“What about Mike?” Andie asked.
Jane glanced over to see Andie watching her. “What about him?”
“Is he leaving? Will he take Cooper?”
“I suppose he’ll go back to Seattle at some point.” The thought made Jane’s chest constrict uncomfortably. “He said he didn’t have room for Cooper there.”
“How do you feel about that?” Andie asked.
“I’d like Cooper to stay here, but technically he belongs to Mike. Actually, to Mike’s grandfather. If he stayed here, though, I could bring him to visit at Tall Pines.”
Andie piled some cheese on another cracker. “I meant how you felt about Mike leaving.”
Jane frowned. “What do you mean? I guess he’s become a friend but…”
Andie snorted. “Friend? I wonder if that’s what he’d say. Maybe it’s time you thought about letting someone in. You know, besides Cooper. It’s been a long time since Brad died. You deserve someone to care about you.”
“You mean Mike? I’m sure he doesn’t feel that way about me. He probably thinks of me as an older sister. I am quite a bit older than him.”
“I doubt that. I’ve seen the way he looks at you, and besides, you yourself said earlier that age doesn’t matter so much once you get to be older.”
Jane took a gulp of wine. Was it true what her sister said about Mike looking at her? She was eight years older than him, but when they were together, she didn’t feel it. She was uncomfortable with the way the conversation was going and decided to turn the tides on her sister. “I saw you happily chatting with Shane. Looks like you didn’t need to avoid him after all.”
“I wasn’t avoiding him. I just didn’t go out of my way to talk to him.” Andie’s tone was indignant.
“Uh-huh.” Judging by the way Andie started rocking faster in the chair and avoided eye contact, Jane could tell there was more to that story. She decided to give her a break and instead asked, “How’s the garden coming along?”
Andie relaxed, excitement taking over as she talked about the various flowers she had planted and her plans for future plantings. “Of course, I have to be mindful of budget, but I think in time we can make it as pretty as Mom used to have it.”
Jane agreed. But it sounded like doing that might take a while, and she had to wonder once more: Was Andie considering staying permanently in Lobster Bay? And did Jane want her to?
Andie could feel the excitement bubble up inside her as she talked about the garden. She’d forgotten how much she’d loved gardening as a kid. Her current lifestyle in New York City didn’t give her much time to think about gardens. Much of her job consisted of being locked away in dusty attics and moldy basements hunting for valuables amid broken-down castoffs. She hadn’t realized how much she missed working outdoors.
Not to mention that rambling on about hydrangeas, petunias, and hostas got her sister off the subject of Shane Flannery. Talking to him in the garden earlier had stirred up old feelings that she’d thought had been long buried.
“You must be eager to get back to your job. It sounds like you missed out on an opportunity, from what Chandler Vanbeck said the other day.” Jane’s look of concern warmed Andie’s heart.
“Yeah, but I think taking some time off is doing me good.” Andie hadn’t missed the job as much as she thought she would. She was keeping herself busy, and the garden work was important. The bathroom project had been invigorating and a good change of pace. These projects would help bring Tides back to profit, and that was important. But once they were done, would Lobster Bay seem like the same boring small town it had been in her youth, or had her priorities changed?
“The ocean has a way of setting one’s perspective.” Jane turned to her. “I’m glad you’re here. Mom has perked up a lot since you came.”
“She has?” Andie hadn’t considered that her presence would have a healing effect on their mom.
Jane nodded and picked up the wine bottle. “More?”
Andie held out her glass. “I like Tall Pines. It’s a nice place. You did a good job finding it. I’m sorry I didn’t help more with that.” Whew, there! She’d been working out how to convey to her sister that she felt guilty about not being here to help with those decisions. One small little apology didn’t make up for all of it, but it was a start.
“It’s been a big help having you here to visit with her, especially with this project.” Jane gestured toward the bathroom project and the area where the wedding would be held. “I wouldn’t be able to manage it if I didn’t have you to help out with visiting her.”
