Six Hours Away

by Kay Correll

  Her heart did a quick pitter-patter and she nodded at him, her hands full. He jumped up and came to help her, grabbing one of her plates. She was embarrassed she had two, but she’d seen the fresh fruit and had grabbed a small plate of that, too.

  “I see you’re up early today.” Mason smiled but thankfully didn’t mention all the food.

  “Feeling a bit restless. And I wanted to see where I could help today.” They headed over to Mason’s table.

  “Can I get you some coffee? Black, right?” he asked.

  “Yes.” She nodded. The man did remember the tiniest details about her. Like how she liked her coffee. She glanced over at the cup of coffee by his plate and saw it was black. She’d remember that now.

  He brought the coffee and sat down across from her. “So, you heading to the community center to help?”

  “I am.”

  “I asked Lillian if I could help her, but she said to go to the center again because if the storm does become a hurricane, lots of people will be taking shelter there. So I guess I’ll be joining you helping out at the center today.”

  That suited her just fine. Not that the storm intensity was increasing, but that Mason would be spending the day with her.

  She devoured her breakfast and topped it with another cup of coffee.

  Mason sat across from her with an amused smile on his face.

  “What are you smiling about?”

  “Just watching you enjoy your breakfast.”

  She blushed. “I was hungry…”

  He laughed. “Never understood women picking at their food or insisting on only eating salads with no dressing with an air of self-righteousness.”

  Well, he’d never see her be one of those women. She loved her food. A lot. And had a healthy appetite and was lucky that it didn’t pack pounds on her. She set down her empty cup. “I’m ready to go.” Enough of this talk about her eating.

  When they got outside, she tilted her face to the sun, feeling the warm rays wash over her. It was going to be a scorcher today. Hardly any wind, and bright sunny skies. Seemed strange to think a big storm was headed their way with clear skies like this.

  They headed down the sidewalk toward the community center, side by side. His arm brushed hers every once and again but she ignored it. Really.

  They passed by Cone Corner and she reminded herself it was ridiculous to be craving an ice cream cone after the big breakfast she’d just consumed. But maybe she’d grab one later…

  Noah greeted them as they walked into the center. “Ah, workers.” Noah gave her a quick hug.

  “Where can we help?” Mason asked.

  “Mind getting the rest of the shutters up?”

  “Sure thing,” Mason readily agreed.

  “I’m going to set up some tables. Some of the ladies from town are already bringing food here. Cookies. Cakes. And the fridge is starting to fill up, too. We’ll at least be eating good while we wait out the storm.” Noah headed off to the storeroom to grab the tables.

  Never let it be said that the townsfolk of Belle Island would ever let anyone go hungry.

  Chapter 5

  Lillian wandered back to The Nest after dealing with a late evening guest issue. Gary was out walking Lucky—which was where she’d planned on being, too, before she was called away. She slipped inside and peace settled around her. The Nest. Her sanctuary, her refuge, her haven. Inside these walls, she could almost—almost—believe all the problems in the world didn’t exist. Not even the storm.

  She sat down in her recliner and picked up the leather journal sitting on the table beside her. Gary had found it hidden in Magnolia House when he was doing some rehab on the house, and she hadn’t had much luck finding the family of the young woman, Anna, who’d written it. She’d love to return this piece of history to them. If only she could actually locate who the family was.

  She read a few more entries but found out nothing to help her with her search for Anna’s family. She turned one more page and exclaimed as she read the words. Johnny’s father was the lightkeeper at the lighthouse. Now that was a clue that might help. Reading the journal had shown her one thing for certain, though. This Anna who wrote in the journal was in love with Johnny. And Anna’s father did not approve of Johnny. Not one bit.

  She let out a long sigh, admitting she was a hopeless romantic. She just hoped Anna had ended up with her Johnny. But would she ever find out if Anna did?

