Summer Beach: Coral Cottage

by Jan Moran

  “Impressive. That’s quite a career change.” For the first time, Jack felt at ease with Marina, and she seemed a lot more relaxed, too. He leaned in toward her, and she didn’t move.

  Marina tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s funny, but as soon as I took the time to slow down here, a lot of my problems became much clearer. And having family around—people who really know you—helps, too.”

  “You’re lucky that way,” Jack said.

  Resting her gaze on him, she asked, “No family nearby?”

  Jack gazed across the beach, watching Leo. Technically, that was no longer correct. “It’s complicated.”

  Marina nodded as though she understood, and she didn’t ask any more questions.

  As they chatted, Jack found himself enjoying the ease of their conversation and hoping it wouldn’t end. When Denise and John waved toward him that they were ready, disappointment gathered in his chest.

  “Looks like I have to get the kids back to their parents,” he said. That last word hit him. Clearing his throat, he asked, “Would you be up for coffee one day? I often have breakfast at Java Beach.”

  “I hear that’s gossip central,” Marina said. “But I’m going to drop off some hors d’oeuvres at the Seabreeze Inn in a couple of days for their tea and wine reception.” She paused as if considering this. “You could join us there, I’m sure. Since you’re a former guest.”

  “I’d like that,” Jack said. A tingly feeling coursed through him. He hadn’t felt like this in ages. He rose and extended his hand to Marina to help her up. Her hand felt soft, yet her grip was firm.

  “Any more sand on me?”

  “Just a little.” Jack brushed her shoulder, not because she had any sand there, but because he couldn’t resist touching her silky skin. “There. All gone.”

  “See you later,” Marina said with a little smile, setting off to continue her walk.

  While Jack watched Marina stroll away, he called for Leo and Samantha. “Come on, time to clean up for supper.” He’d have to get all these parent-type phrases down, but he figured kids would always be hungry after playing on the beach.

  It worked. Grinning, Jack guided them in.

  Scout bounded after them with the frisbee in his mouth. Jack helped the children rinse off their sandy feet at a spigot on the beach while Scout played in the water. A wet dog was better than a sandy dog, he figured.

  “Is Marina going to have supper with us?” Leo asked. He and Samantha looked at each other and giggled.

  “She has other things to do,” Jack replied.

  Samantha piped up. “She’s pretty. She’s your girlfriend, isn’t she?”

  “I’ve only just met her,” Jack said, mussing the kids’ hair. “It takes a while to get to boyfriend-girlfriend status. Put your shoes on, and let’s go find your parents.”

  As Jack considered this, he realized he didn’t know much about Marina, though he’d like to know more. As he slung an arm around Leo, he wondered how dating might work as a single father. And how would Leo react to that?

  And most important of all, when was Vanessa planning on telling Leo about Jack?

  Chapter 16

  San Francisco

  Dusting her hands on her jeans, Marina stood in her vacant apartment at the crossroads between her old and new paths. She and Kai had been sorting and packing almost two decades worth of her life.

  Once a grand Victorian home, the three-story house was divided into flats. Though the rooms were small, Marina had enjoyed the location near the Golden Gate Park, where she and the twins had spent countless afternoons. Here is where Heather and Ethan had gone to school. Marina would be leaving many good friends behind, but she was eager to begin a new chapter in Summer Beach. And all of her friends promised to visit her there.

  “Isn’t it time for you to get ready?” Kai asked.

  Marina hated putting on a suit again, but she had to meet her attorney, Yasmin, at the opposing counsel’s office.

  “I’m not looking forward to it.” Marina picked up a journal she’d found while packing. “I have a feeling Yasmin will be interested in this, though.” She tucked it into her purse so that she wouldn’t forget it. What Marina had in mind was a long shot, but it was worth trying.

  After parking, Marina looked for her attorney in the downstairs lobby of the towering skyscraper, one of the tallest in San Francisco. She spied her sitting on a sofa, reviewing notes. Marina made her way through the crowd toward her.

