Summer Beach: Coral Cottage

by Jan Moran

  After she shut the door, Jack plopped into his chair. Ginger had to be one of the most evasive interview subjects he’d encountered.

  That’s when he realized Ginger would have had a clear view of bright orange mugs through the glass pane on the oven door.

  “Give me that,” Jack said, tugging a toy from Scout’s mouth. He scooped up the stuffing Scout had tossed around. “Making me look bad. As if I can’t do that myself.”

  Then he thought about what Ginger had said. A great deal of work ahead of you. What did she mean by that?

  Later that morning, Marina dropped off a picnic basket lunch that Denise had ordered.

  “Want to come to the beach with us?” Jack asked.

  “Thanks, but I have a busy day ahead,” Marina said before dashing back across the yard.

  With such an abrupt departure, Jack couldn’t help but wonder if Ginger had mentioned his sketch of her. But there was no time to worry about that. He had to meet Vanessa and Denise and John at the beach.

  “Have you secured that side?” Jack called out as he jabbed a stake into the sand. If he let go, the breeze off the ocean would lift the beach canopy like a sail. The kids might like to see that, but it was no way to start a day at the beach.

  “Got it,” John replied.

  Under the awning, Jack set up a folding table for the food. Denise covered it with a beach tablecloth printed with shells and starfish and spread out an assortment of food that she’d ordered from Marina. This morning, Marina had sent Jack off with a beach basket filled with prosciutto and melon, cold turkey and avocado sliders, and homemade sweet potato chips with truffle oil.

  “That looks delicious,” Jack said. He was already starving.

  “Help yourself,” Denise replied. “Marina is such a real treasure. We’re looking forward to her food festival, too. What a good idea that is.”

  Jack selected an assortment and dove into the delicacies with gusto. Knowing Marina had made them somehow made this simple picnic even more special.

  He paused in mid-bite. How did that thought blow through his mind? As he ate, he stared out at the sea in thought.

  The truth was that Marina was intruding on Jack’s life with increasing frequency. At the recent event at the Seabreeze Inn, he’d stepped in against that young, privileged thug who’d made fun of her, ruining the debut she’d worked so hard to prepare. He’d wanted to take her in his arms, but instead, he’d assured her she was not alone.

  Lame, he told himself. But then, his life was growing increasingly complicated—not that he was complaining. Marina had just sent two children to college, and now he was on the verge of becoming a full-time father. Looking ahead, would she be up for sharing such a life with him? As a formerly freewheeling bachelor nomad, he wasn’t used to considering others in his life. These thoughts were new to him. First, a dog, then a child, and now…

  No, too complicated.

  After finishing his snack, Jack tented his eyes against the morning sun. The thick morning fog that the locals called June gloom was burning off, and rays of sunshine were peeking through the shifting clouds. In the distance, sets of waves were rolling into the shore, and wet-suited surfers were rising on their boards. Jack longed to give surfing a try. Maybe he and Leo would take lessons this summer.

  Vanessa was relaxing in a chaise lounge next to the canopy, where she could feel the sun on her face, even though she was wrapped in a blanket for warmth. She smiled broadly. “I’ve been longing to do this. Summer Beach is so peaceful. Nothing like Santa Monica, which is overrun with crowds.” She waved to Leo, who was running along the surf with Samantha, chasing shorebirds. “Mi hijo, come get your sunscreen.”

  Leo bounded over, panting, his little chest heaving from exertion and excitement. Vanessa smoothed on sunscreen with soft, loving strokes. She kissed his forehead, and he hugged her before racing back to Samantha.

  Jack grabbed a sketch pad from his backpack and eased into a chair. When words wouldn’t come, he enjoyed sketching. Today was that kind of day. Watching the children at play, he made a few strokes, and then began to fill in the details, humming as he worked.

  “What an enjoyable lifestyle,” Denise said, popping open a can of sparkling water and passing it to Vanessa before opening one for herself.

  Sitting in a beach chair, John clasped his hands behind his head. “Why don’t we stay in Summer Beach?”

  “If only you were serious,” Denise said, laughing.

