Page 56 of Coral Memories

Marina went through the rear door. “Hi, Ginger. I brought some muffins from the cafe. We had a lot left over, and I know you wanted them.” She left the muffins in the kitchen and stopped at the entry to the living room where Ginger and the man were standing. “Oh, hello. I hope I’m not intruding.”

Heather and Blake were right behind her.

“It’s a day for gifts, it seems.” Ginger smiled and took the flowers. “I feel like it’s my birthday. Girls—and Blake, why, what a surprise. I’d like you all to meet Oliver Powell, a dear friend I’ve known most of my life, although we only recently reconnected.”

“I’m pleased to meet you all,” Oliver said with an engaging smile.

“I just wanted Blake to help me with something upstairs,” Heather said, stumbling over her words. “I-I wanted to look at your wedding dress.”

That surprised Marina, and she saw Ginger’s eyes light with happiness.

“It can wait.” Blake greeted Oliver and shook hands with him. “Very nice to meet you, sir.”

Ginger explained how they were all related, and Oliver looked interested.

“Hello, Marina,” he said, greeting her. “I see so much of your mother in you. And Ginger, of course.”

“You knew my mother?” Marina hadn’t expected that, and it took her by surprise.

“Oh, yes,” Oliver said. “Sandi was a sweet, lovely young woman. She was the center of Ginger and Bertrand’s world.”

Ginger placed a hand on his forearm and smiled. “Oliver and his brother Kurt were very good friends to Bertrand and me. Kurt hired me for my first job.”

The name clicked in Marina’s memory. “The celebration of life you attended. That was for Kurt, wasn’t it?” When Oliver nodded, she expressed her condolences. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

Oliver thanked her. “Kurt lived a wonderful life, and his last act was to reconnect me with Ginger.”

“My goodness, wouldn’t that have made him happy?” Ginger pressed a hand to her chest. “I wish he’d known I came to his last party.”

Oliver’s lively blue eyes crinkled at the corners with amusement. “Oh, but he did. Kurt planned the guest list and made me promise to invite you. He really did bring us together again.”

Marina sensed the attraction between them. She hadn’t seen Ginger show interest in anyone since their grandfather passed away, and that was decades ago. And that lovely dress Ginger wore—Marina had never seen it before.

Suddenly, she felt embarrassed. They were intruding.

“If you’ll excuse us, we’re needed at the cafe.” Marina extended her hand to Oliver. “It’s been so nice to meet you, Oliver. I hope we’ll see more of you in Summer Beach.”

Oliver raised an eyebrow at Ginger, who smiled demurely at that. “Maybe you will,” he replied, sounding hopeful. “Likewise, it’s been a pleasure meeting you all.”

When they burst through the back door, Marina let out a breath. “I can’t believe we just crashed Ginger’s first date in decades.” She turned and came face to face with Jack.

“You did what?” he asked.

“Uh-oh, I think Cruise needs me,” Heather said. “And Blake, your order must be ready.” She grabbed his hand.

Jack watched them go, shaking his head. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

“Well, sure, but why are you here?” Marina felt flustered, like she’d been caught sneaking around. Which she supposed she had been.

He folded his arms. “Because we’re married, and sometimes I like to see you. When you’re not snooping into your grandmother’s business.”

She kissed him. “We were just checking on her.” Quickly, she told him what happened. “But don’t put that in the book.”

“It’s off the record unless she tells me otherwise.” Jack sighed, threw his arm around her, and they returned to the kitchen. “Does Blake know what he’s getting into with this family?”

Blake and Heather looked up from their salmon sliders with guilty expressions.

“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll let that be a surprise,” Marina said, nudging him. They all laughed, and then she whispered to Heather, “Did you mean that about Ginger’s wedding dress?”

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