“Auntie, why don’t you take a seat as well,” Annie said, motioning for her to take her place next to Lilly.
Jack tapped Charles on the shoulder, and the two men left the room.
“Listen, I want to put this behind us, this thing about Charles and Betsy and the big, dark secret. There’s no secret, never has been, and nothing is changing about Charles. Do you hear me, Grandmother?”
“I really enjoy Charles’s company just as you do. We go to the theater, have dinner out, sometimes he cooks for me, sometimes I cook for him …” Betsy said.
“I get it. You like him. You enjoy his company,” Grandmother said in a condescending tone.
Annie’s hands flew up in total frustration. “Grandmother, stop it! I’m serious, what is your problem?”
Grandmother stiffened her back and shrugged.
Annie’s jaw dropped slightly when she saw the tears puddle on Grandmother’s lower lid.
“I don’t know. I guess I’m jealous,” Grandmother finally admitted in a low muttering tenor.
“Jealous of whom, of what?” Betsy said, wiggling in between Lilly and Patty on the bench.
“I thought we had him all to ourselves. Now we must share him,” Grandmother said, staring off into space.
Betsy took a deep breath. “Well, you know what? Instead of feeling like you have to share him, why don’t you try to expand your friendship circle to include me? I hear we like some of the same things.”
Grandmother twisted her head and gazed at Betsy. “You’d do that for us?”
“Of course. Your Annie is very special to me, and any family of hers is an extended family of mine.” Betsy slung her arm over each of them and pulled them close.
Annie stood back and watched as the once highly volatile situation regarding Charles and Betsy now came to a close. She’d just clasped her hands in front of her and was about to give silent praise to those who work in mysterious ways, when she glanced over to the sounds of scuffing shoes.
Jack pulled his shoulders up and widened his eyes. “Everything okay in here?”
“Yes, just perfect. Let’s give them a tour of the the …” Annie said, breaking her thought.
“The guest house?” Jack said teasingly.
Annie smiled. “Yes, because we know how well granny unit went over.” She playfully knocked shoulders with Jack.
After they toured the cottage, the six headed back to the boat. Annie and Jack could hear laughter and plans being made by Charles, Betsy, Grandmother, and Auntie. The union brought a smile to Annie’s lips.
Chapter 22
Furnishing a house of this size required planning. Annie took her time because she wanted everything just right. From the wall color to the rugs, Annie made sure every room had character. Jack learned early on that whatever Annie desired, Annie got. He’d make a few suggestions here and there, but he wasn’t about to interject his ideas. Except for one room.
“What did you call this room again?” Annie said, walking the long room located over the garages.
“Frog—it’s an acronym for finished room over garage.”
Annie placed her hands on her hips. “This would make a great playroom for children.”
Jack smiled. “How about a great playroom for adults?”
“You mean like a man cave? I thought that is what the garage was for?” Annie said.
Jack paused. “Well, now that you mention it, we do have a three-car garage. We only have two vehicles, and which people actually use the garage for parking cars? I could take one and make it my own.”
Annie laughed. Jack’s observation about people parking in garages was right on. People rarely used the garages for cars in South Carolina. “Well, then it’s a deal. I can decorate this as a television room until the children come and then it can become a playroom slash family room area.”
Jack turned his back on Annie and covered his mouth to muffle a laugh. It was no use however.
“What’s so funny?”
“You fell right into my hands,” he said, rubbing and wrenching his hands like an evil scientist.
Annie cocked her head a little to the right and peered at Jack through half closed lids. “You mean you tricked me?” She took a few steps toward him.
“I like to think of it as more like you discovered the error of your ways. That you came to the conclusion solely on your own.” He reached his arms out to her.
She crossed her arms across her chest and pouted.
“Come here,” he said, coaxing her to come into his wide-open arms. She took baby steps until finally reaching him. He closed his arms around her and held her tightly. “You’re not mad at me, are you?”
She uncrossed her arms and shook her head. “How could I ever be mad at you?” She leaned in and kissed him on the tip of his nose.
“That’s my girl. But I have to come clean with you.”
Annie knitted her brows together. “You mean there’s more?”
“I never wanted this space as mine. I’ve already claimed the garage. That’s where I made the table and benches. I knew you wouldn’t care. I just wanted to see what your idea was regarding this space. I always thought it would make a great playroom.” He pulled her in and kissed her on the mouth.
Annie reared her head back and laughed. “Jack Powell, I’m going to have to keep my eyes on you! If any of our children develop a tendency toward being mischievous, you know I’ll have to blame you.”
Jack patted his chest with the palm of his hand. “Who me?”
Annie wrapped her hands around Jack’s neck and held him in place while she gazed into his eyes. “I’m so happy right now. We’re living our dream, Jack. Can you believe it?”
“I never stopped believing in us.” Jack pulled her in and found her mouth, kissing her deeply. They tumbled to the carpeted floor, and Annie, not letting up on her hold, rolled on top of Jack. She placed her hands on his chest and lifted herself away from him slightly while lovingly looking at his face. Her eyes traced every crease, every hair on his head, and then finally letting her eyes rest on his mouth. “We did name this room the playroom didn’t we?” she said with a twinkle in her eyes. Jack lowered his eyes to her mouth, making her stomach flutter. In one quick movement, he pulled her down and found her mouth. His kisses, sweet at first, then grew more intense.
