by Nicole Ellis
“This is lovely.” Marta walked slowly around the living room, taking in the comfortable sofas and the table where guests ate their continental breakfast. “And you’ve been open for about a year?”
Zoe smiled. “Actually, we’ve only been open for guests since the end of August, but we’ve been hosting weddings and other events here for about a month longer.”
“I’d love to see the rest of the grounds,” Abuela said. She’d been admiring the room’s decor from the doorway. “I think I saw a gazebo when we arrived last night?”
Tia nodded. “Yes, there’s a gazebo overlooking the beach. If Mom and Dad are ready, I’d be happy to show you the rest of the resort.”
“I think we’re ready.” Daniel took Marta’s hand and led her out to the lobby, where they then followed Tia and Zoe down the steps to the front walkway.
At the gazebo, Tia stopped and launched into the spiel she normally gave to potential clients. “This is the wedding gazebo and lawn, one of our most popular locations for ceremonies. It was originally constructed in the early 1900s, and though it underwent a major renovation this past year, we managed to keep all of its original charm intact.”
Her grandmother climbed the steps up to the small building, gripping the handrail tightly. Zoe stayed outside while Tia and her parents went in.
Abuela peered through the telescope attached to the railing facing the water. She released it and turned to Tia. “Can you see whales from here?”
“Sometimes over there.” Tia moved over to the railing and pointed to the middle of the channel between Willa Bay and Whidbey Island. “But I like watching all of the boat traffic too.”
Abuela looked out to the bay again, tears brimming in her eyes. “It’s so beautiful. I never thought I’d make it out to the West Coast before I died.”
Tia reached out and gently embraced her grandmother. The elderly woman was so thin that Tia worried she’d hurt her if she hugged her any tighter. “Well, now that I live in Washington, you’ve got a reason to come out here more often.”
Abuela blinked a few times, then nodded. “I’d like that.”
Marta had overheard their conversation and said, “How long do you plan to stay in Willa Bay? We thought you’d be coming home once you got this whole thing out of your system.”
Her mother’s sharp tone rang in Tia’s ears. Marta had been fairly mellow so far, lulling Tia into a false sense of security. Now, her nerves were on high alert.
“I don’t have any plans to move back to El Paso in the immediate future.” Tia defiantly met Marta’s stare, although she was shaking inside. Confrontation wasn’t her strong suit. “I like it here.”
“But don’t you think it’s time for you to get a real job?” Marta’s voice rose higher.
Zoe stepped into the gazebo and hovered near the entrance, her eyes flickering between Tia and Marta.
“This is a real job.” Tia’s blood boiled at her mother’s insinuation. “And I like what I do.”
Her mother shot her a look of condescension. “But it’s not a career, like being a doctor or a lawyer. It doesn’t even take a college degree to become an event coordinator.”
In the corner of Tia’s vision, Zoe looked like she was about to explode. She finally spoke up. “Tia, I have something that I want to show your family. Just give me a few minutes.” She jogged down the steps and across the lawn, then disappeared into the Inn.
Zoe’s presence had given Tia some confidence. She smiled softly at her mother, although inwardly she was furious. “I get to help people experience some of the most important days of their lives. It’s very fulfilling and it’s something I can see myself doing for the rest of my life, in one capacity or another. For now, though, I’m right where I want to be. My job makes me happy – happier than I ever was back home.”
Marta didn’t appear convinced. “But you’re so smart. You could have a real career like your sisters and brother.”
Daniel placed a warning hand on his wife’s arm, but Marta shrugged it off, still staring at their daughter. Abuela’s attention was fixed on Marta, but she didn’t say anything.
Tia gritted her teeth. She’d known a confrontation with her parents wasn’t going to be easy, but she didn’t know what she could do to make them understand how much her new life in Willa Bay meant to her.
Zoe rushed back into the gazebo, huffing and puffing from running. In her hands, she clutched two twelve-by-twelve-inch photo albums. Tia recognized the navy-blue album as the one they kept event photos in to show potential clients, but the burgundy album was unfamiliar.
