Christmas on the Coast

by Lee Tobin McClain

  Mary sighed. “Amber, Julie, I’d like for you to meet Imogene,” she said. “Be right back,” she repeated to the woman, and trudged toward the front of the store.

  Amber followed her, hearing Julie’s attempt to converse with the woman behind her: “Pleased to meet you!” and “Would you like a cup of coffee or tea?” But Amber didn’t hear any response to Julie’s cheerful voice. All the more reason to check in with Mary.

  “Are you all right?” Amber asked Mary as soon as they were over by the travel books.

  “Of course, I’m fine. Now, what exactly were you looking for?”

  “Julie and I thought you seemed upset, or something, and we’re not sure we like your guest. I know you said there was no problem with her when we talked before, but she seems... I don’t know. We’re concerned.”

  Mary put her hands on her hips and glared at Amber. “So this travel book thing was a fake request?”

  “I’m sorry,” Amber said, although she wasn’t. “Is there anything we can do to help you get rid of her?”

  Mary blew out a breath with a little pfft sound. “I wish. But no. She’s my problem to deal with, and speaking of that, I need to get back to her.”

  “Just wait one second.” Amber put a hand on the older woman’s arm. “You’re not all alone, you know. You have friends who want to help with any problem you have.”

  “I don’t want help.” Mary’s voice was gentle, but she stepped around Amber, lifting her chin.

  “But...”

  “I appreciate you and Julie, but my problems are my own to solve.” Mary headed to the back of the store, straightening her spine.

  A moment later, Julie came out and shook her head. “No luck,” she said as she came over to Amber. “She’s cagey. Wouldn’t talk.”

  Amber’s eyes narrowed. “I didn’t like the way she looked at Mary, and she seemed rude when she spoke to her.”

  “Oh, I agree,” Julie said. “But what can we do about it? Unless...”

  “Tell me.”

  “They looked like they were going to wind up,” Julie said. “When they come out, I’ll grab Mary, and you try to talk to Imogene. Find out what she wants from Mary. You’re...” She broke off, looking sheepish.

  “Pushier?” Amber grinned. “You’re right. I’ll see what I can find out.”

  “She’s going to be mad at us,” Julie said. “It’s not our business who she visits with in her own shop.”

  “True. But when friends are in trouble or sad or being mistreated...I’d rather interfere than leave them alone, and later wish I’d done something.”

  Julie puttered around shelving books while Amber skimmed through a couple of thrillers, looking for a distraction and not finding it.

  A few minutes later, Julie hurried toward Amber. “They’re coming!”

  “You keep Mary busy.”

  Julie nodded and walked over. “Staffing emergency,” she said. “Michael called in sick, so we’ve got no one to work the evening shift.”

  Amber strolled over to Imogene, who had started leafing idly—and a bit roughly—through one of the books on the pet display. “So, how do you know Mary?” she asked. “We’re crazy about her.”

  “What do you want?” Imogene glared at her.

  Whoa. Not only rude, but without class or manners.

  Still, if Amber wanted to find anything out, she had to make nice, so she shrugged. “Just killing time in a boring town,” she said. She’d known people like Imogene, and she wasn’t bothered by rudeness. But she didn’t like the idea of the woman harassing Mary.

  “It sure is boring,” Imogene agreed, sneering toward the window.

  “If you’re here for a while and like to go out, I’m always looking for company. There’s not much nightlife, but the Gusty Gull can be fun.”

  Imogene raised her eyebrows and tilted her head to one side. “That might be...no, wait. I’m too broke.”

  “Nowhere’s as cheap as the Gusty Gull,” Amber said, pretty sure she had Imogene hooked, “but it’s up to you. I’m headed there tonight around eight.” She hadn’t been, but it wasn’t like she had other plans.

  “I’m sorry, dear,” Mary said to Imogene as she hurried up to the pair of them. “I didn’t mean to leave you standing there.”

  This was definitely weird. Mary’s usual composure had morphed into obvious anxiety. She seemed almost intimidated by Imogene.

