The Sunset Cottages: A Willa Bay Novel

by Nicole Ellis

  “I know,” Cassie reassured her a second time. She turned the chair back to face the mirror and patted her head. “How would I look with a side part and a simple chignon in the back?”

  Theresa stared at her daughter’s reflection for a moment, then gave her a genuine smile. “I think you’d look lovely.” She worked in silence, gliding the comb through Cassie’s hair until her scalp tingled. When she was done, Theresa liberally coated her creation with hairspray and inserted something into the bun. “That should do it.”

  Cassie had closed her eyes during the styling, trying to calm her thoughts. Now, she opened them and almost gasped. Her mother had wrangled her thick hair into a smooth bun. Although the style itself was simple, the pearl-encrusted decorative comb her mother added enhanced the elegance. When Cassie first sat down in the chair, she’d looked like she had any other day. Now, she looked like a bride.

  “I love it,” Cassie said. “Thank you, Mom.”

  Theresa beamed at her. “You’re very welcome. I’m glad I got to help on your special day.”

  A knock sounded on the closed door.

  “Come in,” Theresa said loudly, causing Amanda to look up and remove one of her earbuds.

  Celia poked her head into the room. “I was wondering if anyone would care for some tea.”

  Theresa looked at Cassie, who nodded. “We’d love some,” Theresa said as she set the hairspray down on the table. “I’ll help you with it.” She joined Celia by the door.

  “Do you have any Coke?” Amanda asked hopefully.

  Celia grinned. “I think we might have some in the drink fridge.”

  Amanda popped up from the sofa, dropped her book onto the cushion she’d been sitting on, and followed her grandma out into the hallway.

  Cassie had no sooner risen from the chair when another knock sounded on the door. “Come in.” Who could it be this time? The others wouldn’t have been back this soon with the tea.

  The door opened slowly and Tia entered, wearing a huge smile. “Hey. I just wanted to check and see how things were going.”

  “Good, I think. Mom just finished my hair, and she and Amanda stepped out with Celia to get something to drink.” Cassie walked over to the hanging garment bag. “I think getting the dress on is about all I have left to do.”

  Tia raised her eyebrows. “Impressive. Most brides are running around like chickens with their heads cut off at this point.” She walked over to stand by Cassie in front of the dress. “I saw your mom with Celia in the kitchen. They were so engrossed in conversation that it may be a while before they return with your tea.” She nodded approvingly. “Your hair and makeup look great.”

  “Thanks.” Cassie’s cheeks warmed. Despite the fact that she knew she would receive many compliments on her appearance today, she still felt bashful at the praise.

  “How are you feeling?” Tia gave her a shrewd look. “Am I going to need to worry about you being a runaway bride?” She chuckled, but Cassie frowned, unable to bring herself to laugh at the joke. Tia’s grin disappeared. “Oh no. I was just kidding. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. Just a little pre-wedding jitters.” Cassie tried to imitate her mom’s fake smile, but her quivering lips gave away her fear.

  Tia stared at her. “It’s more than that.” She led Cassie over to the sofa, moving Amanda’s book onto an end table before they settled on the cushions. “What’s really going on?”

  Cassie bit her lip, not caring that she may be smudging her lip gloss. “My mom seems worried about me remarrying Kyle.”

  “What? Why?” Tia asked, her jaw dropping slightly. “Did something happen?”

  Cassie shook her head. “No, not really. She just knows things were hard for me right before we got divorced and the year after. She doesn’t want me to get hurt again.”

  “Well, that makes sense,” Tia said. “But do you think she’s right to worry?”

  Cassie’s stomach clenched and her chest tightened until it was hard to breathe. This wasn’t something she wanted to consider on her wedding day. “I don’t know. Maybe?”

  Tia studied Cassie, her warm brown eyes emitting a kindness that eased some of Cassie’s distress. “Do you love him?”

  This question was easier. Cassie nodded with firm resolve. “Yes.”

  “Sometimes…” Tia began, then paused. “Sometimes, I think you just have to take a leap of faith. You and Kyle may have had issues in the past, but you’re both different people now, right?”

