by Kay Correll
“Is that George?” Cindy crossed the room.
“I can’t have you messing things up. Don’t go getting all hysterical.” Every single word of George’s was crystal clear.
Cindy stood frozen by the window, her face a mask of disbelief.
“I’m sorry Jamie fired you. But it’s probably for the best you aren’t around this weekend. I don’t need the distraction. I have a good thing going here. Marrying into a prominent Kentucky family. Good connections. It’s time for me to settle down. It’s good for my career. My firm isn’t big on promoting bachelors, they think we’re not steady enough.” George’s laugh drifted through the window.
Jamie watched as Cindy reached out and clung to the window sill. He took a step closer, but she shook her head. His heart pounded in his chest, feeling every bit of the pain Cindy was feeling. Wanting to fix it. Wanting to hold her and take her pain away.
“Don’t you love her?” Alexis’s young voice drifted upwards.
“Love? What does love have to do with it? That’s some kind of schoolgirl fantasy. I’m fond of Cynthia. Marriage is like a business deal. You marry the person who will bring the most to the table.” George laughed again.
Cindy spun on her heels and walked towards the door.
“Cindy, wait.”
“No, leave me alone, Jamie. Stay out of it. Please. Just leave me alone.”
At that moment, Jamie knew his heart was breaking for Cindy. And the reason it was able to break? Because he was afraid he was falling in love with her.
* * *
Cindy sat on the edge of a chair in her room staring at… nothing. Nothing at all. She rolled around George’s words and didn’t know any way to make them be anything else than what they were. She was a business deal for him. A merger.
He’d said he was fond of her. Fond. What a silly word.
But fond meant he cared about her, right?
But he didn’t love her. Though, maybe George didn’t really know what love was. Surely he loved her. He did. Sometimes men just had a tough time saying the words out loud. He’d asked her to marry him so he had to be in love with her.
He’d showered her with gifts and spent every weekend with her. Granted it had mostly been at parties and business events and rarely just the two of them.
When was the last time the two of them had done something alone? She couldn’t remember.
A heaviness settled over her, squeezing her heart and constricting her breath.
She jumped up from the chair and paced the room. She knew that pretty young blonde had been flirting with George and that George had enjoyed it.
She was certain that was all it was. A harmless flirtation.
But the sting of his words burned through her as she paced back and forth.
* * *
Bella grabbed a cup of coffee in the cheery breakfast nook of Aunt Jo and Paul’s kitchen. “Um. I love that first sip of coffee in the morning.”
“Do you want something to eat, dear?” Aunt Jo sat at the table, back from her weekly breakfast at Magic Cafe. Her aunt got up way too early, as far as Bella was concerned. Though, to be honest, Bella’s two boys got her up way too early, too. But she’d been enjoying sleeping in a bit on her vacation this week.
“No, just coffee. Thanks. I need to hurry up and get over to the inn. Check on a few things before I meet with Cindy.”
“Rumor around town is her young fella seems a bit… stuffy, doesn’t he?” Aunt Jo raised an eyebrow.
“Well, he’s certainly not the kind of guy I’d pick, but to each his own, I guess. I just wish he acted like he was, well, in love with her. Maybe it’s just the stress of the wedding though.”
“Maybe.” Aunt Jo’s voice didn’t sound convincing. “Have you thought of talking to her about it?”
“Oh, I couldn’t do that. I’m just the coordinator, not her friend.”
“Well, I don’t see anyone else here in town that is her friend.”
“Her sister is here.”
“The one I heard told her that her dress made her look frumpy? That sister?” Aunt Jo shook her head. “You know, you might be doing her a favor if you just were a sounding board for her. Let her sort out her feelings a bit. Make sure she’s making the right decision.”
Bella sighed. “I don’t make any promises, but I’ll try. I’ve grown fond of her and I do want her to be happy. You know me, I’m a sucker for a happily-ever-after ending.” She took one last sip of coffee and set the cup in the sink. She reached down and kissed her aunt. “I’m probably going to be gone all day. I’ll see you later, sometime after the rehearsal.”
Bella hurried out of the cottage and drove to the inn. The parking lot was busy with people arriving for the weekend. Wedding guests, she presumed. She crossed the lobby, deftly avoiding luggage and people chatting in groups.
She spotted Cindy talking to two young women. Cindy waved her over, but seemed quite distracted.
“Bella, these are my bridesmaids… my cousins.”
Bella smiled at the meticulously dressed pair of identical twins. “Nice to meet you.”
Twin one smiled briefly, but twin two didn’t bother to answer. “We’re going to go find Vanessa. She said we could go shopping this morning.”
Bella thought that maybe the maid of honor and bridesmaids would be all about helping the bride today, but she guessed not.
“Okay, have fun.” Cindy nodded at the twins and turned to Bella. “Want to come up to my room? I’m afraid if we stay down here we’ll have constant interruptions as people arrive for the wedding.”
“That’s a good idea.”
They headed up to Cindy’s room and sat at a small bistro table by the balcony. Bella opened her notebook and Cindy opened her planner. They both went through their lists, checking things off as they made sure everything was ready. Cindy seemed to just mechanically go through the motions though, and it worried Bella.
