Summer in Diamond Bay Complete Bundle #1-5 (Summer in Diamond Bay #1-5)

by Maci Grant

  “What are you doing here?”

  “My uncle called me when he thought something might be wrong. I guess he was right.” He watched as Chief Pitman pushed Jack toward the patrol car.

  “What happened?”

  “It’s a long story.” Blu shook her head, then rested it against AJ’s shoulder.

  “Are you sure that you’re okay?”

  “Yes. I just can’t believe that it was Jack all along.”

  “He didn’t act alone. I’m guessing Hilda had an influence on him.”

  “Oh, I’m certain of that. Jack claimed he did what he did out of love. Maybe Hilda thought she did it to protect her son. Through all of it, Emile was just a victim. He never even had the chance to defend himself.” Blu sighed as she glanced over at Jack in the pack of the patrol car. “I’m just relieved that it’s over—and that Marta and Oliver are innocent in all of it. At least they still have each other.”

  “That’s true.” AJ wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. “I think it’s sweet how they never doubted one another, not even once.”

  “That we know about. We only know what they were telling us.”

  “Always the cynic, hm?” He smiled.

  “Maybe.” She turned around to face him. “Not all the time. But today I think I’ve earned my right. I went into that shop because I thought Hilda needed my protection. Instead, I was the one that ended up being saved, thanks to your uncle. I’m starting to think that my instincts are rusty.”

  “Not at all. Your instinct was to help, and there’s nothing rusty about that. Do you want me to drive you home?”

  “Yes, please. I’m supposed to be making dinner. I need to pick up milk.”

  AJ smiled and looked into her eyes.

  “Take a breath, Blu. I’ll take care of it. Just come with me.” He walked her over to his jeep.

  When Blu climbed in, her heart finally began to slow. She closed her eyes as the engine roared to life. AJ’s hand brushed over hers, then closed over her fingers. Blu pulled her hand away in a gentle motion.

  “I’m sorry.” AJ glanced over at her.

  “It’s okay, AJ. I’m just tired.”

  “It’s more than that. Isn’t it, Blu?” He frowned. “I know that this isn’t the right time to ask you this, but I don’t think I can hold it in any longer. You’re never going to give me a chance, are you?”

  Blu looked over at him, still dazed from her encounter with Jack. “I’m sorry if it seems that way, but summer is almost over. Don’t you think our chance has passed?”

  “I don’t think it will ever pass, Blu. It’s not like the city is on another planet.”

  “It might as well be.” Blu stared down at her hands. “Don’t you think that our lives are too different, AJ?”

  “No, I don’t.” He parked in the parking lot of a store. “I think that our lives are whatever we allow them to be. I think that sometimes life isn’t about making the choice that makes the most sense. You trust your instincts all the time when you’re trying to get to the truth. So, why can’t you trust your instincts about me?” He stepped out of the jeep before she could answer.

  Blu saw him disappear into the store. She remembered a time before college, a time when she believed that everything was spontaneous and life was filled with endless potential. She was a different person then. But AJ reminded her of who she once was. He spoke what he felt and he trusted his instincts.

  When he returned to the jeep with the gallon of milk Blu took it from him.

  “Thanks, AJ.”

  “Anything for you.” He smiled.

  As he drove her back to the beach house, Blu reached out and took his hand in hers.

  AJ glanced over at her with a subtle wink.

  Chapter 30

  The next day Blu and the kids headed straight out to the beach. She hoped that some sunshine would soothe her nerves from the night before. With Jack behind bars, she didn’t have to be afraid, but she wanted more than that. She wanted to laugh and to smile. She wanted to find summer again.

  “Look at my castle, Blu.” Marley danced around a big mound of sand with a shell on top.

  “It’s beautiful, Marley. You know what it needs, though?”

  “What?” Marley scrunched up her nose.

  “A moat.” Blu smiled. She picked up a bucket. “Let’s go get some water.”

  “Yes!” Marley giggled. She ran straight to the water.

