Page 5 of Deep Waters
Anya had never even met Simon. Violet, Zach’s younger sister, knew him, but only in the vague way of younger siblings. Simon joined the Air Force at eighteen. She’d only been fifteen. Like Anya, Lucy moved to San Juan Island after Simon left for the service. Neither Anya nor Lucy had ever pressed hard about my absentee boyfriend, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t pity me now. Or be angry.
Anya and Violet walked toward me from town. They lived together in a house up the hill not too far from Violet’s shop, the Salty Pantry, and Anya’s yoga studio. While Anya was petite and blonde, Vi was taller, with wavy brown hair. Both were beautiful. Anya radiated calm energy. and Vi, an energy that made me feel a million years old and simultaneously envious of her enthusiasm for life.
“Hey,” I greeted them from my seat at the picnic table.
Anya and Violet claimed the bench across from me, Anya grinning broadly. “It’s gorgeous today. We still on to hike this weekend? It looks like the weather’s going to cooperate.”
I nodded. It’d become one of my favorite things: hiking with the girls on Saturdays.
Lucy slipped up behind Anya. She sported a shirt claiming THE HORRORS PERSIST, BUT SO DO I. Black fringe framed her heart-shaped face and delicate cheekbones. Black eyeliner completed the goth-art look. Perfectly appropriate, since she ran the glass studio in town. Her art was ethereal and delicate, but Lucy herself looked tough enough to chew glass without turning a hair.
“What are we talking about?” She took her spot to my right.
“Hiking,” I answered.
“I’m in.” She pointed at Anya. “But only if there’s none of that herbal tea crap.”
“Herbal teas are delicious,” Anya protested.
“Not at freaking eight on a Saturday, they’re not,” Lucy grumbled.
“I’ll pick up coffee at Harbor Brews,” I said.
Lucy dipped her chin. “Works for me. Are you going to be able to hike with us much this summer?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Had Lucy already heard my news? I couldn’t imagine my friends kicking me out of our hiking group for over-hyping a relationship, but I hadn’t exactly been truthful with them. Or anyone.
“Aren’t you moving into Jia’s house soon to watch the kids?” Lucy asked.
“Oh. That.”
Jia was my cousin Jordan’s widow. He’d drowned in a cove on the south end of the island under suspicious circumstances earlier in the spring, leaving his wife and two small children behind. Jia hadn’t been able to get relieved from her upcoming coast guard deployment, so I stepped in, offering to watch the house and kids while she was away.
I felt at home with Jordan’s family, thanks to Dawkins barbecues and holidays. Sticking with Tae and Hana at family events meant I could avoid my dad’s boasting over my brother’s accomplishments and my sister-in-law’s pointed questions about when Simon and I would marry and start a family.
Spending quality time with the kids during Jia’s deployment was the only bright spot in a terrible situation. But even that felt wrong, like I was benefiting from tragedy. Jordan wasn’t perfect, but he was still gone, and he deserved to be missed.
“I have two more weeks before Jia deploys.”
“You could always bring the kids with you when we go hiking,” Vi pointed out.
“Maybe,” I said doubtfully. Even if Tae and Hana were born on the islands, I wasn’t sure about dragging a grieving six- and ten-year-old around. Then again, getting out of the house might be good for them. “Zach might be willing to watch them.”
Violet wrinkled her nose. “I still can’t believe Zach is going to play house with you.” She shook her head. “Of all my brothers, you picked him? When I had friends over growing up, he’d escape. Drew would let us style his hair or practice makeup, but Cole and Zach wanted nothing to do with little girls.”
“He volunteered.” I grimaced. “But he may be reconsidering.” I hadn’t asked if he’d still help out after Simon and I lied to him.
“Everything okay between you two?” Lucy asked, picking up on my sudden tension.
I took a deep breath, blowing it out slowly. “He might be a little pissed at me right now. Simon and I are officially done.”
“Good,” Lucy bit out. “I never liked him.”
“You never met him,” I pointed out.
“Exactly.”
Anya covered my hand with hers, sympathy clear in her expression. “I’m sorry, Rae. Are you okay?”
