Finding Me (Love's Not Easy Series Book 1) (14 page)

“If H.A.L is married to M.A.L, then that made him her uncle by marriage, which is why Gran told him he had no authority in her house.”

Aimee laid her basket of clean clothes on the floor. “Aiden, you know how I said that finding Right Way Lagoon was a God thing?”

“Yeah.”

She went and sat in a chair in the front of the rec room. “I think finding the diaries were too. I have never laid eyes on them before, I have been in that attic a hundred times looking for things of my mom’s. Then, at Christmas, I moved a big trunk and noticed a box pushed way in the back of the corner.”

“It was the diaries.”

“I have even moved the trunk before.”

Aiden took the diary and read the pages he skipped. “Maybe He knew you couldn’t handle it until now.”

“I think so.”

Chapter
Fifteen

Aimee passed her written test and obtained her provisional license. She was playing chauffeur a lot. The first weekend of March arrived and Lexi, Piper, Colin, James, Aiden, and Aimee loaded Tessa’s SUV.  They were ready to head south to Mystique Paradise Beach. Once James entered the address in the GPS, off the group of friends left for their adventure.

Aimee drove first. She knew the roads within a one hour radius of town. She was maintaining speed limit and following all the laws of Neahovia. Luckily, they drive on the right side of the road and not the left. So, she didn’t have to adjust to that.

They stopped in Wattsburg for supper. The group was having fun. The weather forecast for Mystique Paradise was mid 70s and sunny. A good weekend for walking the beach. Aimee was feeling so blessed to have friends who cared enough to help her.

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♥

He sat in his booth at Kay’s Place when the kids came in. College kids are so irresponsible. The laughing was nerve racking and he was going to leave, but then, she walked in. He only got a glimpse of her. But, she looked familiar to him.

They sat at the other side of the diner to eat. He tried to hear them, but they were not loud like most kids. He had no reason to go to that side of the restaurant; the restrooms are on his side. All he could do was wait; maybe she will come over to his side.

That didn’t happen, and when they left, he got a little better glimpse. One of the guys had on an Ancaster shirt, so he would contact someone in Ancaster Monday. He knew he was crazy because that family has no further living descendants. He must have had one too many beers; and, if he bothers his boss with this, he could get fired. Especially if they found out he was drinking on the job again.

♥
♥

They arrived at the Hotel a little before twelve. Aimee was too nervous to sleep. What if she found someone who knew her mom? She could get all of her question answered this weekend or she could leave with even more. She decided to read her Bible and pray for God to help her. She closed her eyes and opened the Bible
to Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

She said a prayer of thanks to God for always being with her. He is truly her strength, her rock, and her salvation.

Everyone was up by nine a.m. They ordered room service to be delivered to the girl’s room. They had several brochures from the hotel showing different parts of the beach. They decided to break up into three groups and divide the beach in three sections of north, middle, and south. James and Piper was taking the north part of the beach. Aiden and Aimee took the middle, while Colin and Lexi would go to south.

They wanted a common story, so they decided to stay as close to Aimee’s real life as possible. Because of her mom’s fear of M.A.L., they are going to say that they are looking to find out some things about a lost love one. She may have lived near Mystique Beach.

Aimee understood why they called the beach Mystique Paradise. You could feel the aura of mystery and romance in the air. The ocean was a beautiful blue that reminded Aimee of the mystique orchids on her Grans plantation. In the distance, Aimee could see the dolphins playing in the water. They were so calming.

Aimee and Aiden walked along the shore, looking for signs of things her mom had mentioned in her diary. They read the month of May, June, and July this past week. The beach had changed since 1986, which they expected, but her mom talked about a specific area at the beach that was secluded; and, that was what they were looking for when they stopped for a cold drink.

The lady working the drink hut was in about her late forties or early fifties. She had her hair styled in a stack bob. “How can I help you kids?”

Aimee looked at the menu. “Are these all alcohol free?” The lady laughed. “They are, sweetie.”

