Chapter 20
Bailey
I freeze, my hand midway out of a paper grocery bag. That knock on the door instantly makes my heart pound and my mouth run dry. I stare at Rhett.
“Stay,” he orders, pointing at the patch of linoleum beneath my feet. “And don’t move.”
He whips around the corner of the kitchen, peering cautiously at the solid oak door. He’s moving like a trained killer. It’s jarring to see how quickly he can go from old Rhett to new.
There’s a loud shuffling outside the door. Someone is standing on the porch.
Could it really happen this fast?
Could the guy show up midday when the whole house is flooded in daylight, and we have the upper hand behind a locked door?
There’s no other way he’d find us here so fast.
Even when we were out on the dock before going to the store, I realized how easily someone could slip out of the woods and trap us out there, or hunt us from across the water.
I zero in on the sound of Rhett’s feet working their way across the room, barely able to hear the squeak of the floorboards over the sound of my heart pounding.
When suddenly—
“Savannah?” Rhett sounds confused.
“Savannah?” I repeat.
It can’t be.
I hear the door swing open and peer around the corner to make sure I wasn’t just hoping to hear something less menacing.
Sure enough, Savannah Price is standing outside the front door.
“I knew it,” she says, smiling warmly, looking back and forth between us. Rhett and I must look like two raccoons caught in some unexpected dumpster fire. “You two didn’t think you could slink back into this old town without catching interest from the ol’ rumor mill, did you?”
I look at Rhett.
“I bet half the town knew what food you had piled up in your cart before you even made it to the checkout stand this morning over at Ridley’s.”
My heart skips a beat in my chest. What if someone in this town has a connection to what’s happening back in New York? Or worse, they feel the need to post about us being here on social media?
“Oh my God,” I groan under my breath, glancing at Savannah before shifting my gaze back to Rhett. His eyes have darkened.
Fuck.
“Well, I’m happy to see you, too!” Savannah says, laughing like the cat’s out of the bag.
She invites herself in to give me a hug.
I adored Savannah growing up. Most of the time, she was busy working at her family’s lodge in town, but when she could steal time away to join the rest of us kids during the summers, she was always up for anything.
“Lord, I’m sorry about just showing up like this.
My mom was the one to text me. She was getting flour and tartar sauce when she saw Rhett standing by the eggs.
I’m surprised she didn’t sneak attack you herself, but she said you two looked a bit lost in your own world and she didn’t want to intrude.
” She circles her hands, emphasizing with gestures while telling the story, just like I remember her doing when we were younger.
“So, you know, she sent me to do her dirty work. As she does. Now, here I am.”
We all smile, despite the implications of Savannah’s visit. Savannah’s mother has always excelled at two things while running Cedar Shores’ only lodging: town gossip and ordering her kids around, both in a loving but meddling way.
She glances between us. “I hope you don’t mind that I took it upon myself to pop in and say hi.”
“No, I’m really glad it was you at the door, actually,” I say, meaning it.
She squeezes me again, tighter this time, then makes her way over to hug Rhett next.
“You know how this old town is. I think everyone’s been waiting with bated breath for Cedar Shores’ very own big-time author to make her way back.”
“Oh, gosh,” I say, feeling my ears turn pink. I bring a hand to my neck and start rubbing whatever splotches I know are about to peek out next. “I hope no one around here even recognizes me anymore.”
She must catch the looks flying between Rhett and me because she instantly steps back toward the door.
“Oh, shit,” she says, holding her hands up. Then smirks like she’s intrigued. “I literally didn’t even . . . I’m so sorry to interrupt you two. Probably here to — oh, just pretend I was never even here.”
I watch her turn red as she grins, darting her eyes back and forth.
Rhett pops his head out the door to check the perimeter, making sure no one else is out there before clarifying, “Wait, what didn’t you think of?”
“That you’re here on a romantic getaway!” She points her thumb toward me. “You know, before you make your relationship publicly official.” She bends two fingers into air quotes. “Your fans probably really care about that type of thing, right? Especially in romance?”
“Oh my God, no.” I laugh and throw Rhett a pleading look, rubbing my neck more aggressively. I can practically feel the splotches forming. “That’s definitely not why we’re here.”
But I don’t want to tell her the real reason. Not yet, anyway. We’ve succeeded in keeping all this out of the news and social media somehow, and it needs to stay that way; otherwise, my life is going to blow up like a damn circus.
“Then why?” she asks, blinking.
“We, uh—” I look at him for help.
“We’re here to fix up the old places,” Rhett interjects, nodding at me like I should remember the same fake reason.
“Right,” I say, nodding back while squinting. I’ve always been a terrible liar. I bite my lip.
Savannah’s grin grows wider.
“Adorable. But, no, you’re not. I can see that you’re not.
I always thought you two would make a cute couple when we were teenagers.
I have a sixth sense about these things.
” She leans in, lowering her voice. “I’m just happy to see it’s finally happening here.
” She grins again and clasps her hands together, thrilled.
“Wait . . . what?” I stammer.
“Besides, why would the two of you be fixing this place up together?” she asks, looking like she’s in on some type of secret.
“I love this for you guys. Seriously. If I lived in a bigger city, I’d have started a full-blown matchmaking service by now to get this type of result.
” She wiggles a finger between us. “But don’t worry.
I’ll do my part in stomping out any stories I hear.
You probably want everyone in town to lock down the news about you coming here? ”
“Thank you,” I say. “But really, we aren’t here together, together.”
“Mmm, kay.” She grins, not buying it.
“You two should come over to the lodge for dinner one night. Oh, or a wine tasting! I mean, if you’re cool with coming out in public like that.
It’ll give us a chance to properly catch up.
Mom would love to see you. Gran would love to see you .
. .” She pauses, then throws her hands up, grinning.
“Honestly, everyone in my family would love to see you!”
Savannah’s extended family has been in Cedar Shores for generations, so they’re scattered out around the whole town. I can’t even remember which businesses the Prices own around here, besides the lodge, but I know it’s a lot.
“I’d love to swing by,” I tell her, and I mean it. Savannah was always someone I looked forward to seeing each year. “You’re still working with your parents at the lodge?” I ask.
“Yeah, and I can see it written all over your face,” she says.
Her grin becomes a shade less glowy. “I thought I’d have moved on from here a long time ago, too.
” Her laugh has a hint of bitterness to it after that, but it’s light enough that she doesn’t seem to want to dwell on it.
“My family roped me into running events for the lodge year-round, along with a few other roles, of course. Is it my dream job? No. But it’s entertaining enough.
Slow during the winters, but we get some pretty big weddings out here and whatnot during the summer. ”
“I bet. I almost forgot how gorgeous it is up here. The town has hardly changed.”
She sighs. “I never forget because I’m always here. But yeah, for visitors, it screams romance, doesn’t it? A lot like your books. Actually, the way you describe the town in your latest one is so similar to this—”
“I don’t blame you for staying,” I rush to interrupt. “It’s so gorgeous at the lodge, right? Just totally gorgeous! Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!” I inwardly groan. Rhett’s eyes are narrowed, and he’s looking right at me. Praise be, though — Savannah’s already moved on from where that was headed.
“Oh, why don’t you come make an official appearance over there?
I mean, if you’re cool with, you know.” She shoots her eyes between us again.
“Or, you can just pop in alone! You know that wall we have with photos of all the famous people that have visited the lodge over the years? We could add you to it as our special literary guest.” She winks and nudges Rhett in the bicep.
“You know. Your girlfriend is, like, really famous now, if you don’t mind sharing her with us for an hour or so. ”
“Oh,” I say, immediately guarded. A public appearance? A photo? Oh my God.
I look at Rhett, and he meets my eyes. I know he can read the question in my eyes. He’s slowly nodding his head, and I know he’s agreeing. We’re going to have to come clean and explain why we are really here.
