Long before Tucker met with the victims’ families—Carnaby, Burrows, and King—he’d already decided to split the cash three ways between them, giving each an equal share. It was the least he could. But more importantly, the meeting had allowed him the opportunity to sit down with them and explain a few things. He’d told them how Clive had also murdered his five-year-old sister.
Even though no one blamed Tucker for the sins of the father, suspicion and doubt often crept into his head and stayed there for days.
And he wasn’t exactly in a position to take a poll around town to determine how people felt about shopping at Ferguson’s Hardware. Folks either came in or they didn’t. Most still wanted to support Tucker’s efforts, mainly because they didn’t want to make the drive over to San Sebastian.
The insecurity didn’t happen often, but when it did, Bodie did her best to knock down any lack of confidence he felt.
Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t.
From one row over, Caleb sent up a wave. “Hey, Bodie, I need to talk to you before you head out.”
She leaned in near Tucker’s ear. “I heard Shiloh gave her notice. Let’s hope he wants to offer me a full-time position at the greenhouse.”
He kissed her forehead. “Why wouldn’t he? You’re the best choice for the job.”
Caleb caught up with them near the end of the row. “I suppose you heard Shiloh’s going to beauty school.”
“I knew she gave her notice, didn’t know about the beauty part.”
“Cosmetology and hair,” Caleb said with a grin. “The way she likes to chat people up, she’s perfect for it. Abby Bonner already said she’d give her a job at the Snip N Curl whenever she’s finished getting her certifications. Anyway, the opening means I get to offer you a full-time position, Tuesdays through Saturdays, maybe some work on Sunday afternoons until I can find a part-timer.”
“Yes,” Bodie said, already bouncing on her toes at the idea of getting to work around plants. “I accept. Give me time to let Margie know, time to notify my clients they need to make other arrangements for housecleaning, and I’m there.”
Caleb chuckled at the enthusiasm. “Not a problem. We’ll wait. Give it a few months and Landon and I were thinking about transitioning you into becoming a buyer for the store. You know so much about plants already that it seems like the next logical step.”
“That would be fantastic. Thank you.”
“I’m glad you’re excited about it. Because if that works out when Landon and Shelby decide to retire, I’d be looking at getting you some experience propagating so that you could one day replace me down the line.”
“I’ve always wanted to do that. Propagate, not replace you,” Bodie added. “Does that mean you want to eventually give up the nursery entirely and be a winemaker full time.”
“That’s always been the goal since Hannah and I got together. We realize it won’t happen overnight. The good thing about growing anything is you need the patience of a saint. We both have that in spades.”
“This is a great setup you have here,” Tucker noted. “And I can’t wait to taste your first bottle of red.”
Caleb let out a satisfied sigh. “This vineyard is a dream come true for both of us.”
“Hey, Caleb,” Logan called out from the opposite end of the row. “What do you want us to do with our basket of grapes?”
“Drop them off outside the door to the lab. We’re staging all the baskets there, then bringing everything in for processing after everyone’s called it a day.”
“I’d like to see that sometime,” Tucker said. “Any chance you’d call us during fermentation?”
“Absolutely. And don’t forget to pick up your complimentary bottle of Riesling for helping out today. It’s the least we could do as our way of saying thanks.”
Bodie snorted with laughter. “No way, we’d forget that.” Once Caleb had moved on, she wrapped an arm around Tucker’s waist. “I can’t believe I get to work at The Plant Habitat. It’s my dream job.”
“Then we should celebrate. Let’s go drop off our basket and go pick up the dogs. Spending an afternoon at the beach with Oliver, Lago and Roxie will need baths.”
“I can’t think of a better way to spend my Sunday night.”
They headed toward Ocean Street, bouncing ideas off one another about what to have for dinner. But as soon as the boathouse came into view, Tucker grew silent.
“You’ve got to get over having that reaction every time you drive by it. The boathouse is part of the harbor, part of the town. And it didn’t kill anyone. It’s just a building. With all the work done on it, the place looks like a brand-new structure. Think of it like this, it’s where we first met, had our first real conversation. That has to mean something.”
