Making Waves (Lobster Bay Book 3)

by Meredith Summers

“I hope Maxi doesn’t do anything drastic,” Jane said as she slipped another piece of muffin under the table to Cooper.

  She glanced over at the corner of the building where Maxi was on the phone. Today Maxi was wearing one of her more casual outfits, a flowing pale-yellow skirt and white linen sleeveless top. Her silvery-blond hair hung loose just past her shoulders. Normally Maxi had more of a tailored look, which Jane suspected was what James preferred. But lately her friend had been dressing more and more casually. Things were changing with Maxi, and Jane hoped it was for the better.

  “Yeah, renting that cottage was kind of sudden. I didn’t realize things were that bad, and honestly, it doesn’t seem that they are from where I’m sitting. I still remember how it all went down with Peter and me, and unless Maxi isn’t telling us everything, things might not be as drastic as they seem.” Claire glanced across the street, and Jane followed her gaze.

  Claire was looking over at Bradford Breads, no doubt feeling thankful that she’d connected with the owner, Rob Bradford, and things were going good for them. Jane didn’t have any divorce experience to compare with—her husband had died young—but she, too, had a new romance to be thankful for. She hoped Maxi wasn’t going to have to go through a painful divorce, but she’d had suspicions of James for a week now. “I thought I saw James with Sandee in one of the cottages on the beach last week when I was walking Cooper. I asked Maxi if they were thinking about buying a cottage, but she knew nothing about it.” Jane’s gaze drifted again to Maxi, who was still on the phone with Hailey's grandfather. “But I could have been mistaken. I didn’t get a good look.”

  Claire frowned. “You don’t think James and Sandee...”

  Jane sighed. “I don’t know what to think.”

  Sally, who was now munching on a chocolate chip muffin, brushed some crumbs off her shirt. “Sandee does like to cheat with married men.”

  Claire made a face. “Yeah, but James? He’s as steady as they come.”

  “And he and Maxi have been together forever.” Jane hoped Maxi was just being overly sensitive and that the man she’d seen with Sandee was someone else. But then, relationships could be uncertain. Maybe she’d better take it slow with Mike. She hadn’t dated anyone else since Brad died ten years ago, and she didn’t need another heartache. Plus she’d only known Mike a few weeks, and if husbands who had been married for decades could dump their wives without batting an eyelash, she had to think of what a guy who’d only been in town for a few weeks would do.

  “I’m sure things will work out.” Claire had picked up the swatch and was frowning at it. “I just hope I can match this color on the cake.”

  Jane put her hand on Claire’s arm. “Don’t stress about it. If you can’t match it exactly, she’ll just have to understand. I appreciate everything you’re doing for me.”

  Claire smiled. “Hey, whatever it takes. We’re going to pull this wedding off. At least you have Andie here to help.”

  The mention of Jane’s sister made her smile. They’d been close as kids, but when Andie left after high school, they’d gradually drifted apart. Andie hardly ever came back to Lobster Bay, but now that their mom’s dementia had progressed to the point that she had to be in a facility, Andie had come back. It did look like she was sticking around, at least for a while. Their relationship was coming back to what it used to be, but there was still a lot of work to be done in that department. Jane didn’t dare get her hopes up. “Andie has been a big help. Both with Mom and the wedding.”

  “Isn’t that her over there?” Claire waved to someone behind Jane. “Should we have invited her to our morning coffee catch-ups?”

  Jane turned to see her sister coming toward them. Though Andie was four years older than Jane’s forty-eight years, she looked about ten years younger with her long dark hair and slim figure. Today she was wearing oversized sunglasses, a black tank top, and tan capris. Her style was more reflective of New York City, which made sense as that was where Andie had lived most of her adult life. “I doubt she’d be interested in that, and besides, she might not even still be here the next time we have one.”

  “There you are! Do you have that blue swatch? I’m going to the fabric store and thought I’d try to match some ribbons for the centerpieces.” Andie stood on the other side of the three-foot-tall planters that separated the café from the main sidewalk. Her position on the opposite side of the planters was further evidence to Jane that she didn’t want to join in on their morning coffee routine.

