Page 7 of Back in the Bay

cole

. . .

I stand on a ladder,hammer in hand, working on the final piece of crown molding for Mrs. Hendrickson's primary bedroom. Just then, Fox thinks it's the perfect moment to ask me about my love life.

"So," he says, holding the end of the molding steady, "who are you taking to Rowan's wedding?"

I focus on the nail, tapping it carefully into place. "My cousin Ellie. She's visiting from Seattle that weekend."

Fox's silence is judgmental enough that I have to look down at him. He's wearing that expression—the one that makes me want to drop my hammer on his foot accidentally.

"Your cousin," he repeats flatly. "You're taking your cousin to a wedding."

"She's never been to Cedar Bay before," I defend, turning back to the molding. "Besides, it's not like I need a date. I know everyone who'll be there."

"That's pathetic, man. Even for you."

I drive another nail with more force than necessary. "What's pathetic about spending time with family?"

"The part where you're thirty-two and using a relative as a shield so you don't have to actually date someone." Fox hands me another nail. "When was the last time you went on a real date? One that didn't end with you boring some poor woman to tears talking about Mabel?"

"I don't talk about Mabel on dates," I lie, knowing full well I mentioned her twice during coffee with Sarah from the bank last month.

"Right." Fox's tone drips with sarcasm. "Just like you don't keep checking your phone whenever someone from the Portland area code calls."

I climb down the ladder, wiping dust from my hands onto my jeans. "I'm just tired of the whole dating scene. Everyone in this town either wants to get married tomorrow or is already divorced and bitter about it."

"So bring someone new. Weddings are perfect for hooking up." Fox grins, waggling his eyebrows suggestively. "Remember Tobias's sister's wedding? That bridesmaid from?—"

"I'm not looking to hook up," I interrupt, packing tools back into my belt. "And taking someone to a wedding sends the wrong message. It's like saying, 'Hey, want to watch two people commit their lives to each other and then consider if we should do that too?'"

Fox stares at me like I've grown a second head. "It's just a party with free booze and cake."

"To you, maybe." I move the ladder to the next section of the wall. "Anyway, Ellie's excited about it. She's a house flipper, so she'll appreciate all the work we've done on the Lighthouse Inn."

"Your loss." Fox shrugs, handing me more nails. "Rowan's inviting half the single women in the county. Including that new physical therapist with the?—"

"I'm good," I cut him off again. "Hand me that level, would you?"

Fox tosses it up. "You know, sooner or later, you're going to have to admit that Mabel's not coming back."

The level nearly slips from my grip. Even after all these years, hearing Mabel's name out loud feels like pressing on a bruise. "This has nothing to do with her."

"Everything you do has to do with Mabel," Fox's voice softens slightly. "It's been what, thirteen years since the break-up? She's probably married with 2.5 kids and a golden retriever by now."

I focus on the bubble in the level, making minute adjustments to the molding. "I don't think about her anymore."

This lie is so transparent that Fox doesn't even bother calling me on it. Instead, he sighs and says, "She may come to the wedding. Mabel and Rowan are first cousins."

The hammer freezes mid-swing. "What? No way. Rowan already told me she never replied to the invite."

“That’s not what I heard.”

My heart is suddenly pounding so hard I can feel it in my fingertips. "Mabel wouldn't come back for a wedding. She hasn't even been home for Thanksgiving in years. She hates Cedar Bay.."

"Maybe." Fox shrugs. "But if she does show up, you might want an actual date instead of your cousin. Just saying."

I hammer the nail with more force than necessary, sending it deep into the wood in one stroke. "Mabel Maxwell doesn't care who I bring to a wedding."

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