“Ahem,” a voice said coming from the doorway.
Jack gently pushed Annie off of him and raised his shoulders off the floor. Annie, now on her back, rose up and held her position on her elbows. A delivery man stood in the archway. Jack immediately stood, pulling Annie up with him.
“I’m sorry, we were just …” Jack said, trailing off not finishing his sentence.
Annie blushed. “You must be delivering our new furniture.” She crossed toward the man, straightening her clothes, and brushing her fingers through her hair.
The large framed man wearing a thin white tee shirt and blue jeans nodded. “Just tell us where you want things,” he said, turning to walk back down the stairs.
Annie glared at Jack. “Jack Powell, we could have been thoroughly embarrassed if he’d come a few minutes later,” she said through gritted teeth.
“Oh, calm down. I wasn’t going to let you go too far.”
Annie widened her eyes. “Me go too far? Humph.”
Jack patted her behind as she took the lead and descended the stairs.
She looked over her shoulder and pursed her lips tightly. Then she broke out in laughter. “Who am I kidding? I can’t even stay angry at you.”
Jack and Annie tried to stay out of the delivery crew’s way, but still be able to direct where things should go. Jack didn’t direct anything without Annie’s prior approval.
“Couch goes over there and tables there,” she said, pointing to various parts of the living room.
“Here comes the huge desk,” Jack said, backing out of the way as two men fumbled with the large mahogany desk.
“Yes, that goes in the back room, follow me,” Annie s
aid as she led the way to her new office space.
After about an hour of deliveries, the truck pulled out of the drive and headed off the island. Jack and Annie held each other as they watched the truck leave, Annie holding up her hand and waving goodbye. They stepped back and closed the front door, turning around to admire their newly furnished house. “This new stuff is going to make our old stuff look, well, old.” Annie said laughingly.
“Why don’t we save it for Mary and Danny?” Jack said.
Annie furrowed her brows. “Mary and Danny?”
Jack widened his eyes. “Oops! I see you didn’t know.”
“No, I didn’t. When is this going to happen?”
“Soon. They’re looking for a place now.”
“You know what that means, don’t you?” Annie said with one hand on her hip and the other running through her long locks.
Jack wiped the look of surprise off by brushing his hand across his face.
Sounding fatigued, Annie replied, “Yep, we better get the granny unit furnished soon, too.”
“Are you sure that they can’t live alone without Mary? You said yourself she’s not been providing much in the way of their care. We could beef up the visits with Charles, JoAnne, and Edith.”
“You should hear yourself. I think that’s the sound of sheer desperation, right there,” Annie said, laughing.
“I don’t know … I love your family. I really do, but I was hoping to have some time with my beautiful wife before the in-laws moved in,” he said with his head bowed down and shuffling toward her like some little kid who’d just lost his favorite toy.
Annie lifted his chin with her finger. “I just want to be prepared, that’s all. I think your plan is great. We’ll coordinate more visits, and now that Betsy is in the loop, maybe it will be okay.”
“Now, wait a second. Betsy is working full-time baking. She can’t be saddled with your grandmother and auntie, too.”
“Not saddled. She said it right here,” Annie said, pointing to the bench. “She said, ‘open up your circle of friends to include me.’ Grandmother and Patty were elated with that, too.”
“Okay, but if I were you, I’d be looking for a backup baker. Otherwise, you might be back in the kitchen, Betty Crocker,” Jack said, smiling.
“Well, that wouldn’t be so awful. I loved that part of my life, you know. That’s how it all started. Me and Morgan taking the entire cupcake world by storm.”
“True, but now you’re married, and going to have some babies,” he said, rocking her back and forth in his arms, looking up at her with puppy dog eyes.
“Jack, stop it.”
“I’m just saying, be prepared.”
“Oh, let me guess, you were a Boy Scout once?”
“You betcha, and proud of it,” he said, holding up two fingers.
Chapter 23
Move in day went smoothly, especially since some of the older pieces went into the garage. Annie hadn’t had an opportunity to speak with Mary yet. She had to hear it from her lips that another wedding was in the future. She breathed in and let it out slowly. She wondered how Grandmother and Auntie would take the news. As much as they liked Danny, no one really knew him that well. Jack had touched on his prior military service and his internal strife he dealt with, regarding his overseas tours. Annie wondered if Mary was able to handle living with a veteran. She knew there were lots of services available, and with Charleston being very pro-military and having a large VA hospital, Annie hoped he was getting the help he needed. Of course, she really wasn’t sure what sort of help he required.
Annie lowered the top half of her body inside the large cardboard box and retrieved the paper wrapped china pieces that Grandmother and Auntie had given her and Jack. They’d said they wanted her to enjoy them now, while they were alive. They’d also said their house parties and large family dinners were a thing of the past and now passed the torch to Annie and Jack. Annie rather liked the idea. The housewarming get-together she planned was shaping up rather nicely.
