Love Finds the One (Sully Point Book 2)

by Nicole Smith

  Cody said, "Sure thing, Bob." He turned and shrugged at Julia.

  She smiled and said, "I've got to head on out anyway. I'll see you later."

  He nodded and turned back to his customer, and Julia retrieved the windbreaker and left.

  * * * *

  Frank was surprised to see Julia already, before lunch. She had a bit of color in her cheeks and came in blowing on her hands. "Don't you have any gloves?"

  She smiled. "I picked some up at the mall but I left them at the beach house."

  "You never really got a chance to look at the store." Frank waved an arm around the space.

  "Yep," she said. "Looks like hardware to me."

  He laughed. "Let me guess. You got an earful about fishing equipment from Cody during his tour, am I right?"

  "Exactly right. But the place he has out there is really quite nice. I was impressed."

  Frank nodded. "I'm proud of the boy, I really am. But don't worry--no tours of wrenches and types of nails here. What I'd like is if you could look at the computer. Things are piling up and need to be input."

  "Lead the way. There's probably something to be done to fix it."

  He showed her the office in the back of the store, with the computer on the desk. "I have a part-time secretary and clerk. They handle inventory on the computer and other paperwork. This thing hasn't been working for two days now. What do you need to look at it?"

  She grinned up at him as she sat at the desk. "Space and time. Go do whatever you normally do and I'll see what's up."

  He watched her lift her hair up off her neck and twist it into a swirl of a bun, secured by a pencil. Her hands were poised over the keyboard.

  "Go!" she said.

  He went.

  The morning passed quickly, and he was surprised to see it was time for lunch. He'd heard or seen nothing of Julia during the entire day thus far. He walked quickly back to the office area and was horrified to see the computer opened up, cover off, Julia leaning over it to wiggle a part out.

  "What--what--Julia what have you done?"

  "No problem, Frank. Calm down. I just need to get this fan--ah, here we go. This is the culprit. Your fan's busted and you need a new one. I can go pick one up at the computer store at the mall, and have it installed in no time. Then you should be all set. Plus you really need to defrag this thing, but I'll take care of it. The computer was running too hot and shutting down."

  "Oh--you actually know what you're doing, don't you?"

  She laughed. "Yes, I really do. I was building these things when I was fourteen."

  "Why don't you do this for a living then? Work with computers, I mean."

  "A very good question, and one I'll be thinking about over the next month."

  "It's time for lunch, Julia. If you're going to the mall, don't forget to eat."

  "Yeah, I could definitely eat something."

  She set the cover over the computer, but didn't fasten it. Frank watched her gather up her things, along with the computer part. He'd just had a brilliant idea. But should he mention it yet? No, better to wait, he thought.

  "Okay, see you in a while, Frank."

  "Right. See you then," he said, distracted. Yes, it was the perfect solution, for everyone.

  * * * *

  After spending yesterday and now today at the mall, Julia decided she much preferred shopping back in Sully Point with its cute unique shops. She'd found the computer store and was shocked at the prices they were getting away with on computers and parts. When she asked about repairs, the hourly rate was outrageous. No wonder Frank had put off calling these guys, she thought. Lunch at the mall was not nearly as good as Deb's Deli, and Julia felt a sense of coming home when she headed back into Sully Point.

  "Got the part, Frank," she called out as she walked into the hardware store. "Oops, sorry," she said after seeing him with a customer. He nodded and smiled, and Julia headed back to the office.

  Two hours later she was just playing around with the computer. She'd run standard housekeeping software and cleaned up a number of glitches that had been slowing it down. The fan was installed and working perfectly. She sighed. Time to go. Her fun for the day was over. Then she thought about the word she'd just used. Fun--working on the computer really had been fun. If only--

  "Julia? How's it going back here?" She noticed how relieved he looked to see the computer put back together again.

  "Perfect. Everything is fixed," she told him with a smile.

  "It's fixed? You mean, it works?" It was said with some degree of astonishment.

