Chapter 1
Violet
A cool sea breeze swirled around Violet Stone, picking up her shoulder-length hair and blowing it into her face, obscuring her vision as she hurried down the cracked slabs of concrete that was now the sidewalk along Main Street.
Main Street, Encounter Bay consisted of a small business district of about 15 shops either side of the road. They were situated one street back from the stunning turquoise water and towering sand dunes that kept tourists flocking to the small coastal town.
Recently, the Mayor had decided to give Main Street a refurbishment and change all the facades on the old and tired looking shopping strip. He called it a ‘tactical rejuvenation project’ and claimed it would bring in more tourists and money to Encounter Bay.
So, gone were the mismatched shops and the colorful awnings, along with the large multicolored umbrellas that shaded the tables and chairs that used to be dotted along the tiny shopping strip of Violet’s childhood. They had been replaced with uniform beach shack facades, painted in a variety of vibrant colors, each appeared brighter than the next. Violet hated the new look Encounter Bay. It looked too commercial, its character had been stolen, it no longer had that sleepy seaside town feel.
“Tactical rejuvenation, my ass,” She muttered to herself, as she wobbled in her heels and tried to negotiate the broken path. In the last phase of the development, they were finally replacing the uneven sidewalk that ran along the left side of the tiny shopping strip. Violet huffed and slowed down as she focused on the path in front of her, concentrating on the crumbled slabs of concrete that were now jutting out at alarming angles.
She didn’t have time for this!!
The sound of construction workers yelling at her to stop startled her, but she could barely hear anything over the sound of their jackhammers as they tore up the tired looking pavement.
Teetering on her heels and concentrating on keeping herself vertical, she put her head down and pretended not to hear them yelling. Didn’t they understand that this was an emergency? And she so did not have time to cross the street and use the other sidewalk, like the yellow sign she stepped over had suggested.
“Hey! Lady! Can’t you read?” yelled a large fluoro-clad man in a white hard hat. His tattooed arm darted out, making a grab for her as Violet wobbled on her heels past him, she jumped one step to the side, just out of reach.
Violet:1 Fat Construction worker: 0.
She kept up the pace moving as fast as she could, the local diner slash café was the next shop along. In a small town like Encounter Bay, most businesses were mixed, but Mr. Chan took it to the next level when he opened the dry cleaner slash fish shop last year. The clothes smelt fishy and the fish tasted like detergent. After a few complaints, he finally saw the light and shut down the fish side of the business to concentrate on the dry-cleaning. But if you asked Violet, the clothes still smelt a little fishy.
The vibrant blue façade, that if you looked at too long made your eyes hurt, of the diner slash café finally came into view.
She was nearly there!
Stumbling on an elevated piece of pavement that came out of nowhere, she felt herself falling, but managed to keep herself upright as she smashed into the diner door with a thump.
Like, face against the glass, door rattling, making a fool out of herself thump.
Pulling herself together and hurrying in, the trademark diner bell dinged furiously as Violet wrangled with the door.
What was it with this door?
Every time she came in here, she swore that door made it difficult. Just last week her brand new pink trenchcoat was nearly ripped clean from her body when she accidentally shut the door with half the coat still in it.
Yeah, the door totally had it in for her.
After managing to get into the diner and close the devil door, and have everyone in the diner stop what they were doing and stare. She let out a sigh of relief, she felt her cheeks heat as she scanned the bright and beachy space. The walls were painted a calming pale blue with large shells randomly hung all over the place. Bert didn’t want customers to forget they were by the beach.
Violet spotted her BFF since kindergarten, Sophie, who was currently sitting in their regular booth smoothing down an expensive looking dress and fluffing her perfectly styled glossy long brown hair. She hurried over and slid into the booth opposite Sophie, tipping the salt and pepper shakers over. Sophie automatically righted the salt and pepper as she smiled up at her.
“Okay, I’m here, what’s the emergency?” Violet asked, with a huff, throwing her handbag onto the empty side of the booth seat as she tried to catch her breath. She had been hauling ass for the last 20 minutes, trying to get here as fast as she could.
She really should work out more.
Darting out of the way of fat construction workers definitely counted as cardio, right?
