Chantilly reached out and put her hand over Noelle’s where it rested on the settee. “I understand the desire to run away, my darling. You know I do.” Yes. Noelle did know that. Chantilly had often referred to her monster of a husband. It was an open secret that he had abused her terribly, causing the injury that had put her in a wheelchair before he died. She’d inherited the beautiful property that had once belonged to the Calhouns, and she had turned it into a picturesque vacation spot for families. She’d never had one of her own, but now she was surrounded by them. “But,” Tilly said, patting her hand, “you ran from him as well, didn’t you?”
“I suppose,” Noelle said. “In a manner of speaking. But he needed the distance too. We discussed it and we agreed. Later, when I found out I was pregnant, I made the decision to stick with that agreement.”
“The terms had changed,” Tilly noted.
“Yes. They had. I was wrong, I guess.”
Tilly raised a perfectly arched brow. Noelle knew very well what it was in response to. I guess. “Does he want to know his daughter?”
“He wants to spend some time with her. I told him he could come along tonight.”
“And then?”
Noelle let out a small laugh. “I have no idea. I’ll hear the reason why he came here. And then I guess he’ll go back to Reno, where he lives.”
“I see.” There was a short pause, and Noelle looked at Chantilly to see that she was considering her as she tapped a nail to her lips. “This dress,” she said, her gaze moving down Noelle’s body. “Are you sure it’s only to inspire confidence?”
Noelle gave her a small eye roll, knowing what Chantilly was suggesting. “Yes. I mean, firstly, he’s angry with me. Secondly, any connection we ever had is based on . . . very unhealthy things. And as if that isn’t enough, he might be with someone for all I know. It didn’t exactly come up.”
“Ring?” she asked.
Noelle let out another small laugh. This woman was ridiculous, but she was so thankful for her. Her mother had been murdered when she was still a girl, and although she’d missed her over the years, she also knew she was very lucky to have both a friend and confidante in Tilly. A mother of sorts, but also a friend who she trusted implicitly. “No ring.”
Tilly took in a breath, looking satisfied. “Tilly,” Noelle warned. “Really. It’s so much more complicated than that. Complicated doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
“Hmm,” she hummed. “Okay, well, I’d like to say one more thing if I might.” She took Noelle’s hand again, leaning forward slightly. “I’m so very, very sorry for what happened to you, my darling. But mostly, I’m proud. What you did . . . escaping . . . recovering . . . from something so deeply evil. You are the strongest person I’ve ever known. Find happiness.”
“I have found happiness.”
“Find more. Go after it with gusto in whatever way you are able. You did not crawl out of that cage to live a timid life.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Evan saw them immediately—the feminine figure he’d know anywhere, still, even after all this time, holding the hand of the little girl. His little girl. The thought still made him dizzy. He’d spent the day attempting to organize his emotions, and he’d thought he had a handle on them, but one glance and the earthquake that had rolled under his feet when he’d first seen her was rumbling again, even if the magnitude was slightly less.
It was dark on the beach, but the moon was high and bright, and starlight was scattered across the sky. Noelle turned as he approached, and though he couldn’t quite make out her expression, he thought by the way she held her shoulders she might be nervous. Once he’d read her so well. Now . . . “Hi,” he said.
She gave him a small close-lipped smile. “Hi. How are you?”
“I’m fine. How are you?”
“Good. Thank you.”
There was an awkward pause, and then they both laughed, Evan running his hand through his hair. “Let’s start again. Hey, Noelle.”
“Hey, Evan.” She stepped aside to where Callie was looking in the other direction, out toward the ocean. “Callie, honey. You remember, Evan, right?”
Callie turned, giving him that same gap-toothed smile. “We met yesterday,” she said. “Have you seen baby turtles hatch before?”
“I haven’t,” Evan said. “But it sounds pretty cool.”