The Shore House by Heidi Hostetter

The Shore House by Heidi Hostetter

Author:Heidi Hostetter [Hostetter, Heidi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781838887018
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2020-07-19T18:30:00+00:00


They turned back and went home. Both kids were furious about not being allowed on the beach, and the short drive home was peppered with demands and questions. Stacy did her best to answer calmly but by the time she pulled into the driveway, her head ached and her patience was frayed. She let them out of the car, sighing as she watched them run into the house. After gathering the bags from the back, she made her way inside too.

“Anybody home?” she called as she dropped the keys on the side table by the door.

“We’re in here.” Ryan was seated at the breakfast bar, casually munching on an apple.

“I thought you were working all day,” If Ryan found himself with a free afternoon, the least he could have done was offer to take his turn with the kids.

“I finished sooner than I thought.” Ryan took a final bite, then rose from his stool.

“The pool is closed, Daddy. They’re taking the water out,” Sophie said as she ran to her father’s side and reached for his hand. “So we didn’t go swimming.”

“Good grief, Stace. What happened to you?” Brad entered the kitchen, utterly relaxed. He appeared freshly showered and was wearing a loose pair of board shorts and a baggy T-shirt. He glanced at her again before crossing to the refrigerator and peering inside. “You look terrible.”

“Nothing. Nothing’s wrong.” Stacy retorted as she dropped the bags and kicked them to the side. She’d been chasing both children all day long, while her husband sat at home without a care in the world. She’d had enough. “I’m going upstairs to read. You need to take the kids to the beach.”

“Okay.” Ryan shrugged as he tossed his apple core in the trash. “When?”

“Now.”

“What’s going on?” Brad swigged from an open carton of orange juice, then slid it back on the shelf.

“I’m taking the kids to the beach apparently,” Ryan replied. “You want to come?”

Brad shrugged. “Yeah, sure.”

“They need lunch first,” Stacy said.

“Okay,” Ryan said warily as he glanced at her. “We’ll stop at that little stand by the beach stairs for grilled cheese. You want to come with us?”

“No,” Stacy snapped as she crossed the kitchen. “I’m going upstairs to take a nap.”

“You want to meet us at the beach later?” she heard Ryan ask, but she ignored him.

From the hallway, she heard Brad answer for her. “Dude, she never goes to the beach. Didn’t you know that?”

Stacy dragged herself up the stairs and down the hallway to her bedroom, feeling utterly exhausted, as if she were swimming against a current. She pushed open the door and dropped her book on the nightstand, too tired to even read, then flicked the dial on the window air conditioner to maximum and made her way to the bed. Stretching out, she listened to the hum of the compressor and felt goosebumps rise on her skin as the cool air blew across it.

The humidity and the activities of the day had drained her. She felt



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