“Of course, you’re right. But I’m not sure how to get over the negative connotations. Even looking out on the bay has changed for me. Every time I catch myself staring, I see a boat exploding.” He spotted Oliver sitting on the sand surrounded by a pack of dogs and pulled into an open parking slot.
“Give it time. Hopefully, one day that image will fade. Look at him,” Bodie said, pointing to the teenager who’d just celebrated his fifteenth birthday. “Is that his new friend? Jolene’s daughter, what’s her name?”
“Kimmie. Kimmie Sanders. Oliver is definitely smitten.”
“It’s amazing what a difference having a friend makes. He’s like a different kid. How’s his job working out?”
Tucker tooted the pickup’s horn to get Oliver’s attention and waved. “Surprisingly, he doesn’t goof off. When he’s on the clock, he works hard.”
“No wonder Vernon hated to see him go.”
“Yeah, but a junkyard with a bunch of rusted metal is no place for a kid.” When Oliver tapped on the glass, Tucker rolled down the window. “How’d they do?”
“Kimmie and me, we gave ’em a good run. Didn’t we, Kimmie?” Oliver said as he opened the back door of the truck to let the dogs in the back.
Stepping up to the driver’s side, the fourteen-year-old girl with bright blue eyes and dark hair, grinned as she held onto Chewy’s leash. “We wore them out. They all took a swim in the water, so they sorta smell like fish.”
Getting a whiff of wet dog, Bodie waved a hand in front of her face. “I can smell them from here.”
“How was picking grapes?” Oliver asked.
Tucker handed Oliver a twenty-dollar bill for dog sitting. “It was fun. You two should’ve come with us. They had appetizers you would’ve loved.”
“Nah, our picnic was better. Kimmie made tuna sandwiches and brought apple slices.”
The girl sent Oliver a smile. “We backpacked around the edge of the water, then ate our sandwiches on the other side near the mouth of the bay. It was awesome.”
“Thanks for looking after Lago and Roxie today,” Bodie said. “But we need to get home and hose these guys down. Pronto.”
“Any time. See you tomorrow, Boss,” Oliver stated before walking back out on the sand with his dog and holding hands with Kimmie.
“Did you do a lot of that growing up here?” Bodie wanted to know.
Tucker backed the pickup out and headed for home. “Yeah, I suppose I did. I lost my virginity to Karlie Ingleton on that same stretch of beach.”
She swatted his arm. “See? There are some good memories still floating around that you should focus on.”
He pulled up in the driveway and hit the remote to the garage. “You ever think that maybe we should just get a new house?”
“We’ve been over this. You don’t have a mortgage, it’s your family home, and you should take the time to make it yours.”
“Ours,” he corrected. “What’s that on the front porch?”
Bodie glanced past the railing and spotted a wicker picnic basket with a bottle of wine poking out the top. “It can’t be the Riesling. That’s in the truck. Would Caleb and Hannah do this?”
“Maybe it’s to celebrate your new job.”
Leaning down, she snatched the paper and flipped it open. “Oh, my God. It says it’s from Scott. How is that possible?”
“Maybe someone’s playing a practical joke on us.”
She handed it off. “I don’t think so. Here, see for yourself.”
At first, Tucker skimmed the words, but then he went back and reread every line, start to finish.
Yes, Tucker, you are your father’s son. But it doesn’t make you responsible for what he did or the choices he made. You have a life ahead of you. Don’t blow it. Some of us aren’t that fortunate. Make the most of what you’ve got. Your past might come with an ugly set of circumstances, but at least it’s on track now to hand you a ton of possibilities. It’s time to let go of the anger and everything negative you feel inside and concentrate on your future, a future with the woman you love. Consider yourself lucky that you found your sister’s killer. Some families don’t have the luxury of knowing what happened to the people they lost. Close the book on the sad parts. Live every day to the fullest because you never know what tomorrow may bring.
Scott.
“I don’t know how he managed that,” Bodie began. “But it’s good advice. And good taste. It’s not the cheap stuff.” She held up the expensive bubbly. “What do you say we get the dogs clean, get the dogs to bed and enjoy this to its fullest?”
“I say I’m one lucky man.”