  “It’s okay,” Amber said, “we were making friends.”

  The look on Mary’s face screamed No!

  All the more reason Amber wanted to find out more. In part, she was just having fun, playing detective. But mostly, she was worried about her friend. “See you tonight?” she asked Imogene.

  Imogene was looking at Mary. “Sure,” she said to Amber. “See you at eight.” She gave Mary a little “ta-ta” wave and headed out of the store.

  “Why did you do that?” Mary scolded as soon as she was gone. “She’s definitely not someone you want to hang around with, Amber. I’d suggest you run after her and cancel. Tell her you forgot about an appointment.”

  Amber studied Mary’s tight, drawn face. “Who is she to you?” she asked.

  Julie had come over as Imogene left. “Second that question,” she said. “Is she an old friend? She seems kind of rude.”

  “That’s not the half of it,” Mary said grimly. “Look, I know you mean well, but I’d appreciate it if both of you would stay out of my business. Which means avoiding Imogene.” She spun and marched into the back of the shop.

  They both watched her go, then looked at each other. “Very strange,” Amber said.

  “Did you say you made a plan to get together with her?”

  Amber nodded. “Tonight at the Gull.”

  “You’re amazing,” Julie said. “But is it safe? She doesn’t seem like a very nice person.”

  “Aw, it’s an adventure,” Amber said. If she couldn’t have an adventure abroad, she’d just have to take what she could get at home.

  * * *

  TUESDAY NIGHT, PAUL walked down the main street of Pleasant Shores with Trey Harrison, both of them with their dogs. Trey had invited Paul to bring Sarge to a search-and-rescue event he was involved in with King, and now, they’d decided to give the dogs a quick walk along the shore before calling it a night.

  Trey was doing Paul a kindness, but he was also definitely checking on Paul, seeing how he was managing, and why wouldn’t he? Trey no doubt remembered that first mixed-up night when Davey had run away to Amber’s house. Trey was also still holding on to Paul’s weapon.

  Even so, Paul liked Trey; they had a lot in common. “Thanks for taking us to the search-and-rescue demo,” he said now.

  “Glad you could come. Sorry Sarge didn’t seem like he’s going to work out. I thought, with him being a bloodhound, it would be perfect for him.”

  Sarge seemed to laugh up at Paul, and he reached down to rub the dog’s head as the breeze lifted the bloodhound’s droopy ears. The sky over the bay was purple as darkness came on, and the salty, slightly fishy smell wafted to Paul. It was a smell he was getting used to, even coming to like. “Seems like there’s too much involved for me to do with a young child, anyway.”

  “There is, for sure. I could never have fit in six hundred hours of training if I’d gotten started after Hunter came. As it is, I’m limited in what I can do, but it keeps King happy.” He glanced down at his German shepherd, who was trotting beside him. “These dogs need to work. Drew Martin—he’s the guy who stayed at the cottage last year—his dog actually went into a depression. Drew’s daughter Kaitlyn got the dog into agility work, and she’s thriving now.”

  Paul nodded. “I’ll have to figure that out eventually. Sarge’s a little lazy, like you saw tonight, but he’s too smart to just be a pet.”

  Across the street, noise came from a stand-alon
e building that looked like a restaurant or bar. As a couple walked inside, more music came from the open door. “Is that the Gusty Gull I’ve been hearing about?” Paul asked.

  “Sure is,” Trey said. “Want to stop in for wings and a beer? It’s pretty basic, kind of a dive, but it’s one of the only places open during the off-season.”

  “What about the dogs?”

  “We can tie them on the patio.” Trey sniffed the air, and indeed, the pungent smell of wings was appealing. “To tell you the truth, I wouldn’t mind. Erica’s busy tonight, so it’s either this or a take-out pizza. I don’t feel like cooking.”

  Paul checked the time on his phone. “I have an hour or so before Davey’s due home, and I should get a call beforehand. I can grab a quick bite.” He’d been glad Davey was invited, along with the rest of the pre-K class, to a girl’s birthday party up the shore at a trampoline park. It was one of the wealthier families, obviously, because they’d rented a bus to drive the kids up and bring them home.

