Beneath the Scars

I smiled at her thoughtfulness. “Thank you, but I’m fine. I’m going to take my stuff in, then Dixie and I will go for a quick walk and have a quiet night.”

“Don’t go far. As you can see, the woods are pretty thick and it’s easy to get lost.”

“No, we’ll just have a short jaunt on the beach.” I stepped back from her car. “Good night, Mrs. Cooper.”

“Okay. Take the flashlight on the counter with you on your walk. I made sure Mr. C put fresh batteries in it. You have my number. Call me if you need something, dear.”

With a smile and a wave, she was gone, and I was alone.

A sharp bark made me smile and I scooped up Dixie, laughing as her rough tongue met my cheek. I stroked her head in return and carried her up to the porch, grateful all the keys were labeled on the ring. Opening the back door, I took her inside; wanting to make sure she was settled prior to unloading the car for the night. I walked through into the front of the house, scanned the comfortable looking room, and stopped dead at the sight that met my eyes, my breath catching in my throat.

Setting Dixie down, I stepped forward, never taking my eyes off the large front windows. The sun had almost set, the last of the evening light casting rays over the water. I was transfixed by the beautiful scene laid out in front of me. The house was set back, somewhat elevated from the beach below; close enough I could see the waves breaking on the rocky shore. I could also hear the sounds of the surf even through the window. Beside me, Dixie was up on her hind legs, looking through the glass, tail wagging with excitement. I smiled down at her, scratching her ears gently. “The car can wait, Dixie. Let’s go for a walk!”

Ensuring her lead was secure, I picked up the flashlight, and we made our way to the beach. The air was fresh and sharp, the salty tang filling my lungs. The wind was cold on my face, and as we got closer to the water, I could feel the icy spray as the sea crashed against the rocks. The vast expanse of water and sky caused my throat to tighten. The sheer beauty—the only sounds around me, of wind and water—brought unexpected tears to my eyes. I wrapped my arms around my torso, as a long, shaky breath left my chest. I was glad I came today. Dixie ran around as far as her lead would allow, sniffing and barking happily. After another deep breath, I wiped the damp from my cheeks, and we walked the shore, both of us enjoying the openness around us. I clutched my jacket tighter around me and stood with my back to the water, looking at the house where I would be staying.

The front was all glass, allowing the beautiful view that had drawn me out to the beach to be seen with ease. Edged with rugged stonework, the house had a large deck, but it wasn’t as large a place as I’d have thought, knowing Karen’s taste. I had to smile—that was obviously her husband, Chris’s, influence. The lines were simple and clean, almost sparse. He came to Cliff’s Edge a lot, Karen only staying for short time periods. The town was too small for her liking—no nightclubs, huge shops or spas to keep her entertained. Whereas Chris, like me, would be perfectly content with a book, a cup of coffee, and the panoramic view; for Karen, it would wear thin pretty fast.

My gaze drifted to the only other two houses on the very private stretch of water. There was one, just up off the beach, somewhat larger than Karen and Chris’s, then at the end, high up on the bluff, was the one house Karen told me was occupied year-round. I could see muted lights in the windows. I felt a small sense of comfort knowing there was another person around the deserted beach—even if, as Karen told me, he was intensely private and not very approachable. All three houses backed onto the dense forest but faced the ocean in front. As I found out, the road leading up to the houses was difficult to find and not something you would stumble upon without great effort, thereby ensuring privacy for homeowners. Even though I hadn’t listened to her, I understood now why Karen told me to drive here in the daylight. I was grateful Mrs. Cooper had been in her store when I stopped to pick up the keys and had insisted on driving ahead of me, so I didn’t get lost.

A bright light caught my eye. I glanced back at the house on the bluff, thinking how spectacular the views must be from those windows, given how lovely the scene was before me. The largest house of them all, it was three stories high and light was spilling out from the top floor. It was the most secluded, set back from the water and nestled close to the forest behind it.