“Why are you breathing heavy?” Sophie asked, eyeing her strangely as she fanned her face with the laminated menu.
“I was at an open house, I had to kick the buyers out and hurry back here!”
Sophie gasped and shook her head at Violet. “You could have just texted me back and we could have met up for drinks tonight.”
Violet furrowed her brows.
“But your text read ‘911 emergency’! Don’t you remember the Friend Agreement from the second grade? 911 means drop everything!”
It was Sophie’s turn to furrow her brows.
“You still go by that, Vi? That was like a million years ago!” she replied, laughing.
Violet blew out a breath and put down the menu, peering across at her best friend. Sophie had fair skin and huge blue eyes. She was stunning. She came from a long line of superior genes and she was also in possession of one of those petite bodies. She could eat what she wanted and not gain a pound.
If she wasn’t her best friend, she would be jealous enough to punch her in the face!
“So, what’s the big emergency?” She asked, still feeling anxious and trying to control her labored breathing.
“It’s the wedding! Jamie said he is putting his foot down! I’m not allowed to invite another person!” Sophie wailed. Throwing her hands up in the air and leaning back in her seat, she looked like she was on the verge of a meltdown.
“Isn’t the guest list up to 300?” Violet asked, instantly feeling a calmness wash over her. Relaxing into the booth, she picked the menu up again and scanned it. If she had to listen to the latest wedding drama, she was going to get a big juicy burger and a large fries!
All that cardio she had just done meant she could have carbs, right?!!
“It’s up to 500! But I’ve left off my mother’s friends from her yacht club!” Sophie wailed.
Yeah, this was so not an emergency…
Violet plastered a concerned look on her face as she listened as Sophie enlightened her on the struggle of trying to fit just one more table into the already overstuffed venue. Violet looked around the small diner and made eye contact with Betty, the 75-year-old arthritic waitress who was like everyone’s grandmother. She even said inappropriate things at the most inappropriate times, just like the real deal. But, despite that, everyone still loved her and how could you not when she wore a 50s style red skirt with black glossy Maryjanes, frilly socks, and a white blouse as her uniform at the diner. Her choice, mind you.
“If it isn’t my favorite little girls,” Betty said as she approached the table giving them a big smile, showing them that she was wearing a large portion of her pillbox red lipstick on her teeth today. Betty was also still under the impression that Violet and Sophie were 12, and not 30, and she liked to treat them as such.
Violet smiled at the older lady. She had always marveled at the way she got the height on that beehive she had.
It truly was impressive.
“How are the wedding plans coming, my dear?” Betty asked, leaning her head closer to Sophie so she could hear the answer over the noise of the busy diner.
“Oh, Betty, I’m just having a few problems with the seating arrangements. I left a couple of people off the invite list, and everyone has RSVPed, and the venue said they couldn’t add another table because it’s a fire hazard! How stupid is that? Another table is not a fire hazard! And then to top it all off, Jamie said I wasn’t allowed to invite another person! It’s just one huge nightmare!” Sophie wailed. Betty leaned in and rubbed Sophie’s back.
“There there my dear, it will all work itself out. Just offer the venue some more money, money talks. If that doesn’t work just pay off the Fire Department, Russell has an online gambling addiction, but you didn’t hear that from me,” Betty said with a wink.
Sophie gasped in shock, and Violet glanced at the elderly waitress.
“The strait-laced fire chief has an online gambling addiction?” Sophie asked. Betty nodded, with a giant smirk on her face and a twinkle in her brown eyes.
“How did you find out?” Sophie whispered, in a low voice.
Betty leaned closer to the table. Violet leaned over closer to Betty and Sophie. “I heard him on the phone with his loan shark,” she said solemnly. Sophie’s eyes widened, and Violet had to catch herself from giggling. Betty was known to stretch the truth a little, but she was also an Olympic level town gossip and you didn’t want to be on her wrong side.
“Just offer him some cash, it will solve your problem dear,” Betty said wisely, patting Sophie on the shoulder and giving her a huge smile. “I can’t wait for this wedding, it’s going to be lovely,” she added.
“Now, what will it be today?” Betty asked, beaming down at them, hand poised over the writing pad with her trusty pencil.
Sophie ordered first. She ordered a small salad and a side of fries. She was trying to lose 2 pounds before her wedding, so she was watching her weight.
Cue eye-roll.
If only she had that problem.
“And what will it be, my dear?” Betty asked, turning towards Violet, pushing her sizeable black plastic cats-eye style glasses up her nose and leaning in a little closer to take down her order.
They were so retro they were cool.
“Cheeseburger, fries, and a strawberry milkshake.”
“Coming right up,” Betty beamed, jotting down the order. She turned to leave with a swish of her red skirt, then stopped and turned back to them. “You know Violet, if you’re trying to attract a man you should try a salad sometime. You know what they say, my dear – a moment on your lips, forever on your hips,” Betty shouted while looking her up and down.
So loud that everyone in the diner stopped what they were doing, turned, and stared.
“That will be all thanks, Betty,” Sophie said in a sing-song voice with a smile on her pretty face.
“Do I look fat?” She hissed at Sophie as soon as Betty left.
“Batty Betty strikes again, don’t worry. You look hot! Smoking hot!” Sophie said brushing off Betty’s comment with a wave and returning to wedding chatter and the gossip they had just heard about Russell.
Violet wouldn’t say she was smoking hot, mildly warm maybe? She had shoulder length blonde hair, her eyes were an unusual color, they were nearly the same as an emerald, and were too big for her face. And if she could curb the ice cream addiction, she might be able to lose the 20 pounds she needed to.
She eyed her best friend skeptically. She felt like a plain jane next to the stunning and always polished Sophie.
She had dated a few guys over the years, only one of them had told her that he thought she was beautiful. That was before she caught him banging Brenda, the large bartender, in the alley behind Shoreline, Encounter Bay’s only bar.
Ugh! This day was going downhill fast.
Sophie picked up the wedding chatter again and Violet tried to listen, she really did. It wasn’t like she was jealous or anything, but damn it, she was jealous and so over hearing about the perfect James Winston Albert Devereaux the Third. Who preferred to go by his childhood nickname, Jamie. Personally, she found it kind of creepy that a grown-ass man went around insisting that people call him Jamie.
Jamie was boring, stuck up, and stuffy. Sophie could do so much better. She just didn’t understand what Sophie saw in Jamie. But she was never going to say anything to Sophie.
She was also pretty sure he was only marrying Sophie for her parents’ money. The Wilsons were loaded. For Sophie’s 21st birthday, they bought her a 5-million-dollar property on the Esplanade, overlooking Encounter Bay.
She would never understand these rich people. Living in Encounter Bay her whole life, she had come from the working class community, not that there was any of them left nowadays. The sharp spike in house prices had made them all sell and leave the area. Now, most of the town belonged to the one-percenters. Having been Sophie’s BFF for a good 26 years, she had gotten used to the way the rich lived.
Batty Betty interrupted her thought as she returned with Violet’s milkshake and Sophie’s water teetering on the slightly shaking tray.
At least now she had something to do while Sophie droned on about flower arrangements.
Taking a large gulp of her milkshake and relishing the smooth strawberry creaminess, she tried to concentrate on what Sophie was saying.
“Oh, guess what? I was talking to Mom this morning, and she said that Blake called her up out of the blue and said he’s coming home,” Sophie casually said, taking a sip of her water, unaware that the words she had just spoken had sent Violet into a state of panic.
Violet felt her throat constrict, her heart rate spike, and her lady-bits violently clench all at the same time, causing the mouthful of milkshake to come exploding out of her mouth spraying all over Sophie and all over the table.
Once again, everyone in the diner stopped and stared at them, and Violet felt her cheeks heat up.
If she could just get through one day without people staring…
Violet coughed and then looked down at the mess that was before her, poor Sophie was covered in tiny pale pink flecks, it was in her hair and all over her face and clothes. She had also managed to spray the table pink. She frantically pulled out her white work shirt, she didn’t have time to rush home and change. Looking down at the blouse, she was shocked to see that there wasn’t one speck of pale pink on it. Score!
Looking back at her best friend, Violet watched on cringing as Sophie blinked a couple of times, then calmly grabbed some napkins and started wiping her face, hair, and clothes and then the table. This was why they were best friends. Sophie was used to her crazy.
