by Lynn Cahoon
“You have good instincts, Deek.” Of course, I agreed with him about Sadie and the preacher on all counts.
“Now, your aunt, on the other hand, plays it a little too cool. Man, that train guy is all bent out of shape.” Deek held out his hands. “I can see their auras and they are both hurting.”
“Is that true?”
Deek looked at me funny. “Is what true?”
“That you can see auras.” He’d told me before that he didn’t have any psychic ability, even though his mother was a practicing fortune-teller. And now he was throwing around words like auras?
“Don’t overthink it. It’s just a way of saying I can see they’re both miserable without each other. Why did your aunt break it off?” He leaned closer, hoping to learn the answer.
The bell over the door rang and a couple came into the store. He beelined to the coffee bar, but she stopped and scanned the bookshelves.
“That is the million-dollar question. Can you handle them? I’ve got some paperwork I need to get done.” I picked up my cup and plate and moved around to the back of the bar. As I refilled my cup with more caffeine than I knew was good for me, I heard Deek greet the man.
“So, what can I pour you while you’re shopping for your next great read? I bet you enjoy international thrillers. You have the look of a spy.”
Smiling, I left Deek to his magic skill of reading people to know just what they needed to hear to increase their purchases. He was so good at it that I caught myself being woven into his web when he wanted something and I knew I was being played. Maybe he did have a gift. I sat down at the desk and pulled out my aunt’s calendar. Flipping to the back, I found what I’d been looking for. Her doctor’s name and phone number. I just looked up my doctor online when I needed to call for an appointment. My aunt had a written name and phone number section in the back of a paper planner. And she’d had to paste pages she’d copied from an old address book she’d had for years.
Talk about old school. I dialed the number and when a receptionist answered, I asked for an appointment.
“What is this regarding?”
She didn’t seem surprised when I said I needed to talk about Jackie Ekroth. “Tell Dr. Stevens that I’m her niece and I need to find out what is going on with her.”
“You can come by tomorrow at one. He’ll be on his lunch break, so he’ll need to eat while you talk.”
I was surprised at the speed of getting the appointment. And that the woman hadn’t given me any grief about privacy laws. “I’ll be there. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. Dr. Stevens told me to bring you in last week. I just haven’t been able to find time to track down your number. As your aunt’s next of kin, you really should keep that information updated.” She paused. “Don’t forget to bring a copy of your health care POA. We’ll need to make a copy before you start talking.”
I thanked her again for the appointment, then sat looking at the phone. Something bad was going on. I could feel it. Why would her doctor want to talk to me? I rubbed my face and then realized only one thing could make me feel better. I picked up my cell and dialed a number from memory.
“Hi. Do you want to meet at Diamond Lille’s for lunch?”
Chapter 2
When I walked into Diamond Lille’s ten minutes later, Amy Newman, surfer girl, city planner, and my best friend, sat at our favorite booth. We ate at Lille’s so frequently, the booth should have our names and photos on the wall next to it. She was growing out her straight blond hair for her upcoming wedding, so instead of a short bob, it was already down to her shoulders. Amy waved me over, then leaned close as I scooted over on the red bench seat. “Did you see the new addition on Lille’s wall?”
I angled my head to see the signed photograph of an actor who played the head of a very powerful motorcycle gang on an ongoing drama on one of the major networks. “How on earth did she get that?”
“Apparently, the guy believes in doing his research, so he was at a hog ride last weekend. Lille explained her wall of fame to him, and before you could say ‘Lille’s a big fat cheater,’ she had the picture.
“He’s so good-looking, isn’t he?” Carrie sat down her notebook and pen on the table as she took a long look at the wall. “I touch it every time I walk by. I’ve heard that touching a picture can bring a spirit to talk to you. Maybe it works on live humans as well?”
“We couldn’t be that lucky. The guy is probably already back out shooting his series. Why anyone that cute would stay in South Cove past the weekend is beyond me.” Amy closed the menu. “Besides, I hear the show is shooting in Vancouver. Everything seems to shoot in Vancouver nowadays.”
