by Ashley John
Surf Bay 1
Lost & Found
By Ashley John
Copyright © Ashley John
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.
For questions and comments about this book, please contact the author at [email protected].
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This book is dedicated to every single person who has reached out to support me so far! If you're enjoying my books, then this is for you.
You keep me going!
Other books by Ashley John
The George & Harvey Series
The Secret (Out now)
The Truth (Out now)
The Fight (Out now)
The Complete Boxset (Out now)
The Surf Bay Series
Lost & Found (Out now)
Full Circle (PRE-ORDER NOW!)
Chapters
Act 1 – The Little Pink House
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Act 2 - Falling
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Act 3 – Fires and Sharks
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Act 1
The Little Pink House
Chapter 1
Charlie hated moving. He hated leaving everyone and everything behind to start a new life, but it was something he was all too familiar with. It was something his mother liked to do just when he was getting his life sorted in a new place. He'd only just graduated high school, and he'd been dating one of the most popular girls there.
It always happened the same way. They'd move to a small town, and everything would start out brilliantly. Charlie and his little sister, Poppy, would try their hardest to integrate themselves until the inevitable night when their mother would wake them in the dark, telling them to pack their bags because they needed to leave.
Her reasons and excuses would always be vague and it would always be something out of her control, or so she'd say, but it was always the same. She couldn't keep a job down, and she usually got into money trouble.
Staring out of the cab window as they sped down the winding cliff side road, he could see the ocean sat peacefully below them, stretching out as far as the eye could see. All he'd been told was that they were heading towards a small coastal town in California called Surf Bay to stay with his mother's Aunt Evelyn. It's funny how I've never heard of her until now.
“I promise we're going to make it work this time,” his mother beamed a nervous smile down at her children, squeezing Poppy's hand reassuringly.
Charlie rolled his eyes and gazed back out to the quiet ocean.
She uses that same line every single time.
“Why have we never visited Aunt Evelyn before?” Poppy asked, fidgeting under her seat belt.
Charlie could see the cogs turning in his mother's brain as she started to pick at the skin next to her nails, her nervous habit that gave away when she felt uneasy.
“I used to spend my summers visiting her,” she smiled, “It's a beautiful place. We lost touch over the years, but she's more than happy to take us.”
“For free?” Charlie asked.
“Well, obviously not,” she laughed awkwardly, “she's friends with a man who runs the diner in town and he's been looking for some help. Evelyn said the job is as good as mine so I can pay our way until we can stand on our own two feet. She's kind, but from what I can remember, she's quite frugal when it comes to money.”
Charlie peered down at his little sister's flame red curls. She was a beautiful little thing and even though they were technically only half brother and sister, he didn't love her any less. Poppy's father had been a sailor with a similar hue to his hair and skin, and even though their mother swore blind that he was 'the one', he'd vanished before the birth.
As the sea grew closer and closer, he thought back to his own father. His memories of him were fuzzy, and the older he got, the harder it was to remember anything. He could see an outline, but the face was nothing more than a blur. The one thing he could remember was the day that his mother had told him he'd found a new family to look after and they wouldn't be seeing him again. Charlie was only 5, but that's when the moving started.
Ever since, they'd been bouncing around the country, trying to find the happiness he could tell his mother craved. Sometimes, they'd settle and she'd find a man and everything would be good for a while, but as quickly as they'd arrive, they'd be sprinting towards a train or coach to embark on a new 'adventure'.
“It's going to make a nice change having all of this sun, don't you think Charlie?”
It's hardly a good enough reason to spend over a week on a dozen trains to get out of Alaska.
“I guess,” Charlie mumbled, still fixed on the clear, blue ocean.
He didn't want to be angry with his mother. He knew she tried her best, he just didn't know how much longer he could keep doing it. For Poppy, every time they moved, it was like a little game and she rather enjoyed starting a new life every year. For Charlie, however, being an 18 year old who couldn't stay in one place long enough to make proper relationships, was starting to wear thin.
“That'll be $32,” the driver grunted as he pulled up outside of a tiny pink wooden house.
His mother handed over what he knew was the last of their money and they quickly unloaded their few shabby bags onto the sidewalk before the cab sped off down the road.
“It's a princess house! It's pink!” Poppy beamed, jumping up and down with excitement.
Charlie smiled down at his sister, but he couldn't summon the same excitement that she had bursting from the seams. When his mother placed a hand gently on his shoulder, he was sure she could sense his exhaustion.
“I promise you,” she said, trying to calm the shakiness in her voice, “I promise you this is the last time we move.”
You said that last time.
“I know,” Charlie smiled back.
