“I can’t wait to see it.” James pulled her into his arms, and Maxi knew she was exactly where she was meant to be.
Andie stood on the side of the tent and watched Maxi and James whirl around the dance floor. They looked like newlyweds, and she was happy for them. They were going to be okay.
Her thoughts turned to Jane and Mike. They were seated at the table next to Claire and Rob, the four of them in a lively conversation. At the art gallery opening, Andie had sensed that Tiffany and Chandler had hit it off. Hopefully Tiffany would switch her affections to Chandler and leave Mike alone. Jane was being overly cautious, but Andie knew she and Mike were meant for each other just like Claire and Rob were.
She glanced out at the beach, at Tides, at the bathhouse. They’d pulled the wedding off, and she couldn’t be happier. She hadn’t thought of her old life in New York once during the past several days. She belonged here. This was her town, and these were her people.
The bride, Courtney, had been ecstatic about what they’d done. Her mother, not so much. But Andie recognized her type, never happy with anything. It was kind of sad in a way, since those types of people always pushed others away. Right now, Marilyn was sitting alone at the head table, stiff backed and pursed lipped, while the rest of the family congregated in groups, talking and laughing.
There was only one creature that didn’t seem to be put off by her sour disposition. Cooper. He’d repeatedly tried to make friends, but Marilyn had brushed him off.
She glanced over the crowd again. Most people seemed to be in couples. Even Jane and Claire, who had both been alone for a long time, were in relationships. Maybe everyone had someone out there waiting for them, but was there someone for her? Thoughts of Shane Flannery bubbled up, and she tamped them down quickly. That ship had sailed, and the fact that he hadn’t been working at Tides since they’d run into each other there made her wonder if he’d been avoiding her.
“You’re looking dreary despite the fact you pulled off this amazing wedding. What’s wrong?” Sally wore a gauzy ivory pantsuit, her hair clipped back in a chignon. Andie almost didn’t recognize her.
“Oh nothing, just thinking about things.” Andie turned her attention to the handywoman. “I didn’t know you were coming to the wedding.”
“Well, I wasn’t invited by the bride or anything. I met Payton over there at the Salty Dog last night, and he invited me.” Sally tilted her champagne glass toward a table where a dapper older gentleman in a bow tie sat talking to a younger man. “I never turn down free lobster.”
“You look nice.” Andie nodded toward Sally’s outfit.
“Ayuh. Thanks. I’ve had enough of this dressing up, though. First the gallery opening then this. I’ll be glad to get in my overalls and back to work.” Sally appraised Andie. “You look good too. No date?”
Andie sighed. “Nope. Just me.”
“Well, at least it looks like things are going to work out for Maxi and James.” Sally’s gaze followed the dancing couple. “I guess he finally listened to my advice. You know, if people would listen to me more often, they’d be a lot happier.”
“I bet they would.”
“I have to admit I was a bit worried about that Chandler fellow, though. Seemed like he had a thing for Maxi. But I saw him cozied up down at the Purple Blueberry with a blonde. Not a townie.”
“Was she in her late thirties? Shoulder-length hair? Perky?” Andie described Tiffany as best she could.
“Yeah, you know her?”
“Not really. But as long as he’s found someone else, that works for everyone.”
“Guess so.” Sally focused her attention on Andie. “What about you? I hear you’re staying in town.”
“Yes. This is my home now,” Andie said.
“Good. You’re the face of Tides now.”
“I don’t know about that. But this is where my family is, so this is where I'm going to stay.” Andie glanced back at the inn. “I’ll help with the guests at the inn part-time, and I bought the antique store downtown.”
“Good. That’s going to work out just perfect for you.” Sally scanned the crowd. “And Tides is going to do well. This event is coming off perfectly. I’ll bet you get a lot of good reviews. Even that sourpuss Marilyn is softening.”
Andie followed Sally’s gaze. Marilyn was still seated alone at the head table. Andie watched as she picked a morsel from her plate and leaned down tentatively, clucking to Cooper, who sat at her feet. Cooper’s tail wagged furiously, and he put up his paw. Marilyn took the paw as she fed the treat to Cooper, and for the first time since she’d arrived, Andie saw the woman smile.
“Guess dogs bring out the best in everyone.” Sally’s attention jerked toward the other side of the room. “Payton is motioning me over. Gotta run.”
Andie sipped her champagne and watched Sally rejoin her table. She was glad to hear that Chandler and Tiffany had hit it off. It felt good to help people. And now she had a chance to help even more people with their antiques. She couldn’t wait to get started.
