* * *
Seth came home after a long day with half a dozen minor emergencies and a long visit with Ella Mae. He was looking forward to a shower, then dinner with Abby. It was the pattern they’d established since that first night she’d spent at Seaview Inn.
When he tapped on the connecting door between their rooms, though, she didn’t answer. He frowned, glancing at his watch. She should have been back from Christmas shopping on the mainland long before now. That’s what she’d told him she intended to do today.
He went downstairs and found Grandma Jenny in the kitchen looking through her recipe file. He gave her a peck on the cheek and peered over her shoulder.
“Chicken and dumplings? It smells fantastic!”
“Seemed like the sort of comfort food you might find appealing,” she said.
Seth frowned at something he thought he heard in her voice. “Why would I need comfort food?”
“Because Abby moved out this afternoon,” she said. She gave him a worried look. “You didn’t know?”
“I knocked on her door just now and she didn’t answer,” he admitted. “But I had no idea she was heading back to her place today. Are the bathroom renovations finished?”
“I have no idea. She came back from shopping right after lunchtime. She and Hannah spent an hour or two out on the porch and next thing I knew, Abby was checking out.”
“Did they have some sort of argument?”
“Not that I could tell. She looked a little pale, but otherwise she seemed just fine. Hannah never said a word, either. In fact, I think she helped Abby take her things back to her place.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” Seth said. “I’d better go over there.”
“If you’re not back by the time I have the chicken and dumplings on the table, I’ll save you some.”
“Thanks.”
Seth took his time walking up the beach toward Abby’s. He couldn’t begin to imagine what might have happened between the time he’d kissed her goodbye this morning and midafternoon that would have sent her scurrying home. He had few doubts, though, that it must have something to do with him.
Unfortunately when he got to Abby’s, the house was dark and her car was gone. He glanced inside, spotted a couple of suitcases sitting in the middle of the living room and concluded she hadn’t left town for good. That, at least, was something.
He walked to The Fish Tale next, but Lesley Ann told him Abby hadn’t been in.
Was she hiding out at Luke and Hannah’s? he wondered. And if so, why?
Back at Seaview Inn, he was about to get in his car and drive over there, when it occurred to him that wherever Abby was, she didn’t want to be found, at least not by him. Otherwise, she’d have left a note in his room or a message on his phone.
As frustrating as it was to give up without answers, he made himself go inside.
“Any luck?” Jenny asked.
He shook his head. “I wish to heaven I had some idea what’s going on with her. What could have changed since this morning?”
“You won’t know till you talk to her,” Jenny said, then gave him a hard look. “Don’t wait too long to do that, either.”
“I just went looking for her,” he protested.
“You can’t have searched very hard. This island’s not that big. If you’d really looked, you could have found her. That tells me you gave up.”
“I didn’t give up. I just decided to give her a little space, since it’s evident that’s what she wants.”
“And that’s killing you, isn’t it?”
“I’m not overjoyed,” he agreed.
“Well, just be sure your pride doesn’t get in the way of doing what’s best for your heart,” she advised. “Now sit down and try this recipe. It’s been years since I’ve made it.”
Seth sat down and tasted the chicken and dumplings, then smiled. “You haven’t lost your touch. As comfort foods go, this is pretty darn good.”
“Not good enough to wipe those worries out of your head, I imagine.”
He smiled at the suggestion. “It’s going to take more than excellent chicken and fluffy dumplings to do that.”
“When you figure out why that is, I’m guessing it will go a long way toward telling you what your next step ought to be.”
“Am I supposed to get that?” he grumbled.
“Just give it some thought,” she said and patted his shoulder. “It’ll come to you.”
“Since you clearly have some idea of what I should be doing, why not just tell me?”
She winked at him. “What would be the fun of that?”
If anybody had asked, Seth would have told them there was nothing fun about any of this. As hard as he’d been working to protect himself from pain, it had apparently been for naught.
17
Abby had seen Seth approaching her cottage from the window of her darkened bedroom. She’d held her breath as he’d knocked on the door, then sighed with relief when he finally walked away.
She wasn’t ready to see him yet. She had a lot of things to figure out before she spent any more time with him. While she might not need to know if what she felt for him really was love, she certainly needed to know if she was truly ready to settle for less than a lifetime commitment. Hannah had made her see that games could be fun, but could also be emotionally dangerous.
She unpacked her bags, poured herself a glass of tea, then grabbed a light blanket and settled into a rocker on the porch. She could hear the soothing sound of gentle waves washing onshore, the occasional call of a bird. It was peaceful and serene, just what she’d been hoping for when she’d come home.
Inside her head, however, her thoughts continued to be in turmoil. If only she’d met Seth a few months from now when she’d truly had time to figure out who she was these days. If only they’d met when he’d had time to put aside the grief that still consumed him. If only he were older or she were younger. If only, if only... Unfortunately there were too many things that couldn’t be changed, important things that couldn’t be dismissed so easily.
