Summer Beach: Coral Cottage

by Jan Moran

  Now on his knees, Jack wrapped his arms around her and pulled her onto the shore. As they stumbled into a soft dune, Marina leaned forward, coughing up the water she’d taken in.

  “Are you okay?” Jack tossed the seaweed aside. He rubbed her back and smoothed her tangled hair from her face.

  “Uh-huh,” she managed to say before she dissolved into another hacking round of coughing. Finally, she rolled over and flung herself on the sand. “I can’t believe that happened so fast.”

  Jack leaned over her. “I’m glad you’re okay. For a moment, I thought…”

  “Me, too…” He was so close she could see his dark lashes damp against his skin, his lips just a few inches away. Having just escaped the prospect of death, she felt a crazy need filling her. She tilted her head and brushed her lips against his.

  The connection was so much more than she’d ever dreamed, and a rush of warmth coursed through her, sending tingles all the way to her toes.

  Suddenly, Scout burst between them, knocking Jack to one side. The dog licked her face with great enthusiasm and doggie concern.

  “Ow, wet dog,” she cried, laughing as she pushed Scout away. “I’m okay, you overprotective pup.”

  “Out of here, you mutt,” Jack said, picking up the ball Scout had dropped and throwing it as far away as he could. Once Scout was satisfied that Marina wasn’t hurt, he loped happily away. Jack turned back to her.

  “Listen, I’m sorry about that,” he said, lifting wet strands of hair from her cheeks. “I don’t mean Scout. Well, Scout, too, of course. But I didn’t mean to take advantage of the situation, and I—”

  “You didn’t.” Marina’s heart beat with such force that she was sure he could hear it. She was tempted to pull him toward her again to finish what they’d started, but the moment had passed.

  Jack pulled her up beside him and put his arm around her. “Got to watch those rogue waves. We could’ve lost a lot more than our flip-flops.”

  “Hardly a monster wave, though it sure felt like it.” Marina leaned against him, enjoying the warmth of his skin on hers. She was shivering from the perennially frigid Pacific waters.

  “We should get you back inside and into some warm clothes,” he said, rubbing her hands between his.

  “You’re soaked, too.”

  “I’m a guy. But a roaring fire sounds good right about now.” The late afternoon breeze had kicked up, carrying damp ocean mists in the wind.

  “We’ll have a fire pit soon,” Marina said. She needed Brooke’s boys to help with that.

  “Why don’t I build a fire in my little fireplace?” Jack offered. “You haven’t seen what I’ve done to the little cottage, and I have some soup that’s crying for fresh bread.”

  As much as Marina ached to join him, she was unsure. Her heart was still freshly wounded. “I’d like to, but this could be a little awkward, right?”

  “Guess so.” Jack’s hopeful expression dissolved. “Your grandmother is my landlord. And I’m a pretty complicated guy, aren’t I?” He stood and took her hands to pull her up. “Come on. I’ll help you back to the house.”

  Picking their way barefoot back to the Coral Cottage, Marina leaned against Jack, enjoying the sensation of his arm around her. And yet, disappointment gathered in her.

  If only she hadn’t been so quick to reject his offer.

  Chapter 21

  “Brooke, I’m so glad you and Chip came,” Marina said, hugging her sister and her husband, Charles, who was still known by his high school nickname.

  “I brought plenty of fresh produce for you,” Brooke said, directing her sons to put the bags on the kitchen counter. Three tall, gangly teens dutifully complied. “This morning, I harvested a bunch of herbs, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, and kale from the garden, along with lemons, oranges, and grapefruit. Ginger tells me you’re doing a lot of cooking these days.”

  “I’ve been selling baked goods at the farmers market, and catering some small events at the Seabreeze Inn. My friend Ivy and her sister Shelly are running it.”

  “Why, isn’t that clever of you? I’m glad you’ve found something to do that you love.” Brooke brushed back her mane of light reddish-brown hair haphazardly braided down her back. “This crew devours practically everything I can coax from the garden. Sure helps on the grocery bill. And this year, I planted twice as much.”

