Sleeping With the Enemy

Chapter Ten

My walk to work we're starting to become my favorite part of the day. Sometimes, like today, I leave early enough to stop and get a coffee and walk along the shore for a little while.

Rockaway is a beautiful area, and I love getting to hear the sound of the ocean each morning. The relentless pounding of the waves on the shore and the salty seabreeze in my hair is almost comforting. I spent the best years of my life here, and even though I left on bad terms, it's still full of happy memories for me. Memories of family picnics, beach bonfires with Brandon and all of our friends, splashing in the waves while Adam chased me around. We really did have an idyllic childhood here.

I even used to dream of raising my own family here— a family I thought I would have with Brandon. He would be running the family business, and I would be at his side and own an adorable little floral shop in town called Sadie's Sweet Stems. We'd spend our weekends shuffling kids between sports and birthday parties and barbecues with our families, and at the end of the day, we snuggle up on the couch together with a glass of wine and watch a cheesy horror movie. Those were always Brandon's favorite because I would pretend to be scared, just to get closer to him. We'd travel the world together, taking on new adventures and facing everything that came our way as a team. We'd grow old on this beach, watching the waves come in until our dying days. We talked about it so many times that I can still see it so vividly in my mind. Our perfect family. Our picture perfect life. Standing here today and looking out into the water, and nearly brings tears to my eyes to think how differently everything turned out.

I let out a heavy sigh. Thinking about the past doesn't do me any good. In fact, it only complicates what I am here to do now.

Brandon must be angry with me because he hasn't been around the last few days. On some level, I know he would understand what I'm doing. My brother's life is at stake and I have to do whatever I can to protect him. That's no different than how he operates every day. No matter how I try to spin it, I can't shake the terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. I'm so disgusted with myself that I can't even finish my coffee and I toss it into a nearby garbage can and head to Brodo.

I've started to get to know a few of the shop owners along the way and I wave at Mrs. Patterson, the Baker. She's my favorite. I knew her when I lived here before, but she doesn't ask me too many questions and she always sends me away with the chocolate croissant if I come by.

"Good morning, Sadie!" She gives me a bright smile and waves me in. "I have some croissants coming out of the oven. Why don't you come inside for a minute?"

"Oh, I would love to, Mrs. Patterson, but I'm running late. Can I stop by on my way home?" Her baked goods sound a hell of a lot better than the food I have in my pantry at home, and as much as I hate to admit it, the delivery pizza really does taste like cardboard.

"I'll save you a few." She smiles and pats my shoulder as I pass by.

"You're the greatest!" I turn around to wave, but she disappears into the store.