One Simple Wish

by Kay Correll

  “Noah runs the community center and did most of the planning for the festival.” Robin went on, oblivious to the war waging through Sara. “Noah’s a great guy and we’re glad he moved to the island. Always love another person we can talk into volunteering for stuff.” Robin laughed.

  Sara scowled.

  She didn’t want to hear what a great guy Noah was. Because he wasn’t a great guy. He’d left her. Left her without a word. Just because she’d gotten the promotion they’d both worked for. A person who did that was not a nice guy.

  Robin gave her a strange look.

  “I should go.” Sara broke up the let’s-praise-Noah-fest. “I’m going to check on the inn’s booth and see if Jay needs any help.”

  “Oh, I was just there talking to him. He’s doing fine. Has his workers with him. Everything’s going smoothly.”

  Now, what was she going to use as an excuse to escape?

  “Mr. McNeil?” The blonde-haired boy who won the race came up to Noah.

  “What do you need, Bobby?”

  “Can I take Cooper for a walk?”

  “Tell you what. How about we both take him for a walk? Let’s go check with your mom first.”

  “She’s right over there.” He pointed to the gazebo.

  “If you’ll excuse me. I think Cooper here is getting a walk.”

  She watched while Noah, Cooper, and the boy walked away, getting lost in the crowd. She couldn’t get over this Noah. The one who was comfortable around kids… even good with them.

  Robin turned and stared at her. “What was that all about?”

  “What?”

  “The friction. The looks. What are you hiding?”

  “I’m not hiding anything.” She looked at where Noah had disappeared into the crowd. “I just… well, I used to know him.”

  “You did? When?”

  “Years ago. Used to work together at the same ad agency.”

  “Huh. That’s quite a coincidence.” Charlotte stared at her, too.

  “Really, that’s it.” She shrugged her shoulders to punctuate her point.

  “And yet you didn’t say a word when you asked me about him.”

  “I was just surprised, that’s all.”

  “If you say so.” Robin eyed her skeptically.

  Charlotte wandered off to look at the painting competition, and Robin said she had to run. Sara wandered around the festival on her own, feeling strangely out of place in the town she’d grown up in. So much had changed. She ran into some people she knew and chatted with them, but mostly it was tourists milling about. Or maybe they were townspeople and she just didn’t recognize them as such since she’d been gone so long…

  She stopped by the inn’s booth. “Hey, Jay. How’s it going?”

  “Going great. I just got back from the inn with more food for the booth. Doing a brisk business, but luckily I planned for it.”

  “Have you seen Robin?”

  “Oh, she went to go look at a rental place. Apartment, I think.”

  She frowned. “I thought she lived in a cottage by the bay.”

  “She did, but the owner sold it. She’s got to move by the end of the month.” Jay turned away to wait on a customer.

  Robin hadn’t said a word to her. Not a word. So she was out of a job and a place to live. Well, that wasn’t going to happen. She pulled out her phone and texted Charlotte and Robin.

  Come to the inn when you’re finished. I’m grabbing sandwiches for us from the booth. See you soon.

  Chapter 11

  Charlotte wandered around the display of local artwork. She looked at the painting that won first place in the art show. A painting of a young girl sitting on the beach. Peaceful. Serene. Just an everyday scene. The painting tugged at her. So simple, so moving, as if the artist had poured her heart into the painting.

  She wanted that again. To pour her heart into her art. Her own paintings didn’t move her anymore. She didn’t know what had changed, but something had. Her splashes of color and impressionistic style just… well, it wasn’t talking to her anymore. It had been the trend, and she’d ridden it well. But now that trend was sinking, along with her career.

  Painter’s block. That’s what she had. Like writer’s block for painters. Did writer’s block last this long? Like for over a year long…

  She felt like a fraud now. Not a real painter. Really, a painter who hadn’t painted a decent new piece of work in over a year? Maybe she was all finished. Painted out all her creativity. Nothing remarkable left in her.

