Summer Beach: Coral Cottage

by Jan Moran

  “In the kitchen,” Marina replied. Her grandmother and sister joined her. Kai was humming a Broadway show tune. “Is that ‘Aquarius?’”

  Kai belted out a few lines from the rock musical.

  Ginger laughed. “It’s from Hair. I remember that first performance at the Biltmore Theater in 1968. It ran for months before it moved to Broadway.”

  Kai’s lips parted. “Wasn’t that the one, um, without costumes?”

  “Only briefly at the end of the first act,” Ginger said, dismissing the comments with a toss of her head. “And it was very dimly lit; one could hardly even see. You should know your theater history, Kai. I thought I taught you better than that.”

  Marina and Kai traded looks. Somehow, Ginger had often been at the center of cultural happenings. But then, she had taken them to the off-Broadway opening night of Hamilton in New York, so why should they be surprised?

  Ginger motioned toward the garden. “Who replanted the garden? It looks even better than the first attempt.”

  “Jack did it,” Marina said. “And he brought you two beautiful anthurium plants.” She gestured toward the dining room where she’d placed them on the table.

  “Wasn’t that classy?” A smile flitted across Ginger’s face.

  “Oh, no, you don’t.” Marina knew exactly what her grandmother was thinking. She’d have to talk with her later. No more men. Quickly, she changed the subject. “Would you two like some bread? It’s fresh from the oven.”

  Kai didn’t wait. She picked up a slice of the cinnamon bread and bit into it. “This is divine. Oh, my gosh, you could sell this.”

  “You think so?” Marina turned to her grandmother. “Say, is that farmers market still going in town?”

  “It is,” Ginger replied. “I can put you in touch with the organizer.”

  Marina rested her hands on her hips. “Might be a way to keep busy and bring in a little cash while I figure out my life.” Still, she needed more income than what a few loaves of bread would bring. College tuition and room-and-board for the twins wasn’t cheap.

  “Testing the market?” Jack had stepped inside while they were talking.

  Marina noticed he had changed his shirt and ran a comb through his hair.

  “Isn’t that what people do before they go into business?” Marina scooped a slice of rosemary bread onto a small plate and handed it to Jack, who devoured it in a few bites.

  Kai’s eyes lit. “You’re seriously thinking of going into business? I think that’s great.”

  “Mmm, she sure could,” Jack said. “This rivals the bread at Java Beach.”

  “It should,” Ginger said. “Who do you think taught Mitch how to bake? By the way, thank you for replanting the garden.”

  “I’ll be sure to keep Scout away from it,” he said.

  Marina twisted her lips to one side. “I hope you didn’t share my bread recipes with Mitch.”

  “They weren’t yours to begin with, now were they?” Ginger said. “But no, I didn’t. When Mitch arrived in Summer Beach, he was hardly more than a kid. Selling coffee on the beach and barely getting by. But he had a way with customers, and they loved his coffee. Bennett noticed and called me to help him with the numbers portion of his business plan.”

  Marina smiled. Ginger often did things like that without talking about it. “And the baking part of this story?”

  Ginger went on. “Bennett funded him, and Mitch was a hard worker. In between figuring out his income and expenses, we baked. Croissants, bagels, muffins, cookies. Mitch was an eager student and a quick study.”

  “No wonder I love having breakfast there,” Kai said. “I always thought it tasted homemade.”

  Jack leaned against the counter, clearly intrigued. “And how did you learn to bake like that?”

  “It was in the ’60s in Cambridge,” Ginger said with a faraway look in her eyes. “Bertrand and I met the Childs, and Julia taught me how to make the most marvelous croissants, among other culinary delights. I’m sure you know Julia and Paul lived in France for years. Those were the days, indeed.”

  “Let me get this straight…” Jack leaned forward, now seemingly captivated. “You studied under Julia Child?”

  “I wouldn’t call it studying, per se,” Ginger said. “We were simply having the grandest of times. Julia was such fun in the kitchen, as well as incredibly accomplished. Bertrand and I always brought the wine and never skimped. One simply didn’t, with Julia. Her husband Paul was superb at blending cocktails. We created the Coral Cottage Cooler for brunch one day. Champagne or prosecco with fresh-squeezed blood orange juice, strawberries, and mint. Marvelously refreshing.”

  Marina laughed. “Our grandmother always surprises us. Just wait; the stories will get even better. Especially if you open a bottle of wine.”

  “Preferably the best,” Kai intoned. She broke off another piece of rosemary bread.

  Ginger shrugged. “Everyone is good at something.”

  With another bite, Kai finished off the slice. Licking crumbs from her finger, she added, “Ginger is a math genius, too. She taught us all to recognize patterns and such. We were always way ahead in class.”

  “And what did you do with that talent?” Jack asked Ginger.

  Marina studied Jack, picking up on his interview training. Ginger seemed happy to talk to Jack about herself, but for how long? She leaned in, listening.

  “Oh, I’ve been a statistician for years,” Ginger replied with a vague gesture. “Excuse me, I just remembered I have a call to return.”

  “That’s the end of the interview today,” Marina said as she submerged the bread pans in hot, soapy water.

  “Your grandmother seems like a woman ahead of her time,” Jack said, staring after Ginger.

  “Our grandfather was a career diplomat, so Ginger lived and worked all over the world with him,” Marina said. “But she seldom talks about it.” Marina might have worked her way up in the broadcast news business by interviewing people, but her grandmother still eluded her.

  “She must have some amazing stories,” Jack said. “I’d like to talk with her more.”

  “The best place to get her talking is on the beach,” Kai offered. “But you have to rise early to keep up with her.”

  After Jack returned to the guest cottage, Marina and Kai sat on the swing on the front porch, looking out over the beach and beyond. Shorebirds skittered across the sand in an endless quest for sustenance.

  Kai had poured two glasses of chilled prosecco. She touched her glass to Marina’s. “To your new life ahead.”

  “New beginnings, indeed,” Marina said. “So, tell me about Mr. Giant Emerald.” She clasped a knee and leaned back against the swing.

  Kai let out a long breath. “His name is Dmitri.”

  “How romantic.” Marina sipped her wine. “Especially judging from the size of that ring. Is he?”

  “Plenty,” Kai said, smiling shyly. “Dmitri has called several times a day since I left. He’s one of the show’s producers, and he invests in other theater productions as well. Even from the beginning, I thought this could be the real deal. True love.”

  Marina knew that dreamy look in Kai’s eyes all too well. Kai had always been in love with love. Maybe that was part of her natural creative bent. Still, a lifetime commitment demanded more. “And are you sure about that yet?”

  Kai sipped her wine. “That’s a firm maybe.”

  “Sounds like you have a lot in common, at least.” Marina was trying to be supportive, even though she knew it took more to make a marriage.

  “We’re good together, but this relationship has gone pretty fast. I mean, that’s what I want, but…” Kai’s voice trailed off.

  “Can’t you slow down and get to know each other better?” Yet, the first time Marina had met Stan, she had known he was the one. When you met the right one, you just knew. The problem was that the contenders dulled your judgment.

  “I suppose I can.” Kai gazed out at the ocean. “I’ve always pictured
myself having children. And at my age, I should get on with it.”

  Marina heard Kai’s voice catch. “Is there a problem?”

  “When we were at the season wrap party, everyone was congratulating us on our engagement. One of the actors was teasing us and asking how many children we’d have. It was a little corny, but we’d all had champagne and were having a good time. Dmitri has been married before, and he has three grown children. Still, I hoped we’d have at least one child together. When I said so, he replied that he was done having children.”

  “You’ve only been dating a month,” Marina said. “He might change his mind.”

  “No, he’s done done. As in, he had a vasectomy. I asked Dmitri when he was going to tell me that.” Kai sighed. “He was insulted and asked me if I valued him more as a human being or as a baby-maker. I mean, that’s usually a woman’s argument, so what could I say? I brought up adoption, but he told me he doesn’t want to raise any more children. Now I have to choose whether I want to marry Dmitri or try to meet someone else to have a child. It’s not like there’s a line around the block, either.”

