“You seem to be taking it rather well.”
“I’ve had my moments. But your father has always been strong for me. Now it’s my turn to do the same for him.”
Payton placed her hand over my hands. She’s always had a compassionate soul. “It’s going to be okay, Mom. We’ll still make sure Dad’s involved as much as he wants to be. We’ll do whatever it takes to support him.”
“This is the busiest season of the year. Who’s going to run the Inn?” Abby seemed concerned.
“Your father and I have been running the Inn together for years. What am I chopped liver?”
“No, of course not. But doing it all by yourself?”
“No, not by myself. As Payton mentioned, we’re going to keep your father involved as much as possible, and she’s going to help out as well.”
Abby glanced over at Payton.
“And what’s going to happen with your dream of starting the photography business?”
“I’ll be putting all that on hold temporarily. This is not a forever plan, but right now, Mom and Dad need help. You have the kids to look after, and Rebecca has her career.”
“Even if she didn’t have her career, Rebecca would still find a way to do her own thing.”
That was my cue to jump in and interrupt Abby’s rant.
“Leave your sister alone. She has a lot on her plate.”
“Mmm, hmm. She has a lot on her plate, alright. Somehow she always finds a way to make time for what she thinks is important. You may not want to admit it, Mom, but it’s true.”
Sometimes I wished my girls wouldn’t go at it with each other so much.
“Abby has a point there, Mom. Did I tell you about my little run-in with her at Cole’s shop?”
“No.”
Payton had our full attention.
“Oh yeah. It was a classic Rebecca moment. This was around the time that I had to talk to him about canceling the renovation project. I stopped by to meet with him and who comes walking out of the restroom, but Becca.”
“What was she doing there?”
“She said she noticed his name in the window and decided to stop in to say hello. Her little plan backfired on her when she found out he wasn’t there.”
“Wait. This doesn’t even make sense. How does Rebecca know Cole?”
“She met him briefly when she stopped by the Inn. Brief as in he walks up to say goodbye, she asks, “who’s this handsome man?” Then her eyes follow him out the door. And apparently now she’s head over heels. I probably started something by giving her a pep talk about keeping things professional. Next thing I know, I’m running into her at his shop.”
I couldn’t help but shake my head in confusion. It just didn’t make sense. “I’ve always wondered why Rebecca hasn’t settled down with a nice man. She has so much to offer. She’s young, and she has a law degree, I just don’t understand. The right guy is out there for her. Although I don’t know that Cole is the one, he’s much more your speed, Payton.”
“Mom, Cole is a business associate, and I’m not looking for another relationship right now.”
“Who said anything about business or relationships? There’s nothing wrong with getting to know him is all I was trying to suggest.”
Abby appeared to be getting a kick out of my comment from the smirk on her face.
“Well, speaking of getting to know him, he actually tried to ask me to dinner, but I declined.”
“Why would you do a thing like that?”
“Umm, hello? It wasn’t long ago that I was slamming the door in Jack’s face. You witnessed it. Don’t you think I have enough drama going on in my life right now?”
Abby held up one finger to object. “If I may say something here. Technically you have nothing going on right now except for working at the Inn. Other than that, your schedule is pretty open.”
“Very funny, Abby.”
“It’s true. I’m not trying to be funny. So tell us all the details. When did he ask you out, and what did he say?”
“It’s not a big deal. I guess he could tell I was feeling bad about having to break the contract. He told me not to and said that he understood. One thing led to another, we shook on it, and he invited me to take a walk down to the creamery. That’s it. It was just a kind gesture.”
“Kind gesture, alright!” I wasn’t buying it. I’d lived long enough to know when a man was interested in a woman.
“If it was just a kind gesture, why did it lead to an invitation for dinner?”
“Good point,” Payton said.
“I told your father he’d be a nice guy for you to meet.”
“You said that to Dad?”
“Yep, I sure did. Mother always knows best.”
Abby laughed. “Perhaps Mom should start a matchmaking service on the side.”
“I’d be pretty darn good at it too.”
“Guys, can we be serious here?”
“I am serious about Cole,” I responded.
“Stop being such a prude. Learn to live a little. Have fun. You only have one life, Payton. Might as well live it to the fullest.”
Abby bounced up. “So here’s what we have to do. We have to find a way to get Cole over to the house. You know, to give him and Payton a second chance to talk.”
“Here we go.” Payton threw her hands up in the air.
“I don’t know that your father’s up for a party at the house right now, Abby.”
“Okay, then. What about Luau night? You’re having the annual Luau night at the Inn next weekend, right?”
“Now that you mention it, that’s a great idea. All of the locals usually stop by for Luau night. I’ll give him a call and ask him to bring Emmie and his mother. It will be so much fun.”
“In case you two haven’t noticed, I’m still sitting here. I love how you have this all figured out. But have you forgotten that Rebecca has a crush on Cole? And did I mention I’m not looking for a man?”
“I’ll take care of your sister. Just be sure to show up with your leis on and get ready to have some fun.”
“You two are unbelievable. Abby, you are no help at all, egging Mom on like that.”
