Just A Kiss (Angel Sands 4)

“It’s not only about the result though, is it? It’s about the process. About enjoying every moment and seeing the changes come through our hard work. I bet you’ll miss this place when it’s done.”

His father wasn’t wrong. “Yeah, well they’re all our babies, aren’t they? It’s hard to hand them back to their owners, yet there’s something fantastic about it, too. We’re not rebuilding memorials here, we’re creating futures. Somewhere for people to work, and enjoy themselves. Somewhere we can all look at and say this is a job well done.”

David smiled. Breck knew his father got it, too. From the age of seventeen, he’d spent a lot of time with his dad at sites, watching him work his magic. At first, he’d gone under sufferance, bristling at being treated like a kid. Protesting he’d rather be at home than working on a site every weekend or school break. But as time passed, he’d realized exactly why his dad had made him go. They’d spent a lot of time together, got to know each other, and developed a shared passion. It was no different than going with a parent to a game, or enjoying golf together. They weren’t just rebuilding hotels, they were rebuilding their relationship.

Pulling on their hard hats, they walked onto the site. Before construction had begun, Breck had arranged for safety notices to go up throughout the area. Protective equipment was to be worn at all times, and they weren’t exempt from that, even if there was no construction going on right now.

“How are you managing being back here in Angel Sands?” David asked. “It must be strange after all these years.” He looked over at the ocean. “It’s strange enough for me, and I barely lived here. God only knows the memories it’s bringing back for you.” His voice dropped as he looked at Breck with concern.

Breck pulled a piece of loose stucco away from the wall, holding the orange-painted rubble in his hand. It was one of the last bungalows left to renovate. Next week they’d be taking all the drywall off, piece by piece, to check the framework beneath. “It’s not too bad. At first I felt like another tourist, here to visit. But as the weeks have passed I’ve fallen into the rhythm of things. Met up with old friends, spent time surfing. It’s been good.”

David smiled sadly. “The kind of teenage years you should’ve had.”

They sat down on an old bench, overlooking the private beach. The sand was covered with weeds and driftwood, unused for years. The beach would be the last part of the resort to be restored. For now it held a wild beauty. Over the years everything had returned to its natural state.

His father was only here for a quick visit, checking out the site and having meetings with the owners. Tomorrow he’d be back in Boston, but he’d already promised to be back in California for Thanksgiving.

“I don’t resent not living here after Mom died,” Breck said, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his thighs. “Not any more. I know I was a jackass back then, but really, I would’ve been an asshole here, too. I was angry at the world, not just Boston.”

“And understandably so. You’d recently lost your mom, and you were taking care of your brother. Then in comes this guy saying he wants to be your dad and move you two thousand miles east. I completely understood why you acted out so much. To be honest, I felt like I deserved it.”

Breck frowned. “You did?”

“Of

course I did. After your mom and I divorced, and I moved to Boston, I hardly saw you. I know I was busy building the business, and you refused to fly out there, but I could’ve come here to visit you. But I didn’t, because I was afraid. At least in Boston I could say there were reasons for not seeing you. If I’d come to Angel Sands and you’d rejected me, all those excuses would disappear. I’d become just another dad whose kids didn’t want him.”

“That’s all ancient history now.”

“It is,” David agreed. “But I also want you to know why I worked so hard to repair our relationship. As awful as your mom’s death was, it was my chance to step up, to really be a father to you and Daniel. For the first time in my life I realized it wasn’t too late to try again.”

“I’m glad you did.”

“So am I.” His dad smiled warmly at him.

Breck could feel his throat getting scratchy, as though he had a cough that wouldn’t come out. He rubbed his neck, feeling the stubble beneath his hand. “Did I tell you I’ve been hanging out with Lucas Russell? You remember the Russells? They’re the ones who took us in after Mom…” he trailed off, staring at the beach.

“I remember them. They’re good people. Tell them I said hi.”

Breck nodded, a smile ghosting at his lips.

“And how about the California girls? Are they as good as the Beach Boys keep telling me?”

He wanted to laugh at his father’s change of subject, but he was relieved at it, too. There was only so much emotion the two men could take. “They’re good.”

“So you met anybody special?”

“No, not really.” He reached up, stroking his chin. “There isn’t much time between work and hanging out with the guys.” No need to tell his father he wasn’t looking for that kind of relationship. His old man didn’t need any more burdens.

“There’s always time for girls,” his dad pointed out.

“Says the perpetual bachelor.”

David’s cheeks reddened. “Yeah, well...” he trailed off.

Breck stared at him. “What does that mean?”

“It means, ‘yeah, well’.” David shrugged.