Pieces of Us - Carrie Elks Page 0,92

for that.” She gave a little laugh. “Always expect the unexpected.”

When the adjuster had gone, she’d hugged Lucas again and thanked him for all his help, before she walked slowly back along the beach toward the cottage. It was less than twenty-four hours since she’d run like crazy the other way, her eyes trained on the orange flames that were consuming the pier.

Now everything felt different. She was different. Sadder, more lost. All the things she thought she could count on were gone.

“You’re back. We’ve been looking for you,” Lydia said as Autumn walked through the door. She was sitting in the tiny living room, her dad opposite her as he worked on his laptop.

“I’ve been with the adjuster.”

“All this time?” Lydia’s eyes widened.

Her dad looked up. “He’s been thorough. That’s good. Did they say when you’ll get some payment?” he asked.

“Hopefully I’ll get something next week. That should allow me to contract the repairs out.” Autumn slumped in the empty chair, letting her head tip back. “But it will be months before we can open again. Maybe years.”

Her dad caught her eye. “You could use the money for something else.”

She blinked. “Like what?”

“Take the payment and come back to New York. Invest in some real estate there.”

With a jolt of frustration pulsing through her, Autumn caught his gaze. “I’m not leaving the pier in ruins. And I wouldn’t come back to New York, anyway. I’ve already told you that.”

He shrugged. “It was worth a try. But if you’re staying, then maybe I can help you.”

“How?” she asked warily.

“I’ve spoken to someone who has an empty restaurant about twenty miles from here. He’s open to renting it to your tenants on a temporary lease until they can move back to the pier.” He clicked on the laptop and turned it around to show her the screen. A low-level modern building with a backdrop of palms filled it. “What do you think? He’s agreed to charge no more than you were. It’s a win-win.”

For the first time that day she felt a shot of hope. “It’s a good idea,” she conceded. “Thank you. I’ll let the Delmonico family know.”

Lydia’s phone buzzed and she lifted it from the coffee table. “Oops, that’s Griff. I was supposed to tell him when you got back.”

“Griff has your number?” Autumn asked, as Lydia quickly typed a reply.

“Yeah. We swapped them this morning when he left to go to the pier. He’s there now, finishing up with his own insurance guy.”

“Is he okay?”

Lydia laughed. “That’s exactly what he asked about you. I feel like some kind of interpreter. How about you ask him yourself. He’s a ten minute walk away.”

She was right. With everything she’d done today, there was still unfinished business. This morning when they’d sat and told Pietro about the fire starting in his restaurant, Griff had squeezed her hand tightly as Autumn tried not to cry. Then he’d walked with her to the pier and sat down on the edge of the boardwalk with her until the adjuster arrived.

He’d been ever present in her day, yet there was so much they hadn’t said. Yesterday’s argument had felt as devastating as the fire in many ways. She’d believed in him. She’d thought he believed in her, too. And then his words had cut her like a knife.

Maybe the problem was she’d never believed in herself. She should have told him about the stupid drunken pier purchase as soon as they’d grown closer. He probably would have laughed, instead of seeing it as something she was hiding from him.

She should have told him about her dad and Mr. Carlsson, too. Not to mention Josh.

The truth was, she wasn’t used to having a relationship of equals. She’d had to fight to have her voice heard – first with her father, then with her ex-husband. So when she’d had an opportunity to show Griff her weakness, she’d been afraid he’d use it against her.

But that wasn’t fair. He’d never tried to be anything more than her friend, her lover, maybe more. She’d tarred him with the same brush she’d always used, and then look what happened.

She’d messed things up.

“Are you going or what?” Lydia asked, her eyes dancing.

Autumn stood and rolled her aching shoulders. “I guess I am.” She turned toward the door, then looked back at her father. “When are you going home?” she asked him.

“Tonight. Unless you preferred I stay. I can book another night at the hotel.”

“It’s okay. But thank you.” Her smile was