And yes, this was a little crazier than average.
After mopping up most of the mess with the napkins in silence, Sophie glared at Violet and calmly said, “Soooo, are you going to tell me why you just sprayed me with half your milkshake when I mentioned that my brother was coming home?”
Violet swallowed the lump in her throat and tried to think of a good excuse.
Hurry!
She’s staring!
“I choked, it had nothing to do with what you were saying, it was just a coincidence,” Violet replied, trying to make her voice sound as even as possible. She threw in a shoulder shrug and a strangled laugh to divert Sophie from the real reason.
The real reason, no one can ever know.
Violet took a deep breath and willed her face to stay neutral, she just had to get through this lunch and then she could freak the hell out.
Blake freaking Wilson was coming home!!
With a trembling hand, she leaned over the table and picked up a clean napkin to dab at her blouse with, so she had something to do and didn’t have to make eye contact with Sophie, who was currently staring at her and waiting for some type of reaction.
Crap on a cupcake, he was coming back here!
Cue hyperventilation!
Violet tried to keep her breathing even and remain as calm as she could, but inside her brain was flipping the hell out, there was no way she just heard what she thought she heard. Why on earth would he come back here? There was nothing here for him. He was just voted Hollywood’s hottest celebrity by EntertainMe TV!! Why would he want to come back to a sleepy beach town in Texas!
Sophie was just messing with her.
She had to be!
Oh god, she would run into him.
This was not good.
Her heart couldn’t take it.
She was going to have a heart attack.
Oh!
My!
God!
Did her left arm feel tingly?
Violet moved her left arm around frantically trying to figure out if she was, in fact, having a heart attack.
What in the hell are the symptoms of a heart attack?
Tingly arm? Check.
Increased heart rate? Check.
Shortness of breath? Definitely, check.
Violet took a deep breath and tried to relax.
Chill, you’re only 30 it’s most likely not a heart attack. But you do eat a lot of ice cream though…
“Violet, why in the hell are you waving your arm around like a deranged chicken?” Sophie asked, giving her a weird look.
Rein it in Violet!
You can’t let her know!
She let her arm fall to her side with a thump. She was so numb she didn’t even feel the pain of banging it on the table. “So how long is he staying?” Violet asked, as evenly as she could and avoiding eye contact with Sophie at all costs. “Mom said he didn’t say, but probably until after my wedding,” Sophie replied as she stared intently at her trying to gauge a reaction. Poker Face Violet!!!
This is no time for singing!!!!
“Awesome!” She replied with a big smile. Sophie narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest, then raised one manicured eyebrow in the classic ‘you are so full of shit’ mode.
“No more avoiding the subject! It’s about time you told me what happened between you and my stupid-ass brother all those years ago! And don’t lie to me – I know something went on!” Sophie said, pointing a finger at Violet and glaring at her.
ABORT
She felt the urge to start hysterically laughing, it was either that or she was going to bust out in tears. After all this time, Sophie brings it up now? She knew something went on… How did she? Violet had been so stealth about the whole situation.
This is an emergency situation of epic proportions!
Violet felt her mouth go dry and her cheeks turn pink at the mere mention of what she liked to call The Incident. She also liked to push it to the furthest part of her mind and pretend it had never happened, so she could go on living an ordinary life. It was the kind of thing you didn’t even want to admit to yourself, let alone tell someone else about it.
Violet hadn’t told a single person, and how could she have? It was worse than embarrassing, like much worse.
Mortifying!
Sophie was still staring and demanding answers when Violet finally made eye contact with friend.
“What’s it been, like 10 years? It can’t be that shocking!” Sophie said, exasperated, her hands hitting the table, causing the cutlery to clang and the people around them to look.
“It’s been 13 years, 5 months, and 16 days, and yes, it was that bad. Think the worst thing ever and then times it by one thousand, Sophie!” She leaned across the table and whisper-yelled. Batty Betty looked in their direction, Violet cringed inwardly and hoped Betty wasn’t listening.
Jesus!
Sophie’s expression softened. “Vi, you can tell me anything, you know I’ll be picking your side in whatever it is that happened, Blake is a total ass-hat!”
