The cozy, two-bedroom retreat had belonged toher grandparents. They purchased the cabin when Laura was in lawschool. Years ago, they had discovered Seaview on a summervacation. While Maddy’s grandparents had fallen in love with theseaside town, her mother had fallen in love with a handsome youngfisherman with big dreams.
Her parents had married as soon as Laurafinished law school, and she had opened a small practice in townright after. Maddy's grandparents had jumped on the excuse to visitoften and had invested in the cabin. It had been a great place toentertain their grandchildren and give the parents a few weeks offevery summer. Not long ago, her grandparents decided they were tooold to manage the summer home anymore. It sat empty for two yearsuntil Maddy moved back into town and bought them out at a veryreasonable price – the promise of great-grandchildren…eventually.
Maddy was in no rush to fulfill that promise,as she was generally avoiding even the concept of dating for now.She wanted kids someday, but she wasn’t too keen on finding apartner to create said offspring. Or partake in the act to getthere. Maybe a sperm donor someday?
She was sure sex could be enjoyable. Shelearned how to enjoy herself. Despite Dylan’s frequent digs, sheknew she was not frigid.
Maddy had been thrilled to land the cabin. Itwas gorgeous, but in need of some serious updating. Which she hadjumped into with both feet. She painted the ceiling and walls abright coastal white, leaving the exposed wooden beams dark andrustic in contrast. She’d had the wide plank wood floors refinishedrich walnut and invested in plush wool carpet, with facing whiteslip-cover couches and leather armchairs, all surrounding thewood-burning fireplace.
Since she'd moved in, Maddy had learned a lotabout home repair. Trial by fire and a lot of YouTube videos. Shepainted the sturdy but depressingly dark wooden cabinets a brightwhite, topped them with concrete countertops, added new nickelhardware. Gradually, she was replacing appliances and lightfixtures.
She loved her cabin, how she'd made it herown. Walking to the large wall of glass doors and windows, the bestpart of the cabin, Maddy took in the expansive view of the oceanand took some calming breaths.
At present, a certain prodigal son had justreturned. Maddy hadn't seen Chase in over ten years. But she'dthought about him more than a few times. Was he the boy she'dremembered? In the public eye, he had worked hard to be the outcastthat didn't need anyone and had no respect for society's rules.
Maddy had always known it was an act. He waspolite, gracious, thoughtful. He'd always made sure she was safeand happy.
She was ten when they first met, he wasnearly twelve. Aiden had invited Chase over to play for the firsttime. Maddy was spying on the boys and fell out of the tree. Chasehad run to her immediately, checked her for injuries. She'drepeatedly assured him she was fine; when he was finally convinced,he invited her to play with he and Aiden.
She tried not to dwell on her memories ofChase, but he kept invading her head-space. It had been so damnhard when he’d pushed her away in one of many ridiculous efforts tokeep her safe.
She walked into the bedroom and peered intothe closet.Hmmm. What to wear? She was too emotionallydrained to focus and found her imagination creeping back to Chase,the emotional safe place she’d built for herself when times becametoo tough. With an inward smile, she remembered how he’d rescuedher on her sixteenth birthday. Her friends had decided spin thebottle was a great idea.
She and Ronan had normally celebrated theirbirthday separately, determined to be their own unique selves, butthis time they combined parties. They'd held the party in thebasement of their parent's house. She and her friends had decoratedto the nines with funky lights, too many balloons, and loud music.She'd lost the coin toss and had to spin first. As her luck wouldhave it, the bottle pointed directly at Bryce, an awkward friend ofRonan’s with cold sores and braces. She'd been mortified.
Too cool to join in, being the oldest kids inthe house at a very mature seventeen, nearly eighteen, Chase andAiden had been playing video games on the couch. Maddy was not aquitter. Stubborn to a fault. She had accepted her fate, movingslowly but surely into the center of the circle to face Bryce, infront of all her friends.
Before she reached him, Chase tossed down hiscontroller and strutted into the center of the circle, moving histaller, trimmer body in front of Bryce's. Chase stood in front ofMaddy, but turned his head toward Bryce, raising a defiant eyebrow.“Back off kid, the girl deserves a real kiss for her birthday,"he'd said to Bryce. Maddy had nearly swooned.
