Page 64 of The Magic of Sea Glass
He gazed at the bracelet again. “Lauren… nice to meet you.”
“She came by yesterday with everybody. Do you remember us all coming in?” Mary dug in the bag and pulled out a couple of boxes, setting them on the table.
“No, I was a little out of it yesterday. But the doctor says my ticker’s doing all right now.”
Lauren sat down in the small plastic chair in the corner. “That’s wonderful to hear, Joe.” She gripped that little bit of hope that, by some miracle, he might know something about her mother. “You know, you called me Grace yesterday.”
The flush in his cheeks and the shock in his eyes surprised her, her own pulse rising in response. The heart monitor attached to him began chirping with elevated beats, the little green line shooting up the screen. “You look like someone I know, that’s all.”
She wasn’t sure if she should push him any further.
“Who’s Grace?” Mary asked, squinting at the machine to see what it was chirping about.
His eyes glistened suddenly and he broke eye contact. “Someone from a long time ago.” The machine resumed its regular rhythm. He looked over at Lauren and smiled.
“Do I look like her?” Lauren asked gently.
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen her in many, many years.” He nodded toward Lauren’s wrist. “Where did you get that bracelet?”
“Mary gave it to me.”
Mary handed him a paper plate with a chicken salad sandwich and a pile of fresh vegetables. “Melinda had it.”
Joe’s interest was visibly piqued. “Melinda?”
“Melinda told me that it belonged to Brody’s grandfather, Phillip,” Lauren said, scooting her chair a bit closer to his side of the bed.
“Yes. It belonged to someone he and I knew very well.”
Lauren remembered Melinda’s story. It only stood to reason that Joe would know Phillip’s wife, Alicia, since they all lived in the Outer Banks, but then again, it hadn’t actuallybelongedto her… “Phillip bought it for his wife, right?”
Confusion swam across Joe’s face. “Ah, yes. It could be,” he said, nodding to himself. “A friend of his that I… knew… made them for a living.” He seemed to struggle for the right words.
“Who’s that, then, Joe?” Mary asked.
Joe paused just long enough for Lauren to wonder what was bothering him. “My wife, Penelope.”
Mary sucked in a breath and then quietly made her own plate as if she were honoring the moment in some way. “I’ll bet Melinda doesn’t know that Penelope made that bracelet. She never mentioned it and I’d think she would have.” Mary dished out more food, filling a plate for herself and Lauren.
“Melinda told me that when Phillip had given her the bracelet in his final days, he’d asked her to give it to someone ‘full of possibilities,’” Lauren said.
Joe smiled, his wise gaze moving to the hospital ceiling, as if he knew the reason. “And that’s you?” he asked.
“I suppose so.”
“She’s definitely full of possibilities,” Mary said. “You should see what she’s done in a few days’ time and what she has planned for the inn.”
“I can’t wait to get out of here and go see it.” Joe took a bite of his sandwich. When he swallowed, he added, “I’m glad you were the one who got the bracelet. I hope it brings you luck.”
Lauren smiled, still not entirely persuaded but somehow more willing to believe in luck now than she was before.
* * *
Lauren had just finished checking the digital RSVPs for the wedding one more time, adding in a few stragglers. She typed in the names on a master list of people who still needed to sign filming release forms for Dave, and was planning to give Stephanie an update when her phone rang. “I was about to call you,” she said upon answering.
“Perfect timing, then,” Stephanie said. “I wanