Page 1 of Summer Escape
Chapter One
Marshall
I survived the family party.
I didn't breathe a sigh of relief until I was safely tucked into the Kingston Construction truck Dad had insisted I use with my sullen teenager in the passenger seat.
I'd left home for college and then again when I joined the military. When I'd found out I was going to be a father, I'd stuck it out for the stability. But the years were slipping away, and I wanted to have a relationship with my daughter outside of our too-short visits, letters, and emails.
My plan was to stop in unannounced at Ivy and Cooper's party to meet their new baby, Henry. I counted on it being too difficult for anyone to ask questions about why I left the family business back then. Hopefully, I would be granted a short reprieve to get settled into our cottage rental for the summer.
Billie insisted I take our daughter, Hayden, for her summer break since we'd missed so much one-on-one time. For years, I wanted to spend more time with her, but now that I was granted the summer alone with her, I was questioning my decision. She'd turned into a teenager during my last deployment, and the Hayden that sat next to me was constantly complaining about relocating from Naples to Sanibel for the summer, leaving her friends, and missing out on her social life.
I wasn't sure how to respond to her because anytime I offered to help, she rolled her eyes, huffed, and groaned. I was starting to think silence was the safer option.
"I can't believe we have to live on this island," Hayden griped.
She said the word island as if she'd been sentenced to thirty years to life in a maximum-security prison. "Most teenagers would love to spend the summer at the beach."
Hayden screeched so loud, I was tempted to plug my ears. "What kid wants to spend the summer exiled from their friends?"
I'd gathered that friends were important to teen girls, but I longed for the time when she wanted nothing more than to be with me. Things were so easy when she was little. She was always happy to see me and wanted to share everything with me.
I wasn't sure how to connect with this girl. She seemingly took issue with everything and everyone. Billie had assured me she acted like this with her too, but I had a feeling it was worse with me.
I followed the directions to the house I'd rented for the summer. I'd splurged on a beach cottage that was three bedrooms with a pool and beach access. I figured it was the dream location for a teen girl, but what did I know? "Here we are."
"It's so tiny." Her nose scrunched as she pulled the door handle and jumped down from the truck.
I'd thought the cottage offered plenty of space for the two of us. How much room could we possibly need? I hadn't accumulated a lot of things over the years, and this place came fully furnished.
I grabbed Hayden's suitcases out of the truck's bed and carried them to the porch where I entered the code to open the door. The door opened with a whir, and I gestured for Hayden to precede me into the foyer.
"There's one bedroom down here, and two upstairs." I hadn't decided which one I'd reserve for myself. "Why don't you pick the one you want?"
Her eyes lit up for the first time since I'd been back. She immediately disappeared into the master on the first floor. "Can I have this one? The bathroom is attached."
I didn't need a lot of space, and if it made her happy, then I was all for it. "Sure."
She popped her head into the hallway. "Seriously?"
"Of course." I wanted her to be content here with me.
Hayden squealed and closed the door with a click.
I didn't mind ceding her the largest bedroom. It was only for a few months, and then she'd move back in with her mother for the school year.
I wondered if she'd be holed up in there all summer, only coming out for meals. This girl was a virtual stranger from the one I had known. I was struggling to connect with her on any level, and I was worried I'd waited too long to make this move.
I left her suitcases by her door and carried my duffle upstairs. There were two bedrooms with an adjoining bath. I entered the first bedroom on the right, dropping my duffle on the queen bed that was covered in a blue patchwork quilt. A sliding door showcased the view of the ocean and the second story deck.
Hayden was going to regret choosing the downstairs bedroom because this level was the only one with an unimpeded view of the water.
The door to the bathroom was closed, so I opened it, walking into wet and slippery skin. I immediately dropped my hands and stepped backward.
The woman scrambled to cover herself with a towel. "Did Blaire ask you to check out the leaky faucet?"
I frowned because she looked and sounded vaguely familiar. "Who's Blaire?"
