21. Aaron

21

AARON

The lump in my throat won’t lessen the entire way back to the inn. Seeing Jack that vulnerable about a goodbye affected me in ways I can’t puzzle out right now.

Rocco is awake when I come into the room.

“Where the hell have you been? I can only guess, but you had me worried.”

“Sorry about that. I was watching turtles hatch on the beach.”

I give him the highlights of our night, from Beth to Cain this morning.

“Damn, that must’ve been a sight.”

“It was.” Guilt creeps in again about not including him. “Jack took plenty of shots, so once he develops the film, I’ll ask if he’ll share them. He’s a great photographer.”

Rocco blinks and stares at me.

“What?”

“You’ve fallen for the grumpy service station owner.”

“No.” Ah shit, is that what he thinks? “I haven’t even known him that long.”

He smirks. “Stranger things have happened.”

“I’m leaving tomorrow morning.”

“Which is why coming at him from a different angle might help convince him that selling to us?—”

“Enough. Don’t you ever quit?” I throw him a severe look that stops him dead in his tracks. “And before you accuse me again of catching feelings, that’s not why I stopped the hard sell.”

“I believe you. I promise to shut off the business side of my brain the rest of the weekend.” He looks sheepish as he rolls out of bed. “Anywhere to get a decent breakfast?”

“I know just the place.”

Once showered and changed, we head into town on foot for breakfast at the diner. Rocco doesn’t complain since he’s regularly on the treadmill at the gym. And he seems to be enjoying the fresh air.

June greets us with a smile as we enter the Tie-Dye Diner.

“You must be Rocco,” June says, leading us to a booth. Rocco throws me a look that tells me he now understands how fast word travels around here.

We order coffee and breakfast and chat with June when she comes around to refill our cups. “So it’s your last night in Aqua Vista?”

My stomach sours. “Yeah, time for me to get back to my life in San Jose.”

“Well, it sounds like a nice one.” She offers me a sad smile that seems full of meaning. Maybe if I were alone, she might’ve shared her thoughts with me. And right then, I’m burning to know. “Meet us at Johnny’s bar later?” she asks.

“It’s his annual rib fest,” I tell Rocco, who shrugs. “Unless you were planning on heading out today?”

“I’d love to stick around for some barbecue.”

I try not to show my disappointment as I smile at June and tell her we’ll see her there. I consider giving Jack a heads-up, but why bother. We’ve established we’re friends, after all.

I reach for the bill, but Rocco jerks it out of my hand. “Allow me, for all the headaches I caused you by showing up.”

I silently study him as he digs out cash. “Why do I get the feeling you’re here for more than to check up on me?”

“Like I said, maybe I needed time away too.”

“I don’t doubt that, but normally, you’d head off somewhere more tropical.”

He sighs. “Corrine and I got in a fight.”

Ah, there it is.

“About what?”

“The wedding.”

“Plenty of couples argue about that.” Not that I’d know, but that’s what I’ve heard. I’ve never been anywhere close to the altar, nor have I wanted to be. A long-term commitment without the legal paper suits me just fine.

“Let’s just say she wants something much more lavish than I do. Been there, done that.”

I frown as we stand and head for the door. This will be Rocco’s second marriage. The first was after college and only lasted a year before they both decided they’d made a grave mistake. “If you had your say, what would you do?”

“A small, private ceremony on a remote beach.”

I nod because that’s what I thought. “Well, somehow, the two of you will work it out.”

“Yeah, I suppose.”

He’s only glum for a moment before he perks up and takes in the shops on Main Street.

“I just need to stop here to pick up a gift I bought for my mom.”

When we step into Spellbound, the bell above the door jingles.

“What could you possibly have bought in here?” he mutters as he takes in the shelves of books, essential oils, herbal remedies, and precious stones.

“Beth made Mom a bracelet with healing crystals.”

He opens his mouth to reply just as Beth’s enthusiastic voice booms over us. “There you are!”

“Hi there. I’d like you to meet?—”

“Rocco. It’s a pleasure.”

“Wait, does everyone know my name?”

“We had lots of time to talk on the beach last night.” She looks at me. “I went to check this morning, and all looks good.”

“Glad to hear it.” I don’t tell her we stayed all night, but given her sixth sense or whatever, she’s probably figured it out.

Beth brings out her creation, which reminds me of a charm bracelet with the crystals dangling in a row. “This is great. She’ll love it. Thank you.”

She pats my hand. “Of course.”

