Lily was mentally exhausted from trying to keep up with dispensing praise and treats, while offering corrections as they circled the area. When they reached the outskirts of the activity, she gave Bodie his last treat and bent down to ruffle his ears and tell him what a good boy he was. He pushed his head into her hand and leaned against her, offering her a few licks of appreciation.
“Let’s get you home and I’ll make the girls help me give you and Fritz a bath.” He looked up at her, eyes wide, as if understanding. She laughed and detoured through the park, one of his favorite places to visit, on the way to the house.
When they arrived home, she found the girls downstairs glued to the television, with Fritz lounging at their feet. Lily organized the bath supplies outside and the girls paused their show to help get both of the dogs into the oversized plastic container she used for a bathtub. Fritz loved the pampering that came with a bath and stretched as they lathered him, massaging as they went.
Bodie, on the other hand, was not as relaxed. Despite the adhesive ducks Lily had applied to the slick plastic bottom of the container, Bodie’s paw slipped out from under him. She tried to reposition his feet so they were on top of the non-slip stickers, but made a note to find an anti-slip mat. His legs shook as she continued working the soap into his fur. “It’s okay, sweet boy. I won’t let you fall.” She let the girls finish Fritz and had them hold onto Bodie while she used the hose to rinse him.
Unlike Fritz, with never ending patience, who waited for Lily to release him with a command, Bodie bolted from the tub the moment Lily finished spraying him. He shook, releasing a shower of water that drenched Lily, while the girls watched, giggling. Fritz, obedient as ever, sprawled on the grass waiting to be toweled dry.
Lily tasked Bree with drying Fritz while she and Mel tackled Bodie, using the towel to get his attention. Like a red cape to a bull, the towel did the trick and he came rushing toward them. Both dogs liked to skid across the grass when they were wet, but Bodie also used the tactic as a way to escape. He calmed when Lily covered him, including his head with a towel, and they hurried to rub his fur dry.
With the bulk of the drying done, Lily added paw pad cream into each paw. Fritz loved this part of the spa treatment and Bodie quieted down, except for trying to lick at Lily’s hands as she made sure each pad was coated. She checked each of their ears and made sure they were clean and then asked Mel to get the toothbrushes.
Fritz was an old pro, but it helped having an extra set of hands to keep Bodie occupied, while Lily brushed his teeth. At this stage, she was still trying to get him used to the process. He loved the doggy toothpaste, but it was a bit of struggle to actually get each tooth brushed.
Mel and Bree cleaned up the tub and put everything away while she let the dogs run in circles, their fur drying a bit more as they played. “Now I need a shower,” said Lily, after thanking the girls for helping. “Those two should be tuckered out and take a nap now.” She left them outside and made her way upstairs.
As she showered, the aroma of the lavender soap she had brought home from their trip reminded her of Mac. Though everything seemed perfect between them, Lily still felt a hint of guilt, deep inside. She had enjoyed their trip and loved spending time with him. He was easy to be around and so thoughtful. His kindness was clear in how he treated animals and how much he did for others. Watching him interact with Mel and take special care to make sure she felt comfortable and valued, along with the obvious love he had for his sister, cemented Lily’s high opinion of him.
Gary would have liked him. Tears fell from Lily’s eyes and mixed with the hot spray from the showerhead. She knew he wouldn’t want her to be unhappy, mourning him for the rest of her life, but why did it still feel like she was cheating on him? She longed for Kevin to meet Mac at Thanksgiving. She hoped he would like him, genuinely like him, not just be polite and want her to be happy.
She gasped when she thought of Mac’s daughter, Missy. With his rocky relationship with her, Lily wondered how she would react if their relationship became more serious, more permanent. He hadn’t even mentioned her to Missy. She pushed the doubt about what that meant far from her thoughts. She didn’t want to be the cause of a further rift between them. Finding love in mid-life was turning out to be complicated. It was difficult to leave out how their decisions would impact their larger families.
