by Carrie Elks
“You don’t know what it is.”
“Doesn’t matter. You always have good taste.”
Ember raised her brows. “Don’t tell Lucas that. You’ll give him a big head.”
Brooke grinned as she opened the gift. Her favorite set of candles – blue and white and smelling of the ocean. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
“I thought you deserved a moving in gift, after everything you’ve been through.” Ember moved closer. “And how’s Uncle Aiden doing?” She wiggled her eyebrows. “I hear he’s smitten.”
“I think Nick’s smitten, too,” Brooke admitted. “Especially now that he knows Aiden’s his uncle.”
“You told him?” Ember leaned forward, her eyes wide, her chin propped onto her upturned palms. “When? How? I need details.”
“A couple of days ago.” Brooke blew out a mouthful of air. She still wasn’t over the anxiety of it all yet. “We took him out for ice cream and explained that Aiden is his daddy’s brother.” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as she remembered the conversation.
“You know my daddy?” Nick asked.
“Yes. But I haven’t seen him in a long time,” Aiden said, his expression serious. “He’s not a good man.”
Nick had blinked, two lines appearing on the bridge of his nose as though he was concentrating on something. “But you’re not bad, are you?” He glanced over at Brooke. “Aiden’s good, right, Mom?”
She nodded. “Yes, sweetheart, Aiden’s a good man. And he wants to be a good uncle, too, if you’ll let him.”
Nick had stared at her for a moment, before his solemn gaze moved to Aiden. “I’ve never had an uncle before. I don’t know what they do.”
Brooke could see Aiden trying to bite down a smile. “Lucas is like an uncle,” she said to her son. “He plays with you, he talks with you. He loves you.”
“I love Lucas, too.” He nodded slowly. “Does that mean I can call you Uncle Aiden?”
“Yeah.” Aiden’s voice was gruff. “But only if you want to.”
“I think I do.” Nick dipped his spoon into the mound of pink and white ice cream piled in his bowl, scooping it up and lifting it to his lips. “Mom, where does the sun go at night?” he asked before closing his lips around the spoon.
She glanced at Aiden who was staring straight at her. Shrugging, she brought her attention back to her son. “It doesn’t go anywhere,” she said, trying not to grin at his abrupt change in conversation. She knew her boy well enough to understand he’d had enough information about his family, at least for now. He wanted time to take it in before talking about it again. “The sun stays in the same place, it’s us who moves.”
“How did he take it?” Ember took a sip of her coffee and placed the cup down on the table.
“He was fine. He’s asked a few questions since, but nothing more. I think he’s still taking it all in.”
They both turned to look at Nick, who was drinking soda from a cup and straw, as he sat on the beach next to one of his school friends. The two of them were in deep conversation, their heads so close to each other their hair was touching.
“And what do your parents have to say about it?”
Brooke caught her friend’s eye. Ember knew the Newtons well. She’d spent enough time at Brooke’s house over the years. From birthday parties and sleepovers, to dinner dates and cocktail parties, the Newton house had been like a second home to Brooke’s friends. And though both Ally and Ember had the Lillian Newton seal of approval, they both knew Brooke’s parents weren’t always as supportive as they could be.
“They don’t know yet,” Brooke admitted.
“That you’ve told Nick?”
Brooke slowly shook her head. “I haven’t told them a thing. Not about Jamie being Nick’s dad, or Aiden being his uncle.”
“Oh.” Ember brought her hand to her mouth. “Brooke, don’t you think you should tell them? Now that Nick knows…”
Brooke nodded her head. “I know I should. But there hasn’t been a right time.”
“Maybe the wrong time will have to do.” Ember wrinkled her nose. “If I know your mom and dad, it will be a hundred times worse if the news comes from somebody else but you.”
“I know.” Brooke lowered her head into her hands. “None of this was planned. A few weeks ago I thought I had everything covered. I was going to graduate, move out with Nick, things were going to be easy.” And then Aiden came along and her world was tipped upside down. All the secrets she’d buried for so long were rising to the surface, demanding to be heard. She lifted her head and took a deep breath. “Anyway, they’re away on vacation, so there’s no way of telling them. And as soon as they’re back it’s the Charity Gala. I’ll tell them after that.”