  As Yasmin rose to meet her, she smoothed her dark suit and adjusted her red-framed glasses. “We’re almost ready to begin.”

  According to Marina’s employment agreement, she had to submit to mediation. Although California laws were changing in favor of employees, she still had to go through this process.

  Marina followed her to a bank of elevators, and soon, they had arrived at the attorney’s office for the television station. With a billion-dollar company, Hal’s father probably had an army of lawyers across the country.

  From their perch on the fortieth floor, they could see the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. The décor was a study in steel-gray and gray, an overwhelmingly masculine atmosphere meant to intimidate.

  It’s working. Marina sucked in a breath and thought of all she had endured at the station, and decided that she would no longer be intimidated. Not anymore. She checked her purse to make sure her journal was still there.

  “The higher the floor, the higher the fees,” Yasmin said, looking around. “I think they might be scared of you. This can be a long, draining process, but the goal is to get a favorable settlement.”

  Marina was trying to breathe in the snug skirt that had once fit her hungry, rail-thin body. Setting her jaw, she brought the journal from her purse.

  “As Kai and I were packing up the apartment, I came across some notes I’d kept over the years. I thought this might be useful today.” Marina handed the journal to Yasmin. “See what you think.”

  Before Yasmin could look at it, an assistant appeared to escort them to a meeting room where the process would begin. As they walked through the office, thick carpet muffled their steps.

  A plate glass window into a conference room broke the long hallway. Inside, Hal was hunched over the table with a team of dark suits. His attorneys, Marina figured. Beside him sat Babe, attired in a tight-fitting dress with a deep V-neckline. Just what Hal liked to see on women. When the pair glanced up, Marina quickly turned away.

  Having to submit to such a process was mentally taxing, but Marina had signed the agreement when she’d been promoted to an anchor position years ago. While she was relatively happy for a long time, Hal came on board after the station was acquired, and everything changed. Hal was committed to bringing the show into the twenty-first century, as he often reminded everyone.

  Marina agreed in concept, but she did not agree with the shenanigans that began taking place, which is why she’d kept a record of incidents she found distasteful and unfair. Hal played a starring role, but even Babe was in there. She’d started writing as a way to vent, never intending to show these writings to anyone.

  After Marina and her attorney sat down to wait in another meeting room, Yasmin opened the journal. As soon as she began reading, her eyes grew wide.

  “Has anyone see this?” Yasmin asked.

  “Except for my sister, no one. I wrote these incidents down as an emotional release. I thought they might prove helpful today.” Marina knew what she had, but only Yasmin could determine the value.

  A look of determination settled on Yasmin’s face. “You could sue for harassment with this. Or use it as a bargaining tool.”

  “I want these jerks out of my life,” Marina said. “I can make my own money. But don’t let them know that.”

  “Got it,” Yasmin said. “Wait here. I’m going to have a chat with Hal’s boys.”

  Marina sat listening to the wall clock ticking in the conference room. As she waited, she reeled back the last two decades in her mi
nd, comparing her life then to her life now. Except for the regular paycheck, Marina was infinitely happier in Summer Beach. She could see a future filled with family and friends and doing what she loved. Her future would be what she was willing to make of it.

  If only she could get rid of Hal and Babe and the legal entanglements.

  Presently, Yasmin returned. She stuffed a paper into her briefcase. “We’re going now,” she said evenly.

  When Marina started to ask why, Yasmin winked and headed toward the door.

  They rode the elevator in silence, and after they reached the ground floor and emerged into the sunshine, Yasmin turned to her.

  “Congratulations,” Yasmin said, breaking into a broad smile. She handed the journal to Marina. “You’re a free woman. They went for the deal and agreed to call off everything. Plus, I negotiated a good settlement for your troubles.” Yasmin named a number that made Marina smile.

