2. Chapter Two
Chapter Two
Rain slashed like a whip against Tyler’s face as he fought his way across the coaster tracks to where Maddy had fallen amid the worst storm he’d ever seen. The ocean water was rising at a rapid pace—too rapid—and the water was dangerously close to engulfing the tracks.
And Maddy along with it.
After what felt like an eternity, he reached her and straddled the track next to her.
“Give me your hand, Maddy,” he called.
With her gaze fixated on the rising water, she shook her head.
“Please, Maddy. I’ll get you to the platform.” He touched her hand, trying to pry her fingers loose.
“The water’s rising too fast. We won’t make it.”
“We can do this…together.”
She met his gaze and, with a small nod, loosened her clutch enough that he could grasp her hand.
A huge gale of wind slammed into them, followed by an animalistic groan, and the entire coaster shifted. With a loud splintering sound, the boardwalk collapsed, causing the Sun Jet roller coaster, along with him and Maddy, to plunge into the Atlantic.
Maddy’s scream was lost by his own, and he braced as they hit the ocean. Choppy waves crashed over them, but he didn’t let go of Maddy’s hand.
He was a trained lifeguard. Surely, he could rescue them both.
He gestured to his back. “Climb on.”
After only a second of hesitation, she listened, and he fought to climb to a higher point on the coaster that hadn’t yet been submerged in water. It wasn’t a perfect solution, but would give them their best chance.
He didn’t get far before another gale came and an even larger wave hit them. He felt his fingers lose hold and Maddy being wrenched off his back. Then the demon of the water came for him, and he fell.
The surf tried to keep him down, but thanks to his swim team workouts, he had the strength to kick and break to the surface. He fought to catch his breath as he scanned the horizon, searching for Maddy.
“Maddy,” he called, his voice lost in the howling wind.
Seeing her a few feet away, holding on to a broken part of the coaster, he swam to her. Using all his training and skill the best that his sixteen-year-old self could, he got her onto his back once again while he battled the waves and swam toward shore.
Mother Nature was relentless, and both rain and ocean water crashed over them. The pull of the tide was nothing like he’d ever experienced, and it seemed like every time he took two strokes inland, a wave knocked them back four.
He pressed forward until a wave crashed over them and something hit the side of his head, and then there was only blackness.
Tyler awoke with a start, his body bathed in sweat and heart pounding like he’d swum a four hundred freestyle. He swung his legs off the bed and held his head as he fought the nausea and focused on controlling his breathing.
Damn nightmare. He’d had them every night for a long time after Hurricane Samantha, but he hadn’t had one in a while. This one was so real that the left side of his head by his ear, where he’d gotten bashed by a scrap from the Sun Jet, ached as if it had just happened.
He knew from his sister that after the coaster fell into the water, his dad had rescued Maddy and gone back out for him. Not long after, his friends saw him floating on a piece of coaster wreckage that had somehow made its way toward shore and called out to the rescue workers who had arrived.
The blow to his head had left Ty with a foggy memory, but he could faintly recall being lifted onto a hard surface. And while he wasn’t sure if it were a dream or a memory, he remembered hearing fragments of his dad’s voice. “Maddy’s safe…Going to get you to shore… Proud of you, Ty. I love you, son.”
Then there was only darkness, until he gained consciousness in the makeshift hospital area at Boardwalk Hall, where local paramedics stabilized him. When the worst of the storm passed, he’d been airlifted to a hospital off-island to treat him for potential lung issues, hypothermia, and damage to his left ear.
Later, at the hospital, when his mom told him the news about his father, all he could think about were his dad’s last words.
Those words were the one thing he held on to throughout his recovery, his dad’s funeral, and the mass cleanup in the months after the storm. Those words helped him stay strong because his dad came for him.
His dad had saved him.
At first, he didn’t tell anyone about what he remembered. But at the encouragement of the therapist his mom insisted they all see, he eventually opened up to his family. A year of therapy had helped him deal with the nightmares. Coming to grips with his survivor’s guilt was still a work in progress .
Now, the frequency of the nightmares had lessened, mostly triggered by the anniversary of the storm. Or something like what happened to Maddy and Dylan.
