Winter at the Beach

by Sheila Roberts

She looked at her sister, and Karen nodded and said, “I’m game. Maybe some of the kids would like to come down, too.”

  “You know, that sounds kind of fun,” Dean said. “I’ll call him.”

  “Great. I’ll talk to the manager tomorrow and find out how many rooms they have available,” Lisa said.

  “Ask if we can use their washer and dryer,” put in Karen.

  “You guys bring us down some fancy New Year’s Eve clothes. Oh, and I hope you don’t get lost on your way,” Lisa goaded him, and winked at her sister.

  * * *

  Jenna’s scattered guests began to return, chauffeured back by Tyrella, Courtney and Brody. “It was quite the adventure,” one woman told Jenna as she greeted them. “But we actually enjoyed it.”

  “I’ll stay with Brody Green anytime,” a woman in her fifties told Jenna while eyeing him as if he were a giant candy cane.

  “Looks like you’ve got a new member of the Brody Green fan club,” Jenna said to him after the woman had given him a finger wave and sashayed off to her room, along with her friend.

  He frowned. “That one should’ve come with a cougar alert. I slept with my bedroom door locked.”

  “Poor baby.”

  “Anyway, I only want one member in that club,” he said. “Don’t forget, you owe me a kiss.”

  “How could I forget I have such a treat coming?” she teased, then sobered. “Seriously, Brody, you saved us. I can’t thank you enough.”

  “Yeah, you can. And you have. I was happy to help.” He turned back to his car. “I’d better go home and pick up the rest of the gang. I’ve got to get the place put back together. My kids want to come down for New Year’s Eve. Speaking of, what are you doing?”

  “Aunt Edie’s already talking about a party on the beach.”

  “I hope I’m invited,” he said. “You’ll need somebody to help build the fire.”

  “Of course.” Brody was pretty darned good at building fires. But then, so was Seth.

  At least he had been. Before he decided to keep her at arm’s length. Well, his loss, she told herself as she went back into the house to help the last of their guests relocate.

  While the Marshes and the Browns were gathering up their things, Jenna put some cookies on paper plates for them. She had the treats ready when they came to check out.

  “This has really been great,” Sarah told her as she took the plate. “You’ve been great.”

  “I’m glad you had a good time,” Jenna told her.

  “The boys had a blast,” Sarah said, watching her rambunctious sons tear down the front steps.

  “Thank you. For everything,” Taylor said, and surprised Jenna by hugging her. “This was life-changing.”

  “I’m glad,” Jenna said. Coming to Moonlight Harbor had sure been a life-changer for her, and she wasn’t surprised it had been for someone else, as well. Life was good at the beach...regardless of the weather.

  “We want to be debt-free like you guys,” Taylor said to her sister. “We’re going to sell the house and the second car and get out from under all our debt.”

  “Good for you,” Sarah said.

  “Greg’s going to close his business and look for a job,” Taylor continued. “Who knows? Maybe he’ll even find one down here. Uh, do you think Brody Green would let me sell real estate out of his office?” she asked Jenna.

  “I’m sure he would,” Jenna replied.

  “I’m ready for a new start,” Taylor said.

  Jenna hoped they’d be able to make one. “This is a good place to do that.”

  “I think maybe it is,” Taylor agreed.

  Jenna watched them go back to their rooms, a feeling of immense satisfaction settling over her. They’d all coped with inconvenience and even a scare, and maybe they’d all come out of the experience a little better for it.

  With all the guests either checked out or back in their rooms, the house fell quiet. “It feels rather strange,” Aunt Edie said. “But it is nice to have the power back on.”

  “Finally, a hot shower,” Celeste said.

  “If we’ve got power, the road into town has to be clear,” Jenna said. Which meant she’d finally get her daughter back.

  “I’ll go see,” Pete offered. He grabbed another cookie and left.

  “If you don’t need anything, I guess I’ll go back to my room now,” Seth said and put on his coat.

  Jenna walked him to the door. “Thanks for everything you did for us.”