Andie settled back and sipped her wine. Jane’s words soothed her and removed the doubt that her sister didn’t want her here. Would it be possible for her to start over in her hometown? What would she do here? Would she get bored? It was definitely a slow pace, but she was getting tired of the cutthroat antiques business. People didn’t realize how much competition there was for the good estates, and one had to be on their A game all the time. Andie wasn’t getting any younger, and the constant competition had become a bit tedious. She wasn’t exactly excited about the idea of going back and working with Doug again either.
Maybe she would never find that big antiques score here in Lobster Bay, but the town did have other benefits. Not the least of which was that she’d be able to visit her mother every day and reconnect with her sister. Her mother’s words came to mind.
The city won’t give you what you really want. Your roots are here.
She’d been in the city for thirty years and still felt a void. Her mother might be losing her memory, but apparently her advice was still spot-on.
Chapter 27
The inn was fully booked for the wedding, but Jane wouldn’t allow herself to feel hopeful. She still hadn’t received a call from the sewer department. She’d hoped a miracle would happen and someone would cancel or they’d finish up some other jobs faster. Maybe that had just been wishful thinking.
If she didn’t hear from them soon, she’d have to tell the bride there would be no wedding unless they had porta potties. They might cancel, and there would go all her bookings. But it wasn’t fair to the bride to wait until the last minute. She might be able to book something more suitable if she had enough notice.
If only Andie could work a miracle like she had with the bathroom situation in the first place. Hadn’t Mike said he thought he could help? She hadn’t heard from him since.
As if the universe was reading her thoughts, her phone pinged with a text from Mike. He couldn’t make it for breakfast.
Don’t worry about payment. You’ve paid me enough and have been taking Cooper. We’re even!
Jane’s spirits sank. Mike was saying goodbye. He must be getting ready to go back home and didn’t want to get her hopes up about their friendship and so was distancing himself. That meant he’d be thinking of what to do with Cooper.
Jane looked down at the dog sleeping at her feet. “Well, Coop, looks like we might have to do something drastic to stay together.”
She clipped the leash on Cooper’s collar and went out the back to walk on the beach. Mrs. Weatherlee was seated at one of the round tables Jane had put out for people to dine on the back deck. The old woman called out to her as she started down the steps, “The place looks great!”
“Thanks.” Jane backtracked and stopped at her table.
Mrs. Weatherlee seemed delighted to see Cooper, feeding him a piece of bacon and petting him excitedly. “It does me good to see the old place getting a face-lift and a new purpose. Your grandparents would be happy.”
“You knew my grandparents?” Jane had never even thought to ask her.
“Oh, sure. Everyone in Lobster Bay knew everyone else back in the day. It’s much the same now, at least with the families that have been here for generations, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, I guess it is.” Though the town had grown and she didn’t know everyone anymore, Jane felt proud to be part of such a community where the people you did know went out of their w
ay to help out.
“Now, don’t you worry dear. Everything is going to be fine,” Mrs. Weatherlee assured her as Jane headed back down the steps. Jane wished she could be so sure.
She took Cooper for a brisk walk. Even watching the carefree dog bound along after the sticks she threw didn’t raise her spirits. She checked her phone for the millionth time. No call or message from the sewer department. After an hour, she headed back to Tides. She was running out of time.
They detoured over to the bathhouse, where Andie was supervising the offloading of toilets. Jane peeked in the building to see Ralph Marchand on his back under the sink, connecting the pipes. A bag of pastries with the Sandcastles logo sat on the vanity.
“Almost done in here,” he said. “I’ve got another job out in Perkins Cove, but once they get the lines hooked up out at the street, call me and I’ll come right over to get things squared from this end.”
“Will do.” Jane was heartened by Ralph’s quick turnaround, but it didn’t erase her worry over the fact that everything might be for nothing if the sewer department didn’t find time in their schedule.