I’m going to have to tell her the truth, so she’s not hurt when I have no interest in making a special trip over there.
Something like that would stir up some local newspaper mention, or at the very least, a few social media posts about where we are.
“Right. Um, normally I would be so excited to do that, seriously, but I don’t want to fuel the rumor mill any further.
” I suck a breath through my teeth and glance at Rhett.
He barely nods, like he’s giving me permission to spill the truth.
“And honestly, the reason why it’s so important that we say quiet here, is that I seem to have a stalker back home.
” I grimace. “That’s the real reason why we came back.
Rhett is helping with security while we wait it out. ”
He clears his throat, and I press my tongue to the roof of my mouth, waiting for a reaction.
Savannah gasps and covers her mouth with both hands.
“Oh my God. Are you kidding?” she whispers.
“I wish.”
“Shoot. Okay, okay. We can lock it all down. I can tell everyone in town to give you guys some privacy.” She reaches to touch my arm, her eyes full of concern. “Want me to let Roger know?”
“Is Roger still the police chief?” Rhett asks.
She grins. “You know it. He’ll be dead before he lets some young buck take that title away from him.”
Rhett nods approvingly.
“I’ll give him a call to explain,” he says. “It’ll be good to have him know what’s happening, but I’d still like to keep Bailey’s location here as quiet as possible.”
Savannah’s Uncle Roger knew all the summer families very well, but especially the four of us.
On more than one occasion, he brought us back home when we’d stayed out too late, playing loud music by the water’s edge with some of the other kids in town.
He also brought us back the night we tried beer for the first time, grabbing two bottles a piece from our parents’ stash in the garage.
He was stern but never forgot what it was like to be a teenager; we all respected him for it.
I let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you for helping keep this whole thing a secret.”
“Is there anything else I can do?”
“No, just anything to stay under the radar.”
She nods, her eyes like blue saucers.
“I’ll let you know if I notice anyone that seems weird or out of place at the lodge, too.”
“I don’t think he knows we’re up here, but just in case, that’d be great. I don’t want word of our location to get out,” I tell her.
“Is he dangerous?” Savannah asks, keeping her voice low.
I look at Rhett, so he can answer.
“He broke into Bailey’s apartment, so yeah. We have to take everything into consideration.”
“I swear to God, if any dude comes up here looking for you, the whole town will have your back. And I’ll let everyone in my family know to keep an eye out for weirdos.
” She crosses the threshold again to give me another hug, then holds my hands between her and me, while Rhett takes another glance outside.
“You have nothing to worry about. You know how my family is. They’re everywhere. ”
“Thanks,” I tell her.
She grins. “All the locals still talk about you growing up here over the summers. I think they like to picture you as their own baby star of Cedar Shores. The famous novelist. Like Emily Dickenson or something.”
“Emily Dickenson would be insulted to hear that comparison,” I tell her, laughing.
She laughs too, and I shake my head. Savannah is ridiculous, and she knows it, but she hasn’t changed a bit. And I love that about her.
“And you,” she says, turning to Rhett. “Keep an eye on her!”
“Always,” he says, not batting an eye.
“I’m telling you guys, though I really do have a sixth sense about you. Make the most of this time here together. Oh, and take my number in case you don’t have it anymore . . .”
I check the number I have in my cell for Savannah from years ago, and we confirm it’s the same one.
“I can come check on you later, do the grocery runs, that sort of thing. Call me if you think of anything else that would be helpful.”
“Thank you, Savi,” I tell her, hugging her for the last time. “It’s really good to see you.”
When the door closes behind her, it’s like a friendly tornado fizzling out. Rhett and I spend a full minute just staring outside, shoulder to shoulder, watching her car slowly back down the drive. She’s waving at us and blowing big air-kisses out the window.
I’m silently praying to God that everything she’s just promised us plays out exactly. That the town helps us keep this quiet, and that we don’t have any need for Roger, her watchful eye at the lodge.