CHAPTER 7
Brian dropped his bags in the middle of the room and let out a sigh of relief. He was finally there, at the place that would be his hideaway for the summer. He knew he needed this, but it wasn't until this moment that he realised just how much he needed it. He felt something bubbling inside of him and felt like a kid at Christmas time. The stress he had trapped inside of him was lifting and the feeling was welcomed. He smiled to himself, not feeling this happy in a while now.
He looked around the room but was instantly drawn to the huge windows facing the ocean. As if a spell had been cast over him he walked to the window to look at the view. The sun still shone but was lowering in the sky behind him as he watched the waves rolling slowly to the beach. He lay his head on the cold of the glass and continued to smile.
He looked in the distance and saw someone walking along the beach. From the way the material swirled around the legs he guessed it was a woman and for an instant he imagined his Honey Eyes. He shook his head but continued to watch her. She was too far away to make out any features, but maybe when she got closer he could see.
She took one more look at the ocean before turning and walking up to the beach, stopping any chance he had of seeing her closer. He frowned momentarily before realising, as she disappeared out of view to what he assumed was another house not far from the one he was in, that she most likely lived there and would possibly be his neighbour. He grinned at the thought.
Who was he trying to kid here? It couldn’t possibly be Honey. She was a figment of his imagination, one he was best advised to forget if he was ever going to have a normal relationship again. Besides, he wasn’t really here to find a woman. It would be nice if he did, but it wasn’t his purpose. Just unwinding and getting back to normal was the reason. He sighed deeply, expelling another imaginary thread of tension.
He turned and walked into the direction of where he thought the kitchen would be. He hadn’t eaten since mid morning and was hungry. Bingo, he was right and found the kitchen with a room facing the beach off the kitchen area. How nice this was going to be watching the sun rise while eating breakfast. If he saw the sun rise that is. He planned on sleeping in for the first few days, just to catch up on all the sleep he had missed.
He walked into the kitchen to check on what food, if any, was in there. Opening the fridge he was surprised to find it fully stocked and a covered plate right in the middle. It looked like a meal and Brian pulled it out to check. Inside he found an entire roast chicken dinner complete with vegetables and gravy. All he had to do was heat it in the microwave and it was ready to eat. He made a mental note to thank Daniel. This was far better than the pizza he was thinking of ordering.
After heating the roast dinner up, Brian took the plate his cutlery and a can of soda from the fridge out to the landing off the meals room and sat in the fresh air. When was the last time he could do that freely with no danger of being spotted and hounded by someone? He honestly couldn’t remember. It felt refreshing and completely liberating. He knew he was going to enjoy his time here and he was sure it had been the right thing to do.
He was enjoying his dinner when there was a ring of the doorbell. He stiffened and immediately thought of all the other dinners that had been interrupted by one thing or another. Then he realised only one person knew he was here and he hurried to the door.
“Brian!” The man, not much taller than Brian with the same features and hair colouring as Brian, pulled him in for a bear hug. Even as kids growing up the two were often mistaken for brothers and now would be no different. The main differences in the two of them were their eyes. While Brian had striking blue eyes Daniel had deep brown eyes. There was no mistaking them in that regard.
They pulled apart. “Daniel, it’s great to see you again. I can’t thank you enough for what you are doing for me.” Brian told him.
Daniel flicked his hand dismissively. “Think nothing of it. You’re family, I would do it for any member of my family, especially my partner in crime, my best buddy.”
Brian chuckled at the memory of how the two of them always had to plot some sort of revenge against the older members of the family. They were the youngest of the cousins and always got picked on. Needless to say they had formed a strong bond as kids that still stood now. They just needed the time to reaffirm the bond, and Brian was glad he now had the time. For the summer at least. It was nice not to be touring for one summer because they usually did.
“Thanks for the food tonight Daniel. I was going to order in pizza, the roast was welcome.”
Daniel laughed. “You would have waited a while for pizza down here. It’s not so easy to get delivery. Glad you liked my cooking though. I dabble a bit in the kitchen now I have spare time. Maybe you can try it during your break.”
Brian chuckled and shook his head. “Just enough to get me by I think. I am looking forward to doing not much at all. Maybe do a little song writing,” he said nodding in the direction of his guitar case still in the main entryway.
“Maybe check out the local girls while you are here too?” Daniel prodded Brian.
Brian sighed again shaking his head. “It’s not on the top of the list man.” Brian thought about Honey, as he had started calling her and sighed inwardly. “But tell me about this girl you have been keeping secret.”
He took Brian’s arm and led him to the room he had first gazed over the ocean from. He opened the sliding doors leading out to the adjacent deck to the one he had eaten on, and turned them to face the house Brian had watched the girl disappear in to. “She’s your neighbour. Lives in that house there.” He said indicating the house now awash with lights.
Brian felt a moment of disappointment. Even if by some miracle she was Honey, he wouldn’t take her away from Daniel if he wanted her. He couldn’t do that. “I think I saw her. Earlier. Someone was walking along the beach when I first arrived here and she went into that house.”