But even as she struggled to put things in perspective, to examine her innermost thoughts, she kept remembering things he’d said to challenge her, comments that had made her laugh, flirtatious remarks that had made her blush or made her pulse race. And remembering those things made her smile. And in so many ways, more importantly, they made her feel alive and hopeful for the first time in ages.
“Why couldn’t this have been less complicated?” she murmured aloud, the question fueled by regret.
Most likely because they weren’t untested teenagers the way she and Luke had been. Things had seemed so simple back then, at least until the time came for the hard decisions about going their separate ways for college and into the future.
Instead, she and Seth had met when they both carried enough emotional baggage to be charged extra when they flew. Adults had history that couldn’t be ignored. They’d also formed habits and discovered needs they wanted fulfilled. Merging lives at that stage required patience, understanding, determination and compromise. Did she possess any of those qualities?
Patience? Well, hers was definitely questionable, she concluded candidly.
Understanding? She tried to listen and be empathetic, so that probably fell into her plus column.
Determination? Unquestionably that was her best trait, at least among the four.
The ability to compromise? Wasn’t that what she’d done a million and one times with Marshall? Wasn’t that what she’d vowed never to do again, at least to the extent that she lost herself in the process? How was she to reconcile that promise to herself with the reality that every relationship required compromise to succeed?
The honest assessment left her as confused as ever, and more exhausted. She sighed, folded the bl
anket and took her empty glass inside. Maybe if she slept on all this, she’d awaken in the morning with the right answers clear as crystal.
First, though, she had to fall asleep. Sadly, sleep turned out to be just as elusive as those answers she was seeking.
* * *
Since nothing had magically changed overnight and Abby awoke as confused as ever, she buried herself in work. By midmorning she’d made dozens of calls, organized her notes for the fish fries and the silent auction, then drew up what she hoped was a persuasive new presentation to show to the mayor and subsequently to the council when they finally held their next meeting after the first of the year.
What she needed, though, was an ally, someone who knew the mayor and believed in the project. Since Grandma Jenny had already played her trump card by getting Abby and Sandra at the same table for lunch, maybe it was time to seek out additional support. She headed to Flavors.
Behind the counter, Mary’s expression brightened when Abby walked in. “You back for more ice cream?”
“More ice cream and some company, if you have the time,” Abby said.
“Mornings in here are slow except at the height of the tourist season,” Mary told her. “And this time of year, everyone’s already worrying about gaining weight over the holidays from all the parties and family celebrations. They don’t eat a lot of ice cream on top of that.”
“Wouldn’t that make it the perfect time to take a vacation?” Abby asked.
Mary laughed. “There are no vacations when you run a business like this. I can’t just shut the door and walk away, even for a few weeks. As soon as I do, someone wants five gallons of some special flavor for a party and I hear about it if I’m not around to provide it. It’s not worth the aggravation. A small business thrives on word-of-mouth and excellent customer service.”
“Sounds like a good way to drive yourself into an early grave,” Abby told her as Mary set a bowl of mango gelato in front of her, then pulled out a chair and sat down. “You’re not having any?”
Mary shook her head. “Look at me,” she said, patting her generous hips. “I learned a long time ago that eating my own ice cream was a surefire way to pack on extra pounds. I’m still taking off what I gained before that lesson sank in. I may not be able to get around the occasional taste test when I’m experimenting, but I’ve cut out any more than that.”
“Will it bother you to watch me devour this?” Abby asked. “It really is amazing.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” Mary said. “I live for compliments. They’re almost as satisfying as a bowlful of ice cream.” She studied Abby curiously. “Did you stop by for more ice cream or would I be safe in guessing you want to talk about Blue Heron Cove?”
“Good guess,” Abby confirmed. She filled her in on the most recent complication with the contractor. “I don’t have a lot of wiggle room. If things drag on past that January council meeting, I’ll lose the best man for the job. Any thoughts on how I can assure that doesn’t happen?”
“Aside from tying up Sandra and stuffing her in a closet, you mean?” Mary asked, a glint of amusement in her eyes.
“I’ve ruled that out,” Abby told her, laughing. “Though it has been quite a temptation the past few days.”
“Mind if I call Kyle and get him over here? He’s her precious grandson, after all. She listens to him when not another soul on the planet can get through to her.”
“I’ll take advice from anyone at this point,” Abby said. “He backs this project, right?”
“Sure. He’s as eager for economic development in Seaview Key as I am.” She pulled out her cell phone, made the call, then sat back. “He’s on his way. While we wait, why don’t you tell me what’s going on with you and the hottest newcomer to Seaview Key in years?”
Abby blushed at the direct question. “Seth and I are just friends,” she said in what she hoped was her most convincing tone.
Mary regarded her with disbelief. “And here I used to think you were smart,” she said, shaking her head with dismay. “Please tell me you are not going to let him get away.”
“We’re friends,” Abby repeated.
