Chapter Thirteen

Just a week ago Isaac would have never thought he’d be able to feel this way again—especially toward Leanne. But seeing how upset the town was with her, it had struck a protective chord within Isaac. He couldn’t allow them to gang up on her, especially when no one had their facts straight. Including him. He’d never bothered to ask. Isaac had figured they were beyond that.

But now, standing so close to her, smelling her citrus perfume—none of that seemed to matter so much anymore. She looked so vulnerable, her gaze flitting around the children’s garden, not seemingly able to look at him. It made Isaac want to pull her into his arms and tell her everything would be okay. That the past two years couldn’t erase the fifteen years they’d been together.

Oh, he still wanted more information about what she’d been up to while she’d been gone. And how Leanne had managed to hang out at Eli Hunt’s house. Because those experiences had changed her—he could see it just by the way she walked. There was a confident stride that made her seem to stand taller, like she was daring the world to bring it on. But there was still the soft spoken, fun loving woman too. He just had to figure out if there was room for him in this new picture.

“I won’t let them say anything bad about you,” he told Leanne. He wasn’t certain how he’d ended up standing so close to her. Maybe he should move back by a couple of steps. Maybe. But he didn’t want to. “Everyone in town, I mean.”

“It’s okay if they do,” Leanne said, looking away, her gaze wistful, like she was remembering a better time. “I deserve it.”

“No, you don’t. Just because you weren’t afraid to go after what you wanted, and you didn’t fit into the little small-town box that everyone expects us to fit into, that doesn’t make you a bad person.”

Leanne’s gaze returned to him. “You believe that?” Her voice was soft, her eyes hopeful.

Isaac was unsure how the next part happened. One minute he was watching her, wondering how to answer that. A couple of weeks before it would have been an emphatic no. But now? He thought he might have changed his mind. Isaac never did fully decide though, because he had already closed what little distance remained between him and Leanne and pressed his lips against hers. They only remained there for half a second before Isaac stumbled back against a shrub, a hand combing through his hair. “I—”

How on earth was he supposed to finish that sentence? He had what, lost his mind for a moment? Wanted to see if her lips were as soft as they had been before she had left? Was still madly in love with her and wanted her back in his life?

Leanne stood against the hedge opposite him. She didn’t seem like she was scared off, but she didn’t look happy either. More, curious. “So…that would be a yes then?” she asked.

Isaac nearly laughed in relief. L.A. may have changed her, but her sense of humor was still very much intact. “Uh…yeah. That would be a yes.” He was tempted to move in close again and see how she’d feel about a second, longer, kiss.

Until Leanne’s mother suddenly appeared around the corner.

She wore gardening gloves and held a trimmer. “Oh, I didn’t realize anyone was out here,” she said, stopping mid-stride. Her gaze bounced from Leanne to Isaac, then back to Leanne, as if trying to gage if she had interrupted anything. Though there were several feet between the two of them, she must have come to the conclusion that she had indeed interrupted them and she took a step back. “I can do my pruning later.” She had a guilty expression as she turned to go.

“I was actually just leaving,” Isaac said, hurrying past Leanne’s mom, anxious to get out of there. He couldn’t trust himself at the moment, or his ability to separate facts from feelings. He’d need to get that sorted out before he visited Leanne again. If there was a second time.

“Oh dear, was that you two trying to work things out?” he heard Leanne’s mom say. “And I messed it up by showing up, armed with trimmers no less. He probably thought I was threatening him, that’s why he left so quickly.” Isaac paused just outside the garden, the hedges separating them. It wasn’t eavesdropping if he took his time leaving, right? She was saying it loud enough that anyone in the vicinity could hear.

“No Mom, I don’t think he felt threatened. He just wanted to talk, that’s all.”

“So…are the rumors true? You two really are broken up for good?”

A long pause.

“That’s what it looks like.”

“Oh, honey,” her mom said. He could imagine her pulling Leanne in for a hug. She had always been a hugger, didn’t matter if she knew you or not. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Isaac heard a sniffle. He assumed it was from Leanne, but who knew, her mom could have been just as upset by their breakup as Leanne.

“I guess I was hoping…that we might…” A sigh. “I guess it was silly for me to think that things could go back to how they were. He came by today because he wanted me to know that he doesn’t blame me for how things turned out—unlike the rest of this crazy town.”

“I’ve been getting an awful lot of phone calls today,” her mom said, confirming Isaac’s fears. “Most of them are—”

Isaac missed the next part because someone whispered in his ear, “What did I miss?”

