Charlotte got up early the next day and sat in the kitchen, sipping coffee, gathering up her energy for a day with her family. Robin came into the kitchen, yawning, and reached for a mug.
“Morning. You’re up early.” Robin slipped into the chair across from her.
“Couldn’t sleep.”
“If you don’t watch out, the island and I might turn you into a morning person.”
A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “I doubt it. But I do seem to be getting up a bit earlier these days.”
“You got up earlier than I did. That’s early.”
“I was going to paint for a bit. Catch the morning light. But… I’m afraid I’ll get all wrapped up in it and be late. I’ve been ordered by Eva to be on time.”
“She’s a bossy one.” Robin sipped her coffee.
“She’s—oh, never mind. She’s my sister. She’s never going to change.” She tapped her fingers on the table. “I am going to talk to them this trip, though. Enough of this telling me to get a real job—though I might have to—and criticizing everything about my life.”
“You go, girl.”
“I’m an adult and it’s time they treated me like one. I’m never going to fit into the mold they want. And I don’t care. I don’t want to be the person they want me to be.”
“Man, I’d love to be around for this conversation.” Robin grinned. “You going to talk to them today?”
“No, not with Ben around. I’ll talk to them tomorrow. Sometime when we’re alone.”
“That’s probably smart. You don’t need an audience.” She took a sip of her coffee. “Mmm. That’s good.” She took another sip.
“But I do need to figure out a way to earn a living. Especially while I don’t have paintings that are selling.”
“You know, you’re great at painting and fixing up old furniture. You could do that and sell it at Bella’s on Oak Street. Bella is Josephine Clark’s niece. Josephine is Paul Clark’s wife. Anyway, Bella has a shop in Comfort Crossing, Mississippi, but recently opened a shop here on the island, too. Vintage items, beach decor, and things like that. There are always people looking to find cute pieces when they buy new places here on the island. It could help tide you over until you sell more of your paintings.”
She chewed her lip. She did enjoy fixing up the furniture and painting it. She’d found a discarded dresser someone was throwing out, fixed it up, and painted it in shades of teal and mint green, then painted seashells on the front of it for her bedroom.
“I’ll get Bella’s phone number for you and you can talk to her.” Robin’s face was covered in a self-satisfied smile.
“For once, I’m not going to argue with you. I think that would be a great idea. I’ll talk to Bella and see if she’s interested and what she thinks might sell in her shop.”
“Perfect.” Robin stood. “I better go get ready. Why don’t you go paint for a bit and set a timer so you’re not late to meet up with your family?”
Charlotte stood and took her mug over to the sink. “That’s a good idea. I’m not up for another lecture on punctuality. I’m actually pretty much always on time… except when meeting up with my family.”
Ben got up early to get the boat ready for their trip to Blue Heron Island. He’d only taken Lady Belle out for a couple of short trips since he’d overhauled the engine. The boat had been his father’s pride and joy. An older boat, to be sure, but she was a beaut.
He’d refinished the weathered teak and replaced a few pieces. Put new flooring in the main cabin and recovered the seats in there. The galley had been updated. He’d also put a nice new mattress in the cabin below deck. He had plans to move out of the place he was renting at Bayside Bungalows and live on the trawler once all the renovations were finished. He had the end slip at one of the docks at the marina with a fabulous view of the bay. Perks of being the owner.
He balanced the bags with box lunches he’d picked up from Jay at the inn and climbed aboard. They carried ice, soda, and bottled water at the marina shop. He’d better go grab some of those.
As he climbed back off the boat, he saw Charlotte heading down the dock toward him, her arms full. He hurried to help her. “What’s all this?”
“I stopped by The Sweet Shoppe and got some cookies, and then I made this container of sweet tea. I didn’t know what all you’d have and what we’d need.”
“This is great. Let me put it aboard, then I’m headed to get bottled water and soda and ice from the shop.”
Charlotte eyed the boat with appreciation. “Wow, look at this. Your dad’s old boat. She looks beautiful.”
His chest swelled with pride at her compliment. “Thank you. I’ve been working on it off and on for a few years. I’m going to live on her when I’m finished.”
“On a boat?” She looked out at the bay. “With that view? That sounds like heaven to me.”
“I think so, too.”
He helped her climb aboard and she followed him to the galley. “Ben, this is wonderful. It’s like a tiny house… only a boat.” Her laugh rang through the boat. “I love it.”
“Here, I’ll show you around.” He proudly showed her how he’d upped the kitchen space by redoing the cabinets to a more efficient arrangement. He’d enlarged the bathroom slightly by taking out a closet but added more storage under the seating in the main cabin. He’d found new places to tuck items and increase the storage while still making sure there was plenty of room to walk around and the boat didn’t feel cramped.
“This is wonderful. It’s so pretty. I just love it.” Charlotte finished the tour. “I can’t wait to take it out to the island.”
“Let’s go grab those drinks, then we’re ready as soon as your family gets here. I’ve got some beach chairs and an umbrella stored so we can go to the beach on the island if anyone wants to.”
“I love going shelling there.”
He grinned. “Then good thing I put in a couple of buckets, too.”
They climbed off the boat and went to the shop at the marina. He loaded up on drinks and dumped them in a rolling cart that he toted back to the boat. After hauling the drinks aboard and stashing them in the fridge, they settled on the seats out on the stern, waiting for the Duncans to arrive.
“I know I’m early. I was late yesterday meeting them for lunch at Magic Cafe. Didn’t want to make that mistake again.” Charlotte flipped her hair back away from her face and dug a hat out of her tote bag. “I try and keep the sun off my face.” She placed the hat on her head, and he thought she looked like someone out of a beach life magazine. A healthy glow, and long tanned legs. She wore simple denim shorts and a chambray shirt tied at her waist. The bright red flip-flops completed her outfit. He noticed a few specks of teal and yellow paint on the back of her hands. Hazard of her career, he imagined.
“Oh, there they are.” Charlotte, oblivious that he’d been staring at her—thank goodness for his sunglasses—waved to her family. Her smile was a bit forced, though. He could tell that much.
He turned and hopped off the boat to help them aboard.