“I’m surprised, too,” she said softly, not even attempting to hide her regrets.
“There’s a story there, isn’t there?”
She nodded. “I think it belongs on that list of things we need to talk about when we’re having that quiet evening alone. It’s certainly not a topic for here and now.”
He nodded, but he brushed a comforting hand over her head, then allowed the caress to linger on her cheek. “I’m sorry.”
Abby regarded him with surprise. “For what?”
“For whatever happened that hurt you so deeply.”
She immediately blinked back tears at the tenderness in his voice. “I’m not going to think about that today,” she told him. “We’re counting blessings today, and my life is filled with them.”
“Mine, too,” he said. “I’m starting to think you belong at the top of the list.” He winked then. “Now I need to find Gracie. I promised her I’d play a game with her before dinner.”
Abby grinned. “Then you should definitely track her down. That little girl is one of your biggest admirers. Come to think of it, you have a lot of them around here today.”
He held her gaze. “Including you?”
“Afraid so,” she said. “It must be such a curse to be so popular.”
“It is a struggle,” he said with a self-deprecating grin. “But I try not to let it get me down.”
Abby laughed. “What a guy!”
She might be teasing, but the truth was, he was the most amazing man she’d met in a very long time.
* * *
Given all the past history and tensions among the various attendees at Hannah’s Thanksgiving dinner, Seth had expected a stressful atmosphere. Amazingly, though, whatever issues there were seemed to have been put aside for the day.
He found himself in the den with Luke, his son, Nate, and Hannah’s father and half-brother after a meal that had left them all stuffed and content. The football game was on TV and their commentary on the plays was far livelier than that of the announcers, thanks to their diverse views on the two teams playing. Even Nate at only nine had strong opinions and the knowledge to back them up.
Seth thought back to the last time he’d shared a Thanksgiving dinner with his own family. There’d been no detente that day. Laura and her husband were already feuding after barely a year of marriage. Meredith’s workaholic husband had spent most of the afternoon outside on his cell phone. Seth had hung out in the kitchen with his mother for a time, but watching her take the prepared meal she’d ordered from a local grocery store out of its containers had only depressed him.
“Are we ever going to eat?” his father had grumbled. “I have a report due at work tomorrow. I need to get back to it.”
So much for joy and family togetherness, Seth had thought, finally electing to go for a walk to get away from the tense atmosphere. Sadly, it had been the last time they’d all been together for a holiday.
By Christmas he’d been on his first tour in Iraq, and by the following Thanksgiving, his parents were gone, killed when a small plane taking them to a business convention had gone down in a storm. An official investigation had revealed they should never have taken off in such terrible weather conditions, but Seth hadn’t been the least bit surprised that his impatient father, a licensed pilot, had taken off anyway.
Abby’s touch as she sat on the arm of his chair snapped him back to the present.
“Where were you just then?” she asked, looking worried.
“Thinking about what a disaster today could have been, given all the undercurrents among the folks here.”
She nodded. “I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the genuine happiness I’m feeling in the air. Despite everything, people seem to be getting along. Things are even different between Hannah and me. For the first time, I’m really hopeful.”
“That’s great.”
“She told me the test results were good,” Abby added. “I’m so happy for her.”
“Maybe that explains a lot,” Seth said. “Not knowing would stress anyone out. Now that she knows she’s cancer-free, she can let herself relax. The world must seem like a brighter place.”
“I wonder if anyone who’s had cancer can ever fully relax,” Abby responded.
“I hope so,” Seth said. “At least until it’s time for the next round of tests. Did she say when those will be?”
“Not for a year,” Abby said. “That’s a good sign, too. The doctors have had her coming back every six months up to now.”
“Luke must be relieved, too,” Seth said. “He doesn’t say much, but I know he panics almost as much as Hannah does. He just tries not to show it around her.”
“They’re really good for each other, don’t you think so?” Abby said.
“I do. Remember, I was with Luke overseas when his wife sent an email telling him she wanted a divorce so she could marry the man who’d been his partner in his medical practice back in Atlanta. Talk about a lousy bit of timing. It sent him to a very dark place. I honestly worried for a time if he’d start getting reckless and put his life at risk, or at more risk than we already were.”
Abby’s eyes widened at that. “I had no idea. Nobody told me that’s how his marriage ended. How horrible! No wonder he came here instead of going back to Atlanta.”
“Add in the injury that kept him in rehab for months and Seaview Key was exactly what he needed,” Seth agreed. “God knows, I could feel the healing powers of this place when I got here. It’s a great place to get your perspective back and remember the things that matter.”
“Exactly what I’m hoping for,” Abby said.
“Is it working for you?” he asked curiously. “I’m still not seeing that laid-back Abby you swore you were aiming for.”
“Hey, I’ve been hanging out at the house redecorating, haven’t I? I haven’t been down at town hall every day pestering them about my permits for Blue Heron Cove. Jenny even convinced me to hold back from insisting on another meeting with the mayor and avoiding her two cronies altogether, at least for the time being. The old Abby would have been in their faces by now.”
