Homecoming By The Sea

by Kathi Daley

  Mac and I went up to our rooms after Trevor left. It had been a long day and I was exhausted. Sunny followed me upstairs, waiting patiently at the bathroom door while I brushed my teeth. Then I showed her the dog bed I’d brought up for her. She sniffed at it, then jumped up onto my bed.

  “Oh no,” I said as she put her head on my pillow. “Dogs don’t sleep on the bed.” She lifted her head slightly, looking at me with soulful eyes. I couldn’t believe she’d even been able to make the jump, considering she could barely walk earlier in the day. I was about to lay down the law about the bed when Alyson appeared. She snuggled up next to the dog, who began thumping her tail on the mattress.

  “The dog sleeps on the floor,” I said with what I hoped was a tone of authority.

  “Come on, Amanda. She’s clean, and you have a big bed. Let her stay.”

  Alyson draped an arm over the dog’s neck. Sunny laid her head back down on the pillow and closed her eyes. Shadow appeared from the hallway and jumped up to join them. Apparently, the matter was settled and I had absolutely no say in it. I considered physically moving the dog to the floor, but it might be nice to sleep with a dog again after all these years. I changed into my pajamas, turned off the light, then took the empty side of the bed. The window was open slightly, bringing the sound of the waves into the room. I slowed my breathing and focused on the steady rhythm as I drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter 9

  Thursday, May 24

  The sky was still dark when I woke up the next morning, but I could sense the first rays of dawn just over the horizon. Sunny was still asleep on the bed, but Alyson and Shadow were gone. I slipped out from beneath the covers and pulled on a pair of baggy sweats and my high school sweatshirt. Blue and gray. I smiled at the word Pirates splashed across the front. Had it really been ten years since I’d worn this while sitting on the sidelines of the football field, rooting for our team? Blue and gray. The colors of the house, the sea, and my past.

  In the bathroom, I washed up, pulled my hair back from my face, and then returned to the bedroom. Sunny looked up, lifted her head, and thumped her tail in greeting. She looked better today. I found an old baseball cap, put it on my head, and then softly called her to follow. I made a pot of coffee before pulling on the Nike’s I’d left in the mudroom and took the dog out for her morning walk.

  Out of old habit, I headed toward the bluff. That was where I’d always headed. That vantage point framed the waking sea as the sky turned from dark to brilliant. When I got to the edge, I paused. I’d spent a lot of early mornings standing on this very spot, watching the world awaken, while Tucker ran around and did his business. I felt a tug at my heart. I placed a hand over my chest and remembered. Tucker hadn’t lived with me for quite some time, and to be honest, after a first few days of sadness, I hadn’t minded. I’d been busy, and Mom had the time for him. But now, standing in the exact place where I’d spent so many mornings with the funny, playful puppy who’d quickly grown into a large and protective dog, I missed him. He’d been my companion. He’d never questioned, only loved. He’d stood by me through everything I’d endured. He’d been my rock. He’d saved my life.

  I took a deep breath and forced the memories to the back of my mind. Longing for what once was wasn’t a productive way to spend the first hours of a new day. While Alyson enjoyed a laid-back, easygoing way of life as a teenager, Amanda had a career. No time for pointless thoughts that no longer had a place in her life.

  I pulled the phone from my pocket and looked at the time. Mom was an early riser and it was three hours later on the East Coast, so I decided to call. Even if she hadn’t yet started her day, she wouldn’t mind. She never minded.

  “Amanda. I’m so glad you called,” Mom answered after the first ring. “I was just thinking about you. I’ve wondered how things are going. How you’re settling in.”

  “I’m good,” I said as the first glow of red shone on the horizon. “Really good. We haven’t found Booker’s killer yet, although it’s early in the investigation. Mac and I are settled into the house. It’s really been wonderful being here.” I turned to gaze at the large structure that felt more like home than anywhere else I’d ever lived. “Trevor comes over every evening, just like he used to.” I looked back at the first blush of color in the sky. “He misses your cooking.”

  “And I miss cooking for him. I never met anyone who enjoyed a meal as much as he did.”

