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Chapter One

Ach, I can hardly believe I’ve come home to the Seas Islands.

Clara Bennett sharply took in her breath as she stepped foot off of the bus and into the warm, Carolina sunshine. The muggy air hit her full in the face, and she could feel her chocolate brown hair start to instantly curl underneath her kapp from the humidity.

“Are you okay, miss?”

Clara’s eyes looked away from the ground she was studying intently as a frown tugged on her lips. She feigned a smile at the bus driver as she’d silently mulled over the events which had drawn her to South Carolina from upstate New York.

“Ja, I guess I’ll make it. Thanks for asking.”

Clara gave the answer she’d been so used to giving for the past eight years before walking away from the driver and into the small Beaufort bus station. While she might not be fine, she was making it. Her mantra had been to keep putting one foot in front of the other, even when she felt like she just couldn’t. This attitude had served her well, and she’d become an integral part of the art community near an Amish settlement in Niagara Falls for years now. Clara poured out her feelings in her paintings, and she guessed this was one benefit her heartbreak had given to her.

“Clara. We’re over here.”

Clara felt her back stiffen as her mother’s sensible shoes squeaked on the tile floor in her direction. She’d left her Amish beachside community eight years ago, and hadn’t seen her parents since. Her shoulders slumped as she realized the gravity of the current situation which had brought her back. Her body felt strangely numb as her mother approached.

“You could pick up the pace, you know. We’ve got a lot of arrangements to make, and we need to get back to April and Jed’s as soon as possible.”

“It’s nice to see you too, Mamm.”

Trudy Bennett simply frowned in response, and Clara felt a chill race up her back despite the hot, summer day. Her mamm always knew how to make her feel like a child, and she quickly found this was still true even though she was now twenty-eight years old.

Clara’s daed trudged up behind her mother, and gave her a hesitant smile.

“How’ve you been, Clara Bear?”

Clara felt like recoiling when hearing him use the pet name he’d given her as a youngster. 

“I guess I’ll make it.”

Trudy rolled her eyes while nudging Clara to move towards the exit.

“Look, I know this is difficult for all of us. But we haven’t been given a choice in the matter, and we must figure out how to navigate this situation. We have to get along to do this. Do you understand?”

“This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Do you have any idea how it feels for me to return to South Carolina, when taking into account how I left? Especially since April’s gone now. I honestly don’t know why she asked me to take Harper.”

Clara’s sister and brother-in-law died suddenly in a buggy accident two days ago, and her own life had dived into a tailspin ever since. Not only had she lost the sister whom she hadn’t spoken to in years, she’d also been given custody of her 8-year-old adopted daughter. She’d made emergency arrangements with her landlord before coming to South Carolina to be with the family. But Clara still felt like an unwanted outsider, and she desperately wanted to hop on the next bus to go back to where she came from.

“We’ll see if other arrangements can be made for Harper. Don’t worry.” Trudy pushed her kapp strings behind her shoulders before shoving a pair of sunglasses on her face. “We are all adults now, and we’ll somehow figure this out.”

I was an adult when I was forced to leave, too. The thought zipped through Clara’s head, and she decided to keep it there. She didn’t want to be disrespectful to her mamm.

She rubbed her swollen eyes while nearly jogging to keep up with her parents. They obviously were on a mission to return to their driver as quickly as possible, and Clara was glad that she’d worn her running sneakers.

“So, what’s the plan for today?” Her voice was so soft she didn’t know if her parents could hear her over the rumble of buses nearby.

Sam Bennett looked over his shoulder while continuing to trudge ahead. “We met with the bishop this morning, and most of the funeral details are ironed out. The community has really pitched in to help, and Harper hasn’t wanted for anything. Other than her parents, that is.”

Her daed’s matter-of-fact words cut to her heart, and she felt the breath leave her lungs. 

“More than anything, I want to make sure Harper’s alright.”

“Truly, Clara?”

Clara darted forward to make sure her parents could hear her. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my entire life.

Silence stretched between them as they approached a gray minivan, and Sam motioned for Clara to follow closely. He slid open the door, and Clara slung her black suitcase inside before scooting onto a seat near the back. After buckling her seatbelt, she turned an air vent towards her face and turned it on full blast. Clara couldn’t tell if she was hot or cold, but the icy air felt nice on her skin, wet with lowcountry humidity.

Clara looked out the window as the van buzzed by palm trees in the quaint town of Beaufort. Before long, they’d be crossing the Beaufort River to start their trek across the Sea Islands. While Clara had been raised on Lady’s Island, April and Will had moved to Harbor Bay after they’d adopted Harper. When the adorable yellow bungalow with beach access came on the market in a heavily Amish and Mennonite area, they’d snatched it up as quick as a wink. They thought it would be the perfect spot to raise their daughter.

“Where’s Harper, anyway? I thought she’d be with you when you came to pick me up.”

Trudy looked jittery when she turned to face Clara. “We thought it would be best if she stayed home when we came to get you. She’s not doing too well, which is to be expected.”

Clara’s nerves felt rankled. “Did you leave her at home alone?”

“Of course not, Clara. Don’t be absurd. April and Jed were good friends with their neighbor, Tyler White. He offered to keep an eye on her for us.”

“Are you sure he’s trustworthy?”

Trudy’s eyes rolled. “I wouldn’t talk about being trustworthy if I were you, Clara. But yes, Tyler is completely honorable. He’s spent a lot of time with the family, and Harper is very comfortable with him.”

Clara decided to zip her lips for the rest of the car ride. It was clear that not much had changed since she’d left the Sea Islands and headed north so long ago. 

She tried to remember what her therapist had taught her, and took deep breaths as her daed drove over the last causeway before Harbor Bay came into view. It felt like all the work she’d done to regain her mental health had come crashing down with just a few jabs from her mamm.

She watched a brown pelican swoop down into the marsh to catch a fish as the driver flipped on the blinker to turn into the Harbor Bay Amish community. After the van turned to the left, Clara trained her eyes on the colorful bungalows that rushed by her window. Her breath caught as she remembered all the good memories she’d suppressed about this sacred place. Growing up in the low country had been full of enjoyment and fun. That is, until it didn’t.

After making their turn, they drove slowly by a row of beachfront homes. Clara silently counted the bungalows, knowing they’d arrive at April’s place in just a moment. She’d only been there one time, but she’d never forget it.

Almost there.

The driver put on the brakes before pulling into the Harris’s drive. Guilt twisted Clara’s insides. She squeezed her eyes shut in remorse as the van was put in park and the door opened.

Clara felt frozen while looking out the window. Next to the parked vehicle sat a cobalt blue golf cart full of beach toys, towels, and an umbrella. She noticed a little girl with her curly brown hair twisted into a bun sitting on the passenger seat, her hollow eyes looking like she was mad at the world. Curiosity nudged her as she looked in amazement. Could this be Harper?

“I’m glad to see you made it safe and sound.”

“Ja, we had an uneventful trip to the bus station. Clara made it in one piece.”

Pulling her gaze away from the child, she spotted a tall man walking towards her father. He wore a t-shirt and blue swim trunks with white stripes down the sides. She noticed his toned arm was tanned from the island sun when he reached forward to shake Sam’s hand. Sandy blonde hair peeked out from underneath a straw hat, and Clara felt her heart tap a little faster when the man offered her father a compassionate smile. 

This is who’d been watching Harper?

The corner of his eyes squeezed a little more when he caught sight of her. Clara tried her best to sink into her seat and trained her gaze at the floor. She unbuckled her seatbelt, aware of Tyler’s stare. She wished he would back away and let her breathe. Chiding herself, she forced herself to push back the lump in her throat and return his smile. She forced the sides of her mouth to tug upward. It’s not fair to expect him to understand the depths of pain I’m feeling. I’ll play nice, and get through today…somehow.

Like he could read her mind, Tyler stepped away as Clara opened the sliding door. Sam caught her eye in the rearview mirror.

“Leave your bag in the van, Clara, I’ll get it for you in just a minute.”

