The Sea Star Bakery: A Willa Bay Novel

by Nicole Ellis

  Zoe stopped painting and looked at Cassie with surprise. “You mean like romantic feelings?”

  Cassie nodded, not meeting Zoe’s gaze.

  “Wow.” Zoe was silent for a minute. “You were pretty miserable with him, remember?”

  “I know.” Cassie took a deep breath. “But I think he’s changed. He’s really trying to be present now for the kids – and for me.”

  “I don’t know if it’s a good idea,” Zoe said. “I mean, it’s obviously your choice if you want to say something to him, but please think about it carefully.”

  “I will.” It wasn’t like Cassie wanted to have feelings for her ex, but she couldn’t seem to get rid of them. She’d been confused enough before talking to Zoe. Now, after hearing her friend’s opinion about Kyle, she almost wished she hadn’t said anything to her about him.

  They both went back to painting and chatting, studiously avoiding the subject of Kyle. By late afternoon, they’d completed all the railings that wrapped around the porch.

  “Thanks, Cassie,” Zoe said. “We really appreciate all of your help.”

  “No problem. I’m happy to help out.” Cassie breathed in the fresh sea air, catching a whiff of paint in the process. “It was actually kind of fun.”

  “Well, if there’s anything I can do to help with the bakery, let me know.” Zoe looked at her notebook, which lay on an end table on the porch. “Though I don’t know how much help I’ll be for the next few months before the Inn is up and running.”

  Cassie smiled at her. “I will.” She checked her watch. It was almost four o’clock, so she still had an hour until Kyle would bring the kids home. She nodded to the paintbrushes. “Do you need any help with cleanup?”

  Zoe shook her head. “Nope, I’m good. Thanks again for everything.” Her expression turned serious. “And Cass?”

  “Yeah?” Cassie cocked her head to the side.

  “Sorry if I overstepped when you asked about Kyle. I didn’t mean to sound so harsh about him, but I just worry about you. I don’t want you to get hurt again.”

  Cassie’s cheeks warmed, and she bit her lip, looking down at the green grass curling around the toes of her sneakers. “I know. I don’t want to get hurt again either.” She looked up to meet Zoe’s gaze. “But if he’s really changed and there’s a chance for my family to be together again, I don’t want to throw it away.”

  Zoe nodded. “I get it. Just be careful, okay?” She came over and gave Cassie an awkward hug, holding her paint streaked hands out to the side so she wouldn’t stain Cassie’s clothes.

  Cassie gave her a small smile, then stepped back. “I’ll be careful.” She held up her own messy fingers and laughed. “But for now, I think I should be more worried about getting this paint smeared all over everything. I’m going to go get cleaned up in the house and say goodbye to Celia.”

  “Sounds good.” Zoe gathered up the supplies, and they walked into the house through the back door, which opened into a laundry room with a wide utility sink. On a counter by the sink, the Crockpot insert had been washed and turned upside down on a hand towel. Nearby, a makeshift shelf on the wall held an assortment of plates and glass cups.

  Zoe rinsed off the paintbrushes, then looked around for a good place to set them to dry. She eyed the dishes. “I’m going to be so happy once the kitchen remodel is done.”

  “I bet Celia will be too,” Cassie said. “This has to be a big change for her.”

  “I know. At least I can still cook in my cottage,” Zoe said. “I offered to make some meals for her, but she wouldn’t hear of it.” She smiled. “That’s Celia for you. Stubborn as ever.”

  “Speaking of Celia, I’d better get going.” Cassie washed up, then said goodbye to Zoe. She walked down the hallway to the living room, where Celia was watching TV with Pebbles.

  Celia’s head turned toward the hall. “How’d the painting go, dear?”

  Cassie smiled. “It went well. We got all of the railings done.” She walked over and rubbed Pebbles between the ears. He pressed his head into her hand, urging her to continue petting him. She gave him a few pats on the back, then looked up at Celia. “Kyle’s dropping off the kids soon, so I need to get home. I’ll see you next Sunday for church, okay?”

  Celia nodded intently. “I’ll be ready. I’m looking forward to seeing the kids again.”

  “Me too.” Cassie laughed. “I can’t believe how much I miss those little monsters when they’re at their dad’s house for the weekend.”

  A wistful expression came over Celia’s face. “I know the feeling.”

  Cassie’s heart dropped. Celia did know what it felt like to miss a child. She’d given her daughter up for adoption as a baby and had only recently become acquainted with her grandchild. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”

  Celia’s eyes drilled into Cassie’s face. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. I imagine it would be very difficult to have your house so full of the children’s energy one day and then so very quiet the next. Young people are such a joy to be around.”

  Cassie suppressed a smirk. She wasn’t sure she’d call them a “joy,” but she did miss her children, even the constant bickering between them.

  Celia waved her hand in the air. “Thank you for the ride today. It’s so nice to see all my church friends every week.”

  “I’m happy to do it.” Cassie flashed Celia a smile, then leaned in to give Pebbles a final pet. “I’ll see you next week.” She walked out to her car, filled with a renewed sense of excitement at the thought of seeing her kids. Although she enjoyed having time to herself when they were with Kyle, the house seemed so quiet and lonely without them. Maybe it was time to get a dog to keep her company.

  9

  Kyle

  “Jace is hitting me,” Amanda yelled from the backseat.

  “She started it!” Jace shouted back.

  Kyle looked into the rearview mirror and shook his head. They glared at each other with a fierce stubbornness that reminded him of Cassie. “Knock it off, both of you!” He continued driving down Main Street, then turned off toward Cassie’s house. “We’re almost home.”

  “Good!” Amanda said. “I can’t wait to get away from him.”

  “Me too,” Jace said. Kyle caught a glimpse of him sticking out his tongue.

  “Gross!” Amanda squeezed herself into the corner of the car as far away from her brother as possible.

  Kyle gritted his teeth. The weekend had started out fine, but by Sunday afternoon the kids had spent far too much time together. Since he only had them every other weekend, he tried to maximize his time with them by filling it with as many fun activities as possible – like going to museums, out to eat, or to the movies. However, to lessen the strain between his two very different children, it might be better in the future for all of them to hang out at his apartment for some of that time so they could do things apart for a while.

  He pulled up in front of Cassie’s house. She’d planted some new flowers over the weekend, and they added a nice pop of color against the siding. He’d never been much for gardening, but she’d always had an affinity for it.

  “We’re here,” he said.

  The kids spilled out of their seats, pushing past each other to get to the front door.

  He sighed and got out, popping open the trunk grumbling in a low voice, “That’s fine, don’t bother to help with all of your stuff.” He plucked the suitcases out and set them on the sidewalk. Both kids stood on the front porch with Cassie, talking rapidly as they each told her what the other sibling had done to wrong them.

  Cassie smiled patiently, her wavy blonde hair floating softly around her shoulders. Her complexion seemed rosier than usual, as though she’d recently spent time in the sun, and a speck of white paint dotted her cheek. Her simple cotton sundress brought back memories of the summers they’d shared as teenagers, and his chest tightened. She held up her hand. “Okay, okay. You’ve both done things to each other.”

  Amanda opened her mo
uth as if to protest, but Cassie wrapped her arms around both of the kids before Amanda could utter a word. “I missed you guys,” Cassie said.

  “We missed you too,” Amanda admitted.

  Cassie released them and smiled at Kyle. “So, what exciting things did the three of you do this weekend?”

  Jace’s face lit up. “We saw the new Star Wars movie!”

  Kyle nodded. “And ate about four gallons of popcorn and loads of candy while we were at the theater.”

  Cassie’s eyebrows lifted. “Sounds fun.”

  “It was,” Amanda said. “And we went swimming in the pool at Dad’s apartment complex.”

  Jace nodded, then darted inside the house.

  “Bye, buddy,” Kyle called after him.

  “Bye, Dad.” Jace’s voice floated out the door.

  “Well, I’m glad you got some exercise.” Cassie grinned at Kyle. “And I’m happy you three had fun. I hung out at the Inn with Zoe today, painting. It was a beautiful day to be outside, but now all I want is a hot bath.”