  “I am,” John said, gazing at the horizon. “I’ve been talking about opening a technology consulting firm for years. Why not now?”

  A smile bloomed on Denise’s face. “Samantha would be so excited. She’s been so sad about moving away from the beach, though this is a world apart from Santa Monica.”

  “That means Leo and Samantha could start school together here.” Vanessa’s face shimmered with hope. “Oh, Denise, that would be perfect for him.”

  “Assuming I stay here,” Jack said, but as soon as the words left his mouth, and he saw the expression on Vanessa’s face change, he regretted them. “Though I’m committed to making that happen.”

  Inwardly, Jack winced. He sounded like the double-talking politicians he’d interviewed, but he was serious. Now, Jack needed to remain flexible for the coming change in Leo’s life.

  He put his sketchpad down. “I hear there’s an opening at the local Summer Beach paper for an editor.” Bennett had mentioned this at the cocktail party at the inn. It wouldn’t pay much, but it was something Jack could easily do. “And the cottage has a second bedroom that Leo can stay in.”

  “Unless he wants to stay with us,” Denise said softly.

  Jack’s heart lurched at that comment, but then, Leo had grown up next door to Denise and John. “We need to have that conversation with Leo soon.”

  A wave of emotion crossed Vanessa’s face. She chewed her lip as she watched the children playing in the sand a little distance from them. Finally, she said, “When Leo was a baby, I thought it would be easy to raise him on my own. But once he started school, he began asking questions. He wanted a father, and he wanted to know where his father was. I didn’t have the heart to tell him what I’d done.”

  Jack felt a twinge of warning in his neck. “What did you tell him?”

  Denise and John looked away, and Vanessa bowed her head. “I told him that his father and I separated when he was very, very young. Before he was even born, before he knew I was pregnant. That was a little bit true.”

  “That makes me the bad guy. As if I left you.” Jack ran a hand through his hair. This was going to be even more difficult than he thought.

  “Jack, I’m sorry,” Vanessa said. “I never thought we’d be in this position. As Leo grew older, it became more difficult to tell him the truth.” A silent tear trickled down her face. “I’m afraid he’ll be angry, and I can’t face that. He’s all I have.”

  Jack wanted to be understanding, but this had to be sorted out. Kneeling beside Vanessa in the sand, he folded his hands around hers. “You’re stronger than that, Vanessa. I know you are. Together, we can tell him the truth.”

  “We’ll be there for him, too,” John said. “He’s your son, and we don’t want to interfere with your relationship with him. But I hope you understand that Leo is going to be fragile. He’ll need familiarity.”

  Vanessa laid her head on Jack’s shoulder, and together they watched Leo and Samantha scraping sand into a bucket for a sandcastle.

  Although Jack had only just met Leo, his attachment to the boy was growing stronger by the day, like a fast-growing vine twining around his heart. Yet the question remained: Would Leo accept him?

  Chapter 20

  After pouring her morning coffee, Marina sat at the red Formica table in the kitchen, checking her email. She was delighted to find an order from her first customers at the farmers market. They wanted to reserve bread, tarts, and cookies for the next market.

  An email from a woman who owned the Starfish Cafe, a popular
hillside restaurant in Summer Beach popped up. She’d heard of the Seabreeze Inn event and asked Marina to come by one afternoon to share her baked goods. That would be a perfect time to pitch her on the food festival. Mitch had already committed Java Beach.

  Outside on the patio was Kai, who’d volunteered to take over the management of the new deck off the patio. Marina could see why. A swarm of men and a couple of women were offloading lumber and supplies onto the patio, and at the center of it was Axe, directing his workforce.

  The sound of hammers and drills filled the atmosphere with the beat of new progress, and Marina welcomed it. She loved watching her dream take shape.

  Marina put a call through to Brooke, hoping she could catch her sister at home. Instead, she got her message again.

  “Hey Brooke, maybe you’re in the garden. I’m building a new deck at Ginger’s, and I was hoping that Alder, Rowan, and Oakley could come over to help finish it. I’m offering all the food they can eat, which I know is a lot. We could have a family beach barbecue like the old days. Love to see you soon.”