She rinsed her hair again, letting the hot water cascade over her shoulders. If she had made a list of what she was looking for in a man, Mac would have ticked every box. The thing was, she hadn’t been looking. That made her think of the Winey Widows and what they had said about living and moving forward after loss. She knew finding love wasn’t something you could plan. It wasn’t a quest, where if you did everything right, you were guaranteed the prize at the end. It was one of those things left up to fate.
She couldn’t deny her feelings for Mac or the fact that she was happier on the days she saw him or talked to him. It was hard to imagine her life without him. If only she could be rid of the guilt.
15
Mac arrived with Sherlock in tow, at Lily’s request. She thought Sherlock shouldn’t have to be alone and the girls could watch three dogs as easily as two. Lily made sure the dogs were indoors and locked the downstairs exterior doors and the doggy door.
“Okay, you’re all set. Plenty of food and you both have our cell numbers, so just call us if you need anything. The doors are locked and we should be home by eleven, at the latest.”
They were in a hurry to get downstairs and back to their binging on television and snacks. The dogs bounded after them and Mac and Lily were left to lock the door behind them. She made sure she had her cell phone in her jacket pocket and tucked some cash in her jeans, opting to leave her purse at home. Like the gentleman he was, Mac opened the passenger door for her and waited until she was settled before closing it.
There was a definite nip in the air and Lily was glad to have her warm alpaca scarf around her neck. She was used to seeing Mac in scrubs or one of his casual polo shirts, but he had upped his game tonight. He added a button-down shirt and blazer to his normal jeans. The shirt had a narrow blue stripe that matched the color of his eyes and the gray toned jacket accentuated the silver threads in his hair. Her pulse quickened when he smiled at her.
She had taken a bit of extra care choosing her own outfit, not knowing exactly what to expect. She wore her new boots and jeans, plus a deep blue sweater over a white shirt and topped it with her black leather jacket. It and the new scarf would ward off the cool breeze.
Mac drove the few blocks to the waterfront, where parking was scarce. He pulled into a driveway just a block from the marina. He grinned at Lily’s questioning look. “A long-time client lives here and said I could park in the driveway.”
“It pays to be the beloved town vet.” She chuckled and before she could release the handle, he was out of the car and at the door.
“I made reservations at Bayside Grille. Have you been there?”
“No, but I’m up for anything.” He took her hand and they made their way through the already crowded sidewalks to the restaurant.
Driftwood Bay wasn’t large enough to attract any of the popular chain restaurants, but had several small, locally-owned dining spots. Lily hadn’t gone anywhere more exotic than for pizza and the pub-style restaurant Mel liked, but knew the reputation of Bayside Grille was upscale and excellent.
The hostess led them to a cozy table with an impeccable view over the harbor. The sun was just setting and the golden glow over the water was breathtaking. The restaurant made ample use of white twinkly lights, draping them across the window ledges and tucking them in plants. Candles burned atop each table and a fire glowed in the hearth near the bar and lounge.
The menu offered many tempting dishes, but Lily settled on the potato leek soup and a salmon entrée. Mac went with prime rib and a salad. Lily gazed outside, taking in the stunning sunset over the water and the activity below. “The view here is incredible.”
Mac nodded, his eyes fixed on her. “I couldn’t agree more. You look lovely tonight.”
She covered her embarrassment with a laugh. “It’s the magic of candlelight. That’s kind of you, but I was talking about the sunset.”
“Bayside Grille is known for its waterfront views and great food. I haven’t been here for years.”
As they ate their first course, they chatted about the week, with Mac telling her about a surgery on a dog, where he found multiple pairs of kids’ underwear and socks the dog had ingested. “This is not the first time Brewster has raided the laundry. You’d think the owners would learn and make sure their kids picked up their belongings. It’s not a cheap surgery and can be quite dangerous for the dog.” He shook his head as he put his fork on the empty salad plate.
“That would scare me to death. I’d hate to have anything happen to Fritz or Bodie.”
