Page 9 of Seaside Hideaway

“I should probably head back,” Piper said as she finished her wine a few moments later. “Thanks. That was a nice way to end the day. And the week, really.”

Audrey nodded. “It must have been tough. Being back here.”

“Hm,” Piper said as she stood up. “It was. It was hard, but I think I got some closure too. I don’t think I fully accepted that she was gone until I stepped into the house and felt how empty it was.”

Audrey stood up, her heart aching for Piper’s loss. Without thinking, she reached out and placed a gentle hand on Piper’s arm. “I’m so sorry,” she said softly. “I still forget sometimes,” she added with a bit of a smile. “I think I’ll bring over some cut flowers and... I don’t know how I can still forget.”

Piper’s eyes met Audrey’s, a mix of gratitude and vulnerability in her gaze. For a moment, they stood there, connected by the shared memory of a woman who had meant so much to them.

“Anyway,” Audrey continued. “Thank you for the wine and for coming over.” She led Piper back inside and towards the front door, pulling it open.

As Piper turned to leave, she paused and looked back at Audrey. “Goodnight, Audrey.”

“Goodnight.”

As Piper walked down the path towards Lily’s house, Audrey leaned against the doorframe, watching her go. The evening had taken an unexpected turn, leaving her with more questions than answers, and Audrey tried to recall Lily telling her about her granddaughter, but Audrey was certain she would’ve remembered if she had.

7

Piper’s arms trembled, her muscles burning as she struggled to hold the ceiling fan above her head. Sweat trickled down her spine, making her tank top cling uncomfortably to her skin. The ladder wobbled beneath her feet, each tiny movement sending a jolt of panic through her body.

“Come on,” she hissed through clenched teeth, blowing a strand of hair out of her eyes. The wires tangled around her fingers, seeming to mock her efforts. Her heart pounded, a mixture of frustration and anxiety making her chest tight.

She should have done this while Ryan was here. He would have had this fan up in minutes, his experience making quick work of the installation, but she’d completely forgotten about it.

The creak of the door opening startled her, nearly causing her to lose her grip on the fan. Piper’s stomach lurched as she teetered on the ladder. She glanced over her shoulder, her breath catching in her throat as she saw Audrey standing in the doorway, a bouquet of vibrant flowers in her hand.

“Need a hand?” Audrey asked.

Piper swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. “Yeah, actually, I could use some help,” she admitted, trying to keep her voice steady despite the flutter in her chest.

“Sorry to just let myself in like that, but I saw you through the window.”

“It’s okay,” she said with a smile. “This probably wasn’t my best idea.”

Piper’s mind flashed back to the previous evening, when she and Audrey had shared a bottle of wine on the deck. In the soft glow of the sunset, Audrey had looked breathtaking, her wavy black hair catching in the fading light.

A wave of self-consciousness washed over her as she became acutely aware of her sweaty, disheveled state. She watched, transfixed, as Audrey set the flowers down and made her way over to the ladder.

As Audrey climbed up the opposite side of the ladder, Piper’s senses went into overdrive. She could smell the faint scent of Audrey’s shampoo, feel the heat radiating from her body in the small space between them.

“Hold the fan steady while I connect these wires,” Audrey instructed.

Their hands touched as they both gripped the fan, and the connection sent a shiver down Piper’s spine. She glanced up at Audrey, their faces only inches apart. The proximity made Piper’s heart race, her breath coming in short bursts.

Audrey’s voice was steady, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of something deeper as she got to work.

“We’re almost there,” Audrey said. “Just a few more seconds.”

As Audrey connected the final wire, her fingers grazed Piper’s hand again, lingering a moment longer than necessary. Piper’s pulse quickened, and she could see a similar tension reflected in Audrey’s eyes. Once the fan was secure, they both lifted their heads at the same moment, their faces close enough that Piper could see every fleck of gold in Audrey’s green eyes, every subtle line etched by time and laughter. The air between them felt charged, and for the first time, Piper wondered if she wasn’t the only one feeling something here.

“Thanks,” Piper managed to say, her voice a bit breathless.

“Anytime,” Audrey replied softly, her gaze holding Piper’s for a beat longer than necessary.

They carefully descended the ladder, but the tension lingered. “That wasn’t your first time.”

Audrey smiled. “No, it wasn’t. Growing up, I helped my dad a lot around the house.”

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