Barefoot on the Beach

KATLYN DUNCAN grew up in a small town in Massachusetts with her head always in the clouds. Working as a scientist for most of her adult life, she enjoyed breaking down the hows and whys of life. This translated into her love of stories and getting into the minds of her characters. Currently, she has published twelve books with HQ Digital and has ghostwritten over forty novels.

When she’s not writing, she’s obsessing over many (many) television series. She currently resides in Connecticut with her husband, kiddo, and adorable senior citizen dog (who will forever be a puppy at heart!).

Also by Katlyn Duncan

The Life After Trilogy: Soul Taken

The Life After Trilogy: Soul Possessed

The Life After Trilogy: Soul Betrayed

This Summer

This Christmas

Darkest Dawn

As You Lay Sleeping

Six Little Secrets

The Sisters’ Secrets: Rose

The Sisters’ Secrets: Reen

The Sisters’ Secrets: Pearl

Wrapped up for Christmas

Barefoot on the Beach

KATLYN DUNCAN

HQ

An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd.

1 London Bridge Street

London SE1 9GF

First published in Great Britain by HQ in 2020

Copyright © Katlyn Duncan

Katlyn Duncan asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

E-book Edition © April 2020 ISBN: 9780008364915

Version: 2020-03-25

Table of Contents

Cover

About the Author

Also by Katlyn Duncan

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Acknowledgements

Want more?

Author letter

Extract

Dear Reader …

Keep Reading …

About the Publisher

To J&J, “Finally!”

Chapter 1

All Renee Clarke wanted was to be alone to complete her work in peace. Waking up at the crack of dawn on a Sunday was her routine for claiming the private office at the co-working space in downtown West Cove.

But the tapping on the glass in front of her was hard to ignore. Renee focused hard on her screen, hoping Darby, the maintenance manager of the building, would move along. When she finally met his eye, he grinned with his large and brilliantly-white false teeth.

Renee removed her headphones and placed them on the wooden desk. The calming sound of waves from the ocean soundtrack faded away. The rush wasn’t anything compared to at home where she could hear the ocean roaring in real time, but it was bearable twice a week when she removed herself from the comfort of her small office in the corner of her bedroom. The days she chose to work in the office building downtown were after her father Marcus’s bocce nights at the local club, when he required more sleep. Renee didn’t mind the distance either since their two-bedroom home wasn’t exactly spacious, and at thirty-three years old, she needed her own space too.

“Good morning, Darby.”

“Good morning, Miss Clarke,” Darby said through the glass. He continued to smile, and Renee had no idea how long they’d have to make pleasantries. There were times he talked to her for the entirety of the time she was there and a few instances where it was a quick hello. It was the way of small towns. Normally, Renee wouldn’t have minded, but her working time outside the house was precious. Especially since she was paying by the day. “You know it’s a holiday weekend, right?”

Renee stifled a sigh. “I’ll be out by noon at the latest.” Most were preparing barbecue meals for their Memorial Day celebrations, but Renee already had that covered. Her fingers tapped over the paper planner open next to her laptop. Shaded areas of various colors blocked out all her activities.

“No rush, Miss Clarke. You have a good day now.”

“You too.”

With a wave, Darby shuffled away, leaving her in peace.

As she replaced her headphones, a vibration radiated up her fingers. With barely a glance at her phone screen, she shoved it in her bag. It wouldn’t bother her there. Everyone she cared about knew her morning work hours were from six to eleven, and she still had an hour to go.

Renee rolled her shoulders and inhaled a calming breath. The window across the hall was the only one facing the distant ocean, which was why she always chose that working space. It didn’t quite match up to the golden dunes and the relaxing waves from the Long Island Sound in front of her house, but the sliver of water in the distance and the ambient beach sounds in her playlists were enough to get the job done.

Once she had centered herself, Renee glanced at Cait’s grin staring back at her from the screen. Between projects, Renee had promised to help her sister set up a wedding website. It was a little over a month before she’d watch Cait walk down the aisle, and she couldn’t help feeling the ten-year gap between them like a lead weight in her stomach.

Renee hoped Cait was making the right decision. Twenty-three was so young, and most of the tourists Renee observed in town over the summer months were older than that and usually traveled in groups of singles. If Cait waited a few more years, she could be sure she wasn’t jumping into marriage too soon.

Jorden and Cait had been inseparable since high school, and Cait hadn’t ever strayed. Renee couldn’t help but worry that Cait had picked the only guy she had ever dated as her life partner.