  At least she had the furniture to work on for the cottages now. She’d had such fun picking out the furniture and the colors for the walls. Even if her shoulders still ached from all the wall painting. But the teal cottage had turned out nicely if she did say so herself. A pale teal on the walls and crisp white on the trim.

  She’d also picked out darker shades of teal chalk paint for the furniture. At least she had that much creativity left in her. She couldn’t wait to get started on them tomorrow. She could picture the perfect coastal decor for the cottage and enjoyed helping Sara out with it.

  Her phone dinged, and she slipped it from her pocket. A text from Sara.

  She took one last look at the paintings and turned to head back to the inn.

  Sara set out the sandwiches on the dining table in the small kitchen in The Nest. Then she pulled out some wine glasses and raided Aunt Lil’s red wine stash for another bottle. This time she planned on winning an argument with Robin. And Charlotte for that matter. They’d both been unbelievably helpful with the inn. She was going to repay them for their kindness.

  “Hey, there.” Charlotte came walking in the back door with Robin close behind her.

  “What’s with the mysterious text?” Robin looked at the table. “And a sit-down meal?”

  “Yes, sit. We need to talk.”

  Charlotte and Robin slipped into their chairs and she poured them all a glass of wine. She took a sip of hers as she sat across from them and squared her shoulders. “So, this is how it’s going to work…”

  Robin raised an eyebrow.

  “Robin, you’re going to move into the yellow cottage.”

  “What—no—”

  “Yes. I know it’s not finished now, but it’s all I have to offer. The rooms are mostly filled up at the inn. I know you’re out of a place to stay by the end of the month. Charlotte, if you don’t mind moving into the cottage, too? It has two bedrooms so you’ll both have your own space.”

  “I can’t just move in there.” Robin shook her head.

  “Why not? Did you find another place to live and a job today?” Sara pinned Robin with what she hoped was a definitive stare.

  “No, but—”

  “So, it’s decided. You’ll move in. The yellow cottage isn’t rented out yet. Jay said Aunt Lil wasn’t sure they could get both cottages finished, so they just put the teal cottage on the books for rental. So, if you don’t mind living in a cottage while it’s being remodeled…”

  “I couldn’t just live there…”

  “Of course, you could.” Charlotte chimed in. “You’re always the one to jump in and help other people. Learn to accept some help yourself.”

  “Besides, then you’re right here to help me with the inn.” Sara grinned. “See, it’s just to help me out, really.”

  Robin frowned. “I don’t know…”

  “Robin, this is one argument you’re not going to win. Please let me do this for you. You’ve been so helpful.” Sara turned to Charlotte. “Both of you have been so helpful. Please let me do this for you.”

  Robin let out a long sigh. “Well… I will under one condition.”

  “What’s that?” She eyed Robin.

  “You tell us what’s going on between you and Noah.” Robin pinned her with a stare.

  “Yes, what is going on between you two?” Charlotte asked.

  “Nothing is going on between us.”

  “What did go on between you? In the past.” Robin was not going
to let it go.

  She sighed. “Okay, so we dated. For almost a year. I thought things were kind of serious.”

  “When was this?” Charlotte leaned forward in her chair, encouraging her to keep talking.

  “Years ago. Over twenty years. It’s silly this is even coming up again.”

  “And yet, it’s part of our deal. You talk, I move into the cottage.”

  She closed her eyes against the memories swirling around, then opened them and continued. “We were working at the same ad agency. Dated. Helped each other out on our projects. We just… clicked… you know?”

  Sara reached for her wine and took a sip, thinking back on how she’d been totally smitten with Noah. She’d just about decided she loved him. Ha, look how that turned out. “But then we were both up for the same promotion. Whoever got the promotion was going to be the boss of the other. I got the promotion. Noah disappeared that very same day. Left his job with no notice. Never said a word to me.”

  Robin frowned. “That doesn’t sound like the Noah I know.”

