Redemption Chapter Nine
The sun shone over the beach. Waves crashed against the sand, leaving it a shade darker for a brief moment before the heat dried it. White crested blue ocean crashed again and the process repeated. Cody ran into the water with a high pitched squeal of joy. Heather followed wearing a pair of shorts over her blue one piece. Corbett stood at the grill, piling in coals. Aidan laid out on the blanket, before helping Molly to ease down on it. He didn’t want her over exerting herself. She was stubborn, and from what he could tell—frightened.
Every time they were near she tensed, her shoulders rising,
“Thank you,” she said in a quiet voice.
Heather had come home with clothes for Molly. It’s why she’d had an extended morning out. A few pairs of jean shorts, a bathing suit, jeans, and shirts from the thrift shop in town. They fit perfectly, conforming to her sensual curves.
He kept stealing glimpses, his heart skipping a beat each time he looked at her.
Aidan wondered if Heather asked Molly her size or if she had some sort of sixth sense.
She wore a one piece purple bathing suit with jean shorts over it. It looked much better on her than the sweats Heather had given her. It clung to Molly’s body in all the right places, and the shorts wrapped around her hips—none of which was good for Aidan’s sex drive. Bruises riddled her arms and legs in various colors.
Molly wouldn’t be able to go in the water for the cast, but she tilted her face up, closing her eyes and enjoyed the warmth of the sun. The light glinted off her olive skin, reddening her cheeks from the heat.
Grabbing a few beers from the white, Styrofoam cooler they brought, he twisted the top off, tossing them in a nearby trash, before handing her a bottle.
“Thanks.”
He sat down next to her and leaned back on his elbows, his feet already coated in sand, granules gritty against his skin. “No problem.”
“Where’s Krysta?”
“Work,” he replied. Not that he minded, not really. Krysta would have worn a skimpy two piece, tons of sun block and laid out to get a tan. Most likely she’d have brought files for a case.
Aidan had a chance to do like his sister, go off to college, and have whatever career he chose. All the other families moved away after Peter Blake reigned chaos over the town. Corbett said he wouldn’t let Blake run him away from his home.
When he was younger, Aidan didn’t understand—after he met Bernie, well, then he did. This was home, and home, for better or for worse, was where he belonged. Family mattered more than a fancy job. He wanted time to be with his wife, to see his son grow up.
He sipped his beer.
“Is it okay if—” She glanced down, her long lashes hiding her eyes. “If I ask what happened to your wife?”
Sweat formed on the cold bottle beneath his hand. He took a long pull. He didn’t think Molly’d have the courage to ask, but he didn’t mind.
Cody splashed in the waves, kicking up his knees as he ran around Heather. He stumbled into the waves, water splashing up against his face. Heather helped him up and Cody’s nose wrinkled up the same way Bernie’s used to before she sneezed. Aidan saw a lot of Bernie in Cody—and maybe sometimes it was wishful thinking, but he was okay with that. Sometimes, when Cody’s smile tipped to the left just right, and Aidan swore Bernie was looking through.
“Her name was Bernice,” he said in a relaxed voice, despite his chest tightening from the memory. “We all called her Bernie.”
Molly stayed quiet, but laid back, resting her casted hand over her stomach.
“She died a little over a year ago. Cancer.”
Her voice was quiet. “I’m sorry.”
A tight smile pulled on his lips. “It was hard. I won’t lie. Watching her slowly fade, and even though we knew it was coming, it didn’t make it any easier. My heart broke just as hard as if it’d been unexpected.”
Emotion swelled in his chest, and he blinked back tears, wiping his reddened eyes. He told himself it was just the sand. Watching Bernie wither away in the hospital for months almost seemed worse than the sudden death of Aidan’s mother. That, at least, had been quick. Bernie faded day by day, becoming skinnier and weaker. The day the doctors said the chemo was no longer working, Aidan collapsed. He’d been so hopeful they’d make it through.