She nodded her head. Violet was unable to formulate words; her brain was having a meltdown.
Yes, Blake Wilson was a total ass-hat, but he happened to be the sexiest of all ass-hats that had ever ass-hatted, like, ever!
Why was he coming back here now?
After all this time.
For the last 13 years, 5 months, and 16 days, Violet had been doing a bang-up job of avoiding him. She had weaseled her way out of so many Wilson functions that she deserved a gold medal. Sophie’s wedding was the only thing she couldn’t get out of, she was the Maid of Honor. She was currently in the middle of her ‘keep away from Blake ‘ass-hat’ Wilson’ plan.
So far, the plan consisted of:
1) Keep to the opposite side of the room from him at all times.
2) Don’t get drunk.
3) Don’t look at his ridiculously handsome face.
4) Under any circumstances, do not look at his super-sexy body.
5) Hide in the bathroom when it’s time for speeches and dancing.
6) Leave early.
7) And, if all else fails, fake a headache and run for the hills.
Betty returned with their food and eyed Violet suspiciously as she took the milkshake-soaked napkins from the table, and left their lunch. She looked down at the giant burger and fries, there was no way she was eating that. Sophie had obliterated her hunger with the phrase Blake’s coming home. There was no way she was going to be hungry ever again ever.
Yay! She might finally be able to lose those 20 pounds!
Think of the positives!!
Violet pushed her plate into the center of the table and watched as Sophie got stuck into her fries, shoving a couple into her mouth as she talked around them.
“Spit it out Vi, I’m not letting this go until you tell me,” Sophie said with determination. “I can tell something went on, it’s written all over your face,” she added with a smug grin.
Violet felt her stomach flutter, and her cheeks turn redder.
Dang.
After all this time.
She was going to have to relive The Incident.
Well, if she was going to finally come clean to Sophie, she wasn’t doing it here at the diner slash café! Everyone knew that Batty Betty turned her hearing aid up so loud she could hear a fly fart. And the only reason she was still working into her seventies was because she was a hardcore town gossip. Betty could overhear everything, and while she was getting their order, She wouldn’t be surprised if she was on the phone calling people telling them Blake Wilson, Encounter Bay’s favorite son, was coming home.
How else did everyone find out about Milly Morrison having Travis Hag’s baby while he was still married to Milly’s sister Lilly! That was the best gossip this town has ever seen, and it all originated here, with Batty Betty being the source.
Sophie was still munching on her fries and waiting for her to answer.
Was it time she told Sophie? 13 years, 5 months, and 16 days had not made the story any less embarrassing.
“Please Vi, you know you want to tell me,” Sophie begged, looking at her with puppy dog eyes.
Damn it!
Was this really happening?
Violet was about to relive the most embarrassing thing that had ever happened to her, and probably in the history of the world. There was no way another human had ever embarrassed themselves as much as she had on that fateful night.
She took a deep breath, she felt sick to her stomach. How had her life come to this? She swore she would never tell anyone. Ever.
Violet took a deep calming breath and leaned across the table. “Fine! But not here Sophie, how about we go to our secret spot tonight, we definitely need that much privacy,” She whisper-yelled, slumping back in her seat and crossing her arms to keep Sophie from noticing that her hands were shaking. Violet glanced up and found Batty Betty just two tables away with her head pointed in their direction.
Shit!
Sophie’s face brightened into a huge smile and she bounced in her seat. “Yes! I can’t wait to hear this story! I have a feeling it’s going to be great!” Sophie laughed, clapping her hands, drawing the attention of fellow diners. Violet cringed.
Jesus, she was going to throw up!
“Okay then, 7 pm at the carpark, and if you don’t show up I’m asking Blake!” Sophie added, raising that manicured eyebrow and giving Violet a look that said she would do it too.
Violet let out a strangled laugh.
Yeah, today had not gone as planned.
She was at DEFCON 1 at least, and now she had to spill her guts about the one thing she would rather forget and pretend had never happened.
Maybe she could make something up that was less embarrassing?
But then, what if Sophie asked Blake? Oh god! No, then Sophie would know it was a lie. She had known her for 26 years.
She swallowed the lump in her throat and screwed a smile on her face.
Shit was about to get real.