Toe the Line(2)

“I can’t believe this is half our house,” I muttered, my eyes wandering across the road to the ocean in the distance.

My grandmother had been ill, so we hadn’t traveled for the past few years, and it’d been a while since I’d seen the Remingtons. They, however, had been coming here consistently during the summers since their son was young. Archie had a ton of friends on the island, whereas I’d kept to myself or hung out with my family during the couple of times we’d been here previously. I wanted this summer to be different and planned to force myself to socialize, even if it killed me. It would be good practice for starting college at Boston University in the fall. Considering we now half-owned this property, it would be in my best interest to make some permanent friends, especially since there were a fair number of people who lived here year-round.

My heart pounded as we approached the front door. I was apprehensive about seeing Archie. I’d always had an unwanted crush on him, even though he and I had never really interacted. In fact, I didn’t like him much at all, and he’d never made an effort to get to know me. But now, under the same roof, we’d have no choice but to acknowledge one another.

The Remingtons’ SUV was parked outside, so they’d definitely already arrived. My dad used the key Archer had sent him to open the door, and I heard footsteps before I spotted a smiling Nora Remington.

“You made it!” She beamed. “Noelle! Oh my goodness—look at you. You’re so grown up.”

The last time Nora saw me, I was about fifteen. I was eighteen and a half now, so I’d certainly changed a lot since then.

“I’m ready for my tour,” my mother Amy said before I could formulate a response.

Archer Remington descended the stairs and patted my father on the shoulder. “How was the ride, Mark?”

“Uneventful,” Dad answered as he looked around the space.

“Where’s Archie?” Mom asked.

“He had some things to wrap up at the university, so he’s coming straight from school,” Nora answered. “He’ll be arriving tomorrow.”

Relief washed over me. I had the rest of the day to acclimate to my new surroundings in peace.

Mr. Remington looked over at me. “When did Noelle grow up?”

I shrugged and smiled shyly, looking down at my feet.

My dad smacked him on the arm. “You’d better have a cold beer waiting for me, old man.”

“Already have a cooler set up by the tennis court.”

“Ah…we’re wasting no time, are we?” My dad chuckled. As he followed Archer out back, I heard him say, “I trust you’re ready for me to kick your ass?”

Archer and Nora Remington were about a decade older than my parents. Nora was nearly forty when she had Archie, so she had to be over sixty now. My dad had been fresh out of law school when Archer became his mentor. Now my dad was a successful trial attorney in his own right. Both Dad and Archer would work remotely from the island this summer, with occasional trips if they needed to meet clients.

“Let me show you to your room, Noelle.” Nora smiled.

“I’d love that.”

As my mother ventured toward the kitchen, I followed Nora up the large staircase.

She opened the door to my room. “I think you have the best view in the house.”

The second-floor window did indeed provide a lovely view of the ocean across the road. I could hear the waves crashing in the distance and could even spot a lighthouse. Something told me I was going to sleep like a baby here.

“I’ll give you a chance to unpack,” Nora said. “Then you should come down for something to eat. You must be hungry.”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

My bedroom had a connected bathroom and a large closet. The white linens looked freshly laundered, and the room was decorated in a nautical motif. A weathered wooden anchor hung on the wall, and there was an accent chair with thick navy and white stripes in the corner.

Once I got most of my things unpacked, I joined my parents and the Remingtons downstairs. Nora had prepared a charcuterie board with smoked salmon, olives, and an assortment of crackers and cheeses.

While the parents lingered at the table after we noshed, I decided to take a walk and scope out the area. I’d planned on jogging while I was here, so I wanted to decide on a route before tomorrow morning.

I walked for a bit but ended up stopping at a cute boutique clothing store down the road. A bell dinged as I entered.

I was perusing the selection of beachy wear when a girl around my age came up to me.

“Can I help you find something?” she asked.

“Oh no.” I shook my head. “I was just browsing.”

“Are you a tourist?” she asked.

“My family just bought a house here, so I guess I’m not exactly a tourist anymore, although I’ll only be here in the summertime.”

“Where’s your house?”

“On Shady Oak Drive.”

“Nice.” She paused a moment then asked, “Is it you and your parents or…husband?”

“No husband.” I laughed. “I’m only eighteen.”

“I figured you were close to my age. I’m nineteen.”

I nodded. “It’s just my parents and me. We bought the house together with some family friends. Do you know the Remingtons?”