  They walked in and sure enough, what seemed like a good chunk of the town’s population was there. Music played and people talked and laughed. There was a small dance floor, empty now, and a bar that was almost full. They chose a table off to the side of the room, near the window, so they could easily check on the dogs.

  Of course, they kept their backs to the wall. Always. It was a cop thing.

  Paul scanned the room, searching for loose cannons and risk factors. Then he realized that Trey was looking at him, raising an eyebrow. He sighed. “It’s obvious?”

  “To me. How’s all that going?”

  Paul blew out a sigh. “Counseling is good. They’ve got me meditating, which, trust me, I would never have done if I wasn’t desperate.”

  “Does it help?”

  Paul nodded. “Helps me focus, calms down some of the racing thoughts.”

  “That’s good, then.”

  They ordered hot wings and beers and Paul watched, idly, as the door opened and more people came in.

  And then the watching wasn’t so idle anymore because there was Amber.

  He frowned. Amber was with the woman they’d seen kind of stalking Mary. What was that all about?

  “Do you know that woman with Amber?” he asked Trey, whose eyes were also following Amber and her companion.

  Trey shook his head. “Never saw her before.”

  “She’s some connection to Mary, but I don’t think it’s a positive thing.” He started to stand, caught Amber’s eye. When she gave a subtle little shake of her head, he sank back down again. She and the woman went to a table.

  “Good to see Amber out having fun, making new friends,” Trey said. “She’s a little lonely, now that her daughter’s gone off to college.”

  “She’s close with you and Erica, right?”

  Trey nodded, smiling. “She’s terrific. She’s the best aunt Hunter could ever have, and she’s a great sister to Erica. Helped get us together, in fact.”

  “How sick is she?” The question seemed to burst out of him, but once he’d asked, he held his breath.

  Trey’s head snapped sideways to look at him. “She’s not sick.”

  “Well, but she had cancer, right?”

  Trey nodded. “Yes. Erica worries, but she hasn’t had a recurrence now in two years, so it’s all looking good. Thing is, she had breast and then ovarian cancer. Runs in their family. Their mom died of it.”

  “Wow.” Paul’s gut twisted. He hadn’t known it was that bad.

  “Those two have had a hard time of it,” Trey said. “They’re good women, really good women. They deserve to be treated well.” There was definitely a warning in Trey’s eyes.

  “Understood.” Paul nodded. He got it, a brother-in-law being protective.

  They talked about this and that and their beers came, and then their wings. Paul’s eyes kept being drawn back to Amber.

  She wore tight jeans and a sweater, nothing fancy. Her hair was chin-length, just straight. He couldn’t see from here, but he knew she normally didn’t wear much makeup.

  And yet, the way she threw back her head and laughed, the relaxed way she looked around the room and greeted friends, all of it made her seem fun and appealing. She had a vibrant energy and life that clearly drew people to her.

  It drew Paul, too.

  A tall guy dressed like a cowboy went over and stood talking to the two women. He gestured toward the dance floor, and Paul’s muscles tightened.

  “You like her,” Trey said around a mouthful of wing.

  Paul blew out a sigh. “Yeah. But I’m in no shape to do anything about it.”

  Amber’s companion stood, steadied herself and walked to the bathroom, banging into a chair on the way. The cowboy headed up to the bar.

  Paul glanced at Trey. “Think I’ll walk over and see what’s going on.”

  Trey nodded. “I’ll keep an eye on the dogs.”

  Paul made his way across the bar to Amber’s table. He was acutely conscious that he was just like any guy approaching her, wondering if he’d be rebuffed. “Having a nice time?” he asked.

  She shrugged and smiled. “The Gull is always fun. Company could be better, though.” She nodded toward the restroom into which her friend had disappeared.

  “That’s the woman who was stalking Mary, right?”

  Amber nodded. “I’m trying to find out more about her, so don’t mess it up.”

