Andie stood on the back porch, watching Ralph Marchand hook the sewer and water lines to the bathroom. The town had come and hooked them up at the street, and now Ralph was here to hook everything up to the building and test the lines.
There was an air of excitement about the group gathered around the bathhouse as they watched. Several people stood around chatting. Jane looked happy and the most relaxed Andie had seen her. Claire was handing out scones from her bakery. Maxi laughed as she chatted with Sally. Even Cooper wagged his tail faster than usual.
The door opened, and Chandler came out.
He took a deep breath of air and let it out slowly. “There’s nothing like the sea air.”
“That’s for sure,” Andie said.
“Looks like you’ve got a project going on over there.”
“Yes, we’re putting in a bathroom so we can hold events and weddings here.”
“It’s looking good. Well, I’m off back to the city today.” Chandler glanced at the ocean. “I kind of hate to leave, but duty calls. Are you staying on?”
Good question. “I’m not sure. My world is about antiques, and this town isn’t like the big city. There’s not a lot of old antiques.”
Chandler frowned. “Oh, I wouldn’t necessarily say that. These old towns are rife with treasures. Yankee families never throw anything out. You never know what you could find in these attics.” Chandler turned around, surveying the area. “And I hear there’s a very old house on the cliff that has some interesting history.”
“Sadie Thompson’s house. She’s in the assisted living facility with my mom.” Andie had heard several rumors about the house that ranged from it being the headquarters of Blackbeard the pirate to it being a stop on the Underground Railroad. She didn’t believe any of them, but it was the oldest house in town and had been in the same family for generations.
A car horn tooted in the driveway. Chandler reached in his pocket and pulled out a card. “I have to run, but I was wondering if you would give this to Maxi. I’m going to be opening an art gallery, and I’d be interested in talking to her if she ever wanted to do a showing.”
Andie took the card. It was made of thick paper with embossed lettering. “I think she might like that. I’ll make sure she gets it.”
Laughter from over at the bathhouse drew her attention. Claire, Jane, and Maxi were clustered around the little shutters with the starfish cutouts. Someone must’ve told a joke because they were practically doubled over with laughter. It made Andie smile. It was good to see Jane happy, without the constant worry lining her face. She was lucky to have friends like Maxi and Claire to help her.
Andie didn’t have any friends she could depend on like that. She’d been too focused on her career, and everyone in her circle was too busy trying to make a name for themselves to have much time to hang out. But things in Lobster Bay were more relaxed, and there was more time for friends.
Maybe it was time for her to make a change. She started toward Jane, Claire, and Maxi with Chandler’s card.
Maxi stared down at the card in her hand. It was fancy, made with thick ivory paper and black embossed letters. A show in an art gallery? She didn’t think so—she was just a hobbyist.
She glanced over toward Tides, but Chandler was gone. “Thanks. But I don’t think I’m ready for that.” But even as she said the words, a tiny little flutter of excitement sprouted inside her rib cage.
Suddenly there was a seed of hope for her future. Something that didn’t depend on James. Something that was just about her.
She longed to confide in Jane and Claire about her suspicions. Normally they told each other everything, but this was such a sensitive subject. James’s reputation was at stake, and she couldn’t say it out loud until she was one-hundred-percent sure. All she had right now was a card with a woman’s number and a sneaking suspicion.
Then there were the kids to think about. They were grown adults, but she still didn’t want to talk badly about their father to them. This was a delicate matter and needed to be handled properly. Though she trusted Jane and Claire implicitly, she wasn’t ready to say the words out loud. Not yet.
And besides, Jane was so happy now with things going well at Tides, and things were working out nicely for Claire with Rob. She didn’t want to bring them down. There would be plenty of time for that later.
“Everything looks so great. I really appreciate all the help you guys have given me,” Jane said.
“It was my pleasure,” Maxi said.
Claire shrugged. “I didn’t really do anything.”
Jane laughed. “You don’t have to actually do anything. Just being there for me to vent with is enough. I couldn’t have done it without either of you.”
Jane turned to Andie. “And you were the biggest help of all. Honestly, this couldn’t have come together without you, either.”
Andie’s face flushed. She was pleased by the compliment. Maxi noticed a warm look pass between the sisters. Their relationship was thawing.
Andie slipped her arm around Maxi’s shoulders. “Hey, I couldn’t have done half as good a job without this lady right here. Teamwork!”
“It was a lot of fun, and teamwork is always good, right, Jane?” Maxi added.
But Jane was no longer paying attention. Her gaze was focused halfway down the beach where Mike Henderson was walking toward the inn. Cooper’s tail wagged even faster. Cooper looked up at Jane. She nodded, and he trotted off to meet Mike.
“Will you guys excuse me for a minute? I have something I need to tend to.” Jane started after Cooper.
Cooper bounded up to Mike, casting one glance back at Jane as if for permission before demanding Mike’s attention. Well, that settled it. There was no way she could let Cooper go to a kennel or be adopted by someone else. Cooper needed her as much as she needed him.
“Did they show up?” Mike asked.
Jane looked back at Tides. “Yes. Everything is all set. Thanks for helping out with that.” Jane was happy, hopeful, for the first time in a while. There was just one little problem—Mike was leaving, and that meant she was going to have to do something about Cooper.
“I was happy to help,” Mike said. “I’m glad things are working out for you.”
“There is something I want to talk to you about,” Jane said.
Mike’s expression turned curious and perhaps a little hopeful. “Oh?”
Cooper returned to her side, and Jane patted his head. “Yes. I’d like to adopt Cooper.”
Mike looked a little disappointed. “Oh.”
“I know you’ll be leaving soon, and you said you don’t have room for him in Seattle. He’s settled in at Tides, and I could take him to visit your grandfather.” It all came out in a rush. Jane was worried that Mike would say no.
“I think that sounds like a great idea, except you’re wrong about one thing. I’m not leaving soon.”
“You’re not?”
“No. Gramps has really improved since I’ve been here, and I don’t want to take that away from him. I can work from anywhere, and besides, this town is growing on me.” Mike looked at her out of the corner of his eye. “And some of the people too.”
Jane’s heart skipped a beat. She suddenly felt very self-conscious.
“There’s just one thing, though,” Mike continued.
“What’s that?”
“Since you have Cooper with you and we both go to Tall Pines, maybe we could go together sometimes.” Mike dug at the sand with the toe of his shoe as if he was nervous about her answer.
“Of course we can. That would be great. And you’re still welcome for breakfast any time.”
Jane looked back at Tides. From her vantage point on the beach, the new bathroom structure blended in perfectly, as if it was meant to be there. Sally and Shane were putting the finishing touches on the archway while Andie was instructing them where to situate it, probably for the best position to train the roses to climb the lattice on the sides.
The inn was going to be full for the wedding, and Jane had everything under control. And her ads and new website must be working because she’d been getting reservations for several weeks out.
She had a new dog, her sister wasn’t leaving right away, and now Mike wasn’t either. What more could a girl want?