by Carrie Elks
“You stay as long as you need to,” Nate told her, carrying a trayful of coffee into the living room and setting it down on the smoked glass coffee table. “There’s plenty of room here. Plus Riley’s having the time of her life with Nick.”
It was early on Monday evening. Brooke had picked Nick up from school and brought him straight to Nate and Ally’s – thanks to their kind offer. The thought of staying one more night in the bungalow, knowing what her parents thought of her was too much. She needed to put distance between them, to sort out her thoughts. And more importantly, to get control of her anger.
They’d manipulated her and lied for all these years. The thought of them forcing the Black family to leave town in the dead of night made her heart hurt. For Joan, for Aiden – even for Jamie. But most of all for her and Nick. She’d been so in love with Aiden it had hurt, and when he left it was as though she’d been torn in two.
“I need to start standing on my own two feet,” Brooke said, her voice resolute. “I want to find somewhere Nick and I can put some roots down. It’s been a long time coming, after all.”
Her eyes met Ally’s. More than anybody, her friend understood the need to call somewhere home. It made Brooke feel so happy to see Ally in love with Nate Crawford. Their love story had been unexpected but so right. And now they were living together, engaged to be married, and so happy they lit up the air around them.
“I’ve never left home,” Brooke said, her voice soft. “And I’m almost twenty-eight-years-old. What does that say about me? And more importantly, what kind of message am I sending to Nick? I’m the biggest failure.”
“You’re nothing like a failure,” Ally protested, frowning. “Look at you. You’ve managed to bring up your son to become a fine young man, you’re studying for your degree, and you’re single handedly keeping the animal shelter going. Who raises more money for that place than anywhere else? Brooke Newton, that’s who.”
Brooke’s eyes stung at her friend’s passion. “You’re too sweet to me.”
“No, that’s not true. I’m only telling you what’s obvious to everybody else. You’re amazing, Brooke, and I wish you could see it for yourself.”
Brooke wished she could, too. She felt anything but amazing. She was homeless, and even worse, Nick was too. He deserved stability and happiness, and she needed to make sure he had it.
“We meant it when we said you could stay as long as you need,” Ally said. “You’ve always been there for me whenever I’ve needed you. Let me do the same.”
Brooke reached for Ally’s hand and squeezed it tightly. Their eyes met in deep understanding. The kind you only got when you’d had your friend’s back for a long, long time. There was a bond between them – between the three of them – deeper than family ties. They would do anything for each other. Through thick and thin, no matter what.
“Mom, can we go to the beach?” Nick asked, breathless, as he ran into the living room. Riley was close behind him, a grin on her face which made Brooke wonder what they’d been up to.
“Sure. Let me get my swimsuit on, okay?”
“Can Riley come, too?” he asked, looking up at the older girl. Riley shrugged, trying to remain cool, but the expression on her face showed she wanted to join them. Like Nick, she was an only child, and at almost seventeen, she was eight years older than him, but the two of them often sought each other out when Ember, Brooke, Ally, and their friends were all together.
“Sure. The more the merrier.” Brooke stood and looked at Ally and Nate. “You guys want to join us?”
“Why not? It’s a beautiful evening.” Ally glanced at her fiancé.
“Yup. Let’s do this thing.”
Nick ran out of the living room, chatting excitedly with Riley about surfing and the waves and how he loved to swim. Thank goodness he was so adaptable.
“You okay?” Ally murmured, walking to join her by the living room door.
“Yeah. I was thinking about what to tell Nick about moving out.”
“Maybe leave that until tomorrow,” Ally suggested. “You’ve had enough to deal with today. Anyway, he’s going to be fine. You both are.”
Brooke opened her mouth to answer, but the shrill ring of her phone swallowed her words. She pulled it from her pocket, wincing when she saw her mom’s name flashing on the screen.
“You going to get that?” Ally asked.
