After All (Cape Harbor #1)(71)

“We don’t have a kitchen.”

The Driftwood Inn didn’t necessarily need a kitchen, but it was part of the hospitality they offered. Unfortunately, Carly was right. After Austin’s passing, she had taken a sledgehammer to the appliances and cabinets, destroying the interior.

“We could call Seacoast Construction, hire them to rebuild.”

“No,” Carly stated. “I don’t want people here anymore.”

“I think that’s why the kids don’t come around anymore—they must feel like you don’t want them.”

“I don’t.”

“Carly—”

She held her hand up to stop Simone from speaking. She didn’t want to hear what she had to say, especially about Austin’s friends. She was not ready to see them and didn’t know if she ever would be. They held far too many memories. Memories that hurt each time she thought of them. Her heart was better off locked away in her house than exposed to others. The only person she wanted to see was Brooklyn. At first, she had gone to her, looking for answers as to why her son would take his boat out in the middle of a storm. Deep down, Carly knew Brooklyn knew why. What had happened that night? What would possess her son to go out? It was so unlike him. He was always so cautious and aware of the weather.

Yet, when she found Brooklyn at her parents’, and she told Carly she was pregnant, Carly’s priorities changed. Her mission was to make sure her son’s only child made it safely into the world. She had to focus on Brooklyn, which left her no choice but to close the inn. She hadn’t cared, because she was in mourning; the people would understand and come back next year or the year after or whenever she decided to finally reopen. There were more important matters to take care of.

She had been duped, though, into thinking life was somewhat perfect and back to normal, but she knew better. She’d had suspicions since her granddaughter had arrived and was going to do the unthinkable. Even if she was wrong, it would be peace of mind.

“Brystol doesn’t belong to Austin,” Carly blurted out.

Simone spit her drink and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Excuse me?”

“She’s not my granddaughter.”

“She most certainly is.”

“She looks nothing like Austin, me, or Skip. Brooklyn, yes, but not my son.”

“Carly, I think you’re looking for another reason to shut people out. Brystol’s yours, and she loves you.”

Carly stood and placed her hand on the window. “I don’t doubt her love for me or the love I feel for her, but when I look into her eyes, Austin isn’t there.”

“I think you’re speaking nonsense.”

“That night, something happened between Brooklyn and Austin, and only Brooklyn knows what. Maybe she told him she was in love with someone else or that she was pregnant, and the child wasn’t his. Whatever happened, it led to his death. Austin knew better than to take his boat out in the storm.”

Simone sighed heavily. “If that sweet, beautiful little girl upstairs isn’t Austin’s, then who does she belong to?”

“Bowie Holmes.”

“He’s Austin’s best friend, Carly. He would never betray him like that.”

“He was in love with Brooklyn—even I saw that.”

“Are you going to ask Brooklyn?”

She turned and looked at her friend. “No. I have a friend who works at a clinic in Seattle. We’re going to take Brystol there; he’ll test her.”

“Carly, I don’t think you should do this.”

“I have to know, Simone.”

“And how do you plan to get Bowie’s DNA?”

“Bowie used to spend nights here when he and Austin were out late together or drinking, and he had a drawer of things in the bathroom. A toothbrush, hairbrush. After Austin died, he never came back for them. It should be enough, especially with my DNA.”

Simone stood and went to her friend. “Please rethink what you’re about to do. I know you love that little girl, and she loves you. If you get the results you’re expecting, it will change you forever. Sometimes, it’s just best not to know. You could go the rest of your life feeling as if you have a piece of Austin, or you can break your own heart.” Simone left her standing there with her thoughts.





TWENTY-SEVEN

Bowie yawned as he put his truck into park and turned the key to shut off the engine. He sat there in the driveway, staring at Carly’s house, thinking about the events from the past couple of days. He had gone from being hopeful with Brooklyn, feeling as if they’d finally overcome the imaginary wall between them, to heartbroken and feeling desperate because Carly was sick and there wasn’t anything he could do to help.

When he left the hospital last night, it was late. He stayed long past visiting hours, hoping to see Brooklyn one last time after she went to be with Carly in her room. When the nurses’ station dimmed the lights, he finally drove home, surprised to find Luke waiting for him. He went to call Graham to thank him, only to find a text from his friend telling him that he had dropped his dog off and if he needed anything to call him.

As much as he wanted to see Brooklyn now, he knew she wouldn’t be at work. He was going to pull double duty and make sure every part of the project was meeting deadlines. They had an inn to finish, with or without Brooklyn and Carly.