California Dreaming: Four Contemporary Romances

by Casey Dawes

  Mandy pulled up to the curb and started to get out.

  “Stay,” Sarah growled. “I’m not that much of an invalid. If Doctor Hadiya doesn’t let me out of bed I’m going to become psychotic though.”

  “Like that’s different?” Mandy grinned at her.

  “Pain.” Sarah smiled back, got out of the car, and walked into the clinic to begin her wait.

  An hour later, she finally got into the doctor’s checkup room. An early morning baby delivery had messed up the entire schedule.

  Sarah contemplated the wall posters as she shivered in the chill room. She had a few more months before she had to go back to internal exams — something she wasn’t anticipating.

  Two light raps let her know the doctor was about to enter.

  Hadiya Patel seemed tired today, her usual bright eyes underlined with weariness.

  “Tough morning?”

  “Mmm. Difficult delivery. Now lie back. How are things going?”

  “Okay. I’m ready to get out of bed. I’ve got things to do, an inn to open.”

  “We’ll see.”

  “Why do you want people to call you ‘Doctor Hadiya’? Isn’t Hadiya your first name?”

  A brief smile made the doctor human again. “Too many Patels. It’s like Smith in English. I wanted to be able to be distinguished.”

  “Oh.”

  They both examined the miracle growing inside of Sarah, the little blob that was becoming more human-like each time a test was done.

  “Do you want to know the sex?” Doctor Hadiya asked.

  All of sudden she wanted to know. “Can you tell?”

  “Mmmm-hmmm.” The doctor smiled at the image floating around.

  “Yes.” Sarah held her breath.

  “A girl. You’re having a baby girl.”

  A girl. She hugged the knowledge close to herself and grinned. Her mother would be ecstatic.

  “Can I get out of bed?” There were things to do for her little girl.

  “I think so. With some restrictions of course.”

  Of course.

  But it didn’t matter.

  I’m free.

  Chapter 20

  Sarah was sitting at the kitchen table when Hunter came back from work.

  “You got released.” He pulled a beer from the fridge and snapped it open. “I’m glad for you. Lying around like that would have driven me crazy.”

  “That’s why you’re a ‘man of action’ and I’m a pregnancy statistic.” She grinned at him.

  He chuckled. “Imagine that. So now that you’re a free woman, what are you going to do with yourself.”

  “I’ve got an inn to open, remember? There are supplies to buy and people to see. And I finally get to drive again!” She raised her hands in victory. “Unfortunately, the car won’t start.”

  “I’ll look at it after I grab something to eat. You eaten?”

  She shook her head. “I’ve been trying to think of what to make, but the cooking portion of my brain, what little there was of it, seems to have shut down over the last few weeks. You and Mandy have spoiled me.”

  “You’re spoilable.”

  Good thing he had his back to her as he peered into the massive refrigerator. The heat in her cheeks was a dead giveaway to her reaction to his comment.

  “Ah. Here we go.” He pulled out a small steak and placed it on the counter, following it with a few packages of vegetables from the freezer. A container of rice, soy sauce and group of mysterious cans and jars joined them.

  “Stir fry?” He pulled a rounded frying pan with steep sides from the pot rack over the stove.

  “Don’t you need a wok?”

  He stared at her. “Boy, you really don’t cook, do you?”

  She shook her head.

  “Good thing you have me to take care of you or the baby would starve.”

  They stared at each other, Sarah’s heart melting into his eyes.

  No guile. No ego.

  A good deal of hidden pain.

  She dropped her gaze to his mouth.

  Mistake. She remembered those lips on hers.

  He must have thought the same thing because he started moving again. “So no restrictions?”

  “Restrictions?” No, his mouth hadn’t restricted her at all.

  “On activity. You know. The doc.” The clanging pot on the stove brought her back to reality.

  “Oh. Well. I need to make sure I’m resting for an hour at least twice a day. And no strenuous anything.”