Once she rings me up, we stand there awkwardly. “Well, I guess this is goodbye.” I consider asking her whether she’ll be attending the barbecue, but it’s just as well to say farewell now.

She winks. “Uh-huh. Doubtful it’s the last time we cross paths.”

“What does she mean?” Rocco asks, curiosity in his voice.

“Beth is intuitive, which means she reads energy.”

She waves me off. “I’m not always spot-on.”

“So that’s why you said you’ll see Aaron again?”

“Just a feeling.” She grips her chest. I can see how cautious she’s being, and I feel bad for her. “But it’s a strong one.”

Rocco raises an eyebrow. “Does your intuition have to do with a certain service station owner?”

“That’s enough,” I say because I’m going to wring his neck. No way I want them lobbing predictions back and forth about my private life. “Thanks again.”

I urge him toward the exit. She walks us out the door, then stares strangely toward the ocean as if in a trance. “Beth?”

When I hear a familiar melody, I turn to see Mr. Goodson parked on the same bench, playing the ukelele for his wife, and I’m filled with melancholy.

I try to shake the feeling just as Beth says, “Don’t mind me. Got lost in thought.”

“No worries.” I lead Rocco in the opposite direction.

When we’re far enough away, Rocco looks back at Beth and chuckles. “A bunch of BS, right?”

I shrug, feeling protective of Beth—or possibly the very fabric of this town. “Maybe, maybe not.”

We pass the man selling good-luck charms from his cart.

“Protect yourself,” he calls out, and I wave him off. The fact that he plants himself near Spellbound irks me. No wonder Beth feels so defensive.

“From what?” Rocco asks.

“Some say this town is cursed.”

He winces. “Okay, maybe we dodged a bullet.”

I bark out a laugh just as I spot Jack’s truck pulling up to the diner. He meets June in the middle of the sidewalk, and their worried faces make alarm bells go off in my head.

My legs start moving toward them. “Is everything okay?”

Jack looks taken aback by my presence. “Have you seen Cain in town?”

I shake my head. “Only earlier, with you.”

“His board was found on the beach, along with his other things,” he says with a frown. “His surf buddies got worried, so they sought my help at the service station.”

“I saw him this morning when I went to check on the turtles,” Beth says suddenly from beside me. “It was a distance away, but I know that board.”

“What time was that?” June blurts out.

“Just after dawn.”

She must’ve just missed us leaving.

June’s expression shifts to distress, and Beth grips her hand. “Don’t worry, it won’t be like last time.”

Jack rounds on her. “Haven’t you done enough?”

“Jack!” June snaps. “Let’s just go.”

She slips into the passenger seat of his truck with anguish written all over her face, and not a moment later, Jack is pulling away from the curb.

“Someone fill me in,” Rocco says, and I startle, having forgotten he was there. All I can think about is how worried they must be.

“Cain is June’s son and a surfer. Remember I told you we last saw him with his board this morning?”

“Come on.” Beth tugs on my arm. “I’ll drive us down in my car.”

I only hesitate momentarily, and then we’re all inside the sedan, and she takes off. Rocco is looking at me like I’ve lost my mind.

I lean over and whisper, “I told you, people in this town look after each other.”

It’s not lost on me that I’m not part of this town, which is likely the reason Rocco is struggling to understand why I’m going along.

A crowd of mostly surfers has formed on the beach not far from where we watched the turtles hatch. Cain’s board is near the foamy surf and looks like it washed up on the shore. A towel with his shirt, wallet, and phone is nearby. June and Johnny are speaking in hushed whispers to Cain’s surfer buddies, and Jack gives me a grim look as we approach.

Shit, was this what it was like for them that fateful day?

“He’ll be okay,” Beth says in this ominous voice, not addressing anyone in particular. “It won’t be like last time.”

I squeeze her shoulder, pulling her out of her thoughts. “I’m sure you’re right, but maybe you should hang back this time? It’s awesome that you’re here to offer them support. You’re a good person.”

She opens her mouth as if to protest, then nods.

“Rocco will keep you company.”

He throws me an incredulous look as I plead with my eyes.

When he nods, I head toward the crowd and listen in as one of the surfers explains how Cain’s board washed up soon after he arrived. “I looked for him before alerting the lifeguard station.”

I can see one of the rescue workers in the water, swimming out near the first buoy with a life preserver. Watching for a while, I feel restless, wishing I could do something to help. I can’t imagine what June is feeling.

My stomach bottoms out and my legs eat up the sand as I back away, not wanting to call attention to myself. I need to do something with all this pent-up energy, or I’ll implode. Besides, they don’t need more hands or worried expressions.