“You’re probably right. What can I get you for lunch?” Carrie picked up her pen and notebook again. She looked at Amy, turning away from me. “You first. That one looks like she has the world weighing on her shoulders. She’s screaming bad mojo voodoo vibes.”
“Ewhhh. Stop. Now that image is in my head.” I rubbed my face to get the bad mojo off me. “I’m going to have to order fish and chips because I’ve been traumatized.”
“Like you were ever going to order anything else. Do you want a vanilla milkshake with that?” She waited for me to shake my head before turning her attention back to Amy. “And what about you, surfer queen?”
“Double-decker cheeseburger with fries. And a strawberry shake.” Amy handed the menus to Carrie. “And if he does come in to the diner, call me first. You know I’m your favorite customer.”
“You two might be my most-frequent customers, but you aren’t my favorites. Your aunt’s beau, Harrold, has been coming in a lot lately. He looks so sad. Can’t you tell your aunt to get over whatever idiotic thing he did? Men are just stupid. We kind of have to forgive them for that.”
As Carrie walked away, Amy watched me. “So, what has you so riled up? You seemed okay when I left the meeting.”
“I’m not upset. Okay, well, I am upset, but I just needed to talk something through with you.” I waited for Carrie to drop off glasses of water before I blurted out what I’d been thinking about for a while. “Look, do you think something bad is happening to Aunt Jackie?”
“Bad like…?”
I finished her thought. “Bad like sick bad.”
Amy didn’t speak for a while. She sipped her water. Set down the glass, then leaned back into the bench seat. “I have to say, I kind of thought the same thing. When I first heard about what she’d done, I thought she must have gotten some bad news from her doctors. It’s the only reason I can think of that would cause her to cancel the wedding and break Harrold’s heart.”
I sank back into the bench seat, my appetite gone. Which never happens, by the way. “I have an appointment tomorrow with her primary doctor in Bakerstown. I don’t know what I’m going to do…” I couldn’t finish the sentence.
Amy reached for my hand and squeezed. “Whatever it is, we’ll get through it. Jackie could just be being Jackie. You know how stubborn she can be.”
“Like the time she didn’t talk to me for a month because I told that magazine salesman that she was up in her apartment and she definitely needed new cookware?” I apparently hadn’t gotten my sense of humor from my aunt.
“Or the time she told me that all that sun and surfing was going to turn me into an old woman before I knew it?” Amy flipped back her hair. “Then she pointed out a few wrinkles on my face and handed me a jar of her face cream. She had to have been planning that one for a while. Who carries that size of moisturizer in her purse?”
“My aunt does.” I smiled at the image. “I always told her she needed to go on that show where they ask for something random from your purse. Like an airline napkin or a child’s report card.”
“Let’s Make a Deal. I think.” Amy smiled at Carrie, who dropped off our food. “That was fast.”
“You too looked like you needed cheering up
.” Carrie refilled our water glasses. “The shakes will be right out. I hope I didn’t say anything wrong earlier.”
I shook my head. “No. You were fine. I’ve just been having a bad day.”
“Well, I’m going to go hurry along those shakes.” Carrie patted my hand. “I’m sure this is just a phase and everything will be all right.”
Amy watched the waitress walk away. “Now that’s optimism. She’d have to be an optimist. She’s worked here for Lille for like ever. She deserves a medal. And maybe a retirement plan.”
As we finished eating, I noticed Paula, the morning speaker at the business meeting, sitting alone at a table. I tried to catch her gaze, but she was focused on her phone.
“Who are you looking at?” Amy turned around to see the section of the diner behind her. “Oh, her. What a mess, right? I can’t believe she’s even trying to talk for the Senior Project. She can’t be very effective in bringing in money.”
