When Autumn Ends Read online

  I walked down the street, studying the architecture of the grandiose Victorian-era dwellings that were commonplace for this town. Jonathan Reed would have researched the history of each of these homes and turned them into a haunting page-turner—Ethan Banks couldn’t care less. So much had changed in this past year. My mind didn’t even remember how my legs had led me to the place I’d been avoiding the most, but as I stood on the beach, staring at the powerful force of nature I detested with all my being, I had two choices—run away and bury it deep inside or face the pain that was right in front of me.

  The sun was in a battle with the fog as it began to rise from the water, and to most people it would have been the perfect photo op—but I wasn’t most people. My chest tightened when the sun finally won out, clearing the fog and bringing her into plain view, standing at the ocean’s edge. Maybe I’d succeeded in my attempt and I really was dead, or maybe it was a cruel joke my mind was playing on me. Whatever it was, I needed to see her. I steadied my shaky legs and tried my best to calm my rapid heartbeat. As I cautiously approached her, I wondered if she’d just disappear before my eyes. When I finally reached her, I stood a few feet behind her, taking in everything about her. Her long, dark, wavy hair blew in the breeze as she stared out at the water, unaware of my presence over the roaring thunder of the ocean. I tried to speak, but words failed me.

  “Darrah,” I finally managed. The few seconds it took her to turn around was like an eternity. Her widened eyes set upon me—only they weren’t the familiar shade of blue I’d gazed into so many times. Instead, they were a deep brown. Taking a moment to recover, I took a step back, trying to recall where I’d seen this familiar stranger before.

  “Excuse me?” she replied with a warmth to her voice that conveyed the same familiarity I was feeling.

  “I-I...I thought you were someone else.”

  She gazed at me in silence, turning her mouth up into a small, sympathetic smile.

  “Sorry,” I muttered, giving her a curt nod and getting on my way.

  “Are you feeling better?” she shouted once I’d gotten a few feet away.

  What the fuck? Who’s this woman and why the hell is she speaking to me as if she knows me? “Excuse me?” I snapped.

  She swallowed hard as I approached her. “I-I...you just seemed upset yesterday.” Her voice wavered.

  It suddenly dawned on me where I’d seen her before. She was the brunette who’d been eyeing me up when I’d checked in yesterday. “How I’m feeling is none of your concern. I don’t know you, and you certainly don’t know me.”

  Her jaw lowered, and a loud gasp escaped her. “Well, sorry for even giving a damn!” she retorted. She shook her head and glared at me before turning around and marching off in the other direction.

  I remained in place, gazing out at the water. I was turning into my father more and more each day, and I hated it. But what right did she have to question my feelings? She knew nothing at all about me. This was why I closed myself off to the rest of the world. I didn’t want people caring about how I was feeling, and I certainly didn’t care about how other people felt. My heart was a vital organ in my body. It served no other purpose. Love didn’t exist to me, and I was a fool for thinking at one time it did. I turned my head and watched her in the distance as she walked off the beach, questioning exactly why I was so angry with her. Was it really because she was prying into my business or was it because she reminded me so much of Darrah that it scared me beyond words?

  Chapter 5

  Jenna

  I WAS THOROUGHLY CONVINCED that the entire male population were assholes. Between the chauvinistic plumber who was treating me like the typical woman who hadn’t a clue and that jerk on the beach earlier in the day—I had it.

  “Looks like all of the plumbing is going to have to be redone,” the plumber who’d come highly recommended by my aunt’s lawyer advised.

  “You’re kidding me, right?”

  “Afraid not. The pipes are so antiquated, it will never pass inspection. Do you have a husband, a father, or even a brother I can explain this to? Maybe they’d understand it a little better.”

  “No, I don’t. And I understand you perfectly clear. Just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean I’m stupid.”

  “Oh, I-I never said that.”

  “No, you didn’t say it, but you’re implying it. So, if you want to continue to work on my home you will talk to me…the one and only owner. I’m sure you’ll find I’m just as…if not more intelligent than any other man you’ve ever dealt with, Mr. DeAngelo.”