“I’d forgotten all about the gala. I need to choose a dress.” Ember grimaced. She’d never been one for dressing up – preferring shorts and a t-shirt to an evening gown.
“On the plus side, at least you’ll get to see Lucas in a tux,” Brooke pointed out. Ember grinned at her words. “And if you can’t find anything, I have hundreds of dresses still hanging in my closet back at my parents’ house. I’m pretty sure they’d fit you perfectly.”
“How are the arrangements going?”
“Good I think. Clara has it all under control. All the tables are sold and we have some amazing auction items. Hopefully we’ll be able to raise a lot of money for the shelter.”
“It’ll be a fun night,” Ember said, though her tone wasn’t as certain as her words.
Brooke laughed. “Yeah, sure. Keep saying that and we both might believe it.”
“At least it’s for a good cause.”
“That’s why we’re going. And afterward we won’t have to think about it for another year.”
A dark shadow passed over the deck, landing on the metal table in front of them. Brooke looked up to see who it was, and felt herself blush as she recognized the man.
He was dressed in a suit again, the dark wool complimenting his warm complexion. His tie was loose, his top button unfastened, and his sunglasses were pushed on his head.
“Speak of the devil and he will appear,” Ember said under her breath.
But he didn’t look like a devil. He looked glorious. There weren’t many men who could carry a suit off as well as he did. There weren’t many men who could carry casual off like Aiden, either. Brooke tried to calm her racing heart, annoyed at herself for the way she reacted to him.
He was Nick’s uncle. That was all.
“Hey.” He looked bemused to see them both staring up at him. “Everything okay?”
“Hi.” Brooke smiled at him, the corners of her eyes crinkling. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve got a meeting with Nate. We’re talking about opening a Coastal Café in the resort.” Aiden glanced inside the coffee shop. “I thought I’d come over here instead of him coming to the resort since they’re so busy.” He looked around the deck. “Is Nick here?”
“He’s on the beach with a friend.”
Aiden followed her gaze. His entire stance seemed to relax when he saw the two of them building a sandcastle. “I’ll say hi on my way out.” He turned to Ember. “Hey, how are you doing?”
“I’m good.” She shaded her eyes from the sun as she looked up at him. “And you?”
“Yeah, great.” He looked totally at ease as he stood there, talking to her friend. As though he was another one of the gang. Brooke felt her heart ache at the thought – she wanted him to be exactly that.
Slowly, he turned to look at Brooke, blinking when he realized she was staring straight at him. And there was a fizzing in the air again. A frisson of excitement only the two of them could feel.
“Are you and Nick free tomorrow?” he asked her.
“Um, yeah. I think so.” She bit the corner of her lip, trying to stop her blush from deepening. Over his shoulder she could see Ember smiling widely. “I’m pretty much unpacked, and I’m not due at the shelter until Monday.”
/> “Great, I’ll pick you guys up at nine. Wear layers, it could get cold out there.”
“Out where?”
He shook his head, grinning. “It’s a surprise.”
“For me or for Nick?” She met his gaze, feeling a smile break out on her face, mirroring his. “Because I promise not to tell.”
“For both of you. Be ready at nine, I’ll do the rest.” He glanced at his expensive silver watch. “I’d better go. I’m already late for Nate. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
She nodded, trying to ignore the excitement in her stomach. “Okay.”
He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. Her breath caught in her throat as he stepped back. She couldn’t help but lift her hand to her face, feeling the hot skin burning beneath her palm.
He walked into the coffee shop, the door tinkling behind him. Brooke stared through the window, watching as he walked toward the counter where Nate was waiting for him. The two of them smiled at each other as they shook hands. Brooke watched as the movement pulled his shirt tight across his back, revealing the strength of his muscles. She had to work hard not to sigh.
