Return to the Island
Page 1
Return to the Island
Kay Correll
Rose Quartz Press
Copyright © 2018 Kay Correll
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any matter without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental
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Published by Rose Quartz Press
040218
This book is dedicated to my manager. The person who keeps me on track, checks in on me, supports me, encourages me, and yells at me.
I love you.
Kay’s Books
Find more information on all my books at my website.
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COMFORT CROSSING ~ THE SERIES
The Shop on Main - Book One
The Memory Box - Book Two
The Christmas Cottage - A Holiday Novella (Book 2.5)
The Letter - Book Three
The Christmas Scarf - A Holiday Novella (Book 3.5)
The Magnolia Cafe - Book Four
The Unexpected Wedding - Book Five
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The Wedding in the Grove - (a crossover short story between series - with Josephine and Paul from The Letter.)
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LIGHTHOUSE POINT ~ THE SERIES
Wish Upon a Shell - Book One
Wedding on the Beach - Book Two
Love at the Lighthouse - Book Three
Cottage Near the Point - Book Four
Return to the Island - Book Five
Click here to learn more about the series.
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INDIGO BAY ~ A multi-author sweet romance series
Sweet Sunrise - Book Three
Sweet Holiday Memories - A short holiday story
Sweet Starlight - Book Nine
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Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Also by Kay Correll
About the Author
Chapter 1
Tally ambled along the beach near Lighthouse Point. A light spring breeze rustled her hair and tugged at the loose, oversized shirt she was wearing. She loved it when she had time to escape from Magic Cafe and have a few minutes to herself. Oh, she enjoyed owning Magic Cafe, but still, a few moments’ peace was a welcomed blessing.
She paused to watch a handful of pelicans swoop by along the shoreline. The waves gently rolled to the shore today in the calm gulf water. How could the ocean look so serene at times when she knew just how angry and greedy it could get?
She scuffed some sand with her bare foot. The wind caught the grains and tossed them down the beach. She looked out at the sea, far out to the horizon.
This darn ocean.
If only she didn’t love it so much because she hated it so.
She scrubbed her hands over her face, blocking the view, then opened her eyes and headed slowly back toward the cafe.
Billowing smoke caught her eye in the distance, and she picked up her pace to a measured jog. Her heart beat jaggedly from either the quickened pace or worry. As she got closer, she realized the smoke was coming from Belle Island Inn and her pulse raced.
Susan. Was her friend Susan okay?
Tally wasn’t much of a runner, but she doubled her pace and rushed toward the inn, grabbing ragged breaths of air as she sped across the sand.
The island’s fire truck jutted out on the side parking lot. A handful of firemen stood talking, but no one looked frantic. That was good news, right?
She spotted Susan standing on the beach and hurried up to her, bending over when she reached her friend to catch her breath. “Susan…” Tally sucked in some air. “Are you okay? What happened?”
A large streak of soot crossed Susan’s face, and her eyes were rimmed in red. “I’m okay. Everyone’s okay.”
“What happened?”
“Grease fire. It got out of control.”
“Is there a lot of damage?” Tally scanned the building.
“Smoke damage in the kitchen and dining room. Water damage from the sprinkler system in the dining room. It’s all such a mess.”
“I’m so sorry.” Tally put an arm around her friend. “At least you’re okay.”
Susan coughed. “It could have been worse. The fire chief said we’ll have to close the kitchen, of course, and the dining room. But only a few rooms near the dining room had damage, so at least we can keep the inn open.”
“You sure you’re okay?” Tally eyed her.
“Yes, really I am.”
“I think you should let the doctor take a look.”
“Really, I’m fine.” Susan coughed repeatedly.
“That’s it. I’m taking you to the clinic to get checked out. Don’t argue with me.”
“But…”
“Mom!” Jamie, Susan’s son, called out as he came racing up to them. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, dear. Really, I am.”
Jamie wrapped his mother in a quick hug.
“No, she’s not. She’s coughing from the smoke.” Tally glared at her friend.
Jamie released his mother and took a step back. He stood in front of her and eyed her from head to toe as if convincing himself she was okay. “I was at The Lucky Duck with Harry when I heard. You almost scared me to death. Couldn’t get here fast enough. What happened?”
“Fire on the grill. It got out of control.” Tally answered for her friend to save her from launching into another coughing fit. “Now, persuade your mother to let me take her to the clinic to get checked out.”
“I’m fine.”
“She’ll go.” Jamie’s words were tinged in a no-nonsense tone.
