Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Essie walked slowly along the waterline, the leash loose in her hand as she let Maple set the pace. The sand was warm under her feet, as it was well into midmorning, but the beach still felt like her own private retreat instead of a shared resource.
A few walkers passed in the opposite direction, nodding or smiling, but no one lingered. Everyone seemed to have somewhere to be. Those who were laying out or sitting under umbrellas were either sleeping or reading. It was quiet in the best way.
Maple seemed to understand the beach was something special. Essie had no idea if she’d ever been before, but she acted like it was new to her.
Maple paused often, her nose down to get all the good sniffs as she investigated shells, a washed up jellyfish, and bits of seaweed with serious focus. Essie was happy to stop and let Maple do her thing.
After she was satisfied, she’d trot forward again as if she’d reached some important conclusion. Her ears twitched at every sound. A louder than usual wave, a gull crying overhead, the faint sound of music farther up the beach. But not once did she pull or strain.
Mostly, she stayed close, checking in with Essie now and then as though she needed to be sure she was doing this right.
“You’re doing great,” Essie told her softly. Essie was already madly in love with the animal. She’d gotten up twice last night to check on her, both times finding her fast asleep at the foot of Essie’s own bed.
She was such a good dog. Sweet, well-behaved, and seemingly happy all the time. Essie felt like Maple was a gift from God. Maybe some people would think that was silly, but Maple was exactly what she’d needed at the exact time she’d needed it.
After a little more walking, Essie led Maple farther up on the sand and lowered herself to sit and just watch the water. Maple circled twice before settling, her fur warm against Essie’s leg, her gaze fixed on the waves as if she, too, could watch them forever.
Essie rested her hands on her knees and breathed.
She missed Frank. That was a feeling that reared its head pretty regularly these days.
She missed his voice in the mornings, the way he always read the headlines aloud even when she’d already seen them.
The way he kissed her neck when she was making dinner.
She missed the small, ordinary rituals of married life.
It didn’t mean she didn’t understand he was doing what needed to be done, but Italy felt very far away today.
But now she wasn’t lonely.
Maple shifted closer, looking at Essie and thumping her tail in the sand. Essie smiled and scratched the back of Maple’s neck. “You’re a good girl. Yes, you are.”
Even in such a short time, having another living thing to care for had changed the shape of her days.
There was comfort in Maple’s company. There was new purpose, too.
Someone to walk with, which was good for both of them.
Someone who needed her to be present, even when her thoughts were tempted to wander to things she couldn’t change.
Her phone buzzed in the pocket of her shorts. Essie didn’t reach for it right away. She had a feeling what it would be. A notification about Sophie’s TikTok account. With Liliana’s help, Essie had set them up.
There had been a new one late last night and another this morning. It wasn’t unusual for Sophie to post three or four times a day.
When Essie finally checked, it was just as she’d expected.
Another short video. No explanation. No names.
A shot of Sophie’s hands holding a fancy coffee drink on a table, the camera angled so all that was visible was the cup and Sophie’s sparkly pink manicure.
There was a caption about feeling stuck and another about things changing without warning.
Then, finally, about not knowing what came next.
That seemed to be Sophie’s mantra these days.
Essie closed the app.
It worried her, the way Sophie talked so much about her issues, like she was a victim instead of owning the fact that so much of what was happening to her was because of her own actions and decisions. The way everything seemed designed to bring her sympathy.
To Essie, it felt like the young woman was afraid that if she spoke plainly about what was hurting her, that the hurt might become permanent.
Essie fiercely wished that she could help without Sophie pushing her away again. That Sophie would understand how much Essie wanted to be there for her, without judgment. That Essie knew the pain of loss.
That there was a right thing to say that would make Sophie feel loved, safe, and, ultimately, less alone.
Maple let out a small sigh and rested her head on Essie’s knee.
“I know,” Essie murmured, smoothing her hand over the dog’s soft fur. “You get it, don’t you, girl? Life is a lot harder when you think you have to do it alone.”
The waves rolled in and out, completely indifferent, just as they always were. Essie sat a little longer, letting the sound of the water and the weight of Maple against her leg anchor her in the moment.
It was a beautiful day, but at some point she had to go back.
Finally, she brushed the sand from her palms and glanced toward the sun, gauging how high it still was.
“We should probably be heading home soon,” she told Maple.
“Have some lunch. Finish the book for book club.” She only had a few chapters left.
Maple responded by leaning harder into Essie’s thigh, clearly uninterested in lunch or reading.
“Come on, now. Don’t be lazy.” Essie smiled and scratched behind her ears, shifting her weight forward to stand.
“Essie?”
Her name carried easily over the sound of the surf.