“Ahh that would be Skye. She is always walking along the beach. It’s therapeutic for her after she lost her fiancée a little over a year ago in a boating accident. She owns that house. Her roommate and best friend is the one I like. Jay.”
“There are two girls there?” He thought about having two single girls as his neighbours for the summer. He hoped they weren’t fans. One of them was tentatively spoken for. The other one perhaps still grieving. For a moment he remembered his dreams when he had been on the beach and the ghosts appeared and taken him to Honey. There seemed to be a ghostly ex boyfriend in that dream. No it was impossible.
Brian led Daniel back to the kitchen deep in thought and pulled 2 cold beers out of the fridge and they both went back out to the deck to talk. He had to stop thinking about these dreams. Maybe now they would stop, but did he want them to? Brian sat to finish his meal while Daniel filled him in on all the local activities and the best places to visit for shopping and such things. He told Brian that he had told no one he was coming and the locals had no idea who his famous cousin was, or even that he had a famous cousin. His anonymity was safe here, except for maybe the local teenagers who he suggested he steer clear of. The waves washing up on the beach were soothing to Brian and more and more every minute he felt every fibre of his body relaxing. He yawned suddenly and apologised to Daniel.
“It’s okay. The climate here does that to you, and you were obviously exhausted when you got here. Let me give you a quick tour of the house and I will be on my way and let you settle in and get some sleep.”
Daniel showed him around the luxurious house and Brian knew he could get used to this place. What captured his eye was the oversized bathtub complete with spa capabilities. He could feel the tensions floating from his body thinking about being in there. Daniel saw the expression on his face and chuckled, telling him he would enjoy the spa. He said his goodbyes, leaving Brian alone again. It felt good. Now all he wanted was to sleep.
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Skye looked out the window towards Daniels beach house next door. It had been empty over the winter and Daniel hadn’t mentioned having found a summer tenant, yet the lights in the house were on and it was obvious someone was there. She could make out two figures on the deck and thought they were men. That didn’t worry her because she knew Daniel would only rent his house to someone respectable, she just hoped their peaceful existence wouldn’t be shattered. No, she trusted Daniel. Besides, it was his house, he could do what he wanted with it.
She wondered how long they had been there. Had they seen her on the beach earlier? She shrugged, what did it matter if they did? She turned to find Jay standing behind her watching her.
“Thinking about Blue Eyes again?” she smiled.
“No, I wasn’t actually. I was looking over at Daniels house. Seems he has found someone to rent it. I wonder how long they will be here.”
“Ah,” Jay said dismissively. “It’s nothing we have to worry about. We can keep to our part of the beach, we are far enough apart.”
“I guess so.” She didn’t know why, but something about the whole idea of someone being there bothered her. It was odd because of all the summers she had lived there it had never bothered her before.
“What’s the matter Skye? You seem really down lately.”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. These dreams keep haunting me all the time, in daylight hours as well as night. It’s as if they all have some purpose and I can’t figure out what it is. It’s driving me insane.” This was the first time Skye had revealed so much to Jay and that alone scared her. She never knew what plan would hatch in Jay’s head when she got an idea.
But she surprised her. “He’s really got to you hasn’t he?”
Skye nodded. “Whoever he is. He looks familiar I can’t place it. He looks like someone I know but I don’t know who. It’s getting to the stage I want to meet him, I want the real Blue Eyes.”
“And you want more than just meeting him?” Jay prodded.
Her eyes shot up. “No!” She mellowed. “Yes. No, I don’t know. Jay I don’t know what I want anymore. I don’t know what to think.” Skye turned and looked out the window again, her eyes drawn to the house just a short way away. Why did she keep doing that? The lights to the main room turned off and the bedroom light came on. They were getting ready for bed. It was still fairly early, she realised. Must be the ocean air, it always does that to newcomers.
“We need to get you out. Daniel’s party will do the trick,” Jay said making Skye chuckle.
“It’s not exactly a party Jay.”
She grinned. “Charity event, party, it’s whatever we make it.”
Skye returned the grin. Jay would always have a good time. She usually did too but right at the moment she didn’t much feel like it. She had planned on staying for the formalities and then making a discreet exit. After hopefully pushing Daniel and Jay together, she would be safe to take the car home. Daniel would escort Jay home regardless of whether or not the two of them had finally woken up to themselves. She knew she would be able to disappear without too much fuss.
“Have you decided on what you are wearing yet?” Jay asked trying to lighten the mood.
“Not really,” she answered shaking her head. She looked up at Jay hopefully. “I was hoping you could help me.”
Jay smiled brightly. This was her specialty. “Leave it to me. You’ll look like a million dollars and you will have the time of your life. I can just feel it. Everything is going to be just fine.”
Skye stood looking at the house next door hoping Jay was right. She needed something to help her over this mood.
Chapter 8
Index
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