Using the coping skills the therapist had taught him, Ty took several deep breaths until his breathing returned to normal. When he felt stable enough to stand without getting sick, he rose and went to the hall bathroom. A splash of cold water on his face helped clear his mind.
The clock on the wall—one in every room of the house because of his sister Emma’s obsession with punctuality—showed it was just shy of five a.m. He’d text Connor Maguire, his friend and future brother-in-law’s brother, and see if he was running that morning. Maybe a long, sweaty five miles would help Ty shake off the last remnants of the dream.
He opened the bathroom door to find Maddy on the other side. She jumped when she saw him, eyes a little wide.
“Oh, Ty. You scared me,” she said.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“Yeah…I had a bad dream and wanted a glass of water.”
If he had a nightmare, it made sense she would likely as well.
“Same,” he said.
“Because of what happened yesterday.”
He nodded.
Her eyes filled, reminding him of the eighteen-year-old girl he fell in love with. “I’m sorry to always need your help.”
“I’m glad I was there,” he said.
“Me too.”
Then, before he could talk himself out of it, he closed the distance and pulled her close. She clung to him, her tears leaving a damp trail on his bare chest.
“I’ve got you, Mad,” he said .
Her hair was a wild tumble of red silk that smelled like her coconut shampoo that lingered whenever he showered. How many times had he brought himself over thinking about Maddy and that shampoo?
Of course, now he’d have the image of her wearing the peach tank top and boy-short pajamas. The hallway was dark, but there was enough illumination from the nightlight to show how the top clung to her generous breasts, the outline of her nipples pressing against the silky fabric.
With her pressed this close and her hands on his torso, it was hard for his body not to react. And maybe a part of him wanted her to feel what he’d been unable to say.
As blood flooded to his groin, he pulled away enough to cradle her face. With the pads of his thumbs, he swiped at the tears. She was short, only five-four to his six feet, but their parts lined up and there was no way she couldn’t feel his arousal. Her breath quickened, and he lowered his head, determined to kiss her the way he’d been wanting to for years.
“Mommy?” a small voice called from across the hall.
Maddy dropped her hands and pulled away, turning to her daughter. “What’s wrong, baby?”
“I wet the bed,” Dylan said in a tiny voice.
Reality was like getting hit with a cold bucket of ice water.
“It’s okay, sweetie,” Maddy said in that patient way she had with her daughter. “Let’s clean you up.”
She backed away, her face flush and her eyes taking in all of him before she bumped into the doorjamb. She whispered a curse and, with a lingering glance, slid inside the room and closed the door.
Back in his own room, Ty ignored the throbbing need in his groin and dressed for what he knew would be a grueling run .
The timing with him and Maddy had never been right. Not when they were kids…not now.
He feared it never would be.
Maddy slammed the door to her white RAV4 shut and struggled to untangle herself from the strap of her large bag that was part purse and part mom bag. In there, she kept everything, from gum, coloring books, and snacks to wipes, hair ties, and an extra set of clothes for Dylan.
Gone were the days when her main purse accessories were lipstick and condoms.
She slid her sunglasses on top of her head and made her way toward the entrance to what had been known as Broadway Betty’s Ice Cream Parlor.
The building had once been a favorite among both residents and visitors to Pelican Bay, known for its singing waitstaff. Maddy, among others, had worked there and belted out tunes while delivering mouth-watering ice cream creations. Every night was a cabaret of Broadway show tunes. Patrons were encouraged to join in the singing and take part in a hula hoop contest.
It now sat, like many other buildings in the tiny beach town, abandoned and in desperate need of a new owner.
Which was what had brought Maddy there now…curiosity and a germ of an idea.
As she strolled up the walkway, she slowed down and observed the boarded-up windows, meant to deter vandals. The sign on the roof, which was once bright red and white, had become faded and battered from the elements .
Cade Brooks, a local real estate agent and a friend, had arrived before her and propped open the front door. Maddy stepped through the doorway and felt the rush of the past wash over her. The scent of stale air lingered, despite the fresh breeze that filtered in.
“Hey, Maddy,” Cade said, walking over to hug her.
“Morning, Cade. Thanks for rescheduling from yesterday,” she said. “Something came up.”