Even if he didn't believe her, he didn't want to cause her anymore stress than he knew she was already under.
The house that sat quietly in front of them was like something out of a fairytale. It was perched on the corner of a small street surrounded by grand Cherry Blossoms that swayed uniformly in the breeze. The wooden exterior of the house was painted in a pastel shade of pink, which complimented the vibrant petals.
Well, this is already better than most of the places she brings us.
Charlie shuddered when he thought back to the time they'd gone to stay with one of their mother's 'cousins' and they'd all had to share one bed in the smallest apartment known to man.
Poppy ran towards the pink house, which Charlie knew loo
ked like a castle straight out of the pages of one of her fairytale books. She eagerly unclasped the white picket gate and bounced around the garden as the warm sea breeze rocked the giant trees, sending pink petals fluttering down around her.
“This place hasn't changed at all,” their mother smiled, following Poppy into the garden, “it's just like I remember.”
Charlie joined them in the garden and set their bags down on the white wooden porch in front of the bright white front door.
“Shall I knock?” Charlie asked back to his mother who was throwing fists of the stray petals over a dancing Poppy.
“I guess so,” she laughed, “I haven't seen her in years.”
Strange that this is the place we'd come then.
Charlie knocked gently on the door, not wanting to make too much noise. The entire neighborhood seemed completely silent, with the only noise coming from the rustling of the Cherry Blossoms.
The door creaked open and a little, round lady with a warm smile answered. Charlie tried to smile down at the stranger, not sure what was the right thing to do in the situation. If his own mother hadn't seen her in years, how was he meant to react to a Great Aunt that he never knew existed until a week ago.
“You must be Charlie,” she smiled up, grabbing his hand and pulling him down into a tight hug, “you can call me Aunt Evelyn!”
Her sickly sweet scent that covered her loose floral dress instantly filled Charlie's nostrils.
“Oh Sarah! Look at the size of you!” she cried, wrapping her arms around his mother's neck, who was almost crouching down to reach the tiny old lady, “I haven't seen you in over 20 years! You look so beautiful.”
“Aunt Evelyn, you haven't changed one bit!” Sarah smiled, as she pulled away, “Poppy, come and say hello.”
A sudden shyness had taken over Poppy, forcing her to hide behind her mother's legs, not wanting to meet the lady who the beautiful garden belonged to. Charlie knew that she'd been expecting a beautiful princess, but instead she'd got a dumpy woman, wearing a floral dress, with gray hair perfectly set in tight ringlets.
To Charlie, she looked exactly like the kind of woman who would own such a house.
“Do you like my garden?” she smiled, crouching down to Poppy's level, which was only a few inches under her own height.
Poppy nervously nodded, edging her head cautiously around her mother's waist.
“Do you want to come and see the rest?” Evelyn cooed gently.
“There's more?” Poppy jumped out, and gazed up from her mother to Evelyn.
“Come on, let's go inside. I bet this place hasn't changed at all!” his mother smiled, walking over and picking up one of the bags, “I think we're going to be happy here.”
Charlie knew she was saying it for his benefit, but she didn't need to. He had no doubt that Aunt Evelyn was going to pull out all of the stops to make their stay enjoyable, he just wondered how long it would last.
The inside of the house looked as Charlie had imagined. The pink and white theme wasn't confined to the garden and the exterior, with the miniature living room sporting matching pink walls and a white wooden floor. All of the furniture was covered in either pink or white paint which clashed garishly with the exotic floral curtains and cushion covers.
“This place is really...nice,” Charlie smiled.
“That's very kind of you to say boy,” she said as she bustled past them and led them through to the kitchen, “you've got a good one there Sarah. H reminds me of my Frank, god rest his soul.”
“I know I have,” Sarah smiled at Charlie as she followed them into the kitchen.
The pink theme was abandoned there, and it had been replaced with an equally sickening yellow. A huge bay window sat in the middle of the wall, leading out onto an even more impressive garden than the front. Every inch of the yard was covered in lush plants and flowers, no two the same color. Tall trees hung over the space, creating a canopy for the bright sun to burst its way through in glittering, isolated beams.
“Lemonade!” Evelyn announced, pulling a tray of five already poured cloudy glasses from the yellow refrigerator.
The lemonade was tangy and refreshing, and after their long journey, it was just what Charlie needed. They'd been living off over priced and processed train station food for the past week, so it was nice to have something that tasted real.
Glancing at the fifth glass, he wondered who she'd poured it for. He tried to remember if his mother had mentioned any children, but she only mentioned a husband who had died years ago. Aside from her flowers, she seemed to be completely alone.