  She set down the journal and picked up her knitting, hoping to settle her nervous energy as well as her racing mind before Gary came back. Her mind galloped along as she worked on her knitting in spite of every effort to quit thinking about the upcoming storm or the mysterious Anna and Johnny.

  Gary walked in from the deck. “Ah, you’re here.” He smiled at her and let Lucky off the leash.

  “Did you have a nice walk?”

  “We did. Missed you, though.” He walked over and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

  “The guest problem was really a non-problem, but I do like to keep them all happy. There are hardly any guests left now that they’ve said the storm has intensified. No evacuation orders, though.”

  “Maybe it will fizzle out at sea.”

  “We can only hope.” She looked down at her knitting and realized she’d dropped a stitch. Maybe now wasn’t the best time to knit.

  “Want something to drink?” Gary headed toward the kitchen.

  “No, I’m fine.”

  He returned with a glass of ice water and sat on the couch across from her. He nodded at the leather journal beside her chair. “Have you been reading more of it?”

  “Just a bit. I did get one more clue. It’s clear that Anna loved this Johnny she wrote about. And she said that Johnny’s father is the lightkeeper.”

  “Really? That’s interesting.”

  “I wonder if there’s a list of lightkeepers at the historical society. Maybe a history of the lighthouse. If I can find out more about Johnny, maybe I can find out more about Anna.” She gave him a sheepish smile. “And I hope to find out they ended up together.

  “Ah, my sweet, sentimental wife.” His eyes glowed with tenderness. “Just one of the many things I love about you.

  Lillian set down her knitting. “Well, there’s not really time to search now. Maybe after the storm.” She stood up. “You ready for bed?”

  “I am. It’s been a long day.”

  “And another long one tomorrow while we wait and watch the storm.”

  Gary stood, took her hand, and they headed off to bed. She was very grateful to have him by her side this week while they prepared for the storm.

  Late that evening Robin and Jay walked home from the inn. She wanted to walk hand-in-hand with him, but she was sure someone would see them. Then within minutes, everyone in town would know about them.

  She really needed to find time to talk to Sara and Charlotte first. They’d be mad at her if they found out from town gossip. She’d tell them both tomorrow. With that decision made, she felt better. Tomorrow she’d walk home with Jay’s arm around her and wouldn’t care who saw them.

  “I need to let Barney out. Mind if we stop by my house first?” Jay asked, oblivious to her decision and the fact they’d be walking home arm in arm tomorrow.

  She smiled to herself, still lost in her thoughts of letting the world know that she and Jay were a couple. Bringing herself back to reality, she looked up at Jay. “How’s Barney adjusting to living with you?”

  “He’s doing fine.”

  “Bet he misses Mrs. Gleason. He was used to someone being home almost all day.”

  “I’m glad I could take him in when she couldn’t have Barney at her retirement place. I actually like having him around.” Jay opened the door to his house.

  Barney walked past them out into the yard. They stood on the porch, but she was dying to peek inside and see what havoc Barney had wreaked on Jay’s house while he’d been gone. When she’d kept Barney a few weeks ago for Mrs. Gleason, he had destroyed
anything and everything he could reach. Jay was going to find out soon enough that Barney equaled disaster.

  Barney trotted back up the steps and they followed him inside. She looked around in amazement. No pillows from the couch on the floor. No chewed up shoes or books. She turned to Jay. “How come he’s not destroying everything at your house?”

  Jay grinned. “We had a talk. I told him not to.”

  “Ah, a dog whisperer. Who knew?”

  “I’ve got beer in the fridge. Want one? We could sit out on the deck for a bit, then I’ll walk you home.”

  “Sounds good.” They grabbed beers and settled on a loveseat on the deck overlooking the bay. Jay had a great view and she was a bit jealous. Her porch looked out on some common ground at the group of bungalows. They had access to the bay down a walkway, but no view from her bungalow.

  She kicked off her shoes and curled her legs under her, taking a sip of the ice-cold beer. “Ah, that’s good.”

  Jay’s lips curved into a smile that sent her pulse racing. “It is good.”

