Someday Beach by Jill Sanders

pain.
    “Yes.” She looked down at her hands. “The only time he was around when I was growing up was when there were news cameras watching.” She sighed. “To my mother I was someone who prevented her from being the socialite she needed to be to further her husband’s career.”
    He reached over and took her hand in his, scooting closer to her. She glanced over at him. He thought there would be tears in her eyes. Instead, there was just a dull, empty look. He could tell that years of pain had taken their toll on her and doubted that she cried anymore about the pain her parents had caused.
    “It got to the point that I was just going along with everything they demanded. Everything they wanted. Then one day, the day that Nanna died, something snapped and I woke up. I’d always dreamed about coming back here, to my someday beach, of opening a shop, of living here forever.” She looked at him. “I bought my building and shortly after, I packed everything I could and jumped in my car and didn’t stop until I was here.” She smiled.
    He smiled at her. “You’re a strong person.” He pulled her close and placed a kiss on the top of her head.
    “I don’t know about that. I didn’t lie when I said that I’d told my parents about moving here, about opening my own shop.” She pulled away a little and looked up at him. “But the fact is, I didn’t really tell them face-to-face. I left them a voice mail. Then, the other day, my mother called and told me that the joke was over and it was time for me to come home. Do you know, they actually think I’m just down here on vacation?” She laughed bitterly.
    “What did you tell them?” He played with a strand of her hair that had fallen over his hand.
    She sighed. “I told her that I wasn’t going back to school. That I’d officially dropped out and was opening my own shop here and nothing they could say or do would make me change my mind.”
    “And?” He waited, holding his breath.
    She laughed. “She told me that she was too busy to continue this pointless conversation since she had just arrived at the country club and was meeting several women for lunch. Then she told me to call her back later this week after I’d come to my senses.”
    He shook his head in disbelief.
    “So, what made you sad today? Did my aunt say something to upset you?”
    She looked up at him and shook her head no. “It was just… seeing you, with them. So happy together.” She sighed.
    He smiled. “My family has plenty of room in their hearts.” He pulled her closer and placed a gentle kiss on those soft lips. He felt the quick punch of desire but pushed it towards the back, knowing that it wasn’t what she needed at the moment.
    When she pulled away a little, he was happy to see that her eyes were back to shining. Then she frowned a little. “Did you know that your aunt had a son your age that died?”
    He nodded. “I found out shortly after I arrived there. Why?”
    She shook her head and smiled a little. “She told me that you saved them all. But from hearing you talk, they saved you.”
    He smiled and nodded. “It was a mutual rescue.”
    She chuckled and then sobered a little. “How did Stephan die?”
    “Car accident. Took him and his father at once.” He shook his head. “About a week after I got there, I found a picture of them along with the newspaper article.” He frowned and dropped his hand. “The first two months of being there, I watched my sisters change, become happier.”
    She smiled up at him. “They were very lucky to find you.”
    He shook his head. “I was the lucky one.” He sighed. “What do you say to starting your project a little early?”
    Her eyebrows shot up. “I thought—”
    “Since I’m the boss, I can set the schedule,” he interrupted her. “Besides, I feel like pounding something with a sledgehammer. What about you?”
    She smiled. “Sounds fun. What shall we bang on and destroy?”
    He laughed. “I was thinking of starting