  Cassie nodded slowly this time, blinking as she processed Tia’s words. “We’re older now, and we have the kids. Things aren’t the same as when we first got married. The stakes are higher, but we’re both aware of that.”

  “You know, I was terrified when I packed up my car and moved to Willa Bay by myself,” Tia said. “I didn’t know what I’d find here, but I knew it was a chance I needed to take, even though my parents made their disapproval clear.” Her face clouded over and she looked down at her lap.

  Cassie’s maternal instincts kicked in and she momentarily forgot about her own problems. Focusing on Tia’s issues was a welcome distraction from her own. “That must have been difficult. I can’t imagine moving away from everyone and everything I’ve ever known.” She reached out and touched Tia’s hand. “But it’s turned out well for you, right?”

  Tia twisted her fingers. “Most of the time. I definitely don’t regret moving here. I don't think my parents have accepted it yet though, and I’m still not sure why my brother is in town.”

  “Did you invite him to my wedding? I was hoping to get to meet him.”

  Tia smiled. “I did, and he’ll be here today.” She laughed softly. “I still feel weird about inviting him to your wedding since neither of you even know him.”

  “Eh.” Cassie waved her hand in the air dismissively. “It’s a chance for him to see you in action at the Inn. Once he sees how wonderful you are at your job, I’m sure he’ll understand why you moved out here. Plus, he’ll get to meet your friends.”

  “True,” Tia admitted. “But it still feels odd to invite a personal guest to a client event.”

  “Hey, I’m not just any client – I’m a friend.” Cassie grinned at her.

  Tia’s expression turned earnest. “Well then, as a friend, I want to tell you that you seem really happy with Kyle. Of course, I’m on the outside looking in at your relationship, but you have this glow about you that you didn’t have when I first met you.”

  With the conversation taking an abrupt turn back to her own concerns, Cassie’s confidence waned. “I do?”

  “Yes.” Tia threw her arms around Cassie. “Only you know what’s in your heart, but from what I’ve seen, you and Kyle are meant to be together.”

  Cassie pressed her lips together, relief coursing through her body. Her mother’s admission of concern had sparked her own doubts, but she knew Tia was right. By the time Theresa and Amanda returned a few minutes later with mugs of tea, she and Tia were laughing over a funny story about the latest oddity Meg had found buried in the barn.

  An hour later, Cassie stood in front of the floor-length mirror, surrounded by her mother, daughter, Tia, Meg, and Zoe, all of them admiring how she looked in her wedding dress.

  “You are gorgeous,” Zoe said. “Kyle’s eyes are going to pop out of his head.” She winked at Cassie’s reflection.

  Amanda’s face twisted into a comical grimace, and they all broke out into laughter. Cassie turned around and pulled her daughter into a tight embrace.

  Amanda’s lips quivered slightly as her eyes met her mother’s. “Do I look okay?” She wore a crimson, cap-sleeve dress with a sweetheart neckline and a full, knee-length skirt – but while her dress and hairstyle made her appear older, she was still very much a little girl. “I’ve never stood up in front of that many people.”

  “You look perfect.” Cassie gave her a reassuring smile and straightened the strand of pearls around her daughter’s neck that matched those along the bodice of her own gown. Sh
e put her hands on Amanda’s shoulders and steered her around until they stood side by side in the mirror. “See?”

  As they stared at each other reflections, a rush of overwhelming love for her daughter filled Cassie’s heart. She inhaled sharply to keep from crying and ruining her makeup at the last minute. Even if her marriage hadn’t worked out the first time, she didn’t regret any of it. Her union with Kyle had given them two wonderful children, and while Amanda and Jace weren’t perfect by any means, Cassie loved them more than she’d ever thought possible.

  Zoe tapped at her iPad, then looked up. “It’s three o’clock. Time to get this show on the road. Are you ready?”

  Cassie took a deep breath. “I’m ready.”

  “Good.” Zoe gave her a final smile. “Tia will let you know when you need to come outside, okay?”

  Cassie nodded, her stomach full of butterflies, just as it had been before her first wedding. Everyone except Tia and Cassie filed out of the dressing room.