  “Please, call me Joe, Miss Delaney.”

  I nodded in agreement, not offering him the option to call me by my first name after the way he’d just treated me. “Fine, Joe. I’d like a written estimate of all the work that needs to be done, please.”

  His eyes widened. “Okay, but you’ll find I’m the most reasonable around.”

  “I’m not doubting that you are.” I smiled. How quickly the tables had turned. He now knew he wasn’t dealing with some dumb woman who was just going to agree to whatever price he gave. I planned on doing my homework, and if it meant someone else would be doing the plumbing, then so be it.

  “Okay, I’ll get that all typed up for you tonight and email it over to you in the morning.”

  “Sounds good.” I forced a smile as I escorted him out.

  Closing the door behind me, I sighed heavily. Brad was right. This was going to be a money pit, but there was no way I’d give up now and admit defeat. I was in this for the long haul. I was going to prove to him and myself that this was all worth it. I may go broke doing it, but I was going to prove everyone wrong. It was as if Brad was reading my thoughts when I looked down at my phone to find a text message from him.

  Look outside. There’s a surprise for you.

  I couldn’t control my smile as I sprinted to the door and onto the front porch to find Brad waiting there for me. My absence makes the heart grow fonder theory was really working. Seeing him standing with his freshly cut hair and unshaven face, holding the cutest little teddy bear and a dozen roses made me want to go inside and christen every room in this house.

  “Brad! Oh my God, this is the best surprise ever!” I threw my arms around him and kissed him on the lips. My hands were already moving about his body when a familiar voice stopped me in my tracks.

  “This place is like a thousand years old!” Sophie’s voice was like nails on a chalkboard.

  “Sophie, hey! No school today?” I pulled away from Brad, trying to be as upbeat as possible over her presence.

  “Some teachers’ in-service day or bullshit like that.”

  “Sophie, watch your mouth,” Brad scolded.

  She rolled her eyes and pushed her way past us and inside. “This place is a dump!”

  “Sophie, enough!” Brad snapped as we followed her in.

  “Why, Dad? You said the same thing.”

  I bit my lip and placed the roses and the teddy bear down, mentally counting to ten before I replied, “Well, everyone will see come summertime when it’s all ready to go.”

  “Doubt it,” Sophie said in a loud whisper.

  “So, why’d you drive all the way down here?” I asked Brad, totally ignoring his obnoxious offspring’s comments.

  “I don’t know. I just wanted to see you, and since you said I wasn’t being supportive, I thought I’d come and see exactly what you’ve gotten yourself into.”

  “So you could say, ‘I told you so’?” I raised an eyebrow.

  “No, that’s not what I was going to say at all.”

  I was happy when Sophie’s phone rang and she took her conversation outside.

  “Did you want to get some dinner?” Brad asked.

  I shrugged, not much in the mood for putting up with Sophie’s sarcastic comments while I was trying to eat. “I’m not really that hungry. Are you planning on staying the night? The bed-and-breakfast I’m staying at is right next door, and I’m sure we can get Sophie her own roo
m, so you and I can have some alone time.” I looped my arms around his neck and pressed my forehead into his.

  “Oh, I can’t. I have to be up and out early tomorrow. I’m taking Sophie and her friend to see Hamilton.”

  I creased my eyebrows in confusion. “But Sophie doesn’t want to see Hamilton.”

  Now it was him who seemed confused. “What are you talking about? She’s been begging me to go see it for the past two weeks.”

  Of course she was. That was around the same time I’d purchased tickets for the show for Brad’s fortieth birthday, while she was sitting right next to me. When I’d asked her if she wanted to go as well, she told me it looked like the most boring show ever. I couldn’t hold back any longer. I had it with her little games she played.

  “Oh, and did Sophie tell you I was going to surprise you for your birthday with the tickets? And when I purchased the tickets for you…two weeks ago, I asked if she wanted to go, and she said, ‘she’d rather have all her teeth drilled’?”

  “Oh, babe, I’m so sorry. I’m sure you can sell them online and get double what you paid for them. If not, I’ll give you the money for them.”

  “It’s not about the money, Brad! It’s…God, why can’t you see that what she did was wrong! She clearly did this just to spite me. She’s got this vendetta against me, and I don’t know why! I try really hard to have a relationship with her, but she hates me for whatever reason.”

  “Jenna, she doesn’t hate you. She’s a pre-teen. Don’t you remember being that age and all the hormones you had racing through your body?”

  “Why do you always make excuses for her? Why can’t you just admit that what she did was wrong?”

  “Jenna, come on. I didn’t drive all this way to fight with you. Can we please just go to dinner? I’ll have a talk with Sophie on the way home.”

  “I-I really don’t—”

  “Dad, can we get going? I want to go home and get to the mall so I can get a new outfit for tomorrow,” Sophie interrupted. “Oh, and Andrea’s mom said she’ll pick us up and drive us to the train station.” Sophie gazed in my direction to gauge my reaction that Andrea’s mom would be going with them as well, a tidbit of information that Brad had left out. More than likely because she’d been the cause of many arguments with the way she always threw herself at him. Suddenly my paranoia as Brad always claimed seemed warranted.

  I raised an eyebrow at Brad and he looked away. “Sophie, just go out to the car. We’re going to dinner before we head home.”

  “But, Dad, I don’t want to go to dinner!” She stomped her foot.

  “Sophie, just go!” Brad was clearly flustered.

  “Sophie, why did you tell me you didn’t want to go see Hamilton when I asked you a few weeks ago and now all of a sudden you do?” I couldn’t hold back any longer.

  Her eyes darted every which way. “I never said I didn’t want to see it.”

  “Yes, you did. When I got the tickets for your dad’s birthday, I asked you if you wanted to go and you said it looked like the most boring show ever.”

  She was on the verge of tears, but I didn’t care. It was time she was called out on her actions.

  “Jenna, come on,” Brad coaxed.

  “No, Brad. I want to know why all of a sudden she has this newfound love of Hamilton.”

  She pursed her pouty lips and shot me daggers when she realized Daddy wasn’t going to save her from this. “Well, maybe I really did want to go…just not with you!” she shouted.

  “Sophie, that wasn’t nice!” Brad intervened.

  “Well, I’m sorry, Dad.” The tears were now turned on, always having the effect she’d hoped for on Brad. “But I didn’t want to go see it with that bitch!”

  My jaw dropped and she ran out the door before I could even respond.

  “I’m sorry, Jenna.” Brad placed his hand on my shoulder and I brushed it away.

  “You’re sorry? Your daughter just called me a bitch and all you can say is you’re sorry?”

  “What do you want me to say? It’s like you’re making me take sides between you and my daughter.”

  “That’s not at all what I’m trying to do! But I do expect you to reprimand her when she behaves this way instead of apologizing for her.”

  “This is bullshit. I drove all the way down here to see you and you always have to turn it into a goddamn fight!”

  “I turned it into a fight? Oh, okay, I’m sorry. I forgot I’m supposed to just sit idly while your daughter hurls one insult after another at me and you stand there saying nothing.”

  “You had to keep it up. I told you I’d talk to her about the show on the way home, but you had to open your mouth. Sometimes I think you do things just so we end up in an argument!”

  My horrible day had just catapulted to an all new level. “Just go, Brad!” I bit my lip, trying my best to keep the tears at bay.

  “Fine!” He didn’t put up a fight, turning around and walking out the door.

  Chapter 6

  Ethan

  I SAT ON THE FRONT PORCH of the inn, doing my best to pretend I was paying attention to what Edward, my agent, had been saying for the past twenty minutes.

  “Ethan, I understand you wanting to get away, especially with the movie coming out this weekend. By the way, have you read any of the early reviews?”

