“By the looks of it? Your mom’s cute-as-heck new boyfriend,” Sadie said, before nodding her head toward the house. “And probably your cue to go back inside. Unless you want to enjoy a romantic tête-à-tête with them.”
Tansy swatted at her but was quickly scrambling toward the front door. “Hi Dan! Bye Dan!” she called.
“Hi Dan! Bye Dan!” Sadie mimicked. As quick as she’d come, she disappeared with her sparkling apple cider, leaving the champagne behind with a wink.
“Well, shoot. I sure know how to empty a room.” Dan smiled shyly, holding out a bouquet of the prettiest pink peonies. “How are you feeling?”
“Oh, wow! These are beautiful.” Renee held them to her nose, delighting in their delicate scent. “Thank you! And I’m feeling okay. A little shaky.” He swept her to his chest, pressing his lips against hers and slowly working his tongue against her in a rhythm that threatened to make her forget her own name. “Okay, and that? Not helping with the shakiness.”
He gave her a wicked grin. Any sign of the gentle small-town doctor was gone as he growled, “Do I make you weak in the knees, Renee Rhodes?”
By way of reply, she nipped his neck, licking the salt from the skin, and making him shudder. “Two can play at that game.”
“Take a walk with me?” He squeezed her hand. “Before I do dirty things to you on that porch swing.”
“Maybe once the neighborhood goes to bed.” She winked as she set the flowers down on the bistro table. “Lead the way.”
Once they made it down to the shoreline, they kicked off their shoes and walked in the surf, the water tickling their feet. It amazed Renee how they walked in tandem, their sides brushing, their fingers interlaced. Every movement in sync.
“How’s Michelle working out?”
Michelle was the new receptionist at the Coastal Kids Medical Group, a twenty-something, single mother Renee had helped interview. The young woman’s story was remarkably similar to her own, except in her case, it had been an oboist rather than a kindergarten teacher.
“She thinks we should start an Instagram account,” Dan grumbled—good-naturedly, of course—which made Renee laugh. “It would feature me giving out medical tips and tricks. Who in the world would tune in for such a snooze fest?”
“I sure would,” she said, playfully kissing his neck, his cheeks.
They paused and watch the light fade out over the water as the sun dipped into the woods behind them.
“I hate that I don’t know what’s going to happen with Bree,” she whispered at last. “Why is this dragging out?”
“Ah,” Dan breathed, sliding an arm around her waist. “So, you have two things weighing on your heart tonight. One happy and one sad.”
“Pretty much.”
They stared up at the darkening sky.
“Good thing there are a few stars to wish on,” he said, pointing out the brightest ones.
Renee closed her eyes, offering both a prayer and a wish for her sister. Please let Bree be okay. Do not take her from me. I can’t bear it. She reached for Dan’s cheek, resting her palm over it. “What did you wish for?”
Dan looked at her curiously.
“I already have my wish. She’s standing right beside me.”
Chapter Thirty-One
It was impossible to fully take in such a day.
How did you soak up every sound, every taste, every scent? How did you bottle up those sorts of feelings, this sort of wonder, pride, and appreciation? Where did you even begin? Maybe it was impossible, but Sadie was trying.
She had woken up at 4:00 a.m. and crept downstairs to brew a pot of tea. She took her warm mug out to the beach with her, taking comfort in the fact that Renee’s kitchen light was also already on for the day. She must not have been the only one who couldn’t sleep last night.
Renee was standing in front of the window above her sink, her red hair striking against the periwinkle blue of her robe. Sadie knew she was filling her own teakettle, but wondered what Renee was feeling and thinking.
Was she as excited as Sadie was? Was she as nervous, overwhelmed? Was she this astonishingly happy?
Sadie had taken a seat on the beach, on the edge of the surf, and watched the sun rise.
I want to remember these colors, the pink, orange, and yellow. I want to remember the salty smell, the gentle breeze that sent a chill down my bare legs. I want to remember how wonderful this warm cup of tea felt in my hands, how soft the sand felt between my toes. How perfectly content I felt in this moment.
Not only did Sadie want to remember these details for herself, but she also wanted to tell them to her children someday. She wanted them to know every element of this day, how it felt to have everything come together and create something so amazing, so awesome.
Now, nearly six hours later, Renee and Sadie stood at the front of the pie shop, beaming as cameras flashed and their friends, family, and neighbors applauded. They were here, they’d made it. Not even a hurricane had been able to destroy this dream of theirs.
“How are you feeling?” Sadie whispered, smoothing her light blue dress. She’d paired the J. Crew find with a smart, navy blazer and red kitten heels. “Can you tell I’m sweating? Please say no.”
“Stunned. This feels surreal,” said Renee. “And no, I swear I can’t tell you’re sweating.”
Practically the entire town had showed up for Hester’s grand opening, every citizen wanting to cheer on Renee and Sadie. “I didn’t bake enough pies,” Renee murmured in a panic.
Sadie grinned. “Just more reason for everyone to visit in the many days to come.”
She spotted Ethan, Lincoln, Annette, and her parents by the stairs. With her mother-in-law and Melissa leading the charge, they were edging their way up to the very front.
“Is she always so bossy?” Her mother had whispered this morning, when Annette chastised her for cutting Lincoln’s strawberries into halves rather than his preferred quarters. “I didn’t realize there was a wrong way to cut fruit.”
“Always,” Sadie said with a grin. “But you’ll grow to love it. I promise.”
Melissa and Christopher had made the trip from D.C. and were blessedly staying at a B&B run by old family friends rather than the Landrys’ crowded cottage. They’d had a commemorative plaque made for Sadie with “Hester’s” engraved in gold, plus the shop’s opening date and Sadie and Renee’s names. It was stuffy and formal—plus, where in the heck was Sadie supposed to hang such a thing? But Sadie knew her parents meant well, and she appreciated it.
What she appreciated more than their present? Their presence, of course.
“Sadie! I cannot believe you designed this!” Melissa had exclaimed, sticking a well-manicured hand against her chest at her first sight of the newly renovated Old Red Mill. “It’s certainly come a long way from that stuffy restaurant that used to be here.”
“You did good, sweetheart,” Christopher chimed in, clapping her on the back as if she were a banker buddy, “though that place did put out a nice steak.”
“I wish your grandma was here to see this.” Sadie was surprised to see tears in the ever-composed Melissa’s eyes. “She would have loved it. All of it. You are making her dream come true, and I know she’s smiling down on you today.”
“Thanks.” She’d smiled, too pleased to say anything more interesting. “I feel her here today too.”
Ethan’s bruises were almost faded, but while he’d given up the crutches he still had a limp. Christopher had Lincoln balanced on his broad shoulders and they both smiled, revealing matching sets of dimples. How had Sadie never noticed Lincoln inherited those from her father until this very moment?
Annette and Melissa were having an ever so polite showdown, in which both women were using their hips to bump the other a little farther back, trying to get the coveted spot closest to Sadie.
“That’s my daughter-in-law!” Annette was saying to anyone remotely close to her periphery as Melissa chimed in, “And my daughter, of course.”
Sadie giggled—seriously, what world was she living in?
From the schoolhouse lighting to the checkered floors, she was so proud of this space, and sensed her grandmother would have loved it, too. The walls were full of old memories and soon so many new, wonderful ones would be created within them.
And her work at the Old Red Mill had only just begun. The notion filled her with such happiness, such purpose, she thought her heart might burst. Her next assignments? Designing new spaces for both Castaway Yarns and Chickadee Studios. Her little chat with Essie had turned her brainstorm into a reality. It didn’t take much convincing to get the businesses to relocate to the Old Red Mill. The insurance money didn’t hurt either.
“The way we see it, we’re going to take our lemons and make lemonade,” Jill told her over brunch, as Bree’s boss, Nina, nodded. “Essie persuaded us the hurricane was simply clearing the path for bigger, better things.”
“So, what do you say?” Nina smiled. “Will you help us design our shops?”
“I’d be honored,” Sadie replied.
When was the last time she’d felt this excited?
The baby kicked, seemingly in agreement, and Sadie instinctively rubbed her hand over her abdomen.
“When are you due?” Alexis Vogel, a reporter for The Bog, walked over. “Has it been difficult juggling parenthood while starting your own business? How are you balancing it all?”
Sadie fought an eye roll. The kid meant well. But seriously, would anyone ever ask Ethan this question?
Not in a million years.
Hester’s was much more Renee’s business than Sadie’s—they’d agreed to split the profits seventy-thirty—but Sadie was certainly working a full-time schedule when she considered all the hours she was putting in on the rest of the Old Red Mill’s renovations. She’d been talking about taking over as special event manager once all the stores were up and running. There was so much potential at the mill, from holiday events to catered parties and even weddings.
“I’m due in November,” Sadie smiled. “And honestly? Being a working mother suits me pretty damn well. I love my children and my job. There’s no way to be a perfect mom, but this is my way to be a good one.”
And with a full heart, she walked to the front of the crowd, toward her future.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Mom! Look over here! That’s it, strike a pose. I love what you’re serving here.” Tansy put her new Instax camera to her eye and snapped another Polaroid-esque photo. Wearing her knit violet dress and favorite denim jacket, her daughter looked like herself again.
“Dude.” One of her high school band friends walked over. “Your mom is the coolest.”
“Well, duh,” Tansy replied with a wink and Renee couldn’t hold back the ear-to-ear grin.
Renee looked around, taking it all in. Sadie was busy chatting with high school friends. Dot Turner was talking Dan’s ear off about resting heart rates and Sadie’s dad was clapping people on the back right and left. A pretty perfect scene.
“Hey, sorry to stop all the chitchat, but if we could have our families please join us up in the front,” Sadie called over the crowd, motioning for Ethan, Lincoln, Annette, and her parents to come forward. Renee did the same with Tansy, Bree, and Dan. Her people.
“I always knew you could do it,” Dan whispered in Renee’s ear, his warm breath sending a delicious shiver down her spine.
“Yeah?” She smiled up at him. “Well, now I believe it myself.”
It was mind-boggling how many people had shown up for Hester’s grand opening. She’d made at least fifty pies praying that she wouldn’t have too many left over, and it turned out that she could have baked four times as many and not had nearly enough.
Renee cleared her throat. “If you’ll all humor me, I have a few words.” The crowd grew quiet. “We would not be here today if it wasn’t for the love and support of not only Cranberry Cove, but of those closest to us. They’ve put up with a lot of long hours and done a lot of the heavy lifting as we embraced this dream, and we will be forever grateful.” Renee slung one arm around Bree and the other around Tansy. She caught Essie Park’s gaze in the audience. “And we certainly wouldn’t be here if a certain real estate agent wasn’t so darn persistent.”
Everyone laughed, and Essie gave a delicate wave fitting of Queen Elizabeth basking in the attention.
“Thanks to every single one of you for believing in Hester’s and the Old Red Mill. And for believing in us,” Sadie chimed in. “This town is such a special place. Not only do we get to enjoy the best beach in all of New England—not that I’m biased or anything—but the most amazing people in the whole world call this place home. This is a town that looks out for each other and we have each other’s backs. I know and appreciate that more than ever.”
Tears prickled Renee’s eyes as she watched Ethan kiss the top of Sadie’s head and heard him whisper a hoarse “I love you.” She saw them nod toward Officer Tyler, who tipped his hat in reply.
Her next-door neighbors were going to be okay. Her sister was going to be fine—she had to, there was no other option here.
After offering up a silent prayer, she took a step forward. “We want everyone to feel welcome here, at Hester’s in particular, but also at the entire Old Red Mill. This is going to be a space for everyone to gather, whether that’s over a slice of pie, while searching for the perfect shade of yarn at Castaway’s, exploring their artistic abilities at a pinot-and-painting event at Chickadee, or taking a break on a nature walk. This old mill can teach us new lessons about family, friends, and community. We hope you’ll all become regulars.”
Everyone clapped and cheered.
“We’d like our children to do the honors of cutting the ribbon,” she said as Sadie reached for Lincoln, helping him to the ground.
“Me help! And then I eat!” Lincoln shouted, making everyone laugh.
With a dramatic snip, the ribbon was cut.
Hester’s was officially open for business.
Renee’s heart was full of love, hope, fear all mixed up together to create this one unique moment. This was her life.
“Now, who wants a piece of pie?” she asked.
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About the Author
Sarah Mackenzie lives and writes in New England.
Forever Friends Page 27