Sam didn’t know Gemma’s entire story but she knew enough to be certain her friend very much deserved her happy ending with a good man like Josh Bailey, Katrina’s cousin.
She had dated Josh herself a few times. He was nice, gentlemanly, funny. For a week or two, she had even thought she might be falling for him.
Of course, she could say that about a dozen guys in Lake Haven County.
Sam shoved a pin in a little too hard, poking her finger in the process. She told herself that was the reason she had winced, not the reminder of her own years of stupidity.
“I’m sorry I didn’t think to mention they were renting the house near you,” Gemma said.
“It’s fine,” she answered. “You have a few things on your mind.”
“I do, but I would’ve told you to watch out for them. It’s just that I didn’t know until last minute which house he would choose. There were two or three rental properties in the offing.”
And she had been lucky enough to win the Ian Summerhill lottery apparently.
“I’m thrilled he’ll be close so you can keep an eye on him.”
She did not want to keep her eyes or anything else on the man. Okay, it wasn’t precisely a hardship, but she knew her own weaknesses and one of those was any gorgeous man with a tragic backstory. She tended to find them impossible to resist.
Not this time. She was entirely too busy to obsess over her new neighbor.
“I’ll look forward to getting to know them,” she said. It wasn’t precisely a lie. The children were adorable.
When the fitting was over, Gemma hugged her one more time, almost weeping over the beauty of the gown. “Genius. I’ll say it one more time. You’re brilliant.”
Samantha laughed roughly. “We both know that’s not true but thank you for saying so.”
“I’m sorry I can’t come to the Helping Hands meeting today.”
“Oh, no. I’m sorry you’ll miss it,” Sam said.
“I am, too. After you called me to let me know the dress was ready for the next fitting, this seemed the perfect afternoon to take care of a few other wedding details. I’ve plans to meet with the caterer this afternoon in Shelter Springs. This wedding planning is not for the faint of heart!”
“Too bad you couldn’t do what Bowie and I did,” Katrina said with a grin. “We eloped to a private island in the Caribbean.”
It wasn’t precisely the entire story. The private island was correct but they hadn’t really eloped. The wedding had been more of a destination event off the coast of Colombia. All the Baileys and their significant others had flown over for it. Sam had been there, too, along with her mother, who had complained the entire time about the heat, the food, the ridiculous expense that could have been spent on other things.
While there were a few moments when Samantha might have been envious, she would never begrudge Katrina her happiness. She and Bowie were ridiculously happy together and were doing an amazing job raising two special-needs children, Bo’s younger brother whom they had adopted and who had been diagnosed with autism, and a young girl from Colombia with Down syndrome who had found her way into Katrina’s heart before she ever met Bowie.
“I will say a private island destination wedding sounds heavenly. It really does. But I’m afraid it’s too late now. For one thing, Josh’s family would kill me if I did that. For another, Eliza has been working for weeks to have Snow Angel Cove ready for the wedding. And finally, my brother and his children are here now and my parents will be here soon.”
“I think you’re stuck at this point.”
Gemma gave a good-natured smile. “Ah, well. Might as well make the best of it.”
“It will be wonderful,” Sam said. “What’s more romantic than getting married on the shores of the lake at sunset at Snow Angel Cove, one of the most gorgeous spots on Lake Haven?”
“True enough. Thank you for reminding me.”
Gemma kissed her on the cheek, then picked up her purse. “I really do have to go. Thank you again for everything. I mean that. I adore you both.”
When she left, Gemma seemed to take all the energy of the room with her, leaving Samantha suddenly exhausted. She wanted to flop to the ground right there on the floor of her workroom and close her eyes for five minutes.
“It really is an exquisite gown,” Katrina said when the room was quiet once more. “I especially love the neckline that highlights her gorgeous shoulders and collarbones.”
“I agree. That’s my favorite part, too. She’s going to be a beautiful bride.”
Gemma was only the latest in a string of beautiful brides Sam had helped to shine on their special day.
“Are you okay?”
She looked up quickly, wondering if Kat had heard that wistful note in her voice she hadn’t meant to reveal. “Sure. Terrific. Why do you ask?”
“I don’t know. You seem a little down. Is it because your mom’s birthday is coming up?”
She had almost forgotten Linda’s birthday would have been the following week. Her mother had never much wanted to celebrate her birthday. She supposed it was the mark of a true friend that Kat had remembered, anyway.
“That must be it,” she lied.
Katrina gave her a hug. “I’m sorry. I know how much you miss her.”
“It’s just different, you know?”
“I can’t imagine how hard you must find it now that she’s gone.”
Charlene, Katrina’s mother, was just about the exact opposite of Linda. She was funny and kind, supportive of all her children, no matter what they chose to do with their lives.
“I’m doing all right. To be honest, the past few months I’ve been so busy with the puppies and the wedding dress orders that I haven’t had much time to think about how empty the house feels.”
“Those puppies are so adorable. I still can’t believe my mom is taking one when they’re old enough to leave Betsey.”
