18. Brighton

It's insane how much I miss Noah. Sure, he's only been gone one day and night so far, but the place feels so lonely without him. I can't even remember what life was like before him. But I have a little one to take care of and I don't want her dwelling on his absence, which means we're going to do some fun things this Saturday afternoon.

It's still nice enough to go swimming in the ocean, and I'd like to take advantage of that before the cold weather is here. Sometimes I wonder why I live in Boston when I hate snow so much. Heck, I have such a bubble of joy inside me, not even the approaching winter can bring me down.

"I like when you brush my hair," Camryn says, pulling me from my thoughts.

"That's good because I like brushing your hair. It's getting so long. Do you want to keep growing it or get a cut?"

"I want it long. Like yours."

"Okay."

A beat of silence as I gather it up and put it in a ponytail. "Did your mommy brush your hair?"

Her words hit like a ball of fire in my chest. "No, my mommy was always busy, so I combed it myself." She goes quiet again and that always worries me, because it means she's thinking hard. She jumps from the bed when I finish her hair and turns to me. "Where is your mommy?"

"She doesn't live around here." Catching me by surprise, she jumps back on the bed, going behind me, and takes the brush. She starts combing out my hair and her actions don't just tug on my hair, they tug on my heart.

"I can comb your hair now."

"I like that, Jellybean. Afterward, how about we go to the restaurant and get some of those yummy chicken nuggets?" She squeals in delight. Noah and I always try to give her nutritious food, but once in a while I don't think a treat will hurt.

I take an elastic off my wrist and hand it to her. "Why don't you put it in a ponytail, and we can be twins."

She giggles. "We have twins in my class," she begins, and then, as she makes a mess of my ponytail, continues to talk about school and I'm grateful for the shift in subjects. Once we're done, I check it in the mirror.

"Perfect," I tell her. "Now let's go eat and then we can hit the beach." I pick up our bag with the towels and snacks, and we walk down the hall. I can't help but glance into Noah's room—my room—while he's gone. "Later tonight, we're going to video message with your daddy."

"Yay!" she screams. "Do you think he's going to bring me back a present?"

"Does he usually?"

She smiles and nods. "Yes."

"Then I'm sure he will." I love how much he adores his daughter and is always thinking about her, even when he has to have his head in the game. Is he currently thinking about me as much as I'm thinking about him? I really hope so. I lift my hand and glance at the ring still on my hand. I should probably take it off, or at least put new tape on it—there's no one here we're trying to fool. But I like the look of it there.

We walk through the living room, and my gaze goes to the little project Camryn and I began yesterday, after a quick visit to her grandparents' house to get what I needed. I can't wait for Noah to get home and see what we've done. It's not my place to do anything in his home, but I think he's going to like this.

We head outside, and the crowd is different here in September. Fewer families—as the kids are back in school—and more elderly couples, and bus tours. We make our way to the main lodge and it suddenly occurs to me that I haven't set foot in the place in a while. Noah hired an amazing manager and from what Noah tells me, the place is running smoothly.

Do you miss your job, Brighton?

Honest to God, I thought I'd be a wreck not working every day, but I think I've gotten used to this change in lifestyle. Is it possible that my priorities have changed? Not only is it possible, but it's also true. They have changed, and I like everything about what I'm doing. My only worry is that it will all be taken away from me one day. But from the way Noah is with me, to the way he looks at me and takes me to his bed, I'm pretty confident he feels the exact same way about me as I feel about him.

With an extra little bounce in my step we head to the main sliding doors, I'm about to wave my arms in the air to get them to open for me, but the minute I stand in front of them, they swiftly slide open. I grin. I'm sure it's because maintenance fixed them. But I like to think that with my new purpose—my love for a man who sees my value—that the sensors also realize that I'm not shallow, or a failure. That's all silly thinking, of course, but for the first time in a long time I feel secure, like I have a place in this world.

Inside, I wave to the staff at the front counter, and see my replacement in the office behind them. I walk by my father's office, and nod to the new manager and while I feel a moment of sadness that my father is not in that chair, I'm also grateful for all the things Noah did to keep this place going.

