Anxious Hart

Chapter Five

Pulling up the familiar gravel drive, I placed my SUV in park and turned off the engine. Staring at the home nestled along 1111 Hide A Way Drive on the outskirts of Boston, I could hear the crash of the waves and the call of gulls through my closed windows. Even though it was mid-morning, the sun had not burned through the clouds yet, leaving an ominous gray tone to the day.

It seems fitting, I mused. Overcast to accompany funeral plans for a loved one.

I grabbed my phone from the center console, noticing a missed text from Becky. She said that she was running errands with her daughter for the day, but Grandpa’s lawyer should be here to let me into the house. Glancing around, I didn’t see any other cars parked in the drive or nearby. I scanned her text a second time, wondering if I overlooked any details in her message. Becky’s text was vague and did not provide any additional details. No names or contact information for the lawyer, much less a time to expect their arrival.

Letting out an exhausted sigh, I laid my head against the back of the car seat. Normally I preferred a little more organization, but given the rollercoaster my life had been the last few days, I was happy to have a moment to breathe. Plus, I still knew where the spare key was hidden.

I stepped out of my car, waking Riley who had been passed out in the backseat. He eagerly jumped out of the vehicle, ready to explore new territory as I made my way to the back of the building.

My childhood home belonged on a postcard. It was the iconic Cape Cod Americana dream home, standing tall with traditional white siding and a wood shake roof. Navy blue shutters framed each window. The front door was a bold and welcoming red with an American flag flying near the front step, a tribute from Grandpa to his fallen comrades. There was an attached three car garage. The perfectly manicured lawn, complete with Grandma’s rose garden, was framed with a white picket fence. Behind this incredible house was the beach and a horizon of blue as far as the eye could see.

As I made my way to the back deck, I admired the great care Becky had taken to the roses. My grandmother had passed five years ago and the garden was just as pristine as it was under her care. Grandma had a gift with plants, a gift I could never master. While I admired her green thumb, we would joke about my “black thumb” and my ability to kill a cactus.

Maybe it was because Becky was a healer. Being a nurse and caretaker, she has a certain set of natural abilities that I do not possess. Becky is incredibly patient, loving, and kind with the right amount of sass. She was ideal to keep Grandpa in his place in my absence, making sure the old man didn’t get in too much trouble and care for his health over the years.

Once I reached the deck, I began looking for the spare key. No one else knew about this key, because I had planted it when I started sneaking out in my teen years. My grandparents never knew, and certainly not Becky. Just me…and one former friend.

Pushing the thought to the side, I walked over to the window on the far edge of the deck. There was a little space in the shutter where I was able to slide a key for safekeeping. It was secure and safe from the weather as long as the shutter remained secured to the house.

Running my finger into the opening, nothing was there. Confused, I looked into the space. Empty. I began checking other spaces within the shutter, the window frame, the ground, but there wasn’t any sign of the spare key.

Stepping back with a furrowed brow, I felt frustrated. I knew these were the original shutters. This didn’t make any sense.

As I stood there pondering my dilemma, a familiar voice whispered near my ear, almost scaring the soul out of my body.

“Lose something?”

Spinning around, I my mouth instantly dropped open. Walking into my past, I knew I was going to dredge up old memories and possibly run into people I had successfully been dodging the past 18 years.

I just was not expecting such a bittersweet reminder to hit me so soon.

“Zack.” I forced my voice to remain level as I gave him a cool stare. Brushing a few loose strands of hair behind my ear, I silently cursed the blush I could feel creeping on the edge of my cheeks as I was determined to stand my ground.

Zack Perrin stood a few inches taller than me. He was the epitome of the boy next door…perfect brown wavy hair, twinkling ocean blue eyes, incredible smile. He had grown a beard since we had last met. I could tell he was in great shape physically, even under his business attire with his hands casually shoved in his pockets.

Yes, Zack would always have the boy next door charm, because growing up, he was that boy next door. He was my best friend. He was my rock through my darkest days of teenage angst, and I was his.

But that was a long time ago.

Taking a step towards me, Zack stood only inches from me. He looked down at me, a small smirk playing at the corner of his lips. The scent of his cologne hit me as it mixed with the salty sea breeze. I narrowed my eyes, debating if I should wait for him to speak or just walk off.

Zack raised his closed hand. Then he exposed the spare key before my face with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

“I should have known.” I shook my head in frustration and snatched the key from his grasp. Storming off, I began to make my way around the house to the front, Zack on my heels. “No one else knew about that key. Of course, it’s Zack and his pranks.”