Zoe opened the first one, stabbing her finger at a photo of deliriously happy newlyweds gazing into each other’s eyes in front of the gazebo. “See this woman? She had a major case of pre-wedding jitters and was only a few minutes away from being a genuine runaway bride. Tia sat down and talked to her, reminding her of all the reasons why she loved her fiancé and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. Later, the bride’s mother told me that Tia had saved the whole wedding. If it wasn’t for Tia, this photo – and marriage – wouldn’t exist.”
Marta raised her eyebrows and was about to say something, but Zoe held up her hand. “I’m not done yet.” She flipped a few pages to a photo of smiling guests dining inside the white tent. “With one of our first weddings, we had a client who invited dozens of extra guests without warning us.” She laughed and shook her head. “I have to admit, I have over a decade in the business and I was starting to panic about where we’d seat all of them.” She glanced at Tia, then looked directly at Marta. “Again, Tia saved the day. She remembered seeing extra tables in the barn and knew where we could find additional linens. Her problem-solving skills are exceptional.”
“Thank you for saying that,” Tia said in a low voice. She peeked at her mother, but Marta’s expression was flat.
“It’s the truth.” Zoe smiled at her. “In fact, I’d intended to give you this during our gift exchange tonight, but I think you should have it now.” She closed the navy-blue album and slid the burgundy album out from under it.
With all eyes on her, Tia took the square book from Zoe and opened it to the first page, labeled “In the Beginning”. On each piece of scrapbook paper, Zoe had glued photos of Tia, Shawn, Celia, Meg, and herself. She’d chronicled scenes from the resort’s renovation, Tia and Meg moving into their cottage, and events they’d held at the resort. Tia’s joy and confidence shone through in every picture.
Next to her, Marta inhaled sharply and strode out of the gazebo without a word. They all stared at her rapidly retreating form.
“I’ll go get her,” Tia’s dad said as he moved toward the gazebo’s entrance.
Tia put her hand on his arm to stop him. “No, it should be me.” Her father gave her a long look, then nodded.
She left the others in the gazebo and crossed the lawn to where her mother had paused behind a wooden bench overlooking the bay.
“Mom?” Tia touched her mother’s shoulder, but Marta didn’t turn around. “Are you okay?”
“You looked so happy in those photos.” Her mother’s voice was thick. “It’s been a long time since I saw you like that.”
Tia took a deep breath, letting the rhythm of the waves below calm her thoughts. “That’s because I am happy here. I’ve been trying to tell you that all along.” She sighed again and positioned herself in front of her mother, searching her face for signs of understanding. “I may have moved here to get some space from everyone back home, but I’ve found so much more in Willa Bay than I ever expected.”
Marta didn’t meet her gaze. “It felt like you were lost for so many years, not knowing what you wanted to do with your life. I thought…” She swallowed hard. “I thought if I helped you find your purpose in life, you’d be happy.”
Tia wrapped her hands around her mother’s, Marta’s diamond wedding ring pressing into Tia’s fingers like it had when they’d held hands on walks when Tia was a child. She squeezed her mother’s hands gently, imploring Marta to l
ook at her.
Finally Marta raised her eyes to meet Tia’s. “I just wanted the best for you. You know that, right?”
Tia hesitated, her mind flashing through all the years she’d experienced her mother’s overbearing influence on her life choices. Had she misinterpreted Marta’s intent? They’d never had what Tia imagined was an ideal mother-daughter relationship, but, even if she hadn’t always felt accepted by her parents, she’d always known she was loved.
“I know.” Tia hugged her mother tightly, and Marta sagged against her.
“I’m so sorry for everything negative that I’ve said to you over the years. I can see now how much your job means to you and how good you are at it.” A tear trickled down Marta’s cheek. “I never meant to hurt you.”