His face was illuminated by the sparklingChristmas lights strewn around the room. He'd looked her right inthe eye before he cupped his hand around the back of her neckpulled her close, pressing his warm lips against hers. She'dexpected a quick peck, but instead he lingered, slowly encouragingher mouth open and sliding his tongue against hers. He'd drawn outthe kiss until she'd thoroughly kissed him right back.
Maddy had dreamed about that for years after.She knew he was just trying to spare her, but she couldn't help buthope there had been more to it. He'd played it off later to Aiden,that he'd been trying to save Aiden's little sister from herpes andbraces-induced lip lacerations.
Chase's return had nothing to do with Maddychoosing her incredibly snug, dark blue jersey-cotton dress fortonight, she tried telling herself. It was her confidence-boosterdress as it hugged all the right places without looking slutty. Nottoo dressy, not too casual. She even moisturized with her favoritegrapefruit-scented lotion to perk her energy a bit. Smoky eyeshadowand liner boosted her confidence a few more points. To cap it off,she slipped into her strappy heels; too tall for comfort, but whocared when you looked this good?
Maddy looked in the full-length mirror she'dfastened to the inside of her bedroom door and took in herappearance. Feeling silly as she posed for herself, she laughed outloud. She was thin, mostly due to genetics, but she tried to takegood care of herself. It used to bother her that she lacked curves,but now she finally liked her narrow frame.
It had taken a lot of effort to gain back theself-esteem she'd lost in those years with Dylan. He'd slowlychipped away at her self-esteem, and she hated that she had lethim. After moving across the country to escape him, she'd found agreat therapist that helped her take control of her life. She tooka few of the centering breaths she'd learned.
The party was rumored to be quite the event.Her mom had worked for over 20 years for the county judicial systemand had been an active member of the community. She'd served on thecity council for the last few years, and before that the schoolboard. She'd been a damn good judge. She was honest and fair. LauraMcAllister had made a name for herself as listening to all sides inorder to make a thoughtful, balanced judgment.
Knowing the cool, evening air was on its wayin, Maddy grabbed her denim jacket from the hook by the door andheaded out. She hopped in her dark blue, two-door Jeep Wrangler andvoice-dialed Aiden. On a normal sunny afternoon, she'd have the topdown and let the wind mess up her long wavy hair. Today, she'dspent too much effort taming each unruly chestnut hair with theflat iron to risk the wind. She pulled onto the road towards herparent's home on the hill.
Hearing the rumbling of her engine as thecall connected, Aiden dove right in with the nag, "Maddy? Are youdriving? Are cops allowed to break the traffic laws?"
Clearly her big brother enjoyed riling her,yet still looked out for his baby sister. She'd missed him so muchshe didn't mind anymore... mostly. "I'm on Bluetooth Mr. Big-ShotAttorney, which is not illegal yet. I'm finally on my way. I had toconvince Mrs. Daniels to hire Little Grayson Reeves as her newgardener to spare him from juvey and a life of crime. All goingwell at the party so far? Have mom and the city council startedpontificating on how they can personally reverse global warming,bring universal healthcare to America, and feed the hungry, or iseveryone still sober?"
"All good so far, they haven’t solved toomany of the world’s problems yet. She's got some great friends. Ican't believe the turnout, it's incredible. I am really glad theyhired a cleaning crew for after, because I'm not cleaning all thisup."
"That's a relief. I took tomorrow offanticipating I'd still be there doing dishes. Need me to pickanything up on the way?"
"We're good, see you soon. Drive safe." Shegrinned at her brother through the phone as she hung up.
Maddy admired the last view of the ocean asthe jeep hugged the big curve up the hill. It was nice to haveAiden back home these past few months. He'd buried his head in thesand to get through law school and pass the bar, then get some timeunder his belt as a hot-shot associate. Maddy had made it herpersonal mission to get him out of his shell again.
The jeep started to bounce a bit on thepotholes as she turned down the long gravel road to her parent'shouse. Before she even could see the house, she noted the long lineof cars parked along the driveway. Knowing there would be no placefurther along to park, she pulled in behind a gleaming black truckso new it had temporary plates in the window.Nice, sheadmired.
Stepping out of the jeep and walking the restof the way to the house, Maddy stubbornly locked her ankles toavoid the un-classy wobble in her tall heels on the rocky drive.Her poor ankles felt the strain when she finally reached thecobblestone circle drive as she approached the house, but shemaintained a steady gait.