  “And still does,” I added. “It almost feels like the past ten years never happened. In some ways, it’s like I’ve stepped back in time. Except for the fact that you and Tucker aren’t here. I miss you.” I paused for a heartbeat. “I miss you both so much.”

  I heard rustling in the background, as if Mom was changing position. “I didn’t think I missed the house or our life by the sea,” she said after she’d settled. “Not really. Not once we were home. But now…Now that you’re there, the memories have been flooding back.” I heard Mom’s voice catch just a bit. “We were happy there.”

  I smiled at Sunny, who wandered over with a stick in her mouth. I bent and took it from her. “We were.”

  I tossed the stick and Sunny barked.

  “Is that a dog I hear?” Mom asked.

  “A stray Alyson and I found yesterday.”

  “Alyson and I?”

  “Yeah. I guess I should explain,” I said, and then I did. In the beginning, I’d hidden my ability to see ghosts from my mother. I hadn’t thought she’d understand. I wasn’t sure I understood. But after a while I could see her mind had begun to open to all the possibilities our life by the sea provided. When I’d shared my visions with her, she’d been surprised but not shocked. Having a daughter with a split personality, though, was another thing entirely.

  “Wow. I don’t know what to say.”

  “It came as quite a shock to me as well. At first, I was pretty irritated by her, but she’s starting to grow on me.”

  “You speak of her as if she’s a totally different person,” Mom said softly.

  “I guess I do think of her that way. Sort of like a little sister who has my memories and can taste the pancakes I eat. The whole thing is very odd. But…”

  “But?”

  “I don’t know. I guess if I leave Cutter’s Cove—when I leave—I think it’s going to be hard to leave her behind.”

  “She can’t come to New York with you?”

  “Not according to Chan,” I said, reminding Mom who he was. “She’s the part of me that’s attached to the house. But she’s more than that. She’s funny, and impulsive, and, quite frankly, very immature for someone our age. Chan said she’s the part of me I intentionally left behind, that I knew wouldn’t fit in Amanda’s world.” I watched the sky grow lighter as the gray turned to color. “I guess I understand that. Even when I was here, and all my parts were whole, I lived a life that would never have fit into the world we did before. The world we went back to.”

  Mom didn’t respond, her silence spanning several breaths. “Did we make a mistake?”

  “I don’t know,” I said. I inhaled and pulled myself together. “What’s done is done and all we can do is go on from here.” Sunny put a paw on my knee, as if reminding me that I still needed to throw the stick she’d brought back. “Anyway, back to Sunny. Alyson spotted the dog while we drove down the highway yesterday. I didn’t see her at first, but Alyson screamed for me to stop. I pulled over, and that’s when I saw her in the ditch. Gray, fragile, and stinky as hell.”

  Mom laughed. “I can imagine. Do you remember when Tucker took on that skunk that lived under our house?”

  “I do, and that’s exactly how Sunny smelled. Anyway, she appears to be on her own and has some medical issues. She has pills to take. Special food. Drops for her ears. I know I can’t keep her, but I figured she could stay with me for the time being. Until her owner is found.”

  “And if it isn’t?”

  I glanced at the dog, who seemed to have double the energy she had the day before as sh
e returned once again with the stick. It looked like having regular feedings and healing pills were already working. Today, I’d brush out her matted fur. “I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. There’s a beautiful sunrise today,” I added, mentioning the reds and oranges and the calm sea.

  “I did love those sunrises.” Mom sighed. “And the sunsets.”

  “You should come to visit while I’m here. Your old room is waiting just the way you left it. It would be fun to spend some time together in a place only you and I can truly appreciate.”

  Mom hesitated. I was sure the idea appealed to her. “I have that gallery showing next week.”

  “So come after that. I plan to be here for at least a month. Possibly longer.”

  “I hate to leave Tucker. He has pills to take and exercises to do every day.”

  “Bring him. Call Cubby to see if he has time to fly you out. Both of you.” Cubby was a friend who owned his own small jet. He ran charters and usually made time to take me wherever I needed to go. I’d thought about asking him to fly me out when I came west, but the urge to drive had been overwhelming.