  That explained the splotch of paint on her cheek. “How are things going out there?” Kyle checked the time on his phone while he waited for her to answer. He’d promised Dana he’d meet her at the bowling alley at five fifteen for a burger before they rented a lane. It was their first date, but, surprisingly, he wasn’t terribly nervous about it.

  “Things are coming along.” She nodded to his phone. “Got somewhere to be?”

  His eyes met hers. “Yeah, in a little bit. I’m meeting a friend for dinner.”

  “A friend?” Cassie stared at him, her blue eyes open wide. He shifted uncomfortably in his Oxford loafers.

  Amanda rolled her eyes. “Dad has a hot date with some woman from work.”

  He glanced at Cassie, who’d winced perceptibly at Amanda’s statement. Heat rose up from his collar. “It’s not a hot date. I mean, I guess it’s a date, but …”

  Amanda groaned. “I don’t need to hear about my dad dating.”

  He pressed his lips together. “Well, that’s great, because I don’t need to share all the details of my personal life with you.”

  He glanced at Cassie. She didn’t look at him directly but flashed him a small smile and said, “Have fun tonight.” She ushered Amanda into the house and grabbed the suitcases. “Let’s let Daddy get going.” With a quick wave, she went inside and closed the door.

  He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets and pivoted on the sidewalk, returning to his car. The whole way to the bowling alley, he kept replaying their interaction. Was Cassie upset that he was dating again? They’d been divorced for two years – it was time for both of them to see other people. His stomach twisted. Cassie had made it clear that she didn’t have any interest in getting back together. He needed to move forward with his life, and going out with Dana was a good way to start that process.

  When he got to the bowling alley, he texted Dana. Are you here?

  She replied right away. Yes! I nabbed us a table in the bar.

  He stuffed his phone into his pocket and walked toward the door, his steps slowing the closer he got to the entrance. The realization finally hit him that this was a date. He’d socialized with Dana at work events many times over the years, but tonight it would be just the two of them.

  A group of kids overtook him, and he stepped out of their way, taking a moment to compose his thoughts. This was what he wanted, wasn’t it? Dana was an intelligent and attractive woman, and any man would be happy to go out on a date with her.

  He took a deep breath, then approached the door with resolve and pulled it open with a firm grasp on the handle. He strode toward the bar at the back of the bowling alley, his confidence growing. As he neared the open seating area, Dana stood up from a small table near the far wall and waved, smiling widely at him before sitting back down.

  He waved back and made his way across the crowded restaurant to her. “They’re busy tonight.”

  She scanned the room. “Yeah, I think there’s a bowling league here, but I already reserved a lane for us. We should have about an hour to eat.”

  He nodded. “Good thinking.” The strategic and organizational skills that made her an excellent tax accountant clearly also made her a great planner. He sat down across from her and selected a menu from a metal stand on top of the napkin dispenser. “Have you been here before? I wonder if their burgers are any good.”

  He’d been to the bowling alley with his kids, but he’d never eaten in the bar with them. They usually just grabbed slices of pizza and soda pop from the quick service counter situated closer to the lanes.

  She nodded. “I’ve been here a few times. My brother used to play in one of the leagues before he moved out of town.” She scanned the menu. “The burgers I’ve had have been pretty good. I think I’m going to try the Bacon and Blue Burger tonight.”

  He swallowed against a suddenly dry throat. That was Cassie’s favorite. Finding a restaurant that served a good hamburger with bacon and blue cheese always made her face light up.

  “Are you okay?” Dana peered at him.

  He smiled. “I’m fine. I was just thinking that I’ll have to tell Cassie they have those on the menu. She loves them.”

  Dana set her menu down and tilted her head to the side. “Your ex-wife?”

  He froze. Probably not a good idea to be talking about his ex when he was out with someone else. “Yeah, I saw her earlier when I dropped off the kids, so she popped into my mind when you mentioned that burger.”

