Pawleys Island Paradise boxset, Books 1 - 3

by Laurie Larsen

  “Sis,” he said.

  “So, when’s Grand Opening?” she asked, changing the subject.

  “I’m thinking about two weeks. Emma’s helping with the marketing. She’s got big ideas. Fortunately, she leaves me mostly out of it so I can build furniture.”

  “You know she’s been helping me too, with the Dinner Theater.”

  He reached a stopping point with the bookcase and set his brush down. He looked at her with interest. “Yeah, I want to hear about that. Come back to the kitchen with me.”

  She followed him to the back of the store, carefully dodging gorgeous showroom pieces, trying to restrain herself from stopping and studying each one. In a tiny room in the back containing a stove, refrigerator, microwave, sink, table and chairs, he washed his hands thoroughly. When he was finished, he opened the fridge and pulled out two cans of cola, opened them both and gave her one.

  When he sat across from her, she finally had his undivided attention. She told him about her Dinner Theater idea, how Tom thought it was too risky with no guarantee of profitability, and all the progress made so far. She praised Emma for her work abridging the script, filled him in on Leslie’s efforts with selecting and rehearsing the cast, and their dad’s progress with building the stage and sets.

  “A real family affair,” he said with a smile.

  She nodded. “It’s been fun. I just need really stellar actors for the two leads. It could flop without them. And I need to sell some tickets.”

  “What can I do?” he asked, and then he lowered his head.

  She knew he’d offered naturally, before remembering the constraints Tom had placed on him. She patted his hand. “How about I print up some flyers and you can hand them out at your Grand Opening?”

  “Absolutely. I’d be happy to do that.”

  She stayed long enough to finish her soft drink. She said her good-byes and Jeremy walked her to the door. Sadly, she leaned into him, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Close to her ear, he murmured, “It’ll all work out, Marianne. You’ll see.”

  She pulled back. “Do you pray, Jeremy?”

  “I sure do.”

  “Then pray for my family. Pray for Tom and me. Because I can’t live like this for long, with a wedge between us. It’s just not in me.”

  He nodded his agreement, pain evident in the lines on his face, and squeezed her hand. He waved as she left and locked the door behind her, back to work.

  * * *

  The next few weeks became a whirlwind of dinner theater activity. The sound of joyful music rehearsals filled the Inn’s dining room every evening. The music brought happiness to Marianne’s heart because of the familiarity of the songs and the fun the kids were having learning them. Inn guests ventured back to the dining room after the dinner meal to pull up chairs and watch the rehearsals.

  Staging and dialogue rehearsals were coming along too. They were blessed with a fairly experienced adult cast. Many of them had done musical theater in high school, or had followed their interest into their adult years, performing at the community theater. Marianne was amazed by their gracefulness and comfort on stage, since this was a talent she’d never had. Sure, she could organize and control. But she could never get up there and perform.

  Checking their website results became an obsession. Multiple times every day, whenever she was near a computer, she checked to see if any actors had shown interest in coming to work for them. And she checked to see if any tickets were sold.

  So far, a big fat zero on both counts, which would incite, multiple times a day, a wave of panic to rush over her. What if they went to all this work, and had gotten this far, but couldn’t cast the leads? And what if no one came to see them? Tom would give her an “I told you so” that she would fully deserve. Which about killed her.

  She needed to prove the validity of this idea. She needed it to be a success. She needed her idea to dig them out of the financial hole they were in.

  So, she went back to planning. Where else could she advertise the dinner theater? Where could she stack flyers? Where could she advertise online that would draw in the audience? How could she reach out and find just the right Marian and Harold?

  * * *

  Opening Day for Jeremy’s furniture store arrived, along with a beautiful late-spring gift of sunshine and warmth. Marianne showered and dressed, a happy smile on her face. She selected a cute dress for Stella as well, wanting her to look her best.

  She hated the grip on her heart at the thought of taking Stella to Jeremy’s Opening. She supposed she should at least inform her husband of her plans. When she encountered him in the Inn’s great room, she said, “Today is Jeremy’s Grand Opening. He’s got a beautiful day for it.”

  Tom looked up from the ledger he was reviewing behind the guest desk. “What?”

  “Jeremy’s furniture store. He’s been working hard building inventory pieces. Today’s the day he opens to the public.”

  “Oh.” Tom looked back to his numbers.

  “I’m going there for his celebration, and I’m taking Stella.”

  Tom’s head shot back up. Marianne lifted her hand, a literal STOP sign. “Tom, I can guarantee you that Stella will not be in danger going to Jeremy’s Grand Opening celebration along with, hopefully, hundreds of other people. I want her to support her uncle in his success and it’ll be nice for Jeremy to see her, too. It’s been well over a month since they’ve seen each other.”

  Tom clenched his mouth shut and she imagined that he was physically stopping his words of protest from escaping.

  “I’m letting you know, but I’m not asking your permission,” she said, and turned back to the apartment.

  A half hour later, Marianne and Stella were on their way. The minute she pulled into the parking lot, she grinned at the festiveness. A huge banner draped across the doorway of Jeremy’s store, proclaiming “SALE!! IN CELEBRATION OF HARRISON DESIGNS GRAND OPENING.” Smaller banners were displayed in the windows of each neighboring business in the strip mall. “Look at that, Stella! Isn’t that exciting?”

  Stella squealed and pointed at the colorful banners and balloons. Marianne noticed that although they were thirty minutes prior to the opening, there was a good little crowd of cars in the lot, and about a dozen people lined up at the door. Her heart rushed with gratitude and excitement for her brother’s well-earned success.

  They approached the door and Marianne ran into someone she knew while Stella darted through the small crowd to get a good spot to see inside. Marianne made sure she knew where her daughter was, then turned to chat with one of the mothers of a boy in Stella’s class. She was explaining that Jeremy was her brother when she heard Stella scream, “Mommy! Mommy! Oh my gosh, come look!”

  “Excuse me,” she said and pushed to the front of the gathered folks. “What is it, baby?” she asked when she reached Stella, who was jumping in place and pointing at the plate-glass window.

  Inside, Jeremy was kneeling on one knee in front of Emma, holding out a small box on his palm. Marianne gasped. “Oh Stella, do you know what this means?”

  “No! What’s in that box?” But the little girl knew it was important and exciting, judging from the way she was now hopping and holding her hand over her mouth.

  Marianne peered through the window. She couldn’t see exactly what was in the box, but she could bet it was a velvet box from a jeweler containing a diamond solitaire ring. And it was unmistakable the intent behind it.

  Emma snatched the box from his hand and pulled the ring from it, then handed it back to Jeremy, who slipped it on her left ring finger. He started to rise but Emma pushed his shoulders down, saying something to him which Marianne couldn’t hear. But he must’ve liked what he heard because he stood and lifted Emma, twirling her around in a circle, their lips joined.

  “Oh Stella,” she breathed. “Uncle Jeremy just asked Emma to marry him!”

  “Really? How do you know?”

  “That’s how it’s done, sweetie. Man on one knee,
a ring on her finger, and a big happy kiss.” Those tears that had been prevalent for weeks hit her eyes again, but this time they were for pure happiness.

  She stared through the window, a happy smile on her face, her heart exploding. Eventually, the two lovebirds must’ve realized they had an audience because they turned to the crowd. They’d been oblivious during the proposal, but now, it was time to work. Jeremy gave Emma a last kiss and strode to the door, unlocking it and throwing it open. “Welcome, folks. Welcome to Harrison Designs. We have lots of sales going on, so come on in and take a look.”

  She let him direct his anxious customers in the door, then she pulled him aside and gave him a huge embrace. “Jeremy! Congratulations! I assume she said yes?”