  "Of course it works. Nothing too tricky. You'll notice it runs a bit faster now."

  "That is fantastic. What do I owe you?"

  She laughed. "Are you kidding me? Nothing. You guys have been great to me since I've been here. I'm just glad to help you out."

  Frank leaned against the door and said, "If I knew someone else who was having computer problems...how would you feel about looking at another one? Not for free, you'd get paid."

  Julia felt her mood brighten even more. "Sure! I'd be glad to."

  "It would be a big help. It's for Mrs. Gilchrest--she's the bank president--but her home computer is on the fritz, and I hate to see her go to those rip-off artists again."

  "No problem. Give her my number and we'll arrange something."

  "Thanks, Julia. Mrs. Gilchrest is a special friend, and I'd appreciate it."

  Ah, she thought. Frank has a personal life. Good for him. "I'm going to run out to the beach house and see how it feels to be there."

  "You're welcome to stay at the house again tonight. And it's pizza night, which means Cody will be bringing over pizza from Delucci's. They make the best pizza in town."

  "Okay, you've convinced me to come back for supper at least. See you later."

  She walked out of the store to her car and sat inside it without turning it on. It really had been enjoyable to work on the computer. Why had she ever given it up? Advertising. And Mother. And my godawful need for approval from her. But she'd never gotten the approval she needed, had she? Conditional approval, half-hearted approval, but nothing like Frank's simple pride in his son's business. What would she have given to get that from her mother? Just about anything.

  Starting the car, she thought maybe this was worth thinking more about. But not too fast. It made her feel shaky inside.

  Driving out to the beach house wasn't bad, but when she walked up to the door, she found herself tensing up and feeling afraid. "Don't be silly," she said out loud to herself. "It's over and she's all locked up again." She took a deep breath and opened the door. Nobody jumped out at her. Nothing attacked her. Walking in she stopped at the chair she'd sat in when Patrice held the knife on her. The police had tracked in sand and dirt on their boots and there was a feeling of wrongness here.

  She went into the bedroom and changed into a denim shirt she wouldn't mind cleaning in. Then she found the cleaning supplies and set to work. If she was going to come back to live here, the place had to be cleaned completely.

  There was a release to be found in the process of cleaning. As she scrubbed the floor, she let herself feel the anger at what had happened last night. Wiping down counters, dusting, vacuuming, all of it was an outlet for her turbulent emotions. And when she was done, she stood in the living room by the windows and let herself cry.

  She didn't hear Cody come in, but somehow wasn't surprised to see him standing there.

  "Julia--"

  "I just--"

  "Come here," he said gently and she took two steps and was in his arms. After a few minutes he said, "You had to come back by yourself didn't you?"

  She nodded even as she cried. His arms surrounded her and made her feel safe. He smelled of wind and surf and he was warm even as she shivered.

  "Here, sit down next to me." They moved to the couch, and he pulled a knitted afghan across her shoulders before sitting down. Then he put his arm around her and pulled her closer and she relaxed against him.

&nbs
p; "Sorry about the blubbering."

  "No apology necessary." He sniffed and looked around. "Have you been cleaning?"

  "Yes. I wouldn't be able to stay here without cleaning the place of any smidge of Patrice."

  "That was a good idea."

  "How did you know to come out here?"

  "I stopped by the store and Dad said you were coming out here. I didn't think you should be alone the first time back. I'm just sorry I wasn't here sooner."

  She gave a little hiccup and a laugh. "No, it was better you weren't here at first. I got all my mad out with the cleaning. I needed to be alone for that. But I'm sure glad you showed up when you did."

  His hand smoothed the back of her head, stroking her long hair. They sat quietly, content in the moment. He finally said, "Do you think you can stay here tonight? Alone?"

  "I'm not sure. It was reassuring last night to know your father was just down the hall."

  Cody pulled away as she sat up straight. "You know, I could stay out here with you. There's a guest room. It might give you a chance to adjust."

  "You wouldn't mind?"

  "Not at all. It would set my mind at ease to know you felt safer."

