by Kay Correll
“I see you have the room equipped with a nice over-stuffed chair.”
“I had to get a friend drive a truck into the backyard, and we put a ladder up from his truck bed to the outside of the widow walk. We brought the chair in from the outside. I was determined to have that chair up here.”
“I guess you were.”
“I like to read up here, and that is my favorite reading chair.”
“What kind of books do you read?”
“Romances, mostly. Happy ending books. An occasional mystery. Sometimes whatever book is hot right now, just to know what people are talking about. Do you read much?”
“Only about computer stuff. I used to read thrillers, but… well, I just don’t have time and don’t think about reading anymore.”
“You should pick up a book to read on your vacation.”
He furrowed his brow. “You know, I should.”
“Shopping and reading. Wonder what I’ll have you doing next?” She grinned at him.
* * *
What would she have him doing next?
She seemed to push him out of his comfort zone, which he wasn’t really sure was where he wanted to be. Not at all.
He wasn’t used to staring at a woman’s face, waiting for her to break into a smile. He wasn’t used to the easy way they could talk—when he wasn’t screwing that up. He wasn’t used to hoping she’d say yes to going out with him…
“So, where do you want to go on our date tomorrow? You’re the island expert. Dinner? Movie? Or?” He looked over at Julie, her face dimly lit from the moon that kept hiding behind clouds then shyly peeking out before ducking for cover again.
“Honestly, I usually do Magic Cafe or The Lucky Duck. There is a fancy place here… I’ve never actually been there. Three Wishes.”
“So is everything on Belle Island named after wishes or luck or magic?”
“Pretty much.” She grinned at him. “The Wishing Shop, A Wish and a Player—get it—it’s a sports bar. Or they are lighthouse this or that. Lighthouse Gift Shop. Names like that. We love our tourist trade and play into it with gusto.”
“I guess you do.”
“But seriously, our tourist trade is what keeps this island alive. We depend on it. You either work on something in the tourist trade, or fishing. That’s ninety percent of the jobs on the island.”
“Aren’t you afraid a hurricane will wipe you out?”
“It’s hurricanes here on the gulf, tornados in the Midwest, earthquakes or wildfires in other places. There is always a threat of a natural disaster. We don’t go borrowing trouble, we just go on with our lives, day by day.”
“Not a bad philosophy.” That’s really how he lived his life now, too. He didn’t look to the future, he just moved through each day.
Julie stretched out her legs. “I don’t mean I don’t look to the future.”
He stared at her, her words were so similar to his thoughts. Well, actually, the exact opposite of what he’d been thinking.
“I’m always planning. I have ideas to expand. Maybe open another shop in Sarasota, or maybe in another beach town. I’d like to get the catering side of the business to grow.” She shrugged. “I have big dreams.”
He looked at Julie, her eyes shining with hopes and plans. Had he ever been like that? So excited about the future? So full of hope and dreams? Belief that the future would be all bright and rosy?
“Don’t you have dreams? Things you want out of your future?” She raised her head and looked directly at him.
“I… don’t. I don’t think about the future much now. Everything… changed… when Victoria died. She took my plans and my dreams and my future with her.”
Julie looked at him silently for a moment, then touched his hand. “I didn’t know your wife, but do you think she would want you to just shut down? To stop living? You’ve been given a life and it seems so wasteful to just… throw it away.”
“You don’t understand what it’s like.”
“Maybe I don’t. I’ve lost a lot in my life, but not a spouse. But you don’t have to let that one loss define you, define your life. I’ve tried to move on from mine.”
“Maybe you’re a stronger person than I am.” He’d no doubt she was. She’d had a tough life and she’d overcome it. He just couldn’t seem to move past the accident.
But then, he didn’t deserve to move on because the accident had been all his fault.
Chapter 10
The next morning Reed carried his laptop down to the lobby and saw Jamie working the front desk. “Hey, Jamie. I can’t get my laptop to connect to the internet.”
A wry grimace spread across Jamie’s face. “Yes, that. The internet is down. Again. I have a guy coming out to look at it in an hour or so. But that’s on repairman island time, so who knows when he’ll actually make it here.”
“You know somewhere else I can go and grab some free wireless?” Reed wanted to search for help on the internet. He was stuck on programming his app.
“The Sweet Shoppe has it. Jules’ internet is usually better than ours. Unless the whole island is down. That happens. Often.”
“I guess I’ll go try there, then.” Reed stepped out into the humid, late-morning air that offered no breeze to chase away the mugginess. He put his laptop in the basket of his bike, rode the short distance to the bakery and slipped inside, glad to be out of the oppressive heat. If it was this hot in April, what was it like here in August? Well, he wouldn’t be around to find out. He was ticking off the days until he could return to work in Seattle.
Except then he saw Julie behind the counter waiting on a customer, and he wasn’t quite so eager to get back home.
Julie waved from across the room, and he crossed to an empty table near the wall, after glancing around to find a power outlet if he needed it for the laptop. He settled into his chair and popped the laptop open. No internet signal here, either.
Julie walked up. “If you’re looking for internet, I think it’s down island-wide.”