  “No, thank you. You and Edie were the ones keeping everyone fed and happy. Including me.”

  “You were an easy bunch to please.”

  Suddenly he was looking at her in a way that made her insides melt. “You’re an amazing woman, Jenna Jones. You know that?”

  Amazing? Her? The compliment made her blush. Before she could correct him, he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. Oh, yeah. The power was back on again.

  She watched him go down the front porch steps and walk across the parking lot.

  “That man is one sexy beast,” her sister said from behind her, making Jenna jump.

  “Were you spying on me?” Jenna demanded.

  “Of course,” Celeste said with a grin. “It’s what little sisters do.”

  Little sisters also pitched in and helped when their big sisters were in need. “You know, I don’t think I could have pulled this off without your help.”

  “You’re changing the subject,” Celeste observed.

  “Yes, I am. I love you.”

  “Good to know, because I’m taking first dibs on the shower,” Celeste said, and ran up the stairs.

  Jenna went into the living room and settled in her favorite chair, the little one upholstered with seashell dotted fabric, and called her mother.

  “The last of our house guests just left,” she announced.

  “So your power’s back on?”

  “Yes, it is,” Jenna said. Merry Christmas.

  “Does that mean the road’s open again?” Mel asked.

  “I’m pretty sure it does. Pete’s gone out to check.”

  “If so, then Sabrina and I will be down tomorrow.”

  “I can hardly wait. It wasn’t the same without you two here.”

  “But you managed.”

  Jenna thought back on how her guests had pulled together to find a lost child. She remembered how happy Taylor and Greg Marsh had looked when they came back from turning on the heat in their room. Kat Wilson had been inspiring, and Karen and Lisa fun to have around. She and her unexpected houseguests had shared more than living space. They’d shared lives.

  “We did better than that,” she said.

  She thought of the famous phrase from A Christmas Carol. God bless us everyone. The day had, indeed, been blessed.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  By the next day, life in Moonlight Harbor was returning to normal. Trucks were coming in, and the grocery store and restaurants were restocking and readying for New Year’s.

  Jenna’s mother and Sabrina made it down, and that night the women celebrated a belated Christmas with pizza from Pizza Palace, as well as dried fruit from the gift basket Jenna’s cousin Winston had sent for Aunt Edie.

  “Trying to butter me up,” she’d said in disgust as she helped herself to a dried apricot. Considering the fact that he’d alternately used her and ignored her, it was going to take a lot of butter.

  Jenna’s gift, on the other hand, had been a success. Aunt Edie loved the wineglass, which sported a woman’s face complete with false eyelashes and earrings dangling from her glass ears. Mel was delighted with the gift pack of scented soaps and candles, and Celeste had hugged the holiday coffee box with three different blends as if it was gold. Sabrina was happy with her gift cards for the funplex, Good Times Ice Cream Parlor and Books and Beans, and after an ent
husiastic hug for Aunt Edie, spent the rest of the morning wrapped in the blanket Edie had crocheted for her. Aunt Edie and Mel had loaded Jenna up with Mastercard gift cards, which she planned to spend at Beach Lumber and Hardware stocking up on more emergency supplies like flashlights and candles and lanterns. And rubber boots for clamming. In addition to that, she’d be saving up for a bigger and better generator. Aunt Edie had also given her a gift card for Crafty Just Cuz, and she was looking forward to finding a craft to work on when she finally got some downtime.

  She was especially pleased with her sister’s thoughtful gift—a cloth journal and expensive pen. “So you can keep a record of all the cool things that happen down here at the Driftwood,” she explained. “I bet you won’t have any trouble filling it.”

  “That’s a lovely idea,” said Aunt Edie. “It’ll be a wonderful treasure to pass on to Sabrina...when she takes over someday,” she added.

  Sabrina grinned. “Start with writing about the storm,” she said. “And the little girl who got lost.”

  “And how you tried to turn your sister into a Popsicle.” Celeste said as she handed Jenna one final present from under the tree.

