by Cora Davies
"Five minutes, Mols," Rachel said, gently shaking the garment bag at Molly. "You can't wait any longer to put this on."
"Okay, okay," Molly said giddily. "I'm just afraid the second I put it on, I'll dump a bowl of spaghetti on myself or something."
"No spaghetti on the premises," Rachel said, hanging the bag on the back of the door and motioning Claire over to help. "Don't jinx yourself. Now take off your robe."
Claire and Rachel held the cream-colored wedding gown open for Molly to step into, while Ella stared at them with giant eyes.
"You look like a princess," Ella said, while Claire and Rachel fastened the buttons up the side of the corset. They stepped back, and they all four took in a breath.
Molly's auburn hair lay in loose curls around her shoulders and back, tiny white beads laced through here and there. Her makeup had been applied lightly, almost as though she wore none. The dress simple, lying close to her body, hanging loosely at the floor. She looked at her reflection, smiling ear to ear.
"This is it," Molly whispered. "This is the start of the rest of my life."
There was a soft knock at the door, and Claire opened it just an inch, peaking into the hallway as Rachel made last minute adjustments to Molly's hair. Molly's dad stood in the hallway.
"We're ready for them," he said, adjusting his tie.
Claire pulled the door open, then walked to Ella.
"Are you ready?" Ella nodded. "Nervous?" Ella shook her head furiously, her eyebrows drawing stubbornly together. Claire laughed. "Good, you do it just as we practiced and you're going to be perfect, okay?" Ella nodded again and Claire kissed her lightly on her forehead. "Okay, I'm going to go sit by Grandma and Robbie. We'll all be cheering for you."
"You can't cheer, Mommy," Ella said seriously. "It's a wedding, you have to be quiet."
"Okay, sweetie," Claire said around a laugh. She congratulated Molly again and pulled a white string off the back of Rachel's black maid of honor gown, then stepped out of Molly's office.
She glanced out the window on her way to the dining room. A beautiful June afternoon, not a cloud in the sky but there was a gentle enough breeze that the trees swayed lightly in the wind. Somewhere below, water crashed on the shoreline as lovers and families played on the sand.
Sneaking into the dining room behind a few other guests, she quickly found her mother and Robbie sitting a few rows back.
Robbie had her mother's cell phone in hand, headphones on his head. Claire glanced around real quick, worried about what people might think about her letting her young son play on a phone, but then she stopped herself. It was better than worrying about what other people would think about the three-year-old being restless at a wedding, rather than being quiet under a set of headphones.
Besides, it doesn't matter what other people think.
It was a hard thing to remember, especially when she and Eli had not spoken in over a month based on his lawyer's recommendation.
Suspicious timing, a relationship with Eli and Ben's death.
She just had not expected it to hurt this much.
The music started, drawing the audience's attention to the door. Frank escorted Molly's mom down the aisle, followed by a few of Molly's other relatives Claire did not recognize, all taking seats in the front row. The next to enter were Jack's sister, her husband and their children. The music changed and Rachel appeared in the doorway, a vision as always.
Claire stole a glance across the aisle to bait-shop Doug; he stared at her sister the way Eli looked at Claire. She placed her hand on her stomach when she thought his name. The butterflies more present than ever these days.
Her eyes followed Rachel all the way to the altar, then to the others. Jack looked happier than she could remember seeing him, and he looked very handsome in his black suit.
Next, she laid eyes on Eli, almost not recognizing him without his beard. The newly shaved appearance took years off his face, and in his black suit it was as though he was a small boy playing dress up in his father's clothes. He seemed to scan the audience; looking for her? The last time she had seen him had been the night of Ben's death. He had disappeared from school after that, though Tahlia had told her he had completed all of his artwork outside of class.
Her queasiness returned. She had fought so hard to keep it away in the past few weeks, but it was hard. Nothing worked, and it did not help that all she could think of was how much she missed Eli. How alone she was now. How long would she have to wait before they were allowed to speak again?
