by Leena Clover
Jenny smacked her lips as she enjoyed the sundowners she had mixed for them.
“I didn’t until now but I’m not sure any longer. She is definitely involved somehow.”
“She could have told Ray Fox about Bella’s affair. So he came here to confront her.”
“Who told him Bella was here?” Jenny mused. “Speaking of which, how many people knew Bella was in town?”
“How did we not know?” Molly asked, coming out with a plate of crab dip and crudités. “Crystal had booked out the entire country club for her wedding. And Bella wasn’t staying at Heather’s inn.”
“She must have been staying out of town,” Jenny said. “Someone would have noticed her otherwise.”
“You think Kathy Mars stopped after paying Bella off?” Heather mused. “She seems awfully concerned about Crystal turning thirty.”
“Turning thirty is a big deal,” Molly stressed. “I remember how depressed I was on my thirtieth birthday.”
“Rainbow turned out to be something else, didn’t she?” Heather said, taking a sip of her drink.
“Each one of them is wearing a mask,” Jenny said coldly. “I need to rip it off if I want to find out the truth.”
Chapter 15
Jenny’s room looked like a tornado had torn through it. The bed was strewn with discarded clothes, so was every available surface. Jenny had spent the past hour trying to find the perfect outfit for the annual Pelican Cove BBQ.
“Is this a big thing?” she had asked Star the previous evening.
“It happens once a year, so yes. The town goes all out. The men set up a smoker and start smoking the meat in the morning. The ladies make a ton of side dishes. And there’s ice cream, of course.”
“How many people go to this thing?”
“The whole town goes, Jenny. It’s one of the highlights of the year.”
“What about tourists?”
“We didn’t allow tourists until recently. You know how the islanders are, but this year’s going to be different.”
“How so?”
“Barb Norton and her minion have butted in here too. They are going to charge admission and use the money for the town beautification.”
Jenny was getting sick of Mandy James and her brilliant ideas.
Star peeped into Jenny’s room and started laughing.
“How old are you, girl? Sixteen?”
Jenny ignored her and held out two outfits. Star shook her head at either one of them.
“It’s going to be hot as hell. I suggest you wear a swimsuit and a pair of shorts. You might want to take a dip in the ocean to cool off.”
“Good idea!” Jenny said brightly.
The Boardwalk Café was closed for the day. Jenny was going to take advantage of it and enjoy her day. She wondered if she could spend some time with Adam.
“Adam will be there,” Star told her, “but he might be on duty.”
The two women set off for Main Street some time later. The aroma of smoking meat hit them as they made their way toward the drinks stand. Jenny picked up a paper cup of sweet tea and gulped it down. She was already feeling parched.
“There’s Heather and Molly!”
She waved at her friends and hurried over.
A marquee had been set up in the middle of the street. People had brought their own trestle tables and camp chairs and set up wherever they found a spot. Betty Sue and Petunia sat on two plastic Adirondack chairs flanking a long metal table. A red checked table cloth barely covered it. Betty Sue had kept her knitting at home for a change. But her fingers twirled in a familiar rhythm.
Star sat on the chair Petunia had saved for her.
“Don’t worry, I have a camp chair here for you too,” Heather told Jenny.
The ladies caught up on the gossip for a while. The girls were dispatched to get some food.
“Isn’t it too early?” Jenny asked.
“We have to pace ourselves,” Heather explained. “I’m guessing you at least want to taste everything.”
They were back with plates loaded with barbecued chicken, coleslaw and corn bread.
“The pork needs some more time,” Molly told the older ladies. “We’ll get baked beans and potato salad when we get the ribs.”
“Hello beautiful!” a voice called out.
Heather and Jenny whipped their heads around making the others laugh. Jason and Chris were walking toward them.
“How’s the barbecue?” Jason asked.
Chris and Jason were both wearing aprons proclaiming them to be pit masters. Sweat was pouring down their faces.
“You know how to operate a smoker?” Jenny asked Jason. “You are a man of many talents, Jason Stone.”
He winked and whispered something in her ear, making her blush.
“What was that?” Betty Sue thundered.
Jason picked up a fork and started eating from Jenny’s plate. Chris was eating a drumstick he had lifted off Heather’s.
“Have you seen Adam?” Star asked Chris.
“He’s on duty,” Chris said. “He should be getting off soon though.”
“This is not his kind of thing,” Jason dismissed. “He’ll probably pack a plate of food and go home.”
“He’s going to meet me here at 1,” Jenny said sweetly.
Jason’s face fell.
“Time to go back to the pit, buddy,” Chris said to him.
“How much longer for the pork, boys?” Molly asked.
“We’ll bring a plate for you when it’s ready,” Jason promised.
“Did you see his face?” Heather laughed when Jason was out of earshot. “There’s going to be a battle here, Jenny, and you’re the prize.”
“Don’t be silly,” Jenny brushed her off. “Jason is just a friend.”
“A friend who takes you out on dates?” Molly teased.
“I see a lot of strangers around,” Betty Sue commented. “I’m not sure I like that.”
“You have to change with the times, Grandma,” Heather consoled her.
