by Kay Correll
They went back inside and sat down. The dog slowly crept up to the food bowl, then scarfed down every bit of food before lapping at the water.
“Who’s your friend?” Lillian nodded toward the screen door.
“Not sure. He showed up the other day. All I had was a left-over sandwich for him, so I bought some dog food in case he came back. He’s all skin and bones, and kind of skittish. He came back last night, and I fed him some food. Talked a bit to him. I was hoping he’d come back today.”
“He doesn’t have a collar.”
“No. If I can ever win him over, I’ll get him a bath and take him to a vet to see if he’s micro-chipped.”
“I hope he keeps coming back and you can fatten him up, poor thing.”
“I do, too.”
This Gary was a kind man. He’d gone out of his way to pick up dog food on the off-chance the stray dog would come back. She smiled at him.
“What was that smile for?”
“Just—I’m just very glad to have you here and working on the house.” She grinned. “And saving puppies.”
He grinned back at her, his eyes twinkling, and took another bite of his cinnamon roll.
Lillian left and headed back down the beach toward the inn. Gary stood next to the pile of decking boards, watching her walk away. She did have the tiniest limp as she walked, but she had a proud stride. She’d said she was recovering from a little injury. He wondered what happened. It sure didn’t seem to slow her down much.
He was glad she’d stopped by. He’d enjoyed her company. Enjoyed it a lot. Not to mention the cinnamon rolls had been a nice bonus.
He turned and looked at the house. He’d told her he’d have it finished by the wedding, but that would take a lot of work. He’d have to put in long hours. Not that he minded long hours. He’d dropped into bed exhausted last night after finishing the plumbing.
Too tired to worry. Too tired to dream. Which suited him just fine.
After he set this last support post, he was going to head back inside and make a master list of everything that needed to be done and sort it out by day so he’d keep on schedule. He didn’t want to disappoint Lillian. He was tired of disappointing people…
His phone rang, and he grabbed it from his pocket. “Mel, what did you find out? Anything? Did you find him?”
He listened to the private investigator’s answer and wasn’t pleased.
“I don’t care what it costs. I want you to find him. I want to see him face-to-face.”
Mel assured him that everything possible was being done, then they hung up.
He walked out on the beach to the water’s edge, staring out into the vast sea, out across the endless water.
Where had Brian gone?
All he knew was he would make it his life’s mission to find him.
Chapter 12
“Ruby, I hope you don’t mind. I brought Charlotte and Robin with me.” Sara stood on the front porch of Ruby’s house with her friends.
Ruby swung open her door. “I don’t mind at all. Come in. All of you.”
“We wanted to see the plans for the dress.” Charlotte hugged Ruby.
“How’s that son of mine? I haven’t seen him in days,” Ruby asked Charlotte as she led them inside.
“He’s been busy at the marina. We’re having dinner tonight, though,” Charlotte said.
“I’m glad he’s making more time for you now. He’s a stubborn one, my Ben. But the marina—any job—isn’t more important than people you care about.” Ruby turned and motioned to a large table. “I cleaned the table off. Why don’t you lay it out there?”
Sara carefully placed the dress on the table and spread it out.
“It’s really pretty,” Charlotte said, running her hand over the lace. “I love the detail in the lace.”
Ruby picked up a large sketch pad. “Here are some designs I sketched. We can change anything, but these were some ideas I had.”
They all leafed through the sketches, one by one.
“Sara? Which do you like?” Robin asked.
“This one.” Sara pointed to a sleeveless design with a simple, scooped neckline.
Charlotte grinned. “Good, because that’s my favorite and you’ll look fabulous in it.”
Sara was pleased. She’d always admired Charlotte’s sense of style. From easy bohemian to pulling together a simple, elegant style. If Charlotte thought this would suit her for the wedding, she was sure it would.
“I’ll be able to leave the back of the dress with all the lace-covered buttons.” Ruby fingered a delicate button on the dress. “I could take in a bit of the fullness in the skirt portion. I think that might look nice.”