Ella entered, and Claire half-stood, without thinking, to get a better look at her daughter. She resisted the urge to wave as she watched her brave daughter walk with a roomful of eyes on her. Ella reached the front of the room, and stood at Rachel's side.
Claire sunk back into her seat, just in time to stand for Molly's grand entrance. Claire had always loved the sound of people standing as one. The rustle of fabric reminded her of her military days, moving in a unit. Finding something she was truly a part of. She had just been a girl back then, facing a world of possibility.
Molly walked gracefully, holding onto her father's arm, until they reached Jack and he took her hand. Claire watched the couple in silence as the ceremony proceeded, keeping her eyes carefully off Eli.
When Molly and Jack exchanged vows and rings, Claire finally allowed herself to glance at Eli. He watched Jack and Molly, happiness on his face for his friend. In fact, Claire could not remember a time he looked more content.
The evening zoomed along between pictures, dinner, speeches, drinks, and finally dancing. The small party room had been converted to a playroom for the evening, with a few babysitters hired from Seaside Cove High. Robby was thrilled to find a small racetrack set up in the room, along with one of his friends from preschool. Ella stayed in the dining room for pictures and dancing, until she grew restless, finally joining her brother in the playroom.
Claire stood, half-hidden in the shadows, peaking in the window every once in a while, telling herself she was making sure Ella and Robby were behaving themselves. Honestly, she just felt awkward and lonely, and could not bare being near Eli when they were not allowed to speak. She watched Jack and Molly dance, and grew lost in her own thoughts.
A glass of champagne appeared at her side, and she did not need to look to know who brought it. The same woodsy aftershave. The same hard body against her back.
She accepted the glass and turned to face him.
"Every time I've tried to talk to you today, you're gone. Or Molly needs me for some wedding party stuff," Eli said, a hand reaching for hers. She crossed her arms. "I missed you."
She nodded once. "That must be why you didn't call, or email me back."
"I couldn't, Claire," he said. "I couldn't have any kind of contact with you during the initial investigation. Ken said-"
"Ken's here now," she said, setting down the glass. "Aren't you afraid he'll see you?"
"I thought you understood?" Eli asked. "I told you why I had to do all of this and I thought-"
"I understood, but I never agreed to it." She was being unfair, but could not help herself. It had been a long six weeks alone. Finishing school, staying in a tent trailer while her house was worked on, being scared of every damn bump in the night. Doing it all alone. She was tired of doing it all alone. She raised her voice. "I had to dissect a freaking fetal pig!"
The women at the table nearby stopped talking, and looked at them. Eli smiled at them, before grabbing Claire's elbow and pulling her out the front door. She did not struggle. As angry as she was, she wanted to be near him. She wanted to tell him.
They stepped out into the cool evening breeze, and it felt good on Claire's skin after the warmth of so many people. The extra warmth she had been carrying around.
"What is your problem?" he asked, letting go of her arm when the door closed behind them. "You knew I wouldn't be able to talk to you until it was over."
Unfairness be damned. "I didn't know how long it was going to tak
e, or... I really needed to talk to you." Claire blinked. "I told Molly I needed to talk to you."
"She told me," Eli said, looking towards the tree line and sitting down.
"Why didn't you call me?"
"I couldn't, not after..." he sighed, "after Ben. Not until they were done with me." He loosened his tie. "Claire, Ben died at your house. You were the only witness. It is officially an accident now, but until then, until they were done with my interviews... we couldn't be together. Ken said that the other side could say that we had too much time to match up our stories. Taking it slow was easier for the case."
"So, what's different now?" Claire asked.
"It's over," he said, looking at her, "as of this morning."
Claire's heart skipped a beat. "Are you? Is everything?"
"No charges against me. I gave them enough. Enough names, dates and places." Claire felt a weight roll off her shoulders and she leaned against the wooden post. Eli stared at her, an unreadable expression on his face. "Are we going to be okay, Claire? I thought we were on the same page, but I feel like we had an argument I missed."