Aiden and Aimee ordered their drinks. The lady seemed to be in a talking mood, so they sat on the stools.

“You two make a cute couple.” She pretended to wipe the counter.

Aimee looked over at Aiden, he was wearing a pair of jeans and a thin white button up shirt. Shades and a fedora hat topped his look. He was trying to be in disguise. She had on a pair of crop jeans, ribbed tank, and hot pink thin shirt. She topped her outfit off with shades and a fedora hat.

“We are...” Aimee started to tell her the truth but Aiden stopped her.

“Thank you. We are so glad to hear people say that.”

“I can’t recall seeing you two on the beach before, so what brings you to Mystique Paradise this time of year?”

“How long have you had you hut here?” Aiden looked around the beach.

“My husband’s family has owned it for 30 years. We inherited it last year when they retired.”

Aimee took a sip. “So, have you lived here your whole life?”

“Yeah. Sweetie, you are not from Neahovia. I can tell by your accent, but you look so familiar.”

Aimee looked at Aiden. “I am from America but I found a diary in the attic at my dad’s place. It belonged to one of our relatives. When I read her diary, she mentioned this beach in it. I thought it would be cool if I knew more about her.”

“What was her name or age?”

“Lillian Townsend. She would be around 40.”

“Doesn’t sound familiar. What year was her diary?”

“1986.”

“Wow, honey, things have changed a lot around here since then. Mystique Paradise Beach was Paradise City’s little secret back then. All we had then was a few stores owned by local families. The beach was quiet.”

“She used only initials for the name of a lot of places; any reason she might do that?” Aiden spoke.

“It became the thing to do, a way we could still keep our secrets. Let’s see, 1986 was a few years before that group of radicals tried to overtake King Kaiser; but, out here, they were already trying to control the widowers and their daughters.”

“Really? Wow, I am taking a Neahovian History class, we are just starting to study those times.” Aimee was hoping she would tell them more.

“They were hard times. I was always thanking God I still had my dad and my Howie.”

“So, if a girl had a boyfriend, did that stop the Radicals?”

“As long as it was who the radicals wanted. Honey, you won’t read any of this in that history class of yours. No history book could tell the story of what it was like to live as a woman through those years.”

“Do you mind if I ask your name?”

“Alice Harris."

“Alice, I have a question. In her diary, she mentioned that there was a secluded area on the beach that the teens liked to hang.  Do you know where we can find that?”

“Yeah, I do.  The discount mall is there now.”

Aiden looked at her. “We wanted to visit a few places she mentioned in her diary.  Can you help us find them?”

“Sure. You tell me and I will tell you if they are still here or gone.”

“She mentioned eating at a place called BHD we have it narrowed to five places.”

“Did she go there on a date?”

“Yes.”

“Betsy’s Hamburger Dive.”

“Really, that is one of the places we had narrowed it to.”

“It was the happening place for dates.”

Alice told Aimee stories of how teens spent their days and evenings at Mystique Paradise Beach. They would stop at Betsy’s and eat before cruising to the beach. She showed her some pictures of some of the kids that hung out at the hut during the late 80’s or early 90’s. None looked like her mom, but it was still nice to see. They talked to Alice for about thirty minutes before leaving.

Alice called for Aimee just as she walked off. “This Lillian Townsend may not be from Paradise City. The month of May began the time of year families from northern cities came down to spend the weekends. When school was out, they spent the summer here.”

“Was there a specific place they stayed when here?”

“Yeah, they had summer homes in Orchid Bay and Beacon Bay.”

“Thanks.”

“Good luck, honey.”

Aimee and Aiden walked toward the Northern part of the beach. That was where Betsy’s Hamburger Dive was located. They were meeting the others to eat there and then drive to Orchid Bay and Beacon Bay.

“Are you ok?” Aiden hugged her.

