Hearts at Seaside (Sweet with Heat: Seaside Summers Book 3) Read online

  “That would be like two dreams come true. Me and Pete and painting on the Cape. Gosh, Amy, who would have guessed that our lives would turn out like this?”

  “Oh no. I just realized that if you move here, I’ll be the only one of us not living here.” Amy’s eyes filled with worry. “If you guys are always together and I’m the only one who’s not, I’ll start to feel like a fourth wheel.”

  Jenna draped an arm around her shoulder. “Ames, you already are our fourth wheel, and I’m our third. We need all four wheels to make the girlfriend bus go. That will never change. Besides, I can’t just quit work this close to the beginning of the school year. That would be irresponsible. Who knows when I can really move here?” The pieces of her life suddenly began swimming before her. She couldn’t leave the school without an art teacher, and she’d have to give her landlord notice. Neither was an insurmountable obstacle, and when she compared them to Pete’s declaration this morning, that it was time to put a stop to his father’s drinking, they paled in comparison.

  Amy rolled her eyes and lowered her voice as she rose to help a customer. “You’ll make it happen, or I’ll make it happen for you.”

  Jenna didn’t want to breach Pete’s confidence and tell Amy about Pete’s father, but she was having trouble holding it in, and Amy was one of her most trusted friends. She’d never kept secrets from Amy or their other friends before, and as she thought about sharing what Pete was going through, she realized how her priorities had shifted. How her heart had shifted. She hadn’t thought she could ever love anyone more than Amy, Bella, and Leanna, but as she ferreted away Pete’s secret, she realized that he’d moved to the head of the line. She waited for guilt to pump her to share the secret that was weighing heavily on her, and when it didn’t come, she knew she was making the right decision.

  She turned her attention to a woman holding a stack of books and helped her set them on the table. “Wow, that’s an armful. I’m glad you found some you liked.”

  “I always do.” The petite, gray-haired woman pulled a leather wallet from her purse. “I time my vacation around the annual sale, believe it or not. Pathetic, I know.” She shrugged with a smile.

  “Not pathetic at all. Thrifty and smart.” Jenna bagged the books as the woman paid Amy. “Enjoy your vacation.”

  “I’m in Wellfleet. How could I not?” The woman waved as she walked toward the parking lot.

  “See? Everyone knows Wellfleet is the place to be. I still can’t believe I’ve gone all summer without seeing the man I wait all year to see. That shows me how little I mean to Tony.”

  Although Amy hadn’t said much to Jenna about Tony not being there this summer, Jenna knew how upset she was. If the tables were turned, and she hadn’t seen Pete all summer, her heart would have been broken, too.

  “He’s been texting you, and I think that tells you what he thinks of you more than his stupid work schedule,” Jenna offered, but she knew it wasn’t enough, not when Amy wore her love for Tony on her sleeve.

  “I know, and it’s not his fault, but being stuck in the friend zone was a little easier when you were there with me.”

  Jenna put her arm around Amy again. “I’ll always be there with you. That, you can count on. It sucks that you haven’t seen him, and I’m really sorry. I wish I could fix it for you.”

  “You have your own life to figure out.” Amy sighed loudly, her brow wrinkled. “Besides, everyone says absence makes the heart grow fonder, so my fingers are crossed.” She crossed her fingers and held them up.

  Jenna crossed her legs, toes, and fingers. “I’d cross my eyes, too, with the hope that absence really does make the heart grow fonder—especially since Pete and I will also be separated for a while. I’ll have to go back home for some period of time to work things out there.”

  Amy crossed her eyes. “There. Now we’re both covered.”

  PETE RAN HIS thumb over the rehabilitation and treatment counselor’s card for the millionth time in the past few weeks. He’d done it so often that the card stock was beginning to fray. Calling his brothers had been difficult, and listening to Grayson tell him it was about time had touched a nerve, but he knew Grayson was right, and Grayson’s anger had also confirmed that talking to his father alone this time in an effort to get him to seek help was the right way to handle the situation. Even though his siblings weren’t dealing with the effects of their father’s drinking on a near-daily basis, like Pete was, it had taken a toll on all of them, and it had definitely driven a wedge between them, even if everyone but Grayson pussyfooted around the topic. If they were going to heal as a family, it had to begin with his father’s recovery.