  That one was from Sabrina and turned out to be her favorite present of all. In a wooden frame trimmed with tiny shells, it was a selfie of the two of them that Sabrina had taken at the Driftwood’s grand opening, their faces close together. Their smiles said, “We love each other. Always. No matter what.”

  Tristan showed up later that day and gave Sabrina a necklace with a silver clamshell hanging from it. “I love it!” She threw her arms around him and kissed him. Damien’s head would have blown off if he’d seen that. But hey, it was Christmas.

  * * *

  Come New Year’s Eve, the Driftwood Inn was at full capacity. Darrell and Kat had decided to stay on, and their kids had joined them. Lisa, Karen and their husbands and children were there, too, and all were invited to the bonfire Aunt Edie had planned. So were Sabrina’s friends, plus Courtney and a group of local businesspeople, including Tyrella, Cindy Redmond and her husband and Nora and hers. Pete, Brody and his two teenage kids, and Seth were present, as well. Everyone brought something to share. Cindy, of course, brought candy. Quiet Annie Albright came with her daughter, bearing mini quiches and snickerdoodles. Tyrella and Brody both brought champagne. “We’ve got our priorities straight,” she joked. Nora brought a giant thermos of hot chocolate and a pan of piping hot twice-baked potatoes to add to the hot dogs Seth had bought and Aunt Edie’s famous baked beans. Sabrina’s friends came with soda pop and chips. Even Pete had contributed something, a six-pack of beer.

  In addition, Jenna’s friend Vanita had come down from Seattle with a bottle of champagne. Her other friend Brittany was on hand, too, with her family, and they’d provided the makings for s’mores, which all the kids were enjoying.

  “A regular feast,” Brody said. “Thanks to our hosts.” He raised his glass of champagne.

  “And what we’re all doing out here when we finally have power will forever remain a mystery,” Tyrella said, laughing as she poured more champagne into her plastic cup.

  “We’re celebrating that we survived the storm,” said Karen.

  “And my sister’s snoring,” Lisa added.

  Karen sniffed. “I don’t snore.”

  “Yes, you do,” said her husband, “but I love you anyway.”

  “This has been so much fun,” Kat said to Jenna.

  Jenna had found Kat’s blog and read her latest entry titled Beach Adventure. She’d made the Driftwood look like the Marriott and had painted Jenna, Celeste and Aunt Edie in such glowing tones they sounded like Cinderella’s three good fairies. Holiday magic-makers.

  “I’m glad we stayed on,” Kat said. “It’s the perfect way to start the new year.”

  Which Jenna knew was going to include a final chemo treatment and the beginning of radiation. But they were planning to come down for Valentine’s Day, and Aunt Edie had already promised to bake them something special to commemorate their love.

  Seth had been ordered to bring his guitar, and he produced it and accompanied everyone in their favorite camp songs. He also accompanied the sisters and Celeste and Vanita, who gave a slightly tipsy rendition of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”

  “Speaking of fun, I think I’ve had enough for one night,” Aunt Edie announced. “I’ll leave it to you young ones to clean up.”

  “Are you sure you want to go inside before midnight?” asked Lisa.

  “No, but my old bones get tired sitting on these hard logs,” Aunt Edie replied. “Anyway, it’s midnight in New York.”

  “I’ll go with you, Edie old girl,” Pete offered, and she smiled up at him and let him lead her away.

  Heaven only knew what those two were going to get up to alone in the house. Whatever it was, they were certainly old enough. But Aunt Edie and Pete the mooch? Jenna supposed she’d have to get used to the idea. Pete was there to stay.

  “Told you something’s going on between them,” murmured Seth, who had slipped in to sit beside her when Brody got up to roast her a marshmallow.

  “You have a dirty mind,” Jenna said.

  “Nothing dirty about what those two are planning to do,” he replied easily. “A good way to ring in the new year.”

  Yes, it was. She half wished she had someone to ring it in with. Like Seth Waters? Was he hinting? He stretched his legs toward the fire, and his thighs brushed hers, setting off fireworks in her chest.

  Speaking of fireworks, people were already setting theirs off along the beach. Brody’s kids and their friends had brought some down and lit them, adding to the show. And thanks to a clear night, the show was great.

  “This time last year, I felt like my life was over,” Jenna mused. “Now I feel like it’s just beginning.”

  “It’s never too late for a new beginning,” he said. How right he was. She smiled up at Brody as he returned with her treat and sat down on her other side.

  Seth frowned and moved to the other side of the fire to talk with Darrell.

  Once midnight approached, the singing turned serious with “Auld Lang Syne.” The song always made Jenna sloppy-sentimental, and on this night she was particularly so as she looked at the people gathered around the fire—family, and friends who had come to feel like family. People who were there for you when you needed them. Whatever challenges the new year held, she knew she wouldn’t be facing them alone.

  “It’s midnight!” cried Sabrina, and Tristan used that as an excuse to kiss her. Oh, boy, Jenna didn’t want those two making a habit of that. But, as with Christmas, it was a special moment. A kiss could be allowed.

  Jenna didn’t have long to think about her daughter. “I’ll take that kiss you owe me now,” Brody said with a smile. And he did. Oh, yes, Happy New Year. A kiss was allowed for her, too.

  She finally opened her eyes to see everyone hugging and toasting each other with champagne. She searched the shadowy figures around the fire for Seth but couldn’t find him. Just as well, she told herself.

  “Happy New Year, darling,” her mom said and hugged her. “I’m so proud of you. You dealt with some hard things this year, but you still managed to discover the rainbow in the storm.”

  It would appear she had.

  Toasts, hugs and well-wishes done, the revelers packed up their things, doused the fire and made their way back across the beach. “See you at the chamber meeting if not before,” Cindy said to Jenna.

  Oh, yeah. That. She could only imagine how eager her fellow chamber of commerce members would be to see her after her fiasco of a festival. She decided not to ruin her night thinking about it.

  In spite of her decision, the vision of that upcoming encounter followed her back to the house like a hungry puppy. She was lost in thought, trailing her mom and sister up the back stairs, when a hand reached out from the dark and grabbed
her arm, making her yelp.

  Celeste turned. “You okay?”

  “She’s fine,” Seth Waters said and pulled her around the corner of the house.

  “What are you doing?” she demanded. “You scared the snot out of me.”

  “Sorry. I just wanted to wish you a happy New Year.”

  “Which you could’ve done back at the fire.”

  “You were busy with the house-peddler.”

  A little jealousy? Hmm. She rather liked that.

  “You into him, Jenna?”

  Yes. But she could easily be into Seth, too. She still didn’t know exactly what—or who—she wanted. Each man was special in his own way.

  There was only one thing she knew for sure. “I said I was through with men after Damien dumped me, but I don’t want to be scarred for life.”

  “Looks like those scars are healing. You’re better off with the other guy.”

  “Am I?” She wished she could be certain of that. Seth seemed to have a gift for stirring up doubts.

  “He’s got his life together.”

  “He has baggage, just like everyone, but at least he isn’t going to let it hold him back.”

  “So, what are you saying, Jenna?”

  “I’m saying... I don’t know what I’m saying. I don’t know what I’m doing. All I know is that I’m not going to close myself off to love. I’m going to give it a second chance. This is going to be a new year for me.”

  He slipped his arms around her, and it felt like someone had set off a sparkler inside her. “Well, then, Happy New Year.”

  His lips on hers set off more sparklers. No, not sparklers. A firecracker. A bottle rocket. He smelled smoky from the fire, and he tasted like beer and new beginnings.

  She pulled away and bit her buzzing lower lip. “That was some kind of happy. Did it mean anything?”

  “Yeah, that I’m a fool. Sorry. But it was a nice way to start the new year,” he said with a smile.

  She had to agree as she watched him walk away. But it looked like things were ending for them before they’d even begun. Was Seth going to get brave and take a chance on love or was he going to make her decision easy? The coming months would surely give her the answer.