Essie looked up to see Gigi DeLuca approaching, oversized white sunglasses pushed into her hair. She wore a breezy, hot pink and coral coverup that fluttered around her legs as she walked.
“Gigi,” Essie said, surprised but polite.
“I thought that was you,” Gigi said, smiling brightly. She wiggled her fingers at Maple, who lifted her head and gave Gigi a cautious once-over. “Who is this pretty thing? Boy or girl, that is a gorgeous dog.”
“This is Maple,” Essie said. “We just adopted her.”
“Well, she is adorable,” Gigi said, lowering herself into the sand beside Maple without being invited. “Look at that face. You can tell she’s happy. Dogs always know when they’ve landed somewhere good.”
Maple wagged her tail, as if in agreement.
Essie nodded. “She’s been wonderful so far. Still settling in and figuring things out a bit, but so am I. Figuring things out, I mean.”
Gigi laughed softly. “Aren’t we all?” She reached out slowly, letting Maple sniff her hand before giving her a careful pat. “I think it’s lovely you adopted a dog. Companionship is just one of the best things in life.”
“Yes,” Essie said. “It really is.”
They sat in silence for a while, watching the waves roll in and recede. Essie didn’t know what Gigi was up to, if anything, but she felt no need to fill the quiet with small talk. Maybe that was age. Or maybe it was simply Essie not wanting to give Gigi anything more to talk about.
It wasn’t that Essie disliked the woman, but her relationship with Darcy made her problematic. Not to mention how she’d come across at book club. And then dinner.
Gigi, however, didn’t seem content to let the moment stay quiet for long.
“So,” she said lightly, brushing sand off her leg. “How are things otherwise? What do you do to stay busy?”
“I volunteer at my church. And my daughter was just here visiting.” Essie glanced at Gigi. She considered letting the small talk go on, considered keeping things surface-level. Instead, she did something she might not have done a year ago.
She looked at Gigi directly. “Can I ask you something more personal?”
Gigi’s smile stayed in place, but she blinked twice, rapidly, as if Essie had caught her off guard. “Of course.”
“What’s going on with Darcy?” Essie asked. Even as she said it, her heart rate went up slightly. She was not a confrontational person, but she liked Paige very much. And she did not like that Darcy seemed to be out to get her.
Gigi opened her mouth, closed it, then let out a small laugh. “Darcy?”
“Yes,” Essie said more calmly than she felt. “You’ve made friends with her awfully fast. To me, she seems very interested in certain people. I’d just like to understand what she’s hoping to accomplish.”
Gigi leaned back on her hands and stared at the water. Like she was buying time to think. “Well,” she said slowly. “I guess she’s just trying to find her place here. Like anybody new.”
Essie waited.
Gigi kept her eyes on the shoreline. “She had a rough time in Atlanta,” she added. “She’s looking for a new community. One that can give her purpose.”
Nothing wrong with that. But what did it have to do with going after Paige? “What about the group she’s starting?”
“That,” Gigi said, her tone brightening again. “Is all about making connections and finding that community. She wants to give women a place to get to know each other. And to support one another. Nothing sinister, I promise.”
Essie studied her face. Gigi believed what she was saying. Or at least believed enough of it to sound convincing.
“How does Paige fit into that?” Essie asked gently.
Gigi hesitated. Just a moment too long for Essie’s taste.
“I think Darcy admires her,” Gigi said. “Strong women tend to recognize each other.”
Essie thought that sounded like a load of malarky, but it was highly probable that Gigi didn’t know Darcy’s real motives. “Strong women don’t make thinly veiled threats to women they admire.”
Gigi’s mouth came open, but she didn’t say anything.
Maple let out a deep sigh and Essie rested a hand on the dog’s back. She didn’t push further, because she didn’t think there was any point. If Darcy was smart, and it seemed like she was, she hadn’t told Gigi what was truly going on.
“Well,” Essie said, standing at last and brushing sand from her legs. “I hope it all stays as harmless as you say.”
“I’m sure it will,” Gigi replied, rising as well. “You know how people talk. Things get exaggerated.”
Essie smiled politely. “They do. But sometimes things are exactly as they seem. And sometimes, people aren’t. Might not hurt to take a closer look at things. Just so you aren’t painted with the same brush.”
Gigi’s brows bent in confusion.
Essie wound Maple’s leash around her hand to keep the dog closer and gave Gigi a small nod. “Nice running into you.”
“You, too,” Gigi said. “Enjoy your walk. And your new girl.”
Essie and Maple started toward home, the sound of the waves following them. Essie didn’t look back.
She had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last conversation she’d have about Darcy Lane. But at least now, she knew where Gigi stood.
In the dark.