  “I see,” Marina replied softly. She couldn’t imagine why any man wouldn’t want to marry her beautiful sister, but she also knew that Kai’s outgoing personality could be intimidating. Reaching out, she took Kai’s hand. “I’m sorry you have to deal with this.”

  Kai brushed tears from her cheeks. “I’m pretty sure I love Dmitri, but I want to be a mother, too. Touring with the theater troupe has been a dream, but I want more. I want a family like you and Brooke. Why can’t I ever get this right?”

  Marina wanted to offer encouragement and paint a pretty picture for her sister, but they were too old for fairy tales. The truth was more important now. “Life doesn’t always serve up exactly what we want, but it does serve up what we need to make us stronger and more resilient. In that, you have to trust.”

  Kai was quiet for a moment. “You mean, like our parents, and Stan?”

  Marina touched her glass and nodded. “We’ve had our share of heartbreak. After Stan died, the thought of having one baby, let alone two, was overwhelming. But now I’m so grateful for my children. And you’ve been the best aunt ever to Heather and Ethan. Sending them tickets to your performances and helping them learn to play the piano—they treasure those experiences.”

  “I will always embrace the family I have,” Kai said. “But I still want to make a home of my own somewhere.” She lifted her chin to the ocean breeze. “I know what I want.”

  “Then, as Ginger always says, go after it with unwavering fervor.”

  They leaned against one another, each offering solace to the other against the vicissitudes of life. Marina stroked Kai’s hair. Because that’s what sisters do.

  That evening, after making dinner with Ginger and Kai and sharing a game of dominoes, Marina made her way back to her bedroom. As she was getting ready for bed, her phone chirped with a message from Gwen, her agent.

  Urgent! I’m at a dinner party, can’t talk, please call me first thing in the morning.

  Marina slid under the soft duvet, wondering what Gwen might have to share. Part of her hoped that it was a job offer, while another part of her wondered if this entire turn of events was a signal from the universe that she needed to make a change in her life.

  Just as she had advised Kai. With unwavering fervor.

  Before Marina went to sleep, she resolved to find out. She wasn’t a kid anymore, and if she were going to live life on her terms, she needed to start now.

  Chapter 8

  Marina walked along the water’s edge after sunrise, carrying her flip-flops and squishing the cool sand beneath her toes. White gulls with broad wingspans and pink legs soared overhead. Terns with carnelian bills dove into the sea, fishing for breakfast, while shorebirds skittered around her pecking at the sand. All around her, the sounds of nature—birdsong and rushing waves—helped calm her nerves. She clutched her phone, waiting for Gwen to answer.

  “Marina, I’m so glad you called,” Gwen said.

  “I hope you have good news,” Marina said, taking the positive track.

  Gwen hesitated. “I’m sorry. I’m afraid it’s not, but you need to know. Your old boss was at the dinner party I was attending.”

  Bracing herself, Marina asked Gwen to go on.

  “Hal is blaming the downturn in ratings on your departure,” Gwen said. “He gave Babe a try, but she couldn’t tone down the cuteness and giggles enough to deliver the news. But before you start gloating, he’s blaming you for breaking your employment contract. Hal is asserting that your action caused the sharp decline in ratings, resulting in damages. ” She paused. “Marina, I thought he’d fired you. That was the word I’d originally gotten from him. Which is it?”

  Marina’s heart sank. “I beat him to it by a few seconds.” Damages. Immediately, she realized what this meant. “He’s planning to sue me, isn’t he?”

  “I’m afraid so,” Gwen replied. “Hal was drowning in martinis and said more than he should have. I wouldn’t expect a reference from him.”

  A cold wave rushed around Marina’s calves, nearly knocking her off balance. “I suppose this is going to make my job search more difficult.”

  Gwen agreed. “Hal is telling everyone that you’re difficult to work with. That’s code for don’t hire her. But I promise to do my best for you. I’m also referring this to my contract attorney to review.”