“We cater to plenty of tourists year round,” Betty Sue grumbled. “Isn’t our whole business centered around tourists? The barbecue is supposed to be just for the town.”
“Yoo-hoo…”
“Here’s who you can thank, Betty Sue,” Star said and Barb Norton came up to them, beaming from ear to ear.
Mandy tagged along a few steps behind.
“We’re doing great,” Barb told them enthusiastically. “Our take has already crossed five hundred bucks. You have Mandy to thank for this.”
She paused and widened her eyes meaningfully.
“I’m sorry for taking over your town festival,” Mandy James said cheerfully, sounding anything but sorry. “But we need funds, ladies. The town of Pelican Cove desperately needs some TLC.”
“TLC?” Betty Sue asked. “Speak English, girl!”
“I mean, it needs a lot of repair.”
“We were doing fine until you came along,” Petunia snapped.
“I’m just doing my job, ladies,” Mandy sighed.
“You better start looking for a new one soon,” Betty Sue railed.
“We don’t need a prize to tell us our town is pretty,” Star added.
“You don’t get it, do you?” Barb said, shaking her head. “That contest is going to boost business. It’s going to bring in money. You can’t stop progress, Betty Sue! Why don’t you retire? Give your seat on the town board to Heather?”
Barb Norton stalked off with Mandy in tow.
“What does she care?” Petunia cried. “She doesn’t even live here all year.”
“How about a walk?” Heather asked Jenny.
There was a desperate look in her eyes. The girls knew where the conversation at the table was headed and they wanted no part of it.
They heard a buzz coming from one end of the street. A group of people was clustered together, pointing at something in the distance. The younger people had goofy looks on their faces. Some people were standing wit
h their mouths hanging open.
“What’s going on there?” Molly asked, putting on speed.
Crystal Mars and a bunch of her friends lay sunning themselves on the beach. The skimpiest of bikinis barely covered their honey colored bodies. Sunglasses larger than the bikinis covered their eyes.
“It’s the invasion of the Barbies,” someone in the crowd said.
“Look,” a young acne faced boy chortled as one of the girls pulled off her bikini top.
An older woman, probably his mother, shielded his eyes with her palm.
“We thought this was a family friendly place,” she said angrily.
Jenny and the girls walked down to the beach purposefully. Picking up some sarongs that lay in the sand, she flung them over the girls.
“What are you doing here, Crystal?”
“We thought we would get some barbecue.”
“You need to cover up,” Heather ordered. “There’s a lot of kids around.”
“But we’re on the beach,” one of the posse grumbled.
Jenny spotted Rainbow trying to smother a smile.
“Let me guess,” Jenny said. “This was your idea.”
“What’s wrong with getting some sun?”
“Are you trying to create a scandal?”
“Relax,” Crystal said lightly. “We get it.”
She stood up and tied a sarong around her waist. She pulled the other one around her upper body and tied it around her neck. The other girls got up and copied her actions.
“Good enough?” Crystal asked. “Now where’s this food everyone’s talking about?”
“Ladies!” an authoritative voice called.
Jenny’s heart skipped a beat as she recognized Adam’s voice.
“There have been some complaints. This is not a topless beach.”
“We’re covered head to toe, Officer,” Crystal said flirtatiously.
“So you are,” Adam nodded.
“Jenny’s been looking for you,” Heather spoke as Crystal and her posse walked up to the barbecue tent.
“No I haven’t,” Jenny protested.
“Can we go to your inn?” Molly asked Heather. “I need to freshen up.”
Heather and Molly started walking away, arm in arm.
“Molly? Heather?” Jenny called out. “I’m coming too.”
They ignored her and broke into a jog.
“I can hear them giggle, you know,” Adam said.
Jenny was feeling embarrassed. She wondered if Adam might lose his temper.
“Here we are!” he said softly.
“Are you still on duty?” she asked.
Adam looked at his watch.
“Only for the next five minutes.”
“Do you want to get something to eat?”
Adam bobbed his head.
“I’m starving, Jenny. Let’s go get some barbecue.”
“We have a table somewhere in that big tent,” Jenny told him as they stood in line. “The older Magnolias are over there.”
“I was hoping we could sit somewhere else,” Adam said. “Away from the crowd?”
“Hard to find an empty table,” Jenny mumbled.
“I brought a mat,” Adam told her. “We can sit on the beach.”
They loaded their plates with the smoky meat. Jenny went for some baked beans and macaroni and cheese. Adam took a little bit of everything. They took their food out to the beach.
“We went to the sky diving company,” Jenny told Adam. “The pilot mistook Bella for Crystal. That’s why she was dressed in that bridal dress. It must have been her plan all along.”
“I thought so too,” Adam admitted. “Look, can we not talk about work?”
“Sure. What do you want to talk about?”
“Something more interesting,” Adam grinned. “You.”
“I don’t have much to say,” Jenny said, feeling a blush steal over her face.
“What’s new with you, Jenny King?” Adam asked.
He picked an errant strand of Jenny’s hair and tucked it behind her ear.
“How are the twins?”
“They are good. They were asking about you.”
“We might have to do some renovations at the café.”
“Good,” Adam said, looking into her eyes.