Mary shook her head. “Ignoring all those sparks is a crying shame,” she lamented. “Who’s holding out, if you don’t mind me asking? It sure didn’t seem like it was Seth. He never took his eyes off you the night you were in here. You looked pretty smitten yourself.” She sighed. “Or maybe I’m so used to watching the teenagers come in here with stars in their eyes that I see romance everywhere I look these days. If I misjudged the situation, I apologize.”
“It’s complicated,” Abby responded.
Apparently her choice of words gave away her own ambivalence. Mary’s eyes lit up. “I knew it. Those sparks never lie.”
Fortunately before she could pursue it, her husband came in. Abby recognized Kyle immediately, even though he was balding now and wore glasses. Hard to imagine there’d been a time when he’d been the star on the high school baseball team and had girls chasing after him. He dropped an affectionate kiss on his wife’s cheek, went behind the counter and scooped up a dish of dark-chocolate-mint ice cream, then joined them at the table.
“You all having a strategy session?” he asked as he spooned ice cream into his mouth.
“We were waiting for you to do that,” Mary told him, then glanced pointedly at the spoon in his hand. “If you’ll stop eating long enough to give us your insights.”
“Baby, you make ice cream this good, I’m going to eat it whenever I get the chance,” he retorted, but he did set down his spoon and turn to Abby. “What can I do to help? I know Gran is dead set against Blue Heron Cove.”
Abby’s heart sank at the certainty in his voice. “Can you think of any way to change her mind?”
“I’ve already used my most persuasive arguments to no avail,” he told her. “Once that woman sets her mind to something, it’s like trying to carve Mount Rushmore with a pocketknife. A waste of time and energy.”
“He has tried, though,” Mary confirmed. “Which brings me back to stuffing her in a closet until the vote is over.” She grinned at Kyle. “Sorry, hon, but it’s what she deserves for being stubborn.”
“To be honest, I don’t entirely disagree,” he admitted. He paused, his expression turning thoughtful. “There could be a better approach.”
Abby immediately sat up a little straighter. “Tell me. I’m ready to try anything.”
“I just got to thinking, is there anyplace over on the mainland that might be comparable to what you’re planning for Blue Heron Cove?”
“You mean a small enclave of homes that have been built so they don’t impact too much on the environment?” Abby asked slowly, liking where she thought he was going with this.
“Exactly.”
“I’m not all that familiar with Naples or some of the other communities on the coast, but I’ll bet my contractor could help me out. This sort of project is what he likes to do and he has a reputation for being good at it. He didn’t take me to see his past work, but I read about it.”
“Find the very best example he has to offer and take Gran to see it,” Kyle recommended. “Or if you think she’ll balk at going with you—”
“She will,” Mary said with certainty. “When she mentions Abby at all, she makes it sound as if her sole mission is to destroy Seaview Key. Abby’s not going to be able to persuade her the sky is blue.” She glanced apologetically at Abby. “Sorry, hon, but it’s the truth.”
Kyle nodded. “More than likely,” he agreed. “That doesn’t mean we can’t take Gran on an outing one day, let her do a little Christmas shopping, feed her a nice lunch, then when she’s feeling all mellow, we just happen to drive by to see something that resembles what Blue Heron Cove could be.”
Mary’s eyes were sparkling now. “And that is why I married you, y
ou wonderfully sneaky man. It’s a fantastic idea! Your grandmother’s been chomping at the bit to get over to the mainland to shop.” She turned to Abby. “She doesn’t like the traffic over there, so she relies on us to take her.”
“It really is the perfect idea,” Abby agreed. “I’ll get on it this afternoon. As soon as I have some options, I’ll get the information to you. I may run over first to check them out myself so I can guide you to the one that’s closest to my vision.”
Despite her enthusiasm, she hesitated for just a second. “Before we go to all this trouble, do you both agree that getting Sandra on board is the key? I shouldn’t be trying to win over the men who voted with her, so she’s just outnumbered?”
“It’ll never happen,” Mary said. “How those two keep getting reelected is beyond me, but they’ll never go against her.”
“They’re reelected because nobody has bothered running against them,” Kyle said. “And, no, I don’t think you should be the first.” He grinned at Abby. “It’s an ongoing debate. In the interest of family harmony, I’ve been discouraging her from getting mixed up in local politics, at least until my grandmother gets out. The thought of those two butting heads in public gives me heartburn.”
“It could definitely make family meals awkward,” Abby said, smiling.
Mary waved off the comment. “They’re not exactly a picnic as it is. I might not run against one of these old fuddy-duddies, but I don’t keep my mouth shut.”
Abby laughed at Kyle’s resigned expression.
“That would be hoping for too much,” he said dryly.
“You knew I had a mouth on me when you married me,” Mary retorted.
“I know, but I overlooked it because you make the best ice cream in the state,” he said. “Now, I’ve got to run. Nice seeing you again, Abby.”
“Great to see you, too, Kyle. And thanks for the help.”
“Don’t thank me yet. Let’s see if it works.”
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