We head to the restaurant, which isn't too busy and as I guide Camryn to my favorite seat by the window, the kitchen door opens and closes. My gaze lands on none other than my ex as he jokes with one of the servers. My heart jumps at the sight of him, but the hurt that he walked away from me when he thought I had no value isn't there anymore.

I move quickly, not wanting him to see me. Not that I think he'll want to have a conversation, but I just want to make sure of it. "How about right here?" I say to Camryn, moving to the far corner by the window.

She slides into her seat and I sit across from her, my fingers a bit shaky as I set my beach bag beside me in the booth. "Are you hungry?" I ask, as I spot the server coming our way, the same one who was chatting with Allan. Staff changes frequently here, the summer students who pick up extra shifts have now gone back to college.

"Hi there," she greets us with a smile as she places a menu in front of Camryn and me. "I'm Stacey and I'll be your server today." I take in Stacey's uniform and can't help but think it might have shrunk in the dryer, as her breasts are spilling from the top. She narrows her eyes. "You're Brighton, right? Your dad used to run this place."

"Yes," I answer quietly and open my menu.

She frowns. "Sorry about what happened."

Jeez, I guess even the new staff know all about my dad's gambling and how I had to sell. "Thanks." I turn my focus to Camryn who's studying the menu even though she can't read it. "Camryn, do you still want chicken nuggets?"

She nods. "And soda."

I grin at her, because her father very rarely allows her to have soda. "How about a glass of milk?"

She frowns. "I had milk this morning."

"Fine, one small soda. That'll be our little secret." I'm kidding, of course. I'm not going to keep secrets about Camryn from her father. She chuckles and closes her menu.

"Nice ring," Stacey says, pointing to my diamond with her pen. "I heard you and Noah Jones have a thing." She waves her hand in front of her face. "He's one hot NHL player."

I glare at her, and if I still ran the place, I'd be talking to her about her inappropriate comments, let alone making them in front of Noah's daughter.

"I'll have the nuggets and soda too," I say firmly, closing my menu and handing it over.

"Back in a jiff."

I shake my head, and turn my attention to Camryn. "What did she say about daddy?"

I give her a big smile. "Oh, she thinks he's a good player." I refocus her attention and ask, "What do you want to do when you grow up, Jellybean?"

She claps her hands together. "I want to take care of puppies."

I chuckle, as I know how excited she is to get Mabel in a couple of weeks. "Well, you could be a veterinarian, or you could simply be a breeder."

"I want to have a big farm…" She widens her arms, "…and have all the puppies like Ms. Becky had."

I don't correct her and tell her the breeder is actually Betsy. "That's wonderful." My mind goes back to the farm where the pups were born and once again melancholy takes hold. I miss my time at my grandparents' place.

Stacey comes back with our drinks and I politely thank her. "Food will be out in a second."

"Are we going to the park tomorrow?" Camryn asks. "I want to tell Becky about Mabel." She claps her hands. "I bet she will love her too."

"I bet she will," I respond with a big smile, even though the thought of hanging out with Julie and Gemma doesn't sit well. They were kind enough last time, but I sensed underlying hostility. And to think I have to set a date to bring Camryn over to play. I might have to have a few drinks before I can sit through an afternoon with a woman who wanted to be Camryn's new mommy, and Noah's…wife.

Our food comes, and we dig into our nuggets and fries. Camryn devours her first one quickly and follows it with a drink and oddly enough the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, like someone is watching me. I slowly turn my head, but the guests at the tables are all in conversation, and I don't see anyone watching. I shake off the odd feeling and continue eating. Once we're done, I pay and we start toward the beach. Camryn stops abruptly.

"I forgot my water wings."

"Oh, no worries, we'll just run back and get them."

I turn around on the path and we head to the house. I slide my key into the lock and it opens easily. Wait, was it even locked. Shoot, it's not like me to forget to lock the doors. Camryn rushes up the stairs, and I hurry behind her, but when I reach the landing and look to the left, I see that the door to my wing is open, and I'm one hundred percent sure I closed it before we left.

The hairs on the back of my neck lift once again. "Camryn," I say quietly, and she turns toward me. From the look on my face, she knows something is wrong, because she goes completely still. With my heart racing, I put her tiny body behind me, and inch back as I pull my phone from my beach bag, ready to call the police. I try to remain calm as I slowly walk backward, desperate to get inside Noah's wing and lock the door. I don't want to rush and frighten her, but I need to protect her from whoever broke into my place.