  “How are you feeling?” Tia asked, all business now, her work iPad at her side.

  Cassie breathed in slowly and a sense of peace came over her. “Happy.”

  “You look it.” Tia’s dropped her professional composure for a moment to hug Cassie. “I’m so happy for you and Kyle.”

  “Thank you.” Cassie smoothed her dress and took another deep breath, but this time it wasn’t to calm her nerves.

  The iPad pinged and Tia said, “It’s time.”

  She guided Cassie out the front door of the Inn, over to where they’d set up an outdoor ceremony under the bright blue sky. Cassie had given Zoe free rein to plan the wedding, only requesting that the wedding colors be red and white, and the decor be kept simple for the fifty or so guests in attendance. In deference to the crisp air, heat lamps trimmed with red velvet bows stood at the ends of each row, providing warmth for all of the guests. Later, everyone would gather for dinner and drinks in the massive tent that rose from the lawn like a puffy white cloud.

  When they reached the starting point and the processional began to play, Cassie focused on what awaited her at the end of the aisle – her family. Amanda stood on one side of the altar, Cassie’s only bridesmaid, tightly clutching her bouquet of red roses and baby’s breath. Kyle stood on the other side, flanked by Jace, who was serving as his father’s best man. Pastor Alton, the minister from the Lutheran church they attended, would preside over the ceremony.

  Seeing them waiting there – together – felt so right. Soon, she, Kyle, and the kids would truly be reunited as a family. Her lips relaxed into a wide smile, and tears of joy streamed down her face. When she reached her destination, she handed Amanda the larger bouquet she’d carried down the aisle and turned to faced Kyle.

  Before taking her hands in his, he reached out and gently brushed away a tear that lingered on her cheek. She couldn’t take her eyes off of him as they recited their vows to each other.

  When Pastor Alton declared them husband and wife, Kyle whispered to her so softly that only she could hear. “I love you so much.”

  “I love you too,” she whispered back, clasping her hands behind his neck and pulling him toward her for kiss so deep it left them both breathless. Their display of affection had probably mortified Amanda, but she’d have to get used to it. Cassie planned to kiss her husband like that every day for the rest of her life.

  Behind them, their family and friends cheered. The newlyweds broke apart and grinned at the crowd, Kyle’s arm remaining securely around her waist, keeping her close to his side. She closed her eyes briefly, taking it all in. Everyone she cared about was here, and – finally – everything was right in her world.

  18

  Tia

  Tia unlocked the front door of her cottage and stepped inside, a blast of heat enveloping her as she closed the door behind her. After working a long shift at Cassie’s wedding the evening before, she’d woken up early to manage a daytime event and had gotten off work at four-thirty, exhausted and hungry.

  She hung her peacoat up in the hall closet and unwrapped her knit scarf, draping it over the shoulders of the coat. She pulled off the matching hat, her hair drifting upward with static electricity. When she tried to tuck the hat into one of the coat pockets, it fell out and tumbled to the floor before she could catch it.

  She stared at it. Picking it up would take effort, and after a long weekend packed full of events at the Inn, she wasn’t sure it was worth the expenditure of energy. But she and Meg had worked hard to keep the cottage neat and tidy, and she didn’t want to get started on a bad habit, however small it might be. Tia bent down to retrieve the hat, stuck it securely into the pocket, and firmly closed the closet door.

  Now to find something for dinner. She walked through the living room on her way to the kitchen, passing a picture of her family. Thoughts of her parents’ arrival drawing closer and Antonio’s odd behavior had filled her mind throughout the day. There wasn’t much she could do about her parents, but Antonio had been in town for a little over a month, and she still hadn’t figured out why he was here.

  She opened the refrigerator door and eyed the contents. How was it that she bought groceries every week, but never seemed to have what she needed for a complete meal? The cool air from the fridge revived her, and she removed a package of pork tenderloin. She’d planned to share it with Meg, but her roommate was having dinner with her family that night.

  Family. Tia set the pork on the countertop and picked up her phone. It rang only a few times before Antonio answered.

