Chapter 10 June
JUNE
The first thing June became aware of was the unfamiliar surroundings and the uncomfortable cushions beneath her.
For a blissful moment, she allowed herself to believe that her encounter with Holt on the beach had been nothing more than a particularly vivid nightmare brought on by the head injury and stress of the past few weeks.
Then she heard Carmen’s voice in the hallway, low and urgent, speaking to someone on the phone.
“No, she’s resting now. Yes, I’m sure it was just too much walking too soon after her accident.”
The memory came flooding back with startling clarity. Holt’s face, older but unmistakably the same. The way he’d said her name, as if thirty-eight years hadn’t passed at all. The feeling of the world tilting sideways before everything went black.
“Carmen?” June’s voice came out as a croak.
Her sister appeared in the doorway almost instantly, ending her phone call with a quick goodbye. “You’re awake. I was just on the phone with Willa.” She shoved the device into her pocket. “How are you feeling?”
“I have a bit of a headache,” June replied honestly before asking, although she already knew the answer from the expression on Carmen’s face. “Did I dream it, or did I just run into Holt right here in Sandpiper Shores?”
“No, it wasn’t a dream.” Carmen sat on the edge of the bed, her voice gentle but firm. “Holt Dillinger carried you home after you fainted on the beach. Grace led him here.”
June closed her eyes, feeling the room spin slightly. “He’s here. In Sandpiper Shores. I can’t believe he’s actually here.”
“Neither can I,” Carmen said dryly. “Though I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. He always did have impeccable timing when it came to disrupting your peace of mind.” She shook her head. “That man is like a bad penny.”
“What did he say? Did he ask any questions? Did Grace or Becky say anything to him?” The questions tumbled out of June in a rush of panic.
“He was concerned about you,” Carmen said carefully. “And Grace mentioned your car accident, which seemed to upset him. But that was all. What would the girls say to him?”
“I don’t know,” June said, breathing out as she cautiously sat up. “I guess it’s just the shock of seeing him. Here in Sandpiper Shores.”
“Little sister, it was bound to happen,” Carmen pointed out. “He was born here. His family basically created the town.”
June sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Yes, I know.” She shook her head. “I have dreaded this day since Willa and Shaun told me they were moving here.”
Carmen found. “You know I’ve always thought that strange.”
“What?” June said. “What do you mean?”
“You didn’t find it strange that out of all the places Shaun and Willa could’ve been assigned, they ended up here?” Carmen said. “Here, slap in the heart of the Strand family stronghold?”
June’s head started to throb a bit more as that cold feeling started creeping up her spine once again. “It was the only place that would position both of them. Which was very nice of them, considering Willa was pregnant and couldn’t work right away.”
“Uh-huh,” Carmen said, nodding. “There is no doubt that Shaun and Willa are amazing. Shaun was the best Captain for this station.”
“But…” June drawled, watching her sister intently and realizing deep inside she’d had the same suspicions that her sister was voicing.
“But it just seemed strange,” Carmen said. “Why didn’t Shaun take the position in Miami?” Her frown deepened. “Willa already had a position there.”
“Yes, then Ace moved back home to Sandpiper Shores,” June pushed forward, refusing to admit what her sister was insinuating.
“The Sandpiper Shores Fire Chief retired, and so did two lieutenants here. Ace was offered the position, but he wanted to start up his family’s aircraft business, so he put Shaun and Willa forward. ”
“If that is what you want to believe,” Carmen said. “Shaun was going to turn this offer down to stay in Miami, and then he took a mysterious urgent meeting, and then the next day he changed his mind about coming here.”
“What meeting?” June looked curiously at her.
“The meeting he took with someone from Sandpiper Shores the day before he decided to take the job here,” Carmen told her.
“I didn’t know of the meeting.” June’s eyes searched her sister’s eyes.
“Maybe Willa will know,” Carmen said. “I can just tell you what I found out the day he left work to go to a meeting, and he was overheard telling Willa he was going to meet with a representative from Sandpiper Shores.”
