Page 64 of Trust Again

This class. It was fantastic.

Chapter 22

The vacation home was a two-story wooden structure with large, picture windows looking out over the cliffs that dropped down to the ocean. The upper story had a long balcony along one side. Downstairs there was a spacious deck with a large table and some chairs, a bench, and a settee.

On the trip to Coos Bay, my mouth was hanging open the whole time. The day was gorgeous; the sun was reflecting off the Pacific Ocean. Woodshill might be nice, with its lake and valley, but the coast was something else. Huge, foamy waves broke against the steep slopes of the nearby cliffs. A fresh wind whipped at our faces and with every breath I felt more free and relaxed. And we’d only been here for 15 minutes.

Kaden had taken Allie and me in his Jeep. Spencer had given a lift to Ethan and Monica in his hatchback, and Scott was coming on his own with Micah. When we arrived, Monica was already upstairs in the master bedroom, waving at us through the window with one hand and shading her eyes from the sun with the other.

When we got out of the Jeep, Allie seemed dumbstruck.

“It’s so beautiful here!”

“Breathtaking,” I agreed. We stood together, mesmerized by the view of the ocean.

“Okay already, come in so we can divide up the rooms!” Monica called down from the balcony, her multicolored hair flying around her face.

I grinned, and got my suitcase from the trunk of Kaden’s Jeep.

We walked across the lawn to the front door, which Monica threw open exuberantly.

“Welcome to Allie’s birthday house!” She extended her arms.

Ethan stepped up behind her. “Hey, guys.”

“We have good and bad news,” Monica continued as we made our way into the wide hallway.

“First the bad,” Allie said, with a frown.

“Scott and Micah can’t come. Micah’s come down with something and is laid up with a fever. Scott won’t leave him there alone.” Monica draped her arms over Allie’s and my shoulders. “But the good news is, we have an extra room!”

“Where’s Spence?” Kaden asked from behind us.

“He’s out shopping so we won’t starve to death. Come on in, I want to know which room Allie’s choosing so we can finally put our things away.”

Monica gently pushed Allie and me toward the stairway.

“There’s a room on the ground floor that doesn’t have the best view since the window isn’t facing the water. Spence already claimed that one,” Monica told us as we climbed the stairs. “Since Micah and Scott aren’t coming, we thought that Spence and Dawn could take single rooms so… well, you know. You and Kaden should get the romantic room.”

Allie looked at me for approval.

“Fine by me,” I said, smiling.

Monica showed us the first room. “This one and the next one share the balcony. They’re pretty similar, except that in the other room there are two single beds that would have to be shoved together.”

“It’s so pretty,” Allie murmured.

“You want this room?” Monica asked, hooking arms with her.

“If you’re okay with it, yes.” Going over to the window, she looked out to the balcony. “Wow. I’m never going to get enough of this view.”

“Then I’ll tell Ethan, so he can bring our stuff to the other room. Only if it’s okay with you, Dawn, to take the room at the end of the hall?” Monica looked at me questioningly, and I waved her on.

“Of course. Get your stuff—I’ll take the remaining room.”

She clapped with delight and danced toward the stairs. I heard her go down and call Ethan.

“So, you’re all set; I’m going to inspect my kingdom now,” I told Allie. “Let’s meet downstairs in a few.”