“Not right now. I’ve got nothing to say to her.” Brooke winced. “Or nothing good, anyway.”
“What if she wants to see Nick?”
Brooke took a deep breath. “I’m not going to stop my parents from seeing him. He loves them and they love him. It’s me who’s mad at them, not him. I’ll message her tomorrow, but only to talk about him. Everything else is off the table until I cool off.”
“Mom, can we go now?” Nick ran out of the guest room with his swimshorts on. “I want to swim before it gets dark.”
Brooke grinned, her eyes shining with love. “Of course, sweetheart,” she said. “Give me two minutes, okay?”
It was time to relax and have fun with her son and forget about her problems for a while. Yes, she was practically homeless and no, she wasn’t speaking to her parents, but at least she and Nick had each other.
Everything else could wait until another day.
The construction site lay silent as the day was drawing to an end. Aiden walked up the steps to the trailer office, intending to finish up his emails for the night and head home for some long-awaited rest. Not that he’d been sleeping much recently. His mind was too full of Brooke’s revelations and his brand new relationship with his nephew to do that. A glass of something alcoholic and a plate full of pasta would work wonders. Even if it was bound to be past nine in the evening before he ate it.
“I’ve been calling you,” his secretary said as he walked into the main reception. “There’s somebody here to see you. You didn’t answer your phone.”
He pulled it from his pocket. Dead. The battery was on its way out, it wasn’t holding a charge at all.
“Who is it?” Aiden asked, glancing at the clock. It was almost seven. “And you should head home, I’m only going to be here for a few minutes longer. Your family must be wondering where you are.”
She leaned forward as though she didn’t want to be heard. “It’s Martin Newton, of Newton Pharmaceuticals.” Her eyes widened, as though it was a big deal. “I didn’t want to leave until you got here. I told him I had no idea when you’d be back, but he insisted on waiting.”
Aiden followed her gaze to the closed door of his office. A strange sensation washed over him. It wasn’t that he was afraid – he’d long since stopped fearing the influence Brooke’s father exerted. He might have been a big deal in Angel Sands, but in the wider world he was nobody. It had taken Aiden a while to realize that. Even longer to face the ghosts of his past and understand the only person who had power over him was himself.
He wasn’t a kid anymore. Martin Newton couldn’t hurt him.
“You can go home,” Aiden said, smiling at her even though it took some effort. “I’ll speak with Martin and leave right after.”
He didn’t have to ask twice. His secretary was standing and grabbing her purse before he could take a second breath. “I’ll be in early tomorrow,” she told him. “We have a delivery, remember? Plus Mr. Carter’s arranged a meeting for seven.”
Of course he had. Old Man Carter found it hard to sleep these days, and had a tough time understanding that other people could. A six A.M. meeting wasn’t unheard of.
Aiden rolled his shoulders and his neck, releasing the tension there. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t been expecting this. Ten years ago, Martin Newton had told them in no uncertain words they shouldn’t come back to town. Ever. And he was a man who hated to be disobeyed.
The man standing in the corner of his office turned around. He didn’t look very different to how Aiden remembered him. Still held himself ramrod straight, with eyes that seemed to drill right through your skin. Hi
s hair was a lighter silver, his face more lined, but those were the only physical changes Aiden could discern.
“Martin.” No more Mr. Newtons from him. Those had disappeared along with his childhood. “I wasn’t expecting you. You’re lucky I’m still here.”
Martin stared at him for a moment. Not because he was lost for words nor because he wanted time to regroup. Aiden understood the man more than he realized. He always liked to have the advantage and Aiden had stolen it from him by walking in with an agenda. Martin was working out how to swap their roles.
“Sit down,” Martin said, gesturing at the chair.
“After you, please.” Aiden turned to the refrigerator plugged in by the door. “Can I get you a drink?” he asked. “Water, soda, or I can make you some coffee.”
“I don’t want a drink. What I have to say won’t take long.”