Bella closed her notebook with a flourish. “I think we’re ready.”
Cindy turned and looked out at the ocean. “Yes, we’re ready.”
“Are you okay?” Bella reached across the table and touched Cindy’s hand.
Cindy turned and looked directly at her. “Do you think people get married for all sorts of reasons?”
“Probably. But I’m a firm believer in marrying for love. Marrying your best friend, someone who acts like they are so lucky they married you. Someone you can talk to, share your deepest secrets.” Bella looked across at Cindy. “Why do you ask?”
“Well… I’m not sure that George and I have the same views on marriage. I guess this is kind of late in the game to be thinking about that, isn’t it?” Cindy’s voice was low.
“It’s never too late. You can change your mind right this minute if you’re not sure about things.”
“I’m… Oh, I guess I’m just having jitters. George isn’t the romantic type. I’m sure he cares about me.”
Bella sat silently, letting the woman talk.
“He’s the ultimate person for me, though. He is. He and my father are great friends already. That’s good, right? Mother adores him and brags to all her friends about what a catch he is.” Cindy smiled sheepishly. “I’m pretty sure she never thought I’d settle down and get married. She’d given up on me. Then along came George.”
“How do you feel about George?”
“Oh, I’m in love with him, of course. I’m marrying him, right? He’s good to me. I do wish he were more romantic, but what man is, really?”
“My Owen is romantic. Very.”
“Then you are a lucky woman. Anyway, enough of this. I’ve known what he’s like from the very beginning. We’re very compatible. He accepts my faults. I accept his.”
“Just make very sure that you’re making the right decision, for the right reasons.” Bella sat quietly and watched Cindy stare out at the ocean, lost in thought. She only hoped the woman took time to really think about the decision she was making. Bella was fairly certain this was more
than just wedding jitters.
Chapter 11
Julie drove her van over to the inn. She ran inside to the lobby, looking around for Reed. No sign of him. She turned to the reception desk.
“Susan. You’re back.” Julie smiled as she hurried over to the desk.
Susan came out from behind it and gave her a big hug. “Just got back. Heard about Mandy having chicken pox, and figured Jamie needed me.”
“So, you had enough of your sister, huh?” Julie grinned.
“You and Tally. You know me so well.” Susan shrugged. “My sister means well, she just thinks there always has to be some event each day. I just wanted a do-nothing vacation.”
“Well, glad you’re home. We’ll have to catch up after this weekend.”
“I hear Reed found a place to rent.”
“Yes, you should see it. It’s gorgeous, huge, right on the beach… and the kitchen. Man. I could live in that kitchen.”
Susan laughed. “A gorgeous kitchen is the way to your heart, huh?”
“The direct route.” Julie laughed.
Susan moved behind the reception desk again. “Reed said he’d be down in a minute. That pile is his.” She pointed to a stack of suitcases and bags.
“We’re going to get groceries, and I’ll haul him over with his things.”
“There he is.” Susan nodded towards the stairway.
Reed came up, pulled Julie into his arms, and planted a kiss on her lips. “Missed you.”
“You just saw me this morning when you came by for coffee.” Julie smiled.
“That was hours and hours ago, trust me.” Reed kissed her again.
“Okay, you two. Go get Reed all settled into his new place, though we’ll miss having him here.”
“I can’t thank you and Jamie enough for everything you did for me these last few months. I loved staying here.”
“We loved having you.”
With obvious reluctance, Reed let Julie go and crossed over to scoop up his things. Julie grabbed a few of the bags and they headed out to the van.
After picking up staple items, fresh fruit, makings for lunch, and other assorted groceries, they headed for the beach house.
Julie was still a bit shocked with the size of the house and the knowledge of how much the rental was each month. Reed insisted it was the house he wanted though, so who was she to second guess him… and there was the fabulous kitchen.
Reed led the way to the front door, unlocked it, and threw open the door with a flourish. Julie slipped inside and went straight to the kitchen. Reed carted everything into the house, while Julie began unpacking things and putting them away in the pantry and the fridge, marveling at the space with what she knew was a silly grin on her face.
* * *
Reed smiled as he watched Julie. She stopped once and touched the red knobs on the stove. It was almost a caress. He figured she’d enjoy cooking in this state-of-the-art kitchen. At least he hoped she would. Julie turned toward him and smiled.
“I love this kitchen.”
“More than you love me?”
“No, but close.” She grinned.
“Harry lined me up with weekly cleaning service, too. I’ll need that. I’m not the world’s best housekeeper.”
“You better keep this wonderful kitchen clean.”
“I’ll try my best, ma’am.”
“Why don’t you go unpack your clothes, and I’ll make lunch. We can eat out on the deck.”
“That sounds great.” He wandered through the house and into the massive master suite. A four-poster bed was positioned against one wall, with French doors on another wall leading out to the deck. He dumped his clothes out of the suitcase and made quick work of putting everything away. He stored the suitcases in the back of the walk-in closet and moved into the bathroom to put away his toiletries. The master bathroom had a huge walk-in shower and a whirlpool tub, as well as a double vanity. Nice. He put his things away and wandered off to decide where he’d set up his office.
