Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

A storm settled in over Chances Inlet in the early afternoon the following day. Hayden was already waterlogged after a busy shift when he climbed the steps of the inn’s veranda to pick up Livi for the ugly sweater party. Their date the night before went better than he anticipated. He more than held his own with the investors Livi was designing for. In fact, it was nice to interact with people who weren’t from Chances Inlet. Folks who didn’t know his backstory. People who saw him as a sheriff’s deputy and a promising woodworker. Not the guy who’d screwed up his life in high school and had to pivot.

Hayden wasn’t proud of the idiot he’d been at seventeen. But he was proud of the way he’d overcome the obstacles put in his path. He was satisfied with the life he’d built in Chances Inlet. Yet lately he felt like he was standing still.

Of course, the feeling could be traced to his mom’s constant nagging about finding a wife. In order to accomplish that, though, he needed to do what his friends suggested: forget about anything more than friendship with Elle.

It wasn’t like there weren’t plenty of other available women to choose from. Livi had dropped multiple hints this week, letting him know she was interested. From what he’d seen so far, she was kindhearted, hardworking, and very easy on the eyes.

Even Elle had given Livi a ringing endorsement. She seemed to think they’d be perfect together. He ought to be grateful his best friend was looking out for him. Especially since, unlike Elle, Livi made no secret of the fact that she didn’t have any strong ties keeping her in New York City.

Tonight, he’d give the decorator his undivided attention. He was sure he’d feel some attraction if he focused on her. He’d just been tuning it out up until now, that was all. His plan made, he stepped into the foyer of the inn.

It was like entering a winter wonderland. Twinkling lights illuminated every corner of the two-story entryway, making it appear welcoming and magical. Handmade magnolia wreaths and garland wrapped with red tartan bows lined the grand staircase, as well as every door in view. He breathed in the scent of fresh pine and cinnamon while taking a long moment to enjoy his surroundings.

“Oh, Hayden, there you are.” Elle’s mom appeared, the nose on her reindeer sweater lighting up with every step she took. “I was just about to text you.”

“Everything okay?”

Did Elle hurt herself again?

“This storm has knocked out the power on Bald Head Island,” she said. “The ferry is running a couple of hours behind. Livi isn’t sure she’ll get back to the inn any time soon, if at all tonight. Lamar just went down to the ferry dock to see what can be done on our side of the channel.”

He felt the tension in his shoulders relax, knowing Elle was fine. “Wow. Poor Livi. She was really looking forward to the party tonight.” He waved his hand. “Don’t worry about her, though. She’s traveling with a good group of people. They’ll keep her safe.”

The silence stretched while Elle’s mom took a long moment to scrutinize him.

“Mmm,” she eventually responded. She patted him on the arm. “That’s good to know. I’m sorry you wasted a trip out here, though.”

“It’s not a waste.” West emerged from the study. “I could use a ride into town.”

“I’m happy to give you a ride to the party,” Elle’s mother offered. “I’ve just got a few things to get set up for tomorrow’s breakfast, then I’ll be ready to go. Twenty minutes, tops.”

“Thank you,” West replied. “But I need to pick up my date. And, as she is living at the deputy’s parents’ home, it will be easier riding along with him than calling an Uber.” The man winked at Elle’s mom. “I can’t get lost since the deputy presumably knows the way.”

Few things ruffled Patricia McAlister-Hollister, but West’s announcement caught her off guard. “Oh my. You—you have a date?” she stammered. “With Kitty?”

She wasn’t the only one confused.

“You’re taking my aunt to the party?”

The pompous ass had the nerve to grin. “At her request, yes.”

Elle’s mom recovered quickly, accepting the news with a knowing smile. “That’s wonderful.” She cocked her head slightly to the side. “And it makes a lot of sense. You two have many things in common.” She nodded as if granting her approval to the match.

Hayden wasn’t feeling that generous. He opened his mouth to tell the man to stay away from his aunt, but the innkeeper beat him to it.

“You’re not getting out of going to the party, Hayden. I know Kitty would appreciate it if you gave Mr. West a ride to pick her up.” She patted his arm. “He’s right. You do know the way.”

He bit back a groan. The woman had learned a thing or two about manipulation while raising five strong-willed children.

“Sure,” he agreed reluctantly. “Let’s go.”

“Not without my shadow.” West texted something into his phone.

A moment later, Elle descended the stairs, dressed in a gaudy sweater with tinsel garland zigzagging all over it. Her hair curled in soft waves around her shoulders. It looked like she’d taken time with her makeup, too. Hayden was happy to see her walking easily in the boot. She startled briefly when she spied him standing in the foyer.

“Hey,” she murmured.

He nodded. “It seems I’m your rideshare driver tonight.”

Her eyes went wide. “Where’s Livi?”

“Stuck over on the island,” her mom said.

Elle backed up a step. “She’s not coming?”

West grabbed Elle’s raincoat off the coatrack and handed it to her. “They’ve sent out a search party. I’m sure she’ll arrive shortly. She’ll be disappointed if you aren’t there waiting when she arrives.”

