by Kay Correll
She stopped her walk and sank down onto the sand, staring out into the ocean, mesmerized by the rolling of the waves and the sweeping arcs of the gulls, swooping by in the last light of the sunset. All this thinking was just bride-to-be nerves. It must be, because George was just… perfect. They were going to have a fabulous wedding. It was just like her wish she’d made all those years ago. It was all coming true. Just like she knew it would, because she’d never once doubted the power of making a wish at Lighthouse Point.
But she felt… off-kilter, somehow. She sat alone with her musings.
“Dream Girl.” Jamie’s low voice broke through her thoughts.
She looked up to see Jamie standing beside her.
“Mind if I join you?”
Cindy tossed a smile his direction. “Pull up some beach.”
Jamie dropped to the sand beside her. “You looked lost in thought. I wasn’t sure I should bother you.”
“You’re not disturbing me. I was just… thinking.”
“You do that a lot. The thinking thing.” He grinned at her. “You’ve got a couple of big days coming up, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“Are you just taking some quiet time alone? Or are you worried about the wedding? I’m sure Bella has it all under control.”
“I’m sure she does. She’s wonderful. Organized. And seems to be able to soothe my mother’s ruffled feathers.” Cindy sucked in a deep breath. “And her feathers are ruffled quite often.”
Jamie laughed, his deep tones of mirth rolling over her, soothing her. His life was going well now. He wasn’t making any big changes like she was. She was marrying George and going to spend the rest of her life with him.
So why did she feel the edge of panic taking over?
* * *
Jamie could see the hint of panic in Cindy’s eyes. He’d never been great about talking about feelings, or hearing about someone’s feelings, but darn it all if he didn’t want to know what Cindy was feeling right this very minute.
“Dream Girl, what’s up? Want to talk about it?”
Cindy stared out at the ocean, and he wasn’t sure she heard him. She finally spoke. “I just feel… off. I’m not sure what’s wrong. It’s probably just wedding jitters.”
“You sure?” Maybe Cindy was finally picking up on what a jerk her fiancé was. How he didn’t treat her like she deserved to be treated. How this George fella was a pompous clown. But, of course he couldn’t say any of that to Cindy.
“I don’t know. I’ve never been married before, so I don’t know for sure what wedding jitters are, but I do know I’m just jumpy or something. Miss Tally was asking some tough questions.”
“She does that.”
“She does. But… I mean… George is an excellent match for me. My family loves him. We know a lot of the same people. He seems to enjoy getting to know the people from our club in Lexington.”
Jamie screwed up his courage and clutched a handful of sand. “But do you love him?”
“Well, of course I do. I’m marrying him, right?”
“Does he love you? Really love you?”
“Jamie, what has come over you? Of course he loves me. He asked me to marry him, didn’t he?”
“I just want you to be sure, Dream Girl. I want you to be happy.”
“Of course I’m happy. I’m getting ready to get married. I’ve dreamed about this day for years. It’s just jitters, Jamie. Just jitters.”
“Whatever you say.” Jamie wasn’t sure his voice sounded convinced. He wasn’t convinced.
Cindy pushed off the sand and stood up. “Jamie, you need to back off. I’m fine. Everything is fine.” She picked up her sandals. “I’m headed back. I’ll see you tomorrow.” The curt tone of her voice was not lost on him.
Jamie let her walk away down the beach, knowing he’d pushed as far as he dared. But, he had an awful feeling that George was never going to give Cindy the life she’d dreamed of. He wasn’t sure George was capable of thinking of anyone but himself.
Jamie sighed. He didn’t know the man well. Maybe he was just making snap decisions about him. Cindy had to see something in him to want to marry him. Maybe he was just jealous of the man.
Wait. What?
Jealous?
No, he just wanted the best for his friend. That was all it was.
He was sure.
Fairly sure.
Well, pretty sure.
Jealous?
Jamie jumped up, brushed off the sand, and started trotting back to the inn. Too much thinking didn’t ever do anyone any good. When he got back to the inn he noticed George and Henry were no longer at the fire pit with their cigars. Good. He’d rather not make friendly small talk with them.
He stood on the beach for a moment, watching the waves in the moonlight. He loved this place. Loved the town, the island, the inn. He wanted nothing more than to make the inn a success and more profitable, supporting his mother by more than just scraping by each year like they had the last few years, watching every dime they spent. But, to be honest, even with worrying about the bottom line all the time, he and his mother had enjoyed the life they’d made here on Belle Island.
He turned to stare up at the inn. Light shone through many of the windows. A few people sat on the deck, illuminated by the torches that were lit each night. Yes, he loved their inn.
His gaze was drawn up to a room on the third floor. A man stood in the window looking out. A quick calculation told him that was the room George was staying in. A moment later, a woman came up beside him. Jamie’s heart lurched. He did not want to watch George and Cindy.
He started to turn away, then realized the woman in the light had long blonde hair.
Not Cindy.
Alexis.
Maybe she had just brought up drinks to his room? Room service?
George leaned down close to the girl, his hand rested on her shoulder, then reached up to close the blinds over the window and close out Jamie’s view.