“These people are nice, but haven’t been successful at training their kids or their dogs. Did you do anything fun this week?”
“I did my qualification with my gun at the range, so that’s out of the way for another year. I also signed up for a workshop at the arts center. I’m thinking I might volunteer there and thought it would be a good way to check it out.”
He chuckled at her revelation. “A sharp shooter and an art class are quite the juxtaposition. You are like no other woman I’ve ever met.” He smiled and added, “That’s a good thing.”
The waiter delivered their entrees and each of them admired the other’s plate. “Do you want to split them?” Lily raised her brows. “I’m happy to cut this in half.”
Mac grinned. “Great idea. I couldn’t decide and almost ordered that.” He cut the prime rib in half and they made the transfer across the table. “The arts center puts on a ton of events and performances. People come from all over for their festivals. I’ve been to a few, but Cyndy is a season ticket holder, so she could give you more insight.”
“I realized this week, I need something to do. I can’t just sit around the house for the next few months.”
“I know what you mean. Whenever I think about cutting back or even retiring, I worry that I won’t know what to do with myself. I’ve been a veterinarian for the majority of my life and I love it.” He took his first bite of salmon. “Oh, this is delicious. Thanks for sharing.”
“The cottages have been a good transition for me, from working full time. It’s given me a bit of freedom, which I love. Bodie, and now Mel, keep me busy, but without the hubbub of guests coming and going, I think I’ll be bored.”
“Our little getaway did teach me that I need to do a better job of scheduling time off and actually go away instead of just doing chores at home. I’m looking forward to our trip in January.”
“Izzy should be getting back to us this week to finalize the dates.” She let out a long breath. “Kevin will be here for Thanksgiving and I’m anxious and a little nervous for him to meet you. Actually, from what you’ve said about Missy, I’m more worried about meeting her. Is she coming home for Thanksgiving or Christmas?”
Sadness flashed in Mac’s eyes, followed by a quick smile. “Honestly, I don’t know, but I doubt it. She hasn’t been home for the holidays in years. Last I knew, she was all the way across the country in Georgia. Do you have any plans for what you’ll do with Kevin here?”
Lily frowned. “No, I need to come up with something fun. Back to Missy, I don’t want to stress you about her, but have you told her about me?”
He shook his head and reached across the table for her hand. “It’s nothing to do with you. I know it sounds horrible, but I don’t talk to her often. I tried, really tried for a long time, calling her a few times a week, trying to build some type of relationship, but never made much progress. After getting the cold shoulder and worse, my calls dwindled to once every couple of weeks, once a month, then a few times a year. Cyndy always invites her to Thanksgiving and she always says no. This year is no different.”
“I just don’t want to be the reason for more angst between the two of you.”
“If it will make you feel better, I’ll make a point of calling her this weekend and telling her about you and offer her a ticket home for the holidays.” He looked up at the ceiling. “Just understand, whatever she says, and I anticipate it will be nothing good, it’s not to do with you. She’s made it clear she doesn’t want to be around me or even care about me, so all the ugliness that will come out will be about me. I can’t do anything right, trust me.”
Tears filled Lily’s eyes and she let go of Mac’s hand to dab at them with her napkin. “That is so heartbreaking. I’m sorry, Mac. I wish there was something I could do to help.”
“I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me. It used to torment me. I know that played a big part in me leading a solitary life, other than my animals.” He grinned, but she noticed the anguish in his eyes and the forced smile. “I thought I could wait her out and she’d come home and we’d be a family again, albeit just the two of us. I spent years doing that and nothing changed. Thank goodness Cyndy still maintains a relationship with her. That’s the only way I have of knowing the little I do about her life.”
The waiter cleared their empty plates and offered dessert. Lily shook her head and opted for hot tea instead. “I’m sorry, Mac. I didn’t mean to dredge up bad memories. I have no doubt you’ve tried your best to forge a relationship. I just feel so awful for you, for both of you.”
