She tossed the whole thing into the Dumpster with a primal yell and stood there while she listened to the thump and resulting echo when all that paper hit the bottom of the metal bin.
Drawing in a breath, she felt stronger than she’d ever felt before.
The sound of a car engine met her ears, and she turned as a silver sedan pulled into the driveway at the inn. The driver stopped, and Eloise shaded her eyes with her hand to see who’d arrived.
Both back doors opened, and the very best women in the world stood. Alice on the left, and Robin on the right.
Eloise sobbed and hung her head as her friends rushed toward her.
“We’re here,” Alice said, reaching her first. She wrapped Eloise up tight, and she was surprisingly strong for how thin she was. Robin hugged them both, and the three of them cried right there on the asphalt in front of the Dumpster.
“Whatever you want to do is fine,” Alice said. “We’re here to help you.”
“Let’s talk it through,” Robin said. “Come on, girls. Let’s go inside and talk it through.”
Eloise nodded and the three of them separated. She wiped her eyes, feeling withered and spent. She wasn’t sure she could endure a lengthy conversation, and besides, one wasn’t necessary.
Before she could find her voice, another car arrived in the driveway, and this time, Kelli and AJ emerged from it.
They’d come. They’d all come, and Eloise did not know what she had done to deserve friends like the four of them.
AJ hugged her first and led with, “I’m sorry, Eloise. I was mad at Kristen’s, and I didn’t handle the situation well.”
Kelli said nothing, but the grip with which she held onto Eloise’s shoulders spoke volumes.
“Come on,” Robin said. “I know Eloise will have what we need to make cookies.” She led the way to the caretaker’s suite, and Eloise allowed everyone to enter before her.
When she stepped inside, she closed the door and said, “I transferred the money.”
At least two of them gasped, and they all turned to look at her. Alice looked the most hopeful, followed by Robin.
“Really?” Alice asked, taking one step back toward her. She glanced at Robin. “What made you decide to do that?”
“You guys,” Eloise said, pressing her palms to her outer thighs. “Maybe a little bit of Aaron. But mostly you guys.”
“I thought…” Robin let her sentence hang there, and Eloise stepped down into the suite.
“I’d started thinking about how I could use the money to help you,” she said. “I could pay off Alice’s house, and then she wouldn’t have to worry if Frank couldn’t pay. I could help Kelli so she wasn’t so stressed about being single and starting over here in the cove. I could pay for AJ to fly back and forth every weekend, because I miss her so much.”
Her voice broke, and she reached for AJ, who came to her side instantly. She squeezed her hand, and while AJ rarely cried, Eloise found glistening tears in her eyes.
“I thought I could maybe get a new boat for Duke, and then I could buy the lot next door to this one and have more space for the inn.” She shook her head. “They were fantasies, but they were real too, and I just…wanted to help.”
None of them said anything, and Eloise wasn’t sure what she wanted them to say. Maybe nothing was just fine.
“So I decided to help—and that meant I had to do what Garrett wanted me to do. Then he wouldn’t make things worse, and we can try to put this behind us and move forward.”
“Thank you, Eloise,” Kelli said. “I came to say that I would support whatever decision you made, because you’re the smartest woman I know, and whatever you thought was right probably was.”
Eloise shook her head. “That’s just not true, Kelli. But thank you.”
“We are not going to let money come between us,” Robin said. “Or the past.” She walked over to Eloise too and faced everyone. “Right, ladies? Even if Garrett had come at us with everything he had, we would’ve been fine, because we would’ve had each other.”
“That’s right,” AJ said.
“I still want cookies,” Alice said, smiling at Eloise. Somehow, that statement broke the tension that had been stretched tightly through Eloise for so long, and she giggled. Robin did too, and then AJ burst out laughing.
Everyone joined in, and the five of them piled into Eloise’s kitchen to make chocolate chip cookies, just like they used to do in Kristen’s kitchen at the lighthouse.
