Page 39 of A Beach House Beginning

Her friend tried, and failed, to look innocent. “I would not say matchmake. Maybe just give you a little, what is the word,nudge.”

Jenna gave Rosa an exasperated look. “I don’t need a nudge. And I certainly don’t need someone to matchmake for me, especially not with a man like Wes Calhoun.”

Now it was Rosa’s turn to frown. “How do you mean, a man like Wes Calhoun? What is wrong with him?”

She sighed. “Nothing is wrong with him. As I said, he seems very nice. He’s a good father and clearly loves his child. He has been very kind. He has even given me a few training tips for Theo, who adores him.”

Rosa laughed. “See? There you go. Dogs are very wise. They see into the heart of a person. If you find Theo does not like a man, that is when you should be nervous about him.”

She wasn’t sure she was ready to let a dog vet the men in her life. On the other hand, she also wasn’t sure she could trust her own instincts about men, considering what happened with Aaron Barker.

“I don’t believe that’s scientifically proven, Rosa.”

Her friend made a dismissive gesture. “Maybe not science. But I have seen it myself. I would never have considered dating anyone if Fiona did not approve. The men she did not like always proved to be someone I did not like, either.”

“But do I really have to base my dating decisions on the opinion of a puppy whose favorite thing in the world seems to be sniffing the behind of any other dog who comes along?”

Rosa laughed. “Fine. You may have a point. What does our Abigail think of him?”

Jenna rolled her eyes at Rosa’s mention of the woman believed to haunt Brambleberry House. “I don’t know. I’ll have to ask her. So far, she hasn’t seemed inclined to discuss the matter with me.”

“She will let you know if she approves.” Rosa smiled, then suddenly winced and rubbed at her protruding abdomen.

Jenna didn’t miss the gesture. “Everything okay?”

“Yes. Fine. I am having a few twinges, that is all. For the most part, this has been an easy pregnancy, though Wyatt is nervous enough for both of us.”

Jenna adored Rosa’s husband, Wyatt, who had temporarily lived downstairs from them when Rosa lived on the third floor. Wyatt was a police detective and she considered him one of the good guys, especially after he had worked so hard to make sure Aaron Barker received a lengthy prison sentence.

They sat for a moment on the beach overlooking the sea. Finally Rosa sighed. “This is so lovely but I should probably go. I have an appointment in a short time.”

Jenna hugged her friend. “Take it easy on yourself. And remember that I’m more than willing to help out if you need me to take additional hours at the store.”

“I will remember. Thank you, my dear.”

Rosa whistled to Fiona, who returned to her side, then the two continued on their walk while Jenna did the same with Theo, heading up the beach toward home.

Chapter Eight

She had come to enjoy this last trip outside before bedtime each night for her and Theo.

With her daughter asleep in her room, Jenna would take the dog down the staircase and out the back door to the fenced dog yard.

In the moonlight, with the murmuring sound of the ocean not far off and the random peeps and calls of the various night creatures who lived nearby, she found it peaceful. Almost meditative.

Once, she had been afraid of the night. Those were the hours when she felt most vulnerable, at risk from a boogeyman whose name she knew all too well.

Since Aaron Barker had been arrested, Jenna worked hard to overcome her fear of nighttime. She wouldn’t let him take that from her forever.

Okay, she still walked outside with pepper spray in her pocket. She could be brave and cautious at the same time, couldn’t she?

On impulse, tonight she had brought along Theo’s leash as well as her phone, where she had a security camera linked up in the living area of the apartment so she could hear if Addie woke for a glass of water. She decided to walk the dog down the beach a short way, only to the water’s edge directly west of the house.

As she watched the moonlight dance on the waves, she released a breath, all the pent-up frustrations and concerns of the day floating away on the tide.

She had worked that day at Rosa’s gift shop, and her shift had been unusually stressful from start to finish.

The day had started with her catching a shoplifter, her least favorite thing. Worse, the person who had slipped into her purse a handcrafted necklace valued at several hundred dollars turned out to be someone she knew, the aunt of one of her students.

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