Chapter 38
THIRTY-EIGHT
PRESENT DAY
Josie
I stare at the steps where Ian disappeared.
I should follow him, but I’ve had ten years to process what his father did, and he’s had ten minutes.
Is it better to give him a little time? Before I can decide what to do, I hear a gasp from the doorway, and I turn around to find Madeline, Garrett, and Mom standing there.
At first, I’m confused by the stricken look on Madeline’s face, but then Garrett storms into the room and heads directly for Sam.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Garrett’s feet slam across the floorboards and his hands curl into fists.
“Garrett, stop!” Madeline calls, but Garrett keeps his forward motion.
“You’ve been harassing my fiancée, and now you’re showing up to our rehearsal dinner to harass her sister, too. Who are you? What do you want from us?” He grabs Sam by the shoulders.
Sam raises his hands, palms out as if to show they’re empty, and staggers backward out of Garrett’s grasp. “Look, I’m not here to hurt anyone. I just needed to talk to Josie.”
“Why?” Madeline steps toward us. “Why do you need to talk to my sister?”
Sam looks at me as if silently asking for permission.
“Don’t look at her,” Garrett growls.
I step in between them. “It’s okay. He’s not a threat to us.
” I look around at everyone on the deck.
There have been so many secrets, so many lives affected by what happened.
The last thing I wanted was for these secrets to come out this way, on the eve of my sister’s wedding.
I would have done anything to protect her from this. But I don’t know how to stop it now.
But maybe some good can come from it. Madeline and Garrett will finally know for sure that Sam isn’t a threat to them, and they can stop worrying that his presence is related to the danger from Garrett’s past. And maybe Madeline will find some relief in understanding why we left here all those years ago.
I know she was haunted by not knowing the truth.
“I think it’s time I explain everything. I need to tell you what happened the week our family left Sandy Harbor.”
“Josie—” Mom speaks up, her voice tight with distress. “Now isn’t the time—”
“You’re right,” I say calmly. “Now isn’t the time. The time was a decade ago.”
Madeline’s face goes pale. “You know why we left? And you never said anything?”
Mom paces in front of us. “Your sister’s wedding is tomorrow. I think we should wait—”
“No,” Madeline’s voice cuts in sharply. “I waited eleven years of my life for this. I deserve to hear the truth.”
Mom’s shoulders slump like she knows she’s lost this battle.
There’s a bench near the railing, and I move over to sit there.
It faces out with a view of the water sparkling in the moonlight, and I’m glad that I don’t have to look at anyone’s faces as I recount the worst day of my life.
Mom and Madeline sit next to me, while Sam and Garrett hover nearby, leaning back against the railing.
I take a deep breath. “Ian’s father assaulted me.” I expect my voice to shake, but I speak clearly. I don’t have to hide or feel ashamed. I didn’t do anything wrong.
Mom closes her eyes, and Garrett’s posture goes rigid.
“Oh my God,” Madeline gasps. “When? How?”
“I was eighteen. I went over to Ian’s house because I thought he would be there. But he wasn’t. His dad was, and I was alone with him.”
Madeline grabs my hand and squeezes it.
I take a deep breath. “Christopher attacked me, and when I fought back, he fell in the water, and I ran.”
Garrett’s eyes go wide, and I can see him putting it together. He’s Ian’s best friend. He knows how Christopher Langley died. “Ian’s dad drowned in the ocean, just off their dock.”
I nod. “For the past eleven years, I thought I killed him.”
“But why didn’t you go to the police?” Madeline gasps. “You were the victim.”
“It was me,” Mom says quietly. “I’m the one who made the decision to leave, to run before anyone could find out what happened.”
“But… Why? Josie didn’t do anything wrong.”
“It was the only way I could think of to protect her.” Her voice breaks and tears stream down her face.
“Christopher Langley was rich and powerful. I was afraid that she’d be blamed, that they’d say she asked for it, that she went over there with the intention to seduce a rich older man.
” She looks between us. “I know things are often different now, but it wasn’t always that way.
Women were blamed, even if it wasn’t their fault. It could have ruined Josie’s life.”
“But…” Madeline’s face is clouded with confusion. “You said you were alone. Nobody even knew you were there. So, why did we have to run away?”
Sam steps forward. “I knew.”
Madeline blinks as if she forgot he was even standing there.
“And who are you?” Garrett demands.
“I’m Sam Wolff. I was the security guard working that day.”
Madeline sucks in a breath through her nose. “So, you saw Josie kill Christopher Langley?”
Sam shakes his head slowly. “No. Josie didn’t kill him. I did.”
Mom’s mouth drops open. “What? You—” She turns to me. “Josie didn’t—” She looks like she’s about to faint.
“After Josie left,” Sam says, “I went down to the dock to confront Christopher. We fought, and he hit his head…”
Mom sways, and Garrett hurries over to grab her by the arm and steady her. “All this time, we believed that Josie—” She turns to Sam. “But it was you?”
