Chapter 23

Audrey

I heard a squeal as I pulled my hair back into a ponytail. Walking downstairs, I found Thea stepping back from Dallas. Molly was circling Thea quickly, wiggling all over. It had only been two weeks, and Molly was finally starting to look a little less skinny. Thea glanced up at me.

“Hey Audrey, I came for the weekend since I have an extra day off.”

I stepped to her, and pulled her into a hug. “Good to see you.”

Dallas leaned into the archway leading into the dining room, his eyes bouncing between us. He’d been working more ever since we’d gotten back from New York City. Things had been also more tense between us. Oh, we still couldn't keep our hands off each other, not once the sun went down. Yet, during the day, he couldn’t seem to put enough distance between us, staying busy with work almost constantly.

I’d been contemplating whether it might be best if I left and went to see my parents for the holidays. I had enough sense to call my boss the other day and extend my time off for another two weeks. Word had spread that my engagement was off. Fortunately, I had an understanding boss, and he’d easily agreed to the additional time off.

With Thea here, I knew the question about my holiday plans would come up. She was already expecting me to be here and had mentioned as much in a call the other day. She spun to Dallas, flinging her arms around him.

“It's so good to see you! That’s twice in one month,” she exclaimed. When she stepped back, she cocked her head to the side. “Why don't you look more relaxed?”

He arched his brow. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve been on vacation for two weeks.” She looked to me. “He’s pretty much working all the time anyway, isn’t he?”

I caught Dallas’ eyes and shrugged before glancing back to Thea. “Pretty much. I suppose it's a little better because he's not working at the office until midnight like you say he usually does.”

Dallas glanced between us and rolled his eyes. “Great, now I've got two of you.” He chuckled. “How about I promise not to work for the weekend while you're here?” he asked, looking to Thea.

“I'll take it. What are we gonna do today?” she asked.

Dallas immediately glanced to his computer on the dining room table. “I need to finish up a few things and make some calls.”

Thea sighed dramatically. “Fine.” She looked to me. “What's your schedule for the day?”

“I don’t have a schedule. You wanna grab a bite to eat in town?”

At her nod, I said, “Let me change, and then we'll go.”

I jogged back upstairs, Molly shadowing me on the way up. I quickly changed out of my T-shirt and sweatpants into a pair of fitted jeans and a warm, fuzzy sweater.

In short order, Thea and I were driving down the coastal road into Haven’s Bay. Just before we passed her family’s old home, she slowed, glancing to me. “Do you know if Dallas has been by here?”

“I don't think so.”

She turned into the driveway. “Let's go take a look. I asked him the other day if he was worried anybody would break in here. He didn’t think so because the old alarm system is still on. I just don't get why he won't even stop by,” she commented.

I didn’t know what to say because I didn’t have any answers. I looked ahead as we rolled down the winding driveway. Growing up with Thea, she and I had spent many an afternoon or night at each other’s houses. Their home felt like a second home to me. It was a lovely house, sitting on the edge of a bluff that meandered down to a lawn with the ocean beyond. It was an old colonial home with two stories and white clapboard siding. Beautiful and stately, it had a widow’s walk on the roof, an enclosed cupola with a clear view of the ocean, built for wives of sailors to watch for ships to return to shore. Thea and I used to love sleeping outside up there in the summer.

Dallas must’ve been hiring someone to plow because the long driveway was plowed and the front steps were shoveled. We rolled to a stop in front of the house. Thea glanced to me.

“This feels weird. The last time I came here, my dad wasn't in jail yet.” She shook her head softly. “What a mess.”

It was a mess, and I wished I could make it better for her, for Dallas, for all of them. Yet, I certainly couldn’t undo what their father had done.

I wasn't sure if Thea wanted to go inside or not, but when she unbuckled her seatbelt and climbed out, I followed her. We stepped inside, knocking the snow off of our boots as we crossed the threshold. The house was quiet and held a feeling of emptiness, of a place where no one had been for a while. It was the same except all the warm touches were gone. There was nothing left here but furniture with sheets draped over it.

We walked through the foyer with the large curving staircase that led upstairs. To one side of the main entrance was a lovely, high ceilinged living room, what would've once been called the parlor. To the other side was a smaller room that led to a large kitchen and dining room. In the back was a screened porch that ran the full width of the house. The snow-covered lawn behind the house was quiet and untouched.

I followed Thea as she walked through the home. This was where she, Dallas and their two brothers had grown-up. When I was younger, a small part of me had once envied their family. They had been a wealthy family, yet their mother was loving and fun. While their father might’ve been distant, their mother set the tone for the family. I knew a bit from Thea about when things went sideways for their father. They didn't feel so lucky anymore because they lost everything but this house. We meandered through the upstairs, our footsteps echoing on the hardwood floors.

“God, this is depressing,” Thea said softly when we were back at the main door. “No wonder Dallas doesn't want to come here.”

She was quiet after we left. We didn’t even talk about where we were going. We went to Emile’s by unspoken agreement. We snagged the table in the corner. Emile wasn't here today. I didn't recognize the woman working the deli, or the waitress who came to take our order. Thea looked pensive. After the waitress brought us our coffees, I glanced over at her.

“Are you okay?”

She flipped her fork back-and-forth between her fingers and shrugged. “I guess so. That was weird. I've been nagging Dallas about the house, saying that we should do something. Now I kinda see why he’s just sitting on it. It’s the only thing we have left after all of it. It’s sad to be there. It feels so empty.”

“Do you think you’ll ever come back here?” I asked.

“I dunno. I mean maybe we could rent it or something. It's just us now and none of us are in the same place.”

“There's no rush. I suppose you'll figure it out. Were you planning to stay there for Christmas?”

Thea sighed heavily. “I thought we would, but it feels weird. Not to impose, but maybe we could stay at your place.”

For a flash, I considered that would mean my nights with Dallas would have to be put on hold. I didn’t dare sleep with him with Thea and their brothers around. It didn't mean I didn't want to. I shook my thoughts off of him. I considered the sleeping arrangement. There were four bedrooms upstairs, which meant somebody would have to bunk together.

“You and I could share a bedroom like old times,” she said with a little laugh.

“You’re welcome to stay. I'm still not sure if I’ll be here through Christmas.”

Thea’s eyes narrowed. “Why? You said before you would be.”

“I know, but my parents would love for me to come down there. I’m not sure,” I hedged.

Our waitress arrived with our sandwiches. Conversation moved on. Somewhere along the way, Emile came in and stopped by our table, giving Thea a quick hug.

“Good to see you girls here,” he said.

His salt and pepper hair was more salt now. His presence was steady and comforting, perhaps because we’d spent so much time here when we were younger. He and Thea chatted, catching up on all the Haven’s Bay news. Not much later, we left. As we were turning into the driveway at my family’s home, she glanced my way.

“How is Dallas really? I was so happy when he said he was coming here to check on the house. I thought it would give him a break. But it’s like he can’t even stop working,” she said with a sigh.

More and more, I was coming to see his work was how he escaped from the rest of life. It tugged at my heart, yet I didn’t know that he would let us be more than we were. I needed to remember that.

“I know. I suppose here at least he’s not working late, so it’s some kind of break.”

Thea sighed. “I suppose. I wish he’d find something other than work to be passionate about.”

My mind flashed to the way his hands and mouth felt when they were mapping my body, to the dark need reflected in his eyes when he was buried inside of me. I didn’t quite think that’s what Thea meant, but I knew there was one way he could let go.