25
With a glance at his sleeping wife, Andrew quietly closed the door to Paige’s childhood bedroom and padded down the hall in his stocking feet toward the kitchen, tongue sticking to the roof of his mouth. There must have been a ton of salt in the sausage they’d had for breakfast. He needed a tall, cold drink. ASAP.
He checked his watch and yawned. Four hours of sleep in a real bed had helped, but it wouldn’t hurt to clock a couple more before he and Paige went in search of a very late lunch en route back to the hospital.
At the end of the hall, he hung a left into the kitchen. Halted.
Paige’s father was sitting at the oak table, shoulders hunched, his hair in disarray as if he’d been running his fingers through it, a soda can sitting in front of him.
Before Andrew could beat a hasty retreat, Warren caught sight of him and straightened up.
“Sorry to interrupt.” Andrew took a step back. “I was going to get a glass of water, but I can come back later.”
“Help yourself now.” Warren waved toward the refrigerator. “There’s soda and iced tea too, if you prefer either of those.”
“That’s okay. I don’t want to disturb you.” He turned to go.
At Warren’s weary directive, Andrew angled back.
The older man kneaded his forehead, pushed himself to his feet, and grasped the back of the chair next to him. “Ann told me I should bury the hatchet and make things right with you.”
A few beats of silence ticked by, and Andrew shifted his weight from one foot to the other. What did Paige’s father expect him to say?
Apparently nothing, because after a few more seconds he spoke again.
“I saw how hard it was on Ann in our early years, while I was going to night school to get my degree and holding down a day job that paid squat. We barely eked by, despite the long hours she worked as a waitress to supplement our income. We lived paycheck to paycheck, always worried whether we’d have the funds for the next rent payment. I never wanted that kind of life for Paige.”
“I can understand that.”
“Did she ever tell you I started a college fund for her the day Ann discovered she was pregnant?”
“No.” But in light of Warren’s history, an attempt to secure his child’s future fit. Paige had probably kept it to herself rather than add to his guilt about taking her away from the cushy life her parents had provided.
“It grew to a tidy sum. Even during our toughest times, I managed to put a few dollars in it from every paycheck. I wanted her to have a first-class education that would position her for a good-paying job that offered financial security and a comfortable life. She was on track for that until she met you.”
If Warren was trying to pile on guilt, he was doing an excellent job of it.
“I never wanted to come between her and an education, or cause a rift between all of you. But I love her, and I won’t apologize for that.”
“Love doesn’t put food on the table.”
“No, but it feeds the soul. And we’ve never gone hungry.” Close, but not quite, over the past few weeks.
Warren’s gaze didn’t waver from his. “I’m going to be honest with you. When I heard what happened to your company, I was almost glad. I thought Paige might realize her mistake and come home.”
“I thought she might too—and I wouldn’t have stopped her if that had been her choice.”
Warren’s eyes narrowed. “Why not?”
“Because I’ve always wanted what was best for her.”
“So have I.” He exhaled. “I guess that’s one thing we can agree on.”
“I think we should also be able to agree that she’s old enough to decide what’s best for herself. Right or wrong, she chose me—but she never stopped missing you both. Even though she tried to hide it from me, I know she cried a lot the first six months we were married. That ate at my gut. Yet aside from that, we were happy and doing well.”
“Until you weren’t.”
He squared his shoulders. “I take full blame for what happened. I trusted someone too much. It was a hard lesson, but it’s one I’ll never forget. And we’re on the upswing now.”
Warren picked up his soda. Wiped the condensation off the can with a napkin. “Ann and I talked about your situation. If you need a loan until you can get back on your feet, we can provide one.”
Andrew blinked.
That was a huge concession.
“I appreciate that, sir, but I think we’ll be fine.”
“Make it Warren. And the offer will remain on the table if you change your mind. Ann also asked me to let you know you’re both welcome to visit anytime, and that we hope you’ll stay in touch while she recovers—and going forward.”