She nodded, searching for the hidden words. Words that should be so basic and simple. He took her hand, and she collapsed on the step next to him.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you. I just really needed to talk to you. I was scared..."
"I missed you, too," he said, leaning his head on top of hers.
"It wasn't that I missed you. You were gone and I needed you."
"This was the only way I knew that we wouldn't worry about anything tearing us apart. I want it to be me, you, Ella and Robby against the world. Just the four of us."
She stared at him. The moment of truth. "It can't be." His eyes closed and his body stiffened next to her. She grabbed his rigid hand, pulling it to her and resting it on her stomach. "Just the five of us."
His touch softened. "Five? But we only... it was only the one time without protection."
"If you hadn't dropped out of biology, you might have been there the day we learned it actually only takes one time," Claire teased, her hand on Eli's face, thumb stroking the rough stubble already coming in on his chin.
"Claire..." he said with a catch in his voice.
"You're going to be a dad, Eli." Claire kissed him once, briefly on the mouth. "And I'm really sorry I was just a massive bitch to you. I've just been so scared, and I didn't know when I could talk to you again. If you would go to jail. What would happen to us? When I could let you know... And no one could answer those questions for me." Tears finally spilled from her eyes, and Claire rubbed at them with the back of her hand.
Eli kissed Claire, on the tip of her nose, then briefly against her lips. "If I had known-"
"You would have done the same thing, and you would have been right," Claire said. "Now we don't have to worry about anything coming between our family. I was just scared."
"Claire, I love you," he said, pulling her against him for a hug. She smiled against his neck.
"I love you too, Eli," she whispered.
He pulled back. "Have you told anyone?" She shook her head. "Can I tell everyone?"
She laughed. "Not yet, Daddy. It's just for me and you right now. Okay? Then Robby and Ella. Then we can shout it from the bluffs."
"Okay," he said, his fingers running through her hair. "But first things first, you guys are staying in my apartment until the remodel's done. I drove by this morning and saw you guys have been staying in a tent trailer? That's not going to work for the mother of my child. Not for my future step-children."
Claire laughed. "One step at a time, remember?" But she warmed from the inside out at the thought of her children having Eli for a stepfather. She knew he would be there for them in a way Robert never was.
"Okay, then, the first step is a dance," Eli said, standing up and taking Claire's hand in his.
The music was just audible outside in the parking lot as they began to dance under the receding daylight. She nestled her head against his chest, feeling like she had found her happily ever after.
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A Christmas Affair: A Seaside Cove Romance Preview
Chapter One
"Deck the halls with balls of holly!" Rachel joyously sang at the top of her lungs.
"I don't know if those are the right words," Molly laughed, holding out another string of white lights to her friend.
If Molly Smith was honest, her best friend and employee was quite a bit off key. She didn’t say anything to Rachel about her singing voice. How could she when she was helping Molly decorate her tiny store for Christmas? Off the clock on top of that.
"They feel like the right words Mols." Rachel smiled at her as she reached down from her perch on the stool to take the strand of lights. "I think this last one will make the lights connect all the way around the room."
Molly stood back and looked around the tiny two-room shop which made up Seaside Gifts From the Shore. She always believed there was a light happy air in her store, created by the many handmade items, crafted by men and women from around town, she sold there. In an area where most of the lower income families were comprised of fishermen and housewives, a lot of crafters were happy to bring in a little extra income by selling their creations. Selling through Molly's store was more time efficient for them than setting up booths by the shoreline during tourist season.
Everywhere she looked there were seashell magnets, necklaces and picture frames. Paintings and photographs by local artists. Handwoven baskets, hand bound journals and pottery in unique designs. At this time of year, there was even a table set up by the local crochet artist Dawn full of delicate hats, cowls, and mittens. The wealthier locals went wild over her use of soft hand-spun yarns.