  Pete considered calling Sky, but he’d protected her this long, what was another couple of weeks? He’d tell her everything once their father was on the road to recovery.

  His cell phone vibrated with a text from Jenna. He wondered how long he would have let his father’s drinking ride if they hadn’t finally come together. Like most uncomfortable thoughts, he shoved it away, thankful that Jenna hadn’t turned tail and run when she found out.

  The book sale is crazy busy and I miss you tons. How are you holding up? Talk to your family? I found a few books on surviving recovery written for the families of alcoholics. Want me to pick them up?

  He never realized how much he could love a person, but he lived and breathed for Jenna. She’d not only supported his decision to take a firm stance with his father, but she’d also offered to skip the book sale to be there with him. And now she is spending the time she should be focusing on customers finding books for me. It was time for him to deal with this head-on. Jenna deserved a life free from his father’s disease, and he would do everything he could to ensure that she had it. Heck, he deserved a normal life, too, and he wanted that life with Jenna.

  He sent her a text. I miss you, too. Talked to everyone except Sky. Calling the counselor now. Thanks for finding the books, and sure, please get them. Can’t wait to see you.

  Pete patted his thigh, and Joey bounded to his side. Together they walked out to the barn. Pete pulled open the doors, inhaling the pungent smell of old wood, varnish, and paint. The aroma that he’d hoped to associate with his father’s recovery now left him a little empty. He ran his hand along the bottom of the boat, calculating the time his father would be in the rehab center if he agreed to go. The rehab counselor had said to plan on three to five weeks of inpatient care, depending on his father’s progress. His father had been in complete denial when his brothers had staged a full-on intervention, and he could only hope that with enough love—and enough one-on-one pressure—this time would be different. He had to believe that somewhere in his father’s heart he wanted Pete to have a chance at a full life with Jenna, just as he’d had with Pete’s mother.

  His cell phone vibrated again, and he withdrew it from his jeans pocket and read another text from Jenna.

  I know this is hard. Your mom would be proud of you, and one day your dad will realize all you’ve done and he’ll be proud of you for it, too. Xox.

  He had his doubts about his father being proud of this particular effort, but with Jenna’s encouragement, he held on to a shred of hope that one day they’d both look back and the past two years would be history. A glitch in an otherwise warm and loving family history.

  Pete took another long look at the boat—I’m not giving up on you, Pop—pulled the barn doors closed, and headed down the sandy path to the rocks overlooking the bay. He and Joey sat side by side on a large rock as he called the emergency number for the counselor and left a message. As the minutes ticked by, Pete’s anxiety mounted. He felt like a traitor, turning to the counselor behind his father’s back. Someplace deep inside, he knew he wasn’t a traitor. He was probably saving his father’s life, and he was definitely saving his own, but that knowledge didn’t quell the tightening in his gut.

  Joey laid her chin on Pete’s lap and he stroked her fur. Since day one, Joey had trusted he’d feed her, care for her, and keep her safe
from harm. She trusted him like he used to trust his father. Jenna’s words whispered through his mind. I think for some of us—me with my mom, and you with your dad—we have to learn to be just as selfless as our parents were. Maybe now it’s our turn to rescue them.

  He turned her words over in his mind, and his perspective began to change. He rose to his feet as he pushed the guilt aside with a sense of finality, and by the time the counselor called back, Pete was bound and determined to get this done, but first he had one more phone call to make. Being worthy of someone’s trust meant more than protecting them from the life’s brutal realities. He dialed Sky’s number.

  “Hey, big brother. What’s up?” Sky’s smile came through in her voice.

  “Hi, sis. Do you have a sec, or are you busy?”

  “You sound so serious. Is everything okay?”

  Not even a little. “I always sound serious, don’t I?” He tried to laugh it off, and knew he failed when she remained silent. “Are you someplace you can talk or are you out?”