Reaching over, Molly wiped away a stray tear that slid down his cheek. Her fingers were warm, and a few specks of sand rolled between their skin, taking away from the softness of her flesh. He opened his eyes, gazing into hers. Sadness filled them, and for a moment he thought it might be a reflection of his own.
“Death is never easy.” She gave a soft, reassuring smile. Her touch lingered on his face. Her soft palm brought comfort to the moment, pushing away some of the ache that always tried to linger. Something about Molly touched him with light where darkness usually lingered. He licked his tongue over his salty lips and tilted his head into her touch.
She flushed and took her hand away.
“I didn’t mean to make you sad,” he said, already missing the feeling of her skin against his. “Not that you’ve particularly seemed happy, but I didn’t mean to add to it.”
She chuckled in a quiet tone. “That obvious?”
“Maybe a little.”
Cody ran up, holding a giant tan and white conch shell in his hand—still intact except for a small chip at the base. “Dad, Dad! Look what I found!” He fell to his knees beside his father, not at all worried about the scrapes on them.
“Wow, bud. That’s pretty awesome.”
“You know,” Molly said. “If you keep it with you, you’ll always be able to hear the ocean. Even if you take a trip away from home.”
His eyes widened in delight. “Really?”
Aidan laughed. “Yeah, bud.”
“I’m going to leave this right here, okay?” He placed it next to his dad. “Make sure it doesn’t get lost.”
“We’ll keep it under strict security,” Molly said. “Top secret.”
He nodded. “Good! People can only see it if they know the password. Which is umm…SpongeBob!”
She gave him a serious look and saluted. “Aye, aye sir.”
Cody grinned, before running back off to the water where Heather waited.
The moments Molly spoke with Cody, Aidan noticed, were the only times her smile reached her eyes. She had a natural knack with kids. It warmed him to see her so good with Cody, despite his initial resistance. Sometimes, Krysta didn’t have as much patience as he’d like, but she tried.
“What about you,” Aidan asked.
She tilted her chin up and closed her eyes. “There’s not really much to say.”
“Somehow, I don’t believe that.”
He didn’t want to push her, but at the same token, he thought maybe Molly needed to talk more than she realized. She stayed quiet, and he couldn’t help but gaze as the sun washed over her already tanned complexion. He felt compelled to know about her, to know where she came from and the things that made her smile. Her favorite color, her favorite food, and what she liked to do when it rained.
“My mom died in a car accident when I was a girl. My father—wasn’t a part of my life growing up. My grandmother took me in. She was the only family I had left till she passed.”
“But why no friends?” She seemed like a warm, good person—unless she was a world class actress who had him duped. Considering how much of herself she already gave away, Aidan was pretty sure what he saw was what he got.
Her jaw clenched. “I had a few when I was younger, but…something always happened. My grandmother drove them away sometimes. Eventually, it just became easier not to have any.”
“That sounds lonely.”
“You get used to it.”
Aidan didn’t know how true that was. When his wife passed, a dark loneliness washed over him. He’d missed her so much it physically hurt. Knowing that Cody would never remember her, not the way she should be remembered, broke his heart. Bernie’s memory to Cody would only come from pictures, from stories, and from distant flashes he may have in a dream. Meanwhile, Aidan saw her everywhere. In a glimpse of Cody’s smile, or at certain places around town where Aidan had memories of their time together. The pain of having lost her never truly went away. The ache of her not being there dulled, and then, eventually, the loneliness changed. It didn’t become about his wife, but about being alone in general.
His family was there, his father, stepmother, and son. Even his sister spent the summer with them to make sure Aidan was all right, but it was a different love. Aidan missed the companionship of having someone in his arms, of being able to whisper I love you in a woman’s ear. Of having someone warm to curl up with at night. Krysta filled that void, but not in a complete way. Not in the way Bernie had. Aidan resigned himself to the fact that no one else ever would. Krysta was smart, stable, and she cared about Cody. Aidan couldn’t just think of himself. He had to think of his son as well.
“Well, it looks like you’ve got an eternal friend in Cody,” Aidan nodded to the boy and grinned. “And I’d like to think the same about me.”