  Brooke wore a T-shirt with a tiered, ruffled cotton skirt with Birkenstock sandals to match her husband’s. Both were salt-of-the-earth types, and Chip was now in charge of a fire department in a rural area just east of San Diego. They’d been high school sweethearts, with Chip, the captain of the football team, and Brooke, an avid gardener even back then.

  “I forgot the strawberries,” Brooke said, her face falling. “You would have loved those.”

  Marina hugged her. “Brooke, it’s okay. There’s enough here to feed a baseball team.”

  “Those kids sure eat like one.” Brooke pressed a hand to her forehead. “I don’t know what’s gotten into me lately.” She threw up her hands and let them fall by her side.

  Marina took her sister’s hand. “If you have excess from your garden, I’ll buy it from you. I’m going to need a lot of fresh produce, and yours is so healthy-looking.”

  “Sell it to you?” Looking hesitant, Brooke raised an eyebrow. “I can’t accept your money.”

  “Put it in the boys’ college funds,” Marina said. “Or take a vacation.”

  “It’s been years since we’ve done that,” Brooke said, looking haggard.

  Ginger and Kai sailed in to greet Brooke with a round of hugs, and Marina saw Brooke rest her head against Ginger’s shoulder for a few moments as if she were thankful to be in a safe harbor. Marina was concerned; her sister seemed in emotional disarray today, but then, it was little wonder with three active boys at home. Marina recalled how Heather and Ethan had filled her every free moment when they were young.

  “Let’s see that deck,” Chip said, his commanding voice carrying through the room. “Come on, boys.”

  “I really appreciate you and the boys pitching in to help,” Marina said.

  “Hey, that’s what family is for,” Chip said. “Just wish Stan were still here with us.”

  “I know,” Marina said. Chip and Stan had been good friends and often went fishing together. It was thoughtful of him to remember all these years later.

  “Heard about what that fancy boyfriend did to you up in San Francisco,” Chip said, lowering his voice. He pulled Brooke to his side and put his arm around her. “Brooke told me you called. We’re sorry about that mess.”

  “I’m okay now,” Marina said, lifting her chin. The more time she spent in Summer Beach, the more Grady was receding into her past. Right where he belonged. And then there was Jack. She wasn’t sure if falling for him would be a good idea, but she couldn’t deny her growing attraction.

  Marina led them outside to where the deck stretched over the sand. Axe had left a truckload of brick pavers that Marina planned to use for a pathway from the deck to the firepit, safely away from the house and anything else flammable. Summer Beach had strict regulations.

  Axe had left instructions for them, and he’d also marked out where to lay the bricks. That had been nice of him, and he’d been mindful of her budget.

  Chip took charge, showing the three boys how to position the bricks, tamp them down, and spread sand over them to lock the herringbone pattern in place.

  “You look like you’ve done this before,” Marina said.

  Chip leaned a hand on his thigh. “A few times. Always helping out my buddies at the firehouse.” He glanced around the property. “Be sure to keep vegetation well away from the firepit.”

  “We sure will,” Marina said. “I heard about the Ridgetop fire last year.” She started back toward the deck, and Kai joined her.

  “Axe did a great job,” Kai said. “But his crew worked at lightning speed.”

  Marina picked up on a wistful note in her sister’s voice
. “Any luck with him?

  Kai shook her head. “Maybe I overdid it. I heard his last girlfriend was part of a pro sailing crew. Maybe that’s what he prefers.”

  Marina didn’t know what to say. Kai had come on kind of strong, dressing up and flirting with him. “Or maybe he’d rather do the chasing.”

  Kai angled her head. “You think? Maybe I’ll try that next.”

  “It’s not a game, Kai. Just relax. If he wants to see you again, he’ll reach out to you. I think you’ve made your position known.”

  “I guess so.” Kai sighed. “With that gorgeous baritone voice, I could listen to Axe talk all day. I’d love to hear him sing.”

  “Come on,” Marina said, slinging her arm around her sister. “Help me string up these fairy lights.”

  As the day wore on, the brick pathway and the flat area for the fire pit took shape under Chip’s direction. The oldest boy, Alder, was a quick study, while the two younger boys continued moving bricks and sand.