  “Actually, I just pulled up behind Dad’s store. I know I told you that I’d wait to come out, but my hours got canceled at the co-op this weekend, so I figured, why not go see Dad? Besides, it’s Mom’s birthday. I thought he’d be lonely.”

  Shoot. How could he have forgotten? So much for Pete’s plan of heading over to the store after talking to Sky and getting this thing over with.

  “Really? You’re in town? Great.” Damn. He eyed Joey. “Come to my place. I have a new puppy who’s dying to meet you, and I’d love to catch up.”

  “Okay, let me stop in and see Dad. Half an hour sound good? I just want to say hi to him and then I’ll come over.”

  “Perfect.” Pete never thought he’d count himself lucky that his father was a functioning alcoholic during the day, but knowing that Sky wouldn’t see anything different from what she’d seen during any other visit drove the thought home.

  Sky showed up thirty minutes later and ran across the grass toward Pete and Joey. She was wearing a long patchwork skirt, a tank top, and an enthusiastic smile as wide as Julia Roberts’s. She dropped to her knees and smothered Joey with kisses. Joey pawed at Sky’s hair and licked her cheeks.

  “Pete! She’s so cute! I love her.”

  Pete crouched beside Sky and hugged her. “Looks like she loves you, too, sis.”

  Sky sat cross-legged on the grass as both she and Joey calmed down. Joey nipped at her fingers, and Sky was all too happy to lavish her with more love. Pete’s chest was tight at what he had to tell Sky, and as the day wore on and closing time for his father’s store neared, he knew he had little time before his father would hit the bottle and there would be no reasoning with him.

  He noticed new ink on Sky’s shoulder and brushed her hair to the side. “New tat?” She’d begun getting tattoos after their mother died, and though most of them were easily hidden beneath her clothing, Pete wished he could get to the root of what caused her to wear her hurt in colorful, permanent ink, and help her heal.

  “Yeah.” She craned her neck and looked over her shoulder.

  Upon closer inspection, Pete made out the trunk of a tree, with deep roots that spread along her shoulder blade.

  “It represents you and my other dork brothers. Roots? Get it?”

  Pete arched a brow. Yeah, he got it, all right, and it was a great metaphor.

  “I know it looks funny without the top of the tree, but when I was designing it, I realized that I have no idea what my life will be like, so I left it like a blank canvas. I’ll fill it in some other time.”

  “Well, I’m honored.” He couldn’t help but wonder what type of tattoo his father’s alcoholism might incite—and he hoped that was the only thing it incited. He’d kept this from Sky for so long that he’d thought of a million ways she might react, the worst of which was spiraling right back down a dark and lonely tunnel, as she had after their mother died.

  “Come on. Let’s go hang out on the deck and talk.” Pete reached for her hand.

  Sky jumped to her feet. “Come on, Joey. He sounds serious. I might need reinforcements.” She took Pete’s hand, and they headed down the sandy path toward the house. “Are you going to lecture me about finding my niche?”

  “I wasn’t going to. Although, now that you bring it up…”

  She bumped him with her shoulder as they stepped onto the deck. He watched her settle into a chair and gather her long hair over one shoulder. She sighed and stretched her arms out on the armrests.

  “You are so lucky to live on the water.”

  “Yeah. I am pretty lucky, I guess.” Every second that passed made it more difficult for Pete to begin explaining. He leaned forward in his chair and took her hand in his once again, hoping the connection would ease the blow of his words.

  “Sky, I need to talk to you about Pop.”

  She smiled. “He looks great. You should have seen his face when I walked in. He was so surprised. Totally worth the drive.”

  “Good. I’m glad.”

  “Pete. You look like you have something really bad to tell me. Your face has that oh no look.” She drew her eyebrows together and pinched her mouth into a tight line, mocking him. “Whatever it is, it can’t be worse than when you told me about Mom—” Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh no. Is Dad…?”

  “No. No, Sky. Dad’s not dying.” Yet.

  She let out a loud breath. “Oh, thank goodness. Then what is it?”

  “This is really hard to say to you. I know how much you love Pop and that you look up to him.”