“I like that idea.” Sara nodded and looked at Charlotte who also nodded her agreement.
“And you like the knee-length instead of full-length?”
“I do. Especially since we’re having the ceremony out on the beach.”
“Perfect. Let’s get some measurements.” Ruby grabbed her tape measure and took measurements while Robin wrote them all down for her.
When Ruby finished, Sara hugged her. “Ruby, I can’t thank you enough.”
“Oh, I’m happy to do it. I’ll call you as soon as I’m ready for your first fitting.”
“Oh, I want to come to that.” Charlotte’s eyes lit up.
“Of course.” Ruby nodded.
Charlotte dropped Sara and Robin off back at the inn before heading home to work on her newest painting.
“Now I have to meet with Jay about the food. You want to come?”
“Sure.” Robin headed to the kitchen and Sara trailed behind her, glancing at her notebook as they walked.
They found Jay and Lillian in the kitchen, sitting at a table in the corner. “Jay was just making some suggestions on what we could serve.” Lillian looked up, pen in hand, with a pad of paper sitting in front of her.
Sara and Robin joined them at the table. “Noah said for me to decide on food, but he is going with me to Julie’s tomorrow to test some cakes. He’d never pass up a chance to sample Julie’s baking.” Sara grinned, then looked at Jay. “So, give me your ideas for a menu.”
They sat for an hour, discussing pros and cons of different items until they came up with a menu that everyone was happy with.
“You’ll need to give me an idea of how many people are coming.” Jay set his pen down. “So I’ll know how much to order.”
“I’ll get the invitations out in the next few days. Charlotte and I ordered them today and put in for rush shipping. But I don’t know for sure how many will even be on the list. Noah is working on his part. It’s getting a bit… bigger… than I planned. I’m not sure how soon we’ll know who is actually coming.” She bit her lip at the uncertainty of so many details about the wedding.
“Give me the final number you invite. We’ll be able to fudge things a bit since it’ll be a buffet. I’ll order in extra supplies. We can always use them for the dining room at the inn.”
“You’re the best, Jay.” Sara sighed a long breath of relief. Another thing checked off the mile-long to-do list.
“So they say.” Jay grinned.
“Don’t encourage him.” Robin shook her head, but a smile tilted the corners of her mouth.
Sara wanted to roll her eyes at both Jay and Robin. Someday they would do something about how they felt about each other. Maybe. If either one of them would ever admit it. To themselves or to each other.
Jay watched Lillian and Sara leave, still talking about wedding details. Who knew so much was involved in planning weddings? Robin still sat at the table with him, sipping a glass of iced tea.
“You’re really good at pulling together menus with great food pairings,” Robin said.
“It’s nothing.” He brushed the compliment aside, but it pleased him that Robin thought that.
“No, you really are. From planning a menu for weddings to varying the menu for the dining room.”
He shifted uncomfortably in his se
at.
“But you’re lousy at taking compliments.” She grinned.
“Am not.”
“Are so.”
He stared at the smile that spread across Robin’s face. She had a faint smattering of freckles and her hair was pulled back, though he admitted to himself he preferred it when she wore it down, brushing her shoulders. Not that it mattered to him how she wore her hair, of course.
“Now that we have your lack of grace at accepting compliments confirmed, my work is done.” She stood. “I should go. I have actual work to do regarding the inn, even though it seems like planning this wedding is taking up the majority of my time.”
“And yet, you don’t mind,” he said softly.
“No, I don’t mind a bit. I love seeing Sara this happy.” Robin gave him another small smile and left the kitchen.
He got up and stretched. The emptiness of the space surrounded him even though being alone in the kitchen was pretty much his happy place. Robin always seemed to leave a void when she left, though.
That was just a silly, crazy thought though, wasn’t it? He shook his head and walked over to the fridge, pulling out items he needed to get started on the dinner prep. Enough of these absurd thoughts. Back to work.
