Chapter 13
CHAPTER 13
A lex
“There he is.” I smiled when I saw Owen step out of the airport. “Welcome to South Carolina, my friend.” I hugged him.
“It’s good to see you, Alex.”
“How was your flight?”
“It was good. You’re driving?” Owen asked as I grabbed his bag and put it in the back seat. “No driver?”
I chuckled. “No driver.”
“So, what do you want to show me here?” he asked.
“You’ll see. I’m taking you there now before we head to the house.”
As I drove, Owen took in the sights. “It sure is pretty here.” He smiled.
I pulled over on the side of the road and put the car in park.
“What are you doing?” Owen asked.
“This is what I wanted to show you.” I climbed out, and he followed.
“I don’t understand, Alex.”
“Look around, my friend, and tell me what you see.”
“Uh, nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
“My great-grandfather paid millions for this area to prevent anyone from building on it. Harbor Falls is fifteen miles that way.” I pointed. “He didn’t want anything being built near his town. He liked the seclusion of it; at least, that’s what my father told me. My parents used to bring Athena and me here when we were kids. My father would stand in the middle of the fields. He wanted to do something with this land, but it never happened. My sister used to run around with her arms out shouting, “Welcome to Athena Harbor, where all of your dreams come true.”
“You’ve lost me,” Owen said.
“Welcome to Athena Harbor, my friend.” I smiled.
“What?” He stared at me. “You’re going to build a town?”
“I am. A new town for people to move to with jobs, shops, and restaurants. Homes for permanent residents and a vacation spot for those looking to get away. The town will start two miles outside of Harbor Falls.”
Owen reached over and placed his hand on my shoulder.
“It’s a great dream, Alex, but are you one hundred percent sure about this?”
“Yeah, I am. This is what my sister would have wanted. In honor of her, I need to do this. Let’s go to my hometown.” I smiled, patting his back.
We climbed into the car, and I drove home. When I reached the black wrought iron gates, I punched in the code and drove through.
“Wow. You grew up here?” Owen asked. “This place is beautiful.”
“Thanks.” I smiled.
When we stepped into the house, Mara walked over.
“Mara, this is my best friend, Owen. Owen, this is Mara, my housekeeper and friend.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mara.” He extended his hand.
“The pleasure is mine, Owen. Welcome to Harbor Estates. I can take your bag and put it in your room.”
“Thank you.”
“Uncle Owen?”
“Lucy. How are you, sweetheart?” He hugged her.
“Good. What are you doing here?”
“I asked him to come. We have business to discuss. He’ll be staying with us for the weekend.”
“I’m happy you’re here.” She smiled. “I’m going to change into my bathing suit and go swimming.”
“Okay.” I smiled.
Owen stared at me as we walked into the kitchen.
“What?” I laughed.
“That is not the same girl who lives in Chicago. She looks—happy.”
I sighed. “I know. She really likes it here.” I opened the refrigerator and grabbed two bottles of beer. “Let’s go down to the beach.”
“Man, this sure is beautiful,” Owen said. “I can see why Lucy is happy here. Who wouldn’t be with this view, saltwater air, the house? I also notice a bit of difference in you.”
“I will admit that being back here is pleasant now that my mother is gone. I’ve missed parts of this place. I spent three hours out here last night thinking.”
“About?”
“Staying here. Of course, I’d still go back to Chicago monthly.”
“Are you serious, Alex? You’d move back here?”
“What choice do I have, Owen? You’ve seen Lucy. If I take her back to Chicago now, it’ll make things worse. There are only a couple of months left of school. I would enroll her here, and then she can start fresh in the fall.”
“Who would care for her when you fly back and forth to Chicago?”
“I’m hoping Mara will. If not, I’ll have to hire a nanny.”
“Hey, Dad?” I heard Lucy’s voice from behind.
I turned and looked at her.
“When is Hannah moving in?”
“Next weekend, why?”
“I was just wondering. Can I go in the water?”
“I thought you were in the pool,” I said.
“I want to go into the ocean.”
“Now isn’t a good time, kiddo.”
“Dad, come on!” she whined.
“I said NO!” I shouted.
She turned and ran back to the house, opening the sliding door and slamming it shut.
“Alex, come on?—”
“Don’t!” I spoke through gritted teeth, pointing at him. “I can’t.”
“And you can’t never let her go into the water. For fuck’s sake, man. What did you expect when you brought her here? You knew damn well she’d want to swim in the ocean. She’s a kid.”
Rubbing the back of my neck, I lowered my head. “I’m too scared, Owen.”
“I know you are.” He placed his hand on my shoulder. “But you have to let go of what happened to Athena. It wasn’t your fault.”
I stared at him for a moment. “I better go talk to her.”
“Hold on a second. “Who is Hannah, and why is she moving into your house?” His brow arched.
“She’s a woman I met. She’s opening a flower shop in town, and she’s been looking for a place. She’s currently staying with her sister and her sister’s boyfriend, Colin.”
“So, you told her she can move in with you?” His eyes narrowed.
“No. She’s renting my guesthouse.”
“Ah. Is she hot?”
“She’s a very beautiful and smart woman, and I took her to dinner the other night.”
“Who are you? He chuckled. “Where is the Alex Harbor that lives in Chicago?”
“I’m not sure.” I smirked, walking away.
I went up to Lucy’s room, opened the door, and found her lying across her bed with her phone in her hand.
“Bitching about me to your friend?” I jokingly asked.
“Yeah, I am. Go away, Dad.”
“Listen, sweetheart.” I sat on the edge of the bed, took her phone, and set it down. “Ever since your aunt died, I’ve been a lunatic about the ocean. I’m frightened something is going to happen to you. She was only two years older than you when she drowned. The ocean swallowed her whole. One minute, I saw her, and the next, she was gone.”
“Are you trying to scare me?” she asked.
“No. I never want you to be afraid, but it’s my job to protect you. I’ll take you in the ocean, but not right now. I need you to promise me something.”
“What?” Her sad eyes stared into mine.
“Promise me that you’ll never go into that water unless an adult is with you.”
“Even when I’m an adult myself?”
“You know what I mean, Lucy.”
“I won’t, Dad. I know we’re leaving to go back to Chicago, so you won’t have to worry about it.” She lowered her head.
“Hey.” I lifted her chin with my finger. “How would you like to move here permanently?”
“Are you serious?” Her face lit up. “You mean, like, move everything from Chicago to here?”
“That’s exactly what I mean.” I smiled.
“I can go to school here and everything?”
“Yes. You can go to school here.”
“Thank you, Dad!” She threw her arms around my neck and hugged me. “I love you!”
“I love you too, kiddo.”
“What about your company?” she asked.
“I’ll still have to go back and forth occasionally, but I can work from here. Plus, I have Uncle Owen to oversee things in Chicago.”
“I can’t wait to tell Isabelle! I promise, Dad. I won’t go in the ocean without an adult. I swear to you.”
“Thank you, Lucy.” I hugged her.