  Blu jogged to keep up with her. She dipped the bucket into the water and filled it to the brim. As Blu toted it back to the mound of sand, Marley skipped beside her. Together they dug out a circle around the mound.

  “Here, you pour the water in.” Blu helped Marley tip the bucket. The water rolled through the circle to surround her castle.

  “Hm. Know what it needs?” Marley tapped her chin.

  “What?” Blu smiled.

  “Fishies!” Marley giggled.

  “Oh, good idea.” Blu nodded. “Maybe we can find some in the water.” She took Marley’s hand and began to walk with her, back toward the water. Before they’d reached the edge of the waves, a voice drew Blu’s attention.

  “Blu?”

  She looked up to see Marta and Oliver beside the beach chair she’d just left. “Just a minute, Marley. We have some friends here to visit with.” Blu led the little girl back to Marta and Oliver. “Hello.” She smiled at them.

  Marta’s hand looked like it was clasping Oliver’s so tightly that Blu wondered if it hurt him.

  “I’m sorry if this is intrusive.” Marta cleared her throat. “It’s just that Oliver and I both wanted to thank you for everything that you did.”

  “Everything that I did?”

  Oliver nodded.

  Marta glanced away shyly. “I know we didn’t make it easy. We didn’t give you an inch. But you still fought for us. If you hadn’t done that—well, I’d be getting ready for my trial right now.”

  “Don’t even think that.” Oliver frowned. “I can’t imagine what would have happened. Now my mother is in jail, my father is gone…” He blinked and shook his head. “If someone would have told me that this was what was coming, I never would have believed them. Blu, without you, the truth wouldn’t have come out.”

  “I’m just sorry that you had to go through it all in the first place.” Blu frowned as she met Marta’s eyes. “You tried so hard to live a life that was different than your family’s.”

  “When I found out that Hilda went to Juan for a way to get Emile out of her life, I knew that he was going to get in over his head. He tried to tell me that all he had to do was create a letter—fake a lawsuit. He didn’t think it was a big deal. If only I’d gotten there a little earlier, maybe I could have done something to stop all of it.” She looked over at Oliver. “I wish I had.”

  “And if only I had gone up on the top of the lighthouse—or if my father had felt that he could tell me the truth about the letter he’d received—maybe I could have saved him. But the truth is, there’s only one place to lay the blame and that’s on the man who put his hands on my father. Of course, my mother was the one who planned it, so she shares that blame. I’d like to think that she didn’t mean for him to die, but I know better—all of the fighting over the years, all the distance between them. The signs were there. I just didn’t want to see them.”

  “What are you two going to do now?” Blu looked from one to the other. “I hope all of this won’t stop you from doing what you truly want.”

  “It won’t.” Marta smiled. “We’re going to start our lives—brand new—together. Right, Oliver?”

  “Right.” Oliver looked into her eyes. “The way we feel about one another kept us strong throughout all this, and we’re not going to let that slip away.”

  Blu recalled what Marta had said in the interrogation room about love not always being enough. It was clear that Marta had changed her mind.

  “I’m glad. I wish you both the best.”

  “Thank you, Blu.” Marta met her
eyes. “You saved my life, and I will never forget that.”

  Blu smiled as the two walked away. She blinked back a few tears and returned with Marley to her castle.

  “Blu, can I please?”

  Blu looked up in the direction of Joey’s voice. “Can you what?”

  She turned to see where Joey was pointing. AJ was walking toward them with two surfboards tucked under his arms.

  “Hey, Blu. I thought maybe I could show Joey some moves on the water. Nothing too crazy. What do you think?”

  Blu smiled. “I think that would be wonderful.”

  “Yes!” Joey ran toward the water with AJ right behind him.

  Blu watched the two walk toward the water with the smile still on her face. Maybe if Marta was willing to change her mind about love and take a risk, Blu could take that risk too.

  Maybe.

