by Kay Correll
“Of course he is. He even was in high school.”
“No, he had a crush on Eva.”
“No, he was star-struck by Eva. Every guy was. But he didn’t like her. He liked you. Don’t you remember he even came to see the art show where you won that blue ribbon?”
She frowned. “He was there?”
“I don’t think he even knew he had a crush on you back then. I could tell he liked you though. You’re so much more his type than Eva. Plus… you’re a nice person, which is more than I can say about Eva.”
“Maybe…”
“So… you went back to his boat, and…?”
“We had wine and talked and… He’s a good kisser.”
Robin slapped the table. “Ha. Knew it. He does like you.”
“He asked me out on a date. We’re going out tomorrow evening after my family leaves.” She sighed. “And I need to go over to the inn and at least talk to them today. If they’re speaking to me. I’m not sorry about anything I said to them, but I am sorry it happened at the party.”
“I don’t think you have anything to apologize for,” Robin defended her.
“I’m not going to apologize. I’m just hoping to have a civil conversation with them. Make sure they understood I was serious and that things are going to change between all of us.”
Robin rolled her eyes. “Good luck with that.”
Charlotte decided to head over to the inn after fortifying herself with copious amounts of coffee and a big breakfast. Or maybe she’d just been stalling. She looked around the perfectly picked up kitchen—she’d even mopped the floor—then neatly hung the kitchen towel on the handle of the dishwasher.
She quickly dressed in shorts and a t-shirt that said Make a Wish Upon a Shell - It Really Works and slipped on some flip-flops. She pulled her hair into a ponytail. She might get criticized for this outfit too, but it was comfortable and she planned on cutting across the island and walking up the beach to the inn.
She grabbed her sunglasses and one of her many hats and headed outside into the sunshine. She glanced over at Ben’s bungalow. His car was there, but he’d probably walked to work. He was a walker to everywhere, just like she was. One more thing they had in common.
A smile slipped across her face as she thought of last night on Lady Belle. With light steps, she cut across the island and walked down to the water’s edge of the gulf. Families were camped out under pop-up umbrellas and children ran and squealed, letting the waves chase them up the shore. A couple of grade-school aged kids were busy flying kites, each one trying to see if they could make their kite go the highest. Just a lovely, typical Saturday on Belle Island.
Of course, just about everything seemed lovely to her today. Except for the whole going to talk to her family…
She walked up the shoreline until she reached the inn, then rinsed her feet in a faucet near the steps and slipped on her flip-flops. She climbed the stairs and entered the inn. Sara waved to her from across the room and hurried up to her.
“How was the party at the Montgomerys’?”
“Eventful. I’ll tell you the whole story, but first I need to find my family.”
“I was just talking to Aunt Lil, and she said your family just finished with a late breakfast and were headed back to their cottage. She also said they were checking out early and heading back home today. I thought they were staying until Sunday?”
Charlotte frowned. “I did, too.”
“Yes, they said something about needing to get back early.”
She shook her head. She knew why they needed to get back early. They were escaping any fallout from her outburst at the party.
And they hadn’t said a word to her about leaving early. Were they just going to text her after they left and say they were gone? Not even say goodbye?
“Thanks, Sara. I better go talk to them.” She spun around and headed off toward the cottage they were staying in. She’d catch them before they had a chance to leave. She wouldn’t apologize, but she hoped to at least smooth things out between all of them.
Or not.
Charlotte knocked on the door of the cottage. Eva flung open the door but just turned away when she saw it was her. Charlotte stepped into the cottage, uninvited. “I heard you were leaving today.”
Eva whirled back around to face her. “We are. You ruined our vacation. And it’s so embarrassing. We’ll never be able to come back to the island again.”
“Pretty sure you’re exaggerating just a bit.”
Her mother entered the room carrying a tote bag and paused when she saw her. “Oh, Charlotte.”
“Hello, Mother. I hear you’re leaving early.”
“Your father needs to get back.”
“Really?” She didn’t believe that at all.
Her mother set her bag down on a chair and turned to face her. “I’m so disappointed in you. All that commotion and embarrassment at the Montgomerys’ party. It was… well, it was disgraceful. I raised you better than that.”
“But Eva is allowed to say whatever she wants about what I wear, what I do for a living, and criticize my paintings? That’s how you raised her?” She was not going to stand here and let her family blame her for their early departure.
“Don’t be impertinent.” Her mother frowned.
Her father entered the room, pulling a large suitcase behind him. “Oh, Charlotte. I was just getting ready to call you and tell you the girls have decided we’ll leave early. Too bad, too. Had a golf game scheduled for this afternoon.”
She shot an accusing glance at her mother, but her mother just looked down and fiddled with her tote bag.
“I was hoping we could talk before you go. I meant what I said that things need to change between us.” She stepped further into the room.
“Let’s not get into it all again. We do need to get back. Besides, I couldn’t bear to show my face on the island now. Not after that scene you made. And it was so embarrassing apologizing to Camille for you.” Eva let out a long put-upon sigh.
