Chapter 6 Mia
MIA
The spa tub should have been perfect. Jets pulsing against sore muscles, steam rising in soft clouds, the scent of lavender from the bath salts Julie had left on the counter. Mia sank deeper into the water and closed her eyes, willing her body to relax.
It didn’t work.
The child’s face surfaced in her mind, unbidden and relentless. Ten years old. Dark curls matted with blood. Her mother’s plea to save her little girl echoed in Mia’s head.
Mia’s eyes snapped open.
She sat up, water sloshing over the edge of the tub, her heart pounding against her ribs.
This was ridiculous. She’d come here to escape this. To breathe. To find some semblance of peace.
She climbed out of the tub and grabbed a towel, drying off with quick, efficient movements. The mirror showed her reflection, pale and drawn, shadows under her eyes that makeup couldn’t hide anymore.
She pulled on sweatpants and a long T-shirt, then found her trainers in the closet. A walk. That’s what she needed. A good brisk walk to clear her head. The boardwalk she’d seen from the car looked like the perfect place for it.
Mia moved to the adjoining door and pushed it open slightly, checking Lila’s room.
It was empty.
She smiled despite herself. Eve and Lila weren’t back yet from their shopping trip. Good. They deserved time together, and Lila deserved to explore without her mother’s anxiety casting shadows over everything.
Mia was glad she’d decided to give this trip a chance, even with the deep-seated fear of Florida that had been sitting in her chest since William first mentioned St. Augustine.
Her mother had hated Florida. Not hated, exactly. More like she’d been adamant it was the one place she’d never go. Ever. Too many alligators, she’d said. Too many extra-large snakes for her liking.
That was probably why Mia had this weird fear of the place. Her mother’s fears rubbing off on her over the years.
Mia grabbed her room key and headed downstairs, keeping her head down and her footsteps quick.
She managed to get through the lobby without running into anyone, relief washing through her as she pushed open the front door.
Mia really didn’t feel like indulging in pleasantly polite conversation right now.
The evening air hit her face, cool and salt-tinged, and she breathed it in deeply.
“Good afternoon.” A deep voice sounded in front of her.
Mia jumped slightly and looked up.
Preston Langford stood in front of her. He’d clearly just arrived back from wherever he’d been. His coat was still buttoned, and his smile was warm and polite.
“Oh, good afternoon,” Mia said, forcing herself to return the smile.
A chill ran down her spine.
She didn’t know why. The man had done nothing wrong to her.
He’d been perfectly polite when William introduced them earlier.
His manner had been nothing but gracious and friendly.
The man was obviously very wealthy as well.
Heck, his coat alone probably cost more than her car, the kind of tailored wool that spoke of wealth and good taste.
But something about him made her skin crawl.
“Lovely time for a walk,” Preston said, stepping aside to let her pass.
“Yes, it is,” Mia said, moving past him quickly. “Enjoy the rest of your day.” She bolted without looking back.
The boardwalk stretched ahead of her, wooden planks gleaming faintly in the afternoon light. She started walking, her pace quick and purposeful, trying to shake off the unease that had settled over her.
A figure appeared ahead of her, jogging toward her from the opposite direction.
The man from the dining room. The one who’d sat alone at the table near the window. He was older, maybe mid-forties, with an unremarkable face that reminded her vaguely of Phil Collins.
Mia almost smiled at the thought.
They passed each other with an acknowledging nod, the universal language of strangers sharing space, and he continued jogging back toward the Inn.
Mia kept walking.
Her hand found the locket at her throat without her thinking about it. Her fingers stroked the smooth metal. Once. Twice. Three times. Four. Five.
She realized what she was doing and dropped her hand, frustration flaring hot in her chest.
“Stop it!” Mia hissed aloud to herself. “This is ridiculous.”
“Sorry?” A deep male voice came from behind her.
Mia spun around, her heart jumping into her throat.
The good-looking man, who she figured to be around her age, from the dining room stood a few feet behind her, a camera hanging from his neck and a backpack slung over one shoulder. His expression was curious but friendly, no judgment in his eyes.
“Oh...” Mia felt heat flood her cheeks. “I was muttering to myself.”
“Ah.” The man nodded, his smile widening. “I do that all the time.” He glanced out toward the ocean, where the afternoon was slowly giving way to evening, painting the water in shades of gold and pink. “It’s beautiful at this time of day, isn’t it?”
Mia turned and looked at the sea, her embarrassment fading as the view caught her attention. “Yes. It is.”
