by Jenny Hale
“I know what you mean.”
“He was quiet, but when he asked something, it was clear that he really wanted to know. He asked about school, about my friends. I wonder if he was curious as to why I wasn’t at the pier with kids my age.”
“Why didn’t you meet any friends there?”
“I liked hanging out with him,” he said with a chuckle. “I was always interested in adult topics as a kid. I read non-fiction, I watched the news, I followed foreign events. While my friends were chasing girls at the mall after their parents had dropped them off, I was reading about chemistry. My friends found it funny, and it didn’t bother them, but when I wasn’t playing football or at the beach, fishing with your grandfather was a way for me to have someone to talk to about the things that interested me. Like having a dad when mine couldn’t be there. I’m so glad I met him.”
“How did we only cross paths the one time?”
His eyebrows raised in contemplation. “I don’t know. I didn’t knock on his door whenever I thought he had visitors, because I didn’t want to be rude. But now I wonder if some of those times it was you who’d been inside. What would it be like now if we’d have met more than just that one day at the pier?”
As she looked into his eyes, the idea of it made her wonder if perhaps he could’ve saved her from all the heartbreak she’d suffered over the years. But as Gramps had said, that wasn’t her fate. If they’d spent time together too young, Henry might not have come into her life, so it wasn’t meant to be… Until now?
“We’ll never know,” she said.
Jack twisted on the bench and, just like she’d hoped earlier, his arm was further behind her. The boat slowed, dropping anchor in the middle of the darkness, the sky and sea both velvet black, the stars like diamonds. The captain disappeared from view, leaving the two of them alone. Without even a thought, Alice put her head on Jack’s shoulder, not realizing her action until his arm was around her, her pulse quickening. Then, before she could calm herself down, she felt the warmth of his breath near her cheek, his lips mere inches from hers, every exhalation of his doing the work for her until she was completely still and relaxed.
There was something so different about this moment than all of the others she’d had before. Despite how much she’d tried to warn herself about him, she’d never been so sure of her feelings, her heart winning out. She’d also never been so aware that there could be no returning to mere strangers, and yet, despite what she’d been through in the past, she knew that it was right. She turned her head infinitesimally, just enough, and Jack read her body language perfectly, his soft lips landing on hers, his hand at her face, his arm drawing her near. His scent, the feel of a day’s growth of stubble on his cheek, the perfection in his breath as their mouths moved perfectly together—she’d never had anything like it.
Jack was the first to pull back, his lips still near to hers. “I want to see you every single day,” he whispered. Then he kissed her again.
Chapter Fourteen
“Mom!” Henry yanked on Alice’s covers, the sun streaming in through the window. “I can’t find Einstein.”
She swam out of her sleep enough to realize that she was the last to get up, having slept like a baby. She took in a deep breath and stretched.
“I can’t find Einstein,” Henry said again.
The statement finally registered, and she blinked her eyes into focus. “What time is it?”
Henry leaned across her to view the digital clock they’d set up by the front window. “Eight thirteen.”
Alice sat up and ran her hands through her hair. “That’s late. Where’s Sasha?”
“She took a walk. I took Einstein out, but I brought him back in. And now I can’t find him.”
“Ohh,” she said. “Did you pull the screen door really tight? It doesn’t latch.”
Henry ran downstairs to check.
She swung her legs over the edge of the bed, the hardwoods already warm under her feet from the heat outside. They’d have to get some rugs for the winter, she was nearly sure. The boards creaked under her as she pulled on a pair of shorts and changed into her T-shirt. When she got downstairs, the door was unlatched and Henry was outside calling Einstein. Knowing she’d have to go out looking for him, she ran back upstairs, threw her hair into a ponytail and quickly brushed her teeth.
“Any luck?” she asked when she got down to the beach. The sky was a glorious shade of blue without a single cloud.
Henry shook his head, worry crumpling his little face.
“It’s okay. He has his tags on and we’ll find him.”
She went barefoot down the beach with Henry, calling the puppy’s name, shielding her eyes from the sun with her hand and wishing she’d grabbed her sunglasses. The beach equipment companies were already setting up all the chairs and umbrellas in the sand for the local hotels, and the shore was dotted with people taking their morning walks. But no Einstein.
“You know what?” She stopped and looked back toward the bike shop. “Last time he got out, he went over to Melly’s. Why don’t we check with her to see if he’s there?”
“Okay.”
Henry stepped in line beside her and they made their way back up to the bike shop so they could cross over the street to Melly’s. But before they could get there, they both stopped. When they approached the shop, Sasha was leaning on the back door; something was wrong with her.
“Sash, you all right?” Alice asked, walking more quickly to reach her.
Sasha was slumped with her arm on the door, leaning on it as if she needed support to stand.
“Sasha?”
Just then, Sasha slid down to the ground. “I don’t feel well,” she said weakly.
“Oh my gosh, you’re sweating terribly.” Alice scooped her up under her arms and helped her inside, steadying her as she sat her down in a chair. “How long have you been like this?”
“I’ve felt bad for about a week, but I figured it was just nerves with everything going on.”
