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Will Darby is married, and I’m not ready for a relationship. I can’t be with him, but nothing’s stopping me from writing about him. As I stroll along the surf with the sun warming my back, I daydream about a young woman returning home after a long absence to claim the inheritance her estranged mother left her—a waterfront inn in the South Carolina Lowcountry. The character’s name is Anna. Simple and sweet. On her first day back in town, she encounters an old high school boyfriend, Jason Rainy. Anna and Jason has a nice ring to It. Sparks fly between my two characters. They still have chemistry after all these years. Her inn needs work and, ironically, he’s a builder. Problem is, she’s still furious at him for cheating on her with her best friend back in high school.
Hope blossoms inside of me as I hurry back to the cottage. I’ve finally come up with a plot I’m inspired to write. For the next hour, I research trending romance subgenres and tropes. Because the thought of writing sex scenes makes me blush, I’ll stick to clean and wholesome romance with the second chance love trope.
After eating a ham sandwich for lunch, I take my computer out to the hammock where I spend the afternoon creating a rough outline for my novel.
I wasn’t thrilled about the idea of my son having a playdate, but Caroline’s mother promised to keep a close eye on them, and I ignored my fears and permitted him to go. I escaped WITSEC to give him a normal life. I can’t hold him back. But when I arrive at Marsh Point, I’m disheartened to find the kids playing alone in the side yard with no grown-ups in sight. I walk around to the side of the house facing the marsh where an attractive woman is sitting in a rocker on the porch.
“Hello there!” I say as I climb the steps to the porch. “I’m Conrad’s mom, Julia.”
“Hi, Julia. I’m Ashton. Have a seat,” she says, patting the arm of the chair next to her. “The kids have gotten along marvelously, but they’ve worn me out, and I’m taking a breather.”
I laugh as I lower myself to the rocker. “Kids will do that. I see you have two daughters. Are they close in age?”
“That’s Sophie. They are two years apart. But they aren’t my daughters. They’re my nieces, my brother’s children. His wife died in a boating accident this summer.”
I gasp as my hand flies to my mouth. “That’s awful. I’m so sorry.”
Ashton presses her lips thin. “It’s been a tough time. They recently moved in with me so I can help him with the girls. I don’t have children of my own, and we’re like the blind leading the blind.”
From inside the house, footfalls on hardwood floors echo through the open door. When I crane my neck to see behind me, my heart rate quickens at the sight of Will Darby standing in the doorway.
OMG, I think as I connect the dots. Will is Caroline’s father. He’s not married or divorced. He’s widowed.
Will exits the house onto the porch. “What’re you doing here?”
“I’m Julia Becker. I came to pick up my son from his playdate with your daughter. Your sister was just telling me about your wife’s accident. I’m so sorry.”
“I don’t want your pity,” he says with an icy glare.
Ashton stares horrified at her brother. “Don’t be rude,Will.”
Will’s shoulders slump. “Forgive me. I’ve had a tough day. Let me change into shorts, and we’ll go for a boat ride.”
My eyes travel to the end of the dock where a small boat sits high on a lift. I wonder if this is the boat from the accident that killed his wife.
As though reading my mind, Will says, “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you don’t die.” His smile fades. “I shouldn’t joke about the accident. Tracy and I got caught out in a storm. She was driving. She handled the boat wrong, and it cost her her life.”
“That must have been awful for you. I’m not worried about your driving. I’m from Colorado. I’ve never ridden on a boat.”
“Then we need to fix that. Round up the kids, and I’ll meet you on the dock.”
The kids are thrilled at the prospect of a boat ride. We herd them over to a pile of life jackets in the carport. I locate the right size jackets for both Conrad and me. We slip them on over our clothes and zip them up tight.
Ashton laughs when she sees me. “You don’t have to wear that unless you don’t know how to swim.”
“I know how to swim. I just feel better with this on,” I say, hugging my life-jacketed self.
“Suit yourself.”
Will gawks at the sight of me in the life jacket. “I have my captain’s license, Julia. I never take chances with passengers onboard.”
“I trust you. But I told you, I’ve never been out in a boat before.”
He shrugs. “Whatever. As long as you feel safe.”
Will is lowering the boat lift when Ashton receives a work-related call. “Y’all go ahead. I need to take care of something before five o’clock,” she says and dashes up the dock towards the house.
Will helps everyone aboard the boat. The kids crowd onto the bench seat up front, and I stand awkwardly at the rear. “Where should I sit?” I ask Will as he pushes off from the dock.