“I doubt I’m the one she wants to see waiting for her,” Elle mumbled as she shoved her arms into her coat.

Hayden did a double take. Elle almost sounded jealous. Except that wasn’t possible. He had to be hearing things. West was saying something about the cocktail contest to Elle’s mom. Hayden was pretty sure neither one heard Elle’s remark.

“What do you mean by that?” he whispered.

She donned a look of innocence. “I was stating a fact, Hayden. Livi was simply being kind to me when she insisted that I show up tonight. But we both know I’m not the one she wants to hang out with.” She patted him on the arm much like her mother had done moments earlier. “In case you weren’t listening to me the other day, she’s into you.”

He ought to be relieved knowing the woman he was thinking about dating was “into” him. Why then was he suddenly pissed off that Elle was acting so cavalier about it? He shouldn’t be surprised. She’d been shoving him at Livi since she got home. If he needed any more evidence that their encounter last year hadn’t meant anything to her, this was it.

What was good enough for Elle, was good enough for him, then.

‘’Excellent,” he told her. “Because I feel the same way about her.”

He charged out into the elements, not bothering to wait for West or Elle.

Elle had never wanted not to be somewhere as much as she didn’t want to be sharing a car with West and Hayden at that moment. West because he was gloating about taking Hayden’s aunt out tonight—while not writing his damn book. Hayden because she hated the idea of him and Livi together. Added to that was the guilt she felt about being jealous that he might have found someone to share his life with. He was her best friend. Even if he couldn’t be happy with her, she should want him to be happy. That was what self-actualized adults were supposed to do.

Obviously, she wasn’t a self-actualized adult because a tear leaked out of the corner of her eye as they pulled up in front of Hayden’s childhood home. She’d spent so many happy moments here, before everything changed.

The Lovell house was a neat little split-level that backed up onto the Intracoastal Waterway. A perfectly shaped Christmas tree was visible from the wide front window, it’s lights glowing like a beacon in the evening storm. Two cars were already tucked beneath the carport decorated with icicle lights, which meant they’d have to walk in the rain to go inside.

Elle had every intention of remaining in the car. Not only because she didn’t want to get soaked, but mostly because she had no desire to come face-to-face with Hayden’s mother. West upended her plan, however, when he pulled her door open and offered to share one of the inn’s big golf umbrellas with her.

Of all the times for him to be nice.

She hobbled to the door, grateful when Hayden’s dad opened it as soon as they got to the porch.

“It’s a frog drowner out there tonight,” Tim Lovell joked once they’d all slipped inside.

He immediately pulled Elle in for a tight hug, not caring that he was soaking himself in the process.

“Where have you been hiding, stranger?” Tim asked.

She was grateful for the rain dampening her cheeks so that she had an excuse for swiping at the tears that threatened. Tim never held the events of Hayden’s youth against her. He was fair and kind, attributes he’d passed down to his son. Elle adored him for it.

“Elle’s been building a life in New York, Dad,” Hayden said. “Putting Chances Inlet in her rearview mirror.”

His terseness was so unlike Hayden that it stunned even Tim, judging by his expression.

“Great city,” West interjected. “Ten out of ten, as the young folk say.”

If Hayden was peeved by West’s remark, it didn’t show on his face.

Tim shot his son a confused look. “I agree. New York City has a lot going for it.” He offered his hand to West. “I’m Tim. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve been a fan for eons.”

“Eons sounds about right,” West joked. “I’m a dinosaur in this business.”

“Are Mom and Aunt Kitty ready?” Hayden asked, obviously eager to hurry this little tête à tête along.

“Oh, you know your mom. She’s probably fussing over her hair and her outfit. Go tell her we think she’s beautiful just the way she is. She’ll listen to you.”

Hayden disappeared down the hall.

“Can I ask how long you are in town for, Mr. West?”

West leaned a shoulder against the doorframe. “My stay is open-ended.”

Elle bit back a gasp. It most certainly is not!

“Does that mean indefinitely?” Tim asked.

No!

West shrugged. Elle almost choked on her tongue.

Tim looked toward the hallway Hayden had just disappeared down. He lowered his voice. “Kitty has been through a lot these past several years.”

“She told me,” West said. “I’m glad she has someone like you looking out for her. She’s safe with me tonight, though. Don’t worry. Hayden and his girlfriend here will be chaperoning us the entire time.”

What?

Elle spun her head around to glare at West.

Was he drunk?

That could be the only explanation. He knew darn well she wasn’t Hayden’s girlfriend. Tim’s brows shot up as he looked at Elle.

“I’m not Hayden’s girlfriend,” she said.

“I should hope not,” Claire Lovell stated emphatically when she stormed into the room, Kitty and Hayden following.

“Claire!” Tim and Kitty both cried.

Elle dropped her gaze to the floor, wishing it would open to an alternate universe.

“What did you do with Livi?” Claire demanded.

“No one did anything with Livi, Mom. She’s stranded on Bald Head Island along with everyone else wanting to take the ferry back tonight.”