  “Doing police work?”

  She grinned. “Gotta do something.” She looked past him then, and the woman walked toward them, grasping the backs of chairs to steady herself.

  At close range, Paul saw the red eyes and glazed expression of a user. He wondered if she’d ingested something in the bathroom. Maybe, although she’d already been stumbling a little when she’d gone back there.

  “Do you need a ride home?” he asked Amber. He didn’t like the idea of her hanging out with some druggie.

  “I’m fine,” she said. “Paul, this is Imogene. She’s in town for a bit and I’m showing her a good time, as best I can.”

  “Like to party, handsome?” she asked Paul.

  Heat climbed his face. Maybe he was a prude, but he got uncomfortable when women came on to him, even as a joke. “Not much of a partier,” he said. “I’m a single dad.” He looked at Amber. “And you shouldn’t be partying, either, given your health.”

  She raised her eyebrows, staring at him. “What did you just say?”

  “It’s getting late. You need your rest.” The minute he said it, he knew he’d taken the wrong approach. He just wanted to get her away from Imogene, and he’d said the first thing that came to mind.

  “We all do, big boy,” Imogene said. “But resting alone’s not much fun.”

  “And we’re all adults who mind our own business.” Amber’s tone was icy. “I think I will take off, not because I’m sick, but because I’m sick of being told what to do.” She gave him a glare. “Are you staying, or heading out?” she asked Imogene.

  “Think I’ll stay. See if any of the guys here are friendlier than Mr. Fancy here.”

  Amber snickered, gave Paul a wave and left, and Imogene walked up to the bar.

  That hadn’t gone well, but it had been effective; he’d gotten Amber out of here. No way would he let her put herself in harm’s way, even if she was just trying to help a friend.

  CHAPTER TEN

  WHEN HER DOORBELL rang the morning after her night at the Gusty Gull with Imogene, Amber pushed back her chair from the breakfast table and straightened her spine. She and Paul were scheduled to work together today, and since neither of them had canceled, she guessed they were on.

  Don’t let him bully you, and don’t get attracted.

  Amber had been highly irritated by Paul’s comments last night. Who was he to tell her she should get more rest?

 
When she’d thought about it, though, she’d realized that he probably was just trying to get her away from Imogene. Which was a different kind of patronizing, since Amber could take care of herself in that regard, too. But the truth was, she’d been glad to escape Imogene. Before they’d started talking to other people at the bar, Imogene had said something interesting: she’d told Amber that she’d “really screwed up” in her earlier life, done something terrible. Amber had tried to pursue it, to find out what it had to do with Mary. But she hadn’t been successful.

  Once there were a few guys around, though, and Imogene had had more to drink, Amber’s opportunity to learn anything helpful to Mary had disappeared.

  When she opened the door now, her throat went dry. Paul stood there, laptop in hand, wearing faded jeans and a flannel shirt with sleeves rolled up. His face was serious, almost stern.

  Her heart seemed to do a little dance, just seeing him. And it wasn’t only because he looked good. The thought of spending the day with him, even working hard, made her way too happy.

  “You can come in, but not if you’re going to yell at me about last night.” She stepped back so he could enter.

  Sarge pushed past Paul and thrust his big, slobbery face into her hand.

  She gladly shifted her attention to the dog, kneeling to rub his big ears. “Did you come along to help us, big boy? Did you guess I’d have a treat for you?”

  At the word treat, Sarge gave a short, deep bark.

  Paul sniffed the air, and his expression softened. “Something smells good.”

  “The way to a man’s heart...” she began, and then heat climbed her face. She wasn’t trying to get to Paul’s heart. “Or a dog’s heart, for that matter, is food. Come on into the kitchen, you two.”

  While she cut slices of coffee cake, Paul paced, looking out her windows toward the bay, inspecting the novel that lay facedown on the table, bending to pick up a leaf that had fallen from a potted plant.

  She was way too conscious of him, and she needed to stop. Their relationship was strictly business.