Renee clicked the folder on the cloud drive, opening over two hundred pictures that Cait had shared. Some of the images were recent, but a lot of them were from years ago. Mostly Cait with Jorden and their friends, but a few sparked memories for Renee. Cait’s childhood was much more carefree than hers. Tendrils of a black cloud hanging over her own childhood blurred her thoughts. She tried to push them away the moment they appeared.

When brides contacted Renee to work on their website, she tried to capture the essence of their relationship as much as possible. For most, weddings were a one-time event, and she wanted to add to that perfect experience that all brides desired.

Renee enlarged a photo of Cait and Jorden.

Jorden stood over a foot taller than Cait. Cait’s fair hair was down, and the wind had paused its movement, splaying it over Jorden’s bare, brown chest. If she hadn’t known them since forever, she could have easily admired them on a billboard modeling swimwear. The photo captured the waves crashing over their feet. Jorden rested his cheek against the top of Cait’s head as she displayed her engagement ring for the camera.

Renee couldn’t count how many brides she’d worked with or seen on Instagram who had held photoshoots for their engagements, effectively making the “surprise” not so much. Cait was the exception and had one of the beachgoers take a picture the moment after Jorden had proposed. Her excitement beamed from her eyes and smile. Jorden’s matched hers in the most beautiful display of love she’d ever seen. Renee’s heart, hardened against marriage, softened slightly.

Another vibration radiated from the floor.

Renee peered at her bag, and her throat clenched. Twice in such a short amount of time? She broke her own rule and grabbed the phone. There were two missed calls from Cait. Cait was more the texting type so a phone call sounded alarm bells in her head. Her instincts pulsed through her as she dialed her sister.

Cait answered on the second ring. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes, of course.” Cait’s bubbly voice carried over the line.

Renee adjusted the phone against her damp palm. “You know I’m working.” Work time was coveted and carved out for only one purpose. Renee had always had an entrepreneurial spirit and could compartmentalize her life enough that nothing short of an emergency would get in the way.

“Guess who’s coming for a visit?”

“Who?”

“Guess!”

Renee glanced at the window, almost hearing time tick down until she had to leave.

“You know I’m no good at this.”

“Fine.” Cait dragged out the word. “Me! I’m coming to visit.”

“I already knew that.” Renee focused on her screen, uploading the engagement photo to the website. “The week before the wedding.”

“Not then. Today.”

Renee’s fingers paused on the touchpad. “What?”

“Catch up here, Nay.”

“Sorry, I wasn’t expecting— You’re coming here today?”

“I’m in an Uber on the way to you now.”

Renee blinked a few times, wondering if an entire month had sped by in a matter of minutes.

“Don’t worry. The GPS has crazy traffic on it. I don’t know how you live here. But I’ll see you soon.”

“Cait—” The line went dead. It didn’t make sense. After peeling the phone away from her face, she texted her father.

Cait is coming to West Cove?

Was this a joke? Why would Cait come for a visit, leave, and come back in the same month?

Without waiting for a response from her father, she quickly scrolled through the other webpages she had already made. Work distracted her, and she needed a minute to sift through her thoughts at the unexpected surprise. Besides, with Cait coming to West Cove, she’d want to see the website as soon as possible.

All the pertinent information was front and center on the main page: registry, address of the venue with an interactive map, and their hashtag #CaitGotJordened. She curled her lip, unsure if Cait would think it fit her plan. Plenty of weddings impressed her with their hashtags for guests to post on social media at all the events before and during the big day. Renee was still astonished by how people were so creative with them. Cait had insisted Renee pick theirs, and she hoped she didn’t disappoint after an hour of searching online for what others had done.

The perfectionist in her didn’t want to reveal the final product until it was complete, but Cait always got her way. These websites usually didn’t take longer than an hour or so, but Renee wanted it to be everything Cait dreamed. It was a small gesture, but for someone who didn’t believe in marriage, it was the only thing Renee could offer other than her services as a bridesmaid.

On the wedding party page, the only missing photo space was for her. Renee grabbed a picture of herself from Cait’s Instagram. It was of her and Cait from the last time Renee visited Arizona. It was two years ago, so Renee’s hair was in its highlighted phase but Cait looked stunning as usual. Renee doubted anyone would look too closely and notice she had gone back to her natural tawny. The night of the photo, Cait had forced Renee into a selfie at an outdoor restaurant. Even with poor lighting, the image captured their personalities. Cait with her over-the-top smile and Renee reserved as always. Granted, every time she went to Arizona, she was wary at every corner as she thought Cait might set up a surprise meeting with their mother.

