After taking a seat towards the front of the church, her thoughts drifted to Victoria. She was saying a prayer that the little girl was well cared for, when Elyse slid into the pew and took the seat next to Connie, followed by Emma, Josh, and Gertrude. As Elyse asked in a whispered tone what Connie was doing for the rest of the day, Connie smiled and waved at the others, then told Elyse she was thinking about renting a paddleboard for a couple of hours later that afternoon. "I'm planning to buy one when I have time research a good board, but for today, I just wanted to get out onto the water."
"I have an open house after Mass, but I'd be happy to take you this afternoon to where Josh and I bought ours," Elyse said. "You remember Ashley and Travis? They have a little shop where they sell paddleboards and kayaks, and they usually have some great used boards for sale. You can always get a fancier one later, when you have more experience."
Connie smiled at the mention of Ashley and Travis. They were a young couple from the Boston area who bought Sapphire Beach Boat Rentals and relocated to southwest Florida. When Elyse had taken Connie paddleboarding in January, Elyse had used them to discretely drop the hint to Connie that she should consider keeping Concetta's condo and moving to Sapphire Beach.
At the time, Connie hadn't yet thought of the idea of selling Fair Trade jewelry, so she was still planning to sell the condo. Although it had only been a few months, it seemed like a lifetime ago that she and Elyse first stood in the shop that would become Just Jewelry.
"I would love that, but are you sure? I don't want to cut into your family time."
"Emma and Josh have plans to play beach volleyball together - it's Emma's new passion - so I have the time. Besides," she said, "it's the least I can do, since I'm the one who got you hooked in the first place. I'll meet you at your place around 1."
"Perfect," she said, standing for the processional hymn.
When Mass ended, Connie waited a few minutes until the crowds cleared out, hoping to be able to speak with the pastor, Fr. Paul Fulton, for a few minutes. It was the first time she had seen him since deciding to move to Sapphire Beach, and he was ecstatic to learn of her decision.
He peppered her with questions, eager to learn how she came to the decision and went about finding Fair Trade artisans, and she was eager to tell him the story, because it was one of his homilies in January that nudged her along in her decision.
Having spent many years in the missions, Fr. Paul loved the idea of selling Fair Trade items and promised to come to the grand opening to buy a gift for his sister. He also ensured her of his ongoing prayers for her family after losing Concetta.
After stopping for groceries, Connie settled into the spare bedroom, where she had a folding table and some comfy chairs set up for jewelry making and went to work on a layered necklace she hoped to have completed in time for the grand opening.
Connie was so excited about the paddleboard that, by the time Elyse called up from the lobby, she had put away her work and was pacing the living room just waiting for her to arrive.
"I'm too excited to even invite you up," she said, through the intercom. "Do you mind if we head right out?"
Elyse laughed. "Just buzz me in, and I'll wait for you in the lobby."
Their first stop was a sporting goods store to purchase a mounting device for Connie's Jetta, so she could transport her new paddleboard home, as well as to other beaches if she wanted to venture away from her back yard. Fortunately, there were plenty of inexpensive options, especially since she only planned to go a short distance. She also purchased a dolly for transporting it from her storage bin in the underground garage to the beach.
The next stop was Travis’s and Ashley's shop. Normally, they would both be on the beach tending to their rental business, but Ashley had just stopped in to check on their employee, and she was ecstatic to learn of Connie's relocation. Connie gave her the brief version of the story and promised to stop by another time to visit.
With Elyse’s and Ashley's help, Connie was able to get a deal on a gently used board and paddle that was perfect for a beginner. A smile spread across Connie's face as she pulled out her debit card to purchase the powder-blue paddleboard, paddle, and matching life vest. Although a part of her hated to spend even a little money on luxury items before her business got off the ground, she could almost hear her Aunt Concetta's voice echoing in her mind: "Life is not a dress rehearsal."