While the first batch baked, Eloise snuck away and texted her brother. It’s done. Did you get it?
He immediately sent a thumbs-up emoji, and Eloise simply stared at her phone screen, wondering if that was really how a sibling relationship died.
Obviously, she thought, and she shoved her phone in her back pocket, her chest constricting in such a painful way, she thought it would never expand properly again.
Eloise looked over to where Aaron still stood at the check-in desk. He still didn’t have the key to their room, and Eloise wondered what the problem was. He’d brought her to a boutique hotel on Pearl Island, and Eloise had been impressed with the charming gardens and high-end finishes in the lobby. It also boasted a private beach, and a personal hot tub on the deck of each suite.
But Aaron hadn’t seemed to be able to get them checked in, and fifteen minutes had passed. He hadn’t texted, and Eloise wondered if she needed to go over there and see if she could help. Just as she started to stand, he turned from the counter, a wide smile on his face.
She returned it, and she wheeled her suitcase across the marble floor toward him. He wore a simple pair of jeans and a pale blue shirt, open at the throat with the top couple of buttons undone. He was gorgeous and sexy, and Eloise could hardly believe she was with him.
“Got it?” she asked as he reached his hand toward hers.
“Yep.” He slipped his fingers between hers and squeezed. “Sorry that took forever. First he couldn’t find the registration, and you know how it’s so hard to search your email on your phone?”
She laughed, because it really was difficult. “It’s ridiculous how hard it is.”
“Then, he couldn’t get his key maker to work. He had to go to the next station over, and then the next one. So he decided to switch rooms, but that one didn’t have the ocean view, and I paid for that.”
“Good call,” she said. “The ocean view is important.” She grinned at him as he touched the button for the elevator.
“It is,” he said. “The hot tub faces the ocean, and I want to sit in the hot water and watch the sun rise in the morning.”
“I’m hoping to be asleep with the sun rises,” she said.
He laughed as the elevator doors opened, and he touched the eleven.
“Ooh, top floor.”
“Nothing but the best for this weekend,” he said. “Our first alone.” He nuzzled her neck, and she giggled as he growled and kissed her. His phone buzzed, and he pulled away to send a quick text.
The elevator wasn’t of the fast variety, and by the time they arrived on the eleventh floor, Eloise was ready to be in a room with air conditioning. Aaron led the way down the hall, telling her about the clawfoot tub in the bathroom, and that he wanted to take her to a new crepe shop for breakfast that had just opened on this island.
He touched the keycard to the sensor on the last door in the hallway, and Eloise was aware it was a corner suite. How Aaron had the money to pay for this, she wasn’t sure. The door unlatched, and he looked over his shoulder to smile at her. “Ready?”
“Yes,” she said. “Let’s hope this suite has an amazing air conditioner. This hotel is hot.”
He went inside and held the door with his foot so it wouldn’t swing shut in her face. She pulled her bag across the threshold and looked up to take in the grandeur of the room.
Aaron stepped out of the way, and a wall of windows expanded in front of her. She smiled, because she loved sunlight. It took her several seconds to realize there were bouquets of
roses on every table and counter. Red ones, white ones, yellow ones, pink ones.
“Wow,” she said. “This place is—” She cut off, because Aaron stepped back in front of her, crowding right into her space.
“I love you, Eloise,” he said, his head down as he looked at something in his hand. She followed his gaze and saw the black box. Her lungs seized, and she automatically fell back a step.
“Aaron.”
“My dad loves you so much,” another voice said, and Eloise jerked her attention to Grace. She came out from behind the kitchen bar, and she held up a bracelet made of nearly clear, blue stones. “I love you too, Eloise, and I got you this bracelet so we’ll match.” She held up her skinny wrist, where she wore an identical bracelet.
“Oh, I love you too,” Eloise said, taking Grace into a tight hug. She held out her arm and let Grace slip the bracelet on. “Thank you.”