Gary turned from where he was adjusting a cabinet door that didn’t close correctly to see Lillian standing at the screen door, a bag in her hand. “Lillian.” He closed the cabinet door, pleased to see it finally closed correctly.
“I know you didn’t come get dinner because I worked the dining room tonight. So… I brought it to you.” She paused. “Unless you already had dinner somewhere?”
He walked over and swung open the screen door. “You didn’t need to do that, and I haven’t eaten.”
“Well, you have to eat.”
“I guess I got busy and lost track of time.”
“If you don’t mind… I brought my dinner, too. I thought we could go over what still needs to be finished here at Magnolia House while we eat.”
“That sounds like a plan.” He cleared away the papers on the table. How had he made such a mess in such a short time?
He got out some plates and silverware and set the table.
Lil unpacked the bag, grinning when she pulled out a bottle of wine. “You a wine drinker?”
“I am.” He turned to rummage through the cabinets and pulled out two mismatched wine glasses.
“George and Ida left some of their dinnerware and glassware. They moved into a much smaller retirement place. I bought some of their extra furnishings. I still need to inventory the kitchen and see what else we’ll need to rent the place.”
“I’m not sure what all you need, or I’d do it for you,” he offered.
“I’ll come over one day soon and do it.”
That suited him just fine. He liked it when she came to visit. And today had been his lucky day. Twice in one day. They sat down at the table and he poured them both a glass of the red wine.
“Jay made his famous pot roast, so that’s what I brought. Hope it’s okay.”
He took a bite. “It’s delicious.”
“Everything Jay makes is delicious. He’s working with a fairly new hire to help him and teaching the new cook how to make the recipes. I’m not sure how well that’s working out, because Jay doesn’t really like other people working in his kitchen.” She smiled.
A smile that lit her eyes and made him feel welcome. Made him feel like he was her friend. Made him feel…
He should quit over analyzing things.
They ate their meal, and he switched his thoughts to the rehab project and told her what his plans were for finishing the house.
“Sounds like you have it all organized.” Lillian finally pushed back from the table.
“I hope so.” And he hoped he could get it all finished in time. He would get it finished in time. Lillian was depending on him.
He turned to a sound at the screen door. “There you are again, pup.” He got up to fix the dog his meal. He slowly opened the screen door, and this time the dog only stepped back a pace or two. Placing the bowls down on the stoop, he stood there a moment. “You should try this. It’s really good. I bet you’ll like it.” He murmured words to the dog.
The dog looked at him and slowly crept up to the bowl and ate all the food. After lapping the water, the dog returned to the far edge of the stoop, eyeing him.
Lillian came to the doorway. “Looks like he’s getting more used to you,” she said softly.
“Hope so.”
The pup gave him one more look, one look at Lillian, and then trotted off into the night.
He watched the dog disappear, then turned and came back inside.
“Let me help with the dishes,” Lillian offered.
“No, you brought the meal, the least I can do is clean up. But… if you have time…” He didn’t know why he was so nervous. That was silly. “We could sit out here and finish our wine?”
“I’d like that.”
He grabbed their wine glasses, and they went out on the large stoop by the side door. A lone glider was their only seating choice. They sat next to each other, and he handed Lillian her glass.
He slowly pushed the glider in a soothing, gentle movement. “The nights here sure are nice. Warm. So many stars.” He looked up at the endless array of stars stretched above them.
“They are. In the summer, nights can be hopelessly muggy unless we get a good breeze off the sea. But this time of year, the nights are usually perfect.”
He couldn’t imagine a night nicer than this. Nice dinner. Good company. Perfect weather.
A sudden surge of guilt overwhelmed him. Why did he deserve a perfect evening like this?
He didn’t. It was that simple.
He considered downing his wine in a few big gulps and calling it a night. And yet—it was so nice sitting here with Lillian.
“I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t shown up and offered to finish this job.” Lillian looked at him, her eyes warm, and her face held an honest look of appreciation. “It’s been such a help. I mean, I would have found someone, eventually. I guess. But now it will all be finished before Sara’s wedding, and the work you’re doing is very…” She laughed. “It appears you’re about as picky about details as I am. I noticed the cabinet doors in the kitchen all hang straight now.”