  Ginger sauntered into the kitchen. “Good morning, sunshine.”

  “Hi, I just left a message for Brooke. Is she always this hard to reach?”

  “Between the boys and her garden, she’s pretty busy. When Alder starts driving next year, that should help.”

  Marina remembered the days of chauffeuring the twins around. She put her phone down and sipped her coffee.

  Her grandmother was dressed in yoga gear for her bracing morning hike up to the ridgetop, where she frequently meditated. Marina had gone with her a few times. Perched on Ginger’s favorite flat boulder, one could see boats plying the ocean waters and whales on migratory paths. The expanse was awe-inspiring.

  Glancing outside, Ginger said, “Kai is certainly exhibiting good management skills.”

  “She’s exhibiting a lot more than that,” Marina said, arching an eyebrow.

  Kai wore a white shirt with one too many buttons open. The shirttails tied at the waist, where a little skin peeked out above her slim-fitting white capris. On her feet were black patent kitten mules, and she wore ebony bangles and hoop earrings dangling beneath her long hair, which was pulled back into a loose braid. Her sister had good fashion sense, but judging from the careful makeup application, Marina knew something was on Kai’s mind.

  Marina watched her sister hanging onto Axe’s every word. “Kai was belting out Gershwin tunes in the shower this morning, so you know something’s up.”

  “Heard it, too. A rousing rendition of ‘I Got Rhythm.’” Ginger stirred cream into her coffee. “She seems fascinated with Axe. Imagine if they sang together. He has a beautiful baritone voice. Last year he sang at the Independence Day bonfire on the beach.” She tapped the spoon on the side of her cup. “Have you met this Dmitri?”

  “I haven’t, but he gave her a ring that says hands-off-the-lady’s-mine.”

  “Kai hasn’t shared that with me,” Ginger said, surprised. “You’d think he’d want to meet the family first.”

  “I get the idea that he’s a me-me kind of guy who expects the world—and Kai—to revolve around him.”

  “Well, that’s not going to work.” Ginger shook her head.

  “I hope she doesn’t break her heart out there,” Marina said, angling her head outside.

  Ginger sighed. “It’s not Kai I’m worried about.”

  Marina caught a glimpse of Jack and Leo on the beach with Scout. Ever since Denise and John and Vanessa had rented the beach house, Leo had been coming over to see Jack every day. Sometimes Leo was with Samantha, and other times, he was on his own.

  Marina couldn’t get Shelly’s comment from the debut event at the inn out of her mind. Could Leo be Jack’s son? If he was, why didn’t Jack simply say so? She couldn’t imagine what was so secretive about that.

  “You’ve been watching Jack an awful lot,” Ginger said, a slight smile playing on her lips.

  “Have I?” Marina had told Ginger about Shelly’s comments. If anyone could keep a secret, it was her grandmother. “I’m still thinking about why he doesn’t tell us if Leo is his son.”

  “Maybe it’s none of our business. Or perhaps Leo is a relative. Could be a nephew.”

  “I didn’t think about that,” Marina said. That would explain a lot.

  Later that afternoon, Marina was outside inspecting the framing for the deck after the workers had left. The smell of lumber was fresh in the air, and she couldn’t wait to see the finished project. She had already determined where she would place tables, and she was scouring garage sales and ads for used patio furniture.

  She heard Scout’s playful bark and turned around. Jack had just emerged from the guest cottage, where he’d probably been working since Leo left. Not that she was keeping track of him or anything like that.

  Jack jogged after Scout.

  “Hey,” he said, slowing down beside her.

  “Haven’t seen you running on the beach before.”

  “Bennett inspired me. Went for about a couple of slow miles this morning.” He patted his stomach. “Getting back in shape.”

  With all the baking Marina was doing, she was heading in the opposite direction, but she didn’t mind a little extra weight. However, she made a point to walk on the beach almost daily. Maybe she’d drop into Shelly’s yoga class or go for a swim, she thought.

  “Saw Leo here today,” she said.

  “Yeah, he’s a great kid. Samantha, too.” Jack drew a tennis ball from his pocket and tossed it ahead of them onto the beach. Scout took off after it.