  Claire held it up. “It’s right here.” She stood and leaned over to pass it to Andie. “Can I get you a coffee? Some pastry?” She pointed at the plate.

  Uncertainty flicked through Andie’s gaze. “Oh... thanks. Um... I guess I’d better not. I have a lot of work to do today.”

  Jane stood. “We’re just about done here anyway. I’ll go with you to the fabric store if you’d like.”

  Andie smiled. “That would be nice.”

  Jane stood and grabbed Cooper’s leash. “Thanks for coffee.” She glanced over at the corner of the building where Maxi was still on the phone. “Say bye to Maxi for me and tell her I’ll message her later.”

  Andie glanced back at Sandcastles as she and Jane walked toward the fabric store. Claire’s invitation had been tempting. The mugs of steaming coffee, the plate of pastries, the camaraderie. They’d never asked her before, and she wasn’t sure if Jane wanted her horning in. If anyone should invite her, it should be Jane, so Andie had declined.

  Granted, she’d only been in town for three weeks, and how long she’d remain was uncertain. The fact that she was still here was a surprise to everyone, including Andie. She hadn’t expected it to feel so much like home, and spending time with her mother at this critical time of her health was important.

  But there wasn’t much for her here in Lobster Bay. Even at middle age, Andie wanted to do something important, and she’d worked hard to become one of the top antique appraisers at Christies. She couldn’t just throw that all away, which meant she’d have to go back to New York. The best antiques were in the big city, weren’t they?

  “Do you think we’re being too accommodating for this wedding?” Jane asked as they turned down School Street toward the section of stores off main where the small fabric shop was located.

  “No. This wedding is important—critical, even. We need to get the good reviews from it. Plus I think that’s the way it goes with customers. And really, she hasn’t been asking for too much. It’s all easy fixes.”

  Jane sighed. “I suppose so. She seems sort of entitled when we talk on the phone.”

  “Yeah, wait until she actually gets here.” Andie knew from dealing with clients on antique estates that they could be a little over the top. Would she even be here when the bride arrived? Some of the guests had booked rooms starting the day before the wedding, but that was still a week away. She couldn’t leave Jane to deal with that all by herself, so of course she’d be staying at least that long.

  “The thought of all the guests and the wedding coordination almost has me breaking out in hives. I hate dealing with the people. You’re much better at that than I am.” Jane shot a hopeful sideways glance in Andie’s direction.

  Andie laughed. “I’ll deal with the check-ins, and you can hide in the kitchen with your spreadsheets and accounting formulas. On the bright side, the inn is fully booked, and we’re getting reservations for after the wedding too.”

  “Someone even inquired about a fall wedding.”

  “See, things are picking up!”

  “Mrs. Weatherlee is checking out tomorrow.”

  “She is? I’m going to miss her. Seems like she’s been there forever.”

  “I know, right? But we can use the room for the wedding guests. I had to turn a few away because we’re booked.”

  Andie slowed. “Oh, that’s great we’re booked, but I just realized that I’m taking up a room that a paying guest could have.”

  Andie was staying in the old room she’d a
lways stayed in as a kid when their grandparents ran the inn. When she’d arrived, the inn had only one guest, and she’d thought nothing of taking up a room.

  She couldn’t find a more permanent place, though, as she’d have to sign a lease. “I’m sorry. I never considered that. I could book into a hotel or Airbnb.”

  Jane made a face. “Don’t be silly. You’re helping me out a ton. It’s only one room.”

  “Okay, if you’re sure.”

  “Of course. I need my sister staying with me.”

  Andie glanced away. She didn’t want to see that Jane looked happy at having Andie stay with her, because it made it that much harder to think about leaving. She glanced at the traffic moving slowly down the street. It was peak summer season, and tourists flocked to town, jamming up the narrow roads and causing traffic to the beach to come to a standstill. The coastal town had been designed for fishermen, not tourists, but that was part of its appeal.

