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https://www.sarahabaileyauthor.com/down-for-maintenance
EPILOGUE
VIOLET
“HOME” - GOOD NEIGHBOURS
FIFTEEN YEARS LATER
“Don’t forgetI’m going to be home late tonight because I’m hosting a book club at the store,” Elena says as we stroll over the pier, hand-in-hand.
“I know, Little Vice.” I smile, kissing her hand. The midday sun sets her chocolate eyes on fire. “I’ll pick up dinner?—”
“What the fuck are they doing?” she asks, interrupting me.
I look to where her gaze is fixed, catching our niece and nephews jogging down the other side of the pier, taking frequent looks over their shoulders as they hustle toward the end of it. It’s clear they’re attempting to be stealthy, hide from something, but they’re doing a terrible fucking job.
Elena stops, spinning to watch them as they continue down the pier. It’s just after noon on a Tuesday in late May, and if they’re doing what I think they’re doing, the lot of them are more reckless than I thought imaginable.
Willow’s blond hair flies behind her as she begins running faster, holding the hand of her best friend, Allie. The twins are on her other side, and when Zander pulls his T-shirt over his head as they reach the end of the pier, it lays confirmation to exactly what they’re doing.
Elena and I turn back around, catching her siblings stalking down the pier in the direction of their children, looking stern and frustrated. When Everett notices us, he calls out, “Are those shits doing what I think they’re doing?”
Elena laughs, hitching a thumb in the direction they just went.
“Goddammit,” he mutters as the four of them pass us, speed-walking in hopes of reaching their kids before they decide to jump off the Pacific Shores Pier.
“Got somewhere you need to be right now, or do you want to go watch the shitshow with me?” Elena asks, smiling mischievously.
“I can pencil in a shitshow.” I grin, squeezing her hand and tugging her as I turn back toward the end of the pier.
Our niece and twin nephews are every bit as wild as their parents—more so, probably.
Willow climbs onto the railing, Allie joining her. A moment later, Archer steps up beside Allie and takes her hand in his, before Zander climbs on Archer’s other side.
Leo calls out to them, and his daughter glances back, flashing him her own set of dimples before the four of them leap from the pier and into the water below.
We catch up, leaning over the railing just in time to find four heads popping above the surface, smiling up at us as they tread water below.
“If I get fucking fined for this, you’re all working it off this summer. Unpaid overtime!” Leo shouts.
“You better start swimming before I dive in there after you!” Dahlia yells.
“I’m sorry, Mama!” Zander shouts, pushing his dark wet hair from his forehead, but the smile on his face holds no regret.
Willow winks, raising her arm to flash her parents the hand gesture that means “I love you” before the four of them begin paddling toward the shore.
Everett huffs, leaning against the railing with his arms crossed. “You’d think they’d have enough common sense to go pier jumping early in the morning before it’s crowded. It’s like they learned nothing from us.”
“There is really no difference in what time of day you do it,” Darby chimes. “It’s always risky, and kids are stupid. Us included.”
“Not me,” Dahlia mutters. “I never jumped off this pier.”
We all pause at that, glancing around at each other with unspoken realization.
Dahlia is the only one of us who never jumped off the Pacific Shores Pier. She’s the only one who didn’t spend a teenage summer here.