“I know,” Tia said again, as she fought to sort through the emotions hurtling through her mind. When the waves of conflicting thoughts had subsided, she knew there was only one path forward – forgiveness. “I love you, Mom.”
Marta sniffed. “I love you too, baby.”
Tia took her hand again and led her around to the other side of the bench, where they sat down, side-by-side, quietly looking out at the bay together.
Tia had been in Washington for almost a year now. Making a new life for herself hadn’t always been easy, but it had been worth it. She’d found her true self there, along with a job she loved, good friends, and a sweet, honest relationship with a wonderful guy. She and Marta may never see eye-to-eye or have the mother-daughter relationship she’d dreamed of, but things were improving between them. Her future was bright and promising, stretching out in front of her in the small town of Willa Bay.
Epilogue
Samantha
“Is this the place?” Kimmy stared wide-eyed at the front window of Riverside Dance Studio in Willa Bay. Behind the glass, a row of teenage ballet dancers were practicing at the barre. “It’s bigger than I expected.”
“Yep. This is it.” Sam put a reassuring hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Are you ready to go in?”
“Can we stand here for a minute to watch them first?” Kimmy’s lower lip trembled. Although she’d been thrilled when her parents had given Sam permission to take her to dance lessons, the reality must have been intimidating to her.
“Sure. We made good time getting here and your class doesn’t start for another fifteen minutes.” Sam stood behind Kimmy and peered at the dancers, remembering another little girl twirling around the hardwood floors with a bun atop her head and pink ballet flats on her feet. Back then, she’d been so full of joy, and so sure she was going to be a prima ballerina when she grew up.
After a few minutes of being outside in the frigid, late December air with only a winter jacket over her thin leotard and tights, Kimmy’s teeth started chattering.
“Okay, time to go in.” Sam wrapped her arm around the girl’s shoulders. Kimmy shot her a dubious look, but let Sam lead her into the studio. “You’re going to love it.”
“Promise?” Kimmy asked.
Sam sighed, crossing the fingers of one hand behind her back. She hated making promises that she may not be able to keep. “I promise.”
It was good enough for Kimmy. Warm air blasted them as they entered the brightly lit lobby and crossed the room to a low reception desk.
“Hi,” Sam greeted the slender teenager perched on a stool behind the counter. “I have a new student here, Kimmy Douglas.”
The older girl’s attention flickered to Kimmy, then back to Sam. “Beginning ballet?”
Sam nodded. “This is her first lesson.”
The teenager hopped off her seat and came around the desk. “Welcome, Kimmy. I’m Tara and I’ll be teaching your class today.” Kimmy bit her lip like she was trying to keep from crying and Tara smiled softly at her. “I know it can be a little scary to try something new, but I think you’ll really like it. Some of the other girls in the class are already warming up in one of the other rooms. Do you want to come back there with me to meet them?”
Kimmy looked up at Sam, waiting for her approval.
“I think meeting some of your classmates before the lesson sounds like a great idea.” Sam glanced at Tara. “Should I come back there with you, or would it be better if I stay out here?”
Tara regarded the younger girl, then said. “I think it would be best if you stay here. Is that okay with you, Kimmy?”
Kimmy looked at Sam for reassurance.
“Have fun.” Sam pointed at the rows of blue, padded chairs lining the side of the lobby. “I’ll be right out here if you need me.”
Tara started walking toward a door in the rear of the lobby. Kimmy walked slowly behind her, glancing over her shoulder once to make sure Sam was still there.
Sam smiled and waved at her, but when they disappeared through the door, she had to swallow the thickness in her throat. She’d planned on waiting to introduce Kimmy to ballet, but most of the other kids at Bayside Prep wouldn’t be returning to school for another week, and Kimmy had been in a funk about not being with her parents for the holidays. Sam had thought Kimmy would be excited about the lessons, but maybe it was too much on top of everything else. Whatever the case, Sam couldn’t change the circumstances now.