After they sipped the lemonade and Evelyn had shared stories about their mother from when she was a little girl, she led them up the narrow staircase to their bedrooms. Charlie and Poppy were going to share the bedroom overlooking the garden, but sharing didn't bother him. Most 18 year old boys wouldn't want to share with their 6 year old sister, but Charlie had learned that space was a luxury they didn't deserve when they were staying with people kind enough to take them in.
Evelyn pushed the door open with her behind and led Charlie into his new room. She'd insisted on carrying his bag, as if she was running her own hotel. Walking in, Charlie's eyes widened at the room. It was like stepping back in time. A metal frame set of bunk beds filled up most of the space, with faded floral bedding. A small wooden chest of drawers sat under the window with a bulky cream and brown television taking up most of the surface. Faded, peeling blue and white wallpaper covered the walls from floor to ceiling.
“Now I'm not sure if this thing works anymore,” she squeezed through Charlie and Poppy and started to fiddle with the buttons and knobs on the front of the ancient television, “I haven't used it in years.”
The television burst into life, and a grainy black and white picture appeared, fuzzily showing one of Charlie's favorite sitcoms.
“Thank you,” Charlie smiled, “I'm sure it'll be okay for us, isn't that right Poppy?”
“Where are the colors?” she blurted out, before noticing the look her older brother was trying to give her before mumbling, “thank you Aunt Evelyn.”
“It's not much, but if you need anything, just let me know and I'll see what I can do!” she ruffled Poppy's red curls, before heading out into the hall.
Charlie edged over to the window and flicked the television off. When the wiry hiss disappeared from the burnt out speakers, he peered out over the set and into the garden. It was even more impressive from the second floor. Everything was over saturated in color which Charlie assumed was from the huge amount of sun the place seemed to get. He hadn't even been there an hour and he was already starting to feel the sticky heat.
“Why can't this room be pink too?” Poppy sighed, climbing up to the top bunk which she was already claiming.
“It's fine,” Charlie said, trying to narrow his eyes on movement at the bottom of the garden, “It's going to be fun here.”
Poppy said something, but he didn't hear because he was too busy watching a shirtless man in a pair of faded denim jeans battle his way through one of the bushes, to fall out into the garden. He looked about Charlie's age, but his body was abnormally toned and tanned.
Glistening sweat mixed with dirt covered his exposed torso, and even from his distance at the window, he could see a light dusting of stubble on his jawline which nicely complimented his button nose and soft, brown eyes. He expertly ran his gloved hand through his glowing chocolate brown hair, slicking it back neatly leaving his creamy complexion to glow like a fresh flower.
As Charlie watched the mysterious man walk towards the house, he found himself fixated on his abs which flexed and tensed in the burning sunlight. He was so busy glaring with envy, he didn't notice that the stranger had stopped in his tracks to meet Charlie's gaze. For a second, he stared awkwardly at the brown eyed stranger, who winked cheekily at him, flashing a hint of his sparkling white teeth.
Charlie quickly ducked down out of the window, hitting his head on the bulky television.
Shit.
Chapter 2
Who was that cutie admiring all of this?
Oliver chuckled to himself. I don't mind you looking, damn I worked hard for this body.
Most people were jealous of his pumped up arms and chiseled stomach, but when people admired him, even if from a distance, it made the hours of work worth it.
Squinting back up to the empty window, he decided that his peeping friend was too embarrassed to take another look, so he dumped his shovel next to the backdoor. The scorching afternoon heat was starting to get to him, as he felt the sweat trickle down the back of his neck. Ripping his gardening gloves off, he carefully rubbed his free hands down his soaked stomach, wiping off a sticky combination of sweat and dirt. Rubbing the mess on the back of his old, denim jeans, he ran his hand through his hair again, brushing the devious strands from his eyes that kept breaking free.
Taking a quick glance back at the garden, he admired his handy work. Gardening wasn't his usual job, and he didn't think he was particularly good at it, but Evelyn was sweet and even though she barely paid him, he didn't mind helping her out. He knew she was a lonely old woman, and once every few weeks she treated Oliver like a hero for tending to her garden.
“Are you staying for some lunch Oliver?” a warm and adoring smile spread across Evelyn's lips as Oliver ducked into the kitchen, kicking his muddy boots off by the door.
He watched as she set down a plate of sandwiches onto the already food filled table. It wasn't like his parents were expecting him home anytime soon. They probably hadn't even noticed he wasn't in on his day off. For a moment, he toyed with the idea of spending the afternoon down at the beach catching the last of the waves, or spending it listening to Evelyn talk about the 'good old days' over sandwiches.