  “Who wouldn’t? He runs his own business, he’s always in a good mood, he went to every one of my track meets and to my graduations, and he totally loved Mom with all his heart. Still loves her with all his heart.” She shrugged. “He’s the best father anyone could ever have.”

  Pete looked down at his hands, then met her gaze with a serious one. “Sky, Pop has a drinking problem, and I’ve kept it from you, but it’s gotten out of hand.”

  “Oh, please. He’s always had a few drinks, but that doesn’t mean he has a problem.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  “I know it doesn’t, but the fact that he drinks himself into a stupor every night does.” He paused, letting his words sink in.

  Sky’s brows drew together again; then they relaxed and a smile began to curve her lips. “Right,” she said tentatively. A second later her eyes filled with worry. “Wait. What? You aren’t kidding?”

  “It’s true, Sky. It started right after Mom died, and it’s only gotten worse.”

  “No. You have to be wrong.” She shook her head. “No way.”

  “Sky—”

  She rose to her feet and paced the deck with Joey on her heels. “No way, Peter. You’re overreacting. What happened? Did he have too much to drink one night? Two? You have to be overreacting.”

  “I wish I was.” Pete rose and touched her arm.

  She shrugged him off.

  “Sky, every night it’s the same thing. He drinks in Mom’s sewing room, same chair every night. He calls me so drunk he can’t do more than ramble about Mom.”

  Sky’s lower lip trembled, and it was all Pete could do to give her the space her body language told him she needed.

  “I’m sorry. I thought it was best to shield you from it.”

  Tears streamed down her cheek. “Why are you doing this? Dad would never get that drunk night after night. Why are you trying to get me to believe this? Do you think it’s going to make me suddenly figure out my life or something? Because that’s all you care about.”

  Pete had expected this reaction, but it still stung. “No. I’m telling you this because I am going to talk to him this afternoon and try to get him into rehab before he drinks himself to death. Sky, I don’t care if it takes you years to figure out your life, or your career, as long as you’re safe and happy.”

  She scoffed and turned away.

  “If you don’t believe me about Pop, just think about it. When’s the last time yo
u saw him after dark?”

  She spun around and snapped, “Last…” She looked away, then turned back and pointed at Pete. “Easter.”

  “No, you stayed here on Easter, and on Christmas, and during every visit for the last two years.” He kept distance between them and fought the urge to reach out to her again. He knew Sky too well. Cornered, she’d strike like a viper. She needed to come to him on her own terms. She’d always been like that. Even as a little girl she’d refused to hear the things that she didn’t want to, until she had time to process them and found them to be true.

  “That’s because you always have something going on and you invite me and Matt and Hunter, and…Wait. If that was true about Dad, they’d know about it.” She pulled out her cell phone and pressed a speed-dial number. “Hunter. I’m with Pete, and he…” She flashed a heated look at Pete while she listened to their brother.

  She and Hunter had always been close. While Pete was her protector, Hunter, the second eldest, was more like a best friend to them all, especially Sky. Hunter was the ultimate peacemaker. Pete knew he’d never tell Sky the truth about their father without asking him about it first.

  “Yes, I’m in Wellfleet.” She listened again. “Why?” Her nostrils flared as she listened to Hunter on the other end of the phone. “Wait, he says Dad—” She quieted again and thrust the phone at Pete. “He wants to talk to you.”

  Pete took the phone from her trembling hand. “Hey, Hunter.”

  “Dude, you’re telling her?” Hunter spoke a little louder than a whisper.

  “Yes.”

  “Everything?”

  “Yes.” Pete looked at her damp eyes and felt his stomach sink. “Let me give you back to Sky.” He handed her the phone. “I’m sorry, Sky.”

  She pressed the phone to her ear. “Is it true? Is Dad an alcoholic?” Her hand flew to her mouth and she turned away from Pete. “Mm-hmm. ’Kay. Love you, too.” She set the phone on the table and wept softly.

  Pete moved behind her, aching to comfort her. “Sky, he’s still the same father you know and love, and he loves you to the ends of the earth.”