“No worries. It gave me a chance to air out the place a little.”
She appreciated his effort, but time and years of vacancy had only made the place look more worn.
“Knock, knock,” Evan called from the doorway.
Maddy had asked him to meet them so she could get his opinion on what could be a huge decision for her.
“Hey, man,” Cade said, and the two shook hands.
Maddy explored the space, taking in the Broadway show posters that lined the walls. Even the photos of former employees, along with visitors and minor celebrities, hadn’t been removed. She paused in front of a photo of the staff, taken on the stage with Maddy in a split in the center. It had been taken the summer she turned eighteen.
Before Samantha…before their lives were turned upside down.
Her smile had been radiant and full of hope and possibilities for the future.
Now, Maddy didn’t know what the future looked like and was hoping touring this old building was a step toward helping her figure it out.
“It’s like stepping back in time,” Evan said.
“Mr. Rafferty closed everything up with the hope of reopening, but things change,” Cade said.
“Does he want the pictures returned?” Maddy asked .
“He’s hoping whoever opens the place will find a special place to incorporate the pictures—no pressure, though,” Cade said.
Evan ran his hands along the mahogany counter where single or small parties could sit at and staff used to perform during parts of the show. It was set up like an old-fashioned soda shop counter with backless stools.
“The counter has gotten a beating over the years, but I think it would be perfect once refinished,” Evan said.
“The jukebox is still here,” Maddy called from the far side of the room.
“Everything you see is included in the price,” Cade said.
Maddy twirled in the center of the small dance floor. “I remember singing and dancing here. It was hands down my favorite job.”
“Not to mention you got first dibs on sampling the ice cream,” Evan said.
Maddy smiled at the memory, recalling how she’d taken full advantage of the free ice cream perk, including the specialty flavors each week. Everything about this place brought back happy memories.
Cade led them through the double doors to the kitchen. “It’s dated, but in decent shape. You’ll want to have someone inspect the appliances before reopening.”
Evan toed an area of the floor that was chipped. “I’d gut it and start with new everything. Maybe the large walk-in fridge can be salvaged, but you’ll want new flooring and likely new appliances.”
Maddy nodded, having no idea how much any of that could cost.
“How about the dining area? Could I reupholster the booths and maybe get new tables and chairs?” she asked. The guys followed her into the main room.
“I’d replace the floors here, too.” Evan went over to one of the booths and pushed down on the seat. “The springs are pretty shot, but they may be repairable. I’d want Jace and Connor to look at them; maybe Jenna, too. She’s been getting more involved with the design side of things.”
“The bathrooms are outdated, so you’ll want to consider upgrading them,” Cade added. “Why don’t we look upstairs? There’s an apartment that can be living space or used however you need it.”
Maddy brightened. “Definitely. That’s one of the things I’m counting on.”
Evan followed her as she walked behind Cade. “You’re going to live here?”
Maddy hadn’t decided, but she was considering it. “I can’t live with Emma and Jace forever. Plus, things will be even more chaotic once they start renovating the house. Having me and Dylan out of their hair will allow them to work more freely.”
Evan didn’t respond, but Maddy felt his frown of disapproval.
The door at the top of the stairs opened into a wide space that was about half the length of the downstairs. “There’s one bedroom, a full bath, and this open space for both living and dining,” Cade said.
“Wood paneling? Are they kidding?” Evan laughed.
Maddy took in the space and considered. It was a little smaller than she’d hoped, which meant she and Dylan would have to share a bedroom, unless they figured out something else.
Cade pressed along the far wall. “We’d have to look at the blueprint for the building, but you may be able to break through this wall and double the space.”
Evan moved beside him and knocked on the wall. “There’s nothing behind this, so I’d say there’s a good chance of that. We can check it out.”
It could work in the interim.
“What do you think, Maddy?” Cade asked .
A smile formed on her lips. “I think it has definite possibilities.”
After his morning run with Connor, Tyler showered and left for the marina. His friend was meeting him to brainstorm renovation ideas for a piece of property Ty owned. It was less than a five-minute drive, but Ty took his time, enjoying the scent of coffee, bacon, and sugary donuts wafting in through the open windows of his SUV.
