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Chapter Nineteen
Addi
“Addi?”
The voice startles me, and I look up from my sketch pad to find Gramps standing in front of me with a big goofy grin on his face.
I can't help but smile back. “That's me.”
“I thought so. Help me up here, would you?”
“Sure.” I hop up and walk over to him. “Let's walk down more that way. It's less of a step to get on.”
“We miss you down at the shop.” Gramps takes my hand and steps onto the rocky ledge. We make our way back to my little cubby hole. So private and far away from others, this is my favorite place on this beach. Not many people lay out on this side because the beach is rocky and full of small, cracked shells.
“We?” I ask. Part of me is hopeful he says Cole. Stupid, I know. I wish feelings had an off button. Like okay, I'm done with you now. Shut it down.
“Yes, that's what I said. How have you been since the accident? I'm sorry to hear what happened. Drivers don’t pay enough attention.” He shakes his head in disgust.
I settle back down on my blanket and pat the space next to me, but he kindly declines with a shake of his hand. “Oh, no, no. If I get down there, I'll never get back up.” We both chuckle, and he leans against the wall of the cliff, propping his cane beside him. “I sit too much as it is.”
“I feel like that sometimes, especially lately with my arm, but I’m okay, I guess. Still sore in my ribs area. My arm is healing well, and most of my bumps and bruises are gone. Though I still can't stand the sound of a horn beeping or a car screeching.”
“It takes time, a lot of time ... but your mind will adjust, and things will go back to normal. Do you always come out here to draw or paint this early in the morning?”
It's almost seven now, and I’ve been out here since five thirty. I used to hate being awake this early, but lately, it’s been growing on me.
“Not always. I like how quiet it is, though. The sun not sweltering yet, and a cool morning breeze usually blows in off the ocean. What are you doing out here so early?”
“I'm always out here early. From years of waking when the sun rose, my body naturally wakes up. It felt like a good morning for a walk.”
“I'm surprised Rocky isn't with you.”
“He's still snoozing with Cole. But he sure is missing out, especially since I ran into you.”
“Oh stop, you're gonna make me blush.” I smile.
“Good. You're a good catch. Cole needs to wake up and smell the coffee.”
“He won't, though,” I mumble.
“I'm trying. I've told Cole many times you're a rare catch. But he's as stubborn as they come.” Gramps sighs.
“A rare catch, huh? Thanks, Gramps, you’re too kind.”
“I speak the truth. I’m too old to be mixed up in lies.” He laughs, then quickly grows serious. “Cole’s been through a lot, and he's defensive and closed off. It can be hard to talk to him and even harder to get him to open up. But I'll tell you one thing, when he gives his heart to something, he gives all of it.”
I continue to listen unsure what to say back. It's not going to change anything. Everything Gramps is saying could very well be true. But it doesn't mean Cole’s going to sweep me off my feet.
“Cole never killed his ex-girlfriend, Addi. Elizabeth killed herself.”
“What?” I breathe, not expecting that information.
Gramps looks down at me and smiles. “Finn, who I know you know well, isn't a nice man. He was an evil stepbrother to Cole growing up, and since their parents wed, he never left him be. We thought when he moved to New York City, he'd end up staying there, but he didn’t. Cole does his best to avoid him, but Finn, he’s a damn troublemaker. What he said about Cole that day on the beach was one of the furthest things from the truth. Liz was a good person until the drugs took hold of her. Cole tried so hard to help her, to keep her afloat, but every relapse, every hospital stay, they all wore him down until he broke. He couldn't do it anymore. And it killed him, killed him so much to end things with her. Two days later, she killed herself, and Cole never forgave himself.”
I blow out a breath I didn't know I was holding. “Shit,” I mutter under my breath.
“He's a good man, Addi. Clueless at times, cranky and stubborn most of the time, but he loves hard and would move heaven and earth for his better half.”