“My dad loves you more than his job,” Billie said, and Eloise’s emotion caught in her throat. She came from the other side of the room, and she looked so grown up and so confident. She held up a pendant that had a silver charm on it. “I got you this necklace, so we can always be together.” She touched her collarbone. “I have one too, because I like to think about what you would tell me to do in some situations.”
Eloise’s eyes filled with tears that were so unlike the ones she’d cried and cried yesterday. These were happy tears, and this was the perfect proposal. “Thank you,” she said, lifting her hair so Billie could clasp the necklace around her neck.
Once that was done, she took Billie into a hug and said, “I love you. I’m so lucky to get to be your stepmom.”
“Really?” Billie asked, tilting her head back to look at Eloise. “You think you’re lucky?”
“Yes,” Eloise said. “Absolutely.”
Billie looked so vulnerable, and Eloise reminded herself of just how much the girl needed to be loved.
“I do love you so much,” Aaron said. “And more than my job. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and I want to raise my girls with you, and I want you to be mine forever.” He dropped to both knees and cracked open the ring box he’d been holding this whole time.
“Eloise, will you marry me?”
She let her tears spill out of her eyes as she nodded. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He slid the ring on her finger, rose to his feet, and kissed her while his girls cheered. Soon enough, though, Billie said, “Dad, stop it.”
He laughed as he pulled away, and Eloise tucked herself into his chest as he said, “Stop what?”
“You looked like you were going to eat her face.” Billie looked thoroughly disgusted, and both Aaron and Eloise burst out laughing.
“Kissing is super gross,” Billie said, and Eloise couldn’t help disagreeing.
“Keep that opinion,” Aaron called after her as she went back into the room where she’d been hiding. “And get your phone, because Tara will be here in five minutes.”
“They’re not staying?” Eloise asked.
“Absolutely not,” Aaron whispered. “I want to eat your face off, and they can’t be here while we do that.” He grinned at her, and Eloise warmed from head to toe.
She looked down at her ring finger while Aaron made sure his girls had their backpacks and Billie had her phone, and then he kissed Eloise real quick and said, “I’m going to walk them down to the circle drive. Be right back. Maybe go turn on that hot tub, and we can relax in there.”
“Sure, okay,” she said. He left, and she wandered out to the deck, which had an intimate hot tub for two, as well as the most amazing ocean view in the whole wide world. Eloise took a deep breath of the salty, sea air and let it brush through her hair before she turned to turn on the bubbles in the hot tub.
Then she pulled out her phone and sent a quick message on her friends’ group text. I’m engaged! Who can come to the inn for lunch on Monday? I want everyone there, because it’s a great story.
“The corn on the cob is divine,” Robin said.
“Have you tried the corn and shrimp fritters?” AJ asked. “I can’t even.”
“There is nothing as good as Mort’s blue crab,” Alice said.
“I just want a few bites of everything,” Kelli said.
Eloise loved listening to her friends talk about the food. She wished she had made it, but her skill had never really been in the kitchen. She could order with the best of them, though, and she’d had practically the entire menu of Mort’s delivered to the inn.
Her new picnic tables on the back patio were perfect, and she’d even put up the umbrellas by herself so they could eat in the shade.
They’d all come hungry, and while they’d all embraced and taken a moment to say hello, no one had asked to see Eloise’s ring yet.
She didn’t mind, because she’d be in the spotlight soon enough. She’d called her mother on Saturday morning and told her the good news, and then she’d called Kristen to tell her too.
Aaron had consulted with his parents as well, so they could find a date that worked for everyone. With his father doing his campaign next year, Aaron thought the earlier in the year, the better.
Eloise would marry the man tomorrow if he’d let her.
But he’d said, “No, El. You want this big, beautiful wedding, and you’re going to get it.”
She did want that, despite what she’d told Robin to the contrary, and she adored Aaron for reminding her that it was okay that her wedding be exactly what she wanted it to be.
“Okay, Eloise,” Robin finally said when they’d slowed their eating. “I’ve got my calendar right here.” She actually pulled a physical book out of her bag and spread it on the table in front of her. “Let’s get a date on it.”
