Page 55 of The Cottage on Pelican Bay

“I think it’s wonderful, Mom, that you’ve met a guy. It’s about time.”

Margie shook her head, wondering if her daughter had heard a word she’d said. For the past ten minutes, she had been telling Bellamy about Levi, how they met and what a nice and kind man he was. She had ended by telling her that Levi had admitted to being attracted to her, and that she was attracted to him, although she hadn’t admitted that to Levi.

She wasn’t ready for an involvement with a man and, with him, all she was looking for was friendship. Some might think that was too much information to be sharing with her daughter, but she and Bellamy always had a close relationship.

“And before you go off on me and accuse me of not listening to everything you’ve said, Mom, I was listening, but I picked up something in your voice.”

Margie lifted a brow. “What?”

“Regret. You might have told this Levi guy that all you’re ready for is friendship, but I think you want more and you’re just afraid to go beyond that.”

Margie thought about what her daughter said as she sat at the dining room table. She could see into the living room, where her father was sitting in his favorite chair watching the news with Butterball in his lap. Every so often she would see both her father and the cat doze, which meant the television was watching them more than they were watching it.

“It has nothing to do with being afraid, Bellamy. I just don’t think I’m ready.”

“And why not? Dad’s been gone for three years, closer to four, actually. It’s time to accept he’s not coming back and move on, Mom. David and I want you to be happy. Dad would want you to be happy, too.”

That, she knew to be true. “It takes time for your heart to shift gears and go in another direction, Bellamy.”

“I know that’s probably true, but the first step is shifting those gears. You’re a beautiful woman who is a loving person and full of life. I saw some of that energy and vivacity leave you when Dad died. David and I were worried about you. For a while, David even thought of moving back to Dallas and working at a hospital there. He’d gotten Cheryl on board with the idea, but I talked them out of it.”

Margie frowned. This was the first she’d heard of her son and daughter-in-law thinking about doing such a thing. She was glad Bellamy had talked them out of it. “For them to move from Wisconsin when they’re doing so well at the hospital there would have been ludicrous.”

“I agree, but they love you so much they were going to do it regardless. I convinced them you were okay, and that I had talked you into getting grief counseling and knew you’d be fine.”

Margie would be the first to admit those counseling sessions had helped. But that didn’t mean she was ready to throw herself back into a romantic relationship. “I’m fine. Moving back to Catalina Cove to be with Dad was the best thing I could have done.”

“I think so, too, Mom. David and Cheryl do as well. And this Levi guy just might be the person you need in your life right now.”

As Bellamy’s words sank in, Margie dismissed the latter comment. Instead, her mind focused on the former. She had mentioned David, Cheryl and herself—she hadn’t mentioned Sam. In fact, come to think of it, Bellamy hadn’t mentioned her husband the last couple of times they’d spoken. Of course, Margie had asked about him because she liked her son-in-law a lot. Thought of him as a second son. Whenever she asked about him, Bellamy would say he was doing fine and kept the conversation moving.

“Bellamy?”

“Yes, Mom?”

“Are things alright with you and Sam? I’ve noticed you haven’t mentioned him lately.”

Bellamy paused, then said, “I didn’t want to tell you until you’d gotten settled in with Granddad. I didn’t want you to worry about me.”

An uneasy feeling consumed Margie. “What’s wrong, honey? What’s going on?”

She heard the crackling in her daughter’s voice when she said, “Sam asked me for a divorce, Mom.”

23

Zara looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror. The Blueberry Festival had started two days ago, and she was excited about it. Not only would this be the first one she’d attended since leaving for college years ago, but also this time she would be attending with Saint.

It was hard to believe she’d been in the cove a month already. Vaughn and Sierra had returned from their second honeymoon with radiant smiles that seemed to be permanently engraved in their features. She was glad they’d savored their time in the Maldives, and undoubtedly savored each other.

Zara shifted her gaze out the window. It was a beautiful Saturday morning and numerous pelicans were out on the bay. She and Saint had decided to make a full day at the festival. Last week they’d spent a lot of time together, sharing breakfast, lunch and dinner practically every single day. Then they’d shared a bed each night at the cottage. While his parents had been out of town, he hadn’t had to check on them each day. He would leave from her place to go to work and then return in the evenings.

The brightest spot of her day had been in the evening, when she would look out over the pier and see him walking toward the cottage. Nothing looked sexier than Saint with his suit jacket slung over his shoulder and a swagger that would take any woman’s breath away. With the fading sun as his backdrop, it was definitely a grab-your-camera moment.

Most days, she would stand on the porch, waiting for him to step off the pier and onto land. More than once, she’d waited at the end of the pier, and he would sweep her off her feet into his arms. She blushed thinking of that day when they’d made love right there on the pier.

People no longer stared when they saw them together in town, which meant their fake affair was working. The dance and kiss were no longer on anyone’s minds. She would be the first to admit that it hadn’t been easy keeping their relationship passionate but emotionless since they spent more time together now than before. It couldn’t be helped when Saint was such a wonderful guy.

More than once she’d questioned his ex-girlfriend’s decision to let a good man like him go. The woman had gotten two marriage proposals where some women never received one—like her. There was no way she would turn a marriage proposal from Saint down.

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