In the living room of the Coral Cottage, Marina picked up a beautifully framed picture of her parents and turned to Kai. “That was thoughtful of Ginger to go through her photographs for your new home.”
Kai selected another one. “I can make copies for you and Brooke.”
“Brooke has a lot of family photos already.”
“Well, then, for your new home, silly.” Kai’s face was flushed with the optimism of a new life ahead.
“I still have photos in boxes from my place in San Francisco. Besides, a place of my own isn’t in the works right now.” If ever, Marina thought.
“You could get a cute little place nearby. Surely you can manage it with the new food truck.”
Kai’s perkiness so early in the morning was wearing on her. Her sister was the image of sunshine. She wore a new cotton shift dress speckled with daisies Axe had bought for her, and she’d been chattering about their plans to transform his house into a home for them.
Yet, Marina couldn’t begrudge her. She was truly happy for Kai. The problem was that Marina couldn’t stop thinking about what might have been with Jack.
Now that Kai was moving out, the house was strangely silent, and Marina wondered if she should leave Ginger on her own. Especially with Heather’s plans to leave for her internship in the fall. Her daughter had finally received confirmation and confided in her. Heather would be interning for a major company in San Francisco. It was a special work-study program, and she had been lucky to be accepted into it. It virtually assured her of a long-term position upon graduation next year.
Kai glanced around. “I need more bags for these photos. Be right back.” She dashed off, humming the song from her wedding.
Marina brushed dust from another photo of her parents. It wasn’t a formal picture, but one taken of them at the beach. Her father held her mother in his arms, and they were laughing.
That’s how Marina always remembered them. They’d had a good marriage. Soulmates, one might say.
Could she have said that about Jack? She hadn’t spoken to him since he’d left her at Beaches last week, and more than once, she’d questioned her decision. Worse, Summer Beach was a small town. Even as she assiduously avoided Jack, he seemed to be everywhere.
He was at the Laundry Basket when she picked up her clothes, including the dress she’d worn to Beaches.
He was at the Seabreeze Inn for her book club meeting.
He was at Java Beach when she stopped for coffee.
This past week, Jack had been everywhere but at her cafe.
She’d caught herself looking up from her work in the kitchen when she heard what she thought were his footsteps or Leo’s sweet voice, but when she’d turn, the table still reserved for them was empty. She couldn’t bring herself to remove the sign from it.
Heather didn’t touch it either.
She thought of how hurt Leo must be. Whenever Jack saw her, he just steered the boy away. Leo seemed confused.
Pressing her fingers to her temple, she wondered how a relationship that had once seemed so right had gone so wrong. In her heart, she’d wanted to trust Jack, but all signs pointed to a lifetime of disappointment with an impetuous, irresponsible man-child.
His lifestyle was a disaster, despite what he said. She’d seen it. This was a man who had made a good living from his words—she would not be swayed by the empty promises he made.
Then why was her heart breaking?
“I’m back,” Kai said, swinging a reusable shopping bag in her hand. “This is it for today. The trunk is full, and I have to leave room for the cutest pillows I saw at a shop in the village. They’ll be perfect for the new couch we’ve ordered. I have to go back for them as soon as they open. I think I’ll buy some flowers to plant along the front walkway, too. How about daisies?”
“To match your dress.”
“Oh, right. How funny!” Kai’s eyes glimmered with happiness. “I can’t wait for you to see the place. Axe and I have been rearranging the house, and we plan to start painting right away.”
“I’m happy for you.” Marina hugged her. She really meant that, but seeing her youngest sister set up a home of her own was sobering.
“And did I tell you the latest about our honeymoon plans?” Without waiting for an answer, Kai went on. “I’ve always wanted to see London at Christmas with all the decorations in Covent Garden and around the city. There are so many theater productions in the West End that we’d love to see.”
“Won’t you spend Christmas here? And what about a holiday performance?”
“Plans change.” Kai cleaned the framed photos as she talked. “We might lease out the theater to a touring company for a holiday show. We’ve promised to see his family, so we’ll have to alternate holidays now. Or maybe they’ll visit Summer Beach for a break from the winter weather. That reminds me, I have to spruce up the guest bedroom.” She laughed. “I didn’t realize I’d have so much fun decorating. And for our next home, Axe says he can build our dream house. Because we’ll need more room soon.”
“Do you mean a baby’s room?”
Kai blushed. “I’ll have to choose a good understudy.”
“Are you thinking of starting a family already?”
“I’m not getting any younger, and we really want a family of little thespians. Won’t that be fun?”
“Maybe you can borrow them before you commit.” Marina was having a hard time seeing Kai as a mother. “See how you like being a 24/7 mother.”
Kai shot her a look of surprise. “What happened to your sense of humor?”
“I’m fine,” she replied sharply. “Just busy with the cafe.”
“No, it’s more than that.” She circled her finger toward Marina. “Something’s wrong with you. It’s Jack, isn’t it?”
Her sister finally noticed, but that didn’t mean Marina wanted to talk about it. “Why must you always think that Jack is the problem?”
“Because he usually is. Or it’s you, but you’d rather think it’s him.”
Marina shot her a frown. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
“Of course it does. Think about it.” Kai spread her hands in explanation. “You project your fears onto him. You’re afraid of being hurt. So, you blame him. Simple, right?”
“Too simple.” Marina drew a hand across her face. Kai was getting on her nerves with her pseudoscience. And she needed that second cup of coffee. Her sister had bounced into the house like Tigger out of Winnie the Pooh this morning. And Marina felt like Pooh.
Literally.
Kai looked at her with an expression of pity. “At your age, you deserve to be happy.”