Andrew’s throat tightened. “I appreciate that too, and I know Paige will feel the same way. I’ll tell her after she wakes up.”
The older man drained his can of soda, crossed to the sink, and twisted on the faucet. “I plan to go back to the hospital about five. I’ll order food for us at four. Is pasta satisfactory?”
“You don’t have to buy us dinner.”
“Yes, I do. Ann has never let any visitor to this house go hungry. I can’t offer you homemade fare like she would, but there’s an excellent restaurant nearby that delivers.” He finished rinsing his can and set it in the sink. “I’m going to lie down for another hour. Help yourself to whatever you want to drink.”
As Paige’s father dried his hands and left the room, Andrew crossed to the fridge. A few moments later, a door clicked shut down the hall.
What an unexpected but welcome turn of events.
He selected a soda, pulled the tab to release the pressure, and took a long swallow, letting the cold liquid soothe his parched throat.
And as he walked back down the hall, his parched soul was also refreshed.
All these years, he’d lamented over the split between Paige and her parents. Now they seemed poised on the brink of a reconciliation.
Adding one more heartening development to the new chapter in their lives that had begun in the little town of Hope Harbor.
“Are you certain you want to go to Frank’s? An award like this deserves a fancy celebration.” Vienna lifted the handsome acrylic obelisk Mom had brought back from Seattle and examined the engraving again. “I could take you to an upscale place in Coos Bay.”
Her mother waved that suggestion aside. “Frank’s is fine. I already spent seven hours in the car today. A small price to pay for a fabulous evening last night, but I’d rather not drive back up to Coos Bay.”
“Okay.” Vienna handed the award back, and her mother carefully set it on the coffee table. “Where are you going to put that?”
“I thought I’d display it near the checkout counter at the shop for a while. Unless you think that would be too boastful?”
“Not at all. You should let your customers know they’re patronizing an award-winning bookstore. By the way, I was able to download your acceptance speech.” She pulled a flash drive from her purse and held it out. “It was worth preserving. Your comments were memorable.”
“Thank you for saying that. It’s hard to go wrong when you speak from the heart. I’ll put this in my fireproof box in the closet. If I have a bad day at the shop, I’ll pull it out to pep up my spirits.”
“Have you ever had a bad day at the shop?”
“No, I can’t say that I have. Every day has been a joy. But if I do have a clunker, this will come in handy.” She wiggled the flash drive, then set it beside the award. “Now let’s eat. I’m starving!”
During the ride to Frank’s, Vienna peppered her with questions about the event, and Mom was more than happy to regale her with story after story. If she hadn’t met every single person in attendance, she’d taken a Herculean stab at it.
Only after they were seated at the restaurant and had placed their order did Mom turn the tables and query her about the latest at the inn.
Vienna filled her in, ending with the food glitch she and Matt had discussed this morning.
“Matt and I both agree that Kay doesn’t seem to have the culinary skill to create the sort of gourmet fare I had in mind, nor the interest in learning how to make it. Plus, she won’t be here for the opening. So we have to come up with an alternate idea until we can find someone willing to cook on-site on a regular basis. Do you happen to know anyone who’s talented in the kitchen and also has a bit of flair?”
“That’s a tall order.” Mom put her napkin on her lap as their pizza was delivered to their table. “I’m running names through my mental Rolodex, but the only cooks I can think of are at the Myrtle. Tasty as their food is, I wouldn’t call it gourmet.”
Vienna lifted a loaded slice of pizza, picking off an olive that had somehow strayed onto their toppings. “With all the people who come into your shop, I hoped you’d run into someone we could tap for temporary duty.”
“I wish I had. I can put a few feelers out, though. I could also put a notice on my bulletin board. You never know who could come out of the woodwork. Matt connected with Andrew from an ad there.”
“It can’t hurt.”
But the likelihood of finding a cook of the caliber they needed using that route was minuscule.
Mom studied her. “This is a major problem, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Food matters, especially to the bloggers. What they write could make or break the inn.”