“Nothing going on at all between you two, huh?” Ember said. “Let’s see how long that lasts."
Aiden closed his laptop down and drank the last dregs of coffee, not noticing it was only lukewarm. While he was working the sun had set, only a thin line of light remained on the horizon, as the day lost its battle against the encroaching night.
He lifted his hand to the bridge of his nose, pinching it to try and relieve the pressure in his head. Ever since his meeting with Mark Johnson there had been a persistent ache in his temples, and neither painkillers nor sleep seemed to ease it. There was that feeling in the pit of his stomach, too, and it always seemed to get worse whenever his brother’s name was mentioned.
Jamie. The thought of him touching Brooke – beautiful, perfect Brooke – felt like a knife jabbing at his skin. Where Brooke had always felt like the sunshine of his life, Jamie had been the darkness, casting a shadow over everything. For all his life he’d believed they were in completely separate compartments, never coming close to each other.
How wrong he’d been.
The girl he should never have fallen for and the brother he couldn’t stand. And now there was Nick to think about, too.
He lifted his head, his gaze falling on the silver photograph frame perched on the corner of his desk. Behind the glass was an image of a young woman with dark hair and eyes that seemed to sparkle in spite of the life she’d had to lead. Her right hand was resting on her swollen stomach, her left lifted in a wave to whoever was taking the photograph. His father, maybe? Aiden found it hard to believe. When he was alive, his father didn’t have a sentimental bone in his body – and no time for things such as photographs. He was too busy drinking and fighting to care about memories.
Anyway, he’d never seen his mom smile at his father the way she was smiling in this picture.
Damn, he missed her. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to imagine her expression if she’d known Nicholas was her grandson. She’d always loved Brooke – even after Martin had thrown them out, she wouldn’t hear a word said against them. The Newtons were like gods to her. She’d probably have thought she wasn’t worthy to be a grandparent to a Newton child.
“But you were worthy,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. As far as he was concerned, she was more worthy than any of them. There was more goodness in Joan Black’s bones than in the whole of this town.
Apart from Brooke.
God, he’d wanted to hate her as much as he hated her parents. He hadn’t banked on her being more beautiful than he remembered, nor on her being kinder and brighter, too. And all those emotions they’d felt as teenagers – the ones that had led to long evenings with her curled up in his arms as she’d talked about school and he’d told her about college and they’d made plans for a future which could never exist. They were coming back, but this time they were adult emotions. Not the sweet whispers of adolescence. Every time he saw her there was this pull toward her, and he wasn’t sure how long he could hold out against it.
He wasn’t sure if he wanted to, either.
17
“We’re going whale watching?” Brooke looked up at the big wooden boat ahead of them, The Ocean Explorer painted in blue and red on the bright white hull. It was bobbing softly in the water, the side occasionally crashing against the metal gangplank connecting the boat to the harbor. Beside her, Nick gasped, and she looked down to see his wide eyes and even wider smile.
“Whales? Sweet! Are they killer ones?”
Aiden lifted his mirrored aviators from his face, and grinned at his nephew. “Maybe, but there are no guarantees. There should be plenty of humpbacks and orcas, though. And they say the dolphins practically climb on board to say hello.”
“That’s so cool.”
“Is this okay?” Aiden asked quietly, so only Brooke could hear. “I checked the safety details and we should be fine. The rails are high, and all the kids get a lifejacket to wear. I won’t let anything happen to him.”
“It’s more than okay. Nick loves whales. How did you know?”
“We were talking about them the other night. He said he’d love to see them close up. I wanted to make it happen.”
“You’re fast becoming his favorite uncle.”
“I’m his only uncle.” His lips pulled up into a smile.
“Then you’re doing fine.” She grinned right back at him.
As they climbed on board, Griff came to greet them. He’d been captain of the whaling boat for the past five years, taking over from his father before him. She couldn’t remember a time when there hadn’t been whale tours launching from Paxton’s Pier. They were as much a part of Angel Sands as Frank Megassey’s hardware store.