Aiden turned back to look at Martin. He hadn’t sat down. He was still standing exactly where he’d been ever since Aiden had walked in. “I want to talk to you about my daughter.”
“I don’t think there’s anything to say. You said enough the last time I saw you, and nothing’s changed since.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. You leaving town was the best thing that could have happened. You shouldn’t have come back.” Martin placed his hands flat on Aiden’s desk, leaning forward. “This place has been perfectly fine for years. But then you walk back in and everything goes to hell. You tell lies to my daughter, you make her leave home with my grandson—”
“Wait. What?” Aiden frowned. “Brooke’s left?”
“As if you didn’t know. You probably told her to do it. She always was easily persuaded, especially by an asshole like you.”
Aiden opened his mouth to respond, but closed it again sharply. He didn’t know what the hell was going on, but he sure wasn’t going to say anything without speaking to Brooke first.
“Is that all you wanted to tell me?” he said, his voice deceptively soft. “Because I have a lot of work to do. It was nice to see you again, Martin. Thanks for dropping by. Don’t forget to wear a hard hat on your way out.”
“You throwing me out, boy?”
Aiden squared his shoulders. “Let’s get one thing straight. I’m not your boy. I never was. I don’t owe you anything, and I sure as hell don’t want to spend my evening talking to you. So I’m suggesting you leave before you say something we both might regret.”
“You think you can waltz back in here and mess my family up? Well you’ve got another thing coming. You were scum when you were a kid and you’re still scum now. Though you learned to dress better.” Martin shook his head, his eyes narrowing to slits. “You don’t want to get on the wrong side of me. You should remember what I’m capable of.”
“You’re capable of terrorizing women and kids until they leave town? Well excuse me if I don’t cower at the thought. I’m not that boy anymore, Martin. I’m here to build a resort and I’m not planning on going anywhere.”
“I’m important in this town. I know people, influential people. I can cause you more problems than you’ll know how to deal with. You don’t want to get on the wrong side of me, and I’m pretty sure your boss wouldn’t want to either. Maybe it’s him I should be talking to.” His voice wavered, as though he had no idea what to do next.
“Go ahead.” Aiden walked toward Martin, leaning over the desk to pull out the drawer. “Here’s his business card. I think you’ll find he gives as many flying fucks about your influence in Angel Sands as I do.” His laugh had no humor in it. “You’re a big fish in a very small pond, Martin. Outside these town limits nobody gives a damn what you think.”
Martin’s jaw was so tight Aiden could see a twitch where he was biting down. He shook his head again, nostrils flaring as he took a breath in. “I’m leaving,” he announced, as though it was completely his idea. “But you listen to me, boy. You mess with my family, you mess with me. Leave my daughter and grandson alone. You’re nothing to them, and you should keep it that way.”
In that moment, Aiden realized he had absolutely no idea they were his family, too. No inkling that Jamie was Nick’s father. He could announce the fact right now, and watch as the realization washed over Martin’s face, relish the way it would cut him like a knife.
But something stopped him. It wasn’t his secret to tell.
“Goodbye, Martin,” he said firmly, watching as the older man stalked to the door, yanking it open, and stepping into the main office. He didn’t say another word as he made his way out of the cabin and down the metal stairs, heading toward the gate to the parking lot.
He’d forgotten his hard hat. Aiden didn’t bother to call after him. Maybe a piece of falling masonry was what he needed now. Grabbing the phone, he called the night time security guard, asking him to let Martin Newton out of the gate. Sighing, he walked back into his office.
He had so much work to catch up on, so many project plans to read and emails to respond to, but his head was reeling.
There was only one person he wanted to talk to, and it had nothing to do with the resort at all.
“I’m going to finish up here and I’ll be right home,” Brooke told her son, cradling her phone on her shoulder as she poured food into each cat’s bowl. “Are you being a good boy for Ally and Nate?”