Susan sighed. “Okay, okay.” Then her eyes opened wide. “Oh, no.”
“What?” Tally and Jamie said in unison.
“It’s ruined.”
“What’s ruined? Mom, we can fix any damage to the inn. The important thing is you’re okay. We’ll work out the rest of it.”
“No, not that. I know we’ll get it repaired. That’s not the inn that’s ruined.”
Tally tilted her head. “So, what’s the big ‘oh no’ all about?”
“Julie.”
“Julie was inside?” Jamie swiveled to stare at the inn.
“No. Not that.”
“If you could help us out by not making us play twenty questions, I could get you to the clinic sooner.” Tally crossed her arms.
“It’s Julie’s wedding. I’ve ruined it.”
* * *
Tally and Susan joined Julie at The Sweet Shoppe for a late breakfast the next day.
“I told you we should have just eloped.” Julie stared glumly into her coffee cup. “Or maybe we could just postpone it by a month or two.”
“I’m sure Reed would just
be thrilled.” Tally rolled her eyes.
Julie didn’t miss her friend’s sarcastic tone. “But where am I going to find a place at this late notice?”
“I’m so sorry.” Susan leaned back in her chair. “The timing is horrible. I just wish… I’m sorry.”
“It’s not like it’s your fault.” Julie fiddled with the spoon resting beside her cup. “I’m just glad that no one was hurt. I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Did you talk to your insurance guy?” Tally looked at Susan.
“I did. It should be covered. We’d been planning on upgrading things in the kitchen anyway and had funds set aside for that. So, I guess we’ll do that now.”
Julie couldn’t believe that after she’d finally picked a date, picked a venue, and even found the perfect wedding dress, that everything had gone up in smoke. Literally. She immediately felt selfish for her thoughts. Susan could have been hurt, and now she had all the rehab to deal with on her inn.
“So have you had two cups of coffee?” Tally questioned her.
“What?” Julie glanced down at her t-shirt. “Oh.” She had a slight addiction to t-shirts with sayings on them. Today’s shirt proclaimed that ‘everything looks brighter—right after the second cup of coffee.’
She shrugged. “It’s actually like my fourth cup.”
“Good. Things will look brighter. We’ll have your wedding at Magic Cafe, of course. I’ll close the restaurant for the evening. We’ll set up chairs on the beach for the ceremony. It will be fine.”
“I can’t have you closing the restaurant for a whole evening.” Julie frowned. “Though, Reed would probably insist on paying you for your lost income.”
“Nonsense.” Tally shook her head. “He will not. And I think this is a perfect solution.”
“You could borrow the chairs from the inn.” Susan nodded. “This could work. We’ll figure out something for the arbor.”
“I don’t know what to say. Are you sure, Tally?” Relief started to seep through Julie. Magic Cafe would be the perfect substitute for the inn. It seemed fitting to have her wedding there since that’s where she first lived and worked when she came to the island.
“I’m sure. We’ll rent some tablecloths for the tables. Have the flower delivery moved to Magic Cafe.” Tally frowned. “I don’t really have a good room for you to use to get ready in except my office… and that’s a crowded mess.”
“Well, that’s the least of my worries. I’m just happy to have a place to have the wedding. We have so many people coming. Reed knows a lot of people. It’s going to be a lopsided wedding, though. You guys are my friends. That’s about all who will be sitting on my side.”
“How about Dorothy, Mary, Jamie, Cindy, Harry, and Sammy…” Tally rattled off more names.
Julie sighed. “I know. I’m just nervous about it. Reed has all these fancy friends coming from Seattle. Business people. I’m just… well, I wonder what they’ll think of me.”
Tally shrugged. “Do you really care what they think?”
“I just want Reed to be proud of me. I want him to have the type of wedding he wants, too. I…” Julie pushed back her hair and at the same moment panicked. What was she going to do with her hair at the wedding? She hadn’t even thought that through. She must be missing the basic female gene that made a woman know how to plan her own wedding, much less want to plan her wedding. She wanted to be married to Reed, but she’d just as soon have the wedding behind her. She had never liked being the center of attention.
“You deserve this. You do. Quit second-guessing yourself. You’re going to have a beautiful wedding. Susan and I will make sure of it.” Tally reached over and covered her hand. “Now, tell me why you just had that panicked look on your face. We’ll fix it, too.”
Her friend knew her so well.
Chapter 2
The next day, Tally tugged on the door to the storage building next to Magic Cafe. She wanted to make sure they had enough napkins for the wedding reception. Cloth napkins, of course. She couldn’t abide by paper napkins at her restaurant even if more than half the tables were outside.
