Chapter 25

MARLEY

Abby’s idea to let Ashton use Doris’s beach house turned out to be brilliant. Both Marley and Ashton appreciated the extra space, and Ashton even repaired Doris’s dripping bathroom faucet as well as a loose floorboard. Best of all, by Thanksgiving morning, Marley felt pretty certain that her boy had turned a corner. He showed up at her door with beach-blown hair and his old smile.

“Whatever happened with Caroline’s brother?” He asked her as they shared coffee and the newspaper in Marley’s tiny sun-filled kitchen.

“Caroline told me that they’re letting him out of jail today.”

“Do you think that’s safe?”

Marley shrugged. “I don’t know. Caroline doesn’t seem too concerned. Apparently Janie helped him to work a deal. He agreed to surrender his truck, since he already had a suspended license in Arizona, and he promised to return to Phoenix and remain there, as well as to quit pestering Caroline for money. That last bit will probably be hardest for him. But he did all that in exchange for his freedom.”

“He was okay with that?”

“I guess so.” Marley flipped to the entertainment page.

“And Caroline was good with it too?”

“I’m sure she was relieved. It tore her apart to hear he was locked up.”

“Even though he nearly kidnapped her at knifepoint?”

“Like my mom used to say, blood is thicker than water.”

“Yeah, it’s rough when families fall apart like that.”

Marley put down her paper to study his face. “You mean like your family? Like Dad and me and you?”

His mouth twisted to one side. “And like Leo and me too. It’s just really sad, you know, what we all do to each other when we’re supposed to be family.”

She considered this. “I know.”

“I mean, you’d think the human race would improve, wouldn’t you? That we’d all get better at resolving our differences, that we’d eventually learn to just get along? Sometimes it seems like everyone is degenerating, like someday there will be no such thing as family.”

She forced a weak smile. “But we’re family, Ashton, you and me. Right?”

His face brightened. “Sure, Mom. You and I will always be family.”

“Maybe family is what you make of it. Like Caroline, Abby, and Janie—I think of them as my family too.”

“You’re right. I have friends like that.” He let out an exasperated sigh. “But now I’ll have to sort it out, you know, because some were friends with Leo, too. That’ll be tough.” He set his coffee mug down with a crooked grin. “Fortunately I think a lot of our friends liked me better than Leo.”

“I like you better than Leo too.” Marley patted his hand. “Today I’d like you to meet some of my other friends.”

“That’s right.” He nodded. “I get to meet Jack today.”

“And Hunter and Jasmine, too.”

“They’re all coming to Abby’s Thanksgiving bash?”

She nodded. “Which reminds me, we need to start working on that sweet-potato dish. As I recall, you said you’d help.”

“Only if you promise—no marshmallows.”

She made a pouty face. “How about just half of—”

“Just say no to marshmallows, Mom. Seriously they are so tacky.”

She laughed. “Okay. Fine. But I still get to use brown sugar and nuts, right?”

“You know,” Ashton told her as they peeled and pared sweet potatoes together, “it’s been pretty cool getting to visit you like this. I mean, even though the circumstances were a little rough, I’m glad you forced me to come here.”

“I’ve loved having you here, Ashton.”

“I can see why you like living on the beach. I’m going to miss it.”

“Meaning?” She gave him a sideways glance.

“Meaning I have to go back, Mom. The business is suffering, orders are backed up, and with Christmas coming … well, life goes on, right?”

She nodded. “Right.”

“If it’s okay with you, I’d like to come back for Christmas.”

“It’s more than okay, Ashton. I would love it!”

* * *

Marley and Ashton arrived at the B and B early so they could help Abby get things set up. “I’ve never had more than a dozen people for a sit-down dinner before,” Abby admitted as they squeezed two more chairs into the long line of tables that extended from the dining room into the living room. “Eighteen at one table is a record for me.”

“I was surprised Victor and his family decided to come,” Marley said quietly.

“To be honest, I was too. But I think Janie was pleased to hear the news.”

“So what’s up between Janie and Victor and the ex?” Marley glanced around to be sure that Donna wasn’t lurking around a corner.

“I’m not sure.” Abby was arranging the place settings now, trying to make everything fit. Marley had encouraged her to use disposable plates and things, but Abby would not hear of it. She wanted to try out the new dishes and glassware that had just arrived for the inn. A glutton for work, she’d insisted on cloth napkins, too. Marley had to admit the final effect was lovely.

“Where’s Caroline?” Marley asked as they returned to the kitchen, where Ashton was starting to mash the potatoes.

“Didn’t I tell you? She and Janie picked up Michael at the jail this morning.”

“Is he coming here too?” Marley suddenly imagined a food fight breaking out at Abby’s elegantly set table, police coming, and Hunter terrified.