“I’m not the only girl from the sailing club that Christopher Langley hurt,” I say. “But Sam doesn’t need to go into that now.”
Madeline clutches my hand with tears streaming down her face. “Josie, I’m so sorry. This must have been an absolute nightmare for you.”
“I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you sooner.” I swipe at a tear on my cheek. “And that it’s basically ruining your wedding weekend.”
Garrett’s face hardens. “Our wedding will be fine,” he says fiercely. “Don’t worry about that.”
“We just care that you’re okay.” Madeline leans against me.
“I am. It was a long time ago, and I’ve come to terms with what happened. I know it wasn’t my fault.” I look up at Sam. “And it wasn’t your fault, either. I hope you know that. It was Christopher who did this.”
He nods. “You’re right.”
“I’m grateful you were there to try to stop him.” I look down at my hands. “I’m grateful you did stop him from hurting anyone else.”
Garrett’s head snaps up. “Where is Ian? Does he know all of this?”
At the memory of Ian’s stricken face, my eyes fill with tears. “We told him. He was in complete shock. I know he didn’t have the best relationship with his dad, but to find out he’s a sexual predator… To find out that he caused so much pain…”
Garrett shakes his head.
“And I think in a strange way, he blames himself. He knew about his dad’s affairs.”
“He cares about you so much,” Madeline says. “He must have been devastated.”
“I care about him too.” As the words come out of my mouth, I realize just how much. But can we ever overcome this? The secrets, the guilt, the sins of his father?
“Where is he now?” Garrett asks.
“He needed some time to process everything. I think he believes it’s better that he’s not around me. He thinks I wouldn’t want to see him.”
“Is that true?” Garrett asks gently. “He does look like his dad. And I’m sure it brings a lot up for you. Of course he’s not to blame, but it’s also okay if you need some time to process everything too.”
I knew Ian before I knew his dad, and I fell for him back then the way I’m falling for him now. I never for one minute thought he was like Christopher. “No, I don’t need space or time. I need Ian.”
“Did you tell him that?” Madeline asks.
I shake my head. “No, he left. I’m worried about him. He shouldn’t be alone.”
“He’ll be okay,” Garrett says. “I promise.”
Sam steps away from the railing. “I should go.” He looks from Garrett to Madeline.
“I’m truly sorry to have brought this up during your wedding.
” And then he looks at me. “And I’m sorry you spent so many years believing you had anything to do with Christopher’s death.
I would have told you long ago had I known. ”
“I know you would have,” I say. Sam seems like a good man.
I hope he’s been able to move on and find happiness.
“I promise none of us here will ever give away your secret.” My gaze slides from Madeline and Garrett to Mom.
“Right? We’ve all been through enough pain. Can we agree to put this behind us?”
Madeline nods. “Of course.”
“Yes, absolutely,” Garrett agrees.
I look at Mom, and she nods.
“I appreciate that. I think we all have a lot of healing to do.” Sam takes a step back. “Maybe I’ll see you around the island.”
Of course, I’ll be back to visit Madeline and Garrett. I’d be back even more if I was coming to see Ian. For a moment, I thought Ian and I might have a chance to be together. Now I’m not sure.
Sam leaves and Madeline stands up. “You should go and find Ian. Do you think he went home?”
While I’m dying to rush over to Ian’s house, this is my sister’s wedding weekend, and I feel terrible about how much I’ve disrupted it already.
Since Madeline wanted to follow the tradition that the groom shouldn’t see the bride before the wedding, we booked a room at a spa off the island for tonight.
The plan was to have a leisurely morning of spa treatments and hair appointments before the wedding tomorrow evening.
It was going to be my gift to Madeline, and our chance to spend some time together amidst the chaos.
I can’t abandon her to go running after Ian, especially since I’m not sure he wants to see me right now anyway.
I shake my head. “I think Ian needs some time to process things. Let’s go ahead with the hotel and spa.” I force a smile. “I could use a little time together.”
“Are you sure?” Madeline bites her lip.
“Yes, absolutely.”
We head back into the restaurant, and it takes all the strength I have to smile and make small talk as we say goodbye to the last of the guests.
At one point, I notice Garrett sneak off to a quiet corner and dial his phone.
Is he calling Ian? My body tenses in anticipation.
Garrett presses the phone to his ear and worry lines deepen across his forehead as it seems to ring with no answer.
He hangs up, and his eyes meet mine across the room.
He shakes his head and my shoulders slump.
Later, Garrett walks Madeline and me to the car to send us off to the spa.
He gives Madeline a long, lingering kiss and then helps her into the passenger’s seat.
As we walk around to the trunk so I can set my bag inside, he whispers, “I’ll drive by his house and let you know if I hear from him, okay? ”
I grab his arm and give it a squeeze. “Thank you.”