  “It didn’t sound like the one I thought I knew either. I guess he couldn’t stand the idea that I’d be his boss. Honestly, we both thought that he’d get the promotion. He had an edge on me, I was sure of it. And he’d worked there a bit longer. But I got the promotion and, poof, he was gone from my life.”

  “Well, that’s not cool.” Charlotte scowled. “We don’t like people who treat our Sara like that. Robin, maybe you should change your opinion of Noah.”

  Robin looked thoughtful. “Maybe. But it sure doesn’t sound like the Noah I know.”

  “Now can we change the subject?” Sara leaned back in her chair. “I did what you asked. I told you about Noah, so Robin, you’re moving to the cottage. Now eat your supper and then let’s bring our wine out onto the deck.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Robin grinned at her.

  For once in her life, Sara had won an argument with Robin… kind of.

  Chapter 12

  The next morning Sara hurried to the market for flour. They hadn’t quite gotten their ordering of supplies down and Jay needed more flour for pies. She could do that. Charlotte was busy painting the furniture for the teal cottage, and Robin was moving some of her things into the yellow cottage and arranging for storage of the furniture she had in her old rental. She still insisted she’d find a new place as soon as possible. But Sara had just rolled her eyes and said there was no hurry to move out. Besides, she liked having her friends so close.

  She bought the flour, stashed it in two large carrying bags, and headed back out to the sunny street. She had walked to the market but was kind of regretting that decision now. She paused to adjust the flour in the grocery totes.

  As she balanced the bags in her hands, she glanced across the street. There, across the road and a few doors down, was Noah. She ducked into the doorway of a shop, not wanting to be seen. But she probably hadn’t needed to do that. He only had eyes for the young woman who’d rushed up to him and thrown her arms around his neck. She could hear his delighted laugh drift across in the breeze as he swung her around. He kissed her cheek and hugged her.

  The woman was cute and beautiful in that adorable, bubbly way some young women had. That was just great. Now he was dating younger women. She looked to be about half his age at most. Well, fine. It didn’t matter one bit to her.

  The young woman’s laughter joined Noah’s as she pulled out of the embrace.

  Sara walked out of the doorway and headed down the sidewalk, deliberately not turning around to take another look… until she did. It was hard to miss the overjoyed and adoring look on Noah’s face.

  A flash of jealousy rushed through her. Which was crazy, of course. There was nothing to be jealous of.

  And she despised the man, anyway.

  So it made no difference to her who he dated. Who made him laugh. Who made him light up with elation.

  No difference at all.

  She sucked in a deep breath, chasing away the memories that threatened to escape from the tightly walled off box in her mind, and hurried down the sidewalk, no longer noticing the weight she carried, just wanting to escape all things Noah.

  “Thanks, Jay.” Robin straightened and looked at the bed Jay had helped her set up in her bedroom in the yellow cottage. “I appreciate the help.”

  “It was nice of Sara to offer to let you stay here.”

  Robin rolled her eyes. “It didn’t escape me that you were probably the one who told her I was out of a place to stay.”

  “Me?” His innocent look didn’t fool her. “And hey, I offered up my place for you to stay.”

  “Right.” She rolled her eyes again.

  “Let’s get Charlotte’s bed set up, then I’m back to the kitchen. Sara went to get me more flour. I forgot to add that to your list. Going to make pies for dinner tonight.”

  “Um, I love your pies.” She forgot she was exasperated at him for telling Sara about her troubles.

  “Good, then come have a slice tonight and say you forgive me.” He threw her an impish smile.

  The man was impossible. She hid a grin and headed into Charlotte’s bedroom. They put the frame together and wrestled the queen mattress onto the bed. She flopped down on it. “That was more work than I thought it would be.”

  Jay plopped down on the mattress beside her, looking at the walls. “We probably should have painted the walls first before you guys moved in, but really, we needed the room that Charlotte’s been staying in at the inn. We’re almost full through the entire summer.”

  “Well, that’s good.”