Shrugging off the peace offering, Clara stepped outside. As soon as her feet hit the pavement, she tried to straighten her crumpled and worn cape dress. She hadn’t thought to look nice for the occasion, but now that she was here, she’d wished she’d fought through her foggy head and had worn something special. While the reason for Clara’s visit was painful, visiting Harper was indeed a momentous occasion. She’d likely remember it forever.

She watched a palm tree sway in the warm island breeze as she stepped around the van. Her feet felt wobbly, and she pressed against the vehicle for support before she walked towards Harper. Tyler noticed her shaky legs, and rushed towards her, offering his arm for support.

“It’s so nice to meet you, Clara. April talked about you all of the time, and I feel like I know you already.”

Clara eyed him suspiciously. She highly doubted her sister had spoken highly of her, but it was a nice thought, at least. While she wanted to push away from him, instead, she wrapped her arm around his and clung to it for support. His arm was warmed by the sun, and Clara could feel his muscles flex as he pulled her a little closer.

“Whoa, now. Are you alright? I can help you to the house if you’d like.”

Embarrassed, Clara squeezed her eyes shut as her cheeks pinked. 

“Nee…I’m fine. I’m just feeling a little wobbly after a day of travel. I’ll get my feet under me in just a second.”

“Take your time. Would you like to sit down?”

Clara laughed softly, despite the distressing situation. She must be a sight to see.

“Nee. If you don’t mind, could you help me to the golf cart? I’d like to see Harper.”

“Of course.” Tyler’s blue eyes softened as he helped her off of the concrete driveway and onto the crushed seashell path. Her breath caught as she locked eyes with the very sad little girl who’d scooched to the edge of her seat.

***

Tyler’s heart tapped in sympathy as he gently led Clara towards the waiting golf cart. A jolt shot through his arm as she tugged him to a stop and stuck her hand deep into her pocket. Pulling out a pair of sunglasses, she plopped them on her nose before nudging him forward. He wasn’t sure if they were to protect her vision from the bright Carolina sun, or hide the swollen redness that surrounded her wide mahogany eyes. Deciding it didn’t matter, he continued to walk towards Harper as she paid no mind to him.

Clara squeezed his arm before letting it go and steadying herself against the golf cart. Harper’s dog gave a deep woof, sounding much larger than it actually was.

“It’s alright, Brownie.” Tyler’s voice calmed the chocolate dachshund as it popped its head out from between a bag of beach towels and a stack of sand toys. Brownie whimpered softly as it nudged Clara gently with her snout before giving her hand a big lick. Clara’s lips pulled into a gentle smile as she kept her eyes trained towards Harper.

Brownie liked April’s sister. This was a good sign. If only Harper would feel the same way. Tyler’s heart squeezed as he thought about how difficult this must feel for the little girl. How would she react to being cared for by an aunt she’d never met? Tyler had been confused by Will and April’s last wishes, and April’s parents had been even more so. He’d caught Trudy speaking to her husband in frightened whispers about the situation when he’d delivered a casserole to the home yesterday. 

“Hey, Harper. My name’s Clara. It’s so nice to meet you. You sure do have a nice dog. I like Brownie very much.”

Clara’s hand shook as she reached out to rub Brownie behind the ears. Harper’s mouth twitched like she couldn’t decide whether to smile or not. Tyler let out a breath. This was a good sign, too.

Harper tucked a wayward curl behind her ear and gave Clara a toothless grin. “Brownie knows if people are nice or not, and she really likes you. That must mean you’re okay.”

“Is that so?” Clara chuckled as the dog wagged her tail as if agreeing with Harper. “I’m glad Brownie likes me, then.”

Tyler signed as a deep frown once again lined Harper’s jaw. Her smile faded as quickly as it had brightened her face, likely because of the terrible situation she’d found herself in.

Tyler had taken to Harper as soon as he’d moved into the aqua bungalow next to her yellow one. He’d moved there right after his wife, Joy and young daughter, Eva had been killed in a swimming accident, trying his best to find meaning to life again. Harper reminded him so much of his Eva, and spending time with the Harris’s had helped his heart start to heal, along with volunteering at the new Beaufort County Conservation Trust. Both Harper’s happy chatter and working to protect the marshland in this part of South Carolina’s lowcountry helped him regain the purpose he’d lost when his little family had died. The hole Joy and Eva had left was still empty though. He spent many nights walking the beach, trying to chase his sadness away.