Most seaside tourist towns found the winter months to be a quiet season with low profits, but in Seaside Cove, it meant tourist season was about to have its second wind. Main Street was transformed into Dickens Village every evening in December, all the way until Christmas Eve. This was the fourth year since the start of Dickens Village, and Molly's second year on the Dickens Council. She felt the responsibility to ensure her shop was one of the first decorated the day after Thanksgiving.
Molly breathed in the scents of peppermint, cider and Christmas trees floating through the air. She inspected the stockings hung over the artificial chimney, each with a different employee name or friend on it. She turned every ornament hanging on the tree so its price tag was easy to spot.
Everything was going to be perfect.
Everything except for one thing.
"Molly, are you going to talk to him?" Rachel's face was pressed against the front window, twisting a long blond lock around her finger. At almost six-foot, Rachel had to stoop to look out the window.
"I don't know who you’re talking about." Molly busied herself, exchanging the regular pens in a Christmas kitten mug with Christmas themed pens.
"Jack Frost," Rachel said, sarcasm dripping practically onto the floor in front of her, and cupped her hands around her eyes to see outside better.
"I thought Jack Frost liked winter?" Molly felt herself blush. Jack Millings. As far as she could tell, he was Mr. Anti-Christmas these days.
Rachel waved Molly over. "Did you see what he put in the window? Didn't you pass out the Dickens fliers to everyone?"
"Of course I did!" As much as Molly wanted to ignore Jack, she knew she could not put him off forever. She sidled up next to Rachel and looked outside. Instead of seeing across the street to Jack's bar, she only saw her own blue eyes and auburn hair in the reflection of the window. "I can't see."
Molly reached over and flicked off the lights in the main room gasping at what she saw. A large glowing sign proclaimed "Merry Beer-Mas" and was surrounded by tiny beer bottles dangling from Christmas lights. The nerve! "I know he got the flier, and it said Dickens and other Christmas decorations, not beer lights! I'm going over there right now
."
Molly pulled the door open with a jerk and hopped back as frosty air blasted into the room. Molly immediately slammed the door shut. "Maybe tomorrow."
"Oh come on, just go get it over with.” Rachel grabbed a few warm items from the crochet table and thrust them at Molly.
"Those are for sale." Molly rubbed her arms. "We can't just run outside in them."
"He's violating the Main Street Council code." Rachel threw her hands in the air, making Molly laugh. Rachel was behaving exactly how Molly wanted to.
"Well, the start of Dickens Village isn't even for a few days. Maybe he is just messing with us?"
"You, messing with you." Rachel laughed. "I'm pretty sure he's looking for a reason to get you over there."
"I doubt it." Molly felt her face flush again. "Jack has barely said a word to me since high school."
"He's barely said a word to you, or you've barely said a word to him? I wish you would just tell me what happened at prom." Rachel pressed the palms of her hands together to beg.
"Water under the bridge; it's been ten years," Molly lied. Molly knew Jack was still mad at her for her mistake all those years ago. There was no reason he would ever talk to her again. Unless he absolutely had to. Maybe if my store was on fire.
"Then, you should be able to move past it. I've seen the way he looks at you." Rachel poked Molly's arm. "He tries to get me to talk about you when I'm at the bar; he thinks he's being slick, but he's not. He’s got the hots for you."
"One, I seriously doubt that. And two, I’m in a relationship with Jeremy. So even if Jack is interested, it really doesn't matter."
"Oh, damn Jeremy! I don't know why you still call that a relationship. He doesn't even live here anymore!" Rachel looked away from her friend to flick a piece of evergreen off her sweater. "Besides, he's kind of becoming an asshole."
"It's a long distance thing. Many long distance relationships work." Molly ignored the part about Jeremy becoming an asshole. She had been noticing a change in him too since his last promotion, but she was sure it was just because of all the stress at work. Mostly sure.
