A Sea for Summer

by Shelley Kassian

  Peter’s expression brightened into a slight smile. “Things do seem constrictive. I bet you’re glad I included the t-shirt.”

  Claire’s right boob popped out of the bikini top. She tried not to cry out in mortification, as the look on Peter’s face, the laughter he expressed simply from viewing her in old clothing that brought him joy, helped her to relax. She broke out in crazy laughter and passed him the bag, forcing her breast back inside the bikini top.

  “Our visit to our favorite beach might be shorter than you planned,” she said, grateful for the t-shirt.

  Peter reached for her hand and she entwined her fingers within his. “Let me tell you something, I know there’s an ocean view, blue water from here to the horizon, but I’ll have a difficult time paying attention to anything other than you.”

  “Peter Douglas, you’re full of surprises, and that’s only one of the reasons why I love you.”

  They strolled alongside a boardwalk and soon passed a few wooden stairs to the beach. Peter glanced at her frequently while walking on the shoreline. A wave of water sloshed across their feet and Claire tried to relinquish the awkward feeling to enjoy their time together.

  She glanced at Peter’s trunks. “I don’t recall you wearing those bad boys the first time we met.”

  Peter chuckled, squeezing her fingers. “I gave those board shorts away a long time ago.”

  Claire shook her head, laughing. “Of course you did, but you let me wear this old thing?”

  “From my point of view, you look better than the ocean.”

  Claire paused, realizing her worst fear had come to pass. She reached for her bikini top underneath the white t-shirt.

  “What’s wrong?” Peter asked.

  “My fastener broke. What do I do, Peter?”

  “Live your life, be free, and get comfortable.”

  Claire removed the bikini top and passed it into his hand, feeling uncomfortable and free at the same time. She didn’t know what made her happier, freedom from the restriction, or having the free will to act however she pleased.

  Peter winked at her. “I see what you’re thinking, but the suit’s going back in my drawer.”

  “If it means that much to you, who am I to steal the memories, but I think it’s time for new ones. Maybe I can convince the girls to go shopping with me before they leave. I suppose you’d support a yellow suit?”

  “Anything that puts a smile on your face, Claire.” His expression softened. Not from an ocean breeze or even the sun. Love brightened his eyes.

  Claire kept calm and carried on. She held his hand as they walked along the beach. Laughter rang in the air. Sweet memories affected them from the past. And an itsy bitsy, teeny weeny, yellow bathing suit clutched inside Peter’s hand made her feel freer than she had ever felt before.

  Some memories were better than others, and she’d always be grateful for meeting this man.

  Peter Douglas, a huge smile painted on his face, loved her, despite saggy breasts beneath a white t-shirt and wrinkles at the corner of her eyes.

  “I’ll race you to the dock,” she said, giggling.

  Claire kicked off her sandals and Peter dropped the bag he’d been carrying. When they reached the end of the dock, perched on its end, Peter asked her, “Are you sure?”

  “I’ve never been surer of anything. Jump!”

  And they did, together.

  The water chilled her, enveloped her, causing shivers. And then Peter swam toward her. They moved toward a shallower spot and then stood, embracing each other. Her hair wet, water dripping down her face and into her eyes.

  Seeming emotional, Peter clutched her head. The look in his eyes almost undid her. “You’re beautiful…”

  “Kiss me, Peter.”

  Everything stopped: sounds of conversation, other people splashing in the water. The world probably stopped spinning when he kissed her. “My god, I love you,” he said, lifting her in the water. She wrapped her legs around his waist, clinging to him. “I want to love you, each and every day for the rest of my life. I don’t want distance to ever come between us again.”

  Claire clutched his face, water escaping her eyes, more tears than ocean. “I love you, too. My heart couldn’t go on without you beside me.”

  They left the water and trudged toward shore, soon wrapping themselves in towels. Neither Claire nor Peter wanted to leave the beach. It was clear to them, this ocean playground helped them find their happy place.