“Do you want me to pinch hit? I can whip up a mean tofu frittata, and my soymilk waffles are very tasty. I’m not volunteering for regular duty, but I’ll be happy to help if I can.”
Kind as Mom’s offer was, her cooking skills weren’t at the level the inn needed, either. Nor would the menu items she’d proposed be to everyone’s taste.
“I appreciate that, but you’re already leading the bloggers on a tide pool excursion and you’re busy at the shop. I’ll work something out.”
“Thank goodness Matt is staying through their visit. You won’t have to man the ship—or the inn—alone.”
“He may be staying longer than that.”
“What do you mean?”
Whoops.
Maybe she shouldn’t have let that slip.
On the other hand . . . Matt hadn’t asked her to keep their conversation to herself, and it would be helpful to talk with someone about her reaction to his news as well as a potential fork in her own road.
Vienna scanned the restaurant from their secluded corner table. No one was paying any attention to them, and the noise level was in a decibel range to ensure privacy.
“This has to stay between us.” She refocused on her mom.
“Goes without saying. I know I’m a talker, but I also know when to zip it.”
Vienna uncurled a string of mozzarella and laid it across her slice of pizza. “I think he’s considering staying here and making a new start. He’s had more than his share of tragedy.”
“I imagine the loss of his wife was devastating.”
“It was—and there’s more loss than that.”
“Which he’s shared with you?”
“Yes.”
“You two must have become very friendly during the inn redo, despite the bad first impression he made.”
“I’ve revised my opinion of him.”
“I’m glad to hear that. He strikes me as a very nice man.” She pursed her lips. “It’s interesting that he’d give up his practice in San Francisco, though. Much as I love Hope Harbor and agree it’s a wonderful place for a new beginning, I would think there’d be limited opportunities for a vet.”
“Not according to Eleanor Cooper.” She passed on the woman’s comment from church this morning. “And I expect, once word spreads, he’d draw from the surrounding area too.”
“That’s true. And now that I think about it, I suppose if one is interested in settling in a place like this, there could be more opportunities than you’d expect. There are plenty of examples of that in town.”
“Such as?”
“Well . . . you know about Zach at The Perfect Blend. And his wife gave up her Hollywood career to become a chocolatier, with some acting on the side. But not everyone who’s come opted for a new profession. Eric Nash, BJ’s husband, continued his law career here by opening his own practice. I expect it’s very different than his days in Portland at a high-end firm litigating on behalf of corporate clients from all over the world, but he’s still in the same business.”
Pizza poised halfway to her mouth, Vienna stared at her. “How do you know so much about everyone?”
Mom shrugged. “Lots of the residents come into the bookshop. They talk, and I ask questions and listen. It’s amazing how much people will share once they realize you have a sincere interest in them.” Mom took a slice of pizza.
Sincere interest described Mom to a T. Like Will Rogers, she’d never met a person she didn’t like.
“I didn’t realize how many of the residents had made a new start here.”
“And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Of course, not all of them intended to stay when they came. Take Ben Garrison, Marci’s husband. He’s an orthopedic surgeon. He came to town to settle his grandfather’s estate and had a plum job waiting for him in Ohio. Then he met Marci and ended up joining a practice in Coos Bay. From what I can tell, he doesn’t have a single regret.”
So Matt was only one of many who’d succumbed to the town’s charms and thought about relocating here.
Perhaps because all of them had also been charmed by someone in the town.
Could she be one of the moving parts Matt was factoring into his decision? Had he been subtly trying to let her know that with his question about whether she could see the appeal of living in Hope Harbor?
“You have an intriguing look on your face.” Mom stopped eating to inspect her. “What are you thinking? Or is this one of the times I should zip it and concentrate on my pizza?”
“No. I was just mulling over everything you said. I have to admit I was taken aback when Matt brought this up. Giving up an established practice would be a huge leap of faith.”
“I imagine he’d do a great deal of investigation before he jumped—unlike his sister, from what I’ve been picking up. Poor Kay. It sounds like she leaped before she looked.”