Jenny gulped and rubbed the heart shaped charm on her necklace.
“Adam,” she said, struggling to find the right words. She didn’t want to offend him. “Are we on a date?”
Adam didn’t blink.
“When we go on a date, Jenny, you’ll know.”
“I didn’t mean to…I wasn’t…”
“I know you weren’t,” Adam assured her. “Thank you for being so patient.”
Jenny knew Adam had loved his wife a lot.
“Do you still miss her?”
“Sometimes I do,” Adam said honestly. “I know it’s been ten years. The girls are grown. What can I say, Jenny? She was my first love.”
Jenny didn’t have the same feelings where her ex-husband was concerned. He had dumped her for a younger model less than a year ago. The only thing Jenny felt when she thought of him was rage.
“You’re too good, Adam.”
“Are you sure you’re talking about me?” Adam joked. “I’m cranky and ill tempered most of the time. The younger guys at the station quake in fear when I walk by.”
“You’re kidding,” Jenny laughed.
She picked up his hand and threaded her fingers through his.
“You’ve been through a lot, Adam. I can understand your frustration.”
“One of these days, we will go out on a proper date,” Adam promised. “How about taking a kayak out on the water?”
Jenny was deathly afraid of the water. But she didn’t want to spoil the mood.
A hearty voice called out just then.
“Ahoy there!”
Jenny looked up to see Jason walking toward them with a tray loaded with food. Chris, Heather and Molly followed close behind.
“This is so not a date,” Adam muttered, waving a hand at the new arrivals.
Chapter 16
Mandy James posted pictures of the town barbecue on Instagram. There was a sudden influx of tourists wanting to taste barbecue.
“We don’t serve barbecue here,” Jenny told a customer for the umpteenth time. “Can I get you a crab salad sandwich? We have Chesapeake Bay crabs, caught this morning.”
Four hours later, she was finally ready to call it a day. Jenny thought of Adam on her way back home. She hadn’t run into him since the barbecue.
Jason turned up for dinner with Chinese food.
“This is from my favorite restaurant on the mainland,” he told them. “Just taste this Moo Shu Pork, Jenny. You’ll love it.”
“I don’t mind some Lo Mein,” Star said, dishing out a hefty serving with a pair of chopsticks.
“This is good,” Jenny spoke between bites. “I’m so exhausted I can barely taste it though.”
She massaged her feet with one hand while she spoke.
“Let me do that.”
Jason gently picked up her foot and placed it in his lap. He began giving her a foot massage. Star looked on approvingly.
“Stop it, Jason,” Jenny groaned. “You’re spoiling me.”
“What are you doing Saturday night?”
“Soaking my feet in a big tub of water,” Jenny sighed.
The heat and humidity were already getting to her.
“You need to hydrate more,” Jason advised. “We should take a canoe out on the water one of these days. It will relax you.”
“Err, I think not!”
“Jenny’s scared of the water,” Star spoke up. “Don’t you remember that summer, Jason? All the kids decided to have an impromptu canoe race. Jenny stayed back on land to flag you off.”
“Oh yeah!” Jason said, popping a dumpling in his mouth. “But that was years ago.”
“Water’s not my thing, Jason.”
“So we’ll do som
ething else. Let’s go to Virginia Beach Saturday night. There’s a new club everyone’s raving about.”
“We’ll see.”
Jason agreed good naturedly. He was so amicable Jenny found it hard to deny him anything. He never lost his temper.
“Don’t over think it,” Star told her as they watched TV.
Jason had left long ago. He had to be in court first thing in the morning.
“He’s nice, but I can’t be serious about a lawyer. Not again.”
“That’s ridiculous. Just because one lawyer dumped you doesn’t mean another will.”
“I’m out of here,” Jenny scowled.
She stepped out and started walking at a clip, barely stopping to look at the roses blooming at Seaview. She almost bumped into a body a while later.
“Jenny?” Adam’s deep voice cut through the fog in her mind. “What’s the matter?”
Tank put his paws on Jenny’s shoulders and gave her a wet welcome.
“Hello sweetie,” Jenny said, fondling the big yellow Lab. “I’ve missed you.”
“He’s missed you too,” Adam said, leaning on his cane. “We’ve been busy.”
“Find anything new?”
Adam shook his head.
“I’m not supposed to talk about this. We haven’t confirmed the husband’s alibi yet.”
Jenny slapped her head and let out a tiny cry.
“I was going to tell you … he was here the day before the wedding.”
“How do you know that?” Adam asked, grabbing her arm. “Are you sure about this?”
“Not really,” Jenny said. “One of the bridesmaids told me. She said he went into the Rusty Anchor.”
“We can easily verify that.”
“How come no one at the pub came forward with this?”
Adam shrugged.
“Lots of tourists around these days. A stranger doesn’t stand out so much.”
“Have you interviewed this girl? She’s beginning to look fishy.”
Jenny told Adam about Rainbow.
“You say she’s accusing Wayne Newman?”
“Not directly, no. But she’s connected to everyone one way or the other.”
“Maybe she’s angling for something.”
“All these girls care about is getting ahead in their careers.”
“I’m going to talk to her again,” Adam promised.