Seth smiled at that. “Okay, then, definitely a new you.”
“Well, a work in progress, anyway,” she said.
Hannah appeared in the doorway to the den just then. “Okay, people, anyone who wants pie has to come and get it.”
“In a minute,” Luke promised distractedly, his attention focused on the TV.
“Yeah, it’s not quite half-time,” her father said.
Hannah directed a frustrated look at both of them. “Ten minutes,” she declared. “Or the pies are going in the garbage.”
Nate jumped up, alarm on his face. “I’m coming right now,” he said. “I’ve been waiting and waiting for pie.”
Hannah grinned at him. “Good boy!”
“Seth and I are coming now, too,” Abby said, tugging on his hand.
Seth cast one last look toward the TV and shrugged. “The game’s lopsided, anyway. I don’t have a dog in that fight. My team’s not even on the field.”
Hannah nodded approvingly. “Two more appreciative people. Thank you. Luke Stevens!”
He finally glanced her way. “Yes, dear.”
“Pie—now!”
Clayton Dixon chuckled and looked toward Hannah’s half-brother. “I guess those are our marching orders, too.” He stood up and pressed a fatherly kiss on Hannah’s cheek. “Dinner was real good, honey.”
Hannah looked momentarily startled by the compliment. “Thank you,” she said, a pleased expression spreading across her face.
“It looks as if she hasn’t experienced many compliments from her father,” Seth said.
“I’ve known Hannah for a very long time,” Abby said, then confided, “This is the first time I’ve ever laid
eyes on her dad.”
“You’re kidding me!”
“Nope. He left home when she was young and she didn’t hear from him until Luke tracked him down a year or so ago,” Abby said. “Hannah says she found letters he’d sent, but her mom and Jenny had kept them from her.”
Seth didn’t even try to hide his astonishment. “I can’t believe Jenny would do something like that.”
“Neither could I,” Abby said. “Looks as if all is forgiven now, though.”
Seth glanced down at her. “It’s been a day full of surprises, hasn’t it?”
She nodded. “The best kind of surprises.”
As they reached the dining room, Gracie edged closer to Seth. “Can I sit next to you for dessert?”
He grinned at her. “You bet.”
“But I get to sit on the other side,” Abby said, a teasing glint in her eyes.
Gracie gave her a long look, then asked, “Are you his girlfriend? I mean for real?”
Seth held his breath as he waited to hear how Abby would answer. She leaned down to whisper in Gracie’s ear, her voice so quiet, he couldn’t hear what she said. He gave her a questioning look, especially when Gracie giggled.
“What did you tell her?” he asked Abby when Gracie ran ahead to hold their seats at the crowded table.
Abby grinned. “That I thought maybe she had the inside track on that.”
“You’re willing to take a backseat to an eleven-year-old?”
She shrugged. “She did see you first.”
“Are you telling me I have to break that little girl’s heart before you’ll consider being my girlfriend for real?”
Abby faltered at that. “I don’t think I realized that was an option.”
“I’m beginning to think I might not have any choice,” he told her. She was definitely sneaking past his defenses in ways he’d never anticipated.
15
Abby had been talking to a contractor about the Blue Heron Cove project for several months. Troy Hall had been eager to take on the construction work she’d described and had been impressed with the architectural plans she’d shown him for the development.
When he called on the Monday after Thanksgiving, though, his outlook had changed.
“I’m hearing from a few people that you’re not likely to get those permits anytime soon,” he told Abby.
“What people?” she asked, distraught not only by what he was saying, but by the fact that the news had reached him. Had someone deliberately set out to sabotage the project by scaring Troy off?
“Trust me, they’re reliable sources,” he said. “I can’t wait around, Abby. I have to keep my guys working. We’ll be wrapping up our current job before the holidays. Construction’s been picking up and I’ve had other offers. I put them off as long as I could, but if things over there aren’t going to get under way anytime soon, I need to move on. Work is work, you know what I’m saying?”
“Troy, you have to bear with me a little longer,” Abby pleaded. “You’re the man I trust to see that these houses are built right. You understand my environmental concerns better than anyone.”
“Believe me, I want to work with you. Seaview Key is beautiful. I love the scope of the project and all the care you’re taking to protect the island from over-development and to do as little damage as possible to the environment.”
His enthusiasm sounded sincere, but so did his frustration.
“If this drags on much longer, it doesn’t make sense for me to wait around,” he said. “I’ve heard that the mayor is dead set against the project and that she has allies.”
Abby could hardly deny that. Instead, she requested, “Can you give me till tomorrow to see what I can work out?” She had to work to keep a note of desperation from her voice. She didn’t want to start over from scratch trying to find someone else with Troy’s credentials and passion for protecting a fragile ecosystem.
