Page 17 of Memories By the Shore
I nod. “Yeah, I took a half day and spent the rest of the afternoon on the water.” I shrug. “It helped a little.”
“I loved Avery, you know that, but I also want to see you happy.”
“I am happy. I have a conference to attend at the end of the month, and a woman from the Orange County Chamber of Commerce caught my eye last fall,” I begin to explain, anticipating the next phase of this conversation will be me moving on from Avery. I need to truly put myself out there with someone else. “I was thinking about asking her out.”
“Okay, this is a good start.” His hand flies up in front of us. “That would be long distance, but I guess that’s better than nothing.”
“I’m not sure if you’re trying to hype me up or insult me.”
Easton folds his arms across his chest. “Both.”
“I would expect nothing less.”
“You guys are still legally married, right?”
My eyes dart around the room, and I feel insecure about how casually he drops that information. “Yeah.”
“It’s been eight years.” He raises and grips the back of the chair. “Maybe it’s finally time for that divorce.”
“Maybe that’s what’s preventing me from moving on,” I say, mirroring his position. “What if it’s like a subconscious thing preventing me from, you know, forgetting about her?”
“I don’t think it’s about forgetting. I think it’s more about just making peace with it,” Easton says.
Does peace mean acceptance? Am I at a place of acceptance yet?
I’m not sure.
Chapter Six
Now
Avery
The bright sun and crisp, familiar ocean air remind me of where I am. Not every beach smells the same, but this one gives off a scent of home—but also heartbreak and suffocation. The window is down, causing the wind to whip through my long hair.
I forgot how aggressive the breeze is out here.
I pull my rental car into the short, steep driveway of the beach bungalow I’m renting for the next few days. I suspect closing this chapter of my life will be difficult, so I took some time from work to face it.
Piper apologized when she booked this location for me because it’s just a short distance down the shore from Jasper’s dad’s house and my aunt Helen’s. I preferred to keep my distance by staying somewhere in town, but they were all booked. Summertime is a popular time for tourists.
The one-bedroom, light blue cottage with white shutters looks inviting—a perfect place for a beachside getaway. The whole town is like that. But beneath the allure of seaside livingis the pain I’ve felt since I left so many summers ago.
Removing my luggage from the trunk, I keep my eyes down, hoping my aunt isn’t somewhere on the beach. We’ve kept in contact here and there since I left for college, but she reminded me of Jasper because I didn’t know her well before I met him. I lost parts of myself that summer, and the reminder of it has been too painful.
The distance has hurt Helen, but it was essential to my emotional health. I thought of what I’d say to her about my sudden appearance on the plane ride. She needs to know why I never returned to visit and why I had to stay away. Deep down, I know she understands why.
I didn’t tell her I was coming back to town for fear I’d change my mind. I suppose it would be easier to do this electronically, through mail, or by my lawyers, but I need to face this part of my life to move on.
The instant the door swings open, I get hit with the familiar moist air that comes from living on the water. The place is cuter than the pictures. It has a small living room off to the side, a quaint coastal-themed kitchen, and a short hallway with only a bathroom and bedroom.
I roll my suitcases into the bedroom, then quickly peek around, heading back into the living room to text the girls.
Me: I just got in. The place is super cute.
Lina: Christian said you guys landed a while ago. I was just about to text you.
Christian is a friend of ours. He and her boyfriend, Carter,are both pilots for our airline.