“Gran?” Grace’s voice called from the hallway interrupting them. “Are you awake? We brought you some tea.”
Before June could respond, both her granddaughters appeared in the doorway, Grace carrying a steaming mug.
“How are you feeling, Gran?” Grace asked, setting the tea on the nightstand and perching carefully on the edge of the bed. “You scared us when you fainted like that.”
“I’m fine, sweetheart,” June said, smiling. “Thank you for the tea.”
“Gran, I told you not to go walking so far,” Becky admonished her.
“Tyler’s grandfather was really nice,” Grace said conversationally. “He seemed really worried about you when you fainted. I think he felt bad that he startled you.”
“He carried you all the way from the beach,” Becky continued.
Grace’s young brow crinkled. “He looked like he was in pain, because he winced as you fell against him.”
The image of Holt carrying her, ignoring his own discomfort to make sure she was safe, sent an unexpected warmth through June’s chest. Some things, it seemed, hadn’t changed at all.
“Speaking of being okay,” Carmen interrupted, “I think we should get you to the clinic to make sure that fainting spell wasn’t related to your head injury.”
“No, really, I’m fine,” June protested automatically. “I’m just tired from the walk and probably a little dehydrated from the heat.”
“Which is exactly why you need to be checked out,” Carmen said with the kind of authority that came from decades in emergency medicine. “Head injuries are unpredictable, and stress can trigger all sorts of complications.”
“I agree with Aunt Carmen,” Grace said, crossing her arms in a gesture that reminded June of Willa at that age. “You’ve been through a lot lately, and fainting isn’t normal for you.”
“I’m coming with you to the clinic,” Becky announced. “You gave us a real fright when Mom told us you’d had a car accident, and now you’ve fainted.”
“We both want to come,” Grace corrected.
June looked around at the three concerned faces surrounding her bed and realized she wasn’t going to win this argument, and saw she was outnumbered.
“Fine,” June conceded with a sigh that was only partially theatrical. “But I’m walking into that clinic under my own power. No wheelchairs, no fussing, and definitely no calling your mother unless Dr. Tanner says it’s necessary.”
“Okay, let’s go,” Carmen said, standing up. “You girls grab your sweaters.”
Thirty minutes later, June found herself in the familiar waiting room of the Sandpiper Shores Medical Clinic, surrounded by the comfortable chaos of a small-town medical practice.
Children played with worn toys in the corner while their parents filled out paperwork.
An elderly man read a fishing magazine with the concentrated attention of someone who’d been waiting for quite some time.
The whole scene was reassuringly normal, exactly the kind of place where nothing dramatic ever happened.
Dr. Lucy Tanner appeared to call her back, and June got up.
“June,” Lucy called out with a warm smile. “Good to see you again, though I wish it were under better circumstances.”
“Hello, Lucy,” June replied, standing carefully and grateful when the room didn’t spin. “I’m sure this is just Carmen being overcautious.”
“Better overcautious than under-cautious when it comes to head injuries,” Lucy said, leading her toward the examination rooms. “Your family can wait out here. This shouldn’t take too long.”
Lucy led her to a small examination room and gestured for her to sit on the paper-covered table. “So, tell me what happened today. Carmen mentioned on the phone that you fainted during a walk on the beach?”
June nodded, choosing her words carefully. “Grace and I were walking near the lighthouse area. I was probably pushing myself too hard after being sedentary for weeks.”
Lucy made a note on her chart and then took her blood pressure. “Your blood pressure is a little elevated, but that’s not surprising given what you’ve been through today.”
“It’s because I saw Holt today,” June said. “It was after that I fainted.”
“Ah,” Lucy said, nodding. “It was bound to happen that the two of you would run into each other here sooner or later.”
“I guess so,” June said with a tight smile.
“You’ve been lucky over the past twelve years,” Lucy pointed out.
“Grace thinks he was hurt.” June watched Lucy intently.