Jamie’s pulse pounded in his veins. He clenched his fists. That rotten scoundrel. He was cheating on Cindy. Probably. The blinds had closed, but still.
Maybe Alexis was just bringing something up there. Maybe.
In cold, stony silence Jamie crossed the spread of sand and climbed the stairs to the deck. He grabbed some paperwork from his office and went to sit in the back stairwell on the third floor, because he was pretty darn sure Alexis wasn’t going to trot down the main stairway when she left George’s room. Unless she had innocently, well her version of innocent anyway, brought up an order to his room.
A few hours later Jamie’s patience was rewarded. He heard the door to the stairwell open slowly. Quietly, Alexis slipped through the doorway.
“Alexis.”
“Jamie. You startled me. What are you doing?”
“Waiting for you.”
Alexis had the decency to look embarrassed. “How did you know… I mean, what for?”
“To fire you.”
“Fire me? Why?”
“Why do you think? I can’t have you causing trouble with our guests. Come by in the morning and I’ll have your last check ready for you.”
“I wasn’t causing… We were just… talking. You can’t fire me.”
“I just did.”
Alexis brushed past him and hurried down the stairs. Jamie followed her out and pulled the outside stairway door closed firmly behind her. He’d rather be short staffed than have Alexis anywhere near George.
The solid click of the door echoed in the stairwell, mocking him and forcing him to make decisions he didn’t want to make. Should he tell Cindy? Of course he should. She had a right to know. But she’d told him to basically back off. He should respect her wishes.
Shouldn’t he?
Chapter 10
Tally readied the table in the far corner by the beach. It was Friday morning and Josephine and Paul would be by for coffee and a cinnamon roll at nine. The restaurant wasn’t open then, but they had fallen into t
he habit years ago. Paul would drop by and they’d have their Friday morning coffee together. Now Josephine joined them.
Tally looked forward to their visit. She and Paul had been friends for many years. He’d been there for her when no one else was. He’d helped her make hard decisions. She knew she was one lucky woman to have a friend like that. They’d never been romantically inclined over the years, neither one of them would chance messing up the friendship, she guessed. Now Paul was married to his childhood sweetheart, and Tally couldn’t imagine a more perfect match for him. The two of them were ridiculously in love and it made her smile just to see them together.
She looked up and waved as she saw Josephine and Paul weave their way through the aisle to their table. Tally poured them each a cup of coffee, grabbed some cinnamon rolls, and set the food on the table. She knew that Josephine would pour a bit of cream in her coffee and Paul would drink his black. They’d both have a cinnamon roll, and Josephine would only eat half of hers, giving Paul the remainder. Each week was the same. Tally liked that. The predictability. The routine.
“Has anyone heard from Susan?” Paul set down his cup.
“Jamie has. He said she was having a fabulous visit with her sister, but was starting to get anxious to head back home. I think she feels guilty being gone for the big wedding weekend.”
“You knew the bride from when she was a child, didn’t you?” Josephine asked.
“I did. She used to run around with Jamie. They were great friends. Always up to something.” Tally sighed. “I’m not sure she’s making a good decision with this George guy though.”
“Bella thinks the same thing.” Josephine nodded. “She thinks he’s all wrong for Cindy.”
“I tried talking to her when she was here last night. Not sure I got through to her, but at least I hope I got her thinking carefully.” Tally shook her head. “Her family is something else. They weren’t very happy about much here at Magic Cafe and made sure everyone around them knew it.”
“Oh, dear.” Josephine’s eyes clouded with concern.
Paul laughed. “As if anyone who comes here cares about what some out-of-towners think about Magic Cafe. You know we all love it, Tally. And you.” He winked at her.
Tally smiled. “Always my biggest supporter, aren’t you Paul? You know I’d never had been able to make a go with Magic Cafe without all your help at the beginning.”
“We had some tough times didn’t we? Me, trying to start the gallery, and you the cafe.”
“And between us having about a thimbleful of business knowledge.”
“But look at you both now.” Josephine swept her arm wide. “You both have successful businesses here in town, and you’ve both helped Julie open The Sweet Shoppe and helped Susan with her decisions about the inn.”
“Julie is still struggling a bit with her shop, but at least her life is looking all rosy with her engagement to Reed. I sure like that young man.” Tally took a sip of her coffee.
“He does seem like a fine fellow. Any news of a wedding date? I want to make sure Josephine and I are in town for it.” Paul looked at Tally.
“Nothing yet. I think Julie is still a bit shocked with everything and not trusting her own happiness. She just needs time.” Tally glanced around the cafe, noticing the early workers arriving and setting up the tables. “Now if Susan and Jamie can get the inn so it runs more profitably. They both work so hard. Her brother kind of let things slide for a while, but it seems like they are slowly climbing back up.”
Tally reached for the tray of cinnamon rolls and took one herself. “I’m not sure that this wedding party appreciates the atmosphere of the inn, though. I think they are more of the fancy-shmancy, club-type people. Well, not Cindy. She’s a good, down-to-earth girl.”