  She narrowed her eyes slightly and picked up the menu. “Uh-huh. Well, that’ll be nice of you to tell her.”

  He let his breath out slowly and returned his attention to his own menu. The entrée descriptions were swimming in front of him, but he made himself focus long enough to choose something. He clapped his menu shut. “I think I’m going to get the one with the onion ring and barbecue sauce.”

  “Oh, that one’s good.” Dana smiled at him, seeming to have forgiven him for his earlier faux pas of mentioning his ex on a first date. Besides, it wasn’t like Dana didn’t know about Cassie’s existence. They’d been working together for a decade, and he’d been married for most of that.

  The waitress came to take their orders, promising their food would be ready in about thirty minutes.

  “So,” Dana said, folding her arms in front of her on the table. “How has your weekend been?”

  “So far, so good.” He grinned at her. “I took the kids to the new Star Wars movie, and we had a blast.”

  “Oh, how fun!” She took a sip of her Pepsi. “I was planning on seeing that soon.” Her eyes danced. “Any chance you want to see it again?”

  He reached for his beer, hoping to stall a little. This was their first date, and she was already talking about going out in the future. It wasn’t that he didn’t like her, but he was still getting used to the idea of being out on a date in the first place.

  She reached out and patted the table near him. “Hey, sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I know you haven’t dated much since you and Cassie split.”

  He nodded. “Thanks. Sorry if I’m a bit rusty at this.”

  She shook her head. “Not at all. We’ve been friends for a long time. I get it.”

  His chest warmed, and he relaxed into his chair. They had been friends for a long time. Being on a date with Dana didn’t have to be weird. She was still the same person he’d known for practically forever. “So, do you think they’ll finally announce the promotions this week?”

  She shrugged and gulped her soda. “You’d think so. I know Cliff was out of town last week, but c’mon, we need to know soon!” She leaned forward. “Don’t tell anyone, but on Friday, I had a recruiter approach me about a job with a firm in Seattle.”

  He sat back. “Are you thinking about taking it?”

  She shrugged again. “I’m not sure. If I don’t get promoted, then yeah, I’m definitely going to consider it.” She sighed. “I don’t know. I’ve never really pictured myself working
in Willa Bay long-term. If I’m going to jump to a new firm, this would be a good time.”

  He gestured to the length of the bowling alley. “What, and leave all this?”

  Dana laughed. “I know, right?” She looked at him intently. “You grew up here, didn’t you? Don’t you ever dream of going somewhere else? Moving to a bigger town? I know Cassie never wanted to move, but now that you’re not together, you can leave Willa Bay.”

  Kyle surveyed the bowling alley. In a single sweeping glance, he recognized at least twenty people, including a few guys he’d grown up with. Could he leave Willa Bay? With the exception of his time in college, it was all he’d ever known.

  He reached for his napkin, damp with condensation from his drink, and twisted it between his fingers. “I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it much. My kids are here, so I wouldn’t want to go too far.”

  “Well, the economy is great right now, and with your experience you could get a job at any number of firms. You could go anywhere in the Puget Sound area and still be able to see your kids when it was your weekend with them.” She smiled at him, noticing his hesitation. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to drag the mood down. I’m just excited about the possibility of moving.” She added hastily, “I haven’t made any decisions yet, though.”

  “I’m happy for you. It’s always nice to be in demand.” He met her gaze. “I hadn’t considered it before, but you’ve given me something to think about.”

  The waitress came by and set plates full of burgers and fries in front of them.

  Dana bit into her burger, and her eyes rolled up with pleasure. “Okay, this is amazing.” She took another huge bite, while Kyle sampled his. “How’s yours?”

  “It’s good.” In actuality, he was too preoccupied, and could have been eating a leather shoe for all he tasted. He alternated between the sandwich and the fries, his thoughts stuck on what Dana had suggested.

  Could he move away from Willa Bay? Besides his kids, he didn’t have much keeping him there. He liked his job okay, but he could find one somewhere else. His small apartment sufficed, but it wasn’t home. An image of the house he’d shared with Cassie flashed into his mind. Would anywhere else ever be home?