  "All right then, it would be great if you were here. Thanks, Cody."

  "But for now, we need to head to town for pizza night with my Dad. And I can pick up a change of clothes at my place."

  "Did you drive the Corvette?"

  "Of course."

  She laughed. "I'm riding with you rather than the other way around. I do love Corvettes."

  He grinned at her. "I'd noticed that."

  "Yes, I have since I was a teenager. I don't know why I never got one for myself. Just let me change out of this shirt I was cleaning in, and we can go."

  They were on the way to town when she asked him, "Where do you live?"

  He chuckled. "Someplace you'd never expect." Then he refused to answer any more questions about it. When they had to stop at the train tracks for a train going by, he called the pizza place and put in the order. It sounded like a lot of pizza to Julia, but she realized she was suddenly pretty hungry.

  When they drove to the docks and he motioned her out of the car, she stared at him.

  "No. You don't--"

  "Live on my boat? Yes, I do. Well, for part of the year anyway. I just moved back in last week actually. During the worst of winter I live in Anna's old loft apartment."

  He grinned at her look of shock and led her down to where his boat rested against the dock. "Come on in," he said, and helped her onto the boat, and then into a nice-sized cabin.

  Everything was compact and had a place. The bedroom and living area took up most of the room inside. The kitchen was a small affair--she guessed it would be called the galley on a boat.

  "You know what this reminds me of," she said as she stood and turned, looking at everything. "Travis McGee--the John D. MacDonald books."

  "Where do you think I got the idea? I read those books in my teens and became obsessed with the idea. Even when I grew up, I kept the idea of one day living on my own boat. Not forever, but for a while. And I've enjoyed it. Here, have a seat and I'll be right back."

  Julia couldn't believe he lived here. She remembered loving the Travis McGee books and wishing she lived on a boat like him. Leave it to Cody to actually do it. She smiled to herself.

  * * * *

  Cody threw some clothes into a duffel bag and came back to find Julia sitting there smiling. The smile transformed her face from pretty to beautiful. He realized he was staring and quickly walked into the room. "Ready to go?"

  "Yes, but I'd love to come back some time. I'm completely fascinated by you living on a boat. What do you do in a big storm?"

  "If it's really bad I can always stay in town. Most storms I can just ride out here."

  They left the boat and headed back, stopping at Delucci's for two big pizzas. "What's on these anyway?" Julia asked.

  "Everything on one of them. Pepperoni and mushroom on the other."

  "Wait a minute--how did you know I like pepperoni and mushroom?"

  He laughed. "Holly. When she first called to say you were coming down she mentioned several things about you. She said you liked coffee, and pizza and told me what kind, and said you'd need an internet connection. Speaking of which, have you been online since you got here?"

  "No, I'm still avoiding my email. I'm afraid there might be emails from work. I don't want them to need me, and at the same time I wonder at how useful I was if they get along fine without me."

  "If you haven't even tried to go online yet, sounds to me like you really don't want to know either way."

  "You're probably right."

  They arrived at the house and Frank met them with cold beers. As they sat down to feast on pizza, he said to Julia, "Thanks again for the computer work. Alice came in and began working this afternoon. She says it runs like a dream."

  "You fixed Dad's computer?" Cody asked, feeling surprised.

  "Turns out she's some kind of computer genius," Frank said.

  Julia hurriedly swallowed a bit of pizza. "Not a genius, I just have a knack for computers. I can usually fix them. I was a total geek as a teenager."

  "Somehow I can't quite picture that."

  "Think of me at the gawky awkward adolescent stage, taller than most of the boys, and totally into computers instead of fashion. I have no pictures of those years in my life, thank goodness."

  "I know a guy who comes into the shop who was complaining about his onboard computer. Do you think you could fix a computer on a boat?"

  "As long as it's not during a storm. Computers are really pretty straightforward."

  "For you maybe," Frank said. "Not for most of us."

