The Sea Star Bakery: A Willa Bay Novel

by Nicole Ellis

  Meg waited a moment to see if she wasn’t hearing her sister due to bad reception at the campground, then asked, “Libby, are you okay?”

  Libby sighed, her breath coming through the phone in a reverberating puff of air. “Everything’s fine. I was just a little lonely here and thought I might catch you before work to chat for a few minutes.”

  Meg glanced at her watch. Less than ten minutes to get to the Lodge before her shift started. She picked up the pace, her sneakers slapping rhythmically against the pavement. “Where is Gabe? And the kids? How are you lonely on a family camping trip?”

  “He and the older kids all went fishing off the dock. Kaya is napping in the tent, so I stayed back with her. I needed to tidy up a little around here anyway.” Libby’s voice was fading in and out, and Meg pictured her buzzing around the campsite, picking up and rearranging things as she went.

  “How is Gabe?” Meg lowered her voice, although she wasn’t sure why, because there wasn’t anyone else around. She’d always thought of her sister as perfect, but recently a crack had appeared in her flawless veneer, and Libby had admitted to having fears that her husband was having an affair. Meg still didn’t think Gabe was cheating, but from what Libby had told her, something wasn’t quite right with him.

  “He complained about coming here yesterday and even lashed out at me about the cost of the tent, but he seems to be coming around now.” Something clattered in the background. “Fiddlesticks,” Libby said.

  “What was that?” Meg asked as she entered the long driveway leading to the Lodge.

  “A pan I’d just washed fell on the ground.” Libby clanked some pots together. “At home, I’d probably have washed it again, but out here, I just wiped off the pine needles and set it back on the table.”

  Meg couldn’t quite stifle a chuckle. “You’re such a rebel.”

  “Oh, be quiet.” Libby laughed too. “I’m not always as uptight as you think I am.”

  “I know.” Meg walked past one of the many flowerbeds on the Lodge’s property, inhaling the scent of gardenias, one of her favorites. “But I still like to tease you about it.”

  She stopped in front of the employee entrance at the back of the Lodge. “Libby, I’m at work now. Can we talk later?”

  “Oh. I was hoping we could chat a little longer.” Libby was quiet for a moment, then her voice rang out with false brightness. “But I know you need to get to work, and the kids should be back soon anyway. I should probably enjoy the quiet while I can.”

  Meg checked her watch. She needed to clock in ASAP. “Are you sure?”

  “Of course. I’ll talk to you later. Maybe tomorrow when we get home.” Libby hung up before Meg could say goodbye.

  Meg stared at her phone, her heart sinking into her stomach. One of the things she’d appreciated about moving back to Willa Bay was the opportunity to be around more for friends and family. With all of her commitments, though, she was quickly losing that.

  With a sigh, she pulled open the door to the Lodge and stepped inside, ready to begin her late lunch and dinner shift. In the kitchen, she found Taylor alternating between tending to a pot on the stove and chopping carrots.

  He looked up when she entered. “Hey, Meg. Tonight’s going to be busy. We’re almost fully booked for dinner.”

  “Really?” She clocked in and slid her chef’s coat over her tank top. “Is there an event tonight?”

  “Nope, just the normal tourist traffic.” He shot her an easy grin that made her heart skip a beat. Taylor may not have been as charmingly handsome as Theo, but he always made her feel at ease.

  She stopped in her tracks, her head buzzing at that thought. Why was she even comparing the two of them? Taylor was a nice guy, but he was her boss. There was never going to be anything between the two of them, even if he was interested in her. Had her brief interaction with Theo turned her into an even bigger romantic than Cassie?

  Taylor cocked his head to the side, holding his knife in the air. “Uh, are you okay?”

  She wrenched her attention away from thoughts of him and forced a smile. Having Theo come into her life had seemed like divine intervention, but maybe she didn’t have the mental energy for that kind of thing right now. “Sorry, I have a lot on my mind.”