  Chapter Twenty

  The team met early the next morning at the Railway Café to discuss the bakery and its future. New people encouraged new ideas, and Nora seemed excited to share her ideas. Claire tried to listen to the conversation but found it difficult engaging, never mind hearing the brief snippets of dialogue. The previous day’s events had her staring beyond the café’s booth, looking through the window at the clouds.

  Her mother, sitting across from her, snapped her fingers. “Claire, you’re being rude. Nora is speaking.”

  Claire looked at Nora. “I’m sorry. I’ve had changes in my personal life recently. I know that doesn’t excuse my inattention. I’ll will be more present in this conversation.”

  Nora’s eyebrows rose, expressing her curiosity. “My mama always said if my thoughts were so important that they took my attention away from an important conversation, then I had to share what was on my mind so I wouldn’t lose focus again. It’s probably the encouragement I needed to inspire ambition. If you don’t mind, what’s going on?”

  Claire hadn’t anticipated an awkward moment, but her awareness drifted to changes in her life. Her relationship with Peter had begun again and she had much to consider, but this didn’t excuse her for being rude to Nora. “If I get started, I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop.”

  Burt slid out from the booth. “This is a good time to take a break. I’ll be right back, ladies.”

  “Out with it,” Nora said, grinning. “We’re friends; I don’t gossip. You can trust me when I say the thoughts burning a hole in your mind will not be repeated. Think of it as an icebreaker or a friendship maker.”

  “You’ll think this is silly, but I was thinking about Peter,” Claire said wistfully. “I’m in love.”

  “It’s not what I thought you’d say, but you smiled so sweetly while saying your husband’s name. How many years have you been married?”

  “Our anniversary is coming on July 1st. We’ve been married for nearly twenty-six years.”

  “Congratulations. Many couples don’t last five years let alone twenty-five.”

  “Well,” Claire said, glancing at her mom, “we’ve had a few problems in our relationship recently, but thanks to the support of family and friends, our marriage has managed to survive. It’s better than ever.”

  “I’m happy for you. Now with your joy out in the open, maybe we can talk about the future of Old Thyme Bakery?”

  “I promise to pay better attention to your ideas.”

  Burt returned to his seat. “Ready to talk business, ladies?”

  “Yes,” the team replied enthusiastically.

  Nora opened a journal and reached for a pen. “I’ve asked you here because I’m excited to work with you. What I’m about to say might be surprising. I have a business proposition, so please hear me out.”

  “You have the floor,” Burt replied, “what do you have in mind?”

  Nora took her time to address each of them, staring them down, as if what she had to share was important. That look garnered Claire’s curiosity.

  “In a society where name brands take market share of customers, there’s not enough support for unique businesses, family-owned businesses, such as your bakery.”

  “I agree with you,” Burt commented. “I mean, name brands have their place, but in a small town like Ocean Park, ‘supporting local’ businesses fuels the town economy. Is that what you meant to say, Nora?”

  “To be honest, I want to invest in the bakery. I’d like to own twenty-five to fifty percent of
the business.”

  Complete silence. An awkward pause. Claire searched her parents’ expressions, wondering what this pitch meant to them. When they’d agreed to a staff meeting, they had expected to engage in conversation with a new employee. Taking on a business partner came as a surprise.

  “We’re flattered that you find value in the bakery,” Claire said, glancing at her parents. “But I’m surprised. I had expected to talk about daily happenings, such as pastry assortments, pies, bread, that sort of thing.”

  “Claire, I’m fired up with ideas. Partly due to my mother for teaching me to never hold back on my ideas. If you’d hear me out, we could expand the bakery, its product line, and if you’re open to the idea, maybe talk about changing the name to the Old Thyme Café?”

  “Change the name?” Burt shook his head, fingering his mug of coffee. “I don’t know. I’m fond of the name. But if we were open to selling you a share in the company, our current space would be too small for an eatery.”

