Page 2 of Hot Kisses

The price is never going to be right, but I’d never have made it this past year just selling drinks and handmade jewelry.

Before I can think of an answer, he grins, pulling out some papers. “Probate is finally finished,” he says, crouching down in front of me.

Relief floods over me like high tide, washing away the constant anxiety that I’d been living with so long that I almost forgot what it felt like to take a full breath. I fill my lungs and let it out and smile back at him.

“Oh, Uncle Oliver, that’s great,” I say. I still don’t understand why it took so long, but it’s over now. I’ll have enough to get a little apartment while the house is being rebuilt. “And the life insurance, too? Is that finally getting paid out?”

The question leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. I’d take having Grandpa alive and well over any amount of money. But I remind myself that he set everything up so I wouldn’t have to struggle. He’s taking care of me even now after he’s gone, just like he always promised.

“Yes,” he says, his mouth turning down, like I’m being greedy. My face flames and I look at the sand beneath my bare feet. “You’ll get ten thousand dollars in a few weeks’ time.”

My heart drops and my eyes shoot back up to his inscrutable face. “What?” I’m incredulous, because Grandpa went over everything with me, every year, always the day after his birthday.

“That’s right,” Uncle Oliver continues, as if I’m delighted with the paltry amount that wouldn’t rebuild the garage of the house. The amount that’s much, much lower than what Grandpa always showed me on the paperwork during the dreaded yearly meeting. “And once I sell the land, I’ll give you a portion of that as well.”

Now he really grins, but it’s like a wolf’s snarl. If I weren’t already sitting, my legs would collapse out from under me. I lean over and rest my elbows on my knees.

“You can’t sell the beach,” I say. That much I know was in the will. Is this why it’s taken so long? I look up to see Uncle Oliver staring down at me with something like disgust on his face.

He snaps his fingers and steps back, waving at the expanse of sand from the new, horrible condo skeletons, over the burnt concrete slab where my heart still tries to reside, and to the cove far beyond the restrooms. Even as he prepares to destroy his father’s legacy, he ogles the girls playing volleyball.

“This is four acres of prime beachfront property,” he says. “Dad was the only holdout. Do you know how many multimillion dollar offers that crazy old loon turned down?” He ignores my gasp at hearing him speak of my beloved grandfather, his father, who gave him everything, like that. “And for what? To keep living in a fifty year old house and opening the beach to the public?”

“He built that house for your mom.” The words barely make it past the lump clogging my throat.

“Well, it’s gone now, and within a few weeks, this broken down old beach will be too. It’ll finally live up to its true potential.”

I’ve had enough and jump up. “Soulless,” I say. “Grandpa hated all those giant monstrosities that block the view for everyone else in town. And you want to build another one on the place he loved?” The place I love. At that moment I’d continue to live in the van for the rest of my life if I had to, if it meant staying here. “I won’t let you. How can you go against his will like that?”

Uncle Oliver shrugs. His dark hair and hazel eyes are the same as his brother’s and my grandfather’s. The short, straight nose is the same as mine. But the look on his face has nothing to do with any of us. It’s pure avarice. Everything Grandpa was against.

“It was a request, not a stipulation, and it’s nothing to do with you. When the sale is complete, you’ll get whatever I deign to give you.”

Tears prick my eyes, but I’ll be damned if he sees me cry. “How can you do this? How can you go against everything he wanted? He gave you everything in life.”

He sighs and the contempt is gone from his eyes, leaving only pity. “Clarice, do you have any idea how much money this land is worth? You don’t. You can’t even guess, because you’re pathetic, like he was.” To my utter horror, he reaches over and rests his hand on my shoulder.

“What about all the people who come here?” I ask. “It’s the last public beach in the area.” I want to shrug his hand away, but maybe there’s still a chance to reach him.

“It’s never been a public beach,” he scoffs. “It’s always been my backyard that’s been allowed to be overrun with hordes of strangers.”

I grab his hand and grip it tight. “Please reconsider. Just…”

He shakes his head. “I’m meeting someone to discuss the sale today. You can stay here until the deal is official, or until your part of the life insurance comes through. Up to you.” He leans over and kisses my cheek and I’m too stunned to recoil. I watch as he walks away, but don’t really see him.

All I can see are construction cranes marring the skyline, diggers tearing up the pristine sand. Gates going up, blocking everyone, me included, from this place I love.

I blink away more tears as a big family unloads from a car, the kids racing ahead of their parents to get to the water. The mom and dad smile at me as they pass, promising to be back later for drinks. I smile mechanically.

“You’ll have to check out my jewelry too,” I call to them. “And get a massage! They’re great after swimming!”

They wave cheerfully and I sit back in the chair, pulling my legs up as if I can ward off what’s to come. There’s got to be something I can do to stop this, but for now, all I can do ishope to make enough money to buy dinner and maybe get some beading supplies.

Chapter 2

Brian

I don’t know why I bother scoping out the beachfront property that’s finally come up for sale. I don’t need to know what it looks like, because I’m sure it looks exactly like the beach that’s attached to my condo project next to it, and the resort on the other side of that.

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