  This was more than Marina had hoped for, but certainly what she deserved. She could use that to get her new business off the ground and stretch out her savings cushion. Marina pressed the journal to her chest. “How can I thank you?”

  “Thank yourself. By keeping such a detailed record with dates, places, and events, you nailed them.” Yasmin smiled. “As I was leaving, Babe caught up to me and gave me her card. I think Hal has a huge problem on his hands.”

  “That’s the best news I’ve heard,” Marina said. Maybe Babe realized Hal would treat her no better than he’d treated Marina. But that was of little concern to her now.

  Marina hugged Yasmin before they parted. Marina strode back to her car with renewed lightness in her step. She was free. On the way back to her apartment, she called Gwen and Ginger, and each woman was elated for her. Marina burst through the door of her old apartment and flung her arms around Kai. “It’s over,” she cried.

  After telling Kai what happened, her sister did a crazy little happy dance for her while Marina laughed. She quickly changed and joined Kai, ready to finish packing.

  Kai emerged from the kitchen with a box. “Here’s the last of your dishes.” She placed the box on a stack of others that lined the living room.

  The next morning, Marina and Kai cleaned the apartment while they waited for the movers. Marina wrung out a mop. “After the truck is loaded, we can head to the hotel, shower, and start the drive back to Summer Beach.”

  “Now we have something to celebrate,” Kai said.

  “Have you heard anything from Dmitri in Chicago?”

  Sadness washed across Kai’s face. “He’s giving me the silent treatment.”

  “Life isn’t all hearts and roses. It’s important for couples to work through disagreements before they get married.”

  Kai leaned against the old mantle. “Did you and Stan ever fight.”

  As Marina recalled their arguments, she laughed. “The things we disagreed on seem so trivial now. Stan once forgot to pay the electric bill, and the lights were shut off during a party. Someone chided Stan, and I was mortified. We dug out candles, and everyone had a great time, but I didn’t speak to him for two days. Now that seems so childish.”

  “I’d be upset, too,” Kai said.

  “It’s one thing to be disappointed over someone’s mistake that inconvenienced you, but those two days were before Stan went on a mission for a month. I had a lot of time to think and put things in perspective. By the time he returned, I’d changed. We’d both learned to take things in stride, solve problems, and move on. Life is too short not to laugh. And I’m glad we did.”

  Kai put her arm around Marina. “And now, here we are.”

  “Older and wiser—just making different mistakes now.” Marina wrinkled her nose.

  “Leaving your job here was not a mistake. Wait until we return. All those recipes you’ve been testing and the menus you’ve been working on will prove your skill.”

  “Did anyone ever tell you you’re the best?”

  “Right back at you,” Kai said. “And next time I talk to Dmitri, I’m going to tell him that I’m glad we’re arguing because we need to get to know each other better before we commit to a lifetime together.” She paused and passed her hands over her face. “He’s not going to like it, but I’m going to postpone the wedding. He rushed in a little too fast.”

  “I think that’s wise,” Marina said. “Even though I know it’s painful.”

  The doorbell downstairs rang, and Marina buzzed in the moving team.

  Three burly men appeared at the front door. “Everything here goes into storage?” one asked.

  “Except for the boxes along that wall,” Marina said, motioning to a few boxes that would fit in her car.

  As the men began carrying out the remnants of her life, Marina’s phone rang, and Ethan’s image appeared on the screen.

  “Hey, Mom. How’s the move going?”

  “Pretty smooth, sweetie. I’m putting our belongings into storage for six months until I get situated in Summer Beach.”

  “You’re really staying there?” His voice held a note of disbelief.

  “I’m sure Heather shared that meme with you,” Marina said, making a face. “My agent says I need to cool my job search. But I love Summer Beach, and I have a brand new venture that’s going to put me right back on top.” Marina bit her lip. She needed to be more realistic with the kids.

  “As long as you’re happy, Mom,” Ethan said.

