She walked past the group of people, brushing off offers of company, and through the opening in the stone wall out to the lawn leading to the private beach. She strolled across the grass, ignoring the voices left behind. Again.
The grass gave way to dunes and beach grass, then sand and surf. Despite the fall, there was no one on the beach. The houses were well separated, so she had this stretch to herself. She slogged her way through the soft sand and onto the hard pack pounded by the surf. She kicked off her sandals and walked into the water, the slow waves licking her feet, cooling her down from the heat of the day and the altercation at the house. The waves rolled in, breaking far offshore, but were only ripples as they lapped at her feet. The water pulled at her feet, tugging her away, away from the shore, away from her past, away from the pain.
Daylight had given way to dusk, the sun slowly setting behind her, enhancing her feeling of isolation. Night had always been the roughest time since her father’s death. The darkness emphasized how alone she felt and the despair often settled in her bones, accompanied by tears and sleeplessness, magnifying her depression. Hearing her mother crying down the hall had jarred her out of her own sadness and forced her to step up. While she hated the reason behind it, she was glad she had learned how strong she could be.
“Running away again, Delaney? Isn’t that what got you into trouble in the first place?”
Ethan’s voice pulled her back to the moment, from her wishes and dreams of what could have been. She turned slowly. He stood a few yards away, hands buried in his cargo pants pockets, white shirt unbuttoned, hair ruffling in the sea breeze, a solemn look on his face.
“Not running away. Taking a break. There’s a difference.” She crossed her arms, hugging herself against the slight chill in the air.
He nodded slowly, but didn’t budge from his spot. “What are you thinking about?”
“You really want to know? Fine. No one wants me here, except maybe Caroline, and I’m sure she’s regretting that now. I should have gone with my gut.”
“And kept hiding?” His quiet voice was neutral, no inflection or judgment.
“It was safer,” she admitted in a small voice.
“Maybe. But you’ve taken the first step. Takes a lot of courage.”
She arched an eyebrow at him. “I thought you were still pissed at me. Why are you being so nice?”
He grinned and walked toward the water. He bent down and picked up a rock, tossing it into the water. “I’m still pissed. But we have too much of a past for me to completely ignore you when you’re in pain.”
His words snapped her out of her funk, and she stared at his back for a long moment. Then she stepped up and looked out over the Gulf. She wanted to reach for his hand, reach for him, but fear and self-preservation overrode her desire. “Why did you follow me?”
“I’ll always follow you.” His words were solid and true, a statement of fact.
She was shaking her head before he even finished. “That’s not wise, Ethan. We can’t be anything more than what we are now.”
“What are we now?” he asked, genuine puzzlement in his tone.
“I don’t know.” She looked down and dug her toes in the sand.
“Come back to the house, Delaney.” He held out his hand, palm up, and waited.
This time, she heeded his words and her heart. Maybe she had blown her chance with Ethan when life and circumstances intervened. But she could have this one week, their lives isolated like this island, before reality invaded.
She took his hand, then bent to pick up her sandals.
“Ready?” He cocked his eyebrow at her.
She nodded. He tucked her hand against his chest, and they walked back to the house.
* * *
Much later, Delaney needed some alone time. Being with so many people, maintaining a facade, was taxing on her, not to mention the thought of Ethan sleeping on the other side of the wall, which she was sure was Caroline’s plan. Judging by the itinerary, she was definitely planning on proximity to do most of the matchmaking for her. While Delaney and Ethan could ignore reality isolated on the island for a few days, all too soon, it would come rushing back and the reasons for Delaney letting him go were still there. Admittedly, they were weaker now that he didn’t work with his father, but it was only a matter of time. Van Owen Financial was a family legacy, one his father would want carried through his son and heir, Ethan.
For once, Delaney wished Ethan’s father hadn’t been so set on Ethan taking over and let Ethan’s sister do it, to take the pressure off of Ethan. He seemed happier now, not stressed about living up to expectations. It didn’t matter, though. He wanted his eldest son to be his heir. Samantha, Ethan’s sister, who was reputed to be a shark in the investment world, wouldn’t do for William Van Owen. Who said the upper class changed with the times? It was like they had never heard of equal opportunity or feminism. But Delaney couldn’t chance it. She had to stay away from Ethan, even if she desperately wanted this one last week's fling before having to move on.
She strolled away from the patio and the fire pit, the grass cool against her feet, toward the beach and the rolling waves. Someone had placed two Adirondack chairs and a table near the edge of the lawn, overlooking the water. The sun had completely set now, the moon shining over the Gulf. She went to settle in a chair when a voice startled her.
“Needed to get away, too?”
Brigid had curled up in the other chair, hidden from the house view. Delaney looked back at the house, not remembering when the other woman had disappeared.
Brigid gestured to the chair. “Please, sit. You’re the one person who probably understands best how I feel right now.”