  Kai had asked Axe to leave a tall ladder that they could use to string the lights above the deck. He’d built a crisscross design that was open to the sky and could be beautifully lit at night. Marina and Kai took turns climbing the ladder and feeding each other strings of lights to weave through the latticework.

  Marina paused to survey their handiwork, satisfied with their progress. “Where did Ginger and Brooke go?”

  “I saw them walking toward the village. Maybe they went to the market.” Kai glanced toward the town. “They were deep in conversation, too. Did something seem off with Brooke to you?”

  “It’s no wonder. She’s got a houseful of testosterone. It’s good that she’s talking to Ginger.” Still, Marina was concerned about her. “I asked Brooke to sell me part of her harvest. I can see her more often, too.”

  “That’s a good idea.”

  A few minutes later, a truck loaded with plants and pots pulled in front of the house.

  “Special delivery,” Ginger called out, waving from Roy’s vehicle. Brooke was squeezed in the middle, looking much happier.

  “What’s all this?” Marina stepped down from the ladder.

  Ginger got out, and Brooke followed her. “I thought the deck looked a little bare,” Ginger said. “A few palms and ficus trees will make all the difference, don’t you think? Just imagine ferns with red and pink geraniums spilling from these fabulous urns that Leilani had just put out.”

  Marina hugged Ginger. “Thank you. Those plants will bring everything all together.”

  “These aren’t from me,” Ginger said. “Jack sent them. He’s probably not too far behind us.”

  “Jack?” That was a surprise.

  “We ran into him at the grocery store,” Ginger explained. “He suggested we go to the Hidden Garden because he wanted to get something special for you. Said you’d shown him the deck and mentioned that plants would look nice.”

  “That’s a beautiful nursery,” Brooke said. “All the plants are so healthy. Leilani and Roy are passionate about plants, too. My kind of people.”

  Marina noticed Brooke seemed calmer than when they’d arrived. Maybe she’d had a good talk with Ginger, or perhaps the nursery had a settling effect on her. At any rate, it was good to see the old, smiling Brooke.

  Behind them, Roy had opened the truck and was unloading the plants when Jack arrived. He and Leo were riding shiny bikes that looked new.

  Marina waved Jack down and walked toward him and Leo. They were windblown and slightly sunburned, but happy. She felt a tug of emotion as she approached the pair. “That was so thoughtful of you, Jack. Thank you.” She saw that Leo was beaming. “Are these new bikes?”

  “Yeah, I needed some exercise,” Jack said. “Leo agreed to come along and help me pick out a couple. He tried to talk me into a skateboard, too.” Pausing, he tousled Leo’s hair. “Maybe next time. I’m still getting back into shape.”

  “We rode all over Summer Beach, and it’s so cool,” Leo said. “Did you know that Samantha’s going to school here in the fall? Instead of regular gym classes, they have swimming and sailing and surfing. Mom said we might stay, too. I’d like that.”

  The little boy seemed excited, but Marina detected a note of sadness behind his words, which was understandable. She held out a hand to him. “Come on over and meet my nephews. The youngest, Oakley, is close to your age.”

  Jack nodded his assent, and Leo jumped off his bike. He followed Marina toward Chip and the boys while Jack parked the bicycles.

  As Marina and Leo made their way toward the others, Leo asked, “So are you Jack’s girlfriend yet?”

  Marina looked into the boy’s earnest eyes and smiled. “Not really. Where’d you hear that?”

  “Jack said it takes a while to get to boyfriend-girlfriend status, and since that was a couple of weeks ago, I was just checking in to see if you guys had made any progress.”

  “I see.” Since Leo was so serious, Marina smothered a laugh. “And does he keep you updated on this status?”

  “Nah. That’s why I’m asking you. I know girls like to talk about love stuff more than us guys. That’s what Samantha says.”

  “And are you and Samantha girlfriend and boyfriend?”

  “No, we’re best friends. But we still might get married when we’re older. We haven’t decided yet.”