He sighed. “I was. Jamie said you might have access. Trying to get some work done and needed to search for some info.”
“I thought you were on vacation.”
“This is personal work, not work-work.”
“You’re out of luck unless you want to drive over to the mainland.”
That sure wasn’t going to work for him, now was it?
“I guess I’ll just wait for it to come back on.”
“Good plan.” She shrugged. “It’s island life. We’re pretty laid back about all things techie. Makes it a bit harder to run a business, though we’ve all learned to deal with the occasional outages.”
“I guess I’ll have to eat my frustrations away.” He grinned at her, pleased to see an answering smile in return. “You got any of that almond goodness you were making the other day?”
“I do. Two almond scones and coffee?”
“Perfect.”
She delivered his breakfast, and he worked on his app for a bit, still wishing he could hit the internet to help him figure out where he was going wrong on his programming. The door to the bakery opened and a large crowd of young teens dressed in softball uniforms and a handful of adults came into the shop.
He looked over at Julie, who had a hint of a deer-in-the-headlights look in her eyes. She motioned for them to take seats anywhere and hurried into the back, probably looking for reinforcements.
With a quick moment of decision, he pushed back from his table, walked over to the sideboard, and grabbed a tray of glasses and a pitcher of water. He walked up to the first table of giggling girls and plopped down glasses of water for each of them, then continued until every single one of those young, laughing schoolgirls had water.
The noise level grew to a volume unknown to him. Noise, laughter, giggles… and a crash. He turned to look at a broken glass at a nearby table.
“I’m sorry.” A blonde girl in braids looked stricken.
“Not a problem. I’ll just get something
to clean that up. Be careful of the glass.”
Julie came out from the kitchen and shot him a surprised but thankful look.
“Broom and mop? And I’ll get that cleaned up for you.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“The broom?”
“In the kitchen, just ask Nancy.”
He cleaned up the mess, then came back out and watched as Julie moved efficiently from table to table, taking orders. He grabbed the coffeepot, eager to help, and walked around filling coffee mugs for the mothers who accompanied the girls.
Julie brushed past him. “You don’t have to do that either… but thank you. The new girl I hired is moving into her apartment today, so it’s just Nancy and me.”
“No problem. What else can I do?”
“I’ll grab the orders and tray them up, and you can deliver them to the tables?”
“I can do that.”
He spent the next hour helping Julie, delivering orders, filling glasses, refilling mugs. The girls and their mothers finally left for their softball tournament and Julie sank into a chair at the only clean table in the bakery.
Reed sat beside her. “Well, that was certainly an experience.”
“I really appreciate your help. We rarely get big groups like that. I usually look at the island website though, and check to see if there are going to be tournaments around here. But, well, the internet is down, isn’t it?” Julie looked at him and laughed. “You look exhausted.”
“I am a bit. Who knew that many young girls could be so… loud?” He rolled his shoulders.
“And hungry.” She grinned. “That’s the important part. I’ll say that was a good morning of business.”
The door opened and they both turned to look. A man dressed in a nice suit stepped inside with an impeccably dressed woman on his arm.
“There you are, Julie. Did you just have that whole crowd of girls we just passed on the sidewalk in here?” The woman glanced around the bakery with a look of distaste clearly plastered on her perfectly made-up face. “I came over to discuss Mama’s catering order with you, but look at this mess.”
Reed saw Julie bristle at the remark, but just as quickly her face broke into a businesslike how-can-I-help-you look. He stood up and offered his chair to the woman. “I’ll clear the tables while you talk to… I didn’t catch your name?”
The woman smiled at him and flipped her hair off her shoulder. “I’m Camille Montgomery. And this is Delbert. Delbert Hamilton of Hamilton hotels.”
Reed had heard of the chain of luxury hotels but wasn’t sure why that was part the man’s introduction. “Nice to meet both of you. I’ll just get out of your way and let you talk to Julie.”
The woman drummed her paid-for-a-manicure fingers on the table. “I don’t know, Julie. If you can’t handle a group of girls, do you think you can manage Mama’s order? Mama will be crushed if everything isn’t just perfect.” The woman dramatically brushed away invisible crumbs and gingerly slipped into the chair Reed had vacated.
“It will be perfect. You just tell me what you want.”
Reed began to clear the nearest table, and Julie shot him a thankful look.
* * *
Julie closed the door behind Camille and looked at the notes she’d taken. It was going to be a big order, and she knew everything had to be perfect. It would be good for her business to get her name out to the people Camille’s mother would be inviting. Other owners of big houses here on the island. A few business owners from Sarasota. A handful of out-of-town guests, but who knew if they’d fall in love with the island and come back and rent one of the homes here. She always was looking to make connections and expand her business.
She walked into the kitchen and found Reed at the dishwashing station, rinsing the dishes. “Reed, really. You’ve done enough. Step away and let me finish those up.”
He backed away from the sink, splattered with water and flushed from the heat of the kitchen.
“Look at you. I’m so sorry.”
“It was interesting. Haven’t waited a table since my first year of college, but I think I did okay.”
