"Ya look beautiful," he told her.
"So do you." She winked, laying a piece of cake on the dainty plate he held in his massive hands.
He scowled at her compliment. "Now when we cast off?"
"Just as soon as we can get away." Exhaling a deep breath, she looked around the crowded room. "Which could take a while."
Nodding, Ti went to join the crew as they waited for her signal to return to the ship and prepare to set sail.
When she'd told Adrian about her lifelong dream to sail the Pirate's Pleasure to Bequia to see her family, he'd suggested doing exactly that for their honeymoon. She'd objected at first, saying they couldn't afford to spend that much time away from the inn, and her charter business.
He'd given her a look that said he knew the real reason behind her reluctance. Thanks to the cooking show, they had the time and money to take off sailing for half of each year if they wanted. But after the awkwardness of her past visits, Jackie wasn't sure how welcome they'd be.
Adrian had finally badgered her into at least calling her grandmother to tell her she was getting married. The day she placed the call, a few of her aunts and uncles had been at the house. They'd all insisted on talking to her, and demanded to know why she never came to see them anymore.
When she hung up, feeling dazed, she'd asked Adrian what he thought of their change in attitude. He'd suggested the change was as much with her as them. After the past few months of interacting with his family, she wasn't as defensive and standoffish as she used to be. Plus, her father was out of the picture.
So, as amazing as it seemed to her, they were about to embark on an extensive sailing trip around the Caribbean that would include a stop to see her family.
First, though, they needed to get through the reception.
Vivian and Carl came through the line, with Vivian holding a resplendent Lauren. "Priddy!" Lauren informed Jackie, touching her own frilly peach dress.
"Yes, peanut," Jackie agreed. "You are very pretty. Want some cake?"
"Cake!"
"Here you go." Jackie placed a slice on the plate Vivian held out, then looked at Adrian's aunt. "Are we eating or dieting today?"
"Eating," the woman announced. "I only have one nephew, and I'm not going to deprive myself on his wedding day. Besides, I've officially retired from Broadway."
"Retirement seems to agree with you," Jackie observed. They hadn't seen Vivian for the past four months, but when Adrian spoke to her on the phone, he insisted his aunt had never sounded happier.
"Retirement and marriage," Vivian said, smiling at her new husband. She and Carl had eloped to Maryland when he'd chased after her to New York. "By the way, Carl's been hired for a dive off the coast of Grenada, so it looks like you two aren't the only ones headed for the islands. If you make it to St. George's, you'll have to come see us."
Adrian gave Jackie a questioning look. "Can we make it that far south?"
"We can try," she answered.
Carl held out a plate, as well. "Just be warned, I may put you to work diving."
"In that case, we'll definitely make it." Jackie sliced a piece of cake for him, realizing that by an odd twist of fate, the man was now her uncle. Before he could move away, she touched the pearl pendant. "I never got to thank you personally for talking to the state on our behalf."
"You're welcome. I'm glad they agreed to let you keep it."
"Me, too," she said, thinking how inadequate the words were to describe how she, Adrian, and his family had felt the day they'd received the news. Although that was only one of many gratifying days that had followed since she had found the powder horn. As the rest of the wedding guests filed by, she thought of all the good turns her life had taken.
Following Scott's advice, they had hired a publicist, and soon the media had done a complete about-face. Good Morning America had even returned for a follow-up story. By then, they'd been interviewed enough that she'd learned to relax before the camera ---with a lot of coaching and encouragement from Adrian. Their teasing banter had given the network the idea of including her on the cooking show. After two months of filming, the first episodes were just starting to air, but the show had already been heralded as the perfect blend of cooking, comedy, and romance.
Never in her wildest dreams would Jackie have imagined herself as the co-host of a cooking show, being financially secure, and having a warm circle of family and friends. She looked around the crowded room at all the people who had become special to her during the last months: the show crew had abandoned their equipment to descend on the wedding buffet; Scott and Chance chatted with her sailors; and in the far corner, Rory and Alli held court with volunteers from the Historical Society.
