Page 100 of Beach Vibes

“Why not?” Orchid asked.

Beth smiled at him. “I’m fine with it. I love a good photo album journey.”

Orchid cheered, then pulled one off the shelf and hurried to the sofa. She set it on Beth’s lap.

“This is the story of me!”

There were pictures of a very pregnant Valonia, then Orchid as a newborn. Beth wanted to linger over the former, but Orchid flipped the pages before she could do much more than glance at the images. There were photos of all the usual events. Atlas went next, then Magnolia. Each album was a little longer than the one before. Dex helped Linnie get the album from her room so Beth could see the story of her life. When she saw a very pregnant and scared Jana, her heart went out to her friend. She’d been so alone back then. Teddy and Valonia had been her only lifeline, and then she’d lost her sister-in-law.

“One more,” Orchid said when Beth had finished.

She took the album, but before she could open it, Teddy was hurrying toward her. “You don’t have to look at that.”

She saw the two names etched on the front and immediately knew this one had nothing to do with the kids and everything to do with Teddy and Valonia’s love story.

“It’s our mom,” Orchid told her.

Magnolia sat next to Beth. “She was really beautiful. Everyone said so.”

Beth looked at Teddy. “It’s okay.” She opened the album.

The pictures were stunning. A very young Valonia on what Beth would guess was an early date with Teddy. They barely looked twenty, but were probably a couple of years older. There were candid shots at the beach, a couple of ski trips, then a formal engagement portrait.

Magnolia offered a running commentary, as if she’d been at all the events, but no doubt her information came from having been told the same stories over and over again.

There were pictures of the wedding and a tropical honeymoon. There were Christmases and birthdays, pregnancies and births. Then Beth turned a page, and there was only the program from her funeral. An abrupt ending to a life cut short.

“Thank you for showing me all the pictures of your mom,” she told the kids. “I feel like I know her better.”

Dex pulled a couple of books out of the bookshelf. “I’m in the mood for a story. Who wants me to read?”

“Me! Me!”

The children shifted their attention from the album to where Dex was holding up different books.

“I want lots of voices,” Linnie said. “Do the one about the wolf and his hat.”

In less than a minute, the mood had shifted, and the four children were sitting in front of Dex while he half read, half acted out the story.

While his friend entertained, Teddy quietly put the albums away, then took a seat next to Beth. He put his arm around her, and she leaned against him, breathing in the scent of him.

Getting involved with him was complicated, she thought. All those lives intertwined, all the grief the family had dealt with. She was unequipped to deal with everything the kids were going through, but in her heart, she knew she wanted to try. Whatever was happening between her and Teddy, it created the most powerful emotions she’d ever felt.

Worry tried to creep in, but she pushed it away. Rick had done what he’d done, but he’d learned his lesson. She knew he was sorry to have come so close to losing what was most important. They were all moving forward, and everything would be fine.

She stayed through the bedtime ritual. Once all the bedroom doors were closed and Dex had left, she smiled up at Teddy.

“That was intense, but in a good way. Thanks for including me.”

She had more to say. She was going to mention coming over in the morning if he wanted, and that maybe they could all go out to breakfast or something, but she got caught up by the fire burning hot and bright in his eyes.

“I know what I said,” he told her, his voice thick with passionas he cupped her face in his hands. “That it was too soon for you to sleep over. I still don’t want them to know, but I need you, Beth. My door has a lock. Could you stay for another hour?”

Passion swamped her, making her knees weak. He hadn’t even kissed her, but she was already ready to take and be taken. She wanted his hands, his tongue. She wanted his body moving in and out of hers.

“I can stay,” she whispered. “For however long you want.”

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