A Place for Us (Blue Harbor Book 1)

by Olivia Miles

  Britt took the cartons of party supplies into the front room and pushed the tables together, leaving one at the back of the room that Amelia would use to hold the presents and the cake.

  After Amelia had prepped for the breakfast crowd, she came out to help. “Thanks for doing this.”

  “Thanks for letting me stay the night,” Britt replied. She smoothed the tablecloth before setting out the plates. “The party was fun, too. It was nice to get my thoughts off things.”

  Amelia gave her a funny look. “Things? Or…Robbie.”

  Britt shook her head, but she couldn’t fight her smile. “It’s the business I’m worried about, actually.” Sensing the alarm in her sister’s eyes, she said, “It’s not going to go under or anything like that.” Not yet, anyway. “It’s more that…well, it could certainly use a little boost.”

  “The farm isn’t another of your clients, Britt. Dad isn’t expecting you to go the extra mile.”

  “I’m actually thinking that it’s exactly what he wants,” Britt said, against her better judgment.

  Amelia frowned as she tied more pink balloons to the back of a chair. “Is there a problem with the farm?”

  Britt blew out a breath. With the café opening for business soon, it wasn’t the time to be getting into a deep conversation, but she hadn’t found as much time to connect with her sister as she would have liked.

  “Not a problem that can’t be fixed,” Britt said brightly. She sloughed off the concern on her sister’s face with a shrug. “You know me. Always looking for ways to improve operations.”

  “And you know Dad. Always looking to keep things the same.”

  “Until now,” Britt said. “He’s moved on, Amelia.” There was a lump in her throat that she knew shouldn’t be there. If her father wanted to move on and find happiness, then who was she to stop him? Her mother was gone, and nothing could bring her back. And no matter how far she ran or how long she stayed away, there was no escaping that fact.

  Amelia nodded. “It was bound to happen eventually.”

  “I never thought it would happen.” Maybe Britt had been naïve, or maybe she was just in denial.

  “Never thought it would happen, or never wanted it to happen?” Amelia asked pointedly. “And Dad knew that.”

  Shame flooded Britt’s cheeks as she stared at her sister. “But that’s not the reason…” She blinked as her mind replayed the years since her mother’s death in high speed. He’d never mentioned dating. Never talked about a desire to find someone else. He’d never even said that he was lonely.

  Amelia shook her head. “No, I don’t think it’s the reason. Not the only one, at least. He didn’t want to hurt us. And I don’t think he was ready for any more change.”

  “And he’s ready now,” Britt said, emphasizing her earlier comment. “And not just about his social life.”

  Amelia looked at her in confusion. “What do you mean?”

  Britt knew that Amelia could be trusted with this information. That she wouldn’t pressure her one way or the other, but listen, and give an opinion only if it were asked for. And the truth of the matter was, Britt was asking for it. She needed it. She needed someone to tell her what to do because the choices she’d made for herself hadn’t panned out the way she had wanted. She may be great at picking up the pieces of a struggling business, but when it came to her own life, she was hopeless.

  “He wants me to take over the running of the business.”

  Amelia’s eyes popped. Finally, she said, “He wants to retire?”

  Britt nodded. “And he wants me to take his place.”

  Amelia blew out a breath. “Wow.” She stared at the table of decorations, the pink plates and matching pink cups. A little menu card had been set up at each place setting. It would be a high tea complete with hot cocoa.

  “What did you say?” Amelia finally asked.

  Britt shrugged. “I didn’t really know what to say. Coming back to Blue Harbor was only supposed to be temporary.”

  “But?” There was hope in Amelia’s eyes, and Britt wasn’t sure if she should snuff it out, or see it for what it was, and let it be the opinion that guided her.

  Her family wanted her. And she had no real reason to stay away anymore.

  But did she have a good enough reason to come back, she wondered, as Robbie appeared in the door.

  *

  By ten thirty, the table was filled with ten little girls, the corner table was stacked high with presents in pink wrapping paper, and so far at least three cups of hot chocolate had spilled all over the table.

  Robbie looked downright flustered as he tried to mop up the latest spill while keeping a more eager child from helping herself to a fifth pink mini cookie.

  Britt saw the panicked look in his eyes and stepped forward with a roll of paper towels she had snagged from the kitchen. “Let me help,” she said, expecting a protest and finding none.

  Instead Robbie stepped back wearily, and gave her a sincere thank you when she promptly cleaned the spill, refilled cups, and advised the children that they were allowed three treats each because there was still ice cream and cake coming. She had the distinct impression that Natalie had hoped to be playing helper this morning, but after catching her eye, she’d been sure to announce that she had a yoga class to get to across town.

  “How did you do that?” Robbie asked, a little breathlessly. “You make it look so easy.”

  “Don’t forget that I’m the oldest of four girls. This was just a typical Sunday night dinner in my house growing up.”

  “Well, I’m glad you’re here,” he said, giving her a little smile. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, she dared to think that maybe he was grateful for more than the extra set of hands.

  “I couldn’t say no to Keira,” Britt said with a shrug. She looked over at the birthday girl, who was seated at the head of the table, wearing a sparkly crown. “She’s a really good kid, Robbie.”

  He seemed to stiffen for a moment. “I hope she’s having a good time.”

  “Are you kidding me?” At that moment, another girl spilled her hot chocolate and the entire group broke into a fit of giggles. “She’s having the time of her life.”

  He set a hand on her arm as she reached for the paper towels again. “Let me. I feel bad for getting you roped into this.”

  “Roped into what?”

  He gave her a knowing look as he sopped up the mess, and she bit her lip to hide her smile. It was true that she hadn’t exactly been expecting to stand at the edge of the room and monitor ten rambunctious seven-year-olds. But what had she been expecting? Something civilized and relaxing? A club chair and a glass of wine? Though, that would be nice around now, especially when the squealing started and all the girls tried to talk over one another, as if in a competition to see who could speak the loudest.

  “You’re way more of an adult than I am,” she told Robbie with a sigh.

  He let out a laugh, a bark really, that showed he didn’t agree with her. “I’m glad I’m fooling someone, because I’m not fooling myself.” He sighed and frowned across the room at his daughter. “It’s not easy being a single parent.”

  Natalie had given off the same sort of impression, and Britt wondered if this bonded them in a way that she could never understand or relate.

  She thought of her own father, left with three younger daughters when she fled the house. Was that the reason he had put his own happiness on hold? Because he was overwhelmed with the responsibility of raising his girls? She could have stuck around, helped, been there for him. And for her sisters. Especially, Amelia.

  “Let me make this up to you,” Robbie said, and before she could give an answer, he said, “Please. This is probably not how you wanted to spend a day off.”

  “Yes and no. Keeping busy is good for me. It’s what I do best.”

  “Meet me for a drink later?” His eyes latched with hers for a moment before looking away. “God knows I’ll need one,” he muttered, and she laughed.
>
  “At the pub?”

  “The dock?” he countered.

  The dock. It was their usual spot. Their place, she might have said once. Unsure of what he was getting at, or even how she felt about it, she sucked in a breath, and nodded just once before he shot up his arm, waving at someone behind her.

  She turned to see his parents, standing in the doorway holding a large, pink box tied with an oversized bow, looking completely bewildered by the shrill buzz in the air, and the energy that only a gaggle of little girls could cause.

  “Daddy, I have to go to the bathroom,” Keira said, coming over to take his hand.

  Robbie glanced apologetically at his parents and back to her. “Be right back.”

  Britt smiled shyly at Robbie’s mother, who was watching her from the doorway. Her husband had already disappeared into the main room of the café, no doubt looking for an escape from the high-pitched noise.

  “It’s good to see you, Britt,” Bonnie said warmly. She gave her hug, like she always did, and even now, she felt achingly familiar.

  Britt swallowed the lump in her throat. She’d always been close to Robbie’s mother. Always felt bad about never saying good-bye when she’d left. But she’d been tired of saying good-bye by then. It felt too permanent. And she couldn’t take any more certain loss.

  “It’s good to back,” she said, surprised to realize that she meant it.

  “How is your father doing?” Bonnie asked, edging closer to her. She still had the same kind eyes, but there were deeper lines in the corners now.

  “He’s…” Britt inhaled sharply, knowing that she needed to be honest with herself. “He’s doing better than he has in years.”

  Bonnie blinked in confusion. After all, the man had fallen off a ladder and broken two bones. But then she seemed to process the meaning behind Britt’s statement and gave a smile. “I’m sure having you here is all the medication he needs.”

  That and a caretaker who didn’t mind wearing her shirts a little low cut, Britt thought with a little smile.

  “So, you think you’ll be staying in town then?”

  “My plans are up in the air,” Britt replied honestly.

  Bonnie nodded slowly. “Just…don’t break his heart again,” she finally said, and it took a moment for Britt to realize that she wasn’t talking about Britt’s father. “He’d never admit it, but he waited for you to return until we all had to tell him you weren’t coming back. Never seen him so sad. Couldn’t stand being left behind, and so…off he went.”

  Britt stared at the woman for a moment, knowing a warning when she saw one, and knowing that she should heed it as best that she could.

  13

  Britt thought about Bonnie’s words as she changed into jeans and a tank top and slipped her feet into flip-flops. Remembering how chilly the evenings were around here, she grabbed a cardigan from her drawer. Hardly date attire, but this wasn’t a date, was it? It was two friends, meeting up, at the one place in all of Blue Harbor that held special meaning for the two of them.

  Surely, that wasn’t why Robbie had chosen it. He had probably picked it out of lack of anywhere else to go, unless they wanted to go out in public and invite further speculation.

  Or back to his house, where he’d almost kissed her. Because that’s what he had nearly done, she was sure of it. Just as sure as she was that he’d pulled away, thought the better of it.

  Just as sure that she shouldn’t be wishing that he hadn’t.

  All this time, she’d assumed he’d moved on, without a look back, as easily as she claimed to have done. But it wasn’t true at all. For either of them. He’d cared. Maybe he even still cared.

  God knew she did. There was no denying it any more.

  She kept her hair down in the loose, carefree waves, free of the tight knot that had defined her look for most of her professional life, and which had extended, without notice, into her personal life, too, much like her rigid ways had slipped through the cracks, infiltrating every facet of her life until she was so regimented, so careful about everything, that she no longer knew how to be spontaneous.

  And tonight was anything if not spontaneous.

  He was waiting for her when she arrived by bicycle fifteen minutes later. The sun was low in the sky and the water seemed to capture the last of its rays, causing it to sparkle. In the distance was Evening Island, and around it, only water, for as far as the eye could see.

  Robbie was sitting on a folding chair, and another that he must have brought with him was empty at his side. The dock was lit at either end by a lantern, but she still depended on the dusk sky to be her guide as she crossed the wood planks until she reached him.

  She was surprised to see that he had a bottle of wine and two glasses waiting for her.

  “I told you I needed a drink after that party,” he warned her when he caught her eyeing them.

  She laughed and sank into the chair beside him. “I’m not complaining. I’m not used to being around children.”

  “Neither am I, really,” Robbie said as he filled her glass and passed it to her. “It’s different with Keira. We know each other’s ways. We know how to live together. We’re our own little team, I guess.”

  “That sounds nice.” She gave a small smile and watched as he poured himself a glass before carefully setting the bottle down on the ground between them.

  “You ever think about having kids?” Robbie asked her as he settled back in his seat.

  She let out a nervous laugh. “My job hasn’t exactly left time for me to have much of a social life.”