He was so startled that he stumbled backward, tripped over his own feet, and landed on his butt. For being a surfer, he sure was uncoordinated. When he looked up, he saw Jules grinning down at him. “You can’t do that to a guy,” he mumbled.

She grinned and held out a hand. Isaac took it and pulled himself up. “How did it go?” she asked.

Isaac released a long sigh and walked back around the house where they wouldn’t be overheard. He waved a hand in the direction of the children’s garden. “Well, you found me hiding behind a hedge, listening in on a conversation that I wasn’t a part of…so, about that good.” Okay, he could admit. By the end there, it had been eavesdropping.

“But you told her that everyone knows the wedding of the century is off?”

Isaac rolled his eyes. Did everyone really have to be so dramatic about it, even Jules? “Yes, I told her. And I might have accidentally leaked that you were also there last night, so you might want to tread carefully. Leanne didn’t seem happy that you’d kept that info from her.”

“Way to throw me under the bus,” Jules said, folding her arms across her chest.

He shrugged. “What can I say? Misery loves company. And with how crazy this town is, I need all the company I can get.”

“They’re not mad at you, it’s Leanne they’re unhappy with.” Jules paused. “It’s all so dumb. So what, you guys were practically married. All you needed was the certificate. And then she left you. Who cares about all that? People break up. It happens.”

Isaac stared. “That was the worst pep talk I’ve ever heard.”

“It wasn’t meant to be one,” she said with a grin.

“And it wasn’t very flattering to your sister, either,” he pointed out. “What we need is to get the town to see her in a better light so they stop freaking out and leave us alone. I can’t sit out at my lifeguard station anymore without someone coming by and offering their condolences.”

Jules stared out in the direction of the ocean. “I know,” she said, brightening and spinning in Isaac’s direction. “Just show them that there’s no hard feelings between you two and that you can still be friends, even if you aren’t together. Then they’ll be able to come to terms that if you can forgive her, so can they. Bada bing bada boom, problem solved.”

Isaac doubted it would be as easy as all that, but it wasn’t a terrible idea. “How exactly would I go about that?” Maybe he could write a letter—like a proclamation—and he could post it around town.

Okay, it apparently wasn’t just everyone else that was over-dramatic. Must have been a byproduct of living there too long.

“Let them see you two hanging out around town together. Talking, enjoying yourself,” Jules said. “Maybe go to the sunset stroll, since everyone will be there.”

Isaac threw a nervous glance toward the bed and breakfast. Being alone with her, he’d enjoyed. Probably more than he should have. But going out in public? “Won’t people see that as a sign that we’re back together? Then this whole fiasco will start all over again.”

Jules waved a hand through the air like his concerns had no merit. “Don’t walk too close together, no hand holding…you’ll be fine.”

Would he?

If Leanne agreed to this craziness, he’d soon find out.

* * * * *

Isaac paced his living room. He paused and glanced at his phone. Seven-thirty. He’d texted Leanne earlier as he’d walked home from the bed and breakfast. To his surprise, she’d agreed to accompany him to the sunset stroll, and abide by the rules he’d outlined.

Rule number one. They would maintain at least three feet between them at all times.

Rule number two. No touching. That went along with rule number one.

Rule number three. If anyone asked if they were back together, Isaac would be the one to answer. He would tell them that no, they weren’t dating, but their friendship was as strong as ever.

Rule number four. If any other question was asked, Leanne would answer. Help build her P.R. with the community.

They’d agreed to meet in town at eight o’clock. Isaac didn’t want people getting any ideas if they were seen leaving his bungalow together. But at Seventy-forty, a knock sounded at his door.

Isaac crossed the small room in two steps and swung the door open. “Leanne,” he exclaimed. She stood on his porch, his screen door still separating them. Her long hair fell over her shoulders in waves and she wore a light jacket over a pair of form-fitting jeans. She looked good. More than good.

“Hi,” Leanne said, giving him a small wave. Her nervous smile faltered when he didn’t say more. “Can I come in?”

Isaac hesitated. “I thought we’d agreed to meet in town.”

“I know,” she said, now seeming flustered. “But I got to town early and people were looking at me weird…of course that could have been me imagining things…and then I realized I needed to use the bathroom but all of the shops on the boardwalk are closed and—”

Isaac cut her off, feeling bad that he hadn’t been more inviting. It didn’t matter what the town thought, it was no excuse to be rude. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have made you stand out here and explain yourself.” He pushed the screen door open. “Come on in.”