Cast of Characters
Promise Cove - Book One
Jordan Phillips—The widow of Scott Phillips living on the outskirts of Pelican Pointe in a huge Victorian with her baby daughter. She’s trying to fix the house up to open as a bed and breakfast.
Nick Harris—A former member of the California Guard who served with Scott in Iraq. Nick suffers from PTSD. He tries to adjust back to civilian life after Iraq but finds that he can’t ignore a promise he made during the heat of battle.
Scott Phillips—Died in Iraq while serving with the California Guard. In life, Scott was best friends with Nick Harris. Scott doesn’t let death stop him from returning to his wife and child and the town he loves. He appears throughout the series as a benevolent ghost helping new arrivals settle in and overcome their problems.
Patrick Murphy—The mayor who owns the only market in town.
Lilly Seybold—Another newcomer with two children living alone on the other side of town, isolated and struggling to get by. Lilly is recently out of an abusive marriage. Lilly and Jordan form a bond.
Wally Pierce—Owner of the gas station and the best mechanic around. He’s instantly attracted to Lilly. Their relationship blossoms throughout the series.
Carla Vargas—County social worker and Murphy's longtime girlfriend.
Flynn McCready—Owner of McCready's, a mix between an Irish Pub and a pool hall.
Sissy Carr—Spoiled daughter of the town's banker. Sissy is having an ongoing affair with local developer and shady con man Kent Springer. Sissy went to school with Scott and gives Jordan a hard time at every chance she gets.
Kent Springer—Local developer and sleaze, always working on his next scam. He wants the property owned by Jordan Phillips and will do whatever it takes to get it.
Joe Ferguson—Owner of Ferguson Hardware. Grouch. Complainer.
Jack “Doc” Prescott—Former ER surgeon from San Francisco. Retired. But since moving to the area, he’s actively providing medical care for residents.
Belle Prescott—Doc’s wife who wants him to retire for good.
Reverend Whitcomb—Pastor of the Community Church. Wife is Dottie.
Hidden Moon Bay - Book Two
Emile Reed/Hayden Ryan—Arrives in Pelican Pointe during a storm, stranded at the side of the road. She’s on the run from a mobster who has defrauded people out of millions of dollars.
Ethan Cody—Native American. Works as a deputy sheriff but longs to be a writer.
Brent Cody—Sheriff of Santa Cruz County and Ethan's older brother.
Marcus Cody—Father of Ethan and Brent. Marcus possesses psychic ability.
Lindeen Cody—Mother to Ethan and Brent.
Margie Rosterman—Owner of the Hilltop Diner, a 1950s throwback to a malt shop.
Max Bingham—Cook at the Hilltop Diner and Margie's boyfriend.
Julianne Dickinson—First-grade teacher who lives in Santa Cruz in the same neighborhood as Marcus and Lindeen Cody. Lindeen often invites Julianne to supper, hoping Brent will take an interest in her.
Janie Pointer—Owner and stylist at the Snip N Curl and best friend to Sissy Carr.
Abby Pointer—Janie's younger sister. Her boyfriend Paul Bonner is serving in Afghanistan
Wade Hawkins—Retired history professor
Dancing Tides - Book Three
Keegan Fanning—Marine biologist running the Fanning Marine Rescue Center her grandparents founded.
Cord Bennett—Former army soldier and California guardsman who served with Nick and Scott in Iraq. Because Cord feels guilty about his fiancée dying in a spree shooting, he wants to end it all.
Pete Alden—Keegan's right-hand man at the Fanning Rescue Center.
Drea Jennings—Owner of the flower shop. Her family owns the Plant Habitat, a landscape nursery in town.
Abby Anderson—Works at the Fanning Rescue Center.
Ricky Oden—Founder and lead singer of the local band, Blue Skies. Married to Donna Oden.
Bran Sullivan—Veterinarian, owner of Pelican Pointe Animal Clinic.
Joy Sullivan—Receptionist at the animal clinic and wife of Bran.
Lighthouse Reef - Book Four
Kinsey Wyatt—An up-and-coming lawyer who comes to Pelican Pointe to prove she’s the real deal.
Logan Donnelly—Sculptor and artist who relocates to Pelican Pointe with an agenda.