With a sigh, Clara plopped onto the seat with Harper. The child’s eyes brimmed with curiosity as she scooted to give her more room.

“Do you want to come with us to the beach, Clara? There’s plenty of space.” Tyler eyed the woman carefully. “Who knows…it might make you feel better.” While he didn’t understand what had caused the rift in April and Clara’s relationship, he knew there had been one. April often spoke about missing her sister once Harper had been tucked safely in bed, and the neighbors spent time relaxing on the back porch. He wondered what had separated the sisters while listening to the waves crash on the shore on those moonlit nights, and now, it was too little, too late. Clara likely had regrets, which compounded on top of her grief.

Clara bobbed her head while biting on her lip. “Yeah, I think I’d like that. I haven’t seen this beach in a very long time.”

“Are you sure that’s the best idea? We could get you settled in your room, instead. I know you must be tired after so much traveling.” Trudy’s dress swished as she moved towards the golf cart, while giving Clara an imploring stare. Tyler shifted uncomfortably as Clara scooped up Brownie and the dog wiggled in her arms.

“Ja, I’m sure.” Clara’s tone was clipped, and he could feel heat radiating off of her. Tyler looked at the ground, not wanting to involve himself in the family drama. 

Trudy sighed. “Suit yourself, but I don’t think it’s a gut idea.”

“I know you don’t, Mamm. But I’m an adult, and can make my own decisions.” He noticed Clara’s chin quiver as she jutted it forward. “Let’s go, Tyler.”

He raised his eyebrows at her command. Shrugging his shoulders, he slid into the seat. They sat snugly together, and Tyler was acutely aware of her nearness. He frowned while chasing that thought away. He turned the key, while feeling Clara grow stiff at his side. He shot an apologetic smile towards Trudy as he pulled away. The older woman was fuming, and he could almost see the smoke coming out of her ears.

“I wonder why Nana’s so mad. She probably misses Mamm like I do.” Harper spoke softly as the golf cart jostled across a break in the sand dunes and towards the ocean.

Tyler’s heart caught. He knew Harper was experiencing a gamut of emotions that she couldn’t put into words. She was also an intuitive little thing, and had caught onto Trudy’s sour mood easily. “Your nana will be okay, Harper. She’s probably just sad like the rest of us.”

“I wish that’s all there was to it.”

Tyler glanced at Clara as her soft words flew across the ocean breeze. He wished he could do something to take both Harper and Clara’s pain away, but he’d probably fail if he tried. After four years, he was still reeling over the death of his own family. Clara’s comment highlighted that as he’d suspected, the Bennett family had their secrets. Deciding that Harper would benefit from a change of subject, Tyler pointed to a flock of seagulls as the cart bumped over the last mounds of sand before the ground leveled out. Brownie barked at the playful birds, but her ferocious attempt to scare them away was lost in the breeze.

“Stop here, Tyler. This looks like a great place to build a sand castle.”

Tyler chuckled as he slowed the cart to a stop. The tide was down, and an expansive beach stretched in front of them. If this is where Harper wanted for them to spend their afternoon, then he would gladly comply.

Clara stayed seated after Harper jumped from the cart and pulled her favorite bucket and shovel from her stack. Brownie pranced at her heels as she walked a few feet away and plopped in the sand.

Tyler rummaged through a beach bag and pulled out a bottle of sunscreen.

“Sunscreen first, Harper.”

The girl sighed as she spread her arms and legs, allowing him to spray her down.

“Would you like any, Clara?”

“No, I’m fine.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “You sure?”

“Ja.”

It looked like Clara hadn’t been in the sun for awhile, and he hoped she wouldn’t regret her decision later. He sprayed himself down before returning it to the brightly colored bag.

“So…I heard that you’ve been named Harper’s guardian.” Tyler kept his voice low, hoping the child wouldn’t hear what he had to say. She’d endured so much over the last couple of days, and he wanted her to enjoy her time at the beach without being reminded of her situation.