  He nodded. “I totally get it.” He looked around the kitchen, settling on the stack of vegetables next to him. “Can you help me chop these, please? The seafood delivery we received today is so fresh that I half expect it to jump back into the ocean, so we’re making pasta primavera with shrimp. I have a feeling it’s going to be our most popular dish tonight.”

  Meg nodded, then grabbed a knife and got into position at the counter about two feet away from Taylor. She tried to focus, but after her recent thoughts about his physical appearance, standing so close to him was messing with her concentration. Fortunately, he finished what he was doing and moved on to a task across the room. She glanced at him and breathed a sigh of relief. This date with Theo would be good for her. With any luck, he’d erase any romantic notions about Taylor from her mind.

  8

  Cassie

  Cassie closed her eyes and turned her face up to the sun, letting the warmth soak into her skin. After church, she’d changed out of her good sundress and into old denim overalls that were more appropriate for helping Zoe paint the railing on the back porch of the Inn. The kids were with Kyle for the weekend, and she’d had a good time at church with Celia that morning. With the combination of a sky so blue that no threat of rain was in the picture and a slight breeze off the bay, conditions were perfect for painting the railings.

  Even Zoe, who’d lately been wired even more tightly than normal, seemed in a good mood. She set two cans of white paint on the ground and stuck a paintbrush on top of each, then took a deep breath and smiled at Cassie. “Thanks for helping today.” Zoe pulled her hair back into a high ponytail before prying the first paint can open with the tip of a butter knife. “I feel like we’re getting further behind on our renovations every day.”

  Cassie looked up at the Inn. The roof still didn’t look too great, but the sun reflected brightly off the newly hung double-pane windows. The old gazebo had been leveled to the foundation, and a pile of new lumber sat on the ground next to it. A set of sawhorses had been placed nearby. In general, conditions at the Inn had vastly improved over the last few months.

  “I think it looks good,” Cassie said. “Is the roof going to be fixed soon? Weren’t you having problems with it?”

  Zoe’s brow creased as she frowned. “The company Shawn hired had a delay on another job and won’t be able to get to us now until August. Apparently, that’s a frequent occurrence for that company, so I don’t know why he hired them.” She jammed the knife into the indentation in the top of the other can and roughly pried it loose, then threw the knife on the ground next to the paintbrush. “It drives me crazy when vendors don’t honor their contracts, and it puts my plans all out of whack.”

  “Oh.” Cassie eyed the moss-covered shingles on the porch roof. It seemed she’d hit a nerve. “Well, I’m sure it’ll be fine to wait until August. We haven’t had much rain this summer anyway.”

  “Yeah, luckily.” Zoe glared at the roof, then dipped her brush into the paint. She swiped the bristles along the side of the railing, immediately coloring the wood with a bright white hue that contrasted sharply with the unpainted post next to it. “There’s so much damage to the walls in the rooms upstairs that I haven’t wanted Shawn to work on them much until we get the roof fixed. And we kind of need guest rooms before the Inn can open to the public.”

  Cassie covered her brush with paint and smoothed it over a post about four feet away from where Zoe was working. “I’m sure it will all get done. I know you, Zoe, and you’ll make it happen.”

  Zoe gave her a small smile. “Thanks, Cass. I appreciate the support. Speaking of projects, are you getting excited about the bakery? When do you take possession of it?”

  “At the end of the month.” Cassie
’s heart fluttered. It was only a little over a week away until Edgar handed over the keys to the bakery. She’d gone back during the week when it wasn’t so busy and took a few pictures of the layout. Now she was trying to figure out what changes she wanted to make. Unless she decided to do a major remodel, the counter would have to stay in its current location, but she planned to move some of the tables and other fixtures to improve the flow of traffic.

  “Starting your own business is scary isn’t it?” Zoe’s eyes drilled into Cassie’s face, warming her cheeks.

  “It is.” Cassie let her hands find a rhythm with long, even strokes of the brush against the wood, reloading paint on the bristles as needed. Remembering she was standing outside Celia’s house, she lowered her voice. “Sometimes I can’t believe I let Celia talk me into it.”