Chapter Twenty-Four
James approached the front door to Maxi’s cottage with a mixture of nerves and anticipation. It was the night after the wedding at Tides, and he and Maxi had picked up where they’d left off. Better than where they’d left off, actually. They were entering a new phase of their relationship. One that he was very much looking forward to.
The cottage was similar to the one he’d looked at with Sandee, and he liked it immediately. He could see Maxi’s touches everywhere, from the whimsical wrought iron chair she’d placed out front to the flowers overflowing the window boxes.
Meow!
Picasso voiced his displeasure at being cooped up from inside the cloth cat carrier James held in his right hand. He hadn’t told Maxi about the cat and couldn’t wait to see the look on her face when he presented Picasso to her.
Palms clammy, he knocked on the door.
The door opened, and there she was. Maxi was wearing a yellow-and-white-checked sundress, and her hair was loose. She looked fantastic.
“Welcome!” She opened the door wider, then her eyes fell to the cat carrier. “What is this?”
James held the carrier out to her. Her smile widened. “Remember when you saw me downtown that day and I tried to avoid you? This is why. It’s a present I was getting for you.”
Maxi’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, James, I’m so sorry. I was a fool.”
“Never mind that now. It’s water under the bridge. We don’t need to think about that. Let’s focus on the future. Our future.”
Maxi smiled, took the carrier inside, and put it on the table.
The inside of the cottage was a little worn, as Maxi had already told him. James liked it anyway, especially since she’d added touches here and there and fixed it up with her usual skill.
Something scampered down the hallway toward him. “You already have a cat?” James sat on the floor and extended his hand to the black kitten, who approached cautiously. “Hey, I think I recognize this little guy. He was at the shelter when I got Picasso.”
“Picasso?” Maxi had taken the white kitten out and was cuddling him to her chest.
“I named him after one of your favorite artists. You can change it if you want.”
“No, it’s perfect.” Maxi placed Picasso down next to the other cat and sat on the floor next to James. “This one is named Rembrandt.”
Together they watched the two cats circle each other warily. There were a few hisses and a couple of paw swipes, but then they settled in and started playing. Soon they were rolling around in a fluffy flurry of black and white fur.
He stood and brushed a few hairs off his jeans. Oddly, he didn’t care as much now about cat hair or appearances. “Looks like they are going to get along fine.”
“Almost as if they were meant to be together,” Maxi said, her eyes softening as she looked up at him.
“Yes, it is.” James took her hand. “Now show me the rest of the cottage and your art
work. I think I’m going to be spending a lot of time here.”
Maxi’s heart was lighter than it had been in years. But she also felt bad. That day in the street when she’d thought James had avoided her had all been because he was getting her a precious gift.
He should have been mad at her, but here he was, smiling and holding out his hand.
She took it and stood. Keeping her hand firmly in his, she gestured around the cottage. “It’s not big, but it works for a nice studio. As you can see, it’s not fancy either.”
“Who needs something fancy with that view?” James pointed at the beach.
“I know, right?” They had a great view from their house on the cliff, but there was something about being right on the beach and being able to hear the sound of the waves and smell the sea. She pulled him toward the slider and then out onto the patio. “This is my favorite part.”
“I can see why.” James’s gaze drifted from the ocean to the easel setup in the corner. “Is this where you paint?”
Maxi nodded. “I’m going to start a new one tomorrow.”
“Excellent. The ones you had at the gallery were amazing. I’m happy for you.”
“Really?” Maxi was seeing a new James. He’d always been generous with money and compliments, but he’d never really acknowledged her creative side.
Of course, that might have been because she’d never talked about it. After all, it was she who had abandoned painting, so she couldn’t really blame him. She could sense he really was proud and that he wanted her to continue. He wanted to be a part of it. She wondered, though... how far would he go to be a part of her new life?
“I was thinking... maybe later on we could have a drink at the Purple Blueberry,” Maxi said shyly.
James’s brows rose. “Okay, if that’s what you’d like. The place seemed... interesting.”
“You don’t have to go there if it makes you uncomfortable.”
“Uncomfortable? I don’t know if I’d say that. It’s just not the sort of place I’m used to. But a wise woman told me I have to get out of my comfort zone, so I’d be happy to go.”
“A wise woman?”
“Yeah. Sally.”
Maxi laughed. “Well, she does like to dole out advice.”
“And sometimes it is wise.” James pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “She helped me see that I’d become complacent in our relationship. Took you for granted. That’s not going to happen anymore.”
“Good. Me either.”
James looked thoughtful. “You know, getting to know the artsy side of town might not be such a bad idea. Maybe I should institute a lending program for artists down at the bank.”