  Mom took several breaths. “Are you sure?”

  “Very sure. Mac and Trevor would love to see you, and as odd as this is going to sound, I know Alyson misses you. Please. It would make this trip even more perfect than it’s already been.”

  “Okay.” Now Mom sounded hopeful. “If Cubby can bring Tucker and me, I’ll come out for a few days after the show. I’d love to paint a few more sunsets to add to my collection, and I’ve been missing that kitchen.”

  I grinned. “The kitchen is great. Still as perfect as when you designed it. And your studio in the attic is just waiting for your return. I can’t wait for you to get here. Come as soon as you can. You can paint while Mac and I try to solve Booker’s murder. Trevor owns Pirates Pizza now, so he’s busy during the day.”

  “Trevor owns the pizza parlor?” Mom sounded as surprised as I’d been when I’d first found out.

  “He’s all grown up. I mean, he’s still Trev, but he has his own business and a nice apartment. Or at least he told me it’s nice. I haven’t been there yet. It does seem he’s done well for himself. And Mac too. She works for some big tech firm and makes a whole lot of money.”

  “I think you all did well for yourselves,” Mom said.

  I paused as the first rays of sunshine peeked over the mountain, wrapping me in their brilliance. I hugged my arms around myself. “I guess we did at that.”

  After I hung up, Sunny and I went back to the house. Mac was sitting on the deck, so I poured myself a second cup of coffee and joined her. “It’s going to be a warm day.”

  Mac nodded. “I’m so enjoying your view. It truly is spectacular. If I lived here I don’t think I’d ever get any work done.”

  I took a sip of my coffee. “The view is quite spectacular, but you do get used to it. When I lived here, I always enjoyed it when I took the time to sit out here, but it didn’t distract me to the point that I couldn’t get anything else done. You said you had work to do today?”

  “Unfortunately, yes. I took off in a hurry when Trev called, and I have projects to complete and customers to take care of. I think I may just bring my computer out here.”

  “That’s a good idea. There are electrical sockets near the big table in the corner.” I stretched out my legs, letting my feet rest on the railing. “I spoke to my mother. She says hi.”

  “How is she?”

  “Good. She has a gallery show next week, but she might try to come out for a visit after that.”

  Mac smiled. “I’d love to see her. I noticed she left some of her work upstairs.”

  “We just took a few things when we left. I guess we both intended to come back.”

  “But you didn’t.”

  “No.”

  Mac leaned her head back, letting the sun hit her face. She looked peaceful and contented. Sunny had headed for the laundry room, where I’d left her food and water when we’d returned from our walk, but she must have finished because I noticed her standing at the slider. I got up and opened the door for her and she found a spot in the shade and drifted off for a nap. I wondered where Alyson was. I hadn’t seen her all morning.

  “I think I’ll run to the market this morning,” I said after a while. “We could use a few things. Milk. Eggs. A loaf of bread. I’ll start a list. Let me know if you have items to add.”

  “Maybe some yogurt. Are you going back to try to speak to Booker today?”

  I nodded. “I’d like to, if I can figure out how to work around Monica.”

  “If you wait until this afternoon, I can go with you. I’ll figure out a way to get Monica out of the library while you talk to Booker. Unless he has a real problem with us filling Monica in on his presence, I really do think it would be easier to tell her what we know.”

  “Yes,” I agreed. “I’ll speak to Booker and we can figure things out from there.”

  ******

  By the time I got to the market the day had turned hot. I wore a pair of white shorts and a colorful blouse with a geometric design. Opting for my old flip-flops over the low-heeled sandals I'd brought from New York, I felt cool and comfortable and very much like Alyson, who still hadn’t appeared before I left for town, which was beginning to worry me.

  I’d decided not to keep the seafood from yesterday. It was probably all right, but after I’d taken Sunny to the vet and returned home it had been sitting in the car for quite a while. Better safe than sorry. I considered replacing the things I’d purchased and making the chowder tonight, but considering the abundance of sunshine the morning had brought, I elected to buy some steaks to grill. I had the bread I’d purchased the day before along with the rest of the greens I’d found at the farmers market. A few heads of corn to grill with the steaks and we’d have the perfect springtime meal.

