Jasmyn had allowed herself four extra weeks in Seaside Village after Liv’s heart attack. Now time was up.
Saturday morning she scrubbed Cottage Eleven and gathered the borrowed linens and kitchenware.
Saturday afternoon she began returning things to their rightful owners, a courtesy she had not bothered with on that fateful day four weeks ago. Liv had said it was because deep down Jasmyn knew she would be returning, which was why Liv had told her not to bother. She was considering keeping the cottage semi-furnished.
Jasmyn now carried Sam’s small television through the front door and out to the courtyard, balancing a box of chocolate truffles on top of it. Sam would have a conniption, but it would be a half-hearted one. The woman really did enjoy chocolate. After loading up Chad’s truck with patio furniture the other day at Brother Benny’s, the three of them had stopped for gelato and Sam’s choice was double-fudge chocolate.
The memory felt bittersweet. Chad had found her while she was on the floor beside the rolltop desk, blowing her nose. He sat down and commiserated with her. The treat had been his suggestion. It was, he had said, the least Robert and Mildred could do for their friend who had suffered great loss.
“Hey.” Keagan came into view.
Of course Keagan came into view at that particular moment, the weight of leaving as heavy as the television and probably as obvious.
He reached for the TV. “Let me help.”
“It’s not heavy.” As he scooped the television from her arms, she grabbed the box of candy.
“This belongs to Sam, right?” He veered toward her cottage. “I suppose this means you decided to go back.”
“People don’t uproot themselves to turn a vacation spot into their permanent place of residence.”
“Right.”
Jasmyn stubbed her toe. Was that a hint of sarcasm in his tone? The voice usually parked in neutral? She glanced down at her neon yellow shoe. The flagstone had left its mark. She wanted to cry.
“Do you have more to deliver?”
“Nothing big.” She didn’t want his help.
He turned toward her. A brief flash of sunlight bounced off the lenses of his dark glasses. The corners of his mouth curved. He didn’t believe her.
“Really. Sam’s fold-up rocker and TV trays. Linens and kitchen things to Riley, Liv, and Inez. Shampoo and soap and stuff to Piper. She gave me way more than I could use. Little things. Chad said he’d get the big ones after I leave, like Inez’s bed and his table.”
“Okay. So how are you doing?”
“Awful.” She winced. The vocal fire hydrant was fully engaged. “I’m okay. There’s just too much to do. I should have packed earlier this week, but I didn’t want to miss out on anything. I took Tasha to get a DVD and Coco to get groceries. Inez and Louis took me to lunch. Piper helped me pick out a gift for Quinn. And…” The flow stopped. “And a lot of other stuff.”
He chuckled.
Chuckled?
“You didn’t want to miss out on spending time with people. I’m sure it was mutual. We are going to miss you, Ms. All Bright.”
“Ditto,” she muttered and stepped around him to knock on Sam’s door, the goldenrod yellow one.
“By the way, I’ll be happy to drive you to the airport on Monday. In Liv’s minivan.”
“Thanks, but I’ll take a shuttle.”
Sam opened the door. “Jasmyn! I said you can keep the TV until you leave.” She moved aside for them to enter. “Set it on the counter there. Thanks, Keagan.”
“I offered to take her to the airport, but she wants to take a shuttle.”
Sam frowned at him. They shook their heads in unison and turned to her. Sam said, “No, you don’t want to do that. They’ll cart you around the county for half the day and then you’ll sit in the airport for the other half.”
“I don’t mind—”
“Keagan will do it. I can’t get away from the office, and Liv’s not up for driving the freeway yet.”
Jasmyn wondered if they had rehearsed the conversation already. “Whatever.”
“Keagan, did you get the word yet? Goodbye pizza party, tomorrow night, on my new, old patio table.”
“I did, thanks. I’ll go get the rocker and trays.” He went back outside.
Jasmyn puffed out a breath.
Sam picked up her television and carried it to the far end of the counter, nearer the kitchen table. “I bet he’ll come to the party. I mean, the guy let you ride his motorcycle.” She plugged in the power cord. “Did I tell you about the time he let me use his T-shirt for a hankie?”
“What?”
Sam chuckled. “The day Liv had her heart attack. I lost it at the hospital, and he was standing right there when it happened. I’ve changed my mind about him. He’s an okay guy.” Her smile wavered. “Actually, I’ve changed my mind about a lot of people and things thanks to you.”
Jasmyn blinked to keep the tears from spilling. She changed the subject. “Is that where you usually keep your TV?”
“Yeah.” Sam sniffed. “Sometimes I watch the news while I eat.”
“I’m sorry I kept it for so long.”
“I’m not.” She tore off a few paper towels and handed some to Jasmyn. “Here. Unless you want to wait and use Keagan’s shirt.”
They laughed and cried and buried their faces in paper towels.
It was going to be a long two days.