Moonlight Beach

by Tammy L Grace

  They stood together for a few minutes, the breeze rustling through the trees and wicking away the sweat at the back of Lily’s neck. She admired the view from the raised area, looking across to the massive Pentagon. The place where her mother had endured the last few moments of life. She couldn’t help but think of the terror she must have felt, knowing she was going to die. Despite all the years that had passed, the thought of her mother suffering, shook Lily to the core.

  She blamed, and always would, the terrorists for not only her mother’s death, but for killing her father. The stress of it had been too much for him. She knew time had a way of easing the pain and grief and that some survivors found solace in forgiving those that had engineered the attacks, but she wasn’t one of them. The burning hatred she still felt for those men, and all who had helped them, would never leave her. It wouldn’t die until she did.

  That same loathing filled her when she thought about the scum, along with his girlfriend, who had killed Gary. Evil criminals had been the ones responsible for taking three of the people she loved most from her. Although law enforcement had been her life’s work and a true calling, she was happy to be away from it. Working as she had, in the Virginia State Capitol, she didn’t encounter many street criminals, but after Gary was killed, her tolerance for lawbreakers had dwindled. The constant reminders of Gary had been unbearable, but she felt herself becoming more and more cynical.

  She needed to step away from seeing the worst of humankind. At the time she retired and chose to move, she knew it felt right, but now, having been absent from the only career she had known, she realized it was not only about escaping her memories, but saving herself. Despite still missing Gary and their life together, living in Driftwood Bay as an innkeeper allowed her to engage with people in a pleasant environment without the volatility of the criminal element always present in their daily duties and discussions.

  She would always mourn the unexpected and tragic loss of her mother and would return here every September to honor her and all the others. Now, at least, she took some comfort knowing her parents were together, under a beautiful tree, overlooking the quaint town they had chosen to make their home, where they had worked for the local school district. They had loved Davidson and had moved there in preparation for their retirement years. Sadly, neither of them was able to enjoy those golden years they had planned.

  Tears clouded her view and she did nothing to stop their escape as they leaked from under her sunglasses. Another year here without Gary and she felt just as weak as she had last year. He had been her strength and had taken care of the logistics related to their trip each year. All she had to do was hang onto his arm and she could get through anything. Now, she didn’t have him.

  She took a long breath and glanced at her handsome son, whose profile reminded her of his dad. Gary would be so proud of him. She was so thankful Kevin was with her today. It was almost like having Gary next to her. Her heart swelled, knowing part of Gary would forever live on in their beloved son.

  She squeezed Kevin’s hand and led the way toward the shuttle. She rested against the back of the seat and let the breeze dry her cheeks as they made their way to the exit.

  Anguish and exhaustion settled over her. This was just the beginning. She had to get through the actual memorial. Tired, she begged off Kevin’s suggestion of dinner and opted for a nap and room service. She checked her phone once more, hoping for news of Mel, but seeing none, shut her eyes and willed herself to think of her mom happy, enjoying her garden, instead of the terror Lily imagined as her plane fell from the sky, destined to crash.

  4

  Thankful to be on the ground in Seattle, but anxious to get inside the terminal, Lily stood at her window seat, hunched forward under the low ceiling of the cramped plane, as she waited her turn to get off the long flight from Washington, D.C. She dug into the pocket of her purse to turn on her cell phone.

  After it powered on, she heard the chime of a text alert. She gasped when she read the screen, drawing inquisitive looks from everyone around her. It was from Jeff. He had found Mel and she was safe. He and Donna would keep her at their house and would fill her in on the whole story when she arrived back in Driftwood Bay.

  The tension she had been holding in her shoulders eased as relief flooded through her. Tears stung her eyes when she thought of the awful outcome she had been expecting. Her finger hovered over the green button next to Jeff’s name, but the line started moving and she needed to get to the terminal. She didn’t want to miss her shuttle and thought it best to call him when she was in a less crowded place.

  Along with being anxious to hear about Mel, she was emotionally drained after the memorial and saying goodbye to Kevin at the airport. Not wanting to leave him, she had gripped him in a long and tight hug. The hassle of travel was always physically exhausting and she wasn’t looking forward to following the crowd to baggage claim and taking the shuttle back to Driftwood Bay. Despite it being mid-afternoon in Seattle, she was feeling the three-hour difference and was thankful she wouldn’t have to drive and could doze on the way home.

  As she waited for the people in the rows in front of her, who seemed to be moving at a glacial pace, she reflected on the weekend. The ceremony, as always, was somber and thoughtful. She had listened as they read the names of all 184 people who perished and rang a bell for each one. The choir did a beautiful job singing the national anthem and “God Bless America” and Lily had endured yet another rendition of “Taps” from the military band.

  She and Kevin had spent the weekend playing tourist, visiting memorials and museums, and trying to make a pleasant visit out of the trip. They had spent last night at the Pentagon Memorial, where there was a small reception for the family members of those lost. The view of the benches that she always thought resembled wings, with the pools of water beneath them, glowing with a golden light at night, never failed to bring tears to her eyes. She and Gary had visited the memorial in late spring several times, and she loved it when all the crepe myrtle trees that grew among the memorial benches were heavy with beautiful white blossoms. Her mom would have appreciated them. Oh, how she wished her mom was still here. Lily could have used her over these last few years.