“I think she’s right. It’s time for you to start living again, Payton. Life’s too short.”
“He is kinda cute.”
“See. That’s my girl. There’s nothing wrong with letting your hair down and living a little. If I knew right, it was probably just what the doctor ordered.”
“Mom, let me preface this by saying I don’t mean any harm, but I have to ask Payton this question.” Abby shifted toward Payton.
“Are you sure you want to get so heavily involved with running the Inn? That’s quite the undertaking and quite a derailment from your dreams.”
“You’re right. It’s not my ultimate dream. I’ve always envisioned myself staying at an Inn on vacation, not running one. But if I don’t step in and help, then what will Mom and Dad do?”
“You’re right. They do need the help. All I’m saying is while you’re helping, make sure you keep your eyes on your dreams too.”
“I will.”
“You know how easy it is to get sucked in. Don’t forget. I used to work at the Inn before I had Maggie.”
I tried to help Abby see the bright side of things. “But that was back before we hired more staff, Abby. Having the extra help does make a difference.”
“True.”
“Don’t worry. We will all help to keep Payton’s dreams at the forefront. This is just a temporary solution.”
We really didn’t mean to get Payton roped into this degree, to begin with. It’s incredible how quickly things spiraled out of control. I do want to see her succeed at reaching her dreams. I remember first-hand what it was like to accomplish ours.
“On another note, I have some fun news to share.” Payton sat up with excitement.
“I found a sweet little house to rent on the other side of Pelican Beach.”
“Aw Payton, that’s wonderful
, Darling!”
“Thanks. You guys should come check it out with me if you have time. The landlord is freshening up the paint and doing a few odds and ends. After it’s finished, they said I could stop by to take a final look before signing the lease.”
“Sure, I’ll check with Wyatt and see which days he’s working from home.” Abby volunteered.
“Payton, we’ll both go with you. I can’t wait to see it.”
“Aunt Payton, Aunt Payton!” Sweet little voices came running from inside.
“Speaking of the kids. Look who’s here.”
“Ooh, come here and give Aunt Payton a hug.”
“Aunt Payton isn’t the only one sitting at the table. You better come over here and give your Gram a kiss.”
Wyatt joined the ladies to catch up on everything with the family.
Payton
On the eve of the Luau, the guests made their way to the veranda to enjoy the festivities. The locals and guests at the Inn visited throughout the day to participate in pass the coconut, volleyball on the beach, eating, and live entertainment.
"Everything looks fantastic. Compliments to the chef for bringing the taste of Hawaii to the Inn,” Claire said.
"Thank you, Claire. It's so good to see you. How's the store coming along?"
Claire was the owner of "Claire's Fashion" on the Northern end of Pelican Beach.
"I can't complain. Of course, this is our busy time of the year, so I'm sure none of the owners are complaining right about now."
"You have a good point. It seems like we have even more guests than usual this year."
"How is Helen and William doing?"
"They're good. I'm sure they're somewhere around here mingling with everyone. You should go and say hello. They'd love to see you."
"I will, but first I'm going grab a cocktail."
"Please do. Enjoy something tropical for the two of us!"
"I most certainly will. Glad to have you back, Payton! We've missed you."
"Thank you, Claire."
I made my way over to greet Abby and Wyatt as they arrived with the kids.
"Leis for the lovely ladies and gentlemen."
"Thank you, Sis. Kids, what do you say to your Aunt Payton?"
"Thank youuuu."
"You're welcome. Why don't you go find Gram and Poppa to let them know you're here."
"Okay."
The kids ran off to find their grandparents while Wyatt and Abby stayed back to chat with me.
"Look at you with your Hawaiian flower in your hair and your beautiful sundress."
"Do you like it? I tried to get into the Aloha spirit."
Wyatt spoke on their behalf. "Well, you did a beautiful job not only on your outfit but with everything. This is always a fun event, but the extra touches you added this year are amazing."
"Aww, thanks, Wyatt. Back when things were good, Jack and I used to spend a lot of time in Maui. I think a little bit of the Hawaiian tradition rubbed off on me."
"It sure did. I love the torches. It's so romantic. Wyatt, we should've found a sitter. I'm in the mood for a date night."
"You're right, Honey. We are long overdue for a date night!"
"I'll come babysit so you two can get out and have fun."
Abby spotted Cole coming with Emmie and his mother.
"We'll take you up on that offer. In the meantime, don't look now, but Cole is coming, and it looks like he has company,” Abby whispered.
"How do I look?"
"Stunning. I'm just not sure if you're wearing your flower on the right side. Isn't it supposed to be on the right side if you're single?"
"Abby, do you really think anybody's paying attention to the position of my flower? We're in Pelican Beach for goodness sake. And why are we whispering?"
"I have no idea. We're going to hurry so you two can talk. See ya."
No matter what he wore, Cole looked like a natural model for a fitness magazine. He approached me with a young girl beside him who had the sweetest baby blue eyes just like her dad. She had her hair in a ponytail and a Hawaiian style dress. Her fingernails were painted every color of the rainbow, and she had a flower in her hair, keeping in line with the theme.
