by Carol Henry
“Thanks. Once things get back to normal, whatever normal is, I might need an occasional babysitter. In the meantime, I have to meet with Jessica Martin to seal the deal on the house, sign the papers, and get through a closing. Once all that is done, we’ll get together and do some furniture shopping.”
“Exciting. Let me know when, and I’ll make time.”
****
Juelle met with Günter Jordan in the afternoon, who assured her there would be no problem purchasing the house on Aspen Avenue. In fact, her finances were such that she didn’t need a loan and could purchase the property outright. She called Jessica Martin again to set up a meeting to take care of all the arrangements.
“I did have an anonymous offer on the house a couple hours after you left the other day,” Jessica told her over the phone. “I put him off—told the gentleman I was waiting to hear back from you. I’ll give him a call and tell him the house is no longer on the market.”
“Thank you, Jessica. You don’t know how much I appreciate your help. Mr. Jordan will be working with you to take care of all the details. In the meantime, I’d like to look at the house again, if it isn’t too much trouble.”
“Not at all. Stop by and I’ll give you the key. You can go when it suits you.”
Later, Juelle drove to the hospital to check in on Eugenia. She walked in to find her mother-in-law sitting up in bed, refreshing her makeup and combing her hair.
“You’re looking much better. How are you feeling?”
Her mother-in-law gathered the assorted cosmetics strewn across the hospital table and shoved them into the large case Juelle had dropped off for her earlier, along with other items Eugenia requested. Her mother-in-law lowered her eyes, as if she’d been caught doing something illegal. Eugenia didn’t go anywhere without first applying a full coat of makeup. Not that she overdid—the woman wore it without looking like a made up tart—Eugenia’s own words.
Juelle hefted Makenzie higher up on her hip.
“As you can see I’m fine. In fact, they plan to release me tomorrow morning. I’ll be able to attend the Chamber of Commerce Meeting in the afternoon.”
“Do you think that wise? Maybe you should take a few more days to rest before jumping back in to your projects.”
“I can handle it. It wasn’t my heart, after all. Just some silly indigestion and a bit of stress acting like a heart attack.”
“You have been under a lot of stress, Eugenia. I’m sure the doctors have told you to get more rest.”
“Nevertheless, I’m chairing the Lobster Crawl this year and it’s important I be there tomorrow to give an update. I can’t let them down.”
Juelle shifted Makenzie, who started to nod off from boredom. She wasn’t about to remind Eugenia that if the chamber had their way, she wouldn’t be chairing anything connected with the Lobster Crawl the end of August, let alone the chamber itself.
“I’ve made an offer on a house out on Aspen Avenue. Mr. Jordan has agreed to handle everything for me.”
“Günter will be thorough. If he doesn’t think you should buy it, he’ll tell you. And that will be the end of it.” She set the table aside and straightened the sheets with her hands, folding the top over, then smoothing it one last time. She laid her hands on top and rested her head on the piles of pillows stacked behind her back.
Well, that went easier than she’d anticipated. Eugenia appeared calmer, almost friendly. Maybe the near heart attack episode had a silver lining, and Eugenia was turning over a new leaf.
About to say her goodbyes, Juelle stood speechless as Günter Jordan walked in the room, a large bouquet of red roses in his hand. He paused just inside, glanced at Eugenia, and then Juelle.
“I see our patient is doing well,” he said, breaking the tension in the room.
“I was just leaving. It’s time to put Makenzie in bed for the night.”
Juelle made her way down the corridor, a smile on her lips at the turn of events. It appeared Günter Jordan was sweet on Eugenia? Was Eugenia sweet on Günter Jordan?
My, my, only time would tell.
****
Günter handed Eugenia long stemmed yellow roses wrapped in tissue paper.
“I stopped by Flowers in Bloom. Inge Olson said a fresh shipment just arrived—said you’d like these.”
“They are exquisite. I’ll have one of the nurses get a vase and put them in water.” She sniffed the blooms, and then laid them down on the bed in front of her.