  “You haven’t tasted yours yet.” She cocked her head.

  “Maybe I wasn’t talking about the beer. Maybe I was talking about being here with you.” He leaned down and kissed her slowly, leisurely, as if he were enjoying every single slow-moving moment.

  She let out a sigh as he pulled away. “Ah, that was good, too.”

  He laughed. “It was.”

  He draped his arm around her shoulder and they sat in the moonlight, silent. And everything was right with her world.

  Until she looked around for Barney. “Hey, where did Barney go?”

  Jay glanced around. “I left the slider open. He must have gone inside.”

  “Oh, no…” She looked down at where she’d slipped off her shoes. One lone shoe rested there. “Barney…” She jumped up and rushed inside.

  Barney rested on the couch, looking innocent. But her other shoe sat on the floor, a chewed up, ruined mess.

  “Barney!” She leaned down and snatched her shoe, waving it toward Jay. “See, that dog has it out for me.”

  “Barney, we talked about that. No chewing on anything but your toys,” Jay spoke sternly to the dog.

  Robin swore the dog rolled his eyes at Jay…

  Chapter 6

  The next day Betty Gleason looked around the lunchroom of the retirement center. She’d been eating in her apartment since she moved in, but it was time to wander out and meet people. She suddenly felt like a young girl in high school, waiting to be invited to sit with someone. She stood still, holding her tray of food, looking for a place to sit, a group that looked friendly to join.

  “Betty Gleason, is that you? I didn’t know you were moving here.”

  She looked into the friendly face of Ida, an acquaintance from Belle Island. “Ida, so good to see someone I know.”

  “Come, sit with George and me. We’re just over there by the window.”

  Betty followed Ida over to the table and took an empty seat, grateful to feel less like an outsider.

  “Betty, good to see you. Did you just move in?” George smiled.

  “I did. Still trying to get settled. It’s… it’s quite an adjustment. But my daughter… well, she wanted me to move here. And I’m closer to her, so it will make things easier on her. I—I had a little car accident and I wasn’t driving anymore. It was hard on my daughter to come over from the mainland to the island to bring me to appointments and things. But I’ve lived on the island my whole life. My momma grew up there, too. We’ve been there for generations, but I was the last one.” She let out a long sigh. “It’s very hard to live anywhere but Belle Island.”

  “We’re closer to our kids and grandkids now, too.” George nodded. “And, I admit, it was getting hard to keep up with Magnolia House. It was just so… big. Way too big for just the two of us.”

  “I did love that house, though.” Ida sighed.

  “I had moved to those cute little bungalows on the bay. Do you know them?”

  “Oh, I do. I think Robin and Charlotte live there, too. Don’t they?”

  “They do. They lived right next door. They were such sweet neighbors.” Betty reached for some cream to put in her coffee. Her daughter insisted it wasn’t good for her, but she loved cream in her coffee and she might as well indulge a bit. “And you know Jay, the chef from Charming Inn?”

  “We do. A fine young man,” George said.

  “I couldn’t bring my dog Barney, and I couldn’t find him a home. I was going to have to give him to the beagle rescue group. It was breaking my heart. I was so worried about where he’d end up. But Jay offered to take Barney. I was so relieved.”

  “I bet you miss him though.” Ida’s voice was filled with sympathy.

  “So much. It was the main reason I kept resisting coming here. But Jay said he’d bring Barney to visit. I can’t wait. And look, he’s already sent a picture of Barney.” Betty took out her phone and showed them a photo of Barney sitting on Jay’s deck.

  “I’m sorry you couldn’t have him here, but at least you found him a good home and you’ll still get to see him.” Ida sent her a sympathetic smile. “Life sends us unexpected changes as we get older. We have to learn to deal with them.”

  “We do.” She bobbed her head. “But I’m very thankful to Jay.”

  “So, we went back to the island a bit ago and spoke to Lillian. You know she bought Magnolia House, right?” Ida asked.