Renee stopped herself there. Thinking of Isla wasn’t going to help her already agitated mood. She packed her laptop and checked around the desk to make sure she hadn’t left anything behind. Her stomach groaned.

Marcus hadn’t responded yet, so she texted him again. I’ll pick up lunch from TCP. See you soon.

Then she flipped over to the message chain she shared with Sadie.

I need a to-go order for three. Surprise me.

Seconds later, Sadie responded. Extra peppers, right?

Renee shook her head. Sadie took every opportunity to mess with her, especially her tastes in bell-shaped vegetables. But what were best friends for? Triple peppers.

You got it.

***

The Coffee Pot sat at the corner between a craft store and one of the only massive parking lots downtown. As it was only a few doors down from the co-working space, Renee tended to stop by there often, especially when Sadie was working. As she wasn’t much of a breakfast person—other than two cups of coffee before leaving the house—she always pushed her first meal closer to lunch.

The sun was almost at its peak, and the heat clung to Renee’s skin. The distance from the beach meant the constant breeze off the water didn’t offer the relief she needed to get through the warmer days. It was not even June yet, and the temperatures were already getting upwards in the eighties.

The glass front of the restaurant gave a clear view of the people inside. Renee didn’t recognize any locals, so at least her visit would be short. At this time of year, most wanted to talk about the tourist season, but Renee had to get home to Cait.

Sadie rushed to the window and slapped her hands on it, before leaning back and laughing. She hadn’t startled Renee, but the idea of the possibility gave Sadie the most satisfaction.

Renee laughed and shook her head. As kids, they had lived by the beach four doors down from each other until Isla had lifted Renee out of West Cove. During the pre-internet days, they had stayed in touch by writing each other letters. Renee had kept most of the letters from those dark eight years she had spent with her mother and Cait’s family. Cait had been a byproduct of her mother’s second marriage, which was the best part of the deal and had made it worth it for Renee.

When Renee moved back to West Cove after college, she and Sadie picked up where they had left off. Sadie’s parents had moved south for half the year, while Sadie remained in West Cove with her husband. As Renee settled once more into life in West Cove, the two friends’ lives had returned to a time where everything was perfect.

A couple walked out of The Coffee Pot, and Renee thanked them for holding the door before strutting inside. A rotating fan blew warm air into her face as she passed the counter filled with homemade desserts wrapped in plastic. Renee inhaled the scent of chocolate and cinnamon as she claimed her usual seat in the corner of the dining area. She had timed it perfectly as there were only two tables full. It was early enough that the breakfast crowd was gone, and the lunch patrons would arrive shortly.

Renee settled into her seat as Sadie plopped into the one across from her. Sadie blew a chunk of frizzy blonde hair that had escaped from her bun and wrinkled her freckled nose. Sunburned skin peeled from her cheeks. Sadie had moved away from the beach the moment it was possible. Her pale skin was never white for too long when the summers took over. Instead, a seasonal flush swooped in, and her avoidance of the beach intensified. “I thought taking care of three kids was hard. I forgot what tourist season felt like. This isn’t getting any easier.”

Renee grabbed the damp towel from her friend’s hand and wiped the table in front of her. “It’s not going to get easier, especially the weekends.”

“Every year it starts sooner.”

Renee nodded. The locals knew of the arrival of the season from the amount of traffic flooding I-95 each weekend. Unlike Sadie, Renee looked forward to the change. Only for three months out of the year, new faces appeared. There were new possibilities of people who could learn to love her hometown as much as she did.

“Your order will be right out,” Sadie said. “I have to admit I outdid myself. But I need to ask why three orders? Have you found summer love already?”

Renee knew the mocking about her summer flings would come up soon enough, but at least she had a better excuse for the third order. “Cait’s coming.”

“Yeah, in a month.”

“Today.” Renee checked her phone. “Anytime now.”

“Okay?” Sadie dragged the word out. “What’s that about?”

“No idea,” Renee said. “I don’t see the point in her coming to visit, leaving, then coming again for her wedding.”

“This wedding is going to be a disaster, isn’t it?”

“I hope not.” Renee couldn’t help internally agreeing, but she wanted to believe that Cait had grown out of her carefree nature as she got older. As a kid, Renee was there to stop Cait from crossing a busy road toward the next shiny distraction. Renee’s last visit at Cait’s was stressful enough as Cait had insisted they stay out all night and then had a fit on her neighbor’s porch wondering why she couldn’t get the front door open with her key.

“Well, at least you can stay out of most of it until the bachelorette. Where are they doing it anyway?”