  She spotted Mustangs, Toyotas, even a cute white-and-red Mini Cooper, but no black truck like her ex Shane Flannery drove. Not that she was looking for him. What they’d had was over and done with decades ago. She’d moved on. But ever since she’d run into him doing repair work at Tides, thoughts of him kept randomly cropping up. Probably guilt over the immature way she’d broken things off back in high school. Probably better if she didn’t run into him again.

  Taking her mind off the traffic—and Shane—she looked at the swatch again. “I was thinking maybe we should get Maxi to help with the centerpieces. She might have some good ideas.” Andie had worked with Maxi on the bathhouse they’d had to build at Tides in order to get permits for the wedding and had enjoyed the collaboration. Maxi was smart and had a good eye for design and style. Unlike Jane, Andie thought, eyeing her sister’s simple gray T-shirt and faded jean shorts. Jane was plain vanilla.

  “That’s a great idea. I think Maxi needs to keep busy. She’s a recent empty nester.” Jane’s voice held undertones of a possible other reason Maxi might need to keep busy.

  “Yeah, I got a sense that things were a little off at home when I worked with her on the bathrooms.”

  “You could say that. I think Maxi is really taking the change to heart, and well... to tell the truth, I’m afraid she might do something drastic.”

  Andie was surprised. “Like what?”

  Jane lowered her voice. “She just rented a cottage on the beach. Said it could be for an art studio, but I wonder...”

  “She is a good artist.” Andie had seen some of Maxi's napkin sketches, and they were quite good. But she wondered about the cottage rental too. Jane made it sound like she thought Maxi might be making too much of her marital troubles, but Jane didn’t have any experience with that sort of thing. While Andie had never been married, she had plenty of experience with what happened when relationships soured. If Maxi was going as far as to rent a cottage, there might be more to the situation than Jane knew.

  Andie had been too ashamed to admit to her sister that for the past few years, she’d been having an affair with a married man. Of course, Doug had said he was separated, but Andie had discovered that wasn’t exactly the truth. It was good luck for Andie that he’d moved on. She wasn’t even upset that he hadn’t messaged or called her since she’d been in Lobster Bay.

  But from that experience, she knew the signs of cheaters. And if Maxi was doing something drastic, like moving out of her house, then Andie thought she might suspect her husband was one. Maybe she was too embarrassed to tell Jane, or maybe she had only suspicions and not positive proof. Either way, Andie felt the bond with Maxi tighten. If Maxi was going through something like that, then Andie wanted to be there to support her.

  Chapter Two

  Hailey wasn’t kidding when she’d said the cottage was run-down. The small hundred-year-old structure was covered in cedar shingles turned gray from years of sunshine and salty sea air. The blue shutters were present but faded.

  Inside, it looked like nothing had been done in decades. The kitchen had plain wooden cabinets painted white with plenty of dirt marks near the knobs. A little bit of elbow grease would fix that. What elbow grease wouldn’t fix were the broken drawer and the holes in the worn linoleum that looked like it had been there since 1940.

  One of the walls was down to the studs. The bathroom was functional but rusty, and the bedroom at least had a fresh coat of cheery yellow paint. The old-fashioned brass bed was charming. A few throw rugs, a comforter, and some pillows would spruce that up.

  The living room boasted a brick fireplace and shiplap walls. It was serviceable despite the water stains on the ceiling that indicated a leaking roof.

  But the view! Maxi could forgive all the problems inside for the unobstructed view of the cobalt-blue ocean and the stretch of white-sugar sand leading to it. And when you opened the sliding glass door, you could hear the waves. It was everything she’d dreamed of.

  “I’ll take it.” She turned to Hailey’s grandfather, Henry, a thin man with a halo of white hair and lively green eyes. He stood stooped over, most likely from years of hard work, but his handshake was firm and his voice strong.

  Henry glanced around. “You sure? I can’t do any fixing up. Don’t got the money.”

  “I’ll do some, if you don’t mind. Some minor repairs with my own money.” Even though she wasn’t moving in, fixing some of the things would help with her creativity. She needed her area to look nice, or it would zap her creative juices.

  “With your own money?” Henry looked suspicious.

