“Well, we like our company to feel right at home,” Jenna said with a smile, and handed her a plate.
Caroline didn’t smile back, but she got the message and got busy helping clear the table. As soon as the dishes were stowed in the dishwasher she said to Sabrina, “Come on. Let’s go up to your room,” and the two girls vacated the kitchen.
Aunt Edie looked disappointed. “I thought they’d like to play a game.”
“You know teenage girls,” Jenna said. “They like to be by themselves.”
“You never did,” Aunt Edie said. “You and your sister liked to do things with the grown-ups.”
“I still do,” Jenna said, putting an arm around her. “Let’s play some canasta.”
That perked her aunt up, and the rest of the evening went pleasantly.
“How was she?” Nora asked when she arrived at nine to pick up her granddaughter.
“She was fine,” Jenna lied.
“No sign of those aliens?”
“Well...”
Nora shook her head. “She was such a sweet little girl. Oh, well. If we can get her to twenty without killing her we’ll be fine.”
Jenna smiled at that and called up the stairs for Caroline, which brought both girls bouncing down.
“See you tomorrow,” Caroline said to Sabrina.
“We’re going to the beach,” Sabrina explained.
Instant friendship. Jenna had wanted her daughter to find someone to hang out with. She only wished she could have found one with better manners.
Caroline did thank Jenna for having her over, though, and without prompting, which made her grandmother smile. Maybe the aliens hadn’t quite taken over yet.
With a friend to hang out with, Sabrina seemed happier. She even pitched in without complaining when they started moving furniture back into the rooms the next day.
Which was more than Jenna could say for Pete, who made mention of elder abuse more than once. “You’re gonna kill me,” he informed Jenna.
“You’re too tough to die,” she said. “Come on, pick up your corner of the mattress and let’s get moving.”
After lunch Sabrina disappeared and, not surprisingly, Pete did, too.
“The guy’s useless,” Seth said later as he and Jenna walked to the office to fetch a bed frame. “How did you end up with him, anyway?”
“Aunt Edie adopted him.”
“Is there something between them?”
“Aunt Edie and Pete? At their age?” Oh, there was an image she’d never get out of her mind. “She’s got to be ten years older than him.”
“After a certain point age doesn’t matter.”
Did Aunt Edie have the hots for Pete? It would certainly explain how well she treated him. And the fact that he’d had a key. But... “No. If there was something between them he’d be living in the house instead of one of the rooms.”
“Maybe. Or maybe your aunt didn’t want you to know she was fooling around. Maybe she didn’t want anyone to know.”
Jenna frowned at him. “You’ve got a sick mind. You know that?”
He chuckled and shrugged. “Hey, you’d be surprised how many of my grandma’s friends are shacking up. That way they each get to keep their social security benefits.”
“Aunt Edie would never do that,” Jenna informed him. “Uncle Ralph was the love of her life.”
“And he’s been dead how long?”
“No way would she be with Pete. She’s got better taste than that.”
“With women, you never know. You’re not half as picky as men.”
“If you mean we don’t look on the outside the way you do, then true.” Well, theoretically, anyway. Nothing wrong with a nice set of pecs and a six-pack.
He grunted. “Plus, you’re all too trusting.”
He was right there. She’d trusted Damien, believed him when he said he was out looking for materials for his sculptures. He’d been out looking, all right.
“Oh, well,” said Seth. “The old guy isn’t much help, anyway.”
“Not with his bad back. He wrenched it when we were moving a mattress and now he won’t be able to move for a week. I’m sure he’ll recover enough to be able to get to the house for dinner tonight, though.”
Sure enough. He showed up just as Aunt Edie was putting on some hot dogs to boil. Groaning and moaning from his morning’s labors, of course.
Jenna was too tired to groan and moan. She ate a hot dog, took a hot bath and climbed into bed to read more advice from Muriel Sterling.
Starting over can be hard work, Muriel wrote. But, in the end, it always pays off.
“You’d better be right,” Jenna muttered. She tossed the book aside and managed to turn off her bedside lamp with only a small groan.
No dreams for her that night. No pirates fighting over her. Just as well. She was too tired to entertain.
* * *
The next couple of days were filled with working on putting things to rights in the motel, and Jenna was pleased with how the rooms were turning out. Yes, most of the bedspreads were still a disgrace to bedspreads, but the new carpet and paint went a long way toward making everything look better. She’d have to order more bedding before they opened for business, and get the pool functional. And down the road she’d need to upgrade the flooring in the bathrooms, but for the moment she’d have to be content with what she’d managed.
She avoided looking at the roof on Friday afternoon when she made her way back to the house to shower. She’d already had enough ugly for one day when she’d written out Damien’s check that morning. She wasn’t going to add to it by thinking about that four-letter word roof, not with her sister and friend due to arrive soon. She was going to have fun and enjoy her weekend, and Herbie’s written estimate could stay in her desk drawer where she’d stuck it.
Once she’d cleaned up she made some brownies for the evening’s entertainment. “Those sure smell good,” said Pete, who’d followed his nose to the kitchen shortly after she’d taken them out. That was what she got for not locking the back door.
Much as Pete irritated her, she didn’t have the heart to deny him a brownie. She cut one off and handed it to him on a napkin. Good grief. She was turning into Aunt Edie.
He frowned. “Only one?”
“These are for the women tonight.”
“They’re probably all on diets,” he said.
She caved and gave him another small one. “No more,” she said in her firm mommy voice.
“Fine,” he muttered, and helped himself to some milk.
If Pete deserved brownies, so did the man who was doing most of the work around there. She cut two generous pieces for Seth and put them on a paper plate.
“Who are those for?” Pete demanded.
“Seth.”
“How come he gets such big pieces?”
“Because he does most of the work. And don’t you be sneaking into those while I’m gone,” she said as she left the kitchen.
She caught Seth just leaving his room, all showered up and wearing jeans and a shirt rolled up at the sleeves, flip-flops on his feet. He smelled spicy and yummy.
“Looks like you’re ready for a night on the town,” she said.
“Got a pool game at the Drunken Sailor.” He pointed to the plate. “What’s this?”
“Your reward for going the extra mile and helping me. I’d have brought more but I have to save something for when Aunt Edie’s friends show up.”
“This is enough.” He took the plate, picked up a brownie and bit into it. “Good,” he said around a mouthful.
“Thanks. It’s a family recipe.”
“Haven’t had home baking in years,” he said, and popped the rest in his mouth.
Poor Seth. He’d paid in so many ways for his little sister’s crime.
“I�
�d better get back,” she said. “My sister’s coming in with one of my friends and they should be here any minute.”
He nodded in the direction of a white Prius pulling into the parking lot. “Looks like any minute’s here.”
Jenna had missed seeing her sister, but she didn’t realize how much until she saw Celeste’s car pull in. Celeste screeched the car to a halt, then hopped out and, with a squeal, ran for Jenna. As always, she looked adorable wearing a flirty sundress that showed off her curves, her hair and makeup perfect. Jenna found herself wishing she’d at least done something with her nails. She was a mess.
Celeste didn’t seem to notice. “You look superbuff,” she said after they’d hugged.
“Hulking around mattresses and dressers and pulling up carpet will do that,” Jenna said. “But this is the man who’s been doing most of the heavy lifting.”
“Not really,” Seth said, and introduced himself. Vanita had joined them now, too, and she was looking at Seth the way he’d looked at Jenna’s brownies.
“Jenna told me she had a new handyman,” Celeste said, giving him one of her famous flirty smiles.
“Counting Pete, that brings me up to one and a half,” Jenna said.
“I could always use a handyman,” said Vanita. “Do you come as far as Lynwood?”
“Afraid not,” he said.
“He’s only helping out until he gets his business off the ground,” Jenna explained.
“Oh, what’s that?” Vanita asked.
“Mold removal,” said Seth. “The houses down here at the water battle it a lot.”
“And no, you don’t have mold,” Celeste said to Vanita, which made her frown.
“I could find some,” she said.
“Sorry,” Jenna said to Seth. “We don’t let her out of her cage very often.”
Vanita stuck out her tongue at Jenna.
“Good to meet you,” he said. “You all have fun tonight.” Then, with a polite smile and a nod, he left them.
“Wow,” Celeste said, watching his truck drive off. “You weren’t kidding when you said he’s gorgeous.”
“Probably taken, anyway. The good ones always are,” Vanita grumbled.
Jenna started for the car. “Come on, let’s get your stuff unloaded.” And they had plenty to unload. “Good Lord, how many clothes did you need for a weekend?” she asked as she helped them carry in their things.
“There’s more than our clothes in here.” Celeste held up a beach bag with a wine bottle peeking out the top. “We brought chocolate, wine, chips and a makeover kit for you.”
Jenna looked at her suspiciously. “What do you mean?”
“Have you looked at your eyebrows recently?”
Okay, so her sister had noticed.
“We’re doing your hair and your nails tomorrow,” said Vanita. “And I’m giving you my fabulous egg facial.”
“I thought you two wanted to go to the festival.”
“We do. But we’re not taking you anywhere looking like you’ve been shipwrecked for months,” Celeste said. “You need rehabbing even more than the Driftwood.”
“And what about this plan to make me a ton of money?”
“We’ll get to that,” Celeste said breezily as they entered the house. “Aunt Edie, we’re here!”
There was no more talk of money-making schemes after that. Aunt Edie had to find out all about Vanita and get caught up on Celeste’s life and latest this-is-it love.
Celeste produced a picture on her phone. “This is what I’m giving up for you and my sissy this weekend.”
“He is handsome,” said Aunt Edie.
He was every bit as hot as Seth. “That was a sacrifice,” Jenna admitted.
“But you’re both worth it,” Celeste said, and hugged her aunt.
“I’m so glad you came down,” Aunt Edie said. “It’s like old times, having both you girls here. And lovely that you brought along a friend,” she added, with a smile for Vanita.
“We did come with a purpose in mind,” Celeste said. “We’re going to kidnap Jenna tomorrow and take her to the casino.”
“The casino?”
“Where else are you going to get your hands on a big bundle of money interest-free?”
Jenna blinked. “That’s your big plan for getting money to fix the Driftwood?”
“Don’t knock it,” Celeste said. “One of the teachers at my school just won twenty thousand at the Silver Wings.”
“Yeah, but how often does that happen?” Jenna argued. “The odds are always in favor of the house.”
“Not always,” Celeste insisted. “Anyway, all you’ve been doing is working. You could use an evening out with the girls. Couldn’t she, Aunt Edie?”
“Yes, indeed,” said Aunt Edie. “I think you should go out and have some fun, dear.”
“Speaking of fun, where’s my favorite niece?” Celeste asked.
“She’s out in the kitchen, putting together a special appetizer for you,” Aunt Edie said. “She’s becoming quite the queen of the kitchen.”
“All right. Let’s go see what she’s making and get this wine chilling,” Celeste said, and started for the kitchen.
“Sounds good to me,” Vanita said, and followed her, leaving Jenna to trail behind.
The casino. That was the big idea. Great. She’d just wind up throwing away ten bucks. Which was all she had in her purse. If Celeste and Vanita wanted to eat dinner there she hoped one of them was footing the bill.
Sabrina was making shrimp dip to go with the crackers she’d set out on a platter. At the sight of Celeste, she abandoned her mixing bowl and ran to hug her.
“So, you’ve missed your favorite aunt?” Celeste teased. “The one who always brings you chocolate-covered sunflower seeds?”
Sabrina’s eyes got big. “Did you?”