  "Great pizza," Julia said, sipping her beer. "By the way, Frank, I'm going to spend the night at the beach house tonight. Cody's staying with me, so I think I'll be fine."

  Frank's drink went down the wrong way as he gulped in surprise and he ended up choking for a moment.

  Cody patted his father on the back. "You okay, Dad? I'll just be there to make it feel safer for her this first night." He saw the look in his father's eyes and gave a tiny head shake. He knew what his father was asking with the questioning look. No way would he take advantage of Julia in this situation--or any situation for that matter.

  Julia said, "Do either of you know the yarn shop lady, Violet?"

  "Yes," they both chorused.

  Frank said, "In her younger days, some people said Violet was a witch. I never believed it myself. She's one of Maelynne's sources for gossip. Sweet lady but a little strange."

  "It's the fumes from her dyes. You know she dyes all the yarn herself," Cody offered. "But I'm curious. You mentioned her earlier, when you said she got the truth out of you about being here. How did you meet her, anyway?"

  Julia colored up. The rosy blush looked delightful on her pale skin, Cody thought. Then told himself to stop looking at her.

  "I used to crochet and I'm taking it up again. I bought some yarn to start a project."

  "Crochet--my mother used to crochet," Frank said. "Made some beautiful blankets."

  Cody said, "Crochet? You?"

  "What? Why not me?" she asked defensively.

  "Nothing, I mean, of course you. It's just--I can't quite picture you doing something so old fashioned." Cody floundered. "Of course, I'm sure anything you put your mind to, you would do well."

  "Hmph. I don't see what you've got against crocheting."

  "I have nothing against it, seriously. You caught me off guard is all."

  Frank stepped in. "Are you guys finished with this pizza?" He began clearing the boxes off the table.

  "Yeah, I'm done, Dad."

  "Me, too. I'll go get my things from Holly's room." Julia sprang up and left the room.

  Cody was unaware he was staring after her until his father cleared his throat.

  "Son, what are you doing?"

  "Doing?"

  "You aren't going after her
like those other girls of yours, are you?"

  "Of course not! Dad...she's different. That's all I can say at this point."

  Frank sighed. "Well, good luck, for what it's worth."

  Cody couldn't explain to his father what he was feeling about Julia. He wasn't totally sure in his own mind and heart, yet. But, she was definitely making her place there.

  Chapter 4

  Julia walked back into the beach house with more confidence. Having Cody with her made a big difference, and she realized her bout of cleaning earlier had helped as well. Cody walked past her and headed down the side hall.

  "I'll just put my things in the guest bedroom," he said.

  Julia nodded and dumped her things in her room as well. When she came out into the living room, Cody was sitting on the couch. She suddenly remembered being next to him on the couch before and the room felt a bit smaller, more intimate as he sat there quietly. She sank down into the big leather chair facing him, thinking.

  "So," he said.

  "So. What now?"

  "If we were at the loft apartment I'd be asking you if you played the HALO video game. I sometimes play to pass the time."

  "And I'd tell you, I played HALO from the very beginning. I bet I could still beat you, even though I haven't played in a couple years."

  He laughed. "How about cards instead? Gin rummy."

  "Ah, old fashioned games. The Monopoly and Scrabble games are still here and you owe me a rematch."

  "I figured since you were a fan of crochet...you know, old fashioned would be right up your alley."

  "You think you're too far away from me right now for me to retaliate, but you're wrong." She jumped up and took two steps to the sofa, laughing as she began to tickle him.

  "You're tickling me?" He started laughing helplessly.

  "I'm good at it."

  "I give! Stop, no more!"

  She moved back, laughing with him. "Okay, gin rummy it is then. You want a beer? I picked some up the other day."

  "Sounds good. I know I've seen a deck of cards around here," Cody said as he opened cabinets. "Now where would Anna have put--Aha! Found them."

  "You didn't want a glass did you?"

  "Nope, the bottle is good."

  They decided to play at the dinette set. Within half an hour, Julia was beating him badly. "I don't understand this," Cody said. "I never lose this badly."