  “Guess that leaves sex out.”

  “What?”

  He chuckled. “I wondered if that’d get a reaction. Just kidding.”

  Too bad.

  A sizzling aroma of spice and pungent oil arose from the pan. “Where’d you get the flowers from?”

  Shit. She’d forgotten to get rid of them.

  “Rick.”

  The figure at the stove stilled. Hunter turned around and looked at her. If she’d been a butterfly she’d have been pinned to the board. “Is he back in the picture?”

  “No, I’ve decided we can’t make it work.”

  “Then why is he sending flowers?” The piercing stare became more intense.

  “I haven’t told him.”

  “Don’t you think it’s about time you did?”

  “I’ll do it tomorrow.”

  “That would be good.” Hunter turned back to the stove, but the air in the room had chilled.

  The coach was definitely right.

  • • •

  Sarah spent a restless night. Rick and Hunter chased her and each other across her nightmares. In the morning she was wrung out and no closer to knowing what to say to Rick than she had been when she had gone to bed.

  Frustrated, she pulled out her notepad and sent an email to her coach asking her if she had any suggestions.

  Then Sarah headed to the shower to see if she could add a brighter beginning to her day. She’d finished dressing when she heard her mother’s voice calling from the living room.

  “Sarah? Where are you? And when are you going to stop leaving this front door unlocked?”

  Sarah strolled into the living room with a smile. “It’s an inn. That’s what people are supposed to do — walk in.” She kissed her mother’s cheek. “How was your trip? You look great — like you’ve just come back from Paris.”

  “Should you be out of bed?”

  Sarah’s grin broadened. “Yep. Doctor Hadiya said as long I was careful I was free.”

  “How wonderful!” Elizabeth gave her daughter a big hug. “How about everything else? Will Rick be here this weekend?”

  “No. We broke up.”

  “Oh, no! When?”

  “A week ago.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “I’m not.”

  Elizabeth opened her mouth as if to say something else.

  Sarah was saved by the doorbell. She went to the front door, signed for the package delivery and returned to the living room. She glanced at the return address and put the box on an end table with a sigh.

  “Aren’t you going to open it?” Elizabeth asked.

  “Nope.”

  “Okay. I’ve come to take you to lunch and tell you about all the fabulous things I found for the baby in Paris.”

  “That sounds great, Mom.” Getting out of the house would be fantastic. She spotted the travel brochure where she’d left it after she and Mandy had cleared out the chaise lounge.

  She picked it up to show her mother. “Do you know these folks?”

  Elizabeth studied the brochure, her brow furrowed in puzzlement. Then she smiled. “Of course. It’s Fiona’s daughter Jessica — she’s about your age I th
ink. Fiona used to own a Thomas Kinkade Gallery, but when they went belly-up, Jessica convinced her mom to turn the storefront into a travel agency. I think they’re doing pretty well.”

  Sarah grew excited. “Can you introduce me?”

  “Sure. We can stop by.” Elizabeth cocked her head. “When did you have breakfast?”

  “Um … I didn’t. I just got up. Bad night.” Why did she feel she’d just been caught with her hand in the cookie jar?

  “I see. Early lunch then.”

  Sarah let out the breath she’d been holding and lifted her head. “I’ll get my coat, although maybe I don’t need it? Looks beautiful out there!” She beamed at her mother.

  “Coat,” was all that Elizabeth said.

  Obediently, Sarah followed her mother from the house. It didn’t matter that she felt like a little girl all over again — for once it was a relief not to be in charge.

  Little girl. Sarah rubbed her belly. She hoped she’d be as good a mom as Elizabeth was.

  While they drove to the village, Elizabeth chattered about her time with Marcos in France. “We went to Paris before I flew home. The hotel was near Luxembourg Gardens — so beautiful. Marcos took me to these little boutique restaurants. He speaks French, too. I must have gained five pounds. And look.” Elizabeth pulled her hair back. Tasteful diamond earrings glittered in the spring sun.

