Read Rooms: A Novel for Free Online Page A

across Puget Sound’s dark green waters. The same ocean lapped at the sand at Cannon Beach. Thoughts filled his mind of snow-white sand dollars, sand squeaking under his shoes, and those massive picture windows perfectly framing the surf.
    If only Archie could have built the house in Lincoln City or Newport. Then he’d keep the place forever.
    But he didn’t need Cannon Beach reminding him of the day that ripped his life apart every time he stepped onto the sand.
    Shannon stood in his doorway. “Julie’s meeting starts in five minutes.”
    “What?” Micah blinked and spun toward her.
    “Welcome back to Earth.” Shannon pointed down the hall. “Julie’s meeting.”
    “Right.” He left his office and met Julie at the conference room door. “You ready?”
    Julie smiled. “Completely.”
    For the first few minutes of her marketing presentation to their board of directors, Micah listened intently. But as Julie moved into the breakdown of their ad budget, his mind wandered. Three minutes later a sketch of his house at Cannon Beach and the surrounding mountains appeared under the rapid movement of his mechanical pencil.
    “. . . and RimSoft’s logo will get an overhaul . . .” Julie’s voice droned.
    Need to put a sand castle in there. A few more turrets on it. Perfect. Maybe a few kites in the sky. That’s an idea. He should buy one of those high-tech stunt kites. What a kick to learn to fly—
    “Micah?” Julie’s voice cut through his moment of admiration. She and the board stared at him. “You with me here, partner?”
    The lead at the tip of his pencil snapped off as he looked up. “Yeah. Sorry.” He set his pencil down and folded his arms. Resist. Julie needs the support. He glanced down at the sketch. It begged for a golden retriever. As Julie turned to her left to answer a question, Micah picked up his pencil and clicked twice. The lead leaped out as if at attention, ready for orders. Micah stopped drawing the instant Julie finished giving her reply.
    When the presentation was over, he mouthed, “Nice job” to Julie, who shook hands with board members. She frowned at him.
    As he strode out the door, his stomach alarm clock went off, and he shut it off with a Diet Coke and a turkey sandwich—extra mayo—from the company deli. When he got back to his office, Julie was leaning against his desk, arms crossed.
    “I know you like doodling sketches when you’re in meetings, but this time was a little much. I think you caught two minutes of my presentation, max. Was your mental sabbatical to anyplace interesting?”
    Micah ripped his drawing from his notepad and held it up. “Hmm?”
    In the foreground was the ocean, then the beach with two sand castles, a stunt kite, and a golden retriever leaping for a piece of driftwood spinning through the air. His home was the focal point of the drawing, framed by trees on both sides, the picture windows in perfect proportion. Smoke curled out of the chimney.
    “I take it that’ll be part of the brochure to get the thing sold?” Julie pulled her arms in tighter and leaned back.
    “Hadn’t considered that. Yeah, maybe.”
    “Don’t tell me you’re starting to like the place.”
    “No way.” He stared at his drawing. He couldn’t keep his mind off Archie’s house. It drew him like a magnet. Yes, Cannon Beach was laced with razor-sharp pain from his past. But now, in some strange way, it filled him with anticipation. And that weird familiar feeling in the house continued to pull at him.
    “I need to ask you something.” Micah laid the drawing on his desk and smoothed it out with both hands. “I want to make the next three or four weekends long ones and hang out down there. Be all right with you?”
    “Wow.” Julie tried to laugh. “I’ve been ditched for another woman before but never a house.”
    “Come with me.” He kissed her on the cheek.
    “Do you want me to?”
    “Sure. Yes.” Micah turned back to his drawing. “Of course.”
    She