Hayden’s mom made a rumbling sound but remained blessedly silent. So did West for that matter. Elle was sure he was trying to come up with something pithy to pile on with.

“You look lovely tonight, ladies,” he said after a long, tense moment had passed. “It will certainly be a pleasure to spend the evening in the company of three such beautiful women.”

An arm snaked around her shoulders. Elle risked a glance through her eyelashes. Hayden and Tim were still standing in front of her.

Dear God. Is that West’s arm?

“We should probably get going before the weather gets any worse,” Kitty suggested.

“Good idea,” Elle mumbled as she shrugged off the offending limb.

A cold deluge was better than another second of this.

Chances Inlet’s only bar was exactly as Everett expected, kitschy and crowded. Portholes had been cut into the steel walls to serve as windows in keeping with the nautical theme. A ship’s bell hung at the corner of the long, mahogany bar. In front of the bar was a slew of mismatched captain’s chairs lined up beneath a cascade of twinkling green and red lights hanging above. Pink flamingos wearing Santa hats sat proudly in the center of the ferry boat tables. At the back of the long, narrow room were a couple of pool tables, a jukebox blaring “Jingle Bell Rock” and a cardboard fireplace, complete with stockings.

He’d been avoiding the place since arriving in town. Mainly because he found that most barkeeps preferred customers to order multiple drinks rather than sit like a barfly and nurse the same one all day long. However, from the looks of this place, he could get away with that if he wanted. It seemed Chances Inlet had different rules than the rest of the world. A guy could get used to that.

Jolene, the bar’s owner and head bartender, gave him a friendly smile when she handed over Kitty’s wine and Everett’s whiskey. Kitty found a two-seater high-top in the corner, affording them a great view of the dance floor and the door at the same time.

“Is it okay if it’s just us for a bit?” she asked. “Hayden and Elle don’t seem interested in sitting with us. Not that I blame them.”

“They don’t seem interested in sitting with each other, either,” Everett remarked. He glanced at Hayden at the dartboard, a group of men and women from the sheriff’s office cheering him on in his game. Elle was quickly swallowed up by a crowd of younger couples comprised of her family and their friends as soon as she walked in.

“Yeah.” Kitty sipped her wine. “Claire doesn’t make it easy on them.”

Everett spun his glass around, watching the ice cubes clink together. “What was all that about back there?”

Kitty sighed. “It’s a long, sordid tale.”

“Forget I asked.” He waved his hand. “You don’t have to share private family stories with me.”

She laughed. “Don’t you know? There is no privacy in a small town. Everyone knows everyone else’s business, whether you want them to or not. You’ll get a less biased version if you hear it from me.” She traced a finger along the stem of her glass, seeming to gather her thoughts. “Elle and Hayden have been best friends since—I don’t even know. Forever. They dated different people in high school, but she was the prom queen, and he was the prom king.”

A server came by and placed some scorecards and a pen on the table. “For the contest later.”

Kitty waited until the other woman moved on before continuing.

“It was the prom after-parties that set things in motion. Hayden was at one with his date when he heard that there might be trouble at the one Elle was at with her date. Of course, he had to go charging over there to her rescue.”

“That explains the Turkey Trot,” he commented. “Old habits die hard.”

She nodded. “He took two of his buddies with him. The other party was crowded with kids from multiple high schools standing out on the lawn.” Kitty blew out a breath. “Of course a fight broke out.”

Everett’s gut told him he wouldn’t like where this story was headed.

Kitty leaned back in her chair with her face drawn. “One thing led to another, and a few candles got knocked over. A fire started. It destroyed half the family’s home before it was extinguished.”

“Shit.” Everett dragged his fingers through his hair.

“Luckily, no one was injured badly. But the family who lost their house wanted someone to blame. Hayden was charged with a felony destruction of property because he threw the first punch. The arrest meant he lost a promising track scholarship to Wake Forest.

“Elle’s late father, Donald, was very influential in the county. Since Hayden was a few days shy of his eighteenth birthday when the incident happened, Donald managed to arrange a plea whereby if Hayden went into the Army, his record would be expunged upon completion of his tour. Afterward, he could go to Wake and resume his life as planned.”

Everett’s stomach dropped. “But he lost his leg while he was in Afghanistan.”

“And Claire has never stopped blaming Elle for ruining his life.”

“That’s not fair,” he argued.

“No. It’s not. But I’m not a mother. I’m told they can assume all kinds of crazy personalities when it comes to their kids.”

Curiosity got the better of him. “Did you ever want them? Kids?”

Kitty shrugged. “My husband was one of those tortured artists who wasn’t very good at taking care of himself. Theo wouldn’t have been much help in the child-rearing area. And, well, I already had him to take care of.” She looked over at where Hayden was finishing his game of darts. “I’ve enjoyed watching Hayden and his sister grow up. As long as I have them in my life, it will be enough.”

He reached across the table and covered her hand with his. “They are lucky to have you, too.”

Gidget is lucky to have Hayden in hers, as well.