Cooper suddenly raced over toward Tides. Mike was coming around the corner, but not from the beach as he usually did. He was coming from the front. How odd.
Had he driven and parked in the driveway? Her stomach swooped. Why would he drive here? Was he leaving now and had come to take Cooper?
Mike crouched to pet Cooper then looked up at Jane. “I’ve got good news.”
“You do?” She couldn’t imagine what it might be.
“Turns out Gramps still has contacts in the town water and sewer department. He called in a favor and got the connection here at Tides fast-tracked.”
“He did? What does that mean, actually?”
Mike looked at his watch. “It means that they’re going to be here in two hours to hook up the water and sewer to your bathhouse.”
Jane didn’t know what to say. Was it really going to happen in time?
At Jane’s obvious fluster, Mike grabbed her hand and squeezed. “Looks like you’re going to get the bathroom finished in time for the wedding.”
Chapter 28
Andie stood on the back porch, watching Ralph Marchand hook the sewer and water lines to the bathroom. The town had come and hooked them up at the street, and now Ralph was here to hook everything up to the building and test the lines.
There was an air of excitement about the group gathered around the bathhouse as they watched. Several people stood around chatting. Jane looked happy and the most relaxed Andie had seen her. Claire was handing out scones from her bakery. Maxi laughed as she chatted with Sally. Even Cooper wagged his tail faster than usual.
The door opened, and Chandler came out.
He took a deep breath of air and let it out slowly. “There’s nothing like the sea air.”
“That’s for sure,” Andie said.
“Looks like you’ve got a project going on over there.”
“Yes, we’re putting in a bathroom so we can hold events and weddings here.”
“It’s looking good. Well, I’m off back to the city today.” Chandler glanced at the ocean. “I kind of hate to leave, but duty calls. Are you staying on?”
Good question. “I’m not sure. My world is about antiques, and this town isn’t like the big city. There’s not a lot of old antiques.”
Chandler frowned. “Oh, I wouldn’t necessarily say that. These old towns are rife with treasures. Yankee families never throw anything out. You never know what you could find in these attics.” Chandler turned around, surveying the area. “And I hear there’s a very old house on the cliff that has some interesting history.”
“Sadie Thompson’s house. She’s in the assisted living facility with my mom.” Andie had heard several rumors about the house that ranged from it being the headquarters of Blackbeard the pirate to it being a stop on the Underground Railroad. She didn’t believe any of them, but it was the oldest house in town and had been in the same family for generations.
A car horn tooted in the driveway. Chandler reached in his pocket and pulled out a card. “I have to run, but I was wondering if you would give this to Maxi. I’m going to be opening an art gallery, and I’d be interested in talking to her if she ever wanted to do a showing.”
Andie took the card. It was made of thick paper with embossed lettering. “I think she might like that. I’ll make sure she gets it.”
Laughter from over at the bathhouse drew her attention. Claire, Jane, and Maxi were clustered around the little shutters with the starfish cutouts. Someone must’ve told a joke because they were practically doubled over with laughter. It made Andie smile. It was good to see Jane happy, without the constant worry lining her face. She was lucky to have friends like Maxi and Claire to help her.
Andie didn’t have any friends she could depend on like that. She’d been too focused on her career, and everyone in her circle was too busy trying to make a name for themselves to have much time to hang out. But things in Lobster Bay were more relaxed, and there was more time for friends.
Maybe it was time for her to make a change. She started toward Jane, Claire, and Maxi with Chandler’s card.
Maxi stared down at the card in her hand. It was fancy, made with thick ivory paper and black embossed letters. A show in an art gallery? She didn’t think so—she was just a hobbyist.
She glanced over toward Tides, but Chandler was gone. “Thanks. But I don’t think I’m ready for that.” But even as she said the words, a tiny little flutter of excitement sprouted inside her rib cage.