Charlene had fallen for the puppies and had been the first to claim one. She would be the perfect puppy mom to Oscar, the smallest of the litter. All the puppies had been placed, which was a relief. In a few short weeks, she hoped to have them ready for their forever homes.
“So. Gemma’s brother. I’m imagining a sexy blond Jude Law type. Am I right?”
She pictured him for a moment, big, muscular, dark-haired with his collar button undone and his hair mussed. “No. He does have blue eyes but that’s about the only resemblance. I gather he’s a biology nerd. He’s doing research on Lake Haven’s salmon population.”
“Maybe a summer romance with a handsome Brit who will be leaving in a few weeks is just what you need. That would certainly shake you out of your blues.”
She frowned at her friend. “Ha. When would I have time for a fling, even if I wanted one? I’m working every waking moment either at the store or on my own projects at home. I’ve got orders for four wedding dresses to be created by the end of the summer and I’ve gone from never having responsibility for a pet to now having a dog with three puppies who need attention. All. The. Time.”
Suddenly the weight of everything was too much. The sleepless nights working, the worry over the business, missing her mother. Gemma’s upcoming wedding to the man of her dreams...who had for a very short time once been the man of Sam’s.
The loneliness.
Everyone in her world had someone else to love. Everyone but her.
The tears came out of nowhere, bursting out before she could stop them.
Katrina gave her one astonished look, then hugged Sam hard, which only seemed to intensify her sobs. Though the gesture was comforting, kind, it only made her feel more stupid.
“You’ve got so much more on your plate. You’ve got Milo and Gabriela and Bowie. I have no right to feel so overwhelmed.”
“You’re dealing with a lot. And dealing with it on your own, without L
inda there to help you out. I understand how tough that can be.”
“Nothing like you have.”
“You can’t compare our lives, honey. My life is busy in my way, your life is busy in yours.”
“I feel as if I’m running a hundred miles an hour and never catching up. I always have something I should be doing.”
“That’s the blessing and the curse of being good at what you do. People want your designs, which means more work and more stress but more job satisfaction, too.”
“You’re right. I know you’re right.”
She would be embarrassed about this in about an hour but right now it felt good to vent to her best friend. “If I could only design the dresses, that would be wonderful. But I have to manage the store, too. Payroll and inventory and employees who call in sick last-minute and need me to cover their shifts.”
Katrina looked as if she wanted to say something but then closed her mouth.
“What?”
Her friend sighed. “If you don’t want to run the store anymore, why do you have to? Your mom had a good life insurance policy. The house is paid off and so is the store. You now have the freedom to do something different, if you want. Sell Fremont Fashions. Then you can focus on your wedding gown designs, which is what you love.”
The very idea sent her into a panic. What would Linda think about that? Her mother had loved running the boutique, though her taste in fashion had been questionable at best.
Fremont Fashions had been her mother’s salvation in those dark days after her father’s death. Linda had thrown herself into salvaging the store, building a clientele, handling all aspects of running a small business.
Selling the store to focus on her own love of designing dresses would feel like a betrayal of everything her mother had worked for.
“I could never do that.”
“Why not? You have the talent, certainly. All you lack is the confidence.”
And the contacts. And the skills. And the customers.
“You’re a sweetheart,” she said to Kat. “And you know I adore you. I’m just having a bad day. I’m sorry you bore the brunt of it.”
“I’m not sorry. I’m glad I was here. You know I always have your back.”
Her friends were the greatest blessing of her life and she didn’t know what she would do without them. She would have been lost these past five months without the constant support of the Haven Point Helping Hands, the loosely organized group she belonged to whose goal was to try making their community better.
“Now,” Katrina said, “tell me more about Gemma’s brother. Any sparks?”
Sam could feel her face heat again and hoped Kat didn’t notice. “Even if there were, it wouldn’t matter. He could actually be Jude Law and I wouldn’t have the time or the energy for romance right now.”
“Do we need to take you to a doctor?” Kat asked with a wide-eyed look of astonishment.
“I don’t have time for that, either. Once the puppies are gone and the summer wedding frenzy, er, season is over, I might be able to think about dating. But I’m afraid by then Gemma and Josh will be married and her cute brother, who, again, looks nothing like Jude Law, will once more be back in England with his cute kids.”
“Then we’ll have to find you someone else, won’t we?”
Katrina looked so determined Sam didn’t have the heart to tell her she hadn’t been interested in dating since her mother died.
“We can talk about finding me the perfect man again in September,” she said. “Now help me put away the dress, then we can walk across the street to the Helping Hands meeting.”
“Who knows? Maybe we’ll meet him on the way.”
“Who? The perfect man? Or Gemma’s brother?”
Katrina laughed. “Maybe this Ian Summerhill is both.”
Sam knew that absolutely wasn’t true, despite her unfortunate dreams—dreams she wasn’t at all prepared to share with Katrina, who knew her entirely too well and knew her unfortunate tendency to think she was in love every time a man smiled at her.
* * *
“YOU SHOULD SEE IT. It’s seriously the most spectacular wedding gown in the entire history of wedding gowns.”