  Zoe laughed. “She’s quite convincing when there’s something on her agenda. I often find myself wondering if Meg, Shawn, and I actually came up with the idea to buy the Inn from her ourselves, or if she somehow planted the thought subconsciously.”

  “Probably a little of both.” Cassie chuckled along with Zoe. Celia could be stubborn when she wanted to be, but Cassie knew she had her best interests at heart. If anything, Cassie was more worried about letting Celia down if the business failed. “But I gave my notice on Friday, so I’m stuck with my decision now.” Her stomach lurched. Without her paycheck from the Lodge to depend on, she was solely dependent on her ability to turn a profit with the bakery.

  “Good for you.” Zoe stepped back to admire her work, then dabbed at a small spot she’d missed on one of the slats. “When I gave notice to George that I was quitting my job there, it was thrilling to think about my future here at the Inn, but it also made me feel like I was going to vomit.”

  Cassie smiled. “That’s exactly how I felt. I’ve always dreamed of opening my own bakery, but I didn’t expect it to happen so fast. If I’d been left to my own devices, I probably would have been sixty before I made the move.”

  “Yep,” Zoe said. “Sometimes you just have to jump when the opportunity arises. I think that’s why Celia had always been successful with the Inn, at least until her husband died. She has an uncanny knack for knowing when to adapt to new circumstances. Way back when she worked here as a maid, she knew things were changing, and the town would need to pivot to stay on the map.” She swept her hand to encompass the grounds and toward the town of Willa Bay. “Without her suggesting to the Chamber of Commerce that the town focus on the wedding industry, everything you see in front of you would be waterfront condos, and none of the hotels or event venues in the area would exist.”

  Behind them, a saw roared to life. Cassie turned to watch as Shawn cut into a two-by-four, the blade zipping through the thick lumber like it was nothing. He set the neatly split wood near the foundation of the gazebo before consulting a piece of paper he’d removed from his pocket.

  “You’re lucky Shawn’s good at construction,” Cassie said. “I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

  Zoe beamed, and her eyes softened as she gazed at her boyfriend. “I know. He’s a lifesaver around here.” She sighed. “I shouldn’t be so hard on him about the roofing company. He couldn’t have known they’d be that flakey, and he’s been working so hard. Last night, he fell asleep on the couch while we were watching TV.”

  “You’ve all been working hard,” Cassie observed. “Meg looks like a zombie when she arrives for her shift at the Lodge.”

  Zoe sighed. “I need to remember that she’s working another job too. I’ve found myself getting frustrated because it feels like I’m making all the decisions around here and have that huge weight hanging around my shoulders. Potential clients have inquired about holding their weddings here, but I haven’t had time to show them around.” She uttered a harsh laugh. “And I’m supposed to be the resident wedding planner.” She looked over at the gazebo again. “I can’t wait until I can get back to that. It makes me a little sad that I’m not around to see all the summer weddings at the Lodge that I coordinated. I put so much effort into each one of them, and I never dreamed I wouldn’t be there to see them to fruition.”

  “Life doesn’t always work out the way you plan.” Cassie set her brush down and wrapped her arm around her friend’s shoulders to give her a side hug. “But sometimes it’s even better. Think of everything you have going for you now.” She pointed at Shawn. “You have this amazing man in your life, you’re a part-owner of the Inn, and you’re well on your way to making this the best wedding venue in the entire town.”

  “I know.” Zoe leaned in toward Cassie. “I need to remember that when everything feels out of my control.” She cleared her throat. “I’m getting hungry. Let’s finish painting this section and have some lunch, okay? I think Celia has something going in the Crockpot in the living room.”

  Cassie raised her eyebrows. “The living room?”

  “The kitchen remodel is scheduled to last for another month.” Zoe shrugged. “Celia’s pretty much turned the living room into a makeshift kitchen and seems happy as a clam. I told you she adapted easily to new situations.”

  Cassie laughed. “Well, I’m looking forward to whatever she’s cooking. Anything I don’t have to make is good with me.”

  They both got back to painting and quickly finished the whole railing on that side of the building.

