Page 5 of Seaside Hideaway

The open road stretched before her, and Piper rolled down her window, letting the warm breeze tousle her hair. About halfway through the journey, Piper decided to take a detour, craving the scenic coastal route for the final stretch.

She turned to Natalie. “Can you call James and tell him I’m taking the scenic route?”

“Sure.”

As she wound her way west, the landscape transformed dramatically. Grassy hillsides yielded to rugged cliffs, and suddenly the vast expanse of the Pacific stretched out beside her, glistening in the sun. Natalie put on her favorite playlist for the rest the journey, and once again, it got Piper thinking how lucky she was to have Natalie. Piper felt so safe having her with her, but it was never in a stifling, overprotective way, and the fact that they’d developed an easy friendship that had strengthened over the years was an added bonus.

Piper wasn’t even sure that she needed to bring her whole security team, but Natalie pointed out that she’d more than likely need people helping her whether it was painting or bringing in new furniture or getting new floors. And anytime anyone from outside their well-insulated world needed to be involved, it was a risk, so Natalie convinced her that they might as well do the work, and while they were there, they could install a security system that would allow Piper to go on her own in the future.

It wasn’t until Piper approached Morro Bay, that a real wave of emotions washed over her. The quaint coastal town held so many memories, both cherished and painful. She hadn’t even made it back for her grandmother’s funeral, and the guilt of that alone still gnawed at her, nevermind all of the time they could have spent together if Piper had made the effort to come out here, but she’d allowed the demands of her career to keep her away.

The beach house came into view, its weathered cedar shingles and wraparound porch the same as Piper remembered it.

Piper parked the car and sat for a moment, her hands gripping the steering wheel, while Natalie got out. A part of her longed to walk through that door and find Lily waiting, ready with a warm hug and a mug of chamomile tea. She could almost picture it, and the thought of it was enough to cause her eyes to water.

Taking a deep breath, Piper stepped out of the car. The salt-tinged breeze whipped through her hair as she made her way up the path flanked with flowers, a vibrant mix of pinks, purples, and yellows.

Ryan and James pulled up behind Piper’s car, and Natalie was directing them as soon as they got out. “Full search of the house has to be done.”

“Nat, it’s fine,” Piper said, sliding her hand into her pocket to pull out the key to the front door. “No one’s going to have been here.”

Natalie opened her mouth and closed it again. “Okay, we’ll start out here and figure out where to put the security cameras.”

“Thanks,” Piper said.

Piper slid the key into the lock, her hands shaking a little as she turned it. The door swung open, and the familiar scent of her grandmother’s home, a mix of lavender, old books, and the faint saltiness of the ocean breeze surrounded her.

She stepped inside, her footsteps echoing on the hardwood floors. The living room was just as she remembered it: cozy and inviting, with plush couches and bookshelves filled with well-loved novels. Memories of countless afternoons spent curled up with a book, listening to her grandmother’s stories, filled her mind, and they were so real, that Piper almost couldn’t believe that her grandmother really wasn’t here.

But the stillness served as a stark reminder of her loss.

Piper made her way through the house, pausing in the doorway of her grandmother’s bedroom, a lump forming in her throat. The room still held Lily’s essence, from the soft pastel colors to the vintage furniture she had lovingly collected over the years.

Piper found herself drawn to the kitchen. The large windows overlooking the garden allowed sunlight to stream in, casting a warm glow on the white cabinets. As she approached the window, something caught her eye.

At first, Piper thought she was seeing things, but as she blinked and looked again, there was no mistaking it. A dark-haired woman was working in the garden, her back turned to the house as she tended to the flowers.

Piper’s brow furrowed in confusion. Who could be in her grandmother’s garden?

Curiosity getting the better of her, Piper made her way to the back door and stepped outside.

As Piper approached the woman, she called out, “Excuse me, what are you doing here?”

The woman stood up from her crouched position, brushing dirt from her hands onto her jeans. As she turned, Piper was immediately taken aback.

The woman had striking green eyes that seemed to sparkle in the sunlight, contrasting beautifully with her wavy black hair that fell just below her shoulders. Piper found herself momentarily speechless as she took in the sight of this gorgeous stranger standing in her grandmother’s garden.

The woman offered a warm smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “I’m Audrey. I live next door.”

Piper blinked, trying to regain her composure, and then a hint of a smile came to her lips. Usually, when people met her, they were starstruck, but this woman showed no signs of recognizing who Piper was. She couldn’t even remember the last time that had happened.

But now, Piper was the one in danger of making a fool of herself if she didn’t stop staring and start speaking.

Before Piper could find her words, Natalie appeared at her side, placing a protective hand on the small of Piper’s back. “Everything okay out here?” Natalie asked, her eyes darting between Piper and the stranger.

Piper nodded, finally finding her voice. “Yeah, everything’s fine. This is Audrey. She lives next door.”

Piper fully took in the garden now, and she remembered the flowers lining the path on the way in, but she hadn’t put two and two together. Of course, someone had to be doing all this. The place should have been completely overgrown after two years of neglect.

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