Someone Else’s Life(35)

Annie didn’t answer and made a face of disgust. Ugh. Why did Brody have to rain on her parade? He was the one who wanted her to make new friends here, and now he was questioning her judgment?

With a sigh, Annie looked down when her phone dinged again.

B: Are you going to let her stay there if this lasts into the night?

A: I don’t know. I guess. I can’t kick her out, can I? And what about you? What are you going to do about sleep if you’re stuck there?

B: Don’t worry about me. I’m more worried about you.

A: Would you be worried if I were with Izzy or Julia?

B: No, I’d be glad you had company.

A: Same thing. Serena is a friend. I have a feeling we’re going to be good friends.

B: Okay. But I wish your new friend is Kalani.

A: Oh, god, not this again. Kalani’s nice but I didn’t connect with her like I do Serena.

B: But your family knows Kalani. We don’t know anything about this Serena. I don’t like this. Maybe she wants something from you.

A: I’m leaving now. Goodbye.

B: Wait . . .

Annie closed out of the text exchange and opened the bathroom door.

“I thought you’d fallen into the toilet.” Serena had the remote in her hand, clicking through the channels.

“Sorry. Brody was texting me. I don’t know how he’s going to get home.” Annie walked to the couch and plopped down on it.

“He was a fireman with the FDNY, right?” Serena continued to surf the channels.

Annie nodded. “How’d you know?” She racked her brain, trying to remember if she’d told Serena that. She must have, though. How else would Serena have known?

Serena shrugged. “I think you told me?”

Annie stared for a moment and then said, “Right. So yes, he was a fireman. He loved his job so much. It was hard for him to leave it and retire to move here.”

“Isn’t he young to be retired?” Serena questioned.

“Sort of. But with the FDNY, he could have retired after twenty years on the job. He had twenty-one years, so it wasn’t unheard of, but he had wanted to wait until he had twenty-five years.” Annie sighed. She knew Brody had given up a lot to move here. He’d loved his job so much, and the camaraderie he’d built with his fellow firefighters. Yet he’d given that all up, plus leaving his entire giant Irish family in New York to come here so they could start over. He’d sacrificed a lot for this move.

“If he loved his job so much, why didn’t he wait until he reached twenty-five years?” Serena turned her attention to Annie, placing the remote on the coffee table.

“We had to . . .” Annie stopped herself. She’d already told Serena so much about her life, and she suddenly wondered if it was wise to tell her more. Especially because the reason they’d moved here was all tied up in Annie’s guilt at not protecting Finn when he’d needed her. Brody’s skepticism was getting into her head.

Serena regarded Annie and waited, but when Annie didn’t continue, she popped off the couch. “I have to pee too. All this water and wine we’re drinking. Be right back.”

Annie sat on the couch, lost in thoughts about Brody as she stared blindly at the news, which Serena had ended back on. She knew her husband didn’t blame her for what had happened last summer, but she hadn’t realized he didn’t trust her with Finn until they’d moved to Kauai.

It was a week after they’d arrived on the island, and they were in the Ohana unpacking a box because Brody had finally gotten tired of searching through them all whenever he needed something.

“Annie, you’re in paradise, yet all you’ve done this week is sit on the lanai. Why don’t you come with us to the beach? Visit all your favorite places?” Brody pulled household supplies like scissors, pens, notebooks, and books out of a box as he spoke.

“I’m settling in.” Annie leaned her hands against the counter and didn’t feel the need to elaborate that she’d been feeling so heavy and listless, even though she knew she should get off her butt and do something. Unpack, get to know the neighbors, enjoy the beautiful sunshine and ocean breeze. Take Finn for shaved ice and malasadas, the puffy orbs of fried dough, almost like doughnuts, that he loved so much.

“I thought with your father and sister here to help, it would be better—” Brody broke off and stuffed his hands in his pockets, hunching his shoulders forward as if against the cold.

Annie let go of the counter and slowly raised her head to stare at her husband. “You don’t trust me with him.” Her voice was so low it came out as a whisper.

Brody opened his mouth, but nothing came out, and Annie saw the truth in her husband’s eyes. Silence settled over the kitchen like a blanket of snow as they stared at each other, the tension so thick it almost choked her.

And as always, it was Brody who broke the tension. He’d heaved a big sigh and then reached out to draw Annie close to him, enveloping her in his strong arms. She’d melted into his chest, desperate to find her way back to him. Why couldn’t she shake off this malaise that had settled over her the last few years? She wanted to find that type A go-getter she used to be.

Brody spoke, his deep voice rumbling in Annie’s ear. “Remember our first date?” His voice was husky, caressing the air between them.

“Yes.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, and she smiled into his chest. She wished they were still those two people from back then, just discovering one another.