  “Good and bad. Good income, but a lot of work. I’m sure Lil is stressing about not being here.”

  “Sara said Lil is already making noise about leaving the rehab place and coming back to the inn. Luckily her doctor was still able to cut her off and convince her to stay a bit longer.”

  “She should be concentrating on getting stronger.” Jay propped himself up on his elbows.

  “Hopefully she will. And maybe we’ll have everything finished by the time she gets home. Anyway, we’ll just shove the beds into the middle of the rooms when we paint the walls.” She rolled over and crawled off the bed. “I better start unloading my car. It’s full of clothes and stuff.”

  “Need help?” Jay sat up.

  “No, I’ll let you get back to your pies.”

  “I’ll see you later for that piece of pie.”

  She walked him to the door and watched as he headed down the pathway back to the inn, the sunshine glinting off his sandy blonde hair. He was a helpful one, that Jay Turner.

  Chapter 13

  “Robin? You here?” Sara walked into the yellow cottage.

  “Back here trying to conquer my clothes.”

  Sara made her way to the back bedroom and found Robin sitting on the bed, surrounded by clothes in stacks and on hangers.

  “Wow, you’ve got some unpacking to do.”

  “Well, it’s unpacked, it’s just not put away or hung up.”

  Sara grabbed an armload of hanging clothes and went to the closet, settling them on the clothes rod. “There.”

  “I realized after I dumped these stacks of clothes out of boxes that I don’t have a dresser.”

  “Right. Charlotte bought a couple for here, but she hasn’t painted them yet. We can look in the storeroom and see if there are any old dressers in there you and Char can use until she finishes the ones for the cottage.”

  “Probably a good idea. Otherwise, I need to pack all this back up and riffle through boxes every time I get dressed.” Robin climbed off the bed.

  They headed off to the inn and slipped into the storage room. The room was much smaller now since Aunt Lil had taken most of it to enlarge the dining room. They did find a dresser and a chest of drawers in the corner. A little beat up, but serviceable. “Charlotte will probably want to paint these after she finishes up what she has.” Sara pushed on the dresser as Robin tugged on it. “She’s painting everything she can
get her hands on.”

  “She has to let me use it first.” Robin paused. “We need a dolly or something to move these.”

  Jay walked into the room. “I thought I heard a commotion in here.”

  “We’re taking a dresser and that chest of drawers.” Sara pointed. “Robin and Char need them at the cottage.”

  “I’ll get them, put them in the van, and bring them over as soon as I’m finished with the pies. Oh, and there’s an extra small table and chairs in that little storage area upstairs. Lil thought it was too wobbly, but I fixed it. I’ll bring that over, too.”

  “Thanks, Jay.” Sara was more than willing to let him wrestle the furniture.

  She and Robin left the storeroom with Jay trailing behind them.

  “You coming for that piece of pie?” Jay paused when they got to the back door and looked at Robin.

  “Maybe later. Got a lot of work to do.” Robin ducked her head, almost sprinting out the door, and started down the pathway back to the cottage.

  “What kind of pie?” Sara eyed Jay.

  “Peach pie and pecan pie.”

  “I’ll be over later for some. I swear you’re like some kind of miracle worker for Aunt Lil. Best cook she’s ever had, and you know how to fix things.”

  “And I deliver furniture.” He grinned.

  “That, too.” She headed out the door and hurried to catch up with Robin. “Hey, what’s your hurry?”

  “Just a lot to do.”

  It seemed more like she was avoiding Jay, but maybe not. Sara hadn’t quite figured out what was going on between him and Robin. Friends? More than friends? Less than friends?

  They reached the cottage and Robin sank onto a brightly painted chair on the front porch. “It’s humid today, isn’t it?” She waved her hand in front of her face.

  Sara sat beside her. “It is.”

  “Let me get us some ice water.” Robin jumped up and soon came back with two big glasses. “At least the fridge still works. And there is a coffee pot. I need my coffee.”