  “I think it’s wise to put off your decision,” Marina said thoughtfully. Glancing behind her, she noticed Jack following them and eavesdropping. “Being best friends is perfect right now.”

  “We can be friends, too, right? I like you a lot. So does my mom. And she’s a great judge of character, that’s what she says. Samantha’s mom agrees. They agree on almost everything, except when they don’t, because they’re best friends, too. I figure that if I had a dad, he’d probably be best friends with Samantha’s dad. I’m pretty sure that’s how these things work.”

  “You’re quite smart,” Marina said. “I can tell that you’re very thoughtful, too. We can talk anytime you want.” By then, they’d reached Chip and the boys, and Marina introduced them. Chip folded Leo right into the process, pairing him with Oakley to begin putting the firepit together.

  Jack bumped Marina’s shoulder. “What was that all about?”

  “Leo likes to talk,” Marina replied. “He’s very observant. Like his—” She stopped herself, embarrassed at her near slip. “You know what I mean.”

  Jack touched her hand. “I like that he’s comfortable talking to you.”

  “He’s a sweet boy.” Marina gazed after Leo. “He’s going to need a lot of support one day.”

  Roy signaled to them that he had finished unloading the plants and planters. “That’s all, folks. Let us know if you need anything else.”

  “Will do,” Jack called back.

  Brooke joined them. “Chip and the boys have made huge progress. Want to help me put those plants in the urns while they finish?”

  Marina and Jack agreed, and Ginger went inside to get gardening tools and gloves for them. The set that Marina had borrowed before were part of Ginger’s kitchen decoration, and they’d laughed about that.

  “Here you go,” Ginger said. “I’ll finish stringing the lights with Kai. I can’t wait until nightfall to turn them on.”

  Marina went to work with Jack and Brooke to plant what he’d bought. She still couldn’t get over his thoughtful gesture. As the three of them worked, Marina noticed that Jack and Brooke got on well. Both understood plant care and nurturing. However, they lost her when they started talking about soil and bugs and composting.

  When they finished, Jack placed the plants around the deck, and then he helped bring out all the garage-sale patio furniture Marina had rescued and restored. Most had only needed a good cleaning and fresh pillows. She had a few tables and groupings of loveseats and chairs. As they moved the furniture around, Jack brushed her hand, and she felt the same twinges she’d felt on the beach. She met his gaze and sensed that he was thinking the same thing.

  �
��Now the Adirondack chairs,” Marina said, feeling heat rising on her neck.

  “Sure thing,” Jack said with a lingering gaze.

  At Antique Times in the village, Nan and Arthur had given her a good deal on Adirondack chairs, which she and Kai had painted in a vivid coral shade to match the cottage. She planned to cluster these and benches around the firepit she’d bought to accommodate large parties.

  Finally, the deck project was complete. Marina hugged her two sisters to her sides. “Couldn’t have done this without you and the rest of this crazy family.”

  Ginger began passing around chilled Prosecco to the adults and ginger ale for the kids. “I think a toast is in order.”

  Once they each had a glass in their hand, Ginger raised hers high. “Here’s to having the courage to follow dreams. To Marina for kicking off this venture, and Kai for pitching in to make it successful. What a team you two make. Salut!”

  “And Brooke, who’s now an official produce vendor,” Marina said.

  While Chip looked surprised, Brooke beamed at being included.

  Marina looked around at all the faces she loved and wished Heather and Ethan could be here, too. She hoped they’d visit this summer, even if they had internships.

  And then she looked at the new additions, Jack and Leo, and wondered where their journey would take them. As she sipped her bubbly Prosecco, she studied Jack over the rim of her glass, wondering if they might ever have anything more between them.

  What would Jack do when his sabbatical was over at the end of the summer? Leo had talked about going to school here, but did that mean he was staying with Denise and John?

  With questions swirling in her head, Marina drank the rest of her Prosecco. Dusk was just settling over the beach. They’d had plenty of food during the day—Brooke had made sure of that. But Marina was in charge of dessert.

  She tapped her glass to get everyone’s attention. “Now, let’s turn on the lights and start the firepit.”