“That’s not very nice.” I watched as Paula glanced out the window and followed her gaze. Ben was in the parking lot, on the phone. And from his body language, the call wasn’t going in his favor. “I wonder what her boyfriend does for a living.”
“Why?” Now Amy was as engrossed in watching the drama unfold as me.
“She said he spent a lot of time volunteering. And it’s Tuesday afternoon. Shouldn’t he be getting back to some job if he has one?” I watched as Ben put away the phone in his pocket, and instead of coming back into the restaurant, banged on the window for Paula’s attention.
All eyes turned to him. Red-faced, Paula quickly grabbed her wallet from her purse, threw some bills on the table, and ran out of the dining room to meet him. When she got close, he opened the driver’s side door to his car, not even waiting for her. The guy didn’t seem very warm and cuddly to me.
“Now that’s a first-class jerk. You see all kinds in here.” Carrie had returned with my vanilla shake. “I don’t understand why women put up with being treated like that. I bet he didn’t say two words to her the entire time they were here eating. Then, when he got that call, he just jumped up and went right outside. He’s been out there for a good half hour and she’s been trying to act like it didn’t bother her.”
Not everyone had a good relationship with their significant other. But it kind of broke my heart to remember how excited she was to see him in the window of the shop. The girl had it bad for the wrong type. Even if he liked to volunteer.
“Look, I’ve got to get back to work. Fred, Mayor Baylor’s campaign manager, is coming in at two and they’ll want me to keep them stocked up on lattes and muffins. I’ll probably be making two trips over to the shop. Are you going back or heading home?” Amy nodded to my milkshake. “You could get a to-go cup.”
“I’m heading home, so I’ll just finish it here.” I stood and gave Amy a quick hug. “Sadie said you and Justin are choosing a cake on Saturday. I’m sorry I took up all our time with my concerns.”
“No big. I’ll give you all the details on Sunday. We are still on for brunch, right?” Amy laid out money for her meal.
“I’ll be right here at nine and ready to hear all about the wedding planning.” I watched my friend leave the diner and head back to City Hall. Then I pulled a novel out of my tote and got lost in the small-town romance series I loved. This was the last one of the series, and it was breaking my heart that I’d have to leave this Oregon coast town and all my fictional friends in less than one hundred pages. If I ran the publishing world, series like these would never stop.
I’d finished the book about the same time as I finished the milkshake. Most of the lunch crowd had left, and Carrie came over to clear off the rest of our table. I pulled out money for the meal and tip. “Sorry, I know you’re probably off-shift soon.”
“Colleen would have taken care of you if I needed to leave.” Carrie picked up my check and money and slipped it into her apron pocket. “I started reading the first in that series about a week ago. I love the setting.”
“Me too.” I handed her the book. “Here. You’ve got five more before you get to this one, but you might as well have the last one.”
“That’s kind of you.” Carrie took the book like it was a huge cash tip. “I think you’re a sweet girl, no matter what Lille says.”
Then she walked off with my book, leaving me wondering what I’d done to tick off Lille recently.
When I got home, I had two options: clean the bathroom—which had been on my to-do list since the weekend or take Emma for a run. Being a responsible pet owner, I chose the latter. The bathroom would wait until tomorrow. Or Saturday.
For three o’clock on a nice October day, the beach was eerily empty. I glanced up and down as far as I could see and there were no walkers or sea lions or even other dogs. I unsnapped Emma’s leash and we started running.
She liked playing in the waves. I kept farther up from the water’s edge, where the sand was hard-packed and dry. As I ran, I emptied my mind of all the things that had worried me. Aunt Jackie. Amy’s upcoming wedding and the dress I’d have to look amazing in. The ten pounds I wanted to lose before the wedding so I would look amazing. Greg and me as a couple.
When we reached the rock where we turned around, I fell onto the sand and watched Emma continue to play. I’d have to leave her outside until she dried, then brush all the sand out of her before I let her back into the house, but it was worth it. She exuded joy.