“You didn’t need to do that.”
“Of course I did. It was terrible. You ruined their party.”
“I doubt it ruined their party.” She rolled her eyes.
“Well, it was very unfortunate. We left soon after you did. I could feel all the people there staring at us.” Her mother shook her head.
“I’m sorry you felt you had to leave early, and I probably could have chosen a better time to stand up to Eva… and to all of you. But, Eva, your remarks were cruel and uncalled for. I don’t tell you how to run your life… or what to wear… and you have no right to tell me what I can and can’t do. I’m tired of your constant remarks criticizing me and belittling me. I’m an adult. I make my own choices.”
“Poor ones,” Eva muttered.
“This arguing is giving me a headache.” Her mother rubbed her temples. “Charlotte, just drop it. But I was very displeased with your actions at the party.”
Let’s just drop it, but first her mother had to get in one last dig? And didn’t it take two people to argue? She turned to her father. “Dad?”
He looked at her for a long moment. “I listened. I heard you. And let’s just say I won’t forget that you don’t like Chardonnay, that’s for sure. But your mother has a headache and I should get the car packed.”
She stood staring at her family. Wondering how she could have ever been born into this family, how she could be related to them. There was not going to be any smoothing things over, no more talking. That was clear.
“Okay, then. Have a safe trip.” She spun around and walked back out the door and hurried down to the beach, once again speeding away from Eva, from her family. Things were never going to work out with them.
She suddenly felt like an orphan. A woman without a family. But maybe being estranged from her family wasn’t necessarily a bad thing if they were going to be so poisonous to her mental well-being.
She stood at the edge of the sea, letting the waves lap at her ankles. And for all the world, she
felt like a little lost child.
Then as she stood a while longer, a peace settled over her. Her jangled nerves soothed. Her pulse steadied.
She was proud of her stance with her family. And if they didn’t want to accept her how she really was… that was their problem.
She only needed to accept herself.
Chapter 18
Paul peeked out the door and saw Josephine sitting out on the back deck. He hadn’t meant to be this late coming home from the gallery, but he’d been busy getting ready for the local artist show.
He dropped some paperwork on the table and opened the door to the deck. He was rewarded with a smile from his beautiful wife. He still couldn’t believe how lucky he was that he’d found her again.
He walked over and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Sorry, I’m late.”
She laughed. “You’re always late when you’re getting ready for a show. I don’t mind. I’ve just been sitting out here enjoying the evening.”
He slipped into the seat beside her on the glider and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “I do like coming home to you.”
She leaned against him. “We have a very good life.”
“That we do, my love.”
“Are things all set for Charlotte to join the show?”
“Pretty much. I think she does excellent work. Very distinctive style. Very emotional.” He frowned. “I’ve heard some rumors about her ex-agent. People in the art community talk. She’s well rid of him, but I’m sure it’s hard for her to start over without an agent. Anyway, I want to help her out.”
She smiled at him. “You’re always looking to mentor an artist in need. Just one of the many things I love about you. You have a big heart.” She patted his chest.
He caught her hand and pressed it to his lips.
“So, did you get Charlotte’s work all arranged?”
“Almost. The paintings are there, but I’m not sure of the order that I want to hang them. Think you might drop by tomorrow and give me your opinion?”
“I’d love to. And anything else you need me to do this week, just let me know. I’ve taken care of ordering some appetizers and we’ll have champagne, of course.” Jo’s eyes twinkled. “Champagne just makes these shows more festive, don’t you think?”
“I think I’m lucky to have you to help me. You have made the openings of the shows more like a celebration. Plus, I love having you there with me.”
She reached over and touched his face. “My dearest, Paul. There is nowhere I’d rather be.”
He covered her hand with his own.
“My Jo.”
Chapter 19
Ben snuck in the back door to the kitchen at the inn and swiped one of Jay’s cinnamon rolls.
“I saw that.” Jay stood by the counter with a t-shirt on that proclaimed A day without coffee is like… I don’t know—it’s never happened.
“Feed the starving bachelor. Isn’t that what you always say?”
Jay brought him a steaming mug of coffee. “If you’re going to eat up the profits, you might as well have some coffee, too.”
“You know I always offer to pay.”
“You know Lil won’t accept it.”
He perched on a stool near where Jay was busy making another batch of cinnamon rolls.
“I heard the Montgomery party had a bit of a kerfuffle.” Jay reached for a large jar of cinnamon.
“How did you hear about it?”
“Robin. Charlotte told her.”
“Well, it was impressive to see Charlotte stand up to her family.”
“Robin said that Eva can be quite the mean girl when she wants to.”
“She can. And she was toward Charlotte. I guess Charlotte had just had enough.”
“We all get pushed to our limits sometimes.” Jay’s head bobbed in agreement.
“But I’ve got other news.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m going to take Charlotte out on a date tonight.”
Jay grinned. “I already knew that, too.”
“Is nothing secret in this town?” He laughed a good-natured laugh.