He sighed. “Honestly, if I think about it too much, I get depressed. I’ve been down that dark hole and I don’t want to go back. That’s part of the reason I work so much. It’s easier than facing my own thoughts.”
“I understand that coping method. I’ve used it myself. Wendy, my sister, and I have a non-existent relationship. Like you, it hurt me, especially after losing our parents and I struggled with it. I reached out to her in every way I knew how. She rebuffed me and I finally gave up.” She took a sip from her cup and wrapped her hands around the warm ceramic. “I totally get the futility of constantly reaching out, only to have your hand bitten each time.”
“I remember you mentioning her before. She lives far away, right?”
Lily nodded. “Texas. She and her bazilliionaire husband live the life of luxury. Huge house, travel, toys, all of it. We’re about as opposite as can be. She doesn’t work and he’s in investment banking, has his own company. No children, so she’s the center of the universe. She came to Gary’s funeral, but didn’t stick around. More like a duty to make an appearance.”
“That’s tough,” he said, pouring the last of the tea into his cup. “I never would have made it without Cyndy. She’s the best sister a guy could ask for. She’s like my mom was. I’m grateful she’s here and such an important part of my life.”
“When I think about Wendy, it makes me sad. Our parents would be so disappointed. Growing up, we were close. She was younger, so could be a royal pain, but I never imagined we’d grow up to be virtual strangers. Families are complicated.”
The waiter brought the check and Mac slipped his credit card into the portfolio. “That is an understatement.”
While they waited for the receipt, Lily tapped in a text to check on Mel. Moments later, she received a reply that all was well. Relieved, she smiled and put her phone back in her pocket.
As he helped her slip into her jacket, Mac winked. “Are the girls okay?”
She smiled and nodded. “They’re fine.”
He took her hand and they made their way to the tent where they collected their lantern kits. As they navigated through the crowd to one of the tables set up with markers and other supplies, people greeted Mac with warm smiles and claps on the shoulder. She recognized many of them and those that she didn’t, Mac introduced to her, always letting them know she was Leo’s niece and was now the innkeeper at Glass Beach Cottage.
With all the greetings and well wishes from the townspeople, it was clear Mac was a cherished member of the community. As soon as they sat
down, Cyndy slid into the chair next to Mac. “Isn’t this a lovely evening?” The soft glow coming from the strings of globe lights above them, accentuated the excitement in her eyes.
They got to work assembling the paper lanterns, with Cyndy producing a designer quality one, while Lily’s looked more like a child’s effort. Some people were writing complete poems on all four sides of their lanterns, or like Cyndy drawing intricate designs. Lily chose to write only four words—love, hope, faith, and strength. They summed up her thoughts about the past, present, and future.
When she finished assembling hers and making sure it was square, she looked up to see Mac still staring at the blank paper. He shook his head. “I can’t think of anything to put on it and I’m no artist.” He gestured to Cyndy’s.
“I kept it simple. I couldn’t think of a poem or anything spectacular.” She showed him hers.
He nodded. “Those are good ones.” He thought for a few minutes and added four words to his. “I stole two of yours.” She smiled and saw that he had added wishes and believe to hope and love.
“Perfect.” She helped him finish assembling his. “This was more pressure than I thought it would be. Cyndy was smart to draw hers.” She was still busy coloring in one side, opting for black and white designs on all four sides.
When she finished it, she explained the designs were known as Zentangle, a form of drawing patterns that was meant to be relaxing and creative. Mac and Lily were impressed. In the time they had written four words, she had decorated all four sides of her lantern. “They have classes at the arts center, if you’re interested.”
“Oh, speaking of the arts center, I wanted to ask you about it.” Lily explained she was taking a class and thinking about volunteering.
“You’d love it there. They’re a nice group of people and are happy to have help, plus you get some free tickets and access to classes at a discount. By the way, I’m making Sunday dinner tomorrow and would love for you to join us.”
Moonlight Beach Page 12