Page 5 of Christmas On Anchor Island

Chapter Two

“What about April?”Lauren said, tapping a finger on the twelve-month calendar on the bar.

“That’s the Waterfowl Festival.” Nick pointed to the next month over. “How about May?”

His fiancée shook her head. “I’m already booked for three weddings. There has to be a month when we can make this work.”

Mia sat in silence, watching the pair struggle. It seemed that two chefs trying to find one week out of the year when they could both take off for a honeymoon was nearly impossible. Lauren ran Pilar’s, a new restaurant on the harbor with incredible views and even better food. Nick ran Dempsey’s Bar & Grill—where they were currently having this discussion—an island staple that took bar food to another level. Both had capable staffs who could easily run the operations, but that was the thing about chefs. They all believed they were impossible to replace, even for a week.

This conversation had been going for nearly half an hour and so far they’d ruled out every month for one reason or another. Mia decided to make a bold suggestion.

“Why don’t you just pick a date and make everyone else work around you?” The couple looked at her as if she’d suggested they serve TV dinners at their reception. “The alternative is not getting married at all,” she pointed out. “If that’s what you want…”

“We’re getting married,” Nick replied.

“Yes, we are,” Lauren confirmed with a nod. “We just have to find a time when we can both be away from the restaurants.”

Mia rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. Carl Oliver could run this place without you,” she said, pointing at Nick. “And Jackson Ming kept the Marina restaurant going for fifteen years before it was changed to Pilar’s. There’s no reason to think he couldn’t keep the place running for a week or two without you, Lauren.”

The couple sat in silence, absorbing the brutal dose of reality. Mia didn’t mean to hurt either of their feelings, but talk of postponing their own happiness for such a ridiculous reason irked her. Didn’t they know how lucky they were not only to have found each other, but to be able to start their life together anytime they wanted?

“What’s up with you today?” Nick said, leaning back on his stool.

Mia didn’t want to talk about what was up with her. This was about them.

“I’m just trying to help you out. You want to get married? Then get married. There’s nothing in your way.”

They stared in silence, surrounded by the muted sounds of diners enjoying their covered and smothered burgers.

“She has a point,” Lauren said.

Nick nodded. “She does, but this isn’t about us, is it?”

Mia tried to hold her brother’s gaze but failed. “Forget I said anything. You two do what you want.”

Before Nick could respond, Sid Dempsey charged up to the bar and climbed onto the stool beside Lauren. “Hey, guys. Did you hear the news? Henri is back.”

Mia tensed as Nick said, “Now I get it.”

“Get what?” Sid asked.

Lauren rolled up the calendar. “Nothing. I heard Beth hasn’t been feeling well lately. Is she okay?”

Beth was married to Joe Dempsey, while Sid was married to his brother, Lucas. Their family owned the bar and grill.

“She is, but Joe took the girls out for the day so she can get some rest. Lucas and Pilar went with them up to Hatteras, so I have a day off, too. What’s the calendar for?”

“Just planning some stuff for next year,” Nick said. Mia wasn’t aware they were keeping the wedding planning a secret. “You want to put in an order?”

“I’ll have some conch fritters and a Coke, thanks.” Sid propped her elbows on the bar. “It’s been so long since I had a day to myself, I’m not sure what to do. I called Will but she and Randy drove north this morning to do some last-minute Christmas shopping.”

Will Navarro owned several businesses on the island and was another member of Callie’s group. Randy was Sid’s brother, which also made Will her sister-in-law. Together, the Navarros had played a crucial role in increasing both tourism to the island and the quality of life for locals. They were like island royalty, though they downplayed their philanthropy as what anyone would do for their community.

“You can change my oil,” Lauren said with a laugh.

Sid was a boat mechanic, but she worked on just about anything with an engine.

“I can do that.”

---