"Are you Miss Payton?"
"Yes, I am. And you are?"
"I'm Emmie. My dad told me to give these to you to say thank you for having us."
"Aren't you precious? What a sweet gift."
I looked up towards Cole. "You didn't have to do this. Your invitation was free of charge."
"I know I didn't have to, but I wanted to."
"Well, thank you. Peonies are my absolute favorite." I then turned back to Emmie.
"You outdid yourself, young lady."
"There's someone else I'd like you to meet. This is my mother, Alice Miller."
"Mrs. Miller, it's so nice to meet you."
"Likewise. I've heard so many wonderful things about the Inn and about you. It's nice to finally meet you."
"You couldn't have chosen a better time to visit. Our Luau night is usually the talk of the town."
"From the looks of things, I can see why."
"Well, please make yourself at home, grab a plate of food, and enjoy."
"I certainly will." She turned to Cole and gave him the cue to stay and talk. "Son, if you're looking for Emmie and me, we'll be over by the dancers."
"Alright, Mom. Take it easy out there."
"Don't you worry about me. I knew how to shake a leg or two back in my day."
Cole looked wide eyed at me. "Oh, boy."
"Hey, leave your mother alone. She sounds like a lady who knows how to have a good time."
"She does, actually. She always adds so much fun and warmth to the house whenever she stays with us."
"Does she live in the area?”
“She lives about forty minutes north of Pelican Beach. She's considering moving since she spends so much time helping with Emmie. We haven't really worked out the details yet, but we'd both love it if she moved closer."
"I'm sure that would be nice."
"How about you? Have you thought about where you might settle?"
"I found a nice little rental on the other side of Pelican Beach. I'm going to visit again next week just to be certain. It's so pricey out here. I want to make the wisest choice and not be too far away from my parents."
"Will you continue to work here at the Inn?"
"That's the plan. For now, at least."
"Do I hear a little hesitation in your voice? You're already a hit among the people here. I can't imagine why this wouldn't be a good fit for you."
"It's not really a hesitation. I just have some other things my heart is set on pursuing while I help out at the Inn."
"Oh, do tell."
"It's a long story. I'm just like any other person with big dreams. Dreams that may never go any further than the pages of my journal."
"Hang on, not so fast. If it's a passion of yours, I don't see why it wouldn't leap off the pages of your journal and turn into something more."
Call it a nervous reaction, but I laughed it off as if it were no big deal. Deep down inside, I knew better.
"Do you have time to take a walk? I'd love to hear more about this big dream of yours."
"Oh, man. Now I feel like I'm being put on the spot."
"Not really. I just happen to know a thing or two about following dreams, so maybe I can be of some help to you. If you want."
"Alright. Let me go and put the flowers in water, and I'll be right back."
"I'll be right here waiting for you."
I made my way through the crowd to let my parents know I was going to be back in a little while. Then I brought the flowers to the kitchen to place the flowers in a vase.
"Miss Payton, your ideas for Luau night turned out to be quite a success."
"Aww, thank you, Shelby. Hey, I thought we agreed on you calling me Payton?"
"I'm sorry, you're right."
"I've never been formal with our employ
ees a day in my life, and I'm not going to start now."
"I promise, from now on, Payton it is."
"Ok, that's much better. Make sure you grab yourself a plate of food, Shelby. I'll be back in just a little bit if anybody is looking for me."
"Sounds good."
After taking a deep breath, I made my way back to the party. I felt like a young girl discovering I liked a boy for the first time. Unfortunately, when I spotted Cole, the view in front of me was quite disturbing. Another woman stood rather close with her hand on his chest. Cole didn't exactly pull away. The woman was wearing a short skimpy dress and looked like something out of a trashy movie scene.
"You know we have some unfinished business, Cole. You and me. How about you stop by my place later tonight."
Cole looked up toward me, but it was already too late. Feeling uncomfortable, I turned around, and made my way out of the Inn. I could hear him calling me from behind.
"Payton. Payton. Wait. Please stop. I can explain."
"That's what they all say, Cole. Leave me alone."
"What do you mean?"
"Men. That's what they all say when they're doing something they should be ashamed of."
"But I wasn't doing anything that I'm ashamed of. Right before you came, she walked up to me."
"You didn't exactly look like you were turning her down. Wait a minute. I don't even know why I care. You don't owe me any explanations."
"Payton."
"Seriously. You don't owe me any explanations, Cole. It's not like we're…"
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Say it."
"Look. You seem like a really nice guy."
"Oh, here we go. The nice guy speech. Please spare me the nice guy speech. I know I don't owe you an explanation, but I want to give you one anyway, so just listen. I worked with her boss on a renovation project that I completed last year. She tried to come on strong back then, and I turned her down. I haven't seen the woman since then. I swear nothing is going on with us or any other woman for that matter. There's only one woman I'm interested in, Payton, and that's you."
His words disarmed a bit. I wanted to believe him but didn't know what to say.
"Come on, Payton. I'm a family man with a young child to raise. Does she look like the type of woman I would want around my daughter?"
The Inn At Pelican Beach Page 5