“No idea,” Renee said. “I’m not involved with any of the planning for that party. Cait put that all on her friends.”

“And the rest of it? On Isla the Terrible?”

Renee shrugged. “I’m not involved.”

Sadie pressed her lips together.

Renee was desperate for a subject change. “Do you need anything for the barbecue tomorrow?”

Sadie grabbed her phone and opened her notes application. She was a compulsive list-maker. She had been since they were kids. “We could use some ice. Maybe an appetizer. Only if you have time.”

“Not a problem. I’m looking forward to it. I know Dad is too.”

“He loves any excuse for a party,” Sadie said.

Any excuse to be the life of the party. Once Renee had moved back home, her father had changed from a depressed divorcee into a happy-go-lucky sort. Renee supposed after years of living without his daughter that he was glad to have her home. It did prevent any conversation of her moving out. Renee never wanted to leave West Cove. She was adamant that Marcus would not relive the feeling of being let down and neglected after her mother left him all those years ago, dragging Renee along with her. He didn’t mind her living with him, and neither did she. For the time being, they were making up for the lost time.

A bell rang from the kitchen, and Sadie popped up from the seat to retrieve Renee’s food. When she returned, Renee kissed her friend on the cheek and headed to her car. Before getting inside, she dialed Cait’s number to update her location. If Renee timed it right, she should arrive home before Cait. The call went right to voicemail. Cait was probably on the other line—her sister rarely removed her gaze from the screen. She didn’t leave a message, knowing she’d see Cait soon enough.

***

Renee drove through town on autopilot. West Cove was a relaxing place all year round, the only disturbance being wedding and beach season; the bed and breakfasts, inns, and rental properties filled with new faces and personalities, all adding a sense of change to the local haunts. Renee knew where to go in town at what times to avoid the crush of people visiting the strip of locally independent stores and the shopping outlet by the highway.

As she drove out of the quaint downtown area, space opened up on either side of the road. Like everywhere, West Cove had some chain food restaurants, but Renee’s gaze drew toward the inn on top of the hill, which had gone through a renovation several years ago after a fire had almost burned it to the ground. The citizens of West Cove helped with money and time to restore it. Life poured from that building, and it was one reason she loved her hometown. It held history to her and the community.

The turn onto her street curved by the West Cove Country Club, where Marcus was a member and had been for most of his life. He was a legacy, yet Renee hadn’t quite taken that step to join. She had all the family benefits of attending events with her father, but none of the commitments.

Out of all the places in the world to get married, Cait had chosen there. Renee had been both shocked and pleased when Cait had told her the location of the wedding. Cait claimed that she connected with West Cove as much as Renee had, even without the years spent there. Renee’s life wouldn’t be interrupted by having to plan a trip to another location, though she would travel across the world to see her sister get married. Marcus’s contribution had been using his legacy within the club to secure the date for Cait’s wedding.

The bend in the road curved toward the beach, and her shoulders relaxed. The left side opened up to the seemingly endless world above rippling water, while houses stuffed against each other filled the right side. They crowded each other in a battle to have unobstructed ocean views. Her home was the seventeenth one on the dead-end street. They were far enough away from the public beach that they weren’t much affected by the bonfires and surge of tourists, but close enough to people-watch from the front patio during the lazy afternoons and evenings.

The pale blue cottage had been in their family before Renee was born. Renee spotted Marcus in his wooden rocking chair on the front porch and tossed him a wave. Her dad nodded his head as she pulled into the driveway, the familiar sound of rocks under the wheels signaling her arrival home.

The salt in the air clung to her nose as she inhaled deeply. Brandy, their thirteen-year-old chocolate Labrador, let out a lazy woof at her arrival. Renee lifted the bags from the passenger seat and climbed the steps with an infinite view of the water.

Brandy shuffled to stand up, fumbling with her unsteady paws. With a helpful bump from Marcus’s foot, she rose and met Renee’s hand in greeting. Her nose snuffled the bags of food.

Renee leaned the laptop bag against one of the columns and rubbed Brandy’s ears. “There’s a good girl.”

Renee glanced at her father, sipping from a steaming mug of coffee. The sun reflected against his glasses so she couldn’t get a read on him. “Don’t think you’re getting that greeting from me.”

It might have been funny the first few times he had said it to her in the past. “Hey, Dad.” She planted a kiss on his wrinkled cheek. His stubble scratched against her skin as he patted his hand against hers. His summer tan had already started from his days out playing bocce at the club, and soon enough, an unnatural bronze would settle in for the summer. “I wish you wouldn’t work on the weekends. I miss our Sunday mornings here.”