Pausing by a mirror before she left her cafe kitchen, Marina smoothed her blue-and-white sundress, dabbed on lip-gloss, and fluffed her new hairstyle. Brandy had done a beautiful job with the shading and long waves.
Feeling better at her age than she had in years, she smiled at her reflection. She was doing what she loved now, and it showed on her face.
Jack or no Jack.
After picking up a plate of cookies she’d made earlier, Marina stepped outside. The summer aromas of warm sand, saltwater, and suntan lotion wafted on the breeze. Beyond the cottage, groups of people lingered on the beach in the sunshine, and the waves lapped the shore.
She strolled across the stone pavers that separated the cafe and its adjoining patios toward the beach house. As she walked, sand crunched beneath the leather soles of her sandals.
The scent of fresh paint lingered in the air, and Marina paused to inspect the front porch that Ethan had touched up with Ginger’s signature coral shade.
He’s done an excellent job, she thought, pleased that her son had offered to help when Ginger mentioned it. His father would have liked that, too. As a Marine, Stan had taken his responsibilities seriously.
That’s the kind of man she liked.
When Marina approached the house, she could hear laughter spilling from the open windows.
Her youngest sister’s friends were lounging on slipcovered furniture in the living room. After spending the day on the beach, they’d gathered at the cottage to throw together plans for Kai’s bridal shower. They were sipping the Sunshine Coolers Marina had concocted earlier—a blend of ginger ale with pineapple juice and fresh fruit chunks speared with tiny umbrellas.
Originally, Kai’s friends had planned to combine their vacation with her bridal shower planning, but since Kai had moved up the wedding, they were determined to have the party this week. Marina wondered how they were going to manage it. She was providing the food and venue at the cafe, but they were coordinating everything else.
She stepped inside and held up the plate. “Who’d like an oatmeal-raisin cookie?”
“Marina makes the best,” Kai said, taking the plate to pass around. “Thanks for these. The coolers are going down pretty easy, too.”
Kai and her friends were sprawled around the room, and most still wore their beach coverups. The small group included a few locals from Summer Beach and others from Kai’s old theater troupe. An array of bridal magazines and books were spread out before them, and they were working diligently.
Circling the happy mess, Marina asked, “Anyone need another cooler?”
“You should probably bring the pitcher,” Kai replied. “And Billie brought some bubbly for the next batch.”
Billie brandished a bottle of sparkling Italian wine and passed it to her. The young, copper-haired woman was one of Kai’s friends from New York. Together, they had honed their skills in off-Broadway productions.
Marina had met many of Kai’s friends when their touring productions played in San Francisco. Over the years, she’s seen them in everything from Cats and Oklahoma! to Chicago and Mamma Mia. They were talented, energetic, and quick to laugh and entertain a crowd.
Much like Kai, they were blithe spirits who’d always enjoyed the spotlight.
“I brought a playlist, too.” Billie tapped her phone and grinned.
“Bring it on.” Kai snapped her fingers to the pop music that filled the room. “Let’s get this party started.”
Jen, who ran the local hardware store with her husband, turned the pages of a glossy magazine. “What kind of theme should we have?”
Gathering the full skirt of her sundress about her legs, Marina perched on the arm of the canvas slipped-cover couch next to her sister, who was still wearing her scarlet bikini with a leopard-print coverup. “Why don’t you surprise her?”
Kai pushed her sunglasses up over her wavy hair. “This is all a surprise to me. Thanks to everyone here,” she added with a sweep of her hand.
“I couldn’t let you get married without a proper bridal shower,” Jen said, clasping her hands around a blue-jeaned knee. She swung her long brown hair over her shoulder. “After all, you hosted one for me.”
Marina smiled, glad that Jen had taken the lead. Jen and George were long-time friends of Kai’s and owned Nailed It, the local hardware shop next to the Java Beach coffee shop. They had all met years ago when Marina and her sisters visited their grandmother in Summer Beach.
Jen worked almost every day at Nailed It, doling out advice on home renovations. Her father had started the business, and Jen had grown up in it, taking it over after he passed away. If anyone knew how to put together a project, it was Jen.
Another woman sitting cross-legged in a floral coverup, her thick dark hair twisted into a bun, spoke up, “I’ll supply flowers and plants.” Leilani and her husband Roy Miyake were the proprietors of the Hidden Garden, where Ginger bought all her plants and vegetables for her prized garden. “We could go tropical with pots of orchids and hibiscus or stay traditional with roses and lilies. But if you want prefer cut-flowers, then we should talk to Imani at Blossoms.”
While the others talked about decorations and invitations, Marina glanced around the beach cottage. Mexican Talavera pottery flanked the fireplace, and Ginger had bought fresh, bright blue pillows for the white canvas slipcovers she bleached every year. With its worn wooden floors and mementos from Ginger’s travels from around the world, this was always a welcome home to Marina. She would actually miss Kai’s outbursts of song and sisterly shenanigans, but this had been a temporary landing for both of them.
Thank you, Ginger, she thought. Though their grandmother professed to love having them there, Marina didn’t want to overstay her welcome.
