Chapter 2
TWO
Faith should’ve said something. She should have asked him something—anything.
Casey would’ve. It was as if the mere idea of soon being in Casey’s presence had sent Faith spiraling back to the person she’d been all those years ago.
And she wasn’t that person anymore. She was strong, confident.
So why hadn’t she said something to Jake?
In the grand scheme of things, striking up a conversation with a stranger whom she’d never see again wasn’t that big of a deal, but the attraction she felt toward him—like the pull of the tide—was something brand new for her.
She’d never met anyone before who had made her so curious and interested from the very moment she’d met him.
As Faith pulled onto the bypass, she turned up the volume on her radio and tried to shake the feelings she was having.
It was time to refocus. She was about to see her family—her mom, Casey and Scott, and her niece, Isabella, whom she’d only ever been able to see when she was visiting her mother’s house before Casey and Scott had moved to Boston.
And she was about to see Nan! Faith missed Nan so much.
Her grandmother always knew how to reach her.
She understood her like no one else could.
Life had gotten in the way for quite a while, and Faith hadn’t seen her as often as she should have, but she was going to make up for that right now.
It was Nan’s birthday, and she was going to do whatever she could to make it special for her.
She pulled out the small piece of paper she’d used to jot down the directions to the real estate agency and held it against the steering wheel as she came to a red light.
Nan had been insistent that they meet at the agency, get the key to the rental cottage, and arrive at the cottage together.
The light turned green and she hit the gas.
In mere minutes, she’d be face to face with everyone.
She took in a deep breath. It was time to mentally gear up for this.
How would she begin a conversation with Casey?
She went through the things she’d done recently: She could talk about Teacher of the Year.
She was going to make a speech at the beginning of next year to the entire faculty.
They could discuss this. Anything to get the focus off the elephant in the room.
She could ask about Isabella. She was now five, and would certainly have changed. She couldn’t wait to see her.
Faith pulled her car to a stop in front of the real estate agency, the familiar cars of her mother and Casey empty and parked beside each other just across the parking lot.
She swallowed, licked her lips, and ran her fingers through her long, brown hair one more time to fluff it up.
Before she could get up the walk, Casey came out the door, carrying a key in her hand.
Faith had replayed this moment over and over in her mind—seeing her sister again, preparing herself for how she’d feel, and here it was.
There was no backing down now. It was done.
She was about to spend the next two weeks with her sister.
Casey looked up, that perfectly radiant smile spreading across her face. It seemed genuine.
“Hey there!” She waved, the key dangling from her finger.
“It’s so good to see you!” She shuffled over on her wedge sandals, the delicate straps crossed neatly at her ankles, and threw her arms around Faith.
Their hug was awkward, both of them trying to be as normal as possible, given the circumstances.
Isabella was right behind her, looking so much like her mother had at that age.
Her niece had gotten Casey’s blond hair, her high cheekbones, and her lanky figure.
She was beautiful. Casey pulled back to make eye contact.
She still looked amazing, her long, tan legs the perfect body type to pull off her cut-off jeans.
Casey stepped aside to allow Faith to greet Isabella.
Isabella looked up through her lashes, a timid smile on her face.
“You remember your Aunt Faith,” Casey said, still smiling.
“It’s been a while.” She looked over at Faith, and that language that only sisters can have flooded her.
Casey was telling her how it had been too long, how much she’d missed her, and Faith felt so guilty that she had to work to keep her lips pressed into a cordial expression.
She wanted to grab her sister and tell her how sorry she was that she hadn’t visited, even though Casey had invited her to Boston several times.
She just didn’t feel like she could. So much had gone on between them.
Casey’s actions could be hurtful and selfish, but she was still Faith’s sister, and they had a lifetime of other memories that all hit her like wrecking ball.
She realized that she had missed her sister greatly.
Faith was glad to see her mom helping Nan down the steps because she was so overwhelmed by seeing her sister that all those things she’d thought of on the way there had left her now.
Her mind was swimming with emotion. She didn’t know if she was coming or going.
Seeing Casey again and especially Isabella had her confused.
She thought she knew what to expect, but now she had new emotions.
She missed her sister, and she felt guilty for not spending more time with her and her family.
Nan held on to the railing, holding a handkerchief, the single gold band on her left hand shining in the sunlight.
Even after all these years, she still wore that wedding ring.
“Hi, Nan!” Faith nearly shouted, unable to contain herself.
Nan got a firm hold on the railing again, planted her feet on the step, and looked up.
“There she is!” she said in her thick, smooth, southern accent.
“I’d have waited for you in the car—it probably would have been easier on my knees—but it’s so damn hot!
How’s a lady supposed to act ladylike in this heat?
” Nan winked at her and dabbed at her forehead with her handkerchief.
Faith laughed despite herself. Still a firecracker, she thought.
Nan had on a skirt and flats, her legs hidden with thick stockings.
No wonder she was hot. Poor thing. She got to the bottom of the steps and Faith rushed up to see her.
She embraced her, Nan’s flowery scent taking her back to her childhood.
“Hi, Mom,” she said, releasing Nan and giving her mom a hug in greeting.
Even now, her mother had a youthful appearance, her face milky smooth, as if she’d never spent a minute in the sun, her hair still light brown like Faith’s.
She wondered how she was doing, taking care of Nan.
Faith knew she’d been struggling a little because Nan refused to give up anything—she still did her own bills, bought her groceries, and cleaned her living area, but it was such a struggle for her now.
It was all her mom could do to get Nan to let her take her to the store or help her up and down the stairs.
“So, where is this place, Nan?” Faith asked, unable to stop smiling. Something about being with her grandmother made her so happy. Maybe it was her frank, no-nonsense nature, or the way she didn’t seem to care about what people thought. Whatever it was, she loved Nan.
“First surprise,” Nan looked around the group, making eye contact with them all. It was just like her to add drama. “The cottage where we’re spending two weeks is actually on the old lot!”
That certainly was a surprise. A great one!
She’d seen first hand how gorgeous it was, how much like their old cottage.
Excitement bubbled up as she realized that she’d get to spend more time there.
She wanted to feel the happiness of her childhood, the closeness with her mother and her sister, and the ease of those times before life had gotten so hard.
Nan always just knew how to make Faith happy.
Without even trying, she’d given Faith something priceless.
She was going to get to spend day after day looking out at the very view she’d had as a child.
The view she could still shut her eyes and see as clear as day.
“There’s a cottage on that lot?” Martha asked, clearly shocked.
“A brand new one,” Nan said, something lurking behind her eyes.
Excitement? Was Nan just as happy to have the cottage again as she was?
Faith had never thought about Nan’s feelings regarding the cottage.
Faith had just assumed it wasn’t an important part of her life anymore, but, judging by the look on Nan’s face, it clearly was.
“I arranged for us to be its first guests, the first ones to ever walk the hallways. I can’t wait to see that view. ”
“Isabella,” Martha said with the same thrill on her face that she had when they were children and she’d planned something wonderful for them.
“You will love this cottage. You know,” her eyes darted over to Faith, “your aunt spent many days building sandcastles there. I’ll bet you can build a bigger one than she did! ”
Martha had her arm around Isabella just like she’d done with Faith.
She would put her arm around Faith and lean in as if she were telling a secret that no one else could know.
Sometimes, she’d say nothing in particular—just comment about the weather or what they were having for dinner that night—but it was her unique way of showing affection, and it was nice to see her doing it with Isabella.