  “Hello?” His voice sounded as tired as she’d felt a few minutes ago.

  “Hey, it’s me. I know it’s a little last-minute, but I was wondering if you wanted to come over for dinner tonight.” She paced the kitchen, waiting for his response. She’d been too busy for the last month to press him on his reasons for being in Willa Bay, but she hoped to get some answers tonight. If he was in town to help convince her to return to El Paso, she needed to know. But if Cal was right, and her brother wasn’t here because of her, she wanted to know what was going on with him.

  “Uh.” Antonio hesitated and her heart sank. Of course her extremely social brother had something else to do. So much for that plan. “Sure.”

  “Really? That’s great!” Tia had been so sure he was going to decline her invitation that she couldn’t hold back her enthusiasm when he didn’t. She checked the clock. The pork would take a few minutes to prepare and then about forty minutes in the oven. “How about dinner at six?”

  “Six is fine.” He chuckled. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you this excited about dinner before.”

  She laughed too. “I’m not usually, but I don’t have guests over very often.”

  “Well, I’m not going to pass up an opportunity for a home-cooked meal with my little sis.” Wistfulness clung to his words and she wondered if he missed the big family dinners her mother held every Monday night. “I’ll see you soon.”

  “See you.” She set the phone on the counter and got out sesame and chili oils, soy sauce, ground ginger, and fresh garlic to make a quick marinade for the pork. Once she’d scored the meat and poured the sauce over it, she stuck the roasting pan in the oven and added rice and water to the rice cooker.

  She was usually so busy with work that she didn’t take the time to make herself a meal, often just grazing on whatever catering leftovers remained after events. In fact, she’d snagged a few brownies from Cassie and Kyle’s wedding the night before, which would be perfect for dessert. Cassie’d made most of the desserts for her wedding, but had refused to take anything home, saying that she had plenty at the bakery.

  When Antonio rang the doorbell at six o’clock on the dot, Tia had just removed the digital thermometer she’d used to check the pork’s internal temperature. She wiped off her hands with a paper towel and threw a bag of frozen green beans into the microwave to heat. As she walked down the hall to the door, her pulse raced, keeping pace with everything rushing through her mind. Part of her wanted
to know why Antonio had followed her to Willa Bay, but another part liked living in denial. She’d built a new life for herself in Washington, and sometimes it was just easier to pretend that her parents and the rest of her family in Texas didn’t disapprove of her choices.

  She opened the door and gestured for Antonio to enter. He’d been there once before, when he’d first arrived in town, but she’d never given him a full tour.

  As he stepped into the living room, his eyes widened as he took in the tree and other decorations. “I never knew you liked Christmas so much.”

  That’s because none of you ever bothered to get to know me as an adult, Tia thought. She swallowed her snarky remarks, however, and took his coat from him, laying it along the back of the sofa. “Both my roommate and I love Christmas, and since it was our first one in this house, we thought we’d make it feel like home.”

  While it was true that she’d always loved Christmas, she’d never before done much more than put up a tree. But this year, in their new cottage, she and Meg had gone all out to make their home festive. Tia’d found a fake tree in good condition at the thrift store, along with strings of colorful lights still in their original boxes. Meg’s mom had given them a paper sack full of extra ornaments, and they’d gathered tree branches from the Douglas firs behind the house to make swags for the mantel and windowsills.

  Antonio nodded. “It’s beautiful.” He walked over to the mantel and lightly ran his finger over one of the ceramic figures in the nativity scene. “This is just like the one Abuela Carlita had in her living room when we were kids.”

  “I know. I saw it on the shelf at a local second-hand store and I had to have it.” Seeing the manger scene set up in her living room had instantly brought back good memories of spending Christmas day with her grandparents. Her grandfather had been gone for quite some time now, but her grandmother had kept up the family tradition of making homemade tamales for their Christmas dinner.

  With a start, Tia realized this year would look very different for her immediate family still in El Paso. Her parents would be visiting her in Willa Bay for Christmas, and Antonio was already out here. She’d been so worried about their visit that she hadn’t even stopped to think about how it would affect the rest of the family. What would Abuela do on Christmas?