  Lily’s sister, Wendy, had promised to be there this year, but as usual, something more pressing or exciting came up and Wendy didn’t show. Lily followed Wendy on social media and her sister’s posts advertised a lavish lifestyle and a self-absorbed woman. She had become accustomed to Wendy’s lack of dependability and her thoughtless and selfish attitude. It no longer surprised her, only filled her heart with sadness. Since the death of her parents, Lily had conditioned herself not to expect much from Wendy.

  As she trudged behind the other passengers making their way to baggage claim, she fought back the sting of tears. Being in Virginia had churned up old memories, along with regrets and guilt. The memorial always whipped up feelings of loss and sorrow, not just of her mom, but her dad and now, Gary.

  Although she didn’t make a trip to her old stomping grounds in Richmond, instead staying in Arlington, Gary had weighed on her mind. She and Kevin had visited the Law Enforcement Memorial, leaving a flower for Gary. They ate out, went to a movie, and enjoyed a walk through Rock Creek Park and on the mall. They did all the things Gary always enjoyed, but without him there, it wasn’t the same.

  Although Kevin seemed happy and was doing well in school, her heart had hurt when she said goodbye and realized again what she had left behind when she made the decision to move all the way across the country to the coast of Washington. She tried not to beat herself up about it, but a mother’s sense of responsibility to her child was strong. When she shifted her thought patterns in a logical direction, she knew it made little sense to stay in Richmond, two hours away from Kevin’s college, just so she could be closer to him, but those heartstrings tugged at her.

  She was adjusting to her new life and running her late uncle’s Glass Beach Cottage property. It just hurt to say goodbye and rea
lize how alone she was. Kevin was her only family that mattered. She swallowed against the lump in her throat as she told herself how quickly the days would pass until Thanksgiving, when Kevin would visit.

  She looked up at the digital board with her flight number and the baggage claim information. As she made her way to it, she gazed over the crowd, watching loved ones greeting passengers with hugs. She smiled at a young family reunited with what anyone could see were loving parents and grandparents and her throat tightened. She took a deep breath and kept walking, feeling her solitary vulnerability.

  She turned her head, saw a man smiling at her and did a double-take. “Mac?” She stopped in her tracks, looking at him, standing near the carousel, a huge grin on his face.

  “Surprise,” he said, reaching for her hand. “I thought you could use a chauffeur to Driftwood Bay.”

  A tingle of warmth traveled from Mac’s hand all the way to Lily’s toes. His kindness and thoughtfulness lifted her spirits and reminded her she had found more than just a new vocation in Driftwood Bay. She and Mac had been spending more and more time together, sharing their love of golden retrievers, and enjoying each other’s company over the summer months.

  Lily let out a long breath and her shoulders relaxed. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you. I was wading in the pool of self-pity as I came through the airport.” She tightened her grip on his hand. “I was feeling quite lonely.”

  Bags started filling the carousel and she darted her eyes to the commotion to watch for her black bag in a sea of black bags. “You point it out and I’ll snag it for you,” said Mac.

  “It’s got a bright pink ribbon tied to the handle to make it easier to see.” She kept an eye on the bags toppling from the dark hole and down the chute. “How are the boys?”

  “They did great. Sherlock loved having them at the house to keep him company. All three of them are at your place, awaiting your return.”

  “I’ve missed them.” She kept her eyes focused on the action, stopping short of telling him she had missed him, too. “Have you seen Mel?”

  “Not yet. Jeff gave me the rundown. That’s the other reason I thought it would be nice to come and meet you. I knew you’d be concerned about her.” He moved a step closer to the carousel. “I’m sure she’s anxious to get back to your place and the routine. When you’re both settled in, we’ll plan dinner at my house. She can visit the llamas and let the dogs run free.”

  She pointed at a bag on the stainless-steel chute. “There it is.”

  Mac muscled his way to the edge of the throng of passengers and snagged the bag as soon as it thumped onto the carousel. He wheeled it over and linked his arm in Lily’s, leading the way to the parking garage.

  As they left the airport, Mac explained Mel had been found in a rough neighborhood in South Park, south of Seattle, about two hours from Driftwood Bay. “Jeff said you were right about Sally being involved. Seems she remembered Mel talking about trying to find her aunt, her mom’s sister, who used to live in Oak Harbor. Sally convinced Mel she had located her and then tricked her into going with her as Mel was leaving the library. Sally and her two creepy friends, both of whom have been arrested and are known drug dealers, picked up Mel and the two men locked her in a storage unit, using her to deliver drugs for them.”

  Lily gasped and brought her hand to her mouth. “Is that all they did to her?” She held her breath and closed her eyes.

  Mac placed a reassuring hand on her arm. “There were no signs of any type of abuse. She was dirty, hungry, and tired from living in such horrid conditions for the last week, but unharmed. She was checked over in Seattle and Jeff drove over and picked her up himself, along with Donna.”

