After All (Cape Harbor 1)

Brooklyn wiped at the tears that had started to fall. It had been years since she thought about Austin and that first bonfire. That night, she’d thought for sure he would kiss her, especially when he walked her home, but he hadn’t. The kiss came the next day, and it was explosive. It was a game changer for her. They had almost gone all the way, but Austin had stopped them, saying their first time needed to be special, not in his truck or on the beach where people could see them.

Unfortunately, their first time was anything but special. Not because Austin hadn’t put in every effort but because she had cried, which made Austin think she regretted losing her virginity. She hadn’t felt that way at all. She was just in pain. The days following were awkward for them. Brooklyn thought for sure they were going to break up, that she had given away her virginity too soon, but Austin was giving her space. It turned out that they both needed time to sort out their feelings after what they had done, and once they did, they became inseparable.

The sound of someone trudging through the sand brought Brooklyn’s attention back to reality. She turned and saw her daughter coming toward her with two mugs in her hand. The smile that broke out over her face was automatic. Brystol sat down next to her and handed her a piping hot cup of coffee.

“How did you know I was out here?” she asked, inhaling the sweet aroma.

“Nonnie told me.” Brystol motioned toward the inn. Brooklyn turned and saw Carly standing in the window of the ballroom, likely looking out over the sea.

“You know I was just a year older than you are when I moved here.”

“I like it here. I like being on the beach.”

“How much of it have you seen? Because I’m under the impression that Nonnie doesn’t leave the house.”

Brystol shrugged. “Simone and I go out a lot, but Nonnie . . . sometimes she’s really bad, Mom. Like, she cries or is sick with a cold. Simone and I do a lot of things like go bowling or to the movies. She takes me digging for clams and out crabbing. And sometimes Nonnie comes with us if we go to Seattle or Port Orchard.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Brystol sipped from her mug. “Nonnie said telling you would make you worry, that your job was stressful.”

Brooklyn wanted to chide her daughter for keeping secrets, but she couldn’t. She could’ve asked better questions; she could’ve showed Brystol that she cared about what happened here. Moreover, she could’ve been a better friend to Carly.

“Is Nonnie sick a lot?” Brooklyn hated pumping her daughter for answers, but until she could get Simone alone, this was the only way to find out what was really going on here.

“Simi tells me not to worry, that Nonnie will be fine, but last summer I got really scared when I found Nonnie in the bathroom. She had blood around her lips.”

Brooklyn pulled Brystol under the blanket and held her. The lifestyle Brooklyn had chosen wasn’t conducive to raising a child, but she made it work. However, Brooklyn knew that having friends was something Brystol was missing, even though her daughter never complained. When Brooklyn wasn’t working, they explored the cities and towns they were staying in, visiting museums, libraries, parks, and whatever else they could find to satisfy the homeschool requirements. Brystol spent a lot of time on jobsites, helping the crew do their math calculations, which helped her master geometry. They were best friends, but she knew her daughter needed more.

“I’m thinking of taking some time off or at least booking jobs that are local after the inn is finished.”

“Where?”

“Here or maybe Seattle,” she said, smiling at her daughter. Staying in Washington would give Brystol full access to her grandparents and would afford Brooklyn peace of mind if she had to travel or work late. “You’d have to enroll in school.”

Brystol’s eyes went wide with excitement. “I could go to homecoming and prom. I’ve always wanted to get all dressed up. I see the pictures of you and Dad all over Nonnie’s bedroom and wish I could be a princess for one night.”

An ache shot through Brooklyn’s heart. She tried to wish it away, but it lingered. Carly kept photos of her and Austin, still to this day. Somewhere in a recess of her parents’ basement, there was a tote full of mementos. The last thing she remembered putting in there was Austin’s obituary. That was all that was left of their life together, aside from Brystol.

“It would be funny if I went to the same school as you and Dad.”

Brooklyn wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. Nothing about it would be funny at all, but she understood why her daughter wanted to go there.