  “They’re beautiful, Mom. Does this mean he’s serious?”

  Elizabeth nailed her with the same look she’d given her as an impertinent teenager. “It means he has good taste.”

  “But what about the future?”

  Elizabeth didn’t answer. She expertly spun her red sports car into a spot behind her shop, parked and turned it off.

  Then she turned to Sarah. “Right now, I’m having the time of my life. I’m getting to explore the world with a very knowledgeable and good-looking man. He’s talking about going to New Zealand and Australia next winter after my product launch. There are no other women in his life.”

  She took Sarah’s hand. “I’m not sure if I can make you understand, but for now, it’s enough. It’s more than enough.”

  The smile on Elizabeth’s face told Sarah everything she needed to know.

  After lunch they started down the sidewalk that led away from the Costanoa Grill.

  “It’s only a short walk,” Elizabeth said. “You okay?”

  Sarah grinned. “I’m a prisoner released! Let’s go.” She linked arms with her mother like they often had in Italy the previous summer.

  A well-put-together blond woman was seated at a large desk covered with paper and brochures when they walked into the travel agency. Her hair was sleeked back and small gold hoops were caught in her ears. Perfectly manicured hands added to the overall style of elegance.

  “Can I help you?” Then she seemed to realize who she was seeing and stood. “Sorry. With the glare I didn’t recognize you. How are you, Elizabeth? How was your trip?”

  Elizabeth took the hand that Jessica had extended. “It was great. I’ll have to tell you about some of the great discoveries I made in Paris. But right now, I’m here to introduce my daughter, Sarah. She’s creating an inn out of an old Victorian up on the ridge.”

  “Wonderful!” A broad smile reached all the way to Jessica’s eyes. “How good to meet you. Your mother’s so proud of you! Have a seat.” Jessica gestured to two guest chairs. “How can I help you?” She leaned against her desk.

  “I got this brochure in the mail and was hoping you might help spread the word about the inn once it’s open. We could work with some of your other vendors and come up with some unique area events, like wine-tasting, whale watching, Seymour Marine Discovery Center — ”

  “Maybe some wine and food pairings at local restaurants — ” Jessica caught onto the idea quickly.

  “And I have a chef, Mandy — ”

  “Mandy from the grill?” Jessica seemed startled. “I didn’t know she could cook.”

  Sarah chuckled. “The restaurant wouldn’t let her. But from what I’ve been eating since she moved into the inn, the woman can cook. She’d taken classes in New York — Culinary Institute — but never finished the program.”

  The front bell jangled and a fit-looking woman in a tennis outfit walked in. “I brought some new brochures,” the woman said.

  “Hi, Linda,” said Jessica as she took the bundle. “I’d like you to meet Sarah. She’s opening a new inn up on the ridge overlooking the bay.”

  Linda took Sarah’s hand in a strong grip. “Good to meet you. We should get together and talk business once you’re open. I run a limo company.”

  Sarah nodded, an idea beginning to form in her brain. “How about I invite you all for lunch at the inn when we’re closer to opening. That way you can meet Mandy, taste her food, and we can really brainstorm some business ideas.”

  “Sounds great,” Linda said. “I’ll bring the wine.”

  Jessica laughed. “Linda’s our resident wine buff. Other than your mother, of course.”

  Damn. Her mother. She was a business woman and should be invited to the lunch, but Sarah wanted to keep the group to women her age.

  It turned out her mother didn’t care. “How wonderful for you,” Elizabeth said to her as they headed back to the car. “Good business connections and maybe some new friendships.”

  “Then you don’t mind that I didn’t invite you?”

  Elizabeth put the car in gear. “Not at all. My life is expanding so much that I can’t keep up. When the products launch, I’m going to have to think a whole lot bigger than Costanoa in my marketing. And besides,” she pulled onto the esplanade that curved out of the village. “You’re all in the travel business. Very different from what I’m doing.” She smiled at Sarah. “So, no I don’t mind. But thanks for being concerned. I love you, sweetie.”