“I get the same impression. Matt says she seems happier working in her friend’s garden center in Boise than she does about the prospect of coming back to the inn. I can tell from my own conversations with her that she’s not excited about tackling the breakfast challenge.”
Mom shook her head. “That’s a tough spot to be in. Based on her comments during our few meetups in town, she sank most of her nest egg into the inn.”
“I think she did. From what I gather, her reserves are also running low. That’s one of the incentives to get the inn up and running and generating income ASAP.”
Expression speculative, Mom took another slice of pizza, picked off a pepperoni, and popped it in her mouth. “I wonder if she’d be open to an offer? Now that you’ve fixed it up and rebranded it, Sandcastle Inn could be a plum opportunity for someone with know-how in the business. Imagine running a world-class inn.” Mom’s eyebrows peaked as she bit into her pizza.
“Are you suggesting that someone might be me?”
“The inn has your touches all over it. Don’t you already feel a sense of ownership?”
They were tracking the same direction.
“Yes. But that was never the intent. This was supposed to be a pro bono job to help Kay salvage a floundering B&B. A temporary gig, nothing more.”
“But wouldn’t it be amazing to own a fabulous inn? You’d also be your own boss.”
There was that. Not only could she write the rules, but no one could ever fire her again.
“I do like the sound of that.”
“And the icing on the cake would be Matt, if he ends up staying.”
“We’re not involved.”
“He’s never indicated he has that kind of interest in me.” Not counting the electricity that sizzled in the air whenever they were together.
Mom gave her a get-real look. “The man told you the secrets of his heart. What do you need, writing in the sky?”
Vienna forced up the corners of her mouth and lightened her tone. “Are you trying to marry me off? The woman who dismissed the idea of tying the knot years ago?”
“You’re cut from different cloth than I am. Marriage would suit you—to the right man, naturally. Matt could be him.”
“He hasn’t said he’s staying for sure.”
“It may be contingent on other factors.”
Yeah. He’d implied that.
Like her staying too.
“Could be.” That was the most she was willing to offer at this stage.
“You may want to discuss it with him. Or at least let him know you’re receptive and give him an opening to bring it up if you’re reluctant to broach the subject.”
Vienna took a deep breath.
This day was ending on an unexpected and somewhat unnerving note.
“I don’t know, Mom. My previous salary was excellent, and I socked away a hefty amount, but buying the inn would probably eat up all my savings and then some. Aside from whatever Kay paid for it, she’s sunk a chunk of change into repairs and updating. The dollar amount could be a roadblock. I don’t want to go into debt.”
“Think of it as an investment. As for roadblocks, you’d have those with any venture. I suppose it comes down to how much you trust your instincts and experience and knowledge, and whether you think you can make a success of the inn. But if I can offer one piece of advice, don’t base your decision on Matt’s plans. Buy the inn because you want it and you’ll be happy here even if a romance fizzles.”
That was sound counsel. There were no guarantees of a happily-ever-after at this early stage of their relationship.
“Advice appreciated.”
“I’ll tell you one other thing, sweet child.” Her mom wiped her fingers on a napkin and reached across the table to touch her hand. “Your mama would be in seventh heaven if her little girl lived close enough to go with her on walks to the tide pools every week or two. And that relationship will never fizzle.”
Vienna’s vision misted. “I’d like living closer too.” She filled her lungs. Exhaled. “I have a lot to ponder.”
“The answers will come in time.”
“Time is in short supply. The clock is ticking. Besides, you know how I’ve always agonized over every decision.”
“Let the idea percolate for a few days. Do some of that due diligence you always talk about. Explore the possibilities with Kay and Matt. In the end, the answer may be easier than you think.”
Vienna wasn’t as confident of that as Mom.
But as her mother had said, she didn’t have to decide anything tonight. The whole concept was new as of this afternoon.
So she’d sleep on it. Think. Pray.
And hope that whatever path she decided to take would lead to an exciting new journey and not a dead end.