Chapter 7
Harper hadn’t slept well and as a result, she’d slept in a little later than she’d meant to. Maybe she could get a nap before Frankie arrived.
Besides waking up frequently just because she wasn’t in her own bed, she’d had some strange dreams. Not nightmares. Just odd collections of images and thoughts. Some of them about Ford. She was glad it was morning. Glad to see the gorgeous view. It was a great way to erase the bad night.
Hard to be unhappy with all that sky and water out there. It was like living in paradise. Actually, it was living in paradise.
Didn’t mean she’d forgotten her life was in shambles, but it was still nice to look out and see all that beauty. Made her realize there was a lot to be grateful for. This house was a prime example of that.
And Frankie would be here today. Even better.
Archie’s nails clicked on the floor as he came over to the side of the bed.
“Ready to go out, baby dog?”
He woofed softly, his fur a little unkempt on top of his head.
With a smile, she ran her fingers through it. “I guess you slept all right, huh?”
She grabbed the sides of his face and kissed him between the eyes. “I love you, you silly thing. Let me throw some clothes on and we’ll go walk.”
She really wanted coffee, but that could wait. Archie came first.
She opted for gym shorts, a tank top, and a baseball cap to hold back her hair. She brushed her teeth and slipped into her sneakers. Finally, she stuck her phone in the pocket of her shorts and made sure the sound was on. There was no text from Frankie yet, but Harper expected one soon.
She put Archie’s leash on him, and they went out the front door. Her plan was to check out the beach access and see what the beach was like so she’d know for when Frankie was here.
The closest access was one house away from hers. It was a wide boardwalk of planks, bordered on each side by a thick hedge she didn’t recognize.
As soon as they reached the halfway point, the sound of the waves really picked up. At the end of the boardwalk, they went down a few steps and came out onto a long stretch of pristine beach.
There were only two other people she could see. Quite a ways up, there was a man jogging near the waterline. And a few yards away, there was a woman in a beach chair that had its own awning for shade. She was reading a book.
Harper stood looking at how empty the beach was. Maybe it filled up more later in the day? Or maybe it was always like this. Unless you parked further up and walked down, this section of beach would be hard to access unless you lived in Hideaway Bay.
It wasn’t really a private beach, but it was pretty close.
Archie was sniffing a broken piece of clamshell.
“Come on. Let’s walk, Archie.” She gave the leash a gentle tug and started up the beach.
Archie trotted alongside her. The sun felt great, and the air was warm but the breeze off the water made the temperature perfect.
As they approached the woman who was reading, she put her book down and waved at them. “Hello.”
Harper waved back. “Hello.”
“Beautiful dog. What’s his name?”
“Archie.” Harper took a few steps in the woman’s direction. “He’s very friendly, I promise. He’s a big goofball, really.”
The woman pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head and smiled at Archie. “Hello, Archie. You look like a very sweet fellow.”
Archie went right up to her and gladly accepted her pats.
“I’m Harper. We’re staying at the Marsh house.” She’d been about to say that she’d just moved in but that sounded so permanent.
“We?”
Harper smiled. “Me and Archie. Although my sister will be arriving sometime today, too.”
“Very nice. I’m Prisha Chatterjee. We live in the house that’s just behind me.” She pointed over her shoulder. “We being my husband and myself. Our children are grown, but they come to visit once in a while. It’s nice to have someone in the Marsh house. It’s sat empty for a while now.” Her gaze took on a touch of sorrow. “Arlington was such a dear man. Are you a relative of his?”
“No, just a good friend. He was a dear man. I can certainly agree with that. It’s nice to meet you, Prisha.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too. Have you met anyone else here yet?”
“I’ve met Joyce, the housekeeper for—”
“Mr. Ripley.” Prisha made a sad face and shook her head. “That poor man. He has some issues, but you can’t blame him. Joyce is lovely. Although I don’t get to talk to her that often. You should come to book club.” She picked up the hardback book she was reading. “Have you read it?”
“The Last of the Wildflowers.” Harper shook her head. The book had won some awards or been given the nod by Oprah or something like that. “Not yet, but I’ve heard of it. I probably should read it. Is it good?”
“It is…interesting. Suzanne, one of our members, picked it. But it doesn’t matter if you’ve read it or not, we mostly get together to catch up, drink wine, and eat sweets.”
Harper laughed. “That’s kind of you to offer, but I shouldn’t abandon my sister right after she arrives.”