“You look much better today. How are you feeling?”
“It was just a scare, but I’ll be out of here sometime tomorrow. All I needed was a bit of rest. I’m so sorry I overreacted, Günter. It was as if my whole world was falling apart when you read Hunt’s letter. I had no idea Hunt knew, and still he stayed with me all those years, never saying a word.”
“I’m sorry Eugenia. I know how hard this has been on you. You’ve been under a lot of strain.”
“You have to understand, Günter, I didn’t want Sebastian to know Hunt wasn’t his real father. I wanted stability for my son. Stability I never had growing up.”
“And Hunt treated him like his own son. It’s over, my dear. Sebastian is gone.”
Tears filled her eyes. “It’s not that easy. He was my whole life.”
“I know. But you need to let it all go, now. In fact, I’ve been meaning to talk to you since Hunt passed. And now the formalities of his will have been taken care of, I wondered if you’d like to have dinner with me? After they release you from the hospital, that is.”
“Günter! Are you asking me out on a date?”
“It’s only a dinner date, Eugenia. We’ve been friends a long time. Both of us are unencumbered, now. It would be appropriate to see other people on occasion. That is, if you are so inclined?”
She didn’t need to think it over. Günter Jordan was a fine, upstanding citizen. His work ethics were beyond reproach.
“Yes. I’d love to have dinner with you.”
“Good. Now that that’s settled, what do you know about a young man and his two children, who have been vacationing close by—a Mr. Cavanaugh? I understand he’s a Boston lawyer.”
“The name sounds familiar, but I can’t place him.”
“Keep an ear open. I’ve hired a paralegal and thinking of expanding the firm further—hiring someone to take on part of my clients so I can free up my time. I’m not getting any younger.”
“You’re not old.”
“Do you ever feel as if you’ve wasted your whole life taking care of everyone else’s problems and you don’t have time for yourself?”
“I’ve enjoyed helping others in the community.”
“And you’ve done an admirable job. However, it’s about time someone else took over—let the younger generation take on the responsibility of running things.”
“It’s my whole life. What would I do?”
“Travel. Haven’t you ever wondered what was down the road? Around the bend? In the next state?”
“I never stopped to think about it.”
“Well, think about it while you’re lying in that bed tonight. Between the both of us, we have the time, the finances, and each other. And we’re not getting any younger.”
Chapter Eleven
Juelle entered the building with Makenzie in tow and found a seat close to the exit in case she needed to take a cranky baby out of the meeting. She greeted several members who were there to attend the Lobster Cove Chamber of Commerce meeting. Makenzie was her usual happy self, and was content to sit and play with her toys on her special floor mat as the meeting got underway.
Paul Varner, a tall, sturdy stern, big-time marketing guy originally from Boston, and Executive Director of the Chamber, opened the meeting, followed by the secretary reading minutes and the treasurer’s report. The floor was opened to Old Business. Juelle waited anxiously while other matters were addressed before the issue of membership was presented. She observed Eugenia from the corner of her eye. Not surprising,
she sat two rows up to the right on the edge of her seat, next to Günter Jordan. Eugenia shouldn’t even be here—she should be home resting after just being released from the hospital. For sure the meeting would be stressful. God forbid if she had a real heart attack. Knowing what was about to transpire, Juelle swung her foot nervously, and waited.
“On the issue of membership,” Paul stated. “We have a few pending applications and two special memberships needing more discussion before we can make a sound decision.”
Juelle stood and asked for privilege of the floor before she lost her nerve, and before anyone else had a chance to speak.
“The board recognizes Juelle McClintock.” The chairman pounded his gavel and nodded in her direction.
A hush fell over the room. Juelle suspected their anticipation in what she had to say was due to her recent loss of her husband, the rumors in regard to Nora Spears and Sebastian’s affair, Eugenia’s heart attack scare, and the status of McClintock and McClintock. She hoped they hadn’t discovered Sebastian wasn’t Hunt’s son.