  Marina fell into step beside him, and they slipped off their shoes, carrying them as they walked. Strolling beside him like this felt like the most natural thing to do. They’d taken a few walks with Scout now.

  During that time, they’d found they had a lot in common. They’d both come from news backgrounds. Whereas Marina had delivered news on the air, Jack had been dedicated to in-depth investigative projects. They shared a quest for the truth.

  That desire to know the truth was itching at Marina now.

  As the waves pounded the beach, the chilly water sent brown-spotted sanderlings scurrying before them on their little legs. Overhead, gulls squawked and soared and dipped into the surf, scooping small fish from the waves.

  Marina ventured into the conversation. “With Vanessa being so ill, it’s good that Denise and John can help her with Leo. And you.”

  Jack nodded. “That’s a real shame.”

  “Have you known Leo since he was a baby?”

  “Um, no.” Jack shoved his hands into the deep pockets of his long beach shorts. “Just met him this summer.”

  “Really? Gosh, the first time I saw you two together, I could have sworn you two were related.” Marina gulped at her audacity, but she couldn’t help asking.

  Jack arched an eyebrow. “And what gave you that idea?”

  “Leo looks a lot like you.” She was so close now.

  However, Jack didn’t respond. They walked a little farther, the sea rushing around their ankles.

  Marina couldn’t resist forging on. “Sorry, did you say you and Leo were related?”

  “Look, I didn’t say anything.” Jack’s voice held an edge she had never heard. He stopped and heaved a sigh.

  “I’m not following.” Marina blinked as if in confusion. So close now.

  Turning to face her, Jack put his hands on his hips. “Leo’s my son, okay? Is that what every nosy gossip-monger in the town wants to know?”

  She’d touched a nerve. “Jack, I didn’t mean to pry.” But she had.

  And Jack saw through her plea of innocence. “Yeah, you did. You, I understand. That’s our nature. Find the story and report it. But it’s no one else’s business. When we’re ready to tell people, we will.”

  Suddenly, a thought dawned on Marina. “Leo, he doesn’t know, does he?”

  Casting his gaze down, Jack shook his head. “It’s complicated.”

  “When did
you…”

  “Find out? A few weeks ago. Vanessa’s parents wouldn’t have approved of me, and she didn’t want to get married. I had no idea. Leo was the result of a one-night encounter that neither of us much remember.”

  “It happens,” Marina said, trying to be understanding.

  “Not usually to me. I’ve never been that kind of guy.” Jack seemed a little self-conscious. “Vanessa and I were working for different newspapers, covering a dreadful hostage situation on a cult compound. It stretched on for weeks, and the tension was almost unbearable. There were kids inside, too. Eventually, the children were released unharmed, but in the meantime, we had some close calls. One night a bunch of us news jockeys passed around a bottle of tequila to blow off some stress.” He shrugged. “You can figure it out from there. But I always had great respect for Vanessa.”

  “Did you see her again?”

  “No, but I followed her byline. Then Vanessa switched to softer, local news. Lots of people burn out on tough assignments, but at the time, I was kind of surprised that she did. She’s always been a strong woman.”

  Marina nodded thoughtfully. “We spoke some at the event at the inn. I admire that about her.”

  “So, here we are,” Jack said. “I want to tell Leo, but Vanessa is afraid he’ll be upset with her.”

  “That’s why no one else knows.”

  “And shouldn’t,” Jack said firmly. “Not until we tell Leo. I hope there’s no speculation going on. I know how small towns can be. I grew up in one before it got swallowed up by suburbia.”

  Before Marina could answer—and she had to make sure Shelly didn’t spread her conjecture—an icy wave splashed them to their waist, knocking them off balance with its strong undertow.

  Marina cried out, and Jack gripped her around the waist as she stumbled to her knees in the current.

  “Hang on,” Jack yelled, reaching for her.

  “Trying,” Marina cried out. The giant wave had caught her off guard. She flailed against the force, gulping saltwater. Another wave crashed over them and dragged her into deeper water. Overwhelmed, she fought for balance as kelp swirled around her ankles, inhibiting her movements. The flip-flops she’d been carrying were swept away in the water.