  While Gwen tried to reassure her, Marina could hear the doubt in her voice. With her former life crashing around her, it was even more evident to Marina that she had to take control and figure out an alternate path. But what?

  Marina thanked Gwen and hung up. Facing the ocean, she gulped in sea air to clear her mind. Once she’d regained her composure, she turned around. On her way out of the house this morning, Ginger had mentioned that the farmers market would be in the village today. Marina could pick up fresh fruits and vegetables and see if there might be a fit for some of her homemade breads and cookies.

  As Marina turned toward the village, she saw Ivy walking in the same direction and called out to her. Ivy hurried toward her.

  “It’s so good to see you. How’s the ankle?” Ivy asked, hugging her.

  “Much better,” Marina replied. “The doc said it was a mild sprain, so as long as I don’t overdo it, I should be okay now.” She lifted the long coral skirt she wore, revealing the compression sock she was wearing. “I’m heading to the farmers market. Would you like to come along?”

  “That’s where I’m going, too,” Ivy said. “We can walk slowly.”

  The two women fell into step together and began to chat about the old times in Summer Beach. That helped Marina take her mind off her conversation with Gwen.

  As they neared the vendor tables laden with fresh lettuce, oranges, strawberries, tomatoes, and avocados, Marina felt her spirits lift. She loved the energy she felt here. But could she live here and make a go of it? She turned to Ivy. “Are you glad you returned to Summer Beach?”

  Ivy smiled. “This time last year, my life was in utter turmoil. When I arrived here with Shelly, we faced a lot of challenges, but most of the bumps have been smoothed out now. Frankly, I wouldn’t live anywhere else.”

  “Was it hard starting over by yourself?” Marina asked.

  “Yes, but it helped to have Shelly and Poppy here,” Ivy said. “What one of us couldn’t figure out, another one could.”

  As they threaded their way through the vendor stands selecting produce, Marina considered this. “My sister Kai is spending a couple of weeks here. Last night, we had one of the best talks we’ve had in years. We’re both at crossroads in life.” Marina stopped to buy a basket of beautiful ripe strawberries, and the woman gave them some raspberries to sample.

  “Mmm, I’ll take a basket of these, too. And those blueberries.” Marina was thinking about making berry tarts. The woman filled a bag for her.

  “If you could do anything, do you know what you’d do?” I
vy asked.

  Marina waved a hand around her. “I’d surround myself with great food and people having a good time. Like this.” She paid for the berries, and they walked on.

  “Does that mean you’re thinking of changing careers?” Ivy asked.

  “Maybe.” An idea was taking shape in Marina’s mind. She could take a stall here and build her clientele. “I’d like to test some recipes first. I used to work at cafes, but I’m a little rusty. At one, years ago, I began waiting tables and took over the kitchen when the cook quit and the owner was eight months pregnant.”

  “Guests are always asking for restaurant recommendations,” Ivy said, nodding thoughtfully. “If you open a cafe, I can help by sending customers.”

  Marina’s mind was whirring. When she stayed at the inn, she’d hobbled over one night and enjoyed a meet-up in the music room with other guests. “Would you mind if I contributed some hors d’oeuvres to your afternoon tea-and-wine events at the inn?”

  “Guests would love that,” Ivy said. “Though I would insist on paying you.”

  Marina started to assure Ivy that she didn’t have to, but given her financial predicament, any income would be welcome. Besides, she’d have food costs. She’d already paid tuition for Heather and Ethan, but by September, she’d have another year to pay for.

  “I’d appreciate that,” Marina said.

  Ivy smiled at her. “That’s what friends are for. We support each other.”

  For the first time in years, excitement over a project raced through Marina. Opening a cafe would require a sizable financial commitment, which was worrisome.

  “There’s a lot to do first,” Marina said. “Besides testing dishes and creating a menu, I’d have to find a location, get the proper permits, and figure out how I’m going to make money.”

  “Hi, ladies,” Bennett said, approaching them.

  “And here’s the man who can point you in the right direction.” Ivy smiled as Bennett leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. “Mr. Mayor, where would you advise a woman who is thinking of opening a cafe start?”