  “We could leave the names as is, break down the wall, and take over the space next door. The Old Thyme Bakery and the Old Thyme Café?”

  “I don’t know,” Burt said, taking a sip of coffee, “sounds like a lot of work.”

  “My husband would help. He’s handy with a hammer and he’s a chef by trade. We’ve been searching for a business to invest in and want to support a known place.”

  Claire appealed to her parents. “What do you think, mom and dad? Do you want to sell a portion of your business? As before we can consider growing the company, we’d have to consider if Nora’s idea has merit.”

  “The question is yours to answer as this business is your inheritance,” Mary said, glancing at Burt. “Claire, how do you feel about a partner?”

  She opened her mouth to speak but then didn’t know what to say. This was sudden. How did she feel? “I’m honestly not sure.”

  Burt added his own opinion. “We should give Nora’s offer serious consideration. If we hold on too tight to the bakery, we’ll break it. We’ll lose it. The bakery has been difficult to manage on our own. Claire, honestly, the bakery almost destroyed your marriage.”

  Her father’s admission came as a surprise to Nora. Claire had to set the record straight. “It’s not the business’s fault. Time management is the issue.”

  Burt drummed his fingers on the table. “Claire, what happens when Mary and I can’t work anymore, can’t help anymore, what then? The responsibility becomes yours again.” Her father addressed Nora. “Let’s say we’re agreeable to taking you on as a partner. We know you’re a dedicated professional who will manage the bakery in an appropriate way. But are there other ideas you could share with us?”

  “Well, initially I thought one large space where two businesses could function as one entity, but maybe that’s the wrong concept. Maybe there should be two businesses operating independently, but together, too. A bakery and a café with a pass-through doorway in between. You’d carry the sundry and pastry items that you’re known for, like pies, but we’d increase the assortment with lunch options and maybe entrées at dinner.”

  “I wish our breakfast would arrive,” Burt said. “I’m suddenly hungry.”

  “We’d take care of breakfast in the café, too.”

  “I’m not saying I’m open to the idea, but if we’re to give serious thought to your offer, how could we be different?” Claire asked.

  “You could start by using varying ingredients, maybe provide vegan options, gluten-free, and maybe low-carb foods suitable for ketogenic diets.”

  Claire tapped her finger against her mug, giving serious consideration to Nora’s concept. It excited her to mull over a bakery/café. Pictures took shape in her mind. A soup kitchen paired with scones. Panini sandwiches using the bakery’s fresh bread.

  “You’ve thought this through. I love the idea of having a variety of items. A café sounds exciting and could bring new life to the bakery,” Claire said.

  “I like the concept as well.” Mary nodded. “Nora, what do you think about one name: The Old Thyme Bakery and Café? Would that be agreeable to you?”

  “We began this conversation talking about the importance of local establishments,” Nora said, looking at them seriously. “So yes, adding on café to an already perfect name is doable.”

  Claire giggled. “It’s so simple. Recognizable, but also new.”

  “We need to evaluate the company’s worth,” Burt said, glancing at Mary and then at Claire. “We’ll also need to find out how much we’ll need to invest to bring a café into the business.” Even though her father seemed excited, he paused. Did he have reservations? “Ladies, are you in favor of pursuing this?”

  Claire searched her parents’ expressions then looked at Nora. “Yes, I am. Nora, your business proposal sounds like a solid idea. I’m excited about pursuing it.”

  “I’m glad to hear it,” Nora said. “Just one more question. The bakery has always been a family-owned business. Does it bother you that you’re considering growing the business with two partners who aren’t family?”

  “Why should it?” Claire asked.

  “If it’s a concern of yours, we could always adopt you.” Burt said with a laugh.

  Nora’s expression took on one of relief. “Thank you. I was nervous. I didn’t expect such a positive response.”