“Don’t move. I’m going to Melly’s. She might be able to help until I can get you to a doctor.” Alice grabbed Henry by the hand. “Let’s get Melly and we’ll look for Einstein too.”
They ran across the road, the surface burning her feet, and up the stairs to Melly’s door where Alice, feeling the panic of everything, banged her fist on it.
Melly answered. She was wearing scrubs again, this time mint green. “What’s wrong?” she asked, coming out onto the porch and shutting the door behind her.
“Sasha looks like she’s about to pass out, and I was wondering if you could take a look at her. She seems feverish and she can’t stand.” As Melly started down the stairs with purpose, Alice took her arm. “And we can’t find Einstein. Have you seen him?”
“No,” she said, concerned, as they all went down the stairs to the driveway and ran back across to Sasha.
When they entered the bike shop, Sasha had her head down on her arms. She didn’t look up. Melly went over to her, pressing two fingers to her wrist. Alice waited, apprehension overwhelming her. “Her pulse is low. Let’s get her to the hospital.”
Henry followed them out to the front, tears spilling from his eyes. “Einstein!” he called. “Einstein!” His voice withered into a whimper, his cheeks pink.
“I’ll bring my car over,” Melly said. “I’ll take her to the hospital. You go with Henry to find Einstein. I’ll text you once we’re settled.”
“I shouldn’t leave her.” Alice offered a consoling look to Henry, feeling torn.
“She’d want you to find Einstein for Henry. I’ve got her.”
* * *
“I came as soon as I heard,” Jack said, walking toward Alice down the hospital hallway.
He was striking in his white coat and pressed trousers, a large and very expensive-looking watch peeking out from his shirtsleeve. He looked distinctively different: his hair was combed perfectly, not even a hint of a whisker on his face. He didn’t look like the kind of guy w
ho took kissing-fish pictures, but instead, the kind who lived in high-rise buildings and bought dinners that cost more than those highlights Alice had gotten after Matt had left. The sight of him like this jolted her into some sort of reality check, but he spoke again before she could allow her mind to move to how different their lives were.
“How’s Sasha?” he asked.
“She’ll be coming home later with a round of antibiotics.” Alice didn’t know how much Sasha would want her to divulge to Jack, so she left it at that, but the doctors had said that the miscarriage procedure had introduced bacteria that had caused the infection, and she should pay close attention to her body as she recovered. The medicine would help, but if there were any other signs of infection, she needed to come in immediately.
Jack sat down next to Alice, his posture now familiar, and only then did she finally allow herself to exhale. Having him there made her feel like everything would be okay. He put his hand on hers and squeezed. She closed her eyes for a second, feeling exhausted.
“We can’t find our dog,” she said suddenly, craving his reassuring response. He always made her feel better. She wasn’t sure what he could say to this one, and she was glad she could discuss it without Henry.
Melly had taken Henry to get some snacks while they waited for Sasha’s discharge. They’d been there all day long and poor Henry hadn’t eaten a thing. He’d been too worried about Einstein. But Melly had talked him into a few packages of saltines and a juice box.
“Einstein’s been gone since this morning. He got out the back door. It doesn’t latch like it’s supposed to.” Alice swallowed to keep the tears from coming. She was so worried for him. He was just a little puppy. She’d checked her phone every five minutes to make sure someone hadn’t called the number on his collar, but there had been no messages.
Jack must have been able to read her emotions because he’d started gently moving his fingers back and forth over hers as if to comfort her. “Why don’t I come by after work and we can look for him?”
She nodded, the words not coming. She was so tired.
* * *
Henry had cried when they’d arrived home and opened the door to an empty crate and untouched water bowl. Alice had finally gotten him settled, and he’d fallen asleep in his bed. Sasha was resting as well, and Alice found herself sitting on the small front porch step, her toes in the sand, the lull of the ocean behind the house making her eyelids heavy.
She opened her hand to look at the locket she’d found in Gramps’s chest. She’d carried it down to the porch, hoping it would give her some sort of magic wisdom or at the very least, take her mind off everything else. She turned it over in her palm. Maybe she’d just wanted to hold Gramps, and having something of his made her feel closer to him.
She’d been thinking a lot about the choice she’d made to come down here. They’d spent a ton of their savings and still had more to buy; Henry wasn’t terribly happy here; Sasha was supposed to rest for the next few weeks, and they hadn’t even properly unpacked; and the pier was closing, which would leave them in a low-traffic area.
“What do I do, Gramps?” she whispered into the silence, her eyes on the etched gold of the locket.
With no answers, she opened it to view the two baby pictures. Permitting herself a small digression from her thoughts, she took out her phone and snapped a photo of the open locket in her hand. Then she texted it to her aunt, Claire. Aunt Claire, look what I found, she typed, and hit send.
In a few seconds, the little bubbles emerged on her screen as her aunt checked the message.
The words floated up to her: What is it?
She took a closer picture and texted it, then typed, It’s a locket Gramps had. Of Susie and me.
Her aunt texted back: That’s not Susie. Not sure who it is.
