Novel-novel oleh Carrie Elise

The gravel crunches beneath the tires of the Rav four like breaking glass, a sound that causes Melody Blackthorne’s heart to hammer against her ribs. She cuts the engine, but her fingers remain glued, curled tight around the steering wheel until her knuckles turn the color of the white waves crashing ahead of her. For close to two thousand miles, she had checked her rearview mirror every sixty seconds, waiting for the sleek, silver glint of Blaze’s Mercedes to appear like a shark in the wake. She’s thirty-nine years old, and currently a fugitive from her own life, hiding on the sandy outskirts of Emerald Isle, North Carolina. “Mom, are we here?” seven-year-old Mia already unbuckling her seatbelt, hazel eyes wide as she peers at the freshly stained white and blue cedar shingled cottage, then over at the beach. “Wait one moment, darling. Let’s make sure it’s safe first before we unbuckle and get out. Ok.” Melody whispers, her voice cracking. She takes a shuddering breath, trying to f

Melody awakens in her grandmother’s old room, glancing at the walls, some white shiplap, and some pastel blue. A new bed, queen size, white wicker frame bearing chic linens of white and light blue; she melts into the pillow top mattress. The faint roar of ocean waves brings fragile peace. The sound of Leo and Mia giggling in the kitchen reaches her ears, bringing joy to her stressed mind. Her bare feet hit the hardwood flooring. Melody approaches her children calmly, a hug and kiss to each on their forehead. “Good morning, babies.” Then her eyes dart around the windows and doors, making sure they are undisturbed. She bought a new phone, one that shouldn’t be traceable. At least for now. This was her grandmother’s vacation home; they visited year around, and for summer until she finished college. Melody runs her finger along a light oak piece of furniture which has been here since childhood. She pictures her grandmother and parents, flooding in happy memories being loved, hugged, and

Melody looks around to see if Blaze is anywhere in sight.She looks at Gage and the children, “Excuse me for a moment.” She steps away from the table and leans against the wooden fence, a few feet away, peering at the ocean. Melody gripping her phone, whilst shaking calls her lawyer to discuss the details of the mystery envelope. Flipping through the stack of papers, “Yes, he is suing for custody. I filed reports in Dallas for the abusive behavior. I want a restraining order. The children need to stay with me. Also, anything acquired after Monday is separate; my grandmother’s cottage, my new vehicle, it’s all mine.” A pause while she listens. “Ok, great, thank you.” She ends the call, glances at the blue sky resting above the roaring aquamarine waves, listening to them crash and splash, she faces Gage and her children, Melody resumes her place at the table. She looks at Gage, Jet, and the kids. “I’m sorry, kiddos. Are y’all finished with your ice cream. Do you want to ride some more

Mia, finds courage to step away from her sudden fear and releases the loving grasp from her mother’s side. She glances around the shop, and focuses back on her mother. They look around the shop, wooden walls, and clothing racks make up most of the store, upbeat music is playing, and the air is a comfortable cool. Swimsuits, wetsuits, snorkel, surfing and boating accessories, catch Leo’s attention. “Mom, do we need wet suits to surf. I like this one.” Leo points a blue and green suit. “Ok, it’s possible, do you think the water is cold and the air outside is cold. You can two can pick out wetsuits.”Mia finds a full body, pink and purple suit, with matching flippers. “Mom, I’ll have this one and these can help me swim, if we aren’t doing a surfing lesson.” “Mia, what a great idea, and maybe we can go snorkeling as well. I’ll pick one out too. Leo get some flippers too, and a snorkel mask.” Melody mentions with hope for fun moments. “Awesome, thanks, Mom.” The kids gather a wetsui

A high pitched whine, followed by dainty barking pierces Melody’s ears, startling her awake. Her body shudders, arms flail upward, as Melody’s heart pounds against her ribcage, her chest expands rapidly, then she realizes it’s Pearl. The nine week old English cream Golden Retriever, is sounding off, alerting the whole house, she is here, awake, and needs to go outside. A smile spreads across Melody’s face, her whiskey-green amber eyes, soften and melt gazing at Pearl. “Hi sweetie,” Melody’s voice cracking, softly speaking. She rises from bed, shimmying her feet into some slip on sneakers, and wraps a light long grey sweater over her body. Pearl is freed from her wire crate, into Melody’s arms, holding her close, her warm body, melts into Melody’s heart. She can feel Pearl’s heart beating against hers. A precious life, to savor and care for. Melody deactivates the alarm, and latches pearls leash on, the front door swings open with a gentle pull. Melody moves hurriedly down the cement

Melody and her children lock up their bikes. The yellow cedar-shingled and slightly salt-weathered, library beholds a metal bike rack. Upon entering, the smell of old paper and sea air fill Melody’s nose. A quiet building, hushed chatter, book pages being turned, the scuffing of a wooden chair over tile, the particular quiet of a building that has been useful for a long time. Melody looks around, at the desk a familiar person sits, a grey bun, glasses, focusing on the computer. She looks up, a twinkle in her eye, she gasped, “I remember you, Melody, you came in with your sister Harmony and your grandmother Adalee. I haven’t seen you in ages. How have you been?” “Great, I’m here with my two children, we would like to get a library card and check out books.” The librarian nods her head, and hands Melody a clipboard for an application. “Melody, just fill out the form and we’ll get you a new library card.” Melody quickly fills out the form, writing her maiden name; Caldwell then hands