“Of course.” Celeste held up her beach bag of goodies. She grinned at Jenna. “And I brought...”
“Fritos,” Jenna said, her mouth watering as her sister pulled out the bag.
“Yes, because you can’t go to the beach...”
“And not have Fritos,” Jenna finished with her.
“Ah, traditions,” Vanita said with a smile.
“Are you going to the Sand and Surf Festival with us tomorrow?” Sabrina asked. “My friend Caroline and me—”
“And I,” Jenna corrected.
“And I are entering the sand castle contest.”
“Well, then, we’ll have to go and take tons of pictures,” said Celeste. “Meanwhile, give me some of that shrimp dip. I’m dying to try it.”
Shrimp dip was followed by pulled pork sandwiches. Of course, Pete joined the women for dinner, and was happy to let them know that he worked like a slave to help Edie and Jenna. “Even though I’ve got a bad back,” he said. “But you gotta keep moving.”
He certainly did that, usually as far away from a job as he could get.
“So, that’s Pete, huh?” Celeste said later as they set up an extra cot in Jenna’s room for Vanita. “He’s a character. Do you think Aunt Edie’s got the hots for him?”
“You’re the second person who’s asked that. But no. Eww.”
“Hey, even old people need love,” said Vanita.
“Aunt Edie’s not that desperate,” Jenna assured both them and herself.
“Let’s hope not,” said Celeste.
“Speaking of men, is your handyman taken?” Vanita asked. “He’s gorgeous.”
“I think you scared him,” Jenna said to her.
“Hey, I was only being friendly.”
“More like scary,” Celeste teased.
“I think you’d have to fight Jenna for him,” Celeste said, eyeing her sister.
Oh boy, warm cheeks. That meant a blush was forming. Jenna turned away, busy with stuffing a
pillow in a pillowcase. “Nothing happening there.”
“Yet,” said Celeste. “But hey, if you don’t want him, gosh, he is tempting.”
“What happened to Mr. Perfect?” Jenna demanded.
“If things don’t work out it’s good to have a backup plan.”
“He’s not your type,” Jenna said. Who was she kidding? Every man was her adorable little sister’s type.
“Never mind him,” Vanita said. “I want to see that Realtor who’s been taking you to lunch. If you don’t want him I wouldn’t mind doing some house hunting down here.”
Vanita and Brody? Oh, they wouldn’t be a match. She was...funny and sweet and, well, who wanted someone funny and sweet these days?
Good grief. When had Jenna turned into Miss Piggy?
“I don’t think she wants to share,” teased Celeste the mind reader.
“I don’t have a collar on anyone,” Jenna said quickly. “And I’m through with men.”
“Man,” corrected both Celeste and Vanita.
“Anyway, we’re just teasin’,” Vanita said. “We wouldn’t poach on your territory. Girlfriend code.”
“Well,” Celeste said, pretending to consider the idea.
The doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of the first guest of the evening. “Come on, you wild things. Let me introduce you to my new posse.”
“Who can never take the place of your old posse,” Vanita told her as they followed her out of the bedroom.
“Of course not,” she said with a smile.
“By the way, Brittany would have come, too,” Celeste said, “but she had to go to her cousin’s wedding in Yakima. She says to let her know when you have your grand opening and she’ll come down for it. Mom wants to come down, too.”
If there ever was a grand opening.
Jenna pushed the ugly thought away and shifted into party gear, introducing Vanita and Celeste to Courtney and Annie, who had come bearing diet pop and some of Annie’s caramel corn.
“This is amazing,” Celeste told Annie, sampling some as soon as she’d set the bowl on the coffee table next to Sabrina’s shrimp dip. “You could sell it.”
“Maybe someday I will,” Annie said.
Nora was the next to arrive, with Caroline, and she and Sabrina disappeared to the beach. But not before Nora gave them strict instructions to be back in the house by dark.
Welcome to Moonlight Harbor Page 24