She leaned against the railing, letting the sight settle over her. The man moved beside her, keeping a respectable distance, and lifted his camera. The shutter clicked, quiet and precise.
“Is this your hobby?” Mia asked.
“No,” he said, lowering the camera and turning to her with a grin.
“I’m a professional photographer. I’m here doing a spread on the New Year celebrations in St. Augustine and Anastasia Island.
” He gestured back toward the Inn. “I’m staying there too.
I noticed you at lunch earlier.” He extended his hand. “I’m Nolan Pierce.”
Mia shook it. His grip was warm and confident. “Mia Gray-Duncan.”
“How long are you staying?” Nolan asked, leaning against the railing beside her.
“A couple of weeks,” Mia said.
“Me too,” Nolan told her. “I’m from Miami, and you?”
“We’re from Los Angeles,” Mia answered.
Nolan’s eyebrows lifted. “You’re a long way from home. Are you here for a family function or just a vacation?”
“A bit of both.” Mia looked back at the water, not wanting to explain the complicated truth of why she was here. “I’m visiting my uncle and taking a much-needed vacation.”
“I heard the gentleman at lunch, William, I think it was, introduce you as a doctor,” Nolan said.
Mia nodded. “Yes. I’m a trauma surgeon.”
Nolan gave a low whistle, his eyes filling with a teasing light. “Impressive. And here I was going to try and impress you with my photography skills.”
Mia laughed, the sound surprising her with its genuine feel. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed like that.
“Can I see some of the pictures you’ve taken?” she asked, surprising herself again as she found she didn’t want their conversation to end just yet.
Nolan’s eyes lit up instantly. “Sure.”
He lifted the expensive-looking camera from around his neck and moved closer, angling the screen so she could see.
He scrolled through the images, each one more stunning than the last. The Inn at golden hour, light spilling across the porch.
The boardwalk stretching into the distance, empty and haunting.
A close-up of a weathered dock post with a gull perched on top, its feathers ruffled by the wind.
“You’re really good,” Mia said, meaning every word.
“Thanks.” Nolan’s smile was genuine, pleased but not arrogant.
“Do you show your work or just do spreads for magazines?” Mia asked him.
“I have a lot of photographs from all over the world,” Nolan admitted.
“I’ve thought about showing my work…” He pulled a face.
“But… I’m not sure how to explain this.” He glanced out over the sea.
“But the photos I take, for me…” His eyes caught and held hers.
“They’re kind of personal. I feel like I’m exposing my soul to the world if I show them. ”
“I can understand that,” Mia admitted. “I’ve written quite a few medical books…” She couldn’t believe she just said that out loud to a stranger. She hadn’t even told her late mother, Eve, or Lila. “A publisher read them and wanted to publish them, but I chickened out.”
“What kind of medical books?” Nolan asked. His eyes filled with interest.
It had been a long time since someone had looked at her like that. Like they truly wanted to hear what she had to say.
“Oh, fiction and non-fiction,” Mia told him.
“Just how many books have you written?” Nolan asked, looking impressed once again. “And when did you find the time between your career and having a child?” His eyes narrowed. “Or do you have a very supportive husband?”
“No husband,” Mia told him. “Tom and I divorced years ago. We got married too young and realized we were better off being best friends.”
“Oh!” Nolan said, “There aren’t many divorced couples that can say that.”
“I’m glad we parted ways as we did,” Mia smiled, thinking of Tom. “We work at the same hospital and have a daughter together. His new wife is lovely, and we’re good friends.”
“Okay, so that is a double wow!” Nolan told her.
“And you?” Mia blurted before she could stop herself. “Do you have a wife or children?”
“No and no,” Nolan answered. “My job keeps me incredibly busy, and I travel a LOT.”
“I think I need to travel more,” Mia stated and glanced out over the sea again.
They fell into a comfortable silence for a few seconds before Nolan asked, “Do you want to give it a go?”
She turned to see him holding up his camera. “I don’t know.”
“It’s amazing what difference a decent camera can make to one’s photography.” Nolan tried to tempt her to have a go.
Mia laughed. “My photography skills are limited to taking snapshots with my phone.”
“Even with a phone, you can get good shots if taken right,” Nolan said. He held the camera out to her once again. “Come on. Give it a try.”
Mia hesitated, then carefully took the camera, feeling its weight in her hands. It was heavier than she expected, solid and real.
She lifted it to her eye and looked through the viewfinder at the ocean.
Clicked.