Chapter 8 Dean #2
The question brought back memories of all the conversations he and June had shared over the years.
He and his late wife, Milly, had become close friends with June and Trevor about a year after Shaun and Willa started dating.
They'd been there for June when Trevor died in that plane crash, and she'd been there for him and Milly through her cancer diagnosis and treatment, then for him when Milly passed away.
They'd become family, bonded first by their children's love for each other and then cemented by shared tragedy.
It was in the depths of their mutual mourning that the two of them had become as close as brother and sister. They still talked at least once or twice a month, sharing the kind of honest conversations that only came from deep trust and understanding.
Dean hadn't told June, but he hadn't gone to Miami only for his medical check-up.
He'd also gone to check on her after hearing about her car accident.
He couldn't get there sooner because he'd been training new recruits for the Pensacola Fire Department, and as much as he'd wanted to drop everything, he couldn't get out of the commitment.
But he'd called Carmen every day to find out how June was doing, not wanting to bother June directly during her recovery.
It was about a year after Milly died that everything had come out.
Willa and Shaun had just moved to Sandpiper Shores, and Dean and June had helped them relocate from Miami to this very house.
Willa had been pregnant with Becky at the time, and Dean remembered helping Shaun set up the nursery while June and Willa organized the kitchen.
One evening, after Shaun had taken a very pregnant Willa out for a romantic dinner before the baby arrived, Dean and June had babysat Grace and Andy. After the kids went to bed, they sat around the fire pit with glasses of wine and talked about everything and nothing.
That's when June had opened up to him about her past. She'd told him why it felt so strange that Willa and Shaun had been placed at the fire department at Sandpiper Shores of all places. When he’d asked why, that’s when June had told him that this was where she'd met the first love of her life.
Her first husband. Willa didn't know she'd been married before Trevor.
June wasn't actively keeping it from her; it just never came up.
She was happy with her life with Trevor and their daughter, so there'd been no reason to bring up ancient history.
Dean had joked that maybe it was time to tell Willa, just in case June’s past decided to move back to his old hometown.
June had mentioned that her ex-husband's uncle still lived in town and was actually the mayor.
The late Abe Sands. Dean had asked if Mayor Sands knew that Willa was June's daughter.
June had been convinced he didn't. How could he? While she'd kept in touch with Holt's mother, Mina, over the years, June didn't think Mayor Sands would know anything about her personal life or her daughter.
Dean had advised her that it might be better for Willa to hear about the first marriage from June rather than from the mayor or someone else who'd known her from the past. June had agreed, but the subject had never come up again.
Until now. Now that what he'd predicted had come true. June's past had walked back into her life and didn't seem to be going anywhere.
"No," June finally answered his question. "Not yet. There hasn't been time. I only arrived here a few days ago."
"Maybe you should get to it sooner rather than later," Dean advised gently. "While it might not seem relevant or likely to affect Willa's life directly, it will still come as a shock if someone else tells her. It might feel like a betrayal or like you were hiding something important."
"She's been here for twelve years," June pointed out. "I'm sure if someone was going to say something, they already would have. Including the late Mayor Sands."
"Yes," Dean agreed, "but in all the years we've been coming to visit Willa.
.." He glanced pointedly toward Holt. “Neither Holt nor his son was living here.
And you have the added complication of your grandson and Holt's grandson being best friends.
Not to mention, Willa and Rad will be working closely together as captain and detective. "
"Okay!" June said, holding up her hands. "I get it. And I will tell her."
"You know I'm always here for you, June," Dean told her seriously. "You're like a sister to me, and as such, I don't want to see you get hurt. Or Willa. This could also have an impact on our grandkids if it comes out the wrong way."
June sighed heavily. "You're right." She nodded. "I’ll tell her soon."
"Good," Dean said with a supportive smile. "Now, how are you doing after the accident? Really doing?"
"As I told you earlier, I'm healing," June replied. "I still have weird dizzy spells, but they're getting less frequent."
"That's good to hear," Dean said, relieved. "And you. How are your lungs these days?" June asked, returning his concern.
"Oh, about the same," Dean said with a shrug.
"The Reactive Airways Disease isn't getting worse, but it's not getting better either.
I have to use the inhaler more often than I'd like, and the medication makes me feel foggy sometimes.
The doctors say it's just part of the job I chose.
Thirty-five years of breathing smoke and chemical fumes takes its toll eventually. "
"Are you managing it all right on your own?" June’s eyes darkened with concern.
"Ace checks on me more than he needs to," Dean admitted with a fond smile. "He's been after me to move closer to family, which is part of why I'm here for the summer. Testing out whether I want to relocate permanently."
“Really?” June’s brows shot up. “That’s amazing, Dean. I think it would be great for you and our grandkids.”
“Maybe you should think about this move as well,” Dean suggested.
June gave a soft laugh. “Don’t tell anyone.” Her eyes met his. “Since I arrived here, I’ve been seriously considering selling the law firm, my house, and moving here.” She glanced around and sighed. “There is just something so…”
“Tranquil, magical, and magnetic?” Dean offered.
“Yes, exactly that.” June looked at him.
They fell into a comfortable silence, watching the sun sink lower toward the horizon. Dean glanced at his watch and then back toward the gathering.
"Aren't Lacey and Margo supposed to be here by now?" Dean asked, unable to keep the concern out of his voice.
June's brow furrowed as she turned and scanned the crowd. "Yes," she nodded. "Lacey called me about an hour ago to let me know she wouldn't be long. She just had to attend to a sick dog."
"We should give her a call," Dean suggested, though something in his gut was starting to feel uneasy.
June nodded and pulled out her phone. She found Lacey's number and dialed. No answer. She tried the veterinary clinic. No answer. She called Margo's cell phone. No answer. She tried Teacups. No answer.
A bad feeling crept up Dean's spine like ice water. "Is it just me, or is that a big concern that neither of them is answering?"
"It is," June agreed, worry clear in her voice. "I know both Margo and Lacey. They always answer their phones, especially when they're expected somewhere."
"Maybe Lacey is still working on the sick dog, and Margo is helping her," Dean suggested, trying to find a reasonable explanation. "They could both have their hands full."
“Maybe.” He saw the worry flash in June's eyes as she bit her lip and met his gaze. "I don't like this," she said, echoing his own growing concern. She looked back at the crowd of people enjoying themselves. "I don't want to cause a scene or worry anyone unnecessarily..."
"But you want to go check on them," Dean finished, reading her mind perfectly. "I don't have a car here."
"Neither do I, but Carmen does," June said, glancing toward where Carmen's keys would be inside the house. "Let's walk around this side like we're going for a stroll on the beach, and then head toward her car. I'll sneak back in through the front door and grab her keys."
"Okay," Dean nodded, his sense of unease growing stronger by the minute.
A few minutes later, they were driving through the quiet evening streets toward downtown Sandpiper Shores.
As they got closer to the main part of town, the worry eating at Dean's stomach intensified. Something felt wrong. It wasn’t just Lacey and Margo's absence, but something deeper.
The same kind of wrongness he'd felt ten years ago when everything started falling apart.
They were nearing the veterinary clinic when sirens began wailing in the distance, growing louder and more urgent. Dean's blood ran cold as they rounded the final corner and saw thick black smoke billowing from the direction of the clinic.