  “But you don’t have that job anymore,” Robbie reminded her.

  It was true, and this time, when she thought of it, she no longer felt the sting of rejection, or the panic of her blank future. Now, for the first time in a long time, she saw options.

  Or at least possibility.

  She pulled in a breath, kicking herself for feeling the need to even say what was nagging her all night and day. “I hear you were over at the pub last night,” she said. When he gave her a quizzical look, she explained, “Natalie left the party to find you.”

  He rolled his eyes skyward, telling her everything she needed to know, and the relief that rushed over her confirmed what she already knew. She still cared about him. Maybe she had never stopped.

  “I saw Natalie before the party. Chatted a bit.” He gave her a long look. “If she came looking for me, I was long gone by then.”

  So he hadn’t been waiting around for her, hadn’t agreed to meet up after the party.

  Well. Good.

  “Did you have fun?” she asked, slanting him a glance.

  “At the pub?” He let out a short laugh. “No. Not my scene anymore. I’d rather be home. With my family. With Keira,” he clarified.

  “I hear she went to a sleepover.” When Robbie looked surprised, she elaborated. “Natalie told me that too.”

  “She did go to a sleepover. Not that I can say I was as pleased about it as Keira.”

  “It can’t be easy to let her go.”

  “It will be worse when she’s eighteen!” Robbie said, his eyes rounding in wonder.

  Britt pushed back the guilt that had resurfaced. “I feel bad. For my dad. For leaving him the way I did. And then I get mad that he’s moved on. That he’s with this…Candy woman now.”

  Robbie started to chuckle and she swatted him. “I’m sorry. It’s just…”

  “I know,” Britt said ruefully. “He sure waited long enough. And then he falls for this woman…who couldn’t be more different than my mother.” Tears burned the back of her eyes, and she couldn’t blink them away. “I miss her so much. Even now, after all this time. And I can’t stop thinking, is this what she would have wanted? Did I fail her somehow?”

  Robbie leaned forward in his chair, until she could see the fine features of his face. With the pad of his thumb he brushed a tear from her cheek. “Your mother would have wanted you to be happy. And your dad, too. She wanted that house to be fi
lled, with love, and laughter, and family. She loved her life here.”

  “You mean, she would have wanted me to stay instead of running off to Chicago?”

  Robbie hesitated. “I think she would have wanted you to know that you can always come home.”

  Britt gave him a sad smile, knowing that he was right.

  “Your mother loved traditions. The decorations she put out every year for Christmas. Her big holiday meals, where everyone was welcome. Those cupcakes that you made with Keira. Her pies. The orchard. Those things can still live on, Britt. They brought her joy. Those were the things that mattered to her. The traditions she passed down to her daughters.”

  “Thanks, Robbie,” Britt said, pulling in a shaky breath.

  She took a sip of the wine. It was cool and sweet, but there was something familiar about it, something that she couldn’t quite place. “This is really good.”

  She glanced down at the bottle, but the darkness had fallen around them, and it was impossible to read the label.

  “Thanks. I made it,” Robbie said after a beat.

  She stared at him. “You made this?” She took another sip. Of course! She could taste the familiar notes of Conway’s blend, but there was something different about this wine, something she couldn’t quite place. “But…I don’t understand.”

  “It’s just something I’ve been experimenting with, in my free time, of course,” he added, in a rush, before they exchanged a smile. As if he could ever be in trouble with her. He could only ever be perfect to her. Then. Now. Always.

  “Has my dad tried this?” she asked.

  “I haven’t run it by him yet,” Robbie said with a shake of the head. “I didn’t know if it was ready. You’re actually the first person to have tried it.”

  “A blind taste test?” She laughed.

  “More like the opinion that matters the most,” he said, and even in the shadows of the low light coming from the lanterns, she could see the honesty in his eyes. And the hurt. All this time, she’d thought she was the only one who had missed what they’d once shared. But maybe she’d been wrong.