  He laughed, a big, unencumbered, happy smile covering his face. “She said she loves me. And she wants to stick around for a future with me.” He noticed Stella and squatted down to receive her hug as well. “Hi cupcake. Great to see you, sweetheart.”

  “And the wedding?”

  He rose. “No wedding yet. This wasn’t an engagement. Just a commitment. Look, sis. I gotta get busy. Go check out the ring.” And off he went.

  Marianne turned in a circle till she spotted Emma. She grabbed Stella’s hand and practically pulled her over. When Emma saw her, she beamed. “Congratulations!”

  Emma laughed. “You saw that?”

  “We sure did. And what’s this about it wasn’t an engagement? It sure looked like a marriage proposal, which leads to an engagement.”

  Emma smiled and held out her left hand, palm down. A stunning red ruby surrounded by small diamonds rested in a gold band. It sparkled in the bright lights of the showroom, and matched the beautiful smile of its wearer.

  “Let me see!” Stella urged.

  Emma laughed and lifted Stella up and held her so she could get a close look. As Stella studied the ring, Emma turned to Marianne. “He’s old-fashioned. He doesn’t want to plan a wedding until he’s financially stable and has a future to offer me. But I’m not concerned about that. He’s the man I love. We can build all this together. I don’t really need to wait.”

  Marianne leaned her cheek in close to Emma’s, squeezing her as best she could while she still held Stella. “I’m so happy for you both. You know that, right?”

  “I sure do. Thanks, Marianne.”

  With that, Emma disappeared into the crowd of people who were there to make Jeremy’s dream come true.

  * * *

  They spent a good hour at the store, talking to customers, watching Jeremy and Emma ring up sales and take orders for custom-built projects. With news that the TV camera crew was coming later, Marianne and Stella took off. The Grand Opening was a huge success. Jeremy and Emma had worked hard and it had paid off. Jeremy’s business was off and running.

  The excitement over the proposal floated over them the whole way home, and Stella couldn’t chatter about anything else. In her mind, Emma was a princess and Uncle Jeremy her doting prince. This was the closest thing to a fairy tale Stella had ever experienced.

  Which is why, the first words out of her mouth once she saw her daddy were, “Guess what Daddy? Uncle Jeremy and Emma are going to get married! He gave her a ring and put it on her finger! He proposed on one knee!”

  Marianne beamed at her daughter, the little girl’s excitement contagious. Until she looked back at her husband. She supposed she didn’t expect him to be blissful at the news. But she certainly didn’t expect the anger that was plain on his face.

  “That’s great, sweetie,” he said in a strained voice.

  Stella went on, “Emma’s going to be a beautiful bride, isn’t she Daddy? And Uncle Jeremy will be the handsome groom in the black tuxedo!”

  “Yes,” he said. “Now listen sweetheart, why don’t you go get changed for the beach? I’ll take you out to dig, how’s that?”

  She shrieked her pleasure at that suggestion, and darted back to the apartment.

  “They’re getting married?” he said with short, even words.

  “Well, yes. And no.”

  “What’s that mean?”

  “In his mind, it wasn’t a marriage proposal. He presented her with a ruby ring, not a diamond, and to him, it’s more of a commitment.”

  “Like a promise ring?”

  “Yes, exactly.”

  Tom paused, let out some pent up breath.

  “But not to Emma. She loves him, and considers it an engagement ring. She sees no need to wait.”

  Tom’s mouth tightened and he ran his fingers over his lips. He turned toward the apartment and took a few steps, then turned back. “All the more reason to keep Stella away from the both of them.”

  “What?” Marianne exploded. “What could this possibly have to do with the other?”

  “Jeremy will be bound to Slotky forever now.”

  Marianne shook her head, at a loss for his logic. “Slotky is in jail! He can’t get to Stella.”

  “Prison sentences are temporary, at best. If he gets out — when he gets out, now Jeremy’s not just dating his daughter. He’s married his daughter. Now what’s he going to do?”

  “Tom, I refuse to let you mar this happy Harrison family occasion.”