“More than okay. You saved me.”
“Everything go okay with that Camille woman?”
“As well as anything goes with her.” Julie sighed. “I’ve got to make sure everything goes right with their order. I’m going to go all out on this job. I’m doing desserts, a large cake, and some appetizers. She has someone else bringing the main meal. Prime rib, I believe she said.”
“Sounds like a big order.”
“It is.” Julie looked at Reed. “Would you mind if I cancelled out on tonight? I really want to sit down and plan out this order and see what vendors I need to contact to make sure I have everything I need.”
“You have to eat.” Reed’s face was covered in disappointment.
“Have you noticed I work in a bakery? I never go hungry.” She grinned at him.
“I guess that’s true.”
“I don’t have time to go out for a fancy dinner. But you could come here if you’d like. After we close this afternoon, I’m going to try out some new appetizer recipes I might use for Camille’s party. If you don’t mind a mix of appetizers for dinner… and a pastry for dessert, you could come here for dinner.”
“I’d like that.”
“Perfect. Why don’t you come around six o’clock? Come to the back door and I’ll have it unlocked.”
“I’ll see you then.” Reed turned and headed out to the front, probably glad to escape the heat of the kitchen.
Julie walked over to her small desk in the far corner of the kitchen. She sank into a chair and started scribbling down ideas before the lunch crowd hit.
* * *
Reed showed up promptly at six o’clock with a bouquet of flowers he’d bought from Flossie’s Flower Shop. He’d picked a mix of brightly-colored flowers, careful to avoid anything yellow. He rapped on the frame of the open back door. A huge fan blew across the kitchen, and he could tell Julie hadn’t heard him over the roar of the fan. He watched her for a few moments as she pushed back a lock of hair with the back of her wrist, a simple motion he had come to expect from her while she was engrossed in her baking. She stood mixing something in a stainless steel bowl in front of her. She looked up and waved a flour-covered hand, motioning him to come in.
“These are for you.” He held out the flowers.
She raised her dough-covered hands. “Thank you. They’re so pretty. Could you put them in that pitcher over there for me? I’m just finishing up this last batch, then I’ll grab us some food and we’ll go sit outside. It’s got to be cooler out there on the patio than in here.”
“Still haven’t gotten the air conditioner fixed?”
“I’m calling the repair guy tomorrow. I can’t take it any longer. I’m hoping it doesn’t cost a fortune to fix it. It keeps cutting out.”
“Want me to look at it?”
“You know air conditioner stuff?”
“Just a bit. Let me at least look at the thermostat and see what I can figure out.”
“Tool box is in that storage room.” Julie pointed to a door on the far wall.
He grabbed the tool box and pulled the cover off the thermostat. He checked the wiring and found a loose wire. He fixed that then placed the cover back on the thermostat. “Let’s try this.”
The compressor kicked on and soon cool air poured into the kitchen.
“How’d you do that?” Julie pushed back a damp lock of hair.
“Magic. Isn’t this island about magic and wishes?” Reed winked.
“Well, you made that wish come true for me.”
“And you didn’t even have to walk out to Lighthouse Point.” He placed the tools back into the toolbox and returned it to the storage room.
Julie covered the bowl of dough, put it in the refrigerator, and set out a tray of appetizers she had snagged from the oven. “Grab that tea, will you?” She nodded at a pitcher and two glasses sitting on th
e counter. They went outside and sat in the shade on the patio.
“This is so much nicer. I hope the kitchen cools off soon. Nancy will be so pleased to find the air conditioner working again.”
“My father taught me if your air conditioner is acting strange, always check the thermostat first.”
“Good to know. Not that I’d know what I was looking for.”
“Just a loose wire connection.”
“I’ll have to have you show me how to do that. I like to know how to fix things myself.”
He’d already figured that one out. She was an amazing, independent woman who had come a long way with her life and created a successful business from nothing. He admired her hard work and dedication.
“You’re staring at me.” Julie looked across the table at him, pausing mid-bite on a tantalizing appetizer.
“I’m sorry.” But he wasn’t really. He liked watching her, listening to her… just being with her.
But the next second guilt crashed over him. What right did he have to feel like this, sitting here and enjoying a meal with another woman? Like nothing had happened. Like it hadn’t been all his fault Victoria was gone. His pulse pounded in his temples and his breathing quickened.
He stood up, knocking over his chair in the process. “I… can’t. I just can’t.”
She looked at him for a moment and nodded. “Okay. I understand.” She paused for a moment. “But, Reed? Don’t come back around again. I can’t do this, either. Not like this. Not this off and on with you.”
She picked up their plates and headed inside.
He ran his fingers through his hair, torn with indecision. Eventually the guilt won out, and he turned and walked slowly away. Away from any chance with Julie. Away from her friendship and laughter. Away from that look of distrust and disappointment in her emerald-green eyes that probably would haunt him the rest of his life.
* * *
Reed wandered aimlessly down the road, threading his way towards the beach through a haphazard maze of side streets. When he reached the beach, he looked both directions. He could return to the inn or walk on the beach and try to sort out his jangled nerves.