“Yeah, I am just thinking of the stories Alice told. These Radical men were bad, and I think…” she paused.

“That M.A.L. was one?”

“Yeah.”

“Me too. I have for a few days. I called around to see if anyone knew of someone in that group with the initials M.A.L.”

“And?”

“They used fake names in their records. There was no way to know.”

“Of course. That would be too easy.”

Lexi and Colin already had a table when Aimee and Aiden walked in, James and Piper was right behind them. Aimee and Aiden told them everything Alice told them. A waitress came and took their order and then left. The place was real busy.

“Everything in here looks new.” Aimee looked around.

“Because it is. Betsy sold out four months ago; the new owners stripped it down to the studs and remodeled the entire place.” Colin frowned.

“Four months ago. Let me guess, they destroyed everything.”

Lexi frowned. “I am sorry, but yeah, they did.”

“Did you find out anything else?”

“No.”

The waitress sat down the drinks and left.

“What about you two?” Aimee looked at James.

“We talked to a lady who opened her dress shop on the boardwalk in the summer of 1986.  So, we think it is the one she mentioned. But, the lady doesn’t remember anyone named Lillian Townsend.”

Aimee laid down her head on the table. “I am so sorry I had you guys come all the way down here. It has been such a bust.”

“Hey, it was not a bust. Alice gave you an insight of how life was here in 1986. We know this is where she at least spent the summers.” Piper hugged her friend.

“I guess. All I want is to get to know more about her, so I can find myself.”

James looked at Aimee. “You did know your mom. Maybe not about her life during her years here.  But, think of how great a mom she was. The times she took us to church events, the zoo, and she hated going bowling, but you loved it, so we went.”

“Yeah.”

“The way she held you when a storm scared you. The lazy days in the pool. The bedtime stories she made up.”

Aimee laughed. “She was horrible at telling bedtime stories.”

Aiden put an arm around her. “Aimee, knowing your parents’ past isn’t what makes you the terrific person you are. I am all for helping you with finding more about your mom, but just know, you can find yourself without knowing everything about her.”

Lexi grinned. “My turn. We are all different, Aimee. You can’t find yourself by looking at someone else’s life. You find yourself by living your own life.”

Colin moved over and let the waitress serve the food. “So, I say we eat. Go drive through these bay places. Then, come back and have a little fun. I saw an awesome bowling alley next to our hotel. Tonight we see how well Aimee can bowl.”

Beacon Bay was a ten minute drive from the beach. The houses were all like mini mansions. Aiden saw a sign for Orchid Bay Orchard. “Aimee, did your mom mention OBO in her diary?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“I just saw a sign for Orchid Bay Orchard.”

“You’re kidding.”

“No.”

Colin turned around at the next driveway and they headed to Orchid Bay Orchard. The second they pulled into the Orchard, Aimee felt like she was in the Orchard at the Plantation in Savannah. Actually, so much of this place reminded her of the plantation.

A petite elderly lady greeted them when they got out of the car. “Welcome to Orchid Bay Orchard. My name is Ella. Are you interested in a tour?”

“Yes.” Aimee answered a little too excited.

Aiden took her arm and grinned. “We would love to tour the Orchard. It looks so beautiful.”

“Great, you are in luck. We can get started now.”

Ella began the tour, discussing how the orchard had been around for over a hundred years. They produce the best tasting oranges and apples in this area. They have several agriculture specialist on staff who are always looking for ways to increase the taste of their fruit.

She showed them around the orchards. Aimee knew instantly this was the place her mom lived. Her mom mentioned a swing in the yard she would sit on to write in her diaries. Aimee saw it under a large oak tree.

Ella took them to a huge building. “This is our Orchid Bay Orchard Grocery. We have lots of samples of treats made with the fruit from our orchards. Please, take a few minutes to look around and enjoy some treats.”

Aimee looked at old pictures hanging on the wall. The pictures showed how the orchards had changed in the past hundred years. Ella came over and joined her.