After all, what good was living in paradise if she couldn't take full advantage of all that it had to offer? She couldn't wait to get out on the water and promised herself that, at least once a week, she would set her alarm a little earlier for a paddle down the beach.
When they got back to Palm Paradise, Elyse insisted on accompanying her to the water to see her off on what Elyse had dubbed her maiden voyage. They went upstairs just long enough for Connie to change into her bathing suit and beach coverup and grab a towel. Then they unloaded the board from the top of Connie's car, fastened it into the dolly, and Connie proudly pulled it to the beach.
Leaving her coverup, towel, and the dolly on the sand, Connie fastened her life vest and paddled away from shore. After a few seconds, she unsteadily turned around to wave at Elyse, who waved back, laughing as she left. It was only her second time on a paddleboard, so it was touch and go for a little while, especially when jet skis passing in the distance sent a flurry of waves in her direction. Turning around proved to be the hardest, and she ended up in the water a few times, but overall, Connie was pretty pleased with herself. The saltwater on her skin and the fresh air in her lungs felt amazing. Relocating had undoubtedly been the right decision.
As happy as she was to be out on the water, after about an hour, her burning shoulder muscles told her it was time to head in. She still had a lot of physical work to do in the store the following day, and she didn't want to be too sore.
After putting her new toy and its accessories in the storage closet behind her parking space, she went back upstairs, where she received an enthusiastic greeting from Ginger. She fixed herself a homemade pizza with some fresh dough and veggies she had brought earlier and put it in the oven to cook while she fed Ginger and showered off the sand and salt. Then she took Ginger for a walk while the pizza cooled on top of the stove.
When she returned, she poured herself a generous glass of Merlot, took her pizza onto the balcony, and ate while overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
Connie had never dreamed she would be living this type of lifestyle at thirty-four: a condo on the beach, her own shop, and not stressing over money. Working for a non-profit her whole life, she had always lived frugally. It was still a new experience to be able to afford luxuries, such as her stand-up paddleboard.
After dinner, Connie texted Elyse a selfie she had taken with her new board in the background with the message, Thanks for all your help today. You're the best!
A few minutes later, Elyse responded, My pleasure, with a smiley face emoji.
With the evening in front of her and nothing on the agenda, Connie decided to reread Natasha's diary to study it more closely. Maybe a second read-through would provide some fresh insight. She pulled the printouts from the drawer of one of her side tables and settled onto the couch with Ginger on her lap.
Reading Natasha's diary was like looking through a window into her life, but one with an obstructed view. Some things about her were evident, while she seemed to talk about others in a veiled manner. She felt as if Natasha were reaching out to her from wherever she was, but in code rather than in plain English.
However, one thing was consistently clear - the love she had for Victoria. Once again, it didn't seem possible that Natasha would have abandoned her daughter. Of course, if she did struggle with addiction, that could be a powerful force that caused people to do things outside their normal character. So, it was impossible to be certain.
As Connie continued to study the diary, she noticed that several times Natasha referred to a close friend and confidant called Mac.
I remember wh
en I told Mac that I named my daughter Victoria to symbolize that my child would be victorious over the past, Natasha had written. He was so inspired by my reason for choosing that name that, once our nightmare was finally over, he got a tattoo of a majestic eagle. He said it would remind him of how we soared above so many challenges.
As she came to the end of the last entry, a yawn stretched open her mouth, and she decided to call it a night. It must be the paddleboarding, she thought. I guess I'm not as fit as I thought.
She returned the journal to the drawer and dropped into bed with the image of an eagle swirling around in her mind.
Chapter 8
The next few days flew by, as Connie, with Grace's faithful assistance, devoted her time to arranging product displays and merchandise throughout the shop. She gave the Fair Trade section a prime spot between the larger of the two front display windows and the red sofa. With a little over a week until the grand opening, there was still a lot of work left to do, but Connie was confident that it would get done in plenty of time.
