Page 19

19

LENNY

Stone was gone by early morning, and I woke up to no one in the house. At first, I thought I was dreaming, hearing a noise downstairs, but then, another knock came to the door.

I knew Nelson fairly well. He visited the museum often, an old friend of Francis. If he was stopping by, the least I could do was answer. Stone clearly wasn’t around to do it.

I hurried downstairs, still in my pink fuzzy bathrobe, and opened the door. Instead of Nelson, I found Calvin grinning like a complete idiot in the doorway.

“Happy Birthday,” he said and pushed by me into the house.

I had no time to register what he was doing. He moved into the living room and plopped down on the couch, setting a tray of something he’d carried in aside.

“How did you know where to find me?” I asked.

“Stone,” he said.

“When did Stone tell you?” I pushed, crossing my arms and standing in front of him.

“When he came to tell me you were leaving with a stomach ache from dinner,” Calvin explained.

Duh, Len.

I kicked myself for almost forgetting about the dinner I bailed on.

“I’m sorry. I hope the rest of the night went well,” I said and sincerely meant it. “I’m really happy for you two.”

My heart still stung at the thought, but I was genuinely excited for my brother. Even if I couldn’t become pregnant again, that didn’t mean he didn’t deserve to have kids of his own. No matter what tragedy I faced, the world kept moving, and eventually, I had to face that.

“Do you know what you’re having?” I dared to ask.

“A girl,” he answered with a warm smile.

My heart swelled. Picturing my brother as a girl dad made me incredibly happy. I sat down beside him and threw my arms around him.He grunted but wrapped a hesitant arm around me.

“You really will be great parents,” I said.

“I don’t know about that,” Calvin said, pulling his arm back and rubbing his head.

“You guys practically took care of me for a year when Jake left me, and look how I turned out,” I teased.

“I don’t know-“ Calvin started. “You’re still a little strange.”

He smiled wickedly at me, but the usual older brother teasing rolled right off my back.

“Seriously, though. You guys will do great.”

“Thank you,” he said.

He grabbed the tray he’d placed aside and handed it to me.“Eloise sent birthday cookies.”

“Tell her thank you for me,” I answered, noticing she’d made my favorite: double chocolate.

“Will you be spending today with Stone?” Calvin asked.

I heard the real question hidden under it. Nosey brother, trying to figure out what exactly me and Stone were.

“Doubt it,” I shrugged. “He’s not here, and I honestly have no idea where he went.”

“Then Mallory?” he asked, and I saw the slight frown growing.

“Yes,” I lied, not wanting to worry him.

“Good. I have to run into work today. Otherwise, I’d offer,” Calvin said.

“Work on Saturday?”

“I’m working overtime to prepare for this baby,” he answered with a smile.

“Now who’s the workaholic?”

He threw his hands up.“I suppose it’s me now,” he laughed.

I hated that he had to go. I didn’t want to return to sitting in this empty house, the lie of seeing Mallory causing more disappointment. Her name reminded me of something I needed to ask my brother.

“Hey, you used to be friends with the sheriff’s son, Chris, right?” I asked.

“I did,” Calvin said, his brows furrowing.

“But you aren’t anymore?” I asked.

“Not since that trip I helped him and his father with three years ago.”

“Trip?”

“Remember the one I borrowed your camping gear for?” he said.

The Briarport Wilderness Trip—Id completely forgotten about the annual trip sponsored by the sheriff’s office meant to teach elementary students wilderness skills.

“I do now,” I said with a nod.

“Well, when we were on the trip, I just realized what an asshole the guy is,” he said.

“That seems to be the sentiment around town,” I murmured.

“When news reached the sheriff of another killing, Chris thought it’d be hilarious to scare the kids on the trip. Half of them wanted to leave early, thinking the Coastal Killer would be coming for our trip next,” Calvin said as he shook his head. “Made me realize that wasn’t someone I wanted to be friends with.”

A killing while they were on the trip meant…

“Mallory doesn’t like him either,” I added.

“Good. You both should stay far away from him.”

It was rare I saw Calvin’s overprotective side, but his words came out firm, with no room for argument. I appreciated the sentiment.

“I have to get to work, but I hope you have a good birthday, Len,” he said, standing and heading toward the door. “I’ll see you at the clambake, right?”

“I’d never leave you to fend for yourself with our parents,” I joked.

“Good, because you owe me for leaving me alone with them before dinner was over,” he teased back.

I watched him head out the door and back to his car before returning to the kitchen to start my breakfast and coffee.

* * *

I sat alone in the rental for hours before deciding to go for a walk to the beach. Stone had been gone all day, and I was starting to think he’d entirely forgotten my birthday.

Impossible; that man remembered everything.

Maybe he just didn’t care. Maybe birthdays were just another day to him.

He didn’t owe me anything, but I would be lying if I said my heart didn’t ache a bit at his absence. When I woke, he’d already left the house—without me.

The past few weeks, we’d become inseparable. Everywhere he went to investigate the case, he’d taken me with him. There was the possibility he just needed time to himself, but why’d it have to be today?

I’d spent so many birthdays alone, I just thought this one would be-

Don’t finish the thought.

It will only hurt more.

I kept walking down the path until it turned to sidewalk. I continued until I found an outlet that led to the water. The sand was warm against my feet as I slipped my sandals off and carried them.

There wasn’t anything I enjoyed more than this view, the waves crashing against the shore and the sun shining down on the water’s surface.

The tourists were well down the beach, and the portion I sat on was practically empty. I tucked my knees in, holding them to my chest. I could spend hours just watching the way the waves moved, listening to their lulling sound.

I sat for what felt like hours without moving, just sitting with my thoughts.

Maybe I’d misread everything. Maybe I really just was Stone’s partner.

I’d slept wrapped in his arms, free from nightmares for the first time in years. That couldn’t be nothing. I needed it to be something.

I continued to watch the sun move across the sky and the ocean. Birds flew overheard, and a few locals walked by every now and then. I barely moved. There was not a single piece of me motivated to return to the empty rental.

If I did, I would just curl up in bed with a book and hide until Stone finally came back. Could I just pretend like this meant nothing to me? Maybe I could go back to sleep and wake up to forget everything?

I could just go back to cuddle with Alonzo and Birdie.

And that was when I realized I had become completely pathetic. Spending my birthday with my cats as company? I didn’t expect to reach this point until at least sixty, not my late-twenties.

A shadow grew over me, and I forced myself to turn to see who had blocked my sun. I squinted as I glanced up, still partially blinded by the sun.

Towering over me, staring down at me with his curious brown eyes, Stone held out a hand.