Page 44 of Somewhere You Belong

I smile, understanding completely. “I understand that, but honestly, you’re the first person I’ve met here that hasn’t made me feel like an outsider, so I appreciate you being so forward. Lord knows I wouldn’t have been.”

Astrid chuckles. “Well that makes me feel a little bit better.”

“Am I done?” Her son, Bentley, whines as she releases him.

“I still need to get your face.”

“Ugh!” He rolls his eyes and I fight to hold back my smile. “You know I’m old enough to do this on my own, right?”

“Yes, but you won’t be as thorough as I will, and trust me, you’ll thank me later in life when you don’t have melanoma. Or wrinkles.” She applies zinc under his eyes so he looks like a lifeguard and ushers him off.

“Did you rub it all in?” he shouts as he runs off toward the water.

“Totally!” she calls after him, and then takes a seat back in her chair next to mine, waving her hand to the side. “He’ll never know.”

“Ruthless. I love it.”

She laughs and then takes a sip from her drink. “Anyway, how are things going with the house?”

“The list that I made is deceptively short considering the amount of work that needs to be done. But Penn has completely stripped the downstairs bathroom and will start restoring it this weekend. Then we’re going to paint, restore the hardwood floors, replace light fixturesand outlets, refinish the kitchen cabinets, and the last thing is to replace the roof.”

She nods in understanding. “That’s quite the list, but if there is anyone who can accomplish it, it’s him. He’ll probably be there after the soccer game on Saturday then.”

“Soccer game?”

“Yeah. He and Dallas coach Bentley’s soccer team.”

Seriously? The man coaches his employee/friend’s son’s soccer team?

How am I supposed to keep him at arm’s length when I learn these new pieces of information about him that don’t make him sound like a neanderthal?

“He did mention he wouldn’t be able to come by until Saturday afternoon, so I guess that makes sense now.”

“Yeah. It means a lot that those two give up some of their time to coach the team. Ever since Brandon died, I know Bentley has felt like he’s missing out on things that his dad should be here for. Brandon used to coach him when he was home—not on deployment, I mean.”

I nod in understanding, but I can sense Astrid becoming emotional as her thoughts turn to Brandon. “Hey, we don’t have to talk about it,” I say as I reach out and place my hand on her arm on instinct.

Astrid stares at the ocean. “It’s okay. It’s just crazy how sometimes I feel at peace about it, and others it takes me by surprise and overwhelms me. It must be because the veterans’ dinner is coming up.”

“Veterans’ dinner?”

She nods. “Carrington Cove has a dinner every year to honor those that have served or are still serving in the military. Since we’re so close to the Marine base, Camp Lejeune, many veterans live here or come here for treatment after returning from deployment. Brandon and I used to go to the dinner together every year.” Her eyes cast right as we watch the kids ride waves into the shore on their boogie boards. “I didn’t go the first year after he died. But then when I went the next year, Penn stayed by my side the entire time.” She sighs at the memory.

The demanding part of me that always seeks answers wants to know more about their dynamic. But the part of me who is trying to make a friend here accepts defeat for now and decides not to push.

She clears her throat and then she twists rapidly in her seat, her eyes widening as she stares at me. “What ifyoucame with me this year?”

“Me?” I ask, pointing to my chest.

“Yes! It will be fun! We get to dress up, have a few drinks. There won’t be any kids,” she mumbles out the side of her mouth. “Penn will probably be tied to his mom this year, so I’ll need a friend.”

I can’t help but grin at her candidness. But then trepidation sinks in. “I don’t know, Astrid. I don’t know anyone really. I feel like everyone will wonder why I even came. I’ll stick out like a sore thumb.”

“No, I think it will do the opposite. Help people in town see that you’re getting involved and supporting the community.”

“But I don’t live here, Astrid…”

“Hate to break it to you,friend,” she teases, “but you own a home in Carrington Cove now. That means youarea member of this community, at least until your house is ready to sell. So why not see everything we have to offer? I mean, I know the veterans’ dinner isn’t a Vegas night out, and to be frank, it will probably be a little depressing at times. But it’s important to the people here, and I think it would mean a lot to them if you were there.”

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