Despite her insistence that Grace take the day off, on Thursday morning they were back in the shop working side by side.
Towards the end of the morning, Grace took a walk to get some fresh air, while Connie snapped pictures of the store's progress, along with some close-ups of an array of jewelry to post on social media. She was perusing the photos on her phone when a young woman with blond hair that reached halfway down the length of her back stepped inside and looked around the store.
Grace was just returning from her walk when the woman entered the shop.
"Hi," Connie said, with a friendly smile. "We haven't opened yet, but I'd be happy to tell you about Just Jewelry."
"I know you don't open until next Saturday, but I've seen the contractors and moving van, and I've been dying to see what you're doing in here. My name is Penelope," she said, extending her hand. "I work for Gallagher now, but I used to work for Natasha back when this was Natasha's Boutique."
"In that case, welcome back," Connie said, introducing herself and Grace. "I'm so sorry for your loss."
Tears filled Penelope's eyes, and she looked away.
Connie led the young woman over to the sofa, then took a seat in the armchair facing her, while Grace brought over three bottles of water and pulled out a package of tissue from her purse.
"Thank you," she said, accepting a water from Grace and taking a tissue from the package. "I'm sorry. It's just that the last time I was in here, I was with Natasha." She dabbed her eyes.
"So, you knew her well?" Grace asked.
"She was my best friend. I miss her and Victoria so much."
Grace sat next to Penelope and squeezed her arm. "I'm so sorry, honey."
"Victoria's father won't even let me visit, not that I'd want to go to that place. But Jordan thought it was better for her to make a clean break from her life in Sapphire Beach."
"Where are Victoria and Jordan now?" Connie asked.
Penelope’s thoughts seemed far away. "They're living in the Panhandle."
"I don't understand," Grace interjected. "Why wouldn't you want to go there?"
Fear flashed in Penelope's eyes, and her hands began to tremble. "He’s just a horrible person. Natasha didn’t want Victoria raised by him, but Jordan's her father, so he automatically got custody. There was nothing I could do."
Connie and Grace exchanged a confused glance.
Penelope wasn’t making a lot of sense, but Connie didn’t want to press it. The young woman seemed to be on the verge of breaking down.
"When was the last time you saw Victoria?" Connie asked.
"I haven't seen her since the night Natasha disappeared. Natasha had seemed preoccupied that week, and I wasn't surprised when she called me to see if I could watch the baby for a little while, so she could get away and think. It was a slow June day, and another employee was working at the store, so we both had the evening off. I always loved spending time with Victoria, so I was happy to do it. When Natasha hadn’t returned by Victoria's bedtime, I started to get nervous. I put the baby down in my bed, and a few hours later, when she still didn't come back, I called the police."
"Do you have any idea what had been on her mind?" Connie asked.
Grace shot her a look, indicating she was being rude with so many questions, but Penelope didn't seem to mind. It looked like it was doing her good to talk about it, so Connie tried to pretend she didn't see Grace's hint.
"I know that she came to Sapphire Beach for a fresh start away from the baby's father. She definitely didn't want him in her life." Penelope, whose gaze had settled on a palm tree across the street, suddenly looked back at Connie. "Why are you so interested?"
Connie thought about mentioning the diary but didn't want to upset Penelope unnecessarily. She leaned back on the couch and thought about it. "I guess it's because I, too, came to Sapphire Beach to fulfill a dream, and I kind of feel we were kindred spirits in that sense. I admire that she wanted a new life, whatever past she was looking to escape, and she seemed like a good mother. Since we share the same shop, I guess we have a built-in connection."
Penelope smiled. "She was a great mom and a special person. She was a free spirit, although I get the sense she settled down when her daughter was born. I don't know a lot of the details about her life before Sapphire Beach, but I don’t believe that she skipped town without Victoria. Some have mentioned a drug history, but I never saw any signs of that, and between working together and being friends, I was with her almost every day."
