Page 8 of Seaside Hideaway

“Thank you. You didn’t have to” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. “Why don’t we sit out on the deck and share it? It’s such a beautiful evening.”

“Sure. That sounds great.”

They made their way outside, Audrey acutely aware of Piper’s presence behind her. On the deck, Audrey busied herself with opening the wine and fetching glasses, grateful for the distraction.

As they settled into the comfortable chairs, the sun was just beginning to set. The sky was a stunning mix of orange and pink. Audrey poured the wine, the rich burgundy liquid splashing softly into the glasses. She handed one to Piper, their fingers brushing briefly in the exchange. The contact, however fleeting, sent a small jolt through Audrey’s system.

Audrey took a sip of wine, letting its smooth, rich flavor coat her tongue. She couldn’t help but be impressed. “This is delicious,” she said, nodding appreciatively. “You have excellent taste.”

Piper’s smiled as she brought her glass to her lips and took a sip. “It’s one of my favorites,” she said, her voice warm. “I’m glad you like it. I didn’t know what you’d prefer, but I figured you can’t go wrong with a good Cabernet.”

“Well, your instincts were spot on,” she replied, raising her glass in a small toast. “To good taste.”

Piper smiled, clinking her glass against Audrey’s. “To good taste,” she echoed, her eyes meeting Audrey’s over the rim of her glass.

Piper leaned back in her chair, her gaze drifting towards the setting sun. “It’s so quiet now,” she said softly. “I didn’t realize how much I’d gotten used to all the noise.”

Audrey nodded, watching Piper’s profile in the fading light. “It does feel a bit strange,” she admitted. “I kept expecting to hear hammering or sawing today.”

Piper’s gaze shifted from the sunset to Audrey, a hint of vulnerability in her eyes. “It’s almost too quiet now,” she admitted, her voice soft. “I found myself missing the company, actually. That’s partly why I came over. I hope that’s okay?”

The confession caught Audrey off guard. She took a sip of wine to hide her reaction, savoring the rich flavor as she gathered her thoughts. “Of course it’s okay,” she finally said, offering Piper a warm smile. “I’m glad you did.”

“I wasn’t sure if I’d be intruding,” she confessed. “But after all the noise we put you through, I figured the least I could do was bring over some decent wine.”

Audrey chuckled, raising her glass in a small salute. “Well, mission accomplished on that front.” She took another drink. “So,” she began, aiming for a casual tone, “Now that the renovations are done, what’s next? Are you heading back to...?”

Piper took a thoughtful sip of her wine before answering. “Actually, I’m planning on staying for a few weeks,” she said, her blue eyes meeting Audrey’s. “In the long term, I want to use this place as a vacation home, but right now, I just need some time away from... Everything.”

Audrey nodded, processing this information. Her mind raced with questions she wasn’t quite bold enough to ask. What about Natalie, the woman who had been here during the renovations? Why had she left? Were they not together?

“That sounds nice,” Audrey said instead, keeping her tone light. “It’s a beautiful place to get away from it all.” It was exactly how Audrey had felt when she’d come here looking for a place to buy. It had felt so different from San Diego, and it was somewhere that she could see herself starting over.

Piper nodded, her expression softening. “It really is. I’m looking forward to just... Being here. No distractions, no obligations. The last week has been intense. Physically, but mentally too. It was a challenge trying to find the right balance with the renovations. I wanted to honor my grandmother’s memory, but also make the place my own.”

Audrey’s heart skipped a beat, her wine glass frozen midway to her lips. “I’m sorry, did you say your grandmother?” The words tumbled out before she could stop them, her mind reeling with the implications.

A warm flush crept up her neck as the pieces clicked into place. The resemblance was there, now that she looked closer. They had the same kind eyes, that infectious smile and warmth about them.

Her stomach twisted with a mixture of embarrassment and something else she couldn’t quite name. She’d been assuming Piper was just here to flip the property. But Lily’s granddaughter?

“I... I didn’t realize,” Audrey managed, her voice barely above a whisper.

“She left me the house when she passed away,” Piper said softly. “I’ve been meaning to come out here sooner. And well...” Piper took a drink. “I’ve been meaning to visit for a few years now. I’d always assumed that she’d be here.”

Audrey felt a sudden pang in her chest as she caught the subtle tremor in Piper’s voice. The sadness in those words was unmistakable, raw and vulnerable. She watched as Piper’s gaze drifted towards the horizon, her fingers absently tracing the rim of her wine glass.

Audrey set her glass down, her mind reeling. “I miss her too.” She swallowed down the lump in her throat. “But I had no idea that’s who you were.”

“Sorry, I just assumed you knew. If you were close enough to her to keep taking care of her garden.”

Audrey shook her head. “No. We talked about a lot of things over the years, but family? That was always a topic she seemed to avoid.”

A shadow passed over Piper’s face, a mixture of sadness and understanding. “That doesn’t surprise me,” she said softly. “Things got complicated with our family.” Piper’s eyes met Audrey’s, a wistful smile playing on her lips. “I’ve been lucky to have friends that are just as good as family,” she said, her voice warm with affection. “I don’t know what I would have done without them this past week.”

Audrey felt a sudden shift in her perspective, like puzzle pieces falling into place. The easy camaraderie she’d observed between Piper and Natalie when Audrey was coming home for a shower between jobs or when she’d finished her day and drove by Lily’s house, the shared laughter and casual touches – it wasn’t romantic intimacy. They were just friends. She took a sip of wine to hide the rush of emotions that threatened to show on her face.

“You are lucky,” Audrey said, her voice slightly hoarse. She cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. “It’s important to have people like that in your life.”

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