“No. I told them it was okay to bring Michael, but Janie had already arranged for him to fly back to Phoenix today. They were driving him over to Eugene to catch a flight, which should be leaving”—she looked at the kitchen clock—”shortly.”

Marley started working on the veggie tray. “Is Donna around?” she asked quietly, still worried that the woman might pop in.

“No, her boys picked her up this morning. They were going to do a beach walk and blow out the carbon before they stuff themselves. Not a bad idea, really.”

Marley felt relieved that Donna was gone. “I’m just so curious about what’s going on with them. Janie was tight-lipped when we had coffee on Tuesday, which only makes me think that she and Victor are not history yet.”

“You wouldn’t know that hearing Donna talk.” Abby sighed and pushed a strand of hair away from her forehead as she closed the oven door.

“Hey, I just realized you did something different with your hair.” Marley looked more closely at Abby. “It’s a little shorter and lighter, too. I like it.”

“Thanks.” Abby smiled.

“Reminds me of when you were younger.”

“Paul didn’t even notice.”

“Oh, you know how men can be.”

“I know how Paul can be.” Abby frowned.

“You’re still doing your marriage counseling, aren’t you?”

“We missed our last session. And we’ll miss this week, too.”

“Oh.”

“Hey there!” called Caroline as she entered the kitchen. “It smells absolutely yummy in here!” She went over and gave Ashton a squeeze. “Hey, good-looking, what you got cooking?”

Ashton chuckled. He and Caroline had seemed to hit it off right from the start. Marley couldn’t even put into words how great this made her feel. Abby and Janie liked Ashton as well, but Ashton seemed to brighten up when Caroline was around.

“Spuds,” he told her. “But I’m spiking them with some pretty heavy cream and butter.”

“Don’t tell Abby,” Caroline said in a hushed tone.

“Abby knows,” Abby said. “I figured one serving wouldn’t kill Paul.”

“Did you notice Abby’s hair?” Caroline asked Marley. “Doesn’t it take about ten years off of her?”

Marley nodded. “It’s great.”

“How was your brother this morning?” Abby asked. “Everything go okay?”

Caroline’s expression grew more serious. “Yeah, it went pretty well.”

Janie came into the kitchen. “That’s an understatement,” she said. “It went incredibly well.” She put her arm around Caroline, giving her sideways hug. “You guys would’ve been so proud of our girl here.”

“Tell us!” Marley urged. “What happened?”

“Do you mind?” Janie asked Caroline.

“No, this is family.”

Janie told them that Caroline and Michael had this amazing heart-to-heart conversation as Janie drove them to Eugene. “Caroline confessed to Michael how rough her childhood was. It seems that Michael thought he was the only one who had it bad, but Caroline opened up and told some pretty heart-wrenching stories. Well, let’s just say there wasn’t a dry eye in the car.”

“Then Michael opened up a little,” Caroline injected. “I mean, I knew he’d had some tough times with Dad, but I didn’t know everything. Good grief, it’s not even that surprising that he’s been such a mess.”

“I think it’s amazing that you’re not a mess,” Janie told Caroline.

“Well, you weren’t around me in the seventies and eighties. Trust me, it wasn’t pretty.”

“Anyway,” Janie continued, “we talked to Michael about getting some counseling in Phoenix, maybe even some alcoholism treatment. He wasn’t totally opposed to the idea.”

“I’ll cover the cost out of my mom’s insurance money,” Caroline explained. “There’s nothing I’d rather spend that money on. It would make Mom happy too.”

“Michael even apologized to Caroline at the airport,” Janie said. “It was truly amazing!”

Caroline nodded with glistening eyes. “I have an awful lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.”

“That reminds me,” Abby said. “Mitch called here about an hour ago. I guess he tried your cell but couldn’t get through.”

“Is he here yet?”

“Yes. He decided he’d walk here from his hotel. I offered to call Paul to pick him up, but he said he wanted to walk.”

“It’s a beautiful day for it.” Janie washed her hands at the sink. “Now tell me, Abby, what can we do to help?”

Marley felt happy as she and the other three Lindas, along with Ashton, worked together in the kitchen. Really, she couldn’t ever remember preparing for a Thanksgiving dinner with so much joy in her heart.

“I think everything’s as ready as it can be,” Abby said as she looked around the kitchen.

“You know the old saying.” Marley grinned. “Many hands make light work.”

“I have a surprise,” Caroline said as she opened the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of chilled champagne and a carton of orange juice. “Mimosas!”

“Perfect!” Janie exclaimed.

“I’ll get the glasses,” Abby offered.

As the five of them clinked glasses, Marley winked at her son. “Here’s to friends who are like family, and to family who are like friends,” she proclaimed.

“Cheers!” they all said.