  Lily nodded. “That’s a relief, but this is the last thing that poor girl needed. It makes me want to go and knock the living daylights out of Sally. I knew she was involved.”

  As they inched along I-5, snarled with afternoon traffic, Mac explained everything he knew about Mel’s disappearance. “It took her a few days to get her bearings and Jeff said her quick thinking and calmness helped get her rescued. The two men would come and let her out of the shed, giving her a backpack and telling her where to go to meet up with buyers. It was usually parks and other public places. They threatened her and told her they would be watching her and she had to complete their jobs to see her aunt.”

  Lily’s jaw tightened. “Sick bastards.”

  Mac continued and explained Mel noticed a library branch on one of her walks and the idea of using the book drop to get help formed. She made note of the streets and the name of the storage shed business. The park was the one common place she always made a delivery. She had no paper or pen, so she scoured the sidewalks and streets for anything she could use and collected an old flyer and discarded pen on one of her outings. The men collected the backpack each day, so she had no place to hide the contraband.

  “She elected to hide the items in a planter in the park and at her first opportunity, when she had to wait near the women’s restroom, which provided a moment of privacy, she wrote down that she had been abducted and provided the business name and the cross streets, along with her name and asked them to contact Donna at the Driftwood Bay Library. That day, on her way back to the storage shed she timed her steps so that she passed behind a group of people walking by the book drop at the library and slipped the note in the box.”

  Mac changed lanes and increased his speed as the traffic became lighter. “It took until the next morning when the librarian found the note. She immediately contacted Donna and that set things in motion with Jeff contacting the Seattle Police.”

  “She’s one smart girl. I’m just relieved she wasn’t physically harmed. They could have easily killed her.” Lily shook her head and sighed.

  “From what Jeff said, Mel was quiet and cooperative with them, playing along with the idea that they would take her to her aunt, but having figured out the moment they locked her in the shed, that wasn’t going to happen. She was just buying time until she could figure a way out.”

  Lily jolted from the seat and dug into her purse. “I forgot to text Kevin.” She tapped out a message to let him know she had landed and that she would share more details about Mel later.

  She smiled at his response, telling her he loved her that he couldn’t wait to see her again in November.

  “I’m so relieved Mel is back. Thank you for coming to get me and for filling me in. The ride home will give me time to come to terms with it. I’m concerned for Mel and what this will do to her.”

  He reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Just be there for her. We know she’s tough. She’ll heal from this. Jeff and Donna said to take your time and collect her later tonight after you’ve had a chance to get settled.”

  Lily leaned her head back against the headrest and closed her eyes as she listened to happier stories of the vet clinic and her dogs. Frazzled from the emotions of the last week, his calm voice soothed her, as did the weight of his hand against hers.

  5

  When the car stopped, Lily woke. It took her a few moments to get her bearings. She smiled when she saw Mac had parked in front of Noni’s. He grinned as he opened the door. “I called in an order to pick up, so you wouldn’t have to worry about dinner.”

  Realizing how lucky she was to have found such a thoughtful friend, she watched him as he disappeared inside the building. She had missed Mac while she had been away. They had texted with each other a few times and she had considered telling Kevin she had been spending time with Mac, but never found the right moment. She’d have to do it before Thanksgiving, so he wouldn’t be surprised.

  Truth was, she wasn’t sure how to describe their relationship. Friendship, sure, but it felt like it was shifting into something more significant. She enjoyed being with him and despite only knowing him for the last few months, felt as if she had known him forever. Being with him was such a comfort and he made her feel not so alone.

  A few minutes later, he returned with a lar
ge bag he placed in the backseat. The aroma drifting from it, made Lily’s stomach growl. She had been too anxious for breakfast before the flight, opting for only a cup of tea, and until now, had forgotten she hadn’t eaten since dinner last night.

  He parked in her driveway and sent her inside, offering to bring in her luggage and their takeout, so she could greet the dogs. She hurried to the door, anxious to see Fritz and Bodie.

  Mac had left them in the yard, where they had access to the downstairs via the doggy door, but when she stepped into the kitchen, she saw all three of the happy faced goldens staring at her from the deck. Their tails swept from side to side, the arcs picking up speed as she moved to unlock the door. Fritz and Bodie were a bundle of wiggles as they dove into her arms and even Sherlock joined in the fun, pushing his nose under her arm, not to be left out of the furry group hug.

  By the time Mac put her suitcase in her bedroom and came into the kitchen with the bag from Noni’s, Lily was still sitting on the floor, letting the three dogs maul her with snuggles and licks.

  She smiled up at him. “I’ve missed these silly guys. It’s great to be home.”

  He chuckled as he removed the containers from the bag and retrieved plates from the cabinet. “It would seem the feeling is mutual. I know I’m glad to have you back here. Like Sherlock, I missed you this last week.”

  He offered her his hand and she disengaged herself from the heap of golden canines, who knew more of her secrets than any of her human friends. She went to the pantry and poured kibble into their bowls. After she added a topper she knew they loved to each of the bowls, she motioned the dogs to their dinner, while she slid into a chair at the counter, savoring the delicious aroma of tomato sauce and garlic from her own plate.