He smiled at her. “I did a few adjustments, yes.” He was pleased she’d noticed the cabinets.
They sat and stared at the stars, enjoying their wine, slowly gliding back and forth. She had no idea how much this job meant to him. How much he appreciated the full days of work. The chance to work with his hands. The chance to make sure things were done correctly. He should be thanking her, not her thanking him.
They glided back and forth a few more times while he took a deep breath, gathering his courage. “So I was thinking. Do you think I could take you out to dinner? Tomorrow or sometime when it’s convenient for you? I mean, you keep bringing me meals. I’d like to repay the kindness.”
“Oh, meals are part of the bargain I made with you.”
“I’d still like to repay you.” Actually, he’d like to take her out. Like on a date. But he didn’t put it that way.
She looked at him for a few moments. “Well, okay. If it would make you feel better. And I haven’t gone anywhere besides the dining room at the inn in ages.”
“Perfect. Does tomorrow night work out for you?”
“It does.” She nodded.
“Where would you like to go? You know the places here.”
“I always love going to Magic Cafe.”
“Then that’s where we’ll go. I’ll come to the lobby of the inn about six?”
“That’s perfect. We can walk there if you like. It’s not far.” She laughed. “Nothing is very far away on the island.”
“That’s sounds great. It’s a date.”
Lillian’s eyes widened the slightest bit when he made that remark. He should have used a different phrase…
Chapter 13
Noah and Jay sat at The Lucky Duck, sipping on beer. “Ben said he’d join us after his dinner with Charlotte. Oh, and there’s Del.” Jay waved to Delbert Hamilton just entering the tavern.
Noah wasn’t sure how Del had slipped into their boys’ night out routine. He came from money and ran the Hamilton Hotel chain. But Del and Jay had become friends and soon he’d joined them when Noah, Jay, and Ben got together.
Del slipped onto a stool beside them and ordered a beer. “Kind of a slow night here, isn’t it?”
“That’s the nice thing about off-season. Not as crowded.” Noah absently grabbed some nuts from the bowl on the counter. He might as well enjoy this night out with “the boys.” As near as he could figure, every moment of the next few weeks was filled with wedding prep.
“Evidently the guests at the inn didn’t get the notice about off-season. We’re nearly booked solid these days. Which is good for Lillian, I guess. And we got the cottages all rehabbed and updated now, so there are more rooms. And we’ll have the Magnolia House when that Gary guy gets it finished.”
“How’s that going?” Delbert asked.
“Everything I’ve seen of his work is spot on. Precise. Good craftsmanship.” Rare praise from Jay.
“That’s good. Lillian doesn’t need the kind of work I heard Vince was doing,” Noah said. “Though Vince is gossiping about Lillian around town. Bad-mouthing her for firing him. Says he’s losing business because of it.”
“Anyone who knows Lil won’t listen to him, and he’s losing business because he’s unreliable and does shoddy work. He was a bad hire. But this Gary guy is working out for her.”
Ben slid onto a stool next to them. “Here I am. Charlotte was tired tonight and went home early. Too much wedding planning, I think.” He let out a long sigh. “Hey, Del. Good to see you. Jay. And Noah, my friend, you really messed things up for me.”
Noah looked at him. “Me? What did I do?”
“Well… you see…” Ben dug into his pocket and took out a box. “I’d gotten this ring for Charlotte.” He popped open the box. “Was going to ask her to marry me this weekend when we’d planned an outing to Blue Heron Island on Lady Belle.” He slid the box back into his pocket. “But… well, now the timing is off. You asked Sara to marry you and you have the wedding in four weeks. I want Charlotte to feel special when I ask her. I mean… I don’t know what I mean. I just think she’d feel like her engagement was overshadowed. Or that she’d feel bad taking away some of the spotlight from Sara.”