“I can’t believe you use a paper calendar,” Alice said. “What is this? Nineteen-eighty-four?”
Robin threw her a dirty look while everyone else twittered. “This system works for me, I’ll have you know. I never forget anything.”
“My phone actually sends me reminders,” Alice said, grinning.
“I’m so happy for you,” Robin said dryly.
Eloise loved it when the two of them bickered. She wasn’t even sure why, only that it brought her joy.
“You’re not wearing your ring,” Kelli said. “Where is it?”
“Oh, right.” Eloise dug into her pocket and pulled out the ring, easily sliding it on her finger. She held out her hand the way she’d seen brides do and admired the shiny diamond.
“Holy cow.” AJ grabbed her hand and asked, “Is this a Sadie Merchant?” She looked up with wide eyes. “These are like, twenty thousand dollars.”
“That’s not true,” Alice said, but she ogled the ring too. “I had no idea Chief Sherman was pulling down that kind of salary though. Maybe I should go into law enforcement.”
The idea of Alice in a police officer uniform struck Eloise as hilarious, and she burst out laughing.
“What?” Alice asked between her giggles. “You don’t think I can take down the bad guys?”
“You can barely support your own weight,” Kelli said, laughing too.
Once they’d quieted again, Kelli said, “It’s a beautiful ring, Eloise.” She reached across the table and patted her hand.
“It is a Sadie Merchant,” AJ declared, turning her phone toward Eloise. “It’s the Deep Sea model. I knew I’d seen it.” She stared at the ring again, her expression unreadable. “I can’t believe he can afford this.”
“Who’s Sadie Merchant?” Eloise asked. She’d bet the value of the ring Aaron didn’t know who it was either.
“She’s only the best jewelry designer on the Atlantic Seaboard,” AJ said, obviously disgusted Eloise didn’t know. “She has this pair of teardrop earrings that legit look like the ocean waves when light hits them.” She tapped and swiped and showed her phone again a moment later. “Aren’t they fabulous?”
“You’d look good wearing those on-air,” Kelli said.
&nb
sp; AJ lowered her phone then. “I called my boss this morning to say I’d missed my flight.” It wasn’t technically a lie, but AJ hadn’t even tried to get on the flight, so maybe it was.
“And?” Robin prompted.
“And nothing. He said the meeting wasn’t that important, and he’d catch up to me when he got back from Toronto.”
“What’s he doing in Toronto?” Alice asked.
“Something to do with hockey,” AJ said. “I was probably supposed to go with him. I know a few of the players up there.”
“None of this is important,” Robin said, tapping her pen against her paper calendar. Eloise supposed it was a bit old-fashioned to make all of her appointments and tasks on paper, but it was also so Robin that Eloise couldn’t imagine her doing it any other way.
“We need a date,” she said. “What are you and Aaron thinking, El?”
“His father’s running for mayor,” Eloise said. “That will take almost the whole year, but Aaron and his parents agree that sooner in the year is better.”
“How soon?” Robin’s voice pitched up as she flipped back a few pages. “Are we talking January or February-soon? Or more like April or May?”
“April,” Eloise said. “I want April, and Aaron said I could have anything I wanted.” She smiled down at her ring, determined to ask him about Sadie Merchant and how much he’d really spent on this ring.
“We could do the tenth,” Robin said. “It’s sometimes pretty breezy and cold that early in April though.” She looked up. “The seventeenth?”
“Either of those will be fine,” Eloise said. “What’s best for you, Robin?”
“Duke’s already talking about going to Alaska again,” she muttered, flipping a page. “Senior prom isn’t until May eighth…I’ve got a fiftieth wedding anniversary on April third…let’s do the seventeenth.” She started to write it in—in ink—before Eloise had even confirmed.
“I’ll text Aaron,” she said, and she did, asking him to confirm that April seventeenth would work for him, the department, his parents, and the girls.
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