The door fought back, so she messed with it, gave it a hip check, and yanked on it yet again. Light poured into the main room as the door swung open. Just like in the story Goldilocks, she’d swear someone had been sleeping in the bed in the corner of the room. But no one had stayed here for years. Not since Julie had moved out. But the blanket was rumpled, and an opened can of nuts sat beside the bed.
Tally whirled around at the sound of movement in the corner. “Who’s there?” She peered into the dark corner, then reached for the light switch and flipped it on, illuminating the far side of the room. “Come out or I’ll call the sheriff.”
“No. Please.” A young woman stepped out of the shadows. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any harm.”
Tally scowled. “What are you doing here?”
“I…” The young woman looked at the door and Tally thought the woman might bolt for it, but instead, she stayed put. “I needed a place to stay last night. My car broke down. I… was going to just stay on the beach, or sleep in the car, but it got colder than I thought it would. I came in here and found the bed. I’m sorry. I’ll pay you back for the container of nuts.” The girl reached into her pocket and took out a handful of crumpled bills.
Tally eyed the girl. “Did you consider a motel? There are a lot of them on the island…”
“No, I didn’t… I don’t… have enough money for that.”
“You just passing through?” Tally swept her glance from the top of the girl’s mussed, just-woke-up hair to her worn tennis shoes with the side slightly split out.
“I was going to look for a job here, actually. Stay for a bit.” The girl shifted from foot to foot.
Tally would guess the girl—young woman—was young to mid-twenties. She had a tinge of a haunted look in her eyes that tugged at Tally’s heart. Tally let out a long breath.
“What kind of job are you looking for?”
“Anything. I’m a hard worker. I just need to earn some money.”
“I don’t suppose you know how to waitress?”
“I do.” The girl said it a little too eagerly. Tally wondered just how experienced she actually was.
“Well, you’re in luck. I need another waitress at Magic Cafe. Can you start today?” She figured the girl could use all the help she could get, and Tally knew what it was like to hit upon tough times.
“I… well, I could… but…” The girl swept her hand through her shoulder-length brown hair, sending it cascading away from her face.
“Well, what is it? Do you want the job or not?”
“I’d have to find something to do with…”
“Momma?” A small voice came from behind a box in the corner.
“Come on out, Bobby. It’s okay.”
A young boy slipped out from behind the box and came to stand beside the young woman.
The woman set her hands on the boy’s shoulders. “This is my son, Bobby.”
Tally swallowed. All she’d wanted was the box of napkins. She was willing to give the girl a job to help her out… but now things were getting complicated. She figured the girl was raising Bobby alone, and she knew exactly how hard that was.
Tally sighed. “How about you two come over to the cafe and have a nice hot breakfast? We’ll see what we can figure out.”
“But I don’t…”
Tally held up her hand. “On me. Call it my welcome to the island.”
“Do you have pancakes?” Bobby’s eyes lit up. “I haven’t had pancakes in forever.”
“We do.”
The boy grinned and Tally stared at him. Then she swallowed and brushed her hand over her face. The boy had one single dimple on his left cheek and tousled blonde hair. She blinked rapidly and stuffed a fleeting memory quickly back into the recesses of her brain.
“Let’s go,” Tally said a bit too brusquely. She turned and strode out into the sunlight. The sunlight that manag
ed to chase away the rest of her painful memories.
She led the way over to the cafe with Bobby skipping along beside her and the young woman following closely behind.
They climbed the stairs to the restaurant, and Tereza came hurrying over.
“Tereza, this is Bobby and…” Tally turned to the young woman. “I don’t think I caught your name?” Had she just hired a waitress without even knowing her name?
“Courtney. Courtney Davis.” The young woman smiled, her blue eyes filled with gratitude.
“Courtney, this is Tereza. Tereza’s been here for a few months now. Don’t know what I ever did without her. She can show you the ropes.”
“But… Bobby.”
“Well, we’ll work on that, too.” Tally motioned to a table. “Sit here. Order what you want.” She started to walk away, then looked back. “I’m Tally, by the way. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
In all the commotion, she’d managed to forget to grab the box of cloth napkins. She headed to the storage building. She walked inside, crossed through the main room to the storage room, and moved a few boxes around until she found the one she needed. She tugged it off the stack, moved out to the main room, and took a quick look over at the rumpled bed.
She sighed. She knew what she was going to do, but she didn’t want to do it. Not at all. But that wouldn’t stop her. She’d still do it. It was the right thing to do.