  Summer in Diamond Bay

  (Book 5)

  Clambakes and Chaos

  A Nanny Blu Cozy Mystery

  By

  Maci Grant and Lillianna Blake

  Copyright © 2016 Maci Grant

  Cover design by Beetiful Book Covers

  All rights reserved.

  Chapter 1

  It would usually take an act of God to convince Blu to wake up the kids earlier than normal. The last thing she wanted was a cranky four-year-old and a moody seven-year-old on her hands. Today, however, she knew that they’d be even more upset if they woke up to discover that they’d missed their chance to dig for clams.

  It was the end-of-summer celebration for all the summer visitors that stayed in the beach houses as well as the local residents of Diamond Bay. The community event had been advertised for the past few weeks all over town. There was no way for the kids not to hear about the early morning clam dig, and they were very excited to be part of it.

  “Let’s go, Joey, we have to dig some clams today.” Blu gave his shoulder a little shake.

  Joey sprang right out of bed. “Yes, I can’t wait!”

  “Well, you’re going to have to wait. We need to have breakfast first, okay?”

  “Aw!”

  “It’s important to have a full belly if you want to work hard.” Blu ruffled his hair. “Get dressed. Make sure you wear sneakers, okay?”

  “Okay.” He headed for his closet.

  Blu left his room to wake up Marley next.

  “Morning, sweetheart, we’re going to get up now.” She tickled one of Marley’s palms.

  “No.” Marley whined and scooted away from her across the bed.

  “Marley, we have to get up if we want to go dig for clams.”

  “Clams?” Marley sat up. “Yes! I’m up!”

  “Good girl.” Blu laughed. “Let’s find something for you to wear.”

  Blu made sure both kids were dressed in something acceptable for the activity, then she gave them a quick breakfast of cereal and fruit. Just as they finished, there was a knock on the kitchen door.

  Blu looked through the glass to see that it was AJ. She smiled and crossed the room to open the door.

  “Are we ready to dig for some clams?” AJ smiled at the kids.

  “Yes!” Both children shouted, jumping up and charging straight for AJ.

  “Brace yourself!” Blu laughed.

  AJ grabbed on to the doorway to keep from getting knocked over as the two kids tried to tackle him with hugs. AJ’s eyes lit up as he looked past them to Blu. Blu held his gaze as a warm smile spread across her lips, but it faded just a little as she was reminded of what the clambake meant.

  It meant that summer was coming to an end. Whatever could have happened between her and AJ was never going to happen, which meant that soon they’d be forced to say goodbye. Her heart ached a little more than she expected it to.

  “Are you guys ready to go? Do I even really need to ask?”

  “Just let me grab my purse,” said Blu.

  “Okay, we’ll meet you at the jeep.”

  “Will you grab the chairs out of the trunk of my car?” Blu tossed him the keys.

  AJ caught them in midair. For a split second their eyes met. Blu had an odd sensation of being flung forward into a time when the two excited kids between them didn’t belong to someone else.

  The thought startled her.

  AJ turned and escorted the kids outside.

  Blu’s heart fluttered. How could she begin picturing him as the potential future father of her children when they hadn’t even been on an official date? It was foolish.

  “In two days I will be a memory to him. That’s it.” Blu grabbed her purse and did her best to keep her heart under control.

  When she joined AJ and the kids at his jeep she double-checked their seat belts. Blu took her job as a nanny very seriously, especially when it came to the safety of the children she cared for.

  When she settled into the front seat beside AJ, he started the car and backed out of the driveway. Despite how comfortable she’d become around him over the past months, after the flash-forward she’d just had, the awkwardness returned.

  “So, are you guys excited to dig up some clams?” AJ glanced in the rearview mirror at the kids.

  “I’m going to get one hundred!” Marley clapped.

  “Marley.” Joey sighed. “There’s no way that you’re going to get one hundred clams. We’ve talked about numbers, remember?”

  “It’s okay, Joey. It’s important to believe in things, even if they seem impossible.” AJ glanced over at Blu.