“Oh Claire, you’ve missed me and you know it,” he teased, skipping into step with me.

“Still so sure of yourself, I see?” I jabbed, reaching the front step.

“With you? Always.”

“I see your self-assurance is still in-tact.”

“I like to think of it as my irresistible charm.” He smirked and leaned against the front doorframe, winking at me.

I shot him a glare as I jammed the key into the lock, forcefully opening the door. Attempting to slam the screen door behind me, Zack stopped it with his foot, following me into the house. “Oh, please come in,” I bow sarcastically, making him scoff.

“I’ve been here more than you have. Recently, anyway.” He was following me into the entryway, rolling up the sleeves of his button up shirt. I couldn’t help but notice a few tattoos on his forearms as he adjusted the sleeves.

“Yeah, well, I had to tie up a few ends,” I mumbled, falling into one of the deep cushion chairs of the living room. Placing my elbow on the arm rest, I cupped my forehead in the palm of my hand. I wasn’t sure if it was the hours on the road or surprise visit from Zack, but I could feel the tension building in my temple.

Closing my eyes, I took a few deep breaths, praying away a migraine. Stress is a beast, especially when I forget to care for myself and relax. Driving 22 hours in two days was not the ideal choice either.

I felt a tap on my wrist. Peeking through the corner of my eye, I was greeted with a glass of water.

“Here, take these.” Zack extended his closed hand to me after I took the water. He gave me a few pills, which I took without argument.

Zack moved across the room and positioned himself on the couch opposite of me. He watched me finish the glass of water in silence, his brow slightly furrowed. The room was silent with the exception of the waves outside and the ticking of the grandfather clock on the fireplace mantle.

Once I finally finished the water, I placed the glass on the end table. “Thank you,” I said, my voice a little hoarse as I leaned back into the chair, closing my eyes again.

“You still get migraines.” It wasn’t a question, but more of an accusation.

“Thank you, Captain Obvious.” I lazily saluted him without opening my eyes.

“You should take better care of yourself, Claire.”

“We take what life hands us, Dad.”

“I’m serious.”

I opened my eyes, tilting my head at him. “Is there a reason you are here?”

He straightened in his seat, eyeing me. “I’m here for you.”

Shooting upright in my seat, I raised my brow at him. “For me?”

He nodded.

“Why the hell are you here for me?” I scoffed.

I could see him try to hide the slight pain by my question. It definitely came across harsher than I intended. But clearing his throat, Zack pushed forward.

“Well, I figured you could use a friend,” he began as he rose to his feet. “I can see I was pretty spot on, too.”

I narrowed my eyes at him before pulling at my chambray button down shirt. I had paired it with some black skinny ankle pants and sandals. My long brown hair was in a ponytail, a few stray hairs loose from the wind. Makeup had been nonexistent the past few days since I would just cry it off anyway. I knew my eyes were puffy and tired from driving and sleep deprivation. It wasn’t my finest look, but all things considered, my looks were the least of my worries.

“Not all of us wake up runway ready, Perrin.”

He smirked. “No, but some are close, even at our worst.”

I turned my face over my shoulder towards the picture windows, determined to not let Zack see my smile. As sweet as that was, I didn’t want him to see me blush.

Quickly regaining my composure, I turned back to him with a neutral face. “Seriously, I don’t need a babysitter. Thank you for the help, but I’m a grown ass woman-“

Kneeling down to my level, Zack put his index finger on my lips. “Stop right there. I’m well aware who you are, Claire. But I’m here, and you are going to have to deal with me.”

“Excuse me?” I pulled away from him, sliding out of the chair. “We haven’t been friends for, what, 18 years? Now you want to show up like everything is fine? I can be civil and decent, Zack, but a lot happened that doesn’t just go away.”

“Great, that’s what I want. I want to talk about it, all of it.”

“Well I don’t! Not now, not today.” I could feel tears begin to form in my eyes. I wasn’t sure if it was exhaustion or frustration, but I just needed to have distance from him. “I just want to meet Grandpa’s lawyer and start this process.”

“Ok, let’s get started,” Zack shrugged as he gestured towards the dining table.

“No! I don’t need your help! I don’t need you to do it with me!” I cried. “I just need to sit down and meet with Grandpa’s lawyer to go through everything. The will, his trust, his wishes, how to deal with my bloodsucking, gold-digging relatives. Just me. Not you, okay? There is no ‘us’ in this equation, Zack. Not now. Not anymore.”

Zack’s eyes softened as he approached me. He gently gripped my shoulder, staring into my eyes.

“Claire, I am your grandfather’s lawyer.”