  Maxi laughed. “I know it sounds crazy, but this is exactly the retreat I’m looking for. I’m an artist, and the patio outside would be perfect for setting up my easel. I don’t mind fixing a few things if you rent it to me long-term. I’d like to bring in some of my own furniture and accessories, too, if you don’t mind.”

  “I would like a long-term rental, and since you’re a friend of Hailey’s, I guess I can trust you.” Henry looked out the door to the sea, his eyes clouding with memories. “You know this place has been in my family for a hundred years. It started off as a fishing shack for my grandpa.”

  “Hailey mentioned that. I bet you had some great times here.”

  “Ayuh. Used to collect shells right out there when I was a kid.” He turned and pointed at the craggy rocks that stuck up out of the sand at low tide. “And there I’d search for starfish and crabs.”

  “Those sound like great memories.”

  “I want Jennifer to have those memories too. That’s why I won’t sell.” Henry stroked his chin. “Place down the beach sold for over a million. ’Course I can’t get that. This place needs work. But I just can’t bring myself to let it go.”

  “Of course not. Hailey and Jennifer are welcome to come here anytime while I’m renting.”

  Henry brightened. “Really? Hailey mentioned you’ve been really good to Jen. I guess that settles it, then.” He took a key out of his pocket and handed it to Maxi. “The place is yours for the summer, even longer if you want it.”

  Maxi took the key and wrote him a check.

  Maxi couldn’t believe she’d just rented a cottage on the beach. What would James say? Maybe she wouldn’t tell him. After all, he had his secrets. Now she would have hers.

  But the more she thought about it, the more she realized that wasn’t the right move. She didn’t have an income of her own, but James had part of his check deposited in an account with only her name. James had insisted when Maxi gave up working to raise the kids that she have her own money to do with as she pleased. James at least had been generous with that. She’d paid Henry with a check from her account. James would never know she’d rented the cottage.

  But if she didn’t tell him, she was no better than he was. And, after all, she wasn’t one hundred percent sure that he was cheating. And he had encouraged her to work more on her art. Maybe he’d be optimistic about this move.

  She opened the sliders and stood out on the little patio, breathing the sea air, listening to
the waves, envisioning herself out there painting. A sense of freedom came over her. A sense that now, finally, she could have everything she wanted. Her thoughts turned to the two kittens she’d seen at the animal rescue. James didn’t want pets in the house, but here...

  She dialed Henry’s number again.

  “Ayuh?”

  “Henry, it’s Maxi Stevens.”

  “Changed your mind so soon?”

  Maxi laughed. “No, it’s just that... Well, I was wondering if I could have pets here in the cottage. Just two kittens.” To start.

  “Pets, eh?” Henry chuckled. “Well, why not? Place can’t really get much worse. Have as many as you want.”

  “Great. Thanks. I’ll fix any damage, of course.”

  Maxi hung up and raced to her car. While she’d been talking to Henry, she’d gotten a text from Jane asking if she’d help Andie with the centerpieces for the wedding. She was looking forward to that, as she’d connected a bit with Andie when they worked on the bathroom project at Tides and liked working with her. She had about an hour to kill before meeting Andie. Just enough time to visit the Lobster Bay Animal Rescue downtown and adopt the kittens.

  The Lobster Bay Animal Rescue had the unfortunate location of being right next to the realty office that Sandee worked at. That’s okay, Maxi thought. She could ignore the realty office altogether. She parked in the town lot and walked down. A familiar car caught her eye.

  Her car.

  The one James took to work. It was at the curb in front of Sandee’s office, and James was in it! What was he doing there? He was supposed to be at work!

  She stood frozen on the sidewalk as he pulled away from the curb, heading toward her. She wasn’t sure what to do. Wave? Step into the street? Shoot his tires out? She couldn’t do the latter, since she didn’t have a gun, which was probably a good thing.

  She couldn’t quite see into the car with the way the sun glared off the windshield, but she could have sworn that James had seen her. The car sped up, and when he came in line with her, his head was turned as if to avoid eye contact. Did he think he was hiding from her?