“Oh, really?” Lucy said, shining a light in June’s eyes.
June’s eyes narrowed. “What do you know?”
“Nothing,” Lucy said with a smile. “You seem to be okay. But I don’t think you should be overdoing things, June. This is the second time you’ve fainted within a month.”
“I’m trying not to,” June admitted. “But it’s hard. I’m not used to sitting around doing nothing.”
“I understand that,” Lucy told her. “Why not try to do things in moderation?”
“I don’t really understand that word.” June laughed.
“Try,” Lucy told her, jotting something on her tablet. “Also, if you are going to go for long walks, try to take little breaks and take an energy bar or electrolyte drink with you.”
“Okay,” June said, giving in. She was feeling a little drained. “I will, I promise.”
“I’m going to check your ribs,” Lucy said. “Then you won’t have to come in tomorrow.”
“Good idea,” June said.
A few minutes later, Lucy finished wrapping June’s ribs. “All done.” She smiled. “You’re healing nicely. But please, June, take it easy or at least a little easier than you have been.”
“June, I know that Holt is here for at least six to seven weeks,” Lucy told her, looking worried. “I’m worried because if you faint every time you see him…” she was half-teasing and half-serious. “That won’t be good for either of you”
“I’ll buy a helmet,” June said with a laugh. “Really, Lucy, I’ll be fine. I guess it was just a shock and with the head injury, etc…”
“Okay, but please, remember what we talked about,” Lucy repeated. “And I’ll need to see you next week again for your next check-up appointment.”
“I promise I’ll try,” June promised. “Thank you for this.”
“Of course,” Lucy said. “I’ll get my nurse to make an appointment for you, and she’ll give you a call with a time and date.”
“That’s great,” June said, standing up. “I’ll see you next week.”
As she walked through the halls to find her sister.
June’s mind spun over the information that Lucy had told her about Holt.
He was staying here for six weeks. Six weeks!
Unless she locked herself inside her daughter’s house for the next six weeks, there was no way of avoiding running into Holt again.
Especially as her grandson and his grandson were best friends.
June closed her eyes, trying to process the implications of having Holt in Sandpiper Shores for months instead of days.
The carefully constructed walls she’d built around her heart suddenly felt fragile, inadequate protection against the reality of sustained proximity to the one person who could unravel everything.
Yes, June had loved Trevor. He’d been the second love of her life, but Holt had been her first and one true love.
That big once-in-a-lifetime love. She swallowed and shook off all thoughts of Holt as she walked through to the family room, her sister and granddaughters were waiting for her.
“June? How are you?” Carmen, Grace, and Becky stood up and walked over to her.
“Are you okay, Gran?” Grace and Becky asked in unison.
“Your grandmother is fine,” Lucy said as she walked up behind her. “But she does need to take things easy and drink a lot of water.”
“We’ll make sure she listens,” Grace was the one to answer Lucy.
“Good!” Lucy said and turned to June. “Nurse Martinez will call you with a date and time for your checkup appointment during the course of today or tomorrow morning.”
With that, Lucy left them, and Carmen took them home.
As they drove home, June couldn’t help but reflect on the summer ahead. A summer that had promised to be a peaceful recovery was beginning to feel like a reckoning thirty-eight years in the making. And somewhere in this small town, Holt Dillinger was probably thinking the same thing.
As they pulled into Willa’s driveway, June caught sight of the lighthouse in the distance and felt that familiar flutter of panic mixed with something she didn’t want to examine too closely.
Tomorrow, she would have to figure out how to navigate a town that suddenly felt too small to contain both her past and her present. Tonight, she just wanted to spend time with her daughter, granddaughters, grandson, and sister to enjoy some of the peace and family she’d come here for.
But even as she thought it, June knew that kind of peace was probably beyond her reach now.
Holt was here, in the place where their story had begun, and after thirty-eight years of careful avoidance, she was finally going to have to face the consequences of the choice they had both made all those years ago.