  Tom laid his hand on her arm. “Stella stays away from them. You understand? For her own safety.”

  Marianne’s mouth dropped and she pointed at the apartment door. “You heard her! She’s more excited about this engagement than I’ve ever seen her. You can’t keep her from all the wedding excitement.”

  “I can. And I will. And I expect you to honor my wishes on this, even if you don’t agree with it.”

  He stormed to the apartment, and she watched him as if in a daze. This couldn’t be happening. It just couldn’t.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The fight with Tom caused a dark haze to settle over her head, difficult to fight through in order to continue with her daily responsibilities. She hated marital spats, always had. But this one was the doozy of all marital fights. The anger in Tom’s eyes as he’d dictated his directive about Stella, refusing to let her be a part of Jeremy’s wedding … it caused a chill to settle over her unlike any she’d ever known. How could they ever get over this disagreement?

  Or was this the beginning of the end? If they couldn’t resolve this conflict, how could they possibly stay married? It was too big, too far-reaching. She couldn’t support him in his direction, and he obviously couldn’t support her in hers. They both had responsibility for Stella’s upbringing and safety, and they were at opposite ends of the spectrum.

  Tears were never far from her eyes. The smallest little problem resulted in an unwanted eruption of tears, when she knew, in absence of this problem, she wouldn’t be fighting them back.

  She couldn’t live like this. As much as it pained her, she had to be realistic and start considering the possibility of divorcing Tom. It chilled her to the bone to even think about, but there was no way she could survive in a marriage with a man who had lost all her respect.

  In a quiet moment at the Inn, she pulled out her Bible again, looking for guidance. God’s word made clear His thoughts about divorce:

  Malachi 2:16: “The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,” says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.

  Matthew 19:8: Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

  But there was a huge expanse between living the type of marital love that God described in her previous Bible study, and this: an avoidance of divorce. Sure, God wants us to avoid divorce, but how can a couple possibly fulfill God’s view of a successful marriage, with an unresolvable wedge between them?

  Marianne closed her Bible with more force than she’d meant to, stood and went to find Tom. She
didn’t have to look far. He was outside, trimming the bushes and greenery in front of the Inn. He looked up at her approach, then his head stubbornly lowered, focusing on the electric trimmer. His jaw clenched with his determination to keep his mouth closed. Anger radiated from him in waves and it didn’t take being married to the man to recognize it.

  So, he wasn’t going to turn the machine off, even though it was obvious she’d come and found him to talk. Fine. She waved her hand in front of his face, then crossed her arms in front of her chest.

  Finally, he turned the machine off and said in one terse syllable, “Yes?”

  She took a deep breath and let it out. Now that she had his attention, what would she do with it? She hadn’t really thought out a plan. “I think it’s obvious that our disagreement has taken a turn for the worst.”

  He nodded.

  “So I want to visit the topic of marriage counseling again. Should I call Stephanie’s office and get a referral for a couples counselor?”

  He shrugged, then shook his head, his gaze going beyond her on the horizon.

  Marianne waited for a verbal response but didn’t get one. “Or, we could make an appointment with Pastor Gray at church. He knows us both and might be able to add some spiritual insight.”

  “No.” Tom’s answer was fast and strong. “Not with Pastor Gray. I don’t want him knowing about our troubles.”

  “Why not?”

  He let out a breath and lowered the trimmer to rest on the ground. “I don’t know. It’s a small town, Marianne. Word gets out. I’d feel uncomfortable around our friends. Might be bad for business.”

  Marianne wondered how many other lame excuses he could come up with if she let him. “Never mind, then. I’m busy with the dinner theater. I just thought that working on our marriage was a priority to you. Maybe I was wrong.”

  He stammered but she didn’t give him a chance to finalize his thoughts into words. She whirled and stormed back up the stairs to the Inn. Yes, she realized it was childish, but she honestly didn’t know how much longer she could take this tension between them. Let him stew and come to her with a suggestion for fixing their marriage.