How odd. The only other family member her age, or even within the right age range to have a photo so dated yet still in color, was Susie. If it wasn’t her, who was it?
Her phone lit up: Are you sure it isn’t a photo of you?
It definitely wasn’t Alice; she could tell. I don’t think it’s me, she typed. Oh well. Maybe someone will know. I’ll hold on to it.
Okay, honey. Hope you’re doing well!
Yep! she lied, just a little. Tell Uncle George I said hi.
I will. Give Henry a kiss for me.
Okay. She slipped her phone into her pocket just as the sound of sand under tires tugged on her attention.
Jack pulled up out front and got out of his car. He’d changed into a T-shirt and shorts with a pair of leather flip-flops, and seeing him like that eased her tension just a bit. Perhaps it was because she’d met him under casual circumstances, but she felt that he looked more like himself when he wasn’t in his work clothes, though she knew that probably wasn’t true.
“Hey,” he said, smiling at her. “How’s the crew?”
“Ha. They’re all sleeping.”
He sat down next to her. “Any sign of Einstein?”
She shook her head. “I called the local shelter to see if anyone had turned him in, but they haven’t seen him.”
“You’ve had a tough day,” he said.
“Yeah.”
Since the very moment she’d met him, she’d shared her feelings and he’d listened. She’d never allowed anyone else in on her worries before, but she trusted him with her real emotions, holding nothing back. It was new and a little scary to let someone else in, but Jack made her want to take a chance; he made her feel comfortable about telling him her vulnerabilities. She didn’t want to whine on and on, but she felt like she needed to say what she was thinking out loud or she might explode, and Jack was kind and such a good listener. He seemed to know just what to say to ease her mind, and he wasn’t as close to the situation as Sasha, who would tell her it would be fine just to keep her from losing it, so it would be easier to believe him when he said it would be okay—he’d be objective.
She needed to hear a caring voice to help her see the bright side of things, and she felt like Jack was the only one who could give her that.
“I’m worried about a lot, actually,” she said, before looking at him.
He was focused on her face, his head turned just slightly to the side.
“I’m still worried I haven’t done the right thing coming here,” she said. “I thought it was so right…”
Everything seemed to be against her, even though in her heart she felt like she should do this. Whenever she was at that wall of ideas, Alice could almost sense Gramps’s presence. Nothing else did that for her, not even the ocean. Planning things for the shop, she felt like the entire universe was with her, the ideas coming one after another as if a force outside of herself propelled her. But other than that, nothing was the way it should be. Was she forcing things?
“The more I try, the more I feel like this might not work. I’ve thought about getting my old job back.” She chewed on her lip, the idea of it settling uneasily.
He was quiet before finally saying, “I didn’t want to bring it up right now, but since you mentioned it, I have a proposition that might make it all easier for you.”
She stared at him. “Which is?”
“Sell the bike shop to me.”
Alice didn’t respond, but a tiny voice in her head was getting louder. It was the voice of reason that had warned her about leading with her emotions. She’d let herself believe that Jack could be there for her, support her. But instead, real life had just slapped her in the face and it took her a moment to regain mental control of the situation, her heart slamming around in her chest.
“I’m willing to give you well over the purchase price. Up to a million.”
Heat spread over her like an angry tidal wave. She fumbled for that feeling—the universe feeling—wondering if perhaps this was what was meant for Gramps’s bike shop, and she was being unreasonable, but all she could feel was resentment. There was nothing telling her it was the right choice and she knew why.
She�
��d allowed herself to fall for this man, and she’d let her guard down. But who was he really? That doctor with all the money who wanted the bike shop. And now, when she needed him, when she needed that calming voice that said it would be okay, instead, it felt like he’d used her vulnerability to his advantage, giving her a lucrative offer she would find hard to refuse.
And, as if it had been waiting in front of her face for her to discover, she remembered what he’d said about the thrill of the adventure. Was all of this just a way for him to satisfy his urge to get the next big thing, his newest conquest: her shop? All her fears washed over her once more. Just like the other men in her life, she’d thought he was different and now she was furious for putting herself in this position again. When it came to the big moment when things weren’t all roses and she needed someone, he’d failed.
And now everything was becoming clear: he planned on leaving again, so maybe Melly was right and he had abandoned his poor father before. It would make sense, since Butch had practically poured his heart out to Jack and yet he would go right back to Chicago once he got Butch a house. He kept secrets about Melly that he wouldn’t trust Alice enough to tell her. He wouldn’t tell her anything about work, actually. And now, he was trying to take Gramps’s shop right out from under her for his own personal gain. And she’d actually let herself have feelings for him…
At least this time she hadn’t let it go as far as she had with Matt. But what was eating at her was that, little by little, she was losing hope in the idea of her life moving forward. What was money when she and Henry didn’t have anyone to share it with? Her dreams of a big family and a loving husband had now slipped completely away in this one moment, because Jack—who had been her gage for all her relationships since she was a girl—had taken her hope away, just like the others.
“I don’t know what to say.” She swallowed the lump in her throat.