  “I’d meant to talk to you about this in person,” Marina said, diving into the subject she’d been dreading. “It’s important that we make preparations for the coming school year.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’ve contacted Duke to get the financial aid paperwork going. You and Heather will stay in school, and we’ll simply pay the loans later. The two of you must stay on track with your education.”

  “Yeah, about that…” Ethan’s voice trailed off.

  “Have you found a summer job yet? If not, there’s room at Ginger’s. I can help you find work here.”

  “Mom, please.” Ethan blew out a breath. “I called because I need to talk to you.”

  Marina’s mom-antenna sparked a warning. “I’m listening.”

  “See, it’s like this… Duke’s a great school, but it’s not for me.”

  “If it’s your grades, you can get another tutor,” Marina said quickly. “As many as you need to get through. We’ve faced this before, and you can do it again. I know you can, Ethan. Heather is there to help, too. Don’t quit now.”

  “Mom, listen to me. Please.”

  As the movers hurried around her with boxes, Marina frowned and gripped the phone. “Go on.”

  “This is not a problem that you have to race in to solve,” Ethan said earnestly. “I’m not a kid anymore, and I know what I want. Golf is all I’ve ever wanted to do. If I put the time in to practice that I put into schoolwork, I think I can step up several levels.”

  “But your education—”

  “I can always go back to school, and it doesn’t have to be Duke. I know it’s expensive.”

  “Sweetie, don’t even think about that. I will do anything for you and Heather.”

  Ethan expelled a great sigh. “I’ve already quit school. I’ll find a friend to stay with where I can practice every day. I want to go pro, and I don’t want to wait until after I graduate. Golf is the only thing I can do well.”

  Marina chewed on a fingernail. “You might find other subjects you like.”

  Sounding exasperated, Ethan burst out over the phone. “I have dyslexia. But did you know that some other top golfers do, too? I know I can do this. I’m not going back to Duke. It’s over.”

  Marina pressed a hand to her face to stem the tears that sprang to her eyes. What would Stan do? She could hear the earnestness in her son’s voice, yet she was still a parent who wanted the best for her children.

  She tried again. “You know that your future job prospects will be limited without an education.”

  Ethan let out a frustrate
d cry. “Haven’t you heard anything I’ve said? Geez, Mom, why can’t you listen? I suck at school, but I’m a solid golfer. I can always find work at golf clubs.”

  Marina paced the floor, trying to think of a way to get through to him. This wasn’t what she’d planned for him. She’d worked hard to give her children the education they would need.

  And then it hit her.

  Here she was, making changes in her life to do what she truly wanted. Couldn’t she give her son the same benefit? Marina caught Kai’s empathetic expression. As difficult as it was to let go of her dream for him, she had to let her son live his dream.

  Catching her breath, Marina said, “I do understand. If there’s anything you need…” She’d already told Ethan and Heather that she would put their boxes in the storage unit in the front so that they could get whatever they needed.

  “Thanks, but I got this,” Ethan said. “I’ve been working at a country club course here in Durham, so I’ve got some money saved.”

  “You didn’t mention that before.” Nor did Heather.

  “No one knew. I wanted to see if I could actually get a job in golf. And I did.”

  Marina was impressed. “You’ve really thought this out?”

  “Yeah, I have. Don’t worry about me. I’ve got this.”

  Sighing, Marina said, “I admit I was shocked at first, but I want you to know I’m proud of you for following your heart.” Her son was no longer a child, and he was taking his first steps to secure the future he wanted.

  “Thanks for saying that, Mom.”

  She could hear gratitude in her son’s voice and wished she could hug him. After telling him how much she loved him, she hung up.

  “Wow,” Kai said, arching an eyebrow. “I gather Ethan has dropped out of school. I wonder what Heather will think of that. She might feel abandoned.”

  “I hope not. I left a message for Heather to make sure. But I’m sure she will want what’s best for Ethan.” Still, Marina couldn’t help but feel that Kai might be right.

  “Once all this is packed, let’s eat,” Kai said. “I’m already starving.”