She was glad her sister would stay in Summer Beach. If Kai had married the dreadful Dmitri, the man who’d tried to woo her with a diamond the size of a grape, she’d be living in New York, trapped under his authoritarian thumb.
Marina was glad they’d seen the last of him.
After all these years, Kai had finally chosen well. Not that Marina had a better track record, with the exception of Stan, of course.
Jen’s voice cut through Marina’s thoughts. “And when are we going to throw a shower or a bachelorette party for you, Marina? Java Beach is buzzing about you and Jack.”
It was an innocent question, and Marina knew Jen meant well, but her breath caught in her throat. At a loss for words, she could only shrug.
Kai swiftly cut in, her lilting laugh covering Marina’s heartache. “Hey, isn’t this my day?” She placed a hand on Marina’s knee with a subtle squeeze and shifted the conversation. Tapping a magazine, she wrinkled her nose at it. “That cutesy bridal stuff isn’t really me. Let’s come up with another theme. Something fun and different.”
While Jen, Leilani, and Billie pitched ideas, Marina breathed a sigh of relief and bumped Kai’s shoulder. When they were growing up, her youngest sister could be annoying, but she’d always protected Kai. Now that they were older, it worked both ways.
Marina whispered, “Thanks. Love you.”
Kai winked and whispered back, “Ditto, kiddo.”
While the others talked, Marina thought about the gossip that would soon be zinging around town. Last night’s story of Jack standing her up at Beaches was sure to be a hot topic. And she’d left with the hottest new doctor in town. That kind of gossip was too juicy to ignore. She’d have to avoid Java Beach for a while.
Marina drew a hand over her neck, rubbing the tension that had settled in.
She supposed if she was honest with herself, she would have realized that her relationship with Jack had never been on a smooth upward trajectory. He’d been cast against type in this drama. Having been on the professional news treadmill herself, she understood what drove roving investigative journalists like Jack. The thrill of digging into a new story, the adrenaline high from facing down threatening situations—could he leave that behind? Or even, could he afford to?
Moreover, she couldn’t ask that of him. One didn’t change a tiger’s stripes. She turned her attention back to the group, determined to keep her focus on her family this week. After all, this was Kai’s special time and she wanted to be there for her.
“How about a beach theme?” Leilani suggested. “We have plenty of decorations for that.”
“Or a Broadway theme,” Billie said. “Or both. We could wear grass skirts and channel South Pacific.”
“A Beatles theme could be fun,” Jen mused. “George and I saw Beatlemania in New York, and Axe sang ‘Yesterday’ at our wedding. Wow, what a voice he has.”
“These are all good ideas.” Kai sounded excited.
Billie’s eyes lit with another idea. “How about Broadway’s greatest love stories?”
“Phantom of the Opera.” Kai threw back her strawberry blond hair and drew a theatrical hand across her brow. “I love every song in that musical, even if it has been overdone.”
“Or ‘Helpless’ from Hamilton,” Billie said, growing excited.
Others joined in with more Broadway tune suggestions while Jen took notes.
Marina was getting into the mood now. “How about ‘Suddenly Seymour?’ from Little Shop of Horrors?”
Kai and her friends roared with laughter. Her sister wagged her finger at her. “This is why you’re not on the entertainment committee. But I love you, Sis.” She flung her arms around Marina.
Jen held up her hands. “We have a lot of great ideas. Why don’t we make a program right now, put out the emergency call to friends, and see who wants to sing what? Kai, can we raid your costume department?”
“Of course.” Kai clapped her hands. “Honestly, no one has to bring a gift if they don’t feel like it. This isn’t about that old-fashioned gift-grab notion. I just want my gal pals and guy friends together having a good time. Can’t we do that?”
Marina slung her arm over Kai’s shoulder. “You always have to do things your way, don’t you?”
Kai threw her head back and laughed. “I guess I do. Won’t this be fun?”
Everyone broke out with laughter and began talking about their new plan.
As much as Marina wanted Kai to have her picture-perfect bridal shower and wedding, this approach fit her sister and reflected her passions. That’s what a union of two souls should be, she thought.
Happy that they’d made a decision, Marina carried Billie’s prosecco to the kitchen, where Ginger was seated at a red Formica table. Although the kitchen was dated, everything was exceptionally well cared for. The fire engine red O’Keefe & Merritt stove from the 1960s was polished to perfection. Marina had learned to cook with her grandmother at that stove. Her kitten-heeled sandals tapped on the terracotta Saltillo tile floor.
Ginger wore a cotton wrap dress in a vivid shade of mint green that accented her trim figure and hair. Discreet pearls graced her earlobes. Her posture was erect, as always, giving her a commanding presence that belied her age. A teacup sat in front of her, and she leaned forward with interest. “It sounds like Kai’s shower is underway.”
“And just in time.”
“That’s our Kai. Always full of last-minute surprises.” Ginger eyed her. “So, how are you doing?”
When Marina didn’t reply right away, Ginger gave her a sympathetic smile. “I heard what Jen said, too. Unfortunately, people will talk and speculate. Not her, of course. But your sisters and I are here for you.”
“I know how much you like and admire Jack,” Marina said, feeling her chest tighten with fresh disappointment. “But honestly, I don’t know if he’s right for me.”