Beach House Reunion (Beach House #5)(25)

“You mean heaven?”

“Yes,” Lovie replied on a sigh. “So you see, it’s not sad at all.”

“But I’ll still miss you,” Linnea said with a pout.

“Oh, precious.” Lovie held her tighter. “See those eggs that Cara’s putting into the nest? In about sixty days those eggs will hatch and the hatchlings will scramble out and hurry to the sea. In thirty years, one of the females will come back here to lay her nest. And you can be here to take care of her babies. You see? You’ll be doing my job for me. Around and around the cycle of life goes. It’s really quite beautiful.”

“I’ll be here waiting, Grandmama Lovie. I promise.” Linnea hugged her grandmother with a child’s fervency. “I’ll be here for you. . . .”



LINNEA HELD THE small T-shirt to her chest and felt a rush of love for her grandmother. She’d slipped away at the summer’s end. But every summer since, when the sea turtles returned, Linnea thought of Lovie.

“I’m coming back to Isle of Palms, Grandmama,” she whispered. “Like I promised.”



LINNEA AWOKE AT the sound of shouting. She blinked heavily, rousing further. Oh, yes . . . She recognized the voice with a yawn. It was her father. Annoying, she thought. It sounded like he was really riled. She rubbed her fingertips over her eyes, yawning again, then pushed back her covers and rose to investigate. She opened her bedroom door and peered out. The volume heightened, and she could hear how truly angry her father was. The lights were all on downstairs, and shadows stretched out across the floor. Whatever was happening was a big deal. Her fingertips grazed the cool staircase railing as she scurried down to the main floor.

Clutching the newel, she paused at the bottom of the staircase where she could see her parents. They were standing side by side just inside the living room doorway, looking at someone she couldn’t see but knew was Cooper. He must’ve done something really bad this time. Her father’s face was red, he was jabbing his finger, and she could almost see the spittle flying across the room.

“You need the discipline of the Citadel, boy. Now more than ever. It’ll make you a man!”

“I don’ wanna . . .” The words slid into unrecognizable muffling.

Linnea’s hand flew to her mouth. Her brother was slurring his words badly.

“You’re so drunk I can hardly understand what you’re saying,” his father roared. “Stand straight, son, and look at me, hear?”

“Palmer . . .” her mother countered in her low, soft voice, and reached out to put her hand on his arm. Palmer rudely brushed it off.

Her mother ignored him and stepped out of sight, presumably closer to Cooper. “It’s late,” she said in a calm voice. “Let’s go to bed. We’re all overtired, and tempers are short. We can talk about this in the morning.”

“I want this settled now,” Palmer ground out. “This isn’t one of his pranks. The boy got a DUI. That’s major. It’s on his record. This could ruin his chances of getting into the Citadel.” He took a step closer to Cooper, almost out of view. “How could you do this to me? To your family?” He swayed slightly as he stretched out his arm and pointed at his son again. “I’m going to have to pull in a lot of favors for you.”

Linnea leaned forward to catch Cooper’s muttered words. She couldn’t be sure, but she thought he said, “I’m not asking you to.” Linnea willed her brother to just be quiet. Not to fan her father’s flames of fury.

But Palmer heard and it sent him off on another rant.

Linnea put her hands over her ears and climbed back up the stairs. She couldn’t listen to any more. Her stomach was roiling, and her heart was beating fast. Cooper had really blown it this time, and her father had a right to be angry. How could Cooper be so stupid and careless? But she couldn’t muster any anger. This went beyond that. All she felt was a bone-chilling fear.

She slipped back into her room, closed the door softly, and leaned against it, absorbing the dark, soothing quiet. She was deeply shaken. Sure, there’d been lots of arguments in their house. Most families shouted at one another from time to time. It was nothing to be proud of but still in the realm of normal. But tonight, her father’s fury had reached a new level of intensity. It had frightened her. And tonight, Cooper had reached a new low. That frightened her more.

She pressed her ear against the door. The shouting had stopped downstairs. She closed her eyes, weary, and pressed her forehead against the door. She hoped everyone had just gone to bed like her mama had suggested. These family dramas were draining. She didn’t wait long before she heard heavy footfalls coming up the stairs, then Cooper’s low, drunken voice.

“I’m sorry. . . .”

Her mother’s soft voice followed wearily: “I know you are, honey. Come on, now. Oh, Cooper,” she said, her voice shaking with heartbreak. “What am I going to do with you?”

“I’m sorry, Mama.”

“Let’s just get you in bed so you can sleep it off.”

Linnea heard the bedroom door close. She sighed, then padded across the dark room and climbed back into her bed. She felt bone-weary and heavyhearted. She laid her head against the soft, cool pillow and closed her eyes. The tears felt hot on her face.

She was the older sibling. She’d defended Cooper, made excuses for him, was his champion, and picked him up when he fell down. And then she’d grown up and moved away, leaving him to fend for himself. She’d never worried about him. He always seemed to roll with the punches. He was popular and laid-back. She’d thought he was happy.