He parked in the gravel lot of the marina, located just past Eleventh Street, the road that led to the bridge that connected Pelican Bay with the mainland. The marina area encompassed over ten blocks and contained docks with boat slips, a strip mall, and restaurants that used to be a popular tourist attraction. Joggers ran along the narrow, sandy road that separated the dock from the businesses.
Like much of the town, the marina hadn’t recovered after Hurricane Samantha, and most of the buildings lay vacant.
Thanks to the publicity that came with filming the renovation of Erickson Fun Pier as part of Beach House Flippers , the popular reality TV series hosted by the Maguire brothers, the town was experiencing an uptick in tourism, which was driving business owners back into the area.
Finally.
The storm had hit almost ten years ago in early August, the year Ty turned sixteen. While Pelican Bay had its own K-8 school, kids were bused to the neighboring town of Sunset Bay for high school. Schools along the Jersey coast had delayed starting that September because of the devastation in the area, with many being used as temporary shelters for families who’d lost their homes and had nowhere to stay .
When he eventually went back, it was hard to focus on his studies after losing his father. As the son of the mayor, Mark Erickson had been a prominent figure in the town. That he was also a trained volunteer firefighter made him a hero…and that was before his heroic efforts during Samantha. Efforts that saved Tyler and Maddy’s lives.
That their survival came at the cost of his father’s life would always be a burden Ty would have to bear.
While no one blamed him—he was tired of hearing he’d only been sixteen—it didn’t stop him from blaming himself. A year of counseling couldn’t change that, although it had helped. Besides losing most of his hearing in his left ear, he’d lost his love of the water and his drive to swim.
Now, he wore a hearing aid that restored his hearing to about fifty percent, and while he’d eventually swum again, it was for exercise and instruction, not pleasure.
But he hadn’t swum in the ocean or bay since that fateful night.
Until yesterday, when he jumped in to rescue Maddy and Dylan.
Through the Egg Harbor Swim Club, he taught swim lessons and provided lifeguard certification instruction—plus what was required to maintain his own—but he often wondered if he’d be able to respond to a situation where he needed to call upon those skills.
Now he knew he could.
Which raised the question of whether he could do more. Could he swim in the bay, snorkel, water ski, ride a wave runner, or take a boat out on the water? All activities that he’d been unable to do since the storm.
He blinked away the possibilities when Connor, brother of his future brother-in-law, pulled into the space next to him in a pickup truck with the Maguire Brothers Renovations—Mbr for short—logo on the side.
“Hey, man,” Connor said .
“Thanks for meeting me,” Tyler said.
Connor took in the building and the surrounding area. “Nice digs. This is the place your mom deeded to you, right?”
Last month, Tyler learned his mom had been secretly dating the current mayor, John Abbott, who also was a widower. They were engaged and living together in John’s house. Tyler was expecting they’d get married soon…maybe after Emma and Jason’s wedding in September.
Before she moved out, his mom deeded his grandparents’ Victorian house to Emma and another piece of property—the one Ty and Connor stood in front of now—to Ty. Since his parents bought it for a good price, they’d set aside a decent-sized renovation budget. Money that his mom insisted Ty put toward making it his.
“It sure is. Remember it used to be Pelican Bay Water Rentals?” Ty said.
Connor walked along the sandy path that separated the buildings from the bay. “Hell yeah. This place was a wet dream for me. I had a working agreement with Old Man Jacobs, who used to let me try out the new equipment for giving surfing lessons. Spent enough time here that he gave me his old surfboards.”
Together, they walked to the dock that ran parallel to a large deck that was part of the property. “My dad used to bring me here,” Ty said. “We’d rent paddleboards, kayaks, jet skis… Whatever we could get our hands on.”
“You must have lots of nice memories,” Connor said.
Memories Tyler had pushed down to a dark place he didn’t allow himself to visit often. Remembering was too painful, and what was the point?
He nodded. “I want to fix up the building and this area here to make it functional.”
“Music to my ears. How can I help? ”
Ty loved that Connor was always ready to offer a hand. One thing Ty had noticed since his friend returned to Pelican Bay was his generosity, both financially and with his time. He and Jason had been purchasing properties throughout the town, including the old mini-golf building and the strip of land closer to the ocean that had been the part of town where the Maguire family used to live.