  “Even though I’m pregnant?”

  Elizabeth took a deep breath. “Marcos and I talked about that a lot while we were gone. I think I may have over-reacted.”

  Sarah was quiet while she absorbed her mother’s words.

  Elizabeth continued. “I was wrong to have pushed Rick at you. I thought because that’s what I’d had to do, you should do it, too. But times are different, good or bad. And if Rick isn’t right for you … then you need to make that decision, not me.”

  Tears of relief began to spill down Sarah’s face. She hadn’t realized she needed her mother’s understanding so badly. “Thanks, Mom.”

  Elizabeth reached over and squeezed her hand. “I love you, Sarah. And I’ll love my new grandchild just as much.”

  “It’s a girl.”

  “Oh dear, are you in trouble!” Elizabeth laughed.

  Sarah quickly joined in.

  When Elizabeth dropped her off at the inn, she offered to come in to help, but Sarah told her she was tired and needed to take a nap.

  She also needed to call Rick before Hunter came back.

  She picked up the cell phone and perched on the edge of the couch in the living room. Taking a deep breath, she pulled up Rick’s number and hit dial.

  “Not here. You know what to do.”

  Voicemail. She hung up. She really should wait and speak to him in person. Should. There was that word again.

  What do I want to do?

  Sarah looked around the room, amazed at the progress that had been made in a few short months. She went into the kitchen to pour a cup of coffee and stared at the room with a critical eye.

  Gleaming pots hung on the wall, the appliances were ugly, but solid and functioning. Mandy had set up tables for prep and cooling racks for baked goods. She was ready to go.

  A few more linens and knickknacks for the upstairs bedrooms and Sarah would be ready to apply for a permit. Hunter had almost finished a guest bathroom on the fir
st floor that was handicap-accessible.

  She’d be ready by Annie’s wedding and the summer season stretching after it. And she couldn’t have done it without the help of her friends, friends who’d put up with the rotten temper tantrums of her boyfriend because they cared for her.

  It was time to clean up her mess.

  She sat at the table, sipped her coffee and redialed. This time she left a message.

  “Rick, I’m sorry things happened the way they did. And I hate to break up over a phone, but that’s what I’m doing. We’re done, Rick. Please stop sending me things. If — if you want to call in a few months to make arrangements to see the baby … ” She paused, hating to allow him in her life at all, but it was the right thing to do. Besides, she knew in her heart he’d never make the effort. “I’ll talk to you. But, other than that, please leave me alone.”

  She hung up.

  Chapter 21

  “I’ve got an appointment at Cal Poly next week,” Hunter said to Joe as he finished up for the day.

  Joe handed Hunter a beer. “That was fast.” Pointing to the almost finished cabinet on the worktable, he added, “Your cabinet is coming along really nicely. I might actually know someone who could use a piece like that.”

  “Really? That’d be great.” Hunter opened the beer and took a drink. “I was surprised they agreed to see me this quickly at Cal Poly. I think the guy is finishing up a master’s thesis and wants to get the prototype done.”

  “I hope it works out. It’d be great to see you out on the water again. It’s where you belong.” Joe flicked out the lights and led the way back into the surfboard workroom.

  Hunter frowned. “I’m worried, though. I don’t know how much of this the VA will pick up.”

  “Any idea how much it cost?”

  Hunter shook his head. “The guy’s only asking for materials — he’s going to do the labor as part of his thesis. Thinks he can improve on the last surfing prosthetic someone else at Cal Poly designed.”

  “Quite a deal.”

  “Yeah.” Hunter sipped his beer and gazed idly at the surfboards. “Of course,” he smiled, “once I have my surfer legs back, I’m going to need to have a board.”

  “How are you going to afford that?”