Lighthouse Way (Huckleberry Bay 1)

“I’ll get started on it tomorrow,” June says with a smile. “Demo is my favorite.”

“Shocker,” Apollo says and earns a glare from June.

“You’re just jealous,” June says.

“And what would I be jealous of?” Apollo demands.

“That I get to do the fun stuff, like demolish things. All you get to do is run wire through the buildings that I’ve already built.”

“Yeah. Definitely jealous.” He rolls his eyes.

Before June can snipe back, I shake my head. “Nope. We’re not doing this today. I have too much to do. I can’t play referee with you two. Wolfe, are you going to sleep in there?”

“Just looking at something,” I hear him mutter from inside the car. “About done here until I can get her to a garage. I guess I’ll have to buy the garage first, huh?”

“Wait.” June stops and blinks. “If you don’t have a place to haul this thing, I’ll hold off on demo.”

“Just give me a couple of days,” Wolfe says as he comes out from inside the car and wipes his hands on a handkerchief that he pulled out of his pocket.

He carries a handkerchief?

That’s kind of hot.

The three men discuss Wolfe’s plans for a repair garage as we walk to the barn door. Once everyone is out, I pull the door closed and lock it.

Only the five of us know the car is in there, but I don’t want to take any chances.

I’ve just turned around when June says, “Luna.”

She gestures toward the road with her chin, and I follow her gaze, feeling my heart stumble in my chest.

“Oh, God.”

None of us moves as we watch Sarah walk up the road, pulling two large rolling suitcases behind her. She stops at the end of the driveway when she spots us and pushes her sunglasses up onto the top of her head.

“Don’t give her shit,” I say as I grab onto June’s wrist.

“She needs us,” June says softly. “Look at her face.”

“Yeah. I see it.”

We take off in a brisk walk toward our old friend. I hear the guys behind us. Apollo murmurs something I can’t make out to Tanner.

“Hey,” I say as I reach Sarah. “Honey, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I—” She swallows hard as she looks over my shoulder at Tanner. “Hi. Hi, everyone. Gosh, you’re all here.”

Her eyes fill with tears, and I instinctively reach out to wrap my arm around her shoulders.

“I’m sorry to interrupt and just show up out of the blue. I tried to call, but—”

“Potential spam,” June says. “Sorry, it showed up as a telemarketer.”

“I figured.” Sarah sighs. “I don’t know what to say.”

“My mom always says it’s best to start at the beginning,” I say and look over at my brother, who clearly hears my unspoken request.

Take the guys and go.

“I have work to do,” he says and offers Sarah a kind smile. “It’s good to see you, kiddo. Hey, guys, let’s go figure out this car removal thing.”

“I’ll call you later,” Wolfe says to me and then smiles at Sarah. “It’s good to have you home, Sarah.”

“Thanks,” she says, her voice breaking before she can clear her throat.

Tanner hangs back as the other two leave. He and Sarah were high school sweethearts, and I see that his face has gone ashen.

“We’ll have you guys over for lunch tomorrow. Or dinner. Whatever works for you,” I tell him softly.

“Yeah. Yeah, okay.” He nods and turns away, then looks back at Sarah. “Call me if you need me.”

She just nods as he leaves and gets into Apollo’s car.

When the three of them are gone, June takes Sarah’s hand in hers, and the three of us just stand in the late summer sunshine for a minute, the way we’d done countless times in our childhood.

“Luna,” June says quietly. “Let’s gather up some snacks and drinks and take this to our secret spot.”

“Good idea.”

We got all of Sarah’s bags into the house, and while she used the bathroom, I loaded up a tray with molasses cookies, chips and salsa, and Cokes.

Our favorites.

Then we climbed up the lighthouse steps to our special place in the tower room. Sometimes, when the wind was calm and the weather nice, we’d sit out on the widow’s walk.

But we’re inside today.

“Okay,” June says as she dips a chip into the salsa and pops it into her mouth. “Talk to us.”

“Who, me?” Sarah asks innocently and bites into a cookie. “I want to hear about what you’ve been up to.”

“No way,” June replies. “What happened?”

Sarah sighs and closes her eyes. “You know, I dreamed of this place. So often. Whenever things got really bad, I’d just close my eyes and come here. To our place. I’d listen to the water, and for those few moments, I’d feel safe.”

June and I share a glance but don’t say anything. We just wait for Sarah to tell us what’s going on.