  “I heard that.”

  “Anyway, she had this man—Gary—working on fixing the place up.”

  “Lillian married Gary,” Betty interrupted.

  “We heard that, too.” Ida nodded. “We try to keep up with all the news from the island. Anyway, Gary found this old journal hidden behind a board at Magnolia House. Isn’t that interesting? Lillian is trying to figure out who the family is of the woman who wrote it.”

  “Oh, like some kind of mystery.”

  “I’ve been wondering if she’s found out any more about the family of the girl who wrote it.”

  “I don’t know, but I’ll be sure and ask when Jay brings Barney to visit. Maybe he’ll know. He’s bringing Barney to visit me after the storm.” Betty tried a bite of her meal. Surprisingly tasty, much better than she thought the meals would be in the dining room here at the retirement center.

  “I do hope the storm weakens and Belle Island fairs well through it.” Ida’s forehead wrinkled with concern.

  “I do, too. And I worry about Barney. He’s not a big fan of storms.”

  “I’m sure Jay will take good care of him,” George said.

  “Oh, I’m sure he will.” But she still worried about her Barney. She sighed and took a sip of her coffee with the cream. Very good. Even if her daughter would be disappointed in her choice. Her daughter was one of those people who picked a new diet fad every six months or so. Her daughter’s new one included no dairy. No coffee either, for that matter. That was never going to happen for her. She planned on enjoying her coffee until her last days.

  She turned from her thoughts back to the conversation with George and Ida. She enjoyed the easy conversation with them. Maybe this move wouldn’t be so bad if she could get to know more people here. Though she’d still rather be back on her beloved Belle Island.

  Chapter 7

  Robin hurried through the inn the next morning. She’d just checked the last guests out. Well, all the guests except for Zoe and Mason. They were staying, but they were more family than guests. Mason insisted on staying to be near his father and Lillian in case they needed help. And Zoe? She was pretty sure Zoe wanted to stay because Mason was staying. She’d seen the looks they’d been giving each other.

  And Lillian and Gary would be at The Nest, of course, to watch over things.

  The storm predictions weren’t good, and the authorities had recommended all non-residents leave the island. Luckily the handful of remaining guests had agreed and gone home. She didn’t envy them the long drive up the highway in the heavy tr
affic with everyone trying to escape the storm.

  She and Jay would stay, though. Help Lillian. If it got too bad, they’d all head to the community center. They’d done it before. It was just life on this small Florida island.

  The storm was predicted to hit tomorrow as a category one hurricane. Still hitting north of here, but the winds would be vicious on the island and there could be localized flooding.

  She got to the kitchen and Jay looked up from where he was cleaning the counters and smiled at her. He tilted his head toward the supply cabinet with a small nod and a wink. She grinned and followed him inside.

  He took her into his arms and kissed her. “Ah, now that’s more like it. Been wanting to do that since I said good night to you last night.”

  “You should try it again, just in case it’s a while until you can do it again,” she teased.

  “Good plan, woman.” He kissed her again, pulling her close.

  The door swung open to the storage room and she looked over in surprise. Sara stood in the doorway, an amused look on her face.

  “So this is where you two hide out.” Sara shook her head, a wide smile on her face. “About time you two got together.”

  “Sara, I was going to tell you and Charlotte. I was going to tell you today. Honest.” Robin disentangled herself from Jay’s arms and went over to her friend.

  “How long has this been going on?”

  “Just a few days. Since Sunday. It’s just been so crazy with everyone getting ready for the storm…”

  Sara gave her a quick hug. “I’m happy for you. And it’s about time. I just came to tell you I’m headed to the community center to help Noah.” She turned to leave. “But you better tell Charlotte about you two before the news gets out.”

  “I’ll go find her now,” Robin promised.

  Jay walked over to her. “So, if you tell Charlotte, does that mean we don’t have to hide out in the storage room to kiss?”

  She smiled up at him. “That’s exactly what it means. You can kiss me any time you want.”