A smaller bedroom with a trundle bed, on the road side of the house, had large windows and a small screened porch off of it. That would work perfectly. He’d just need to find a table and he’d set up here.
Maybe after he bought a car, he’d go to one of the many flea markets around here and pick up an old desk.
If he got a car.
He still wasn’t ready to take that step yet. He’d been taking driving lessons for a while now. Trying to get more confident with driving again since the accident he’d been in that had killed his wife. He was determined to overcome his fears and get back behind the wheel. He wasn’t going to be a burden on Julie, with her hauling him around all the time, and somehow he didn’t see her as the type of person to be comfortable with him hiring a full-time driver for them to use.
He had a perfectly good car sitting in his three-car garage back in Seattle, but there was no way he was going to drive it across the country. He could hire someone to drive it here, but he’d been researching car safety and planned on getting the safest one he could find.
He wandered back into the kitchen and walked up behind Julie, standing at the stove. He wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her neck. She smelled of fresh lavender. She leaned back against him as she stirred the pot on the stove.
He kissed her neck and she laughed. “I need to finish up. Go and set the table outside.”
“I’d rather stay her and kiss your neck.”
She shooed him away with a dish towel and he obligingly went about the table setting chore he’d been assigned. He glanced back inside to see Julie efficiently dishing up their meal, a smile on her face. He could just stand here and watch her for hours.
He didn’t know what he had done to deserve this woman, but he knew he was one lucky man.
Chapter 12
Jamie looked out on the beach, checking to make sure the beach workers had set up enough chairs and umbrellas for the arriving guests. They’d given all the wedding guests early check-in times today, so they had quite a gathering on the beach. Far down the beach he saw her. Cindy. He knew just where she was headed. Lighthouse Point. Her thinking spot. Her refuge spot. The place she used to go when her sister had teased her one time too many, or her mother had corrected her posture-hair-dress-whatever criticism of the moment.
He waffled briefly. Let her go alone, or catch up with her and try to talk to her. With a shrug, he leapt off the side of the deck and trotted down the beach after her. He really should leave her alone. That’s what she’d asked. He argued with himself the whole time he trailed down the beach after her, keeping his distance.
Leave her alone.
Go talk to her.
He rounded the bend on the long, sweeping point. The lighthouse stood looking grandly out to sea. There she was on a small outcropping of rocks, sitting and watching the ocean, her knees tucked up under her chin, her arms wrapped firmly around her legs.
The thinking pose.
With a burst of nerve, telling himself he was doing the right thing, he swung up on the rocks beside her and sat down.
“Dream Girl.” He reached out a hand and touched her face. A lone tear tracked down her sun-kissed cheek.
“Jamie.” She leaned her shoulder against him, ever so slightly.
“What can I do?” Helplessness washed over him. Wanting to help her, but knowing she had to sort things out for herself. Jamie wanted to tell Cindy about seeing George with Alexis in his room and wanted to say George was just marrying her for her money. But he knew, deep in his heart, he couldn’t be the one to crush her dreams. He just couldn’t.
“I’m so confused.” She still didn’t look at him, her gaze was lifted up to a gull swooping through the sky.
“Talk to me.”
“I know George doesn’t feel the way about me that I always thought a groom would feel. He’s not romantic. I’ve known that from the start. But he is fun. He gives me little gifts for no reason, or big things like that car of mine.” She paused and played w
ith a small shell she held in her hand. “He does care about me. He does in his own way, I’ve known that from the beginning. I’ve just always filled my head with these romantic notions of what marriage and weddings were like. He’ll be a good husband for me.”
Jamie sucked in a breath of the humid sea breeze. “Do you love him?”
“I’m in love with him.”
“Not quite the same thing, is it? Are you in love with him, or are you in love with your idea of the perfect wedding? Or is it the fact your family likes him and he fits in so well with them? You need more than that for a happy marriage.”
“But I am happy when I’m with George.”
“Are you?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t marry him if he didn’t make me happy.”
“But you should have so much more than that in a marriage. So much more. You deserve more. You should have someone who thinks the sun rises and sets with you. Someone who wants to spend all his time with you. Talks to you. Shares things with you. You should be able to talk about anything with him.” He paused for a moment. “He should be your best friend.”
“I think not all marriages are like that, Jamie.”
“They can be.” He emphasized each word. “They should be.”
“I sometimes think you’re about as hopelessly romantic as I am, Jamie. But I’ve grown up. Everything is not always hearts and roses.” She looked out at the waves once again. “Besides, the time for doubts is long past. I’m marrying George tomorrow.”
“He’s not good enough for you, Dream Girl.”
“Oh, Jamie, I’m surprised he even wanted to marry me. Look at me. I’m creeping up on forty years old, a klutz, my hair is always impossible, and I carry extra pounds around so I can never pull off that smartly-dressed style. I’m pretty sure Mother and Father had given up on me ever marrying.”
It tore at his heart Cindy had such low self-esteem. But who could blame her with the constant criticism from her parents and sister? “Cindy, you are smart and funny and beautiful. You just don’t see those things. Any man would be lucky to have you.”