Before I can reach Noah's door I see movement behind mine, and I gasp as Allan walks by. What the ever-loving hell is he doing in my place.

"Get out," I seethe, and that's when he walks back to my door, and widens it. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I saw you in the restaurant. You were gone before I could say hello. I thought I'd find you here."

"So, you let yourself in." I hold out my hand. "Give me back the key." God, in all the aftermath of Dad's death, Allan leaving me, and selling the resort, it didn't even occur to me that he still had a key to my place.

"Nice ring," he mocks taking a step toward me. "That didn't take long."

"Who are you?" Camryn asks.

He smiles at her, in that charming way that drew me in all those years ago. "I'm Brighton's boyfriend," he says.

I bend to meet Camryn's eyes, not wanting her involved in any of this. "Why don't you run into your room and get your water wings? I'll see Allan out and then we can go to the beach."

"Okay." She turns and darts away, and I slowly rise and face off against my ex.

"You need to leave."

He stands firm and crosses his arms, a smirk on his face. "What are you up to, Brighton?"

"I'm up to calling the police if you don't leave in the next three seconds."

He snorts out a derisive laugh and I wonder what I'd ever seen in him. "You can't possibly think Noah Jones is into you."

"That's none of your business."

"It's true that you're his maid now?" He laughs, and it's a sound made to make me feel small and insignificant.

"I'm Camryn's nanny," I blurt out, and instantly hate myself for telling him that much.

"Oh, since when do nannies wear hot little French maid outfits."

Anger floods my veins as my blood pressure jumps from simmer to inferno. "You went in my closet?" How dare he!

He holds his hands up and palms out, feigning innocence. "I saw it when I walked by, looking for you, of course." He chuckles. "He makes you wear that?"

I'm so angry I'm sure steam is going to start seeping out of my ears. "Leave."

"Come on, Brighton. You can't be in love with that guy. What was it your crowd called him? Crater Skater. What are you really up to here?" He cocks his head, like he just had an epiphany. "Wait, maybe it's Crater who's up to something. Payback, maybe."

My heart stalls as deep worries rise to the surface to haunt me. "It's not like that."

"No, of course it's not," he jokes. "Then maybe you're going to marry him to get the resort back. Ah, now there's a plan I can get behind." He glances around. "You know, I've always loved this place."

Yeah, he loved this place, not me. I don't know why it took me so long to see it. He walks closer and I back up, but I'm not quick enough. He puts his arms around me and pulls me close. "If you get it back, give me a call."

I push him off me. "Get out now."

"Ms. Brighton." I turn at the sound of Camryn's shaky voice, and quickly drop to my knees. I fight to sound normal. "All set, Jellybean?"

She nods, and I breathe a sigh of relief at the sound of Allan's footsteps on the stairs.

"See you around." He offers me a grin before leaving the house and that's when I make a mental note to have the front door lock changed.

As soon as he's gone, I stand and take Camryn's hand. "Come on. Let's get these water wings blown up and go have some fun." I work diligently to push away my anger and erase from my brain all the stupid things Allan said. Unfortunately, there's one thing that keeps bouncing around inside my brain like a pinball.

Wait, maybe it's Crater who's up to something. Payback, maybe.

I mean, I thought that myself once, but that's not what's happening, or what was ever happening, right? Of course, it's not. He never would have taken me to the graveyard to help me deal with Dad's death and move past the anger. The man cares about me and I'm not going to let Allan into my head.

For the next couple of hours, I concentrate solely on Camryn, and when we're all tired out and it's time to video chat with Noah, we hurry back to the house, get showered and changed, and plop down onto the sofa.

The second his smiling face comes up on my laptop, all worries from earlier dissipate.

"How are my girls?" he asks.

"I miss you, Daddy."

"I miss you too, Bean." His focus turns to me, curiosity in his eyes and I know what he's asking. I'm just about to tell him I miss him too when Camryn speaks.

"Daddy, I had soda, but it's a secret and Allan was here. He said he was Ms. Brighton's boyfriend."