“I’d argue,” she said softly. “But your family has shown that they enjoy being stubborn.”
He laughed. “Yeah, we have that way about us.”
She pulled her lips up in a crooked smile. “It’s growing on me.”
“Hey, Molly,” Corbett called. “Are you a hot dog or hamburger girl?”
“I’m not that hungry—”
“You need to eat,” Aidan said. “You only had a few bites of eggs this morning.”
He held her gaze, knowing she was likely to argue. Molly had fought them on just about everything.
She opened her mouth and then closed it. Rolling her eyes she said, “Hamburger…please.”
Aidan winked at her. “Not so hard was it?”
Molly stuck her tongue out and he laughed, glad to see a lighter side of her.
A green Toyota pulled up and Aidan sighed. “Not again.”
Molly followed his gaze. A woman with red hair walked past the car as the door opened. Another woman stepped out looking over at them. “What is it?”
“Reporter,” Corbett grumbled. “Been nosin’ around.”
Her muscles tensed, fingers closing in the sand. Aidan smiled at her. “Don’t worry, we’ll handle it.”
Molly looked away, dipping her gaze from the woman who now approached. She’d taken off her high heels and was walking through the sand barefoot. Her dark brown hair was wound into a tight bun, and her green skirt suit was not made for walking over soft earth. She stumbled, using her hand to brace herself. Standing up, she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. She pressed, gripping a miniature voice recorder in her hand.
“Mr. Spencer!” She called, waving them down.
Corbett continued cooking burgers nonchalantly. Aidan stood up and walked over, not wanting to bring attention to Molly or Heather and Cody.
“Hello Miss Jones,” Corbett said easily. “Care for a hamburger or hot dog?”
“Actually, I was hoping you or your son would be willing to give me a comment regarding the execution of Peter Blake or, if you still don’t want to talk about that perhaps you can enlighten me as to the story behind Molly Harper being here with you today.”
“No ma’am,” Aidan said. “I don’t think we can do any of that.”
He walked over to the cooler and pulled out two beers, handing one to his father. When his mother had first been taken reporters swarmed the place. It had made him sick with stress and he hadn’t wanted to leave the house. Corbett would let him stay home from school. Didn’t want someone sneaking about when he wasn’t there and traumatizing Aidan further. His father had been very protective after that. Every so often since then, a reporter would come around asking questions. Usually it was easy enough to deflect them, and while most of the others took the hint, Lacey Jones was a persistent woman.
“Come on, Aidan,” she pleaded. “Just a few thoughts on the execution?”
“We’ve been over this before, Miss Jones.”
Her jaw tightened and she thrust her hand out holding the recorder. “Then what about the hit and run? I understand you took the victim, Molly Harper into your home. Do you think that’s wise considering the ongoing investigation?”
“I think it’s our business and not yours,” Corbett said. “Now, I’d kindly ask you to either join us without question of the execution, Peter Blake, or Molly Harper—or you’re welcome to leave.”
“Maybe she has something to say,” Lacey said. “Miss Harper?”
Molly didn’t turn around, but Aidan noticed her shoulders raising up around her ears. Her breath hitched, and instinct kicked in, making him want to protect her. He couldn’t understand her childhood, or why her grandmother would treat her that way, but at least while Molly was with him, Aidan could try to keep the bad at bay.
“Maybe she just wants to enjoy her day on the beach.”
“Miss Harper?” Lacey tried again.
“I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” Corbett said easily. He smiled politely and nodded his head towards her car.
“This is public property.”
“Actually it isn’t,” Aidan said. “This portion of the beach is private. Part of our land.”
He gestured to a sign that said ‘No Trespassing.’
Kids cut through after school, and people from the town often had their own picnics and fun days here. For the most part, Aidan didn’t mind. They’d only put up the sign because Corbett thought it’d be smart to keep reporters and solicitors away from the family.
She huffed. “All right. I’m staying at the Seaside Motel. If you change your mind.”
“We won’t.” Corbett waved his spatula at her as she walked away. “Have a good day, Miss Jones.”