“Not if Charlotte tells Robin and… well, you know how it goes.” Jay shrugged. “So, you’re going to Magic Cafe? Good choice. I’m deeply hurt that you didn’t come here, though.”
“What? No, I just thought—”
“I’m teasing.” Jay shook his head. “You can’t take a little teasing?”
“I have to admit, I’m a little nervous. I haven’t been on a date in forever.”
“Like years.”
“Well, neither have you,” he shot back.
“Too busy.”
“Same here.” He took the last bite of his cinnamon roll. “But I want to take Charlotte out. Spend more time with her. She’s interesting, talented, funny and not hard on the eyes, either.”
Jay motioned to a tray of rolls, and Ben walked over and snagged another one. “It’s kind of silly to be nervous. I mean, she’s really easy to talk to. We have a good time together. It’s just that calling it a date makes it official or something.”
“You’ll be fine.”
“Maybe. Unless I do or say something stupid. I’m afraid she’s a little fragile after that mess with her family.”
“Fragile? I’d say it took a very strong woman to stand up to her family like that.”
He chewed his lip. “It did. It was impressive.”
“So you just need to relax and enjoy yourself.”
“You’re right.” He took a bite of the recently retrieved cinnamon roll.
“I’m always right.” Jay nodded somberly but as he turned around a grin crept across his features.
“You look great.” Robin nodded her head in approval.
Charlotte looked in the mirror. “I feel like you’re always getting me dressed these days.”
Robin laughed. “It’s not like you go on a date every day. This is big. Special.”
She ran her hands down the side of her chambray skirt. She’d topped it with a simple white t-shirt and a silver necklace with tumbled turquoise. She turned this way and that and sighed.
“Okay, maybe you should French braid my hair this time. We’re eating at Magic Cafe and I bet we’ll eat outside. The wind is picking up, and the braid will hopefully stop my hair from going crazy.”
“Good call. Sit.”
She sat in a chair while Robin brushed then braided her hair. She stood and looked in the mirror again. “I think I need earrings.” She walked over to her dresser and grabbed a pair of dangling silver ones and slipped them on her ears.
“You look perfect,” Robin said.
“I still can’t believe he asked me out. I mean on a real date. I’m not anything like his type. Like Eva.”
“Thank goodness.” Robin scowled. “And Eva is not his type. I just don’t see Ben putting up with her sharp tongue.”
“She is beautiful, and she is very successful.”
“She’s mean.” Robin turned and walked out of the room. She called back, “You coming?”
After one last look in the mirror, Charlotte grabbed a small purse and followed after Robin. The doorbell rang, and she went to answer it.
Ben stood in the doorway with a bouquet of yellow flowers in his hands. “You look great.” His eyes shone with admiration.
She’d take the flowers and the admiration. She reached out for the bouquet. “Come in. I’ll put these in water.”
She went to the kitchen, grabbed a simple mason jar vase, and placed the flowers carefully in it. She brought them back out and set them on a small table against the wall. “Thank you. They’re very pretty.”
“Well, buying you flowers told me one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“I don’t know your favorite flower. But I think your favorite color is blue.”
“You’re right on the blue, and my favorite flower is a hydrangea.”
He smiled at her. “I’ll remember that for next time.”
&
nbsp; Her heart skipped a beat at the next time remark. He was already planning a next time?
She turned to Robin. “I won’t be late.”
“Hey, be as late as you want.”
She and Ben walked outside. He turned to her. “Walk or drive?”
“Walk.”
He smiled. “Good choice. My motto is, when the weather is good, always choose walking.”
They wandered down the sidewalks toward Magic Cafe. The fronds on the palms waved in the breeze and white fluffy clouds drifted in the sky.
“I bet we’re going to have a gorgeous sunset.” She looked upward.
“Bet so, too.”
Ben took her arm as they walked up the steps and into Magic Cafe. Tally waved to them and motioned them to come over to a table by the sand with a front-row view of the beach.
“Ben, Charlotte, great to see you,” Tally greeted them.
“Hey, Tally.” Charlotte hugged her.
He held out a chair for her and she slipped into it.
“What do you want to drink? And I’ll send a waitress over.”
“Red wine for me.”
“I have a new cabernet. Dry with a hint of cherry flavor.”
“Sounds perfect.” She settled into her chair and kicked her shoes off under the table, burying her feet in the cool sand.
“I’ll have the same.” Ben sat by her side, both facing the ocean view.
He laughed when he glanced down at her feet. “Shoes off, huh?”
She grinned. “Your motto might be always choose walking. Mine is never miss a chance to have your feet in the sand.”
The waitress brought their wine, and they ordered their meals. Grouper. Blackened for Ben and grilled for her.
She added loving grouper to the growing list of things they had in common.
“So did you get a chance to clear things up with your family before they left today?” Ben leaned back in his chair, relaxed.
“They left yesterday. Evidently, according to Eva, I ruined their vacation.”
“I thought you were impressive standing up to her.”
“Also, according to Eva, they can never set foot on the island again. It was all too embarrassing.”
