said. He paused before asking, "I know it's a sore subject, but how's the racing looking for you? Your old sailing partner doing any better?"
I sighed. "No. The doctors say that Cora might be able to sail next season, but it will depend on how she does in rehab this winter." The loss of this season stung, and the idea that I might not get to sail with Cora next year only made it worse.
Sheriff Matt nodded, his face crinkling in commiseration before shifting into a frown at something behind me. "There goes Robbie Saunders. It's a little early in the day, but what else does a billionaire have to do?" Sheriff Matt asked. I turned to see what appeared to be a very drunk Robbie weaving his way down the dock toward his boat. He stumbled, nearly eating it on the wooden platform, but he managed to get onto his yacht and disappear below.
I had only run into him once since moving to town. He had been tying his boat to the docks when I had walked by with my windsurfing board. We had made eye contact, but neither one of us knew what to say. I hadn't talked to him since that day I left him on the dock, the bucket at his feet. I had hurried off into the water, unable to think of anything to say.
"Do you think he's going to take his boat out? I mean, he's trashed," I asked Sheriff Matt. I couldn't see the stickler-for-rules Robbie I had known doing that, but I didn't know him personally anymore. People change after ten years.
"No. He won't take it out. You're new here, but never worry about Robbie drinking and sailing. He's trouble on land. Bar fights, public intoxication—he's always in trouble with me and the rest of the boys. But the Coast Guard loves him. He's the perfect sailor and refuses to let anyone touch the sails if they've had a sip of alcohol." The sheriff shook his head and continued, "He helps with marine rescues and even received a commendation last year. He's a model citizen on the water. There’s no way he takes that boat out inebriated." Matt leaned back on the bench, crossing his arms over his burly chest.
I nodded as he spoke. I could tell from Robbie's sailing interviews online that his rule on no sailing with alcohol was something that he prided himself on. I figured he must just be settling down in his boat and sleeping it off.
"He always was a saint on the water," I murmured softly. A ghost of a smile crossed my face as I remembered how the two of us used to sail together. He always wanted to follow the rules and never let me get away with anything on the boat. On land, he was a devil-child, but out on the water, he was a sailing angel.
"Poor guy, though. His dad is sick," Matt said, leaning forward to catch my attention. "It's all over the tabloids. Some sort of cancer. They say his older brother Jack has already taken over their oil company. Robbie's been spending most of his time either in the bar or on his boat. It seems like he's taking it rather hard."
For a split second, I thought about following Robbie to his yacht and saying hello. My feet almost took the steps, but my brain stopped them before I actually moved. I hadn't seen him in almost eleven years. He
had probably forgotten about me a long time ago. The last thing he needed was some strange girl barging onto his boat and asking him if he needed a hug.
"Mr. Saunders was always really nice. I'm sorry to hear he's not doing well." My voice was soft as I stared at Robbie's yacht, my mind far away.
"You knew Daniel Saunders? Billionaire oil mogul Daniel Saunders?" Sheriff Matt stared at me like I had grown a second head. "Why didn't you ever mention that?"
"I used to sail with Robbie and so I met his dad. His dad used to come to Robbie's races and he would take Robbie and I out sailing sometimes." I shrugged. Despite being a billionaire, Mr. Saunders had been a pretty normal dad.
"Ah, gotcha." He nodded as he remembered my friendship with Robbie, then frowned as he looked at me. "You haven't talked to him yet, have you?"
I turned back to face him, a blush creeping into my cheeks. "You are just too good at figuring people out. No, I haven't talked to him. I've been busy with work and Avery. Besides, he probably doesn't even remember me. We were just kids, and it was a long time ago."
"Sure," he said as he raised his eyebrows like he didn't believe me. He was about to say more, but his phone started to ring. He started to dig around in his pockets, cursing under his breath as the ringer stopped before he could get to it.
"I'm going to go windsurfing before I have to get back to work," I said, trying to edge away while he was busy.
"Have fun. Isn't it a little cold for surfing?" He asked, his eyes focusing on the tiny phone screen when he finally found it in his coat pocket.
"Anything to get out on the water." I grinned.
"Why don't you just go in a boat, like normal people?" he asked, pressing buttons on his phone.
"I only sail double-handed. I don't like sailing by myself," I chided him gently.
"Right, and you don't consider windsurfing to be sailing. I remember now." He smiled and replaced his phone back in the original pocket. I wondered if he would lose it again.
Freshwater Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story Page 2