After she left, Aidan went back over and sat next to Molly. Her lips were pressed in a thin line.
“She’s gone.”
“Thank you,” Molly said quietly. “For keeping her away. I don’t want my name or my picture in the papers.”
He rested his arms on his knees, but didn’t pry as to why she didn’t want that. Aidan didn’t want the attention either. Her past was her own, and considering what she’d already said, it didn’t seem to be the most enjoyable one. He figured she deserved a bit of a reprieve. When she was healed enough, Molly could make a decision on what she wanted too, but for now, the least he could do was give her a safe place to recuperate.
***
The day went on, with Cody playing, the family eating, and small talk. Molly began to loosen up, laughing at jokes, and enjoying herself more and more. Aidan couldn’t help but think she looked adorable when she smiled. She had a habit of biting her lower lip slightly when she was pensive. He liked it more than he should and the sight sent heat that had nothing to do with the sun coursing through his body.
Cody sat next to her often, showing her things, and curling up against her when he rested.
All too soon the sun started to go down, and Cody yawned, exhausted from the day. He rested his head on Molly’s legs. She winced a bit, and Aidan went to make him move, but she waved him off. She hummed softly, running her fingers through Cody’s hair, and within minutes he was asleep.
Corbett and Heather stood by the water, his arm wrapped around her shoulders, the waves washing over their feet.
“They seem so in love,” Molly said quietly.
Aidan smiled. “They are. After my mom…” He cleared his throat. “Well, Heather was there. I don’t think they meant to fall in love, but it sort of just happened. She would make sure we had food, and that my dad didn’t drink himself into a stupor. It wasn’t because she was trying force herself into our lives—but to make sure we were taken care of.”
“I don’t think she likes me very much,” Molly said.
“She likes you just fine. Heather helped us through the darkest moments of our lives. I understand her reservations. She doesn’t want us to get hurt. It’s not that she doesn’t like you. She doesn’t know you.”
She nodded. “It’s good—that someone was there for you.”
Cody shifted, rolling onto his other side and murmured. Molly hushed him, and rubbed his back soothingly. He rubbed his eye and settled back down.
“I’ll admit, there were some dark days.”
“Is that how it is with Krysta?”
The question surprised him, and he shook his head. “No. Krysta and I have known each other since we were kids. We dated once, got engaged, but it didn’t work out.”
“So after Bernie you started dating again?”
He shrugged. “It’s complicated.”
Molly nodded softly. “I understand complicated.”
Heather and Corbett walked up.
“We’re going to wrap it up,” Heather said. “Head back inside.”
Corbett scooped up Cody, who settled into his grandfather’s arms. “You two can stay for a while longer.” He had an impish gleam in his eye.
“That’s okay,” Molly said. She got up too quickly, and gave a soft cry, putting her hands to her ribs.
Aidan was instantly up, supporting her. “Easy, sweetheart.”
She leaned against him, her body warm from the sun. She felt so good against him, and he could smell the mix of ocean on her skin. He held her gaze, looking deep into her eyes. She didn’t flinch, didn’t look away. He swam in those dark brown eyes, his body very aware her proximity, and of how well she molded against him.
“Sorry.”
“No reason to be,” Aidan said, his voice taking on a husky tone.
Heather gave her a worried look. “Maybe it is best we get you back into bed. You should still be resting.”
The moment gone, Molly dipped her gaze. “I’m okay,” she said in a tone barely audible above the wind.
He cleared his throat. “I’m starting to think that’s your mantra.” Aidan gently lifted Molly in his arms. A squeak of surprise escaped her sun-chapped lips. She put her arm around his neck gently.
“Aidan! You don’t have to do this.” She huffed, glaring at him. “I can walk.”
He grinned. “Humor me.”
Heather cleaned the rest of the mess and they walked up to the house. Molly rested her head on his shoulder. “Are you sure this is okay?”
“Just relax, sweetheart,” Aidan said. “We’ll keep you safe.”
“No such thing,” she murmured.