In spite of her busy schedule, Jackie had helped out with the new museum exhibit as much as possible. The work had allowed her to become part of a community in a way she'd never experienced before. The highlight was the day the exhibit had opened to the public. She'd stood and watched as people viewed the replica of Captain Kingsley's cabin, learning the truth about his heroism and honor.
"How you holding up?" Adrian asked her an hour later.
"Pretty good, actually," she told him, as he slipped an arm about her waist. "As much as I'm enjoying this, though, I'm counting the minutes until we can get out of these fancy clothes."
"My thoughts exactly." He grinned.
When the time finally came for them to depart, the guests gathered on the lawn, lining the path down to the pier. She and Adrian made a dash for the ship beneath a barrage of birdseed, her gauzy veil flying out behind her. A camera on the dock had been set up to film their departure, although a second camera crew would be traveling with the ship's crew to shoot highlights of the trip for upcoming shows.
She and Adrian went to the stern rail of the quarterdeck so they could wave good-bye as the ship pulled away from the dock.
The setting sun was coloring the sky as the brand-new sails unfurled and filled with wind: yards and yards of pristine white canvas, without a single tatter or patch. Glancing up, Jackie imagined how it all would look caught on film: like a fairy tale come to life.
Happiness filled her and she threw her arms around Adrian, hugging him tight. "Thank you."
"For what?"
She leaned back enough to see his face. "For teaching me to believe that sometimes dreams do come true."
~ ~ ~
Don't stop reading. Continue on for the
Bonus Chapter
Return to Pearl Island: Part Three
and
Chapter One excerpts from
Falling for You, book one in the Pearl Island trilogy
Lead Me On, book two in the Pearl Island Trilogy
~ ~ ~
Learn more about Julie Ortolon and where to buy her heartwarming, contemporary romance novels at JulieOrtolon.com
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Return To Pearl Island
Part Three
~Ten Years Later~
"Why are all the lights off?" Jackie stopped in the stairwell that led down to the family apartment in the basement of the Pearl Island Inn.
"I have no idea," Adrian said from behind her. A shaft of light came through the door to the back hall, spilling down the stairs. She heard him flip the switch a few times, but nothing happened. "Maybe the bulb is burned out."
"But all the lights are off downstairs."
"Then let's go down and turn some on."
Running a hand along one wall, she made her way halfway down before the door closed, shutting out the light. She stopped as blackness engulfed them.
"Daddy, it's dark," their five-year-old son, Taylor, whispered, clearly thrilled by the prospect.
"Yes, it is," Adrian whispered back in the same tone. "You better hold my hand."
"Naw, I'm okay." Taylor's shoes scraped on the treads. "Do you think the ghosts
made it dark?"
"Maybe." Amusement tinged Adrian's voice at his son's excitement. "Watch your step."
"I am ---Oops!" Taylor's solid little body collided into Jackie. "Thorry!"
"Okay, brave guy ..." Laughing, she scooped him up and set him on her hip. "How about I carry you."
"Why? I'm not scared."
"Maybe I am." She tickled his belly.
"Naw-ah." He giggled. "You never scared."
"Why don't you hold me anyway. Just to be sure. Okay?"
"'Kay." He flung his arms around her neck.
The feel of him snuggled against her flooded her heart with joy. She'd thought her dreams had come true the day she'd married Adrian, but that had only been the beginning. Contentment and adventure had filled the last ten years as they'd operated the Pirate's Pleasure as a windjammer cruise ship, sailing from Galveston to the Caribbean. The honeymoon episode of Cooking Lessons had gone so well, the network had spun it into a new show, Caribbean Spice, with Adrian showing how to cook and where to eat in the islands. The show's popularity had boosted the cruise business nicely.
All that was about to change, though. With the new plans they'd made during the last few days, their lives were going to take a different, but equally exciting turn. Rubbing her cheek against her son's hair, she wondered how she'd managed to get so lucky.
"You got him?" Adrian's hand came to rest on her back.
"Yep." She took a deep breath before joy got the better of her and she arrived downstairs with watery eyes. Assuming anyone would be there to see her. "I thought they knew we were arriving today."
"So did I," he said as they resumed their way down the stairs. When they reached the bottom, she felt him brush past her to flip a switch.
"Surprise!" voices shouted as light exploded.
"What?" Jackie blinked against the sudden brightness.
When her vision cleared, she found Adrian's sisters beaming in welcome along with Chance and Scott, and the children. Scott's niece, Chloe was there, as well as Bobby and Paige. Over their heads stretched a welcome-home banner while hundreds of balloons danced along the ceiling, filling the room with color.
"What's all this?" Adrian asked as Rory bounded toward him, a blur of blonde hair and long limbs. He caught her in a hug that lifted her off the floor. "We've come home lots of times."
"But this time's special." When Rory's feet touched down, she engulfed Jackie and Taylor in her arms. "Welcome home."
"It's good to be here." Jackie laughed as she squeezed Rory back. "But why the party? Not that we don't love any excuse to celebrate ---"
"Because this time, you're home to stay." Rory's blue eyes shown with happiness.
Uh-oh. Jackie's gaze collided with Adrian's. We should have told them.
It'll be okay, he silently assured her.
"Glad you made it." Chance stepped forward to give Adrian a handshake and backslap. The contrast between the two men had increased over the years, as Adrian grew more tanned and muscular from his life aboard ship. "Aurora's been beside herself with excitement for three days."
"Of course I've been excited." Rory gave Jackie another hug.
Jackie bit her lip with worry. They'd wanted to wait and tell the family about their new plans until they could do it in person, since they knew the sisters, especially Rory, wouldn't be happy. Had waiting made things worse?
"Rory, you're hogging." Allison nudged her sister aside to give Jackie a squeeze. "Welcome home, Jackie."
"And me!" Still riding her hip, Taylor pointed to his chest.
"And you." Allison rubbed her nose against his, making him giggle. Motherhood had added a glow of happiness that made Alli prettier than ever. She eyes widened playful as she looked at Taylor. "My goodness, look at how big you've grown."
"I'm six." He held up the right number of fingers.
"You certainly are." His aunt clasped her hands together. "Which is why you're moving back to Pearl Island, so you can go to school with your cousins."
"I hate school!" AJ, Rory's and Chance's six-year-old son, announced with a scowl. His blond curls and blue eyes gave him a deceptively angelic look. While he was sweet as could be, he had a lack of fear and thirst for danger that rivaled Taylor's. "They make you sit still all day!"
"Oh, the torture that must be." Scott's niece, Chloe, laughed as she ruffled AJ's hair. Jackie hadn't met Chloe until after she and Adrian married, but she'd bonded quickly with the troubled tomboy ---who'd grown into a striking young woman. "You're lucky the teacher doesn't tie you to your chair."
"They tie you up?" Taylor's eyes went so wide, Jackie had to laugh. He looked like his father in everything but the hazel eyes he'd gotten from her. He shook his head gravely. "I don't have to go to school, do I?"
Jackie shot another glance at Adrian. The question provided a perfect opening to announce their news, but they'd barely walked in the door. They couldn't just blurt it out.
"Tell you what." She lowered Taylor to the floor. "Why don't you ask Derrick and Raff if they have any new toys."
Allison's twins, who'd turned out to be boys despite the doctor's prediction, had just turned nine. With just enough of their mother's prettiness to soften the sharp features they inherited from their father, they promised to be heart stealers by the time they hit their teen years.
"We'd rather see the ship," one of the twins ---Derrick she thought ---told her. Yes, it was definitely Derrick, she decided when he flashed her a beguiling smile. He was the charmer of the two, while Raff usually stood in the background, silently plotting their next mischief. "Can we, Aunt Jackie?"
"Fine with me." She looked at Scott. "Ti is onboard and can watch them."
"I'm not sure Ti is enough to keep these guys out of trouble." Scott narrowed his eyes at his sons.
"We promise to be good as gold." Derrick crossed a finger over his heart.
"Me too!" AJ jumped up and down.
"Okay, you can go, if" ---Scott held up a finger ---"Chloe goes with you."
"Oh man," Chloe complained as the boys cheered. "I'm twenty three, guys. When do I go from being one of the kidlets to hanging with the adults?"
"When all these boys are old enough to be trusted on their own." Scott circled a finger to include all four boys.
"In other words, never." Plopping her hands on her hips, Chloe gave the boys a threatening frown that slowly gave way to a twinkle in her eyes. "Okay, listen up, me mateys. You'll be minding what I say, or I'll have ye walking the plank."
"Woo-hoo! To the ship!" Derrick shouted and raced his brother for the stairs.
"Wait for me!" AJ ran after them with Taylor bringing up the rear.
"Taylor!" Adrian called.
Taylor stopped on the bottom step.
"No swinging from the halyard without your mother and me there to supervise."
"Why not?" Taylor looked genuinely perplexed as the other thundered up the stairs. "I can show them how to do it."
"No," Adrian told him."I mean it."
"Okay." Taylor shrugged and disappeared up the stairs.
"It's all right," Chloe assured all the parents. "I'll keep my eyes on them."
"Can we go too?" Lauren asked. She'd grown from an angelic little girl to a beautiful pre-teen with golden curls still tumbling down her back.
"Might as well." Chloe gestured for her to follow.
"Come on Nicki." Lauren took the hand of the Allison's and Scott's three-year-old daughter, Nicole. "We can be girl pirates, just like Aunt Jackie."
Jackie laughed. In years past, being called a pirate would have had her back up, but she'd left that old defensiveness behind. "I wonder if I should call Ti and warn him the ship's about to be invaded."
"He'll be fine," Adrian said. "Heck, he's probably expecting them."
"True."
"So, let's get this party started." Rubbing his hands, Adrian went to check out the spread of food on the bar. "What do we have to eat?"
"A little bit of everything." Allison swept a hand to pre
sent the offerings. "Including our now famous Pearl Island brownies."
"Mmm, chocolate." Adrian sent Jackie a wink that made her blush. They'd had more than one chocolate covered encounter over the years, to the point that the mere sight of a brownie made her tingle.
"Who wants wine?" Chance moved into the kitchen. A chorus of I dos rang out.
"So, how's the ship?" Bobby said as he and Paige joined the food line.
"Fabulous." Jackie pulled her mind away from thoughts of smearing chocolate all over her husband's magnificent body. "You should have been with us on the last leg home. The minute we entered the Gulf the wind hit us from the stern and we had the longest, fastest downwind run I've ever had in my life."
"Seriously?" Paige's eyes lit up. "I wish we had been there."
"It was ... amazing."
Adrian had to smile as Bobby and Paige pumped Jackie for details. Those three, he knew, could talk sailing for hours.
"How are things here at the inn?" he asked Allison, filling his plate.
"Busy as ever," Allison told him. "My online gift shop is doing so well, we've finally talked Chloe into managing the gift shop here at the inn full time."
"Which means we don't see Alli nearly enough." Rory gave her sister a disgruntled look. "Not that we mind having Chloe here. She's great. It's just, the whole point of us starting a B and B together was so we could, you know, be together. But Alli's cyber business is so successful, she spends most of her time at her home office, filling orders."
"So much for Scott getting an office." Allison laughed, since she'd taken over the space above the garage they'd built behind the Bouchard Cottage. They'd meant for the office to be Scott's.
"You'll hear no complaints from me," Scott said. "I got so used to having the boys underfoot while I was writing, now I can't concentrate without the noise and chaos of the house."
"You are such a sucker for your boys." Allison gave his cheek a quick peck. "And Nicole."
"Guilty." Grinning, Scott caught Alli around the waist and pulled her to him for a quick kiss on the mouth. She laughed out a protest and squirmed away, a pretty blush coloring her cheeks.
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