Annie climbed the step stool and placed the items in her newly built china cabinet, designed by Jack.
“Be careful up there. I don’t need any injuries,” Jack said softly as he held the stool steady.
Annie looked down. “Don’t be silly. This only has three steps.”
“I have to go in for a full shift. Dad and Richard really need me.”
“They’ve been so great with letting you have so much time off with the move and all.”
“Not to mention for the wedding, honeymoon, oh, and let’s not forget the bakery fire.” Jack shook his head as he also recalled the episode that shrouded their happy life and the baby they’d lost.
“But that’s all behind us. We’re moved in, the house is lovely, and we’re going to throw a huge housewarming party.” Annie’s eyes welled with tears.
“Why are you crying, sweetheart?”
“Happy tears, Jack, just happy tears.” She stepped down and wrapped her arms around his waist.
He ran his hand from the top of her head to down her back. He rocked her gently back and forth. “Okay, because we’ve had enough sadness to last our entire lives.”
Annie wished that were true. But with aging family members, she knew that sometime, no matter how far ahead, sad times lurked in the shadows. She shuddered. “Yes, let’s just think happy thoughts.” She pulled back and kissed him.
* * *
“Annie! This is a surprise,” Diane called out, opening her arms wide.
Annie walked into the hug and squeezed her. “I know. It’s been a while since I’ve stopped by. I was in the neighborhood.”
Mary looked up when she heard Annie’s voice. “Hey, Sis, what brings you here?”
“I was wondering if you were free for lunch?” Annie’s eyes darted from Mary to Diane and back to Mary.
“Sure, let me grab my purse. I was just going to eat this peanut butter sandwich but a nice lunch sounds so much better. Where shall we go?” Mary stood and shuffled some things around her desk before pulling out the bottom drawer and retrieving her purse.
“Take her to California Dreaming. They have fabulous salads,” Diane said as she walked around to the other side of the counter.
“I’ll have her back in an hour,” Annie said, looking over her shoulder.
“Take two. You don’t get to have this girl time often enough.”
“Thanks, Diane!” Mary said.
“Yes, you’re a dear. By the way, party at our house a week from Saturday.”
“You’re all moved in and ready for a crowd?”
“Yep, we’re very excited, too.”
“Okay, text me all the details,” Diane said.
They girls chatted about the weather, the new house, and their jobs. It was just enough conversation to get them to the restaurant. Annie planned to ask her about Danny once there.
The hostess seated them by the window. It was a beautiful late September day. The heat and humidity seemed to be gone, leaving blue skies and mild temperatures. Annie lifted her shoulders and sighed then picked up the menu.
She peered over the top once then dipping her eyes back to the print. She quickly folded the menu and tossed it on the table. “Shrimp salad for me,” she sang.
Mary closed up hers and tossed it on top of Mary’s. “I think I’ll have the clam chowder and a small Caesar salad.”
Annie leaned forward to say something, but just then the server appeared ready to take their order.
“Yes, we’ll have two iced teas, and I’ll have a large shrimp salad, and she’ll have the cup of clam chowder with a side Caesar salad.”
“I’ll get the drinks right out and put your order in.” The young woman closed her order book, picked up the menus, and took off across the room toward the kitchen.
“What were you going to say?” Mary said.
Annie pulled in her bottom lip and wiped her now damp hands on the white linen napkin that draped across her lap. “So … I hear you and Danny
are moving forward with plans?”
Mary rocked her head up and down, and her shoulders moved up and down as well. “Yes, I’m so excited. We get along so well. It’s been a great match.”
“Well, I’m happy for you, I really am, but marriage is a big step.”
“Marriage!” Mary covered her mouth to contain her loud voice.
Annie knitted her brows together. “Yes, aren’t you guys getting married?”
“Married? No way. We’re just moving in together.”
Annie slumped back into her chair. She rolled her head to look out the window.
“Who told you we were getting married?”
Annie thought back on her conversation with Jack. Mary was right. He never actually said the words marriage. “No one. Jack told me you were looking for a place, I guess I just assumed.”
“He’s been living at the garage where they keep the vehicles.”
Annie raised her brows.
“In a back room. He has a nice setup actually. He’s saved up enough money and so we’re looking to rent something out on one of the islands.”
“I see. I guess you haven’t told Grandmother or Auntie about your plans?”
“No, not yet. I know it’s going to go over like a lead balloon.”
“You can say that again. It’s not that they are against you living with him. We just don’t know that much about him.”
“He’s quiet. What can I say?” Mary smiled at the server when she placed their lunches before them.
“Well, you’re over twenty-one and are pretty self-sufficient. I guess no one can or should stand in your way,” Annie said, digging into her shrimp salad. “This is so good,” she said in between bites.
“My main concern is for their happiness and how well they can get along by themselves,” Mary said, drawing the iced tea to her lips.
“That’s my biggest concern, too. We have the cottage ready and just between you and me, that’s the granny unit.” Annie laughed.
“Who are you kidding? We all knew that from the beginning. You can call it cottage, guest house, or whatever. It’s the granny unit!” Mary said with a twinkle in her eyes.
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