Beach House Reunion (Beach House #5)(95)

Linnea ran to kiss Cara, then swept Hope up in her arms and twirled her around, squealing with happiness.

“I was so worried!” Cara said, her gaze hungrily devouring every inch of Linnea’s face. “I couldn’t reach you. I didn’t sleep a wink for worry.”

“I’m sorry. We couldn’t get service or the Internet. I tried texting you on the way over.”

“How did you get here? I saw the flooding on TV. It’s horrible.”

“I know,” she said wearily. “Some of the roads are like rivers. Mama called the city Venice. But there were side roads that we could use to get through the city. It took forever.” She kissed Hope and handed her back to Cara. “Thank goodness we were driving Mama’s tank. My little Mini Cooper would never have made it.”

“Linnea, how’s Cooper?”

Her smile slipped. “He’s doing better. He’s in the psych ward.”

Cara frowned with concern. “Oh.”

“It’s really okay. We couldn’t get back to the hospital because of the flooding.” She rolled her eyes. “Mama was fit to be tied. But we called this morning and he’s doing better. There’s a big bright room where they can keep an eye on him. It’s not like he’s locked up in a cell or anything. Cara, I’m glad he’s there. He’ll get the help he needs right now. And he can’t go anywhere even if they released him. The hospital area is a lake. We got out just in time, or we’d still be stuck there. The doctors and nurses are coming in by boat!”

“It was unbelievable. I—”

She stopped when she heard her mother’s voice.

“Hello?” Julia rounded the house. Despite the long, ragged night, she appeared strong and steady, dragging two suitcases. She stopped when she saw Cara and Linnea grinning and laughing.

Cara hurried to her side with Linnea. “Welcome,” she said warmly, leaning forward with Hope in her arms to offer a kiss of greeting.

Tears filled Julia’s eyes. It seemed as though she’d been holding herself together by a thread and now for the first time she felt she could let go and that one, slender thread tore and released the flood of anguish.

Cara understood and handed the baby to Linnea. She wrapped her arms around her sister-in-law. “You’re safe now,” she told her softly. “You’re with us.”

Cara took Hope back in her arms and was guiding the women indoors when they heard the husky sound of John’s voice.

“Linnea!”

Turning, they saw John racing around the corner of the house. His hair was tousled, red stubble framed his face, and his green eyes were pinned on Linnea. He took the stairs in two leaps and ran to scoop Linnea into his arms and plant a breath-sucking kiss.

Emmi hurried around the corner after John and, seeing the two locked in an embrace, stopped short. Then, her face glowing, she fist-pumped the air. Flo followed at a slower pace, blinking up at them in confusion.

Cara took in the scene, holding Hope close, and leaned against a porch pillar, swamped by a wave of memories of another such day. Another aftermath of a storm. Only that time, it was Brett who had come running. For her. Closing her eyes, she felt again his arms around her, tight and sure and strong. The feel of his lips claiming hers. It was so real she could smell him. Brett’s presence was strong, and her heart ached for him. Hot tears seeped from the corners of her eyes, and she squeezed Hope tight and took a ragged breath to stop them.

Then she felt an arm wrap around her shoulders and two short, reassuring pats. Cara opened her eyes to see Emmi standing beside her.

“I know,” she said in a low voice.

She sniffed, bolstered by her friend’s understanding. Emmi remembered, too.

John’s arms tightened around Linnea. “You didn’t answer your phone!”

Linnea hiccuped a laugh that sounded more like a cry. “No service,” she choked out.

He rocked her in his arms, his relief palpable. “Don’t ever leave me again.”

“No,” Linnea said, smiling into his face.

Cara looked to Emmi, a sympathetic smile easing across her face. The old matchmaker was grinning with pleasure. When their eyes met again, Emmi gave her a thumbs-up.

“Mercy!” Julia exclaimed. “I guess that’s why Linnea calls this the Social Club.”

“That would be my house,” Emmi said, stepping forward to help with the suitcases. “Next door. I’ve got a mountain of food. Come on, everyone. Let’s eat.”



EVERYONE FOLLOWED EMMI over to her house. Linnea took Hope along when Cara asked for a few minutes alone.

She still felt Brett’s presence keenly. He was here with her, she knew it. She went to the pergola and laid her hand against the wood, patting it with appreciation. She thought back on hurricanes past that had ravaged Lovie’s pergola. Each time, Brett had faithfully rebuilt it for her. It had become both a tradition and a family joke.

This one Brett had built for Cara. He’d chosen the best wood, thick and strong. “Built to last,” he’d declared. Cara looked up and saw that the canes of the roses were twisted and broken. More red petals had drifted down to dot the deck. But this time, Brett’s pergola had persevered.

“Oh, Brett,” she said, and hugged the pillar of the pergola. This was her sign. “Strong and sure. I know what you’re trying to tell me. And I hear you. No more tears. I’ll weather the storms. I’ll persevere. Live again. Love again. I will treasure each day.”