Perry Altman—A five-star chef from Los Angeles who opened The Pointe, the fanciest place in town to eat.
Troy Dayton—A young carpenter who works hard at surviving everything life's thrown at him.
Mona Bingham—Max’s daughter from Texas.
Carl Knudsen—Owns the pharmacy in town he inherited from his family. Married, but not happy. In his younger days ran with Kent Springer.
Jolene Sanders—Hostess at The Pointe. Works part-time as a clerk at Knudsen’s Pharmacy.
Megan Donnelly—Logan’s sister.
Starlight Dunes - Book Five
River Amandez—Thirty-three-year-old archaeologist who arrives in Pelican Pointe harboring a secret. She’s in town to excavate the Chumash encampment uncovered during a mudslide.
Brent Cody—Forty-year-old sheriff of Santa Cruz County with a bad marriage under his belt and a not-so-stellar record of dating. Brent has someone in his past who wants him dead.
Zach Dennison—Picks up odd jobs around town, trying to make ends meet. Zach lives with his sister, Bree Dennison.
Bree Dennison—Goes to community college in San Sebastian and works as a waitress at McCready's.
Ryder McLachlan—Cord’s buddy from the army. New in Pelican Pointe from Philadelphia and looking to make a fresh start.
Ross Campbell—Pharmacist from Portland, relocates and buys the local pharmacy. Renames it Coastal Pharmacy.
Jill Campbell—Ross’s wife.
Last Chance Harbor - Book Six
Julianne Dickinson—First-grade teacher, slated to be the principal of the newly, renovated Pelican Pointe Elementary.
Ryder McLachlan—Cord’s buddy from the Army. New in Pelican Pointe from Philadelphia and looking to make a fresh start.
John Dickinson—Julianne’s dad.
Bree Dennison—Goes to community college in San Sebastian and works as a waitress at McCready's.
Malachi Rafferty—Owner of the T-Shirt Shop and single father with two teen girls, Sonnet and Sonoma.
Cleef Atkins—Lives south of town in an ol
d farmhouse. His barn is stuffed with things he’s collected over the years.
Drea Jennings—Cooper’s sister.
Caleb Jennings—Cooper’s brother.
Landon Jennings—Cooper’s uncle and adopted father.
Shelby Jennings—Cooper’s aunt and adopted mother.
Layne Richmond—Father of Cooper, Caleb, and Drea.
Eleanor Jennings Richmond—Mother of Cooper, Caleb, and Drea. In prison for murdering Layne Richmond and Brooke Caldwell.
Archer Gates—Son of Prissie Gates.
Sea Glass Cottage - Book Seven
Isabella Rialto—Known as Izzy, Logan's mysterious renter who shows up in town and starts people talking about her past.
Thane Delacourt—Ex NFL linebacker who comes back to Pelican Pointe to raise his son.
Jonah Delacourt—Thane's six-year-old son.
Fischer Robbins—Thane's best friend from New York and a chef who helps Thane open Longboard Pizza.
Tommy Gates—Jonah’s best friend and Archer’s son.
Bobby Prather—Jonah’s bully at school
Greg Prather—Bobby’s dad. Works odd jobs to make ends meet.
Sydney Reed—An ER nurse in St. Louis and Hayden Cody's sister. Sydney relocates to become Doc's nurse.
Lavender Beach - Book Eight
Eastlyn Parker—Ex-army helicopter pilot, crashed her chopper in Iraq and lost the bottom part of her leg. She hasn’t adjusted to civilian life very well.
Cooper Jennings Richmond—Son of Layne Richmond and Eleanor Jennings. Photographer who traveled the world but now owns Layne’s Trains.
Drea Jennings—Cooper’s sister.
Caleb Jennings—Cooper’s brother.
Landon Jennings—Cooper’s uncle and adopted father.
Shelby Jennings—Cooper’s aunt and adopted mother.
Eleanor Jennings Richmond—Mother of Cooper, Caleb, and Drea.
Jonathan Matthews—Eleanor’s son.
Sandcastles Under the Christmas Moon - Book Nine
The Boathouse (A Pelican Pointe Novel Book 14) Page 28