She checked her watch. Kimmy’s class would start soon, and Sam would have an hour to kill while she waited. Ordinarily, parents or guardians could drop students off for their dance lessons and leave, but Sam had promised Kimmy she’d wait for her in the lobby. So, for today, she was stuck.
She thought about sitting down, but decided instead to check out the corkboard along the wall by the front desk, which she discovered held decades of photos – both of students practicing in the studio and dancing on stage. She peered at one of the photos, surprised to see herself and her friends in the last Nutcracker ballet she’d ever danced in.
Suddenly, she was taken back to the performance. The seats at the local theater had been packed, but she’d seen her whole family in the audience. With all of the Christmas decorations at the venue and the ornate sets on stage, it had been a magical experience that she knew she’d always remember. She hadn’t expected it to be her last ballet performance, but life had gotten in the way, and with a full load of college courses the following year, she’d had less and less time for ballet.
“You were always one of my favorite students,” a woman said from behind her.
Sam whirled around and stared at the woman, then broke out into a wide grin. “Miss Tansy?” Tansy Taylor had owned the dance studio for as long as Sam could remember, but Sam had heard she’d retired. Tansy had been a kind, patient instructor – a true role model for Sam.
The woman grinned and wrapped her arms around Sam. “Samantha Briggs. I didn’t think I’d see you here again.”
Sam hung her head, her vision clouding over. “I never meant to quit. I just…” She pressed her lips together, then looked up to meet Tansy’s gaze.
“Oh, I know you didn’t intend to leave permanently, but sometimes it just happens that way.” The older woman put her hand on Sam’s arm, kindness shining in her eyes. “So what brings you back to Riverside?”
Sam smiled. Tansy had always known how to make her feel better, even when things seemed difficult. “I teach at Bayside Prep, and I’m here with one of my students. She wanted to take ballet lessons, and of course my first thought was Riverside.”
Tansy beamed with pride. “I’m glad to hear that.” She peered at Sam. “So you’re a teacher now?”
“Uh-huh. Until recently, I taught physical education at the local high school. This year, though, I decided to take a position up at Bayside Prep teaching middle-school PE and serving as a housemother in the girls dorm.”
Tansy nodded. “Well, that’s wonderful. I always suspected you’d make a great teacher. Your students are lucky to have you.”
Sam felt her cheeks heat up. Coming from Tansy Taylor, the praise meant a lot. “Thank you.”
Tansy fixed keen eyes on Sam. “Do you miss dancing?”
&nb
sp; Sam sighed. “I hadn’t given it too much thought until recently, but yeah. I miss it a lot.” She glanced wistfully at the photos on the bulletin board. “Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t quit all those years ago.”
“Have you thought about taking lessons again?” Tansy asked. “We offer adult classes a few times a week.”
“Really?” Hope welled in Sam’s chest. When she’d taught Kimmy some of the basic ballet positions, she’d briefly considered taking lessons again, but hadn’t given it much thought after that.
Tansy nodded and gestured to the front desk. “Come with me and we can see which times will work best for your schedule.”
Sam felt as giddy and terrified as Kimmy had been when they’d arrived at the studio. It had been years since she’d danced, but the prospect of taking lessons again was one of the few things she’d thought about in the last year that had truly excited her. Breaking up with her long-time boyfriend over the summer and losing her position at the high school had been heartbreaking, but perhaps those trials had come with a silver lining. She may never be a prima ballerina, but dancing again might help her regain a sense of who she was and what she wanted to do with her life.
“I’d love to find out more about the adult classes.” Sam beamed at her former teacher and followed her over to the reception desk, hope for the future radiating through her like a sunburst.
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading The Sunset Cottages! If you’re able to, please consider leaving a review for it.
Wondering what’s in store for Samantha? Find out what happens next, in the fifth book in the Willa Bay series, coming in Spring 2021.
If you haven’t read Willa Bay’s sister series, the Candle Beach Novels, check out Book 1, Sweet Beginnings.
Happy reading!
Nicole
Acknowledgments
Thank you to everyone who’s helped me with this book, including:
