Page 38 of Wishes at Water's Edge
“Come on,” she told him, grabbing his hand and pulling him around the desk to his chair. She set him down in it and opened his laptop. “Let’s start looking for listings together.”
“Right now?” He laughed. “I have to work today.”
She sighed dramatically. “Can’t you just let those sinks leak a little longer?” she wheedled.
“Unfortunately, it’s not just leaky sinks, it’s also a leaky roof and there’s going to be a storm tonight.” He smiled at her. “But how about tonight we cuddle up on the couch and look online together?”
“Yes.” She immediately made a plan to make them hot apple cider and pumpkin cookies to munch on while they looked. “That sounds absolutely amazing.”
She and Jacob shared another smile, and she couldn’t wait to take this next step toward their life together.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Julia stepped into the kitchen of The Lighthouse Grill and heaved a huge sigh. It had been a particularly hectic lunch rush that day, and although she’d had fun, she was feeling sweaty and fatigued. On top of that, she was still feeling down about the way she and Cooper had lost their dream venue for their wedding.
She felt a pang of sadness as she made her way down the hallway to the office, which became her break room on days when she was waitressing. She flung herself heavily into the swivel chair behind the desk and leaned her head back.
I haven’t heard a thing from Lindsay about Turtle Dove Hall,she thought, biting her lip.And I haven’t heard anything from Jacob either.
She ran her fingers through her hair, trying not to feel terribly disappointed about the venue. She reminded herself that she was going to get to marry Cooper no matter what happened with Turtle Dove Hall, and that was all that really mattered.
She drummed her fingers on her desk, wondering where they could host their reception if Turtle Dove Hall wasn’t fixed in time for the wedding—and at that point, it was very unlikely to be fixed in time. Her mind traveled over all of the charming indoor locations in Rosewood Beach, but she reflected with asigh that none of them were large enough to host the number of people that she and Cooper had invited to their wedding.
She felt her heart sink with worry and disappointment. A moment later, she stood up, deciding firmly that it was high time for a snack. Something sweet and delicious, which would help boost her mood.
She wandered back out into the kitchen, where she selected a slice of lemon meringue pie which had been slightly smushed and was no longer good enough to give to customers. She slid it onto a little plate and happily stuck a fork into it. She brought a tangy, sugary mouthful to her lips and smiled as she chewed. It hit the spot, immediately making her think of happy times and holidays instead of her current woes.
She wandered out into the dining room and sat down at an empty place at the counter. She ate another forkful of the delicious pie, enjoying the way the buttery crust contrasted with the fluffy texture of the meringue and the smooth texture of the lemon filling.
She thought about Turtle Dove Hall, and she allowed herself to imagine herself and Cooper dancing there together at their wedding. Her heart ached for a moment as she wished that it could still happen somehow.
“Hey, honey.” Vivian approached her from the other side of the counter. “You want some coffee with that pie? Or maybe some lemonade?”
Julia smiled. “I’d take some milk, actually. I think that would go really well with this creamy flavor.”
“You got it.” Vivian patted her daughter’s hand and hurried to get her a glass of milk. By the time she’d set it down in front of her, Julia’s mind was back on Turtle Dove Hall and all of the damage that had been caused by the burst pipe.
“You look a little sad, sweetie,” Vivian said gently, pushing the glass of creamy white milk toward Julia. “Is something on your mind?”
“Yes.” Julia sighed. “I can’t stop thinking about Turtle Dove Hall. Cooper’s right that our wedding will be beautiful no matter what, but I so wanted our reception to be there. It felt so perfect, you know?”
“I understand.” Vivian leaned against the counter and looked at her daughter sympathetically. “Are you sure it won’t be fixed by your wedding day?”
Julia shook her head. “I asked Lindsay to let me know when things were moving with the repairs, and I still haven’t heard from her. She might just be really busy, but I think the reason why she hasn’t said anything to me is because she’s having trouble getting the hall repaired. And that means that there’s no way it’s going to be ready in time.”
“Jacob can’t fix it?”
Julia shook her head. “It’s too big a job for one person. I guess Lindsay is trying to wrangle a team of professionals, but she’s running into issues with that.”
All of a sudden, Vivian got a determined look on her face. “Julia,” she said slowly, in a way that told her daughter right away that her mother had just gotten an idea that excited her very much. “You remember when you children pulled together to save The Lighthouse Grill? You organized a fundraiser, and the whole town supported us. Our community came through and helped us in our hour of need. Why not do the same now?”
Julia froze, her eyes widening. Excitement began to pulse through her as her heart beat faster. “You’re saying we should try to save Turtle Dove Hall?”
Vivian’s eyes gleamed with determination. “Lindsay needs the help. Her business is in jeopardy, and I know people will want to step in and help her. And they’ll want to step in and helpyou and Cooper too. Everyone wants you both to have the kind of wedding that you’ve been dreaming about.”
A glimmer of hope appeared in Julia’s mind. She imagined how much might get done if a bunch of people in town banded together to repair Turtle Dove Hall. “Do you think it would really be possible?”
Vivian nodded. “I do. And it’s definitely worth a try, right?”