It was also the part of town that had suffered the worst from Hurricane Samantha.
While some houses had been swept out to sea, others remained and were unlivable. They had plans to build affordable housing to bring new residents or rental income.
Offering watersport rentals was all part of what visitors would look for in a summer vacation spot. But the place needed work.
“Let’s go inside,” Ty said, and made his way to the building he now owned.
He inserted the key into the lock and thrust his shoulder into the door, which stuck thanks to the salt air and years of being closed up.
The scent of stale air greeted them. Ty propped open the door with a crate he found inside. The space was divided into two main areas. On the left was where all the rentals had taken place, with the equipment in the back and in a storage shed outside. On the right was an area that served as a retail shop of sorts. Ty remembered they sold beach chairs, boogie boards, skim boards, and various other beach town necessities.
Thanks to Ty’s bachelor’s degree in marketing plus four years as president of Jersey Boy Surf Shops, a subsidiary of Erickson Pier, he had grander ideas.
“It’s a great space,” Connor said. “Lots of possibilities. What are you thinking?”
Ty walked over to the rental side. “I’d like to open up the front area with a counter to handle rentals. Rather than people coming inside, they’d walk up to the counter to get their gear. We’ll have a website for reservations, but if people walk up and want to rent paddleboards or other equipment, I want to make it easy for that to happen.”
Connor joined him and pressed down on the existing counter. “It’s sturdy. We could open this side up and add a door or awning that swings down. Then you can move the equipment closer to the front. From what I remember, they used to store most of their equipment in the back.”
“They did.” Ty led the way to the rear of the building. “Cade told me Mr. Jacobs sold off the equipment when he shut down.”
“It would be great if this wall could be opened up and a garage door added. It’d make it easier to move larger equipment in and out,” Connor said, pressing his hands on the side wall.
Ty could see what he meant. “That’s a good idea. I’d like to put smaller equipment toward the front for easy access; maybe add a moveable cart outside for hats, suntan lotion, sunglasses, disposable cameras, and such.”
“We could plant palm trees and other foliage to give it a tropical feel,” Connor added.
“And picnic tables and chairs for people to hang while waiting for their reservation or for the rest of their party to arrive.”
“In that case you could add a tiki hut or something to offer soft drinks and concessions.”
“Definitely.”
“How about the other side of the store?”
Ty made his way to the front. “I’d like to sell Jersey Boy gear here but showcase higher-end items like surfboards, paddleboards, kayaks, and wetsuits, with displays for clothing and other stuff from the retail store. ”
“Makes sense. Good cross-marketing for your store on the boardwalk.”
Ty had opened his third Jersey Boy Surf Shop on Pelican Bay two weeks ago. He had two other stores along the Jersey Shore, but having one in his hometown meant the world to him. “Exactly.”
“Budget?”
“I have some funds. Give me an estimate of what you think it’s going to cost.”
Connor nodded. “The bones of the building are good, which will help us keep the renovation costs down. But we’re going to need to replace the roof and address a few issues from years of neglect. When are you looking to open?”
“Early to mid-July,” Ty said without hesitation, knowing it would be a challenge, if not impossible, to achieve.
Connor continued to scribble on a notepad. “You don’t need me to tell you three weeks is pushing it, even with the new crews Jace and I hired. May be closer to mid- to end of July.”
Ty’s heart dropped.
Connor held up a hand. “Here’s my idea. For our next season of Beach House Flippers , the directors want Jace and I to work on separate projects and have celebrity judges pick the winner.”
“A competition. That’s different from the show’s usual premise,” Ty said, not sure what that had to do with him.
“Jace’s project is the mini-golf renovation, but I’ve been struggling to find something. It can’t be something that’s a complete overhaul because it will take too long.”
“You think fixing up this place would work?”
“Hell yeah, I do. What do you think?”
“And the timing?” Ty asked, afraid to hope too much.
“If I can get the network to jump on it like they’re known to do, I think it’s possible.”
Ty let out the breath he’d been holding. “Let’s work out how much you think it’s going to cost, and get the ball rolling.”