“The way I hear it, there’s not even a council meeting scheduled till after the first of the year, and there’s no guarantee you’ll win even then,” he protested.
“Tomorrow,” she repeated, determined not to lose this chance to hire the very best man to handle the project. “Please, Troy.”
“Okay, end of the day tomorrow,” he agreed finally. “That’s the best I can do.”
When she’d hung up, she stared at the phone. What on earth was she supposed to do between now and tomorrow to get this development moving? And why had no one told her that the December meeting she’d been counting on had been officially canceled? At least she could start with that.
She reached for the phone, then stopped herself. This was a conversation she needed to have face-to-face. She finished dressing and headed for Seaview Inn. She had a hunch Jenny would have at least some of the answers she needed, and would understand the crisis she was suddenly facing. Maybe she’d even have some thoughts on ways that Abby could keep this whole project from falling apart.
At Seaview Inn, she discovered the front door standing wide open and a few strangers on the porch. Obviously the winter tourist season had begun.
Inside in the foyer, she found Kelsey decorating a huge Christmas tree. The wonderfully fresh, woodsy aroma of the live tree filled the air.
“Getting an early start on the holiday season?” Abby asked.
Kelsey smiled. “From the time I was a kid, I always wanted to rush it. Now that I’m at the inn, I have the perfect excuse. People seem to love the holiday atmosphere, even if it is right after Thanksgiving.”
Abby nodded toward the porch. “And you have guests already?”
“The Johnsons. They come every year at this time for a whole month. They like celebrating Christmas here with their family.”
“I don’t blame them,” Abby told her.
She sniffed the air again, then glanced toward the kitchen. “Is Grandma Jenny baking sugar cookies?”
“Indeed, she is. Just one more sign that the holidays are around the corner. Did you come to see her? Mom’s in there helping out. To be honest, she’s probably just getting in the way, but nobody dares to tell her that.”
Abby laughed. “I’m sure I’ll be in the way, too, but I do need to see Jenny.”
“Watch out. If there’s any indication at all that you can put some frosting on those cookies, you’ll be drafted.”
“That actually sounds like fun.”
She walked into the large kitchen just in time to overhear Jenny scolding Hannah.
“You’re making a mess of those. Why don’t you just sit there and talk to me?”
“I came over to help,” Hannah protested. “You grumbled all day yesterday about how much baking you had to do.”
“There’s help and then there’s real help,” Jenny countered. She spotted Abby. “What about you? Any skill in the cookie-decorating department?”
“None that’s been tested,” Abby claimed. “But I’m willing to try.” She glanced over Hannah’s shoulder, then quipped, “I can’t do any worse now, can I?”
“Sure, trust her, even though she’s totally untested,” Hannah grumbled, but she was grinning at Abby when she said it.
Abby sat at the kitchen table and watched closely as Jenny showed her what to do. “And wait until the cookies are cool before you start,” she warned. “Hannah’s too impatient.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Abby said dutifully.
As Jenny went back to putting another batch of cookies into the oven, she glanced at Abby. “I don’t imagine you showed up just to help out.”
“No, this is just an unexpected bonus for me,” Abby told her, then explained about the call she’d had. “Troy’s the best possible contractor for building these houses and I’m about to lose him. Is he right? Has the December meeting been canceled?”
Jenny and Ha
nnah exchanged a look that told the story.
“It has been,” Abby guessed, sighing. “You warned me about possible delays.”
“I tried to,” Jenny agreed.
“The December meeting is almost always called off,” Hannah added, backing up Jenny’s earlier warning. “Everybody’s too busy to be bothered, and usually there’s nothing urgent on the agenda.”
“Well, Blue Heron Cove is urgent,” Abby protested.
“To you, not to Sandra,” Jenny said. “I imagine the official notice will be in the local paper when it comes out this week.”
“What am I supposed to do now?” Abby asked, trying not to give in to defeat. “Just wait till January? Is there any chance at all I could make sure this meeting happens on schedule?”
“Not unless you’re willing to risk having the vote not turn out in your favor. You don’t have enough people on your side yet,” Jenny said realistically. “My advice is to be patient.”
“I don’t see that you have any choice,” Hannah agreed. “Welcome to small-town life.”
“And if I lose my contractor?”
“Even if he takes another job, he’ll be free eventually, won’t he?” Jenny asked.
“Or you could find somebody else,” Hannah suggested. “He’s not the only contractor in the whole state of Florida, after all.”
“But he is the one who came to me highly recommended because he’s willing to work around environmental issues in a responsible way.” She shook her head. “Blast it! I just hadn’t counted on this.”
She looked at the other two women. “Am I beating my head against a brick wall if I keep fighting for this project? Tell me the truth.”
“Absolutely not!” Jenny insisted. “This is too important to Seaview Key for you to give up now.”
“She’s right,” Hannah said. “I think you’ll pull it off. You just have to be patient.”
“Do you recall that being among my virtues?” Abby asked in frustration.
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