I move farther down the beach, my gaze on the waves, looking for any signs of him. I’m sure it’s futile, but I don’t know what else to do. Whatever I might say to the family won’t be good enough anyway. Not in a time like this. I can see why Beth’s words fall on deaf ears.

My feet keep moving on the same trajectory as they had this morning when Jack and I walked along the coast. I spot a sand dollar, but my focus doesn’t stray too long from the water. When I hit a certain point, I’ll double back.

Before I know it, I’ve walked too far away from the family. Over my shoulder, they look like little dots. This far away from all the uneasiness and flurry of activity, no one would suspect they are a family in distress. I try to picture what that one day might’ve been like for Jack, but the bitterness on my tongue and the pang in my gut pale in comparison to how much of a physical and emotional toll it must’ve taken. I don’t really know Cain, but that doesn’t matter. It’s about family and heartbreak and suffering. Something the McCoys have had plenty of already.

I stop to catch my breath and reluctantly turn around, hoping that when I get back there, he’ll have been found.

But then something catches my eye farther up the beach, between kids and families playing in the surf. It’s a lone figure wearing a bright-blue wetsuit I recognize from this morning. He’s moving slowly, his hair plastered to his head, and I think to shout for Jack, but he won’t hear me. So, instead, I sprint toward Cain.

“Cain!” I shout as I get near.

His eyes widen as if I’ve startled him.

“Are you all right?” I ask when I get to him. He looks exhausted.

“Yeah, sure. The current was strong and took me farther south than I anticipated, so I took some time to catch my breath before heading back to look for my board. No doubt it’s washed up along the shore somewhere.”

I stare at him in disbelief. “I…you…”

“What are you doing out here?”

That jolts me out of it. “Your family is looking for you.”

“My family?” His eyes snap to mine. “Why?”

“Your surfer buddies got concerned when your board showed up without you.”

“That doesn’t make any sense. I haven’t been gone that long, have I?”

“Longer than you think.” I grip his arm. “Come on, your mom is worried sick.”

“Ah fuck. That’s all I need.”

He picks up his pace as we haul it toward Jack and his family. But he’s struggling to keep up with me. “Are you sure you’re not hurt?”

“No, I…just swallowed a boatload of water.” Suddenly, he stops with his hands on his knees and pukes mostly water on the sand.

“Ah shit, you might be dehydrated. How about this?” I glance down the beach. “You sit right here and don’t move. I’ll alert them you’ve been found.”

“Okay.” He doesn’t put up a fight, just plants his butt in the sand.

I jog until I can see Cain’s family and friends near his towel. “I found him!”

June’s hand clamps over her mouth, tears springing to her eyes.

“He’s all right. Just exhausted and maybe dehydrated. I told him to stay put on the sand and we’d come to him.”

“Oh God, thank you.” June grabs me and hugs me tight.

“He said the current took him farther than he thought.”

“I need to see my baby boy.” She starts toward her son.

Two lifeguards and Cain’s surfer buddies follow her.

Jack approaches me and squeezes my arm. “What made you walk that way?”

I wince. “Nervous energy?”

“Thank you.” His intense gaze penetrates mine. “We owe you.”

“You don’t owe me anything. Just glad I could help.”

He nods, then heads toward the others.

I plop down on the sand next to Beth and Rocco.

“Maybe you have a sixth sense of your own,” Beth says with tears in her eyes. “I’m so glad he was found.” She gets up, dusts the sand from her dress, then hesitantly heads toward the others, no doubt to help in any way she can.

“I can see why you like this town…or at least feel tied to it,” Rocco says. “Everyone seems so willing to give a hand.”

I smile, relief settling in my chest.

“Beth seemed so nervous. She told me she lost someone years ago, and I can’t help thinking she’s haunted by the experience.”

I nod. “Just like the McCoys are about their own tragedy.”

“Does this have anything to do with the curse?”

“Sort of, yeah. Come on, I’ll tell you on the way back to the hotel.”

“You sure you don’t want to wait and…” He motions down the beach, where June is on one side of Cain and Johnny on the other, slowly walking him toward his things. I feel a tug in my gut to be by Jack’s side. But they’ve got each other, and that’s what’s important now.

When I spy the paramedics pull up near the towpath, I’m convinced we’ll only be in the way. “Yeah, I’m sure.”

Cain will likely be fine, but it’s good for him to get checked out.

On the way back to the hotel on foot, Frank stops us to get an update, and after I tell him, he exhales in relief. “Thank fuck. That family has been through enough.”