“Maybe you’re different, but you’re also alike in more ways than you think. You need each other.” She set Sarah’s cell phone on the counter again and walked to the living room window. “Maybe I’m the only one who can see it, but I know the man my brother is beneath the bad-ass exterior. Even if he’s so determined to present that hard, intimidating side to the world.”
Sarah didn’t try to argue, because even though she knew Ian still had a dark side, he also had a good side. She’d seen it. She’d fallen in love with it. But it wasn’t enough anymore. Even if she could forgive what had happened eleven years ago, she still had to think about Emily.
Ian was a felon, and apparently he still ran with the criminal sort. What kind of mom willingly exposed her child to that?
Again she thought of the man in his shop the other day, the one Ian had warned her to stay away from. Kenzie couldn’t possibly know about the type of business her brother did or she wouldn’t be so supportive of setting them up again.
But even if there wasn’t the felony, there was more. There was always more.
I sure as hell don’t want any kids. His words from this morning rang sharp in her mind again. Had been resonating all day.
She’d made the right choice in not trying to stay eleven years ago. And she was making the right choice now. This wasn’t about forgiveness, this was about common sense.
Maybe Ian was the type of guy you slept with, but you sure didn’t keep him in your life. Unfortunately her heart was really bad at keeping that line in the sand drawn.
Sarah touched her friend’s shoulder gently. “Look, this topic is kind of heavy. Why don’t we go walk into town? Get an early dinner on the dock? It’s gorgeous outside.”
Kenzie stared out the window for a bit longer, seeming lost in her own thoughts. Almost unhappy.
Finally she turned and nodded. “Yeah, sure. That sounds good.”
They left the house and made the short walk into the adorable town of Coupeville where most of the businesses were on Front Street, right along the water.
Fortunately, their conversation stayed away from Ian now, and on light and neutral topics. Like the fact that Kenzie was taking online classes to get her paralegal degree. That little fact was somewhat of a surprise to Sarah. She’d never realized her friend harbored any interest in the legal field whatsoever.
They turned onto the wharf and walked out onto the structure that was over a century old. The historical wharf with the red building at the end was a well-recognized landmark to the town. So beautiful, rustic and with a fascinating history.
She remembered the locals telling how once, before the Deception Pass Bridge had been built, there had been a steamboat service from Seattle to the Coupeville wharf that had brought people to the island.
Even now, as she walked out on the old wooden boards next to Kenzie, she could visualize what it must’ve been like a century ago. But then, she’d always been fascinated by history and old photographs.
She was so busy reacquainting herself with the view that it took a moment to realize Kenzie had gone silent.
“Kenz? You okay?”
“Shit.” The word was almost a whisper, but it was thick with tension.
Following Kenzie’s gaze, she spotted the group of men walking up the plank onto the wharf from a dock that moored a bunch of boats.
“What’s going on? Who are they?”
Kenzie didn’t reply, just shook her head. Her jaw clenched and Sarah could’ve sworn her friend was considering jumping off the side of the wharf to avoid the inevitable confrontation.
“Kenzie McLaughlin,” one of the guys called out. He was tall and blond. Kind of preppy looking, and altogether too pretty for Sarah’s taste. “You’re still looking damn fine, my little Highland Hottie.”
The men he was with all snickered as they stared at Kenzie as if she were a prime cut of meat.
Jerkwads. All of them.
Sarah snuck another glance at Kenzie, wondering how she’d react. Just waiting for her friend to rip them to bits. But she wasn’t even looking at them as she increased her stride to pass them.
“Where you going, baby? Why don’t you come hang out on my boat for a few and we can have some fun.”
Their ensuing laughter irked Sarah, and she was tempted to spout off something she shouldn’t, but she bit her tongue. Fortunately the men kept walking.
At the end of the wharf, Kenzie nearly ran inside the building.
Sarah caught up to her. “Hey, are you okay?”
“Fine. Just craving coffee and food.”
“Umm. You’re not even going to tell me who those idiots were?”
“Well, you nailed it. They’re idiots.” Kenzie’s smile was hard though. “Let’s get a table okay? I need to eat.”