  “We have a lot to work out, but your timing couldn’t be more perfect. Let’s have a toast.” Claire lifted her coffee, and her parents and Nora did the same. “To the future.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  When Nora presented her business proposal, it had seemed like a good idea, but now Claire wasn’t certain. By the look on Peter’s face, he didn’t like the idea.

  “What did you say?” he asked.

  Claire slumped onto the sofa in their family room, wondering if a mistake had been made. “Nora offered to purchase a portion of the bakery, a twenty-five to fifty percent share in the business. I hesitated at first but having Nora as a business partner could lessen my responsibilities.”

  “Maybe in the kitchen. Help me with the math. How do you lessen responsibilities when you’re adding a café to an already heavy workload?”

  Claire sighed. Peter made a valid comment. Acknowledging this caused doubt to spring to the surface, increasing her anxiety. Had she made a mistake in being excited about the prospect of a partner? Maybe she should have thought it over more.

  “You’re right. You have legitimate concerns.”

  “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to diminish your excitement. I can see how much you love this idea.”

  “It’s true. I am excited, but I understand why you might not agree with me,” Claire said, realizing Peter recognized the potential issues, which wasn’t surprising given he worked as an accountant. “You’ve always been smarter with numbers than me.”

  “I didn’t mean to suggest that you lacked intelligence. You’re a brilliant woman, Claire. Let’s talk about the proposal reasonably as I honestly feel blindsided.”

  Claire took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. “I know this comes as a surprise, but it’s new to me as well. I had no idea the bakery had caught Nora’s interest.”

  Peter sat on the couch. “I’m all in favor of the assistance, even a partner that isn’t family. Though I’m concerned it could increase your workload.”

  “We’re talking in circles. Nothing has been decided. But keep in mind that Nora’s husband would be entering the business as well.”

  “That’s great, I’m in favor of that part. I’m mostly concerned about us. The timing is part of the problem. We’re working on our marriage.”

  “All right, so here we are, facing our first test. This won’t be the first or last time that situations arise. Let’s think of this point, too. Nora’s husband is a chef, but now that I think about it…”

  “…you’re starting to see that increased square footage equals more work. Look, if the idea is to freshen the family brand and increase customers, it’s
probably a great idea. I’m most worried about how it will affect us.”

  Claire made to rise, but Peter grasped her hand. “We can’t avoid this conversation. Sit beside me, Claire. Let’s talk this through.” He squeezed her hand. “It’s okay. I’m not upset with you.”

  Claire heaved an exasperated breath. “We’ve only begun discussions, but I would assume that my role would continue to focus on the bakery side of things, and if that’s the case, my workload wouldn’t change much.”

  “This is the early stages, so I’m sure there’s a lot to reason through; I just don’t want my wife working more hours.”

  “We’re putting our lives back together. We’re spending more time together,” Claire said. She looked at Peter, exasperated, seeing the unease in his expression. Worry consumed her, too. “Peter, I supported Mom and Dad in this. They were excited about the opportunity; however, I see your concern and you’re right to ask questions. I can’t permit space to come between us again. What do I do?”

  He massaged her knee, his expression softening into a half-smile. “Why are your parents excited?” His tone gave her a more optimistic impression. His look compelled her to continue.

  Claire slid her hand through her hair, trying to explain. “While the bakery is a family-owned business, our kids have shown no interest in coming on board, so if someone else purchases a share, the family legacy continues.”

  “Maybe. There’s no guarantees. Taking on a partner will add risk.”

  Claire studied his face, searching his expression, not knowing what to do. “Should I talk to Mom and Dad? Tell them we should rethink this idea?”

  “No. I want to know about my wife’s expectations. Tell me what you want. Do you want to expand the bakery?”

  “Maybe, but not if you don’t support the concept. Peter, right now, I’m most afraid that we’ll slide backwards, or fail. I couldn’t bear it if we fell apart again.”

  “It’s not happening. Not today. Not ever.” He embraced her cheek and she leaned into his warmth. “Somehow, it has to get easier.”