After a few good investments, Mom and Dad sold the house we grew up in and bought a few properties to rent out as a retirement Airbnb business, this one included. They travel around now, enjoying their properties in different areas of the world, and stay here when they come home to visit all their grandkids.
While I was away at college, my brothers lived here together and, one by one as they got married, they moved into their own homes. My brother, Miles, left not too long ago when hecompletely moved in with his fiancé, Olivia, so now it’s just me taking care of the place.
It’s our gathering spot during the summers and holidays, and becomes full with all my brothers’ families. Even though it gets hectic, I wouldn’t want it any other way. I adore my nieces and nephews and love that I get to make memories in this beach house with them.
One day, the house will go to them, and any children I have—not that I’ll be having kids anytime soon. That would require having sex, which would require someone of the opposite sex…something that hasn’t gone so well for me in the past.
I ignore the tightness in my chest and push away any thoughts that want to bring me back to that night as I set Freya’s carrier down on the floor.
“Time to see your new home, sweet girl.” I open the crate door, and she saunters out to explore.
Now that all my brothers have moved out, I’ve been slowly updating the decor, and I love the cozy beach vibe I’ve created. With the pale wood floors and white walls, I made sure to bring in subtle colors with throw pillows on the big grey sectional and rugs scattered throughout the lower level.
Various shells and light blue vases sit on the mantle, and framed photos of our family line the driftwood side tables. The black pool table sits opposite the sofa, where the walls are covered with portraits Travis has drawn of all the kids in various stages of their lives.
My oldest brother, Travis, is a tattoo artist and started Inked with our other brother, Jake. They became so well known in the art community that they opened a second location in Crystal Isle, about an hour south of here.
At that time in his life, Travis was a single dad and needed a change, so he ended up moving there to run that business while Jake oversaw Blue Haven. People come from miles around to gettattooed by them, but Travis’s first love will always be portrait drawing. He’s gotten into several big art galleries over the years and has made quite a name for himself.
His portraits are better than any photograph I’ve seen, and you can’t help but get drawn into the emotions he captures.
Walking into the open-concept kitchen, I set my bags on the white granite island and pull out my purchases before setting up Freya’s kitty litter box in the laundry room and getting the rest of the items out of my car.
I couldn’t resist buying this tall seagrass scratching tree and bed that matches perfectly with my decor. Setting it up by the windows lining the back of the house, I smile at how cozy it looks. If I were a cat, I would want to look at a beautiful view while I napped.
With floor-to-ceiling windows, it’s my favorite part about the house. I never tire of waking up to the beautiful blue water endlessly stretching out into the horizon and watching the waves rushing to meet the shoreline.
I smile as Freya finds the scratching tree before leaping up to the bed on top and stretching out for a nap. Being the queen she is, she’s already acting like she owns the place, and with the small fortune I dumped at the pet store tonight, she’s definitely being treated as one.
Even though I adore all animals, we’ve only ever had dogs in our family, so it’s a nice change of pace. Don’t get me wrong, I brought a few stray cats home over the years when I was younger, but I always ended up finding them a good owner. My parents had their hands full already with my four brothers and me, so one dog was their limit for our crazy family.
Picking up the empty boxes, I put them in the recycle bin and head to my bedroom to change into my workout clothes. I’ve never been an early-to-rise morning person. I much prefer tosleep in as late as I can and get my exercise in after work. I find it helps me sleep better, too, which is a major plus.
Changing out of my pink scrubs, I throw on a pair of gym shorts and a sports bra before lacing up my running shoes.
I started running when I was fifteen. It became like therapy to me. It was the only thing that would take me out of my head and bring me some peace from my intrusive thoughts. For that one hour, I was just a normal teenager again and not the damaged one that I felt like inside.
Walking to the master bathroom, I gather up my long, dark hair in a ponytail. My vivid blue eyes stare back at me as I secure it with a hair tie.
Except for the eye color, I’m a spitting image of my mom. My brothers got her beautiful greys, and I got my dad’s baby blues. I even match her dusting of freckles across the nose and her full, plump lips.
It took a long time and some major self-work over the years for me to be able to look in the mirror and love what I see. You wake up real quick to the cruelties in the world when someone tries to take your innocence at fifteen.
At the time, I blamed my looks on what got me into trouble, and for a while, I despised what I looked like. I wanted to dull myself and just blend into the background whenever I went out, not wanting the attention it brought.
It wasn’t until I was sixteen and met Tristan that I began to see myself again. I fell hard for him. We dated for two years, and I really thought we would get married someday in my young, naïve mind.
After high school graduation, he made it known that he wanted to do the whole college experience and didn’t want to be tied down to anyone. I was heartbroken, of course, which is why I decided to accept a scholarship up in Georgia. The last thingI wanted to do was run into him at parties and watch him go through his fuckboy stage.
Looking back now, it was the best thing that happened to me. It forced me to stand on my own two feet and regain my confidence and independence. I no longer had someone to hide behind, and it pushed me to put myself out there and face my demons.
Don’t get me wrong, they still like to surface every once in a while in my dreams, and trusting men isn’t my strong suit, but I’m damn proud of how far I’ve come.
Heading back out into the kitchen, I make sure Freya has food and water before walking out onto the back deck as I take in the view of the Atlantic Ocean. Breathing in a deep inhale of the salty air, I close my eyes and let the ocean’s presence wash over me as I feel a sense of calmness weave its way in.
I do a few stretches, then bypass the outdoor kitchen and pool before making my way down the wooden steps leading to the beach below. Once my tennis shoes hit the powdered sand, I take off at a jog toward the water’s edge before following the shoreline at a steady run.
The sun is setting low, reflecting beautiful orange hues on the water. Most families have gone in for the day to prepare dinner, so except for an occasional beachcomber, I have the stretch of sand to myself.