At least James hadn’t changed totally. He was still thinking of business, but this time he was mixing it with pleasure. James loved business, and she didn’t want him to push that aside for her, but now it seemed like maybe they could both have what they wanted. She could still have James and not lose herself in the process.
One week later...
Andie put the inventory list beside Gloria Farnsworth's silver box on the counter of the antique store. She’d paid nine hundred for the box. That was top dollar, and she'd be lucky to make any profit on it, but the look on Gloria's face when she’d realized the extra money would allow her to purchase horse-riding lessons along with the admission to 4-H camp for her granddaughter was worth it.
The grandfather clock in the corner chimed the hour. Almost time to meet Jane, Claire, and Maxi at Sandcastles for morning coffee. She’d made a dent in the inventory this past week, cataloguing everything in the shop and entering it into her computer. She’d dusted and polished so that everything was in top shape for her opening next week.
The apartment upstairs, on the other hand, still needed work. And furniture. But she could work on all that later. It had been an adjustment moving out of Tides, but with bookings up, she wanted the room to be empty so they could rent it out.
She grabbed the old skeleton key that locked the front door, stepped outside, then turned and slipped the key into the lock. It was still warm, but the air had that brisk undertone that signaled fall was right around the corner. The leaves were still green, but she pictured how pretty they would be when the tall oaks and maples that lined the street started to turn color.
“Well, hello, stranger.” The familiar deep baritone sent her pulse skittering.
Shane Flannery leaned in the doorway of the beauty salon next door. His long legs were crossed, T-shirt stretched across his broad chest.
“Hey, hi,” Andie said lamely, trying to act casual. Of all the times she’d looked for him at Tides and when she was running errands around town, he had to come up and surprise her when she was least prepared? She smoothed her hair that she'd shoved into a ponytail atop her head and glanced down at her frayed jeans and dust-covered T-shirt. “Are you doing work in the salon?”
The salon had been busy every time Andie had come to work on her apartment and store. She’d made a mental note to check them out herself. She needed a trim and maybe to cover up some grays. She hadn’t noticed any renovations going on, but maybe that was why Shane hadn’t been working at Tides.
Shane glanced back into the salon. “No, actually just visiting.”
“Oh.” Right. His girlfriend probably worked there. Maybe she was the one with the platinum blond bob or the dark curls? Certainly it wasn’t the woman with the long gray hair. She looked a good twenty years older than him.
“My aunt, cousin, and niece own it,” he said. “Do you remember them?”
Andie’s gaze flicked back to the window. She didn’t recognize any of them, but it had been decades since she’d met them, and it wasn’t like she’d known them well. Just a few meetings at family gatherings. “Oh! Yeah... I mean, I remember them, but didn’t realize they owned the shop.”
“What are you doing here?” He gestured toward the door.
“I bought the shop and the apartment above.”
“Wait. So you’re staying in Lobster Bay?”
Did he sound pleased? Andie couldn’t tell. Maybe he was just surprised. She couldn’t blame him. She’d surprised a lot of people with the decision, including herself and her coworkers at Christies.
“Yep. Gonna help Jane with Tides and run the shop in my spare time.”
Shane pushed off the wall, the smile spreading on his face showing off the dimple that always caught Andie’s heart. “Well, then, looks like we’re going to be seeing a lot of each other. I visit Aunt Mary a couple of times a week.”
“Huh, I guess we will, then.”
Andie watched him walk to his truck before continuing toward Sandcastles. Yep, it was looking more and more like she’d made the right decision. Despite her feelings of uncertainty at giving up her career and leaving the town she’d called home for most of her adult life, somehow she had a feeling that things were going to turn out just fine for her in Lobster Bay.
*****************************************
Find out what happens next in Lobster Bay! Join my newsletter for sneak peeks of my latest books and release day notifications:
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Also by Meredith Summers
Lobster Bay Series:
Saving Sandcastles (Book 1)
Changing Tides (book 2)
Making Waves (Book 3)
About the Author
Meredith Summers writes cozy mysteries as USA Today Bestselling author Leighann Dobbs and crime fiction as L. A. Dobbs.
She spent her childhood summers in Ogunquit Maine and never forgot the soft soothing feeling of the beach. She hopes to share that feeling with you through her books which are all light, feel-good reads.
Join her newsletter for sneak peeks of the latest books and release day notifications:
https://lobsterbay1.gr8.com
This is a work of fiction.
None of it is real.
All names, places, and events are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real names, places, or events are purely coincidental, and should not be construed as being real.
MAKING WAVES
Copyright © 2020
Meredith Summers
http://www.meredithsummers.com
All Rights Reserved.
No part of this work may be used or reproduced in any manner, except as allowable under “fair use,” without the express written permission of the author.
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