“Bring her, too. The more the merrier. My house, tomorrow night, seven o’clock.”
“Okay,” Harper said. “I’ll ask her.”
“I’ll give you my number,” Prisha said. “Then you can text me what you decide.”
They exchanged numbers.
“Thanks for the invite,” Harper said. “It was nice meeting you. I better get him walked so I can get home and have some coffee.”
“Enjoy your day. I hope to see you tomorrow night.”
“I hope to be there. Bye.”
“Bye.” Prisha put her sunglasses on and returned to her book.
Harper walked Archie for quite a while. Almost to the end of what constituted Hideaway Bay. Amazing how easy it was to go such a distance on the beach. The breeze off the water felt so good. She turned them around and they headed back. Prisha had gone.
They walked back on the boardwalk then straight to the house. Harper felt energized, but a little sweaty. Even with the breeze it was still warm. Time for a quick shower and something to eat. Archie had done his business twice, so she had two bags to throw away.
She wasn’t sure where the trash cans were yet, so she took them inside with her. She washed Archie’s feet off in the first-floor bathroom shower, then they went up in the elevator. She got a pot of coffee started before going in to shower. As she was about to step in, Frankie’s text came through.
Leaving now. So excited! See you soon!
Harper answered quickly. Drive safe! See you soon! Can’t wait!
Her sister’s pending arrival got her motivated. She showered, then got dressed and downed a cup of coffee along with one of Joyce’s delicious oatmeal bars. The woman could bake.
She rummaged around a bit as she ate, remembering something she’d seen yesterday while looking through the kitchen.
She found it in the catchall drawer next to the one that held the utensils. The Hideaway Bay directory.
There was a number for the main office, so Harper called that.
“Good morning. Hideaway Bay assistance. How can I help?”
“Good morning. I’m new here and I have a few questions…”
After the brief call, Harper had given them her sister’s name so she’d be let through the gates, gotten a recommendation for a good veterinarian (just in case), and had been assured the trashcans were most likely in one of the garages.
Which reminded her about putting her car in one of them, but how would she get the door up when she was in the car? She had a whole packet of stuff from the attorney’s office, paperwork concerning the house. She hadn’t really looked at any of it except to get the alarm codes. Maybe there was something in there about the garages.
She got the packet out, sat at the breakfast bar, and emptied it out onto the counter to sort through while she had a second cup of coffee.
There were fobs to open the garage doors, keys to the guest house, and a few pages of handwritten notes about the house from Arlington himself.
The sight of his handwriting brought an ache to Harper’s heart.
On top of everything was a smaller envelope with her name on it. She opened it and pulled out a letter from him.
Dear Harper,
If you’re reading this, I have shuffled off this mortal coil. I know you think the house is too much. It’s not. It’s a perfect way to say thank you for all you’ve done for me and my family. I hope you’re able to continue helping Teddy. He’s a new man because of you, and no, he didn’t tell me that. I just surmised it. I know how you work.
She smiled and sniffed.
There are a lot of wonderful memories in this house. Many good times. Loads of laughter. Some tears shed, too. That’s the way of things with families. But it’s always been a sanctuary for us. Me, especially. A quiet place to come when the world got to be too much. I hope it becomes a sanctuary for you, too.
Of course, if it really is too much, or you don’t care for it, or whatever the reason, you’re welcome to sell it. It’s yours now. Do with it what you will. All I ask is that you give it one year after you take ownership before you make a decision of that nature.
She nodded. “I can do that.”
Well, I lied. I’m going to ask two things of you. The second is that you deliver the enclosed letter to Mitch Ripley, and if at all possible, befriend him. Listen to him, if you can get him to talk. He could use someone like you in his life, even if he doesn’t know it. Or want it. He lives next door. Don’t let his crankiness put you off. He’s not a bad sort. Just broken, like most of us, except his sharpest edges have yet to dull.
Now you take care of yourself. Have a happy life. Whatever that entails. You deserve it. And like you always said to me, remember what brings you peace and embrace that.
With great affection,
Arlington
She wiped at her eyes. She didn’t feel deserving. But Arlington hadn’t known the truth about her.
For that, she was glad. As for the rest…she couldn’t refuse his requests. Regardless of the fact that he’d given her this house. Or that he’d passed on.
Which meant she was going to see her cranky neighbor, whether she wanted to or not.