“I know the chamber is in the process of reviewing the McClintock memberships. With that in mind, I’d like to address the issue of our standing. While Eugenia is no longer connected with McClintock’s business, as you have already surmised would happen, she has exemplified service to this organization for many years, as well as other organizations within the community.”
“I can speak for myself.” Eugenia stood, the folding chair she’d been sitting in teetered backward. Günter steadied the chair, held it in place while her mother-in-law faced the head table of attentive officers glaring back at her. “I don’t need anyone speaking on my behalf.”
Juelle cringed. Paul pounded the gavel on the wooden pad again.
“Please, Eugenia. Have a seat and let your daughter-in-law finish.”
“Well,” Eugenia huffed. And sat. Günter leaned over and whispered something in her ear.
Juelle’s heart ached for her—the woman’s world was falling apart around her, even though she was well taken care of by her deceased husband—who had been very generous despite the cruel deception she’d play on him all these years. Regardless, she thought Eugenia deserved better from this group. And it looked as if Günter Jordan was going to be there to help her out.
“As you say, she no longer has contacts with the business, so her membership is rightfully in question.”
She wasn’t sure which board member had spoken, her attention focused on Eugenia. It didn’t matter. She was going to have her say.
“I understand. But as you, and everyone else here knows, Eugenia has financially supported and initiated many projects, of not only the chamber’s, but other organizations in the area such as the McClintock Scholarship Award, the Fisherman’s Bereavement Fund, and the Chamber’s own Small Business Start-Up Fund. Without her support, many of Lobster Cove’s projects would not have come to fruition.”
“This is preposterous.” Eugenia jumped up again, and this time pointed her finger at the board members sitting at the table in the front of the room. “I’m one of the founding members of this chamber. I organized the first meeting in order to boost the business climate and economy right here in Lobster Cove.”
The room hushed in stunned silence and remained rooted to their seats throughout her outburst not wanting to miss a word. Waiting for her to continue, all eyebrows rose in surprise as she stormed out of the room. Juelle wanted to go after her to make sure she was okay, but the Board needed to be convinced.
“If you terminate her membership, you will be doing a great injustice and disservice to the town and the chamber,” Juelle said. “Eugenia might be a difficult person to deal with some of the time, but she has the town’s best interest at heart and has been a hard worker no matter the project. At least consider her for a non-voting member. Or even a lifetime membership without voting privileges.”
Surprised at her own gumption to stand up in front of the entire town’s business community members and take a stance on Eugenia’s behalf, she was pleased when Jessica Martin stood, faced her, and with a wide grin, championed her cause.
“I agree with Juelle. I make a motion the board consider Eugenia McClintock to receive lifetime membership without voting privileges.”
“Do I hear a second?” Paul banged the gavel.
Five people, including Maya Cruz from Love Caters All, Tomas Darling owner of Merlots Wine Bar, Beatrice O’Brien of Sweet Bea’s, and Roark Sullivan of Mariner’s Fish Fry all raised their hands and shouted ‘I second the motion,’ simultaneously.
“I only need one,” Paul called out. “Roark? How about it?”
“Yes, sir. I second the motion.” Roark Sullivan tipped his head at Juelle, a devilish Irish grin on his face.
Juelle returned the smile and sat down. She looked down at her daughter and was pleased to see Makenzie still enthralled with her toys. She spotted Günter Jordan quietly slip out of the room.
Paul pounded his gavel with relish—the man had a fetish for pounding the retched thing. The good news, however, was the vote was unanimous. The room burst into applause.
“If there are no other membership issues,” Paul paused, waiting for others to speak.
Juelle wasn’t about to mention the possibility of membership for the new owners of McClintock and McClintock. She and Hunter still needed to come to terms with their partnership.
Paul hit the pad one more time. “Okay, then, let’s move on to this year’s proposed Lobster Crawl. Keep in mind we have to tie up loose ends soon. There are two more months before the event, and we have to get press releases out as soon as possible. Can we have the report from the committee chair?”