“Thank you.” She pushed past him, the scent of her citrus perfume following after her. “And I’m sorry for intruding like this.”

Leanne coming by his bungalow had never been an intrusion in the past, and he didn’t want it to feel like one now. “No need to apologize.” He closed the door, then turned to face Leanne. They stared at each other, awkwardly, like wondering who would be the one to carry the conversation. It was not lost on Isaac that the last time they’d stood like this, only a few hours earlier, Isaac had kissed her. He wondered if she was thinking of that same moment.

“So…the bathroom,” Leanne said, breaking the silence.

“Yes, of course.” He hurried past her and held his arm out like he was displaying a prize on a game show. “It’s down the hall, second door on the left.” He paused at the amused expression she wore. “Which…you already know. Because you’ve been here before.” Heat spread through his cheeks.

Her light laughter filled the room. “Yeah, I do. I just wasn’t sure if I was still allowed to help myself, or if I should wait to be invited since, technically, I am the guest…” She paused. “This is weird.”

That was one point they could both agree on. “Yup.”

“So…” Leanne pointed down the hallway. “I’m just going to…”

“Yes,” Isaac said, that one word exploding from his lips. “Please do. Take all the time you need.” A pause. “Not that you need lots of time in there. I’m sure everything is working properly. I just meant…that I’m going to shut up now.” Was his face on fire? Based on the heat pulsing from it, he was going to say, yes.

Leanne’s lips quirked up into a smile. “I won’t feel rushed, thank you.”

As soon as the bathroom door closed, Isaac buried his face into his hands and groaned. Since when had he become the stumbling, stuttering teenage boy? He’d thought he’d outgrown that stage. Actually, come to think of it, he and Leanne had been together for so long, he didn’t think he’d even hit that stage. By the time they were teenagers, there was no need to be nervous because they’d been best friends for several years already.

It wasn’t more than a minute or two when Leanne reemerged, and he hoped she hadn’t hurried to prove that no, she didn’t need a lot of time in the bathroom. She had a strange look on her face though, like she wanted to say something, but didn’t know how. It wasn’t one of Leanne’s typical expressions.

“Is everything okay?” he asked as she paused at the edge of the living room.

She studied him for another moment before she slowly said, “I was going to ask you the same thing.”

Isaac’s mind raced, trying to figure out what she could mean by that. What had changed in the three minutes since she’d gone in to use the toilet?”

When he didn’t answer, she continued. “I know it’s none of my business…”

Uh oh. Nothing good ever began with those words.

“…but, you have an awful lot of pharmacy bottles in there. And I couldn’t help but notice that Patty isn’t the prescriber.”

Oh, crap. He’d forgotten about those. Isaac hadn’t been taking medication when Leanne had left. Hadn’t needed to. She probably thought he was an addict or something, and he could understand why. Isaac had had to try several medications until he’d found one that worked, but he hadn’t thrown out the old ones. Part of him hadn’t wanted to throw them out in case of an emergency, like if he ran out of what he typically used and needed to take something. Something to tide him over. Isaac knew that probably wasn’t wise—mixing medications—and made a mental note to throw them out that evening. He wished he’d made that mental note before Leanne had discovered all of them.

“I know it looks bad,” Isaac said. He cringed. That sounded bad too, like what people say when they’re about to attempt to explain away something awful. Isaac tried again. “I don’t use all of them. Only two.”

Leanne didn’t move. “Then why aren’t any of them from Patty? I know how much you hate driving to the city, and from the looks of it, you’re doing it every month.” She paused. “I’m not judging you. You know I’d never do that. But I do want to help.”

The concern in her voice, it pierced him. Made him want to tell her everything. Maybe she could help. But letting her in like that—that deep—what if she told someone? Isaac wondered if that would be such a bad thing. From time to time he’d thought about telling Caleb or Adeline—someone he could talk to when things got bad. But he’d imagined how they’d react, and the shame of it always stopped him. They already knew he was broken, but he didn’t want them to know just how much.

Leanne was still watching him, her gaze seemingly curious, but there was no disappointment there. That gave him hope. If he couldn’t tell the woman who knew him—or at least had known him—better than anyone else, including his parents, who could he tell? His psychiatrist had been urging Isaac to find a confidante for some time, he’d just never imagined it would end up being Leanne.

Isaac nodded to the small couch that faced the front window. “You’ve missed a lot while you’ve been away.”