“You heard right. I probably won’t be here for long, though. At least, if my mamm has anything to do with it.”

Tyler leaned a little closer to Clara, while keeping one eye trained on Harper. “What do you mean?”

“It’s complicated, and I’d rather not discuss it right now if that’s alright.”

“Sure.” 

Tyler didn’t want to press for information, but curiosity buzzed through his insides. Why wouldn’t Trudy want Clara to care for April’s daughter? Silence stretched between them as Clara stared at the roaring waves. Sighing, she raised her sunglasses and looked at him. Her eyes looked at him pleadingly, and cut straight to his heart.

“I do want to be with Harper, though. Please remember that if you hear any rumors otherwise.”

Quick as a wink, she pushed her sunglasses back on top of her nose as she held back a sniffle. Empathy pressed through him. He could almost feel the hurt that was running through her, and he wished he knew more of her story.

“Of course. I don’t know the ins and outs of your situation, but I believe you. And I’m here for you if you ever need me when you’re caring for Harper. I live right next door. Harper and I have been best buds since I moved in four years ago.”

A grin tugged on her lips. “Is that so?”

“Absolutely. When we found out that her parents passed away, Harper asked for me almost immediately. I was very good friends with Jed, and I spent a lot of time at their home since we were neighbors. I’m taking a week off of work to help with her while Sam and Trudy make arrangements.” Tyler was glad his carpentry work was flexible, and that his backyard shop allowed him to fit his job around the rest of his life.

“You did that for her? That…that was very nice of you.”

“Of course. I’d do just about anything for Harper.”

“I would, too.” Clara’s words came out in a whisper, and Tyler struggled to hear them over the whipping wind.

“Tyler, look! Brownie and I found a seashell!”

Tyler smiled as Harper bounded towards them, with Brownie close on her heels. He held out his hand, and Harper placed it gently into his palm.

“Good find, Harper. This is a Lettered Olive. It’s the state shell of South Carolina.”

Clara looked at him quizzically. “How did you know that?”

“The local ecology interests me. When I’m not working, I help out at the Beaufort County Conservation Trust.”

“Oh. That sounds like fun.” Clara took a closer look at the shell in his hand. “I grew up on the Sea Islands, but I never learned the names of the sea shells I found.” She looked at him sheepishly while pushing back strands of her hair that had escaped from her kapp and was whipping in the strong breeze. “This shell is beautiful.”

“Then you should have it.” Harper snatched the shell out of Tyler’s hand, and placed it in Clara’s palm. “It’s a gift to welcome you back to the island.”

“Th…thank you, Harper. What a meaningful gift.” Clara’s voice wobbled a little. Harper gave Clara a semi-smile before bounding back to her lavender bucket and shovel.

“What do you say we join Harper, and help her build a castle? It’s probably a gut idea for you to get to know her better since the Harris’s named you her guardian.”

“Didn’t you hear what I said earlier? I probably won’t be here for long.”

Clara crossed her arms as a huff left her mouth. Tyler wished she would tell him what was going on.

Instead, he gently tilted her chin with his thumb, silently asking her to look at him.

She complied, but he could tell she wasn’t happy about it. Even with her sunglasses on.

“I trust Will and April’s judgment, and I think you should be Harper’s guardian. For some reason, they thought you’d be the best fit. Would you like for me to have a word with Sam and Trudy?”

“Nee…that won’t be necessary.” Clara eyed Harper as she pushed herself off of the golf cart. “But I think you’re right. Let’s get to building that sand castle.”Tyler gave Clara a buffer as they walked towards Harper. He admired how she’d decided to try to connect with Harper, along with the way she gracefully walked across the sand. Clara was very beautiful, with her chestnut hair that peeked from her kapp and wide brown eyes. He put a guard around his heart right then and there. After experiencing the pain of losing his wife, he wasn’t sure if he’d be interested in pursuing a relationship ever again.

Thanks for reading this sample chapter, friends!

If you’d like to purchase Her Island Secret, please click here.