  She looked back at him with a slight smile. It was sweet of him to support Marley, but she wondered if there might be an underlying message in his words. AJ certainly hadn’t been shy about his desire to explore a romantic relationship with her. But Blu was determined not to start any relationships that wouldn’t be headed somewhere. She was ready for something long-term, not just a little summer fling.

  “The important thing is to keep an open mind and just give it a shot,” AJ continued.

  With that comment, Blu smirked as she looked out the window. His attempt to bait her was obvious and she remained determined not to respond to it.

  “Today we dig for clams, tomorrow we dine. Right, kids?” said Blu.

  “Yes.” Joey rocked back and forth in his seat. “When are we going to get there?”

  “Here we are.” AJ eased the jeep into the beach parking lot. There were several other cars parked along the sand.

  Blu unloaded the kids and the four walked up to a small white tent.

  “Get your shovels, get your buckets!” The man behind the table smiled at the four. “Welcome.”

  “Thanks.” Blu took one of the shovels and handed it to Joey. “Here you go. Now you’re officially a clammer, Joey.”

  “Alright!”

  “I think a smaller one will work for the little lady.” He handed Marley a small plastic shovel.

  Marley’s nose crinkled up, but she took the shovel with a reluctant nod.

  “And for Mom and Dad?” The man grinned.

  “Uh—not Mom and Dad.” Blu stumbled over her words.

  “She’s our nanny.” Joey giggled.

  “Oops, my mistake. Shovels?”

  Blu and AJ each took one from the man.

  They walked toward the mud just as Blu’s best friend, Maddie, walked up to them.

  Chapter 2

  Blu grinned at her friend. “Maddie! I’m so glad you’re here!”

  Maddie lifted her dark sunglasses to peer at Blu. “Trust me, I’m not.”

  “Too early?” AJ grinned.

  “Far, far too early.” Maddie shook her head. “I should be hitting the snooze button right now.”

  “Isn’t this so much better?” Blu looked out over the water, which glowed gold in the early morning sunlight. “It’s gorgeous out.”

  “True. I guess we should be appreciating it since we only have a few days left here.”

  “Good point.” Blu smiled at Chrissa and Brennan, the two kids that Maddie looked after. “Morning.”

&n
bsp; “Morning.” Brennan waved to her then took off across the mud. Chrissa spotted some friends and took off as well.

  “It seems a bit more like social hour than a time for digging.” Maddie yawned. “So what’s the deal with all this? Do we all have to dig?”

  “No. It’s just for fun. The clammers get most of the clams for the clambake. But it’s nice to participate, and I thought it would be a good experience for the kids.”

  “Joey seems to like it.” AJ tilted his head toward the young boy, who already had a shovel and was poking at the mud.

  “Oh boy, I think Marley likes it even more.” Blu ran over to Marley, who was elbows deep in the mud.

  AJ and Maddie laughed as Blu tugged the girl’s hands loose.

  “Okay, on that note, I’ll be on the beach.” Maddie turned and walked off across the sand with her phone in her hand.

  AJ crouched down in front of Marley.

  “Why don’t we get you a shovel, hm?”

  “I like to dig.” Marley giggled and shoved her hands right back down in the mud.

  AJ turned toward Blu. “So what are you going to do when you get back to the big city?”

  Blu watched Marley fling a clump of mud with her shovel. “Probably more of the same, only with lots more traffic.” She winked.

  “Nice.” AJ looked out over the water. “Do you get days off in the city too?”

  “Yes.”

  “Weekends?”

  “Sometimes.”

  “That’s good.” AJ kicked the toe of his boot down into a pile of mud. “Do you think you might want to show me around the city?”

  Blu cleared her throat. “Marley, please don’t put the mud in your hair.”

  Marley brought her hands down from her head and blinked innocently.

  Blu pretended that she hadn’t heard AJ’s question. Eventually she would have to tell him the truth—that things couldn’t go any farther—but she didn’t want to ruin their last days together. Maybe it was a bit selfish of her, but she wanted to enjoy every moment that she had with AJ before she had to let him go.