Connie smiled warmly. "Hopefully the police can solve the mystery. And if I figure anything out, I will let you know."
Penelope thanked her. "By the way, I love what you're doing here. I think handmade jewelry will do well in this town, and I love the Fair Trade angle. I will be sure to stop by the grand opening and tell my friends about it."
After she and Grace walked Penelope to the door, Connie took a seat at the large wooden table to work on advertising and her online presence but was distracted by Grace, who had followed her to the table and stood with her hands on her hips, glaring down at Connie.
"Can I help you?" Connie said, trying to suppress her laughter.
"Why all the questions about Natasha's disappearance? You just promise me you'll stay out of it and let the police handle it. Remember how you almost got killed in January when you investigated those murders at Palm Paradise?"
"There's nothing to worry about. I was just asking a few questions, and besides, it seemed to do Penelope some good to talk about it."
"Okay," Grace said, giving Connie a kiss on the top of her head. "I'm just watching out for you."
"I know," Connie said, "and I love you for it."
Since Connie planned to do computer work for the rest of the afternoon, she convinced Grace take the rest of the day off. She spent the next couple of hours at the table uploading photos onto her social media accounts and the website.
One of the advantages to having worked at a small non-profit was that Connie had a lot of practice with various facets of running a business, so knew how to design a website and maximize her exposure on social media. Now that she was starting her own business, she was grateful for the experience. It now seemed providential that, a few years ago, Sam sent her to take some classes on marketing and web design.
Before logging out, she spent some time searching out other local businesses and following their social media pages and feeds. This would help her to stay in the loop and increase her shop’s visibility. Then she began inviting others to like her pages, as well, scrolling through her connections and searching for people who lived in the area. Connie was starting small, but at least it was a start.
Shortly after Connie closed her computer, a woman with short, bleach-blond hair and looked to be in her late fifties peeked into the store, carrying a Bromeliad plant. She scanned the shop, and when she spotted Connie at the table, her tired expression gave way to a bright smile.
"Hi, I'm Ruby. I've bee
n meaning to stop by to introduce myself, but I just haven't had a spare minute all week. I own the souvenir shop next door. I just saw your social media post and thought I'd come by while we have a bit of a lull."
Connie was pleased that her networking was already bearing fruit.
Ruby offered the Bromeliad to Connie, who accepted it gratefully and placed it on the coffee table in front of the couch, while Ginger welcomed Ruby in her own sweet way. The red plant added some additional color to store's seating area.
"Can I get you a glass of iced tea?" Connie offered. "I brewed some fresh this morning."
"I would love one, but I'll have to make it a quick visit," she said, looking at her watch. "My sales associate will only be there a little while longer."
Connie poured tea into two ice-filled glasses, added a few leaves from one of her mint plants, and brought them to her guest. She put them on a white tray with painted hydrangeas next to a glass bowl filled with sugar packets and placed it on the coffee table in front of Ruby. She was glad to have already brought in the mint plants. They lent a homey feel to her drinks, and it was important to Connie that her store be a place where people felt welcome and enjoyed spending time, especially once she started her jewelry-making classes. She wanted her students to feel at home, as if they could stop by at any time with the questions they would undoubtedly have.
"Thank you for coming by, Ruby. It's wonderful to know I have such friendly neighbors," Connie said, handing Ruby a glass.
"Oh, it's a great little community here. We support one another," Ruby said, taking two packets of sugar from the bowl and emptying them into her iced tea. "I was glad Mickey finally got this place rented. It's a great little spot," she said, motioning to the people passing by the front window. "Despite his problems with the previous renter."
"Were there problems between Mickey and Natasha?" Connie asked.
"Well, I can't say for sure, but I did see Mickey and Natasha in a heated argument last June. I tried to keep walking and pretend I didn't hear anything, but Mickey was steaming. Something about her being late with her rent again, even though business seemed good."
Sapphire Beach Cozy Mystery Collection Page 28