“Is it?”
“Yes. The way she’s done the neckline is a wonder. It’s a work of art. And the sleeves are perfect. When I wear it, I feel like I should be starring in my own personal rom-com or something.”
“What is a rom-com?” Thomas asked from across the table at the Shelter Springs restaurant where they had met Gemma for dinner.
“It’s a movie,” Gemma told him. “It stands for romantic comedy.”
“Is there lots of kissing?” Amelia asked.
“Oh, yes,” Gemma said with a dreamy smile. “Loads and loads of it.”
He didn’t want to think of his sister enjoying loads and loads of kissing with anyone, though he had to admit he liked her fiancé very much. Josh Bailey seemed a genuinely good man who obviously adored Gem.
“I want to see your wedding dress,” Amelia said. “May I?”
“Of course. The glorious creation should be ready about a week before the wedding. Perhaps you could come with me to pick it up.”
Ian had to smile at Gemma’s enthusiasm. He couldn’t remember seeing her work up any interest in clothing before. She always looked nice but seemed most happy in yoga clothes, yet here she was waxing almost poetic about a dress she would wear for one day.
“It’s a good thing you like it,” Ian said.
“I love it. But then, I knew I would. Samantha is amazing with a needle and thread.”
“Sounds like it.”
“How do you like living next to her? She mentioned that she met you all yesterday.”
“I fell in the water,” Thomas said. “Our neighbor helped me out.”
“That’s what I heard.”
Ian tried not to picture his lovely neighbor dripping wet, tight clothing sticking to places he didn’t want to notice.
“She seemed very nice but we spoke only for a handful of moments. I didn’t have much opportunity to form a solid impression.”
“When you have the chance to come to know her a little better, I have no doubt you will love her as much as I do. Truly, she’s become a dear friend. She’s funny and smart and so creative with that dress shop of hers.”
As she continued gushing about her friend, Ian frowned as a sudden suspicion took root. He glanced at the children, who were now busy coloring pictures on the paper tablecloth with the crayons their server had provided.
“Tell me you’re not trying your hand at matchmaking,” he murmured in a low voice.
“Don’t be silly,” she protested, but the sudden pink that stole across his sister’s cheeks was all the answer he needed.
“Gem. Don’t.”
“Who said anything about matchmaking? I only meant she will be the perfect neighbor to you and the children. She’s lovely. Truly lovely.”
“I’m sure she is.”
He wasn’t available for a summer fling with an American woman, no matter how lovely she might be. Surely his sister understood the myriad reasons for that. Anyway, even if circumstances were different and Ian wasn’t buried under the weight of his impending responsibilities, he still wouldn’t have an affair with Samantha Fremont.
Why would a soft and pretty woman like her have any interest in a stiff, rumpled British professor who knew more about the reproductive processes of Lake Haven kokanee salmon than he did about the kind of things that might interest a young, attractive woman?
There was a flurry near the table and Josh Bailey finally joined them.
“Sorry I’m late. We had some issues at the store trying to track down a large order that’s gone astray and I lost track of time.”
The owner of a chain of sporting goods stores might not be the man
Ian expected Gemma to fall for but Josh utterly and completely adored Gemma. That made him perfect for her, as far as Ian was concerned.
“Did you find it?” Ian asked.
“Yes. In North Dakota, of all places. I’ve got it rerouted now and heading our way.”
The waiter came to take their order. Ian thought Josh might need more time but he explained that he had eaten there many times before and always ordered the same thing: French dip with sweet potato fries.
“How are you settling into your new house?” Josh asked after the waiter left to give their order to the kitchen staff. “I’m still sorry you decided not to stay at my ranch. You know I have plenty of room.”
“That’s very kind of you to offer but I needed to be close to the water since that’s the only way to get to Chalk Creek without hiking three miles over hard terrain. Thank you also for arranging a boat for me to use, by the way.”
“Not a problem at all. It belongs to a friend of mine who owes me a favor. Since he’s going to be gone all summer, he assured me it’s no problem for you to use it. I’ll try to bring it by tomorrow.”
“I appreciate that.”
“And we still need to go horseback riding, don’t we?” Josh said to the children with his friendly smile. “Maybe we can go this weekend.”
“Oh, please.” Amelia looked thrilled at the possibility, happier than she’d been in ages.
His heart ached when he looked at his daughter. She and Susan had been close and he knew Amelia missed her mother dearly. He might have guessed she would inherit Susan’s love of horses, too.
“Josh’s horses have the sweetest natures. Every one of them,” Gemma said. “A Western saddle takes a bit of getting used to but I don’t doubt we could find a saddle for you that’s similar enough to the one you’re accustomed to using at home.”
Some of Amelia’s enthusiasm seemed to fade. “I only wish I had a friend to go riding with. I miss my friend Olivia terribly.”
She had not let him forget that she wasn’t happy about spending a month away from her friends, especially when they would be moving to Dorset at the end of the summer.
Summer at Lake Haven Page 3