The room settled down. Everyone waited, looked around the room for someone to stand up and give a report, and then realized it was Eugenia who was instrumental in heading up the committee. A few nervous laughs broke out in the back of the room. Paul cleared his throat and pounded his gavel.
“Perhaps we should open the floor for suggestions. I believe a chowder cook-off competition at the park was suggested?”
“I think we should have an ‘anything lobster’ event. Doesn’t need to be a competition.”
“I was thinking about having sugar cookies in the shape of lobsters. Or maybe a clam and lobster chowder in a sourdough bread bowl,” Julie from Julie’s Coffee and Sweet Shop said.
“Lobster burgers from Maggie’s Dinner,” someone spoke up. “Can’t beat’em.”
“Don’t forget we need to include the independent vendors along Pier Two.”
Juelle figured Eugenia’s absence was a good thing at the moment. It gave those attending the meeting a chance to speak up about their own ideas without her mother-in-law squelching their suggestions. It was time for a younger crowd to have a say—take over.
It was also time to leave before the meeting ended and everyone started asking questions, or offering condolences. She picked up Makenzie, along with her toys, and made a quiet exit. Once on the street, she headed for her car, only to find Hunter leaning against it, his eyes following her movements. He stepped away from the vehicle when she drew near.
“Are you okay? Is Eugenia okay? I caught her and Günter Jordan leaving earlier. She looked a little pale, and a lot unhappy. Is the meeting over already?”
“No. I decided to sneak out before refreshments. I didn’t feel like hanging around and being the recipient of condolences. As for Eugenia leaving, I don’t blame her. She’s been a staunch supporter of everything Lobster Cove, despite her sour personality. However, if she’d have stayed, she would have seen she has supporters of her own. The members stood by her—the vote was unanimous. They voted her a life-time membership. Of course, it comes without voting privileges. I’m sure she’ll have something to say about that.”
“What about your membership?”
“It wasn’t mentioned and I didn’t bring it up. I’m not sure it’s relevant right now.”
“About that. I talked to my mother this morning. She
doesn’t want Hunt’s money. She suggested I talk to you about an idea she’s been mulling over. Got a minute?”
“I need to feed Makenzie first, and then take another look at the house. Jessica gave me a key.”
“How about we meet there at five o’clock? I’ll pick up a picnic dinner from Mariner’s and we can celebrate you buying the house. We’ll picnic in the backyard.”
She didn’t think it was a good idea. Hadn’t she just come to the conclusion it was time to put the past behind her? He’d made no promises, and he was going back to Hawaii in a couple days. She knew she needed to be strong, stand up for herself—not cave. But the chance to enjoy his company—to be held in his arms—one last time, was overwhelming. She looked into those sexy sable eyes, his half smile, and was too helpless to resist his magnetism.
“Make that five-thirty, and I’ll meet you there.”
He put his arms around her and Makenzie and gave them a gentle group hug, tweaked her daughter’s nose, and walked to his car. Makenzie hid her face in Juelle’s neck.
Her insides warmed to fever pitch, she closed her eyes, and took a deep steadying breath. She was going to miss him when he returned to Hawaii.
She put Makenzie in her car seat, closed the door, glanced over the top of the car, and met Nora Spear’s glaring eyes. The girl’s sneer was like a knife twisting in her heart. Before she could slip into the driver’s seat, Nora turned and walked away, two of her friends who had been with her at the cemetery, at her side. At least they hadn’t approached or yelled out, causing a scene. What would she have done had Nora been brazen enough to confront her? She was glad she wasn’t going to find out.
****
Hunter waited on the front porch when Juelle pulled into the paved driveway of her soon to be new house. Butterflies fluttered inside her stomach. What a welcome. A gorgeous man waiting on her door-step.
“Need help with Makenzie?” Hunter tapped on the back window and smiled at the baby in the back seat. Makenzie clapped her hands and smiled back. Even her daughter was delighted to see him.