“Of course.” Nick sounded indignant at the thought he might not be. He was growing up so fast. Only a few years until she had teenage tantrums and exaggerated eye-rolls to contend with. Brooke bit down a sigh. Part of her wanted to keep him exactly like this – her little boy. Although Nick would hate the description. In his mind, he was already big. Her arms ached to hold him and protect him from the outside world.
“Mom, can I go now?” Nick asked, bringing her attention back to the phone call. “Riley’s home, and I want to see if she’ll come to the beach with me.”
“Okay, baby, but give Riley a bit of space. She might need it after a day at school.”
“Ah, he’s gone.” Ally’s voice echoed down the line. Nick must have handed her back the phone. “And don’t worry about Riley, she’s loving having him around. He’s like the little brother she never had.”
“Well thank you. For everything. I mean it.”
“No need to thank me,” Ally said, her voice light. “We’re friends, we do things for each other. God knows I owe you enough. Oh, and Nate’s planning on cooking shrimp tonight. Will eight be okay?”
Brooke checked her watch. It was a quarter after seven. “Yep, that’s great. But you’ve got to let me do the cleaning up.”
Ally laughed. “Whatever. See you soon.”
Brooke slid her phone into the pocket of her scrubs and gave food to the last of the cats. Everything else was ready for the shelter to close. The dogs had been exercised, the smaller animals were safely in their cages. And the larger ones – the goat and the sheep that would be rehomed that weekend – were safely out in the paddock. Clara was in her office, ready to take the night shift. All Brooke had to do was lock the front door.
She was about to slide the bolts across the top, when Brooke noticed the door knob turning. Blinking, she pulled it open, fully expecting to see another animal being brought in.
But instead there was Aiden, his dark eyebrows pulled down, his hand raking through his thick dark hair like a comb.
“Aiden? Are you okay?”
“I was passing. I saw your car.” There was the strangest expression on his face. A mixture of confusion and something else – but she wasn’t sure what. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure. I’m about to close up. You want to come in?”
He nodded, stepping in and waiting as she closed the door behind him. “Are you alone here?” he asked her, the frown still furrowing his brow.
“No, Clara is here. She’s taking the night shift. I can’t do it because of Nick.” Brooke glanced over at the closed office door. “I want to make sure everything’s clean and ready for tomorrow before I leave.” She bit her bottom lip.
“I usually say goodnight to them all,” she admitted. “I don’t want you to think I’m crazy or anything.”
“Don’t let me stop you.” He gestured toward the pens. His eyes softened as he looked toward the dogs behind the Plexiglass doors. “Hey, is the dog you rescued from the resort still here?”
“Perdita? Yeah, she’s going to be with us for a while. We need to train her before we rehome her.” Brooke inclined her head, and he followed her gaze toward the light brown medium sized dog laying down in her pen.
“She looks different,” Aiden said.
“She cleaned up well. And luckily she’s healthy too. Now she needs to learn a few manners.” Brooke raised her eyebrows.
“Perdita,” Aiden murmured. “The lost one. Did you name her?”
“I liked it. It seemed fitting.”
“It does.”
His eyes caught hers, and she felt her heart leap. Strange how he still did that to her after all these years.
“I had a visitor myself this evening,” Aiden told her. “I thought you should probably know.” He leaned on the counter, tipping his head to the side as he looked at her. “It was your dad. He came to warn me off. Told me it was my fault you’ve left home.”
“Oh God.” Brooke squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m sorry. This has nothing to do with you. He shouldn’t have involved you.”
“Of course it has something to do with me. You left because of what he did to us. He’s right, this is my doing.”
She opened her eyes. He was closer. Close enough for her to see the brown flecks in his irises. Her fingers were trembling, so she laced them together to still them.
“You should have called me when you left. Where are you staying?” Concern softened his words.
“With Ally. But only for a couple of nights. I’m going to start looking for somewhere tomorrow, as soon as I drop Nick off at school.”