Wish Upon a Shell
Page 17
Camille walked over to where they were sitting. “The sheriff said to meet him here.”
“He’s not here.” Julie wondered what this was all about.
“I guess we’ll have something to eat while we wait.” Camille sounded reluctant.
Not any more reluctant than Julie felt about serving her.
The door opened and the sheriff stepped inside. He crossed over to them. “Good, I see you’re all here. I’ve got news.” He flipped open his ever-present notebook. “I’ve caught the thief.”
“You have?” Camille’s eyes widen. “It’s not Julie?”
“No, ma’am. It’s the pool boy you hired. Got a tip from a…” Sheriff Dave looked at his note. “A Reed Newman.”
“Reed?”
“Yes, ma’am. He suggested we check out the pool service and the gardening service. Appears the pool service hired this new worker. We’ve had reports of stolen items from two other customers of the pool service you use. Caught him red handed. We’ve recovered your mother’s things.”
“That’s wonderful news.” Camille clapped her hands and turned to Julie. “No hard feelings, right? I never really believed it was you.”
Julie didn’t even dignify Camille with an answer.
“No, of course you didn’t.” Tally rolled her eyes.
“This is fortunate, because Mama is having a party this weekend and her caterer just quit at the last minute. You’ll help us out won’t you? You’ll cater the party for Mama?”
“No.” Julie, Tally, and Susan said in unison.
“Well… I never.” Camille’s face turned red and she turned to the sheriff. “Thanks for your help, Sheriff. I’ll tell Mama what a good job you did.”
“It was all because of that Reed fellow.”
“Whatever.” Camille turned away. “Come on Delbert, let’s go eat somewhere else.”
Delbert flashed them an apologetic look and trailed after Camille. The couple walked out the door with the sheriff.
“Well, that’s good news.” Tally took a sip of her coffee.
“I had no idea Reed was working on trying to figure out who really stole all the things.” Julie sat, stunned by the turn of events.
“You’ve got yourself a good man.” Susan smiled.
“I do. And I have Tally to thank for that. If she hadn’t talked some sense into both of us, we would have let our chance for happiness slip by.”
Tally reached over and squeezed her hand. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you, Julie. Since that very first day I met you, that scared, lost girl trying to stay dry out by my storage shed.” Tally smiled. “You’ve become quite the woman, and I’m proud of you.”
A wave of joy and contentment swept through Julie. She belonged here, with these women, in this town. She had the respect of Tally, the friendship of both of these women, and… she had Reed’s love.
Life didn’t get much better.
* * *
Reed and Julie stood on the beach at the water’s edge at Lighthouse Point. His arm rested gently around her as they watched the setting sun. She turned her face up to his and he leaned down and gently kissed her lips.
“I love you.” He whispered the words against her cheek.
“I love you, too.” She leaned against him.
She looked down at the sand and a bright golden shell tumbled at their feet. She reached down and scooped it up. She turned the shell over and over in her hand, then pressed it into Reed’s palm.
“Should we make a wish?”
“What should we wish for?” His eyes were filled with a love she could feel to her very being. A love she trusted.
Julie took a deep breath. “We wish for… a long life filled with love and happiness.”
“That is a perfect wish,” Reed added.
Reed took her hand in his, and together they tossed the shell into the ocean.
Also by Kay Correll
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The Shop on Main - Book One CLICK HERE TO GET IT FOR FREE NOW!
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See all my books at my website.
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Series Reading Order
Series Reading Order:
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Lighthouse Point Series:
Wish Upon a Shell ~ One
Wedding at the Beach ~ Two (winter 2017)
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Comfort Crossing Series:
The Shop on Main - Book One
The Memory Box - Book Two
The Christmas Cottage - A Holiday Novella (Book 2.5)
The Letter - Book Three
The Wedding in the Grove - A Short Story (3.25)
The Christmas Scarf - A Holiday Novella (Book 3.5)
The Magnolia Cafe - Book Four
The Unexpected Wedding - Book Five
About the Author
Kay Correll writes stories that are a cross between contemporary romance and women’s fiction. She likes her fiction with a healthy dose of happily ever after. Her stories are set in the fictional small town of Comfort Crossing, Mississippi. While her books are a series, each one can be read as a stand-alone story.
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Kay lives in Missouri and can often be found out and about with her camera, taking a myriad of photographs which she likes to incorporate into her book covers. When not lost in her writing or photography, she can be found spending time with her ever-supportive husband, working in her garden, or playing with her puppies—two cavaliers and one naughty but adorable Australian shepherd. Kay and her husband also love to travel. When it comes to vacation time, she is torn between a nice trip to the beach or the mountains—but the mountains only get considered in the summer—she swears she’s allergic to snow.
Learn more about Kay and her books at kaycorrell.com
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WHERE TO FIND ME:
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kaycorrell.com
authorcontact@kaycorrell.com