As I watched, I realized I’d been thinking about couples and relationships for a while now. We were all at different spots in our relationships. A few months ago, I was worried that Greg and I were the only ones not talking about marriage. Now, we were right where we needed to be. Aunt Jackie had gone from planning her forever wedding to not even talking to the guy I knew she still loved. Only Amy and Justin seemed to be enjoying the planning process.
Maybe it was because they worked out their stress by surfing together. I’d be so worried about falling off the board, I wouldn’t be able to think about anything else.
When we got back to the house, Harrold’s small electric car sat in my driveway. He was sitting in the driver’s seat, looking at his phone. I let Emma in the backyard and shut the gate before I walked over and knocked on his window.
He hadn’t seen me walk up and the sound of the knock made him jump. Which made me smile. I know it wasn’t funny, but he looked shocked as he rolled down the window.
“You did come to see me, right?” I waved him out of the car. “Come inside and we’ll have some coffee and cheesecake.”
“I don’t mean to interrupt your day.” Harrold put his phone in a compartment next to the seat. “I was trying to find your number and was just going to give you a call and leave a message.”
“Harrold, this is silly. Come inside and let’s talk.” I opened his car door and held out a hand. “I can spare a few moments for the nicest man in South Cove.”
“Even if your aunt hates me?” He shook his head. “That’s not right. I don’t think she hates me at all. I see her watching me and the love is still in her. Why is she acting like this?”
I was afraid the tears forming in his eyes would start falling before I could get him inside or I started crying myself. I repeated my invitation. “Let’s go inside. I just ran and I’d really like a slice of that cheesecake.”
He smiled and climbed out of the car. “You are such a sweet girl. Your aunt is lucky to have such a strong family system.”
“I don’t know about that. It’s been just the two of us for a long time.” I slowed my pace to stay by Harrold’s side. “I have to admit, I was looking forward to adding one to the party.”
“And I would be honored to be called family by you, but you’ve done a great job of making everyone around you that you love not only your friends but your family.” He took the rail in his hand and slowly stepped up the few stairs to the porch. I hadn’t realized
how stiff Harrold was due to his arthritis. My aunt had always been pushing vitamins on him, and they’d walked the beach trail daily. Apparently, he hadn’t been doing that since the breakup.
Emma sat on the back porch. I opened the door and checked to see if the screen door was locked. Then I leaned down to talk to my dog. “You’re staying out until you dry off, missy.”
Harrold stood uncomfortably at the edge of the kitchen. He’d been over here for meals a million times since he’d started dating my aunt, but now, I guess he felt out of place. I waved him to a chair. “Come, sit down. I’ll start the coffee.”
I grabbed two cups and set up a pot to brew. Then I took out the cheesecake and cut a large slice for Harrold and a smaller one for me. Setting the plates on the table, I grabbed forks before I sat down.
“You’re too kind.” Harrold picked up his fork, then set it back down. “Look, I probably shouldn’t be here. I’m putting you in a bad position, but I need your help.”
“Eat and we’ll talk. I’m worried about you. Are you eating enough?”
He smiled and picked up the fork. “Actually, I’ve had several women from the church come over with a casserole for the last few weeks. I guess they believe I’m back on the market.”
“I hear you’ve been at Lille’s a lot.” I took a bite of the chocolate cheesecake Typically, I tried to over order at least one full cheesecake a week. My aunt hadn’t caught on yet, or if she did, she hadn’t said anything about it to me.
“Lille’s a good girl. If I don’t show up, she sends food over. I’m blessed to have such wonderful friends in my life.” He took a bite of the cheesecake. “This is amazing. Sadie Michaels has a gift with food.”
“That she does.” I wondered how long we’d be tiptoeing around the reason he was here. The coffee was finished brewing, so I jumped up to fill the cups. Harrold took his coffee like me, black and hot. I set the cups on the table. “Why don’t you tell me what you need? You know I’ll help any way I can.”