  “No, I haven’t.” Why would I care what the fuck anyone had to say about the movie version of my book? Anyone with a brain knew it was a dumbed-down rendition, altered to fit the pretentious movie stars who were cast in it. They ripped apart the words, the meaning, everything that mattered just to get bodies in the theater and score big at the box office. It was something I said I’d never do, but I’d let Edward talk me into it, and I’d sold my soul to the devil because of it.

  “Well, here’s one of the early reviews.”

  “I really don’t care to—”

  “‘Leave it to Hollywood to screw up one the most masterfully written books of this century. I will stick to reading Jonathan Reed’s incredible works instead of watching it get slaughtered on the big screen by movie producers and actors whose talent pales in comparison to the brilliant Mr. Reed.’ Your fans adore you, Ethan, and they’ll still be there when you get back in the game. Use this time to try and break through your block. Bring your laptop on the beach, take in the sites, people watch…maybe the urge will come back once again.”

  “Yeah, maybe,” I mumbled just to appease him, knowing full well there wouldn’t be any writing going on while I was here or ever for that matter.

  “I have a meeting set up with your publisher next week. They want—”

  “Cancel it.”

  “Ethan, at least hear what they have to say. They may have an offer you can’t refuse…” He continued rambling while my mind fixated on the brunette from the beach as she sat on the front porch next door crying. I tried my best to pretend I didn’t see her and focus on what Edward was saying on the other end of the phone, but it was useless. This girl, this stranger, held some kind of power over me that was impossible to ignore. She stared down at her finger then threw her head back on the chair, letting out a deep sigh. I looked away when she stood up and headed back inside. What was her deal and why was she next door now? And more importantly, why the hell did I even care?

  “Edward, I have to go.” I finally put an end to his incessant chatter.

  “Okay, but please think about what I said, Ethan. Your readers need you.”

  “Will do.” I hung up before he could get another word in. My readers need me. He was so full of shit. More like he needed me to maintain his lavish lifestyle that my blood, sweat, and tears afforded him. Edward was a good agent, and I did trust him, but in the end, his own well-being was his first priority. I couldn’t fault him for it. This was business after all.

  The lampposts flickered, the air turned brisker, and an eerie silence fell upon the desolate street. Dusk was setting in. It was hard to believe that just two short months ago, at the height of
the summer season, the sun would still be shining and this place would’ve been booming with tourists, mirroring real life in so many ways. Nothing lasted forever. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, trying to figure out how I was going to break free from this state I was in. I could go see Dr. Tanner when I got home, but what good would it do? I’d listened to her talk for the past twelve months to no avail. I was still stuck in a world I didn’t want to be in. The only things that made me feel slightly better were the drugs she’d prescribe, but even they were just a temporary fix. A Band-Aid to block out reality, but once the Band-Aid was ripped off, the wound underneath still hurt like hell.

  My concentration broke when the front door of the house next door slammed, and I saw the brunette exit. I stared straight ahead, wondering if she’d be foolish enough to try and make small talk once again after our encounter on the beach earlier in the day. She climbed up the stairs to the porch and whisked right past me as if I were a ghost. Not that I’d expected anything more after the way I’d snapped at her. It was just as well. At least I got the point across that I didn’t want to be bothered with the likeness of her. It had been a long day, and I was drained. Being alone with my thoughts was more rigorous than any physical workout. I waited a few more moments before heading inside, wanting to give the brunette enough time to get up to her room and not run the risk of conversation with her.

  My plan had failed when I walked inside and she was sitting in the parlor with the inn keepers. They were deep in conversation, but that still didn’t stop them from lifting their heads as I entered.

  “Have a good night, Mr. Banks.” The woman inn keeper smiled.

  I nodded, becoming angry when my eyes betrayed me and locked with the brunette’s. She averted her gaze and looked down at her phone and whatever it was that seemed to be the hot topic of conversation among them.

  “Yes, I agree. That’s a ridiculous price for the work he’s doing. I’ll get you the name of the guy we use,” the male inn keeper remarked as I made my way up the steps.

  “Thanks…” The brunette’s voice faded away the farther up the stairs I went. But not before the sound of it was embedded deep inside my mind.