“Well, while you ladies solve all the problems in town, I’m going to dig in and enjoy my breakfast. Julie makes the best cinnamon rolls. I’m glad you decided to get them delivered each day once Julie stopped baking for you and opened The Sweet Shoppe.” Paul took a large bite. “Still the best roll in town.”
“Hi, y’all.”
Tally looked up and saw Susan making her way over to them.
“Susan! You’re back.” Tally jumped up and gave the woman a hug.
“Just got in town. I got up early this morning and drove in from my sister’s. I called Mandy yesterday and heard she has the chicken pox. She said that your great-niece was helping with the wedding, Josephine.”
“Bella. She is. She’s really enjoying it. She’s a planner, that one.”
“Well, I figured Jamie could use a hand with everything. To be honest, I hated missing the wedding weekend. It’s the first big one we’ve had since Jamie and I took over the inn.”
Paul stood up and held out a chair for Susan. Tally went and grabbed another coffee cup.
“I’m sure Jamie will be glad to see you.” Tally handed the cup to Susan. “Did you have a nice visit with your sister?”
“I did. But, to be honest, a little goes a long way. She chatters all the time. Wants to go, go, go… and I just wanted a little break from how hectic our life is now.”
“You need to find a better person to vacation with. Someone who likes to take it easy. Sit and read. Relax.” Tally laughed. “So it would never be with me. I’m fairly certain I don’t know how to relax.”
“As if you ever take a vacation.” Paul grinned. “Though, I think one of these days we’re going to talk you into one.”
“Maybe.” Tally could hear the doubt in her voice.
“So, tell me everything you know about the wedding, the bride, the family.” Susan took a sip of her coffee and looked expectantly at Tally and Josephine.
The women obliged her with all the details they knew, while Paul sat patiently enjoying his cinnamon roll.—and then the second half of Josephine’s roll as usual.
* * *
“Mom, what are you doing back so soon?” Jamie came from behind the counter, gave his mother a hug, and reached to take her bag out of her hand. He’d hoped she’d come back looking all rested, but no such luck. Though, she did look happy to be home.
“I couldn’t stand missing the wedding. I know it was a good time to visit my sister for her schedule, but not so much for ours. I talked to Mandy—”
“Mom, you did not have to come back. I have it all under control.”
“I know you do. Mandy said as much. Said you have Josephine’s niece helping you.”
“Bella. She’s great. I don’t know what I would have done without her.”
“Well, I’m here now to help in any way I can. I’ll help Dorothy at the desk today. I know we have a full inn of people checking in. That will free you up for whatever else you need to do.”
Jamie had to admit he was relieved. He could use the help. So many loose ends. So many things to check on for the wedding. The wedding where Cindy was marrying the cheating jerk.
Cindy had made it clear that he was to stay out of her relationship with George. But did she know that George was a cheater? Was she knowingly entering into a marriage of convenience? No, that couldn’t possibly be what Cindy would want.
“You okay, son? You look lost in your own little world.”
“What?” Jamie looked at his mother. “No, I’m okay. Just puzzling out a few things. I’ll put your bag in my office. I’ll bring it over to our cottage in a bit.”
“Thanks, sweetie.” His mother headed behind the reception desk right as Dorothy entered the lobby.
“Susan, you’re a sight for sore eyes. We can use another set of hands around here this weekend.”
“Glad to be here.”
“So, had enough of your sister, did you?” Dorothy winked.
His mother laughed out loud. “You know me too well. Yes, I love her, but really I need to remember a couple of days is way long enough for a visit. She’s a constant whirlwind of activity.”
With that, the door swung open and a large group of people crowded into the lobby.
�
�I’ll leave you two with this. Call out if you need me, I’ll be in the office. Oh, and I hired the Hawkins brothers to help with luggage and anything else you need them for this weekend. They should be here any minute.”
Jamie walked into his office, feeling guilty he was so glad he wouldn’t have to work the front desk today. He wasn’t feeling up to plastering on a fake smile and putting up with people who he was afraid were going to act as entitled as Cindy’s family did. His mother was much better at handling people. He much preferred the behind the scenes running of the inn.
The stagnant air of the office stifled him, and he crossed over to throw open the window. The air-conditioner had been blasting out air for days. He was much more a fresh air type person. There was a nice breeze this morning, so he’d just let the office air out a bit before the expected heat of the day descended upon them.
He sat at his desk, doing some bookwork he’d been avoiding with the busyness of the wedding snaring all of his time. Voices drifted up from below.
One voice caught his immediate attention.
George.
What the heck was he doing out on the patio under the window? Jamie couldn’t help himself. He walked over to the window to peek down. He gritted his teeth as he saw George downstairs talking to Alexis.
“I’m sorry you got sacked. I am. Last night was fun, but it was just that. Fun.”
Jamie clenched his jaw, then spun back toward the doorway when he heard someone enter.
Cindy.
Not good. Not good at all.
“Have you seen Bella?” Cindy asked, totally oblivious that her world was being torpedoed right below the window.
“Jamie?” Cindy cocked her head, looking at him curiously. “What are you looking at?”
“I. Uh…no. I think she said eleven, right?” He glanced at his watch.
“Calm down.” George’s voice drifted through the open window.