  Zoe stepped back. “Looks good.” She reached for Cassie’s paint brush. “If you can take care of closing up the cans, I’ll take these inside to rinse off.”

  Cassie handed over her brush, then snapped the lids back on the cans as Zoe disappeared into the house. When she was done, she stood and took another look at the gazebo. Shawn had a ruler out, marking the wood with a pencil.

  Kyle had never taken an interest in working with his hands, and getting him to do little fixes around the house, like oiling door hinges, had been painful. They’d once lived with a broken toilet seat for over a month before he replaced it. Now that he was no longer living with them, though, she realized how much he’d actually done while he was there. Her lips curved into a wistful half-smile as she remembered when he’d finally gone to replace the toilet seat. He’d tugged on it, and the old, brittle plastic screws had suddenly snapped, sending him flying backward. He’d slid down the wall, stunned, still holding the wooden ring. After the shock had worn off, they’d laughed about it for hours.

  She turned her gaze back to the Inn. Maybe she’d remarry in the future, but for now, home improvement projects were up to her. If anything came up that she couldn’t handle, she had the phone number for a local handyman.

  “Ready for lunch?” Zoe asked as she opened the door. “Celia made a bacon mac ’n’ cheese that smells amazing.”

  The aroma of melting cheese wafted through the open door, and Cassie’s stomach grumbled. They’d skipped the coffee hour after church so Cassie would have more time to help Zoe with painting. “I could eat a horse at this point.”

  Zoe wrinkled her nose. “Gross. I think I’ll stick with the mac ’n’ cheese.” She came down the steps. “I’m going to let Shawn know lunch is ready, then we’ll be right in.”

  Cassie nodded. “I’ll try to save you some food, but I’m not making any promises if you take too long.”

  “Haha.” Zoe smiled. “I’ll see you inside.” She strode off toward Shawn.

  Cassie moved the paint cans against the Inn’s foundation, watching Zoe and Shawn in her peripheral vision. Zoe approached Shawn, and he shot her a welcoming smile as he put down the piece of wood he’d been working with. The tension eased visibly from Zoe’s shoulders as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him on the lips.

  Cassie averted her gaze, but the depth of affection between them filled her heart. Zoe had a good match in Shawn, even if she was upset with him about the roofers.

  Once upon a time, things had been like that between Cassie and Kyle. An unexpected pang of sadness shot through her chest at the thought of what they’d lost, hitting her harder than usual beca
use of how happy Zoe and Shawn looked together. She’d been thinking about Kyle more and more lately, softening to him as he fought to repair his relationship with the kids and salvage whatever remaining amity he had with her.

  Not for the first time, she wondered if there was even a small chance that the two of them could work through their differences and regain the love they’d once shared. Having her family together was something she’d dreamed about, but deemed impossible. Then again, she’d thought the same thing about her chance of owning a bakery.

  She took a deep breath and climbed up the stairs before she could delve more deeply into the feelings that were swirling around her like a cloud of fog. She pushed open the door and walked inside.

  “Celia?” Cassie called out into the empty hallway.

  “I’m in here,” Celia answered from Cassie’s left. “Follow your nose.”

  Cassie grinned and entered the living room. The seating area with the sofa, recliner, and TV had been condensed into a smaller space near the entry. Cooking paraphernalia covered a long table against the back wall and steam rose from a Crockpot at the far end. The small dining table from the kitchen had been moved onto a rug a few feet away, and now bore four place settings. Celia sat in one of the chairs, drinking from a mug of coffee.

  Cassie crossed the room and sat down next to her. “It smells wonderful. Thanks for making lunch for all of us.”

  Celia’s face lit up. “This is nothing compared to all the hard work everyone is putting in here. I’m so grateful to see all of the improvements. Feeding you all is the least I could do.”

  Shawn and Zoe soon arrived, and they all quickly polished off the macaroni and cheese. After they finished helping Celia clear away lunch, Zoe and Cassie returned to painting.

  As they chatted, Cassie worked up the nerve to talk about her recent conflicting emotions over her ex-husband. “I think I might still have feelings for Kyle,” Cassie finally blurted out before she could stop herself.