As soon as he saw her, Griff leaned forward to hug her, pulling at her pony tail to mess with her. He high-fived Nick, who was already overwhelmed by the boat – being in contact with the captain made him turn silent for a minute.
“How’re you doing?” Griff asked her. “Long time no see. They must be working you too hard at school.” Griff had never gone to college. He’d been a surfing prodigy and had done the circuit for a few years, before settling back in Angel Sands. Nowadays he surfed for fun.
“I’m busy as always.” Brooke grinned at him, so pleased to see a friendly face. “Do you remember Aiden from Lucas and Ember’s party? He’s a friend of mine.”
“He’s my uncle,” Nick said, finally finding his voice. “My Uncle Aiden.”
Griff reached his hand out to Aiden. “Yeah, I remember. It’s good to see you again. You work at the resort, right?”
“That’s right.” Aiden took his hand, shaking it firmly.
Griff touched the peak of his captain’s hat. “Well it’s good to have you on board. Now go and get yourselves comfortable, and little guy, you need to put this on.” He handed Nick a bright yellow life jacket. “We’ll be pulling out in about ten minutes. Once we’re on our way, how about you come and sit in the pilot’s seat with me?”
“Can I?” Nick’s face lit up. “Is that allowed?”
“I’m the captain of this ship. If I say it’s okay, then it is.” Griff winked at him.
Twenty minutes later they were leaning on the rails, feeling the warm salty air blow against their faces. Behind them, Angel Sands was disappearing into the distance. The sun was casting a thick line of gold across the blue ocean, as the occasional wave broke the peaceful water. Motoring out of the harbor, they’d already seen sea lions and harbor lions, as well as a fat otter lazing out on a rock. Nick’s eyes were searching this way and that, taking everything in. She could feel the excitement vibrating out of him.
“We need your help, folks. One of the first signs of a whale is the blow spout,” the tour guide told them. “Keep searching for it, and if you see it, shout. We’ll turn the boat toward it.”
That was music to Nick’s ears. He took it as a comm
and, refusing to do anything but scan the water.
“This was a great idea. Thank you.” She shot Aiden a smile. He’d perfected the casual look; with a pair of jeans, a black t-shirt, and a pair of aviators. With the ocean breeze in his hair he could be part of a cologne commercial. She wasn’t the only one who noticed, either; there was a group of girls – tourists – in the corner who hadn’t been able to take their eyes off him. Every time he turned, she could hear them giggle.
“I’ve got a few years to make up for. You can expect more trips like this.” He looked down at Nick, who was still rapt, staring at the ocean, before he glanced back at Brooke. “If that’s okay with you.”
“You don’t need to keep asking. He’s your family, too.”
Aiden’s smile grew wider. She liked what she saw.
There was another boy on board, a few years older than Nick. From the looks of it, he was with his father. “Dad, is that a blow hole?” he shouted, clearly excited by what he could see.
“Nope, only a wave.”
Nick frowned, turning his head for a moment. It was the first time he’d stopped looking at the ocean. He turned to Aiden and took his hand, folding his small fingers around Aiden’s longer ones. “Uncle Aiden, will you look with me? See if we can spot a whale?”
Aiden’s eyes were soft as he hunkered down next to Nick. “Sure. Let’s see what’s out there.”
Brooke stood back for a moment, watching as the two of them scanned the ocean ahead. Their heads were pressed together, dark hair mingling with dark hair. Aiden had his arm casually slung around Nick’s back as he pointed something out with his free hand, talking softly so only Nick could hear.
Seeing them together was the most delicious torture she’d ever felt. As though everything she really wanted was so close – near enough to almost taste – and yet it was an illusion. She wanted to pick it up and play with it, twist and pull until it became real.
She shook her head, trying to bring herself back to reality. Nick called out, his entire body shaking as he jumped up and down. “I see it, I see it. Look!” She followed his arm, pointing to a blow spout in the distance. The water puffed up, as if by magic, no sign of the majestic animal beneath.