  I’d just rounded the corner toward the bakery when I heard someone call my name. My old name.

  “Is that Alyson Prescott?” Chelsea Green chirped.

  I turned and smiled. Dark hair. Green eyes. Porcelain skin. “Chelsea. How are you?”

  “I’m wonderful.” She closed the space between us and gave me a genuine hug. “I heard you were in town. It’s so good to see you.”

  “It’s good to see you too. Trevor tells me that you and Caleb are dating.”

  Chelsea’s whole face lit up. “Crazy, right? When we dated in high school I’d pretty much figured we were too different to really make a go of things, but here we are ten years later and very much in love.”

  “Congratulations. I’m happy for both of you.”

  “How about you? Married? Engaged?”

  “Neither,” I answered. “I do have a boyfriend. Ethan. He’s an attorney back in New York.”

  Chelsea put her hand on my arm. “That’s wonderful. And you? Are you an attorney too?”

  I shook my head. “I’m a graphic designer for an advertising agency. I won’t go so far as to say it’s my dream job, but it’s fast paced and competitive, which I like, and the pay is fine.”

  “That’s so funny. I always pegged you as the type to go into law enforcement. You seemed to like getting tangled up in all those mysteries you, Mac, and Trevor used to spend your time investigating. I never saw you as the artsy type.”

  Chelsea had a point. I wasn’t sure how I ended up where I had. I supposed I drifted from one opportunity to the next until I landed, and I’d probably inherited my interest in art from Mom. “I hear you work at the museum. You worked with Booker before he was murdered.”

  Chelsea’s lips tightened, and anger flashed in her eyes. “Booker was a good man. A hardworking, honorable man. He didn’t deserve to die the way he did.”

  “Do you think his death had anything to do with the donation the museum received? I understand he was quite intrigued by it.”

  “I kind of doubt it. I mean, why would anyone kill over a bunch of dishes? I understand why the museum might consider the
stuff a windfall, but I can’t see how it could be worth someone’s life. Caleb seemed to think there was something more. Something Booker wasn’t telling us, so maybe…”

  I waited for Chelsea to continue, but she didn’t, so I changed the subject. “And how do you like working at the museum?”

  Chelsea shrugged. “I like it okay. It brought Caleb and me together, and for that I’ll always be grateful. I’m not sure I have the same appreciation for dusty old boxes scavenged from local attics as some of the others, but it’s a good job for now.” Chelsea looked at her watch. “I have to go, but I’d love to catch up when I have more time. Give me your number and I’ll call you.”

  I rattled off my digits and Chelsea punched them into her phone before she turned to go. Then she stopped and said, “Listen, if you and the others decide to look in to Booker’s death, which I just realized is probably the reason you’re here, you might want to speak to Oliver Pendergrass. He bought the marina south of town a few years ago, and I know he has a salvage ship he rents out from time to time. Booker mentioned in passing that he had a theory about where some cargo might have ended up, given where the ship went down and the drift and tides. I don’t see how anyone can figure something like that out, but he seemed confident he had a location worth searching. I overheard him saying he’d hired Oliver to take him out for a look. In fact, I’m pretty sure they went more than once. It seemed they got along just fine. But then, the week before Booker was murdered, I heard them arguing.”

  “About what?”

  “I’m not entirely sure. I’d stayed late at the museum and Booker came in with Oliver. They headed to the little office Booker had and closed the door. I didn’t want to interrupt, but before I left I heard Oliver say he was getting what was due him come hell or high water. He sounded really mad.”

  “Did you tell this to Woody?”

  Chelsea nodded. “He spoke to Oliver, who claimed they were arguing about a poker game. He swore what I overheard was just good-natured ribbing. I don’t think Woody believed him, but he didn’t have any proof he was lying, and I didn’t hear anything specific enough to pin his anger on any business deal they could have been engaged in.” Chelsea put both hands on her basket, as if to push away. “I can’t say with any certainty that Oliver was responsible for Booker’s death, but if you ask me, he sounded mad enough to kill.”