Christmas at Whisper Beach Read online

  Even once she’d packed, dressed, and picked up the rental car, she was still deliberating. She almost drove straight past the parkway exit to Whisper Beach. But in the end she’d come.

  She’d known Gigi had gotten married. She’d even sent a gift. But without a return address. Maybe Gigi was relieved not to have to write a thank-you note.

  Van had called her once after she left, just to let Gigi know she was all right. Gigi begged her to come home, but Van couldn’t, even if she’d wanted to. And couldn’t explain why.

  How could she tell Gigi that she was living in an apartment with way too many people, most of them strangers. That she was afraid. Hurt. Angry. Sick. For a long time. That she’d nearly died before she caved and called Suze—not Gigi—for help.

  Gigi had already done enough. Cleaned out her bank account to help Van get away. Almost two thousand dollars, her college savings—all stolen while Van slept on the train ride to Manhattan.

  “I’m beginning to think I shouldn’t have come at all.”

  “Don’t worry. The worst is over.”

  Oh no it wasn’t. Van only hoped that she would be gone before the worst reared his ugly head.

  “Well, you can’t leave now. Everyone has seen you. Besides, I didn’t have time for breakfast and I’m starving.”

  Gigi passed by, still supported by her father on one side and her mother on the other. Amelia was the only one who looked toward Van and Suze. And Van knew in that instant that regardless of the twelve years that had passed, she hadn’t been forgiven.

  “I’m not sure I can do this.”

  “You can and you will.” Suze took her by the elbow and force-marched her toward the street. “We’re both going. We’re going to say our condolences to Gigi. Say hello to Dorie, eat, and then we can leave.”

  “I thought it would feel great to come back successful, independent, and well dressed. But now I’m thinking they’ll hate me for it. I’m out of place here. What was I thinking? I won’t be welcome. I know Aunt Amelia wishes I hadn’t come.”

  “She’s one person. And quite frankly, do you really care? You’ve come to pay your respects, and if they get the added benefit of seeing the success you’ve made of your life, well, good for you.” Suze grinned.

  Van couldn’t help giving her an answering smile. It would be nice for everyone to know she’d survived. That she’d made something of herself. And maybe she did have a few things to answer for. To some people. Not all. There were some people she would never forgive.

  She’d left a lot of unfinished business here. She’d begun to think it could stay unfinished, but standing here, being back even for an hour, drove home how impossible that was. Maybe it was time she just got it done.

  She turned abruptly and started around the back of the church.

  “Hold up, where are you going?”

  “I’m staying out of sight until the last possible moment.”

  “And make a grand entrance?”

  “God, no. We’re going in the back way.”

  About the Author

  SHELLEY NOBLE is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Whisper Beach and Beach Colors, a #1 Nook bestseller. Other titles include Stargazey Point, Breakwater Bay, Forever Beach—a story of foster adoption in New Jersey—and four spin-off novellas. A former professional dancer and choreographer, she lives on the Jersey Shore and loves to discover new beaches and indulge her passion for lighthouses and vintage carousels. Shelley is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and Women’s Fiction Writers Association. For more about Shelley, please visit her websites www.shelleynoble.com and www.shelleyfreydont.com.

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  Also by Shelley Noble

  Christmas at Whisper Beach (Novella)

  The Beach at Painter’s Cove

  Forever Beach

  Whisper Beach

  A Newport Christmas Wedding (Novella)

  Breakwater Bay

  Stargazey Night (Novella)

  Stargazey Point

  Holidays at Crescent Cove

  Beach Colors

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  An excerpt from Whisper Beach copyright © 2015 by Shelley Freydont.

  christmas at whisper beach. Copyright © 2017 by Shelley Freydont. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins Publishers. For information, address HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.

  Digital Edition OCTOBER 2017 ISBN: 978–0–062685698

  Print Edition ISBN: 978–0–062685704

  Cover design by Nadine Badalaty

  Cover photographs: © DenisTangneyJr / GettyImages (path); © scarletsails / GettyImages (wreath); © Jan Homolka / Shutterstock (sky)

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  William Morrow and HarperCollins are registered trademarks of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America and other countries.

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