“At my age?” Marina let out a strangled sound. “And you think Jack can do that?”
“Let’s see.” Kai put a hand on her hip. “We know not having Jack makes you unhappy, so…yes, you should see him again. Case closed.”
Marina stuffed the photos into the bag. “I’m through with this overly simplistic conversation.”
“Just saying—don’t overthink it, toots.”
“But when there are red flags—”
“Oh, come on, Marina. The flags you think you see are pale pink at best. He’s messy? Hire a housekeeper. Divide the housework. He’s unorganized? Get him a wall calendar or an app for his phone. How hard can that be?”
“Says she who’s been married five minutes.”
“You weren’t married to Saint Stan much longer than that.”
Marina opened her mouth in shock, then closed it. The old, familiar pain shot to the surface. How dare Kai go there?
Sensing her mistake, Kai pressed a hand to Marina’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I know how much Stan meant to you, and he was a wonderful guy. But sweetie, you weren’t married that long, and it’s been more than twenty years. He wouldn’t want to see you alone forever.”
“Kai, that’s enough—”
“Why not give Jack a chance?” her sister pleaded, doubling down. “I love you, and I don’t want to see you miss out on a guy who actually loves you for who you are. The older you get, the rarer they can be. I should know. And you’re way ahead of me.”
“Excuse me, but did you really say ‘way ahead?’” That did it.
Marina shoved Kai’s hand aside and spat out her words. “Stop being so smug. Just because you’re married now, you think you have all the answers. Just leave. Now.”
“I thought you needed some straight talk, that’s all. If you hadn’t done that for me, I might be married to Dmitri. Or filing for divorce.” With a sigh, Kai picked up her bag and left.
Marina turned away, and when she did, she saw Ginger standing in the hallway. She’d been going through other photos in the library, so she must have heard everything. Marina held up a hand. “I’m in no mood for lectures.”
Ginger looked weary. “Neither am I. But it’s helpful to hear things out loud.”
Instantly, Marina’s stomach clenched. Some of what Kai said made sense. She drew in her lip. Was she holding Jack to impossibly high standards?
Maybe.
But could she settle for less than perfection?
Blinking, Ginger leaned against the wall and raised a wavering hand to her forehead. “I’m feeling a little warm. Would you get me a glass of water?”
Ginger’s voice didn’t have the force it usually did. Alarmed, Marina rushed toward her and guided her to the nearest chair. “Are you feeling alright?”
Her grandmother shook her head. “Not…at all.”
Marina raced to the kitchen, turned on the faucet, and shoved a glass under the running water. As it filled, she flung open the door. Kai was pulling from the driveway. “Kai!” she screamed. “It’s Ginger. Turn around!”
But Kai didn’t stop. The windows were up, and she was probably blasting show tunes. Marina grabbed the glass. With water sloshing over the sides, she tore back to Ginger and knelt beside her. “Can you drink?”
Ginger eased it to her lips and took the tiniest of sips. “I might need help to the couch. Perhaps if I lie down, this will pass.”
Marina helped her up, but as soon as Ginger took a step, she stumbled and collapsed. Panicking, Marina cradled her in her arms. Ginger needed help; her face was losing its healthy color.
Where was her phone?
Just then, Jack barged into the house and knelt beside her. He wore running shorts, and his face was beaded with perspiration. “What happened?”
“She collapsed.” Marina’s heart pounded. “I don’t know if she’s having a stroke or a heart attack.”
“Call for help. Now.” Without a moment’s hesitation, Jack lifted Ginger in his arms and carried her to the sofa, placing her on her side and checking her.
With trembling fingers, Marina tapped the emergency number and gave their address. Panicked tears rushed to her eyes.
The next few minutes were a blur. While Marina was on the phone, Jack tended to Ginger, taking her pulse and checking her airways and breathing. She recalled that he’d had CPR training. In what seemed like both forever and a split second, emergency personnel raced in and took over.
Marina clasped Ginger’s hand, which now seemed so cold and small in hers. With a prayer on her lips, she tried to stay out of the way without letting go of her grandmother.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but we need room to take care of your grandmother,” one of the medical responders said to her. They asked a number of questions that Marina tried to answer.
And then, “What happened right before she lost consciousness?”
Through dry lips, she replied, “My sister and I were arguing.”
No one said anything, and Marina wished with all her being that she could trade places with Ginger. Feeling lost, she turned to Jack. Fear shrouded her like a blanket of darkness. She pressed her head to his shoulder, and he swept his arms around her.
“She’s a strong woman,” he whispered.
With her throat closing, Marina could only nod. This was her fault. She ached to take back everything she’d said to Kai that had upset Ginger. Seeing her and her sisters fight had always troubled her grandmother. If only she and Kai hadn’t argued. But it wasn’t Kai who had started it.
I did this.
Marina’s knees buckled at her sick realization, and the room began spinning wildly out of control.
Still, Jack held her.
Within minutes, Ginger lay on a stretcher being loaded into the emergency vehicle. As her eyes fluttered, Marina clasped her grandmother’s hands again. “I love you. I love you so much, and I’m so, so sorry for starting that argument with Kai. Please forgive me and be strong for us. I’ll stay with you, I promise.”
Through an overwhelming fog of emotion that crowded her mind, Marina could hardly process what happened next. Somehow, Jack got her to the hospital. Somehow, Kai and Axe raced to her side. And someone told her that Brooke, Heather and Ethan were on their way.
In an icy waiting room infused with a sharp antiseptic odor, Marina waited, numb to almost everything around her but Jack’s protective arms, tenderly holding her together.
She couldn’t face losing her grandmother without him.