Suddenly there was a seed of hope for her future. Something that didn’t depend on James. Something that was just about her.
She longed to confide in Jane and Claire about her suspicions. Normally they told each other everything, but this was such a sensitive subject. James’s reputation was at stake, and she couldn’t say it out loud until she was one-hundred-percent sure. All she had right now was a card with a woman’s number and a sneaking suspicion.
Then there were the kids to think about. They were grown adults, but she still didn’t want to talk badly about their father to them. This was a delicate matter and needed to be handled properly. Though she trusted Jane and Claire implicitly, she wasn’t ready to say the words out loud. Not yet.
And besides, Jane was so happy now with things going well at Tides, and things were working out nicely for Claire with Rob. She didn’t want to bring them down. There would be plenty of time for that later.
“Everything looks so great. I really appreciate all the help you guys have given me,” Jane said.
“It was my pleasure,” Maxi said.
Claire shrugged. “I didn’t really do anything.”
Jane laughed. “You don’t have to actually do anything. Just being there for me to vent with is enough. I couldn’t have done it without either of you.”
Jane turned to Andie. “And you were the biggest help of all. Honestly, this couldn’t have come together without you, either.”
Andie’s face flushed. She was pleased by the compliment. Maxi noticed a warm look pass between the sisters. Their relationship was thawing.
Andie slipped her arm around Maxi’s shoulders. “Hey, I couldn’t have done half as good a job without this lady right here. Teamwork!”
“It was a lot of fun, and teamwork is always good, right, Jane?” Maxi added.
But Jane was no longer paying attention. Her gaze was focused halfway down the beach where Mike Henderson was walking toward the inn. Cooper’s tail wagged even faster. Cooper looked up at Jane. She nodded, and he trotted off to meet Mike.
“Will you guys excuse me for a minute? I have something I need to tend to.” Jane started after Cooper.
Cooper bounded up to Mike, casting one glance back at Jane as if for permission before demanding Mike’s attention. Well, that settled it. There was no way she could let Cooper go to a kennel or be adopted by someone else. Cooper needed her as much as she needed him.
>
“Did they show up?” Mike asked.
Jane looked back at Tides. “Yes. Everything is all set. Thanks for helping out with that.” Jane was happy, hopeful, for the first time in a while. There was just one little problem—Mike was leaving, and that meant she was going to have to do something about Cooper.
“I was happy to help,” Mike said. “I’m glad things are working out for you.”
“There is something I want to talk to you about,” Jane said.
Mike’s expression turned curious and perhaps a little hopeful. “Oh?”
Cooper returned to her side, and Jane patted his head. “Yes. I’d like to adopt Cooper.”
Mike looked a little disappointed. “Oh.”
“I know you’ll be leaving soon, and you said you don’t have room for him in Seattle. He’s settled in at Tides, and I could take him to visit your grandfather.” It all came out in a rush. Jane was worried that Mike would say no.
“I think that sounds like a great idea, except you’re wrong about one thing. I’m not leaving soon.”
“You’re not?”
“No. Gramps has really improved since I’ve been here, and I don’t want to take that away from him. I can work from anywhere, and besides, this town is growing on me.” Mike looked at her out of the corner of his eye. “And some of the people too.”
Jane’s heart skipped a beat. She suddenly felt very self-conscious.
“There’s just one thing, though,” Mike continued.
“What’s that?”
“Since you have Cooper with you and we both go to Tall Pines, maybe we could go together sometimes.” Mike dug at the sand with the toe of his shoe as if he was nervous about her answer.
“Of course we can. That would be great. And you’re still welcome for breakfast any time.”
Jane looked back at Tides. From her vantage point on the beach, the new bathroom structure blended in perfectly, as if it was meant to be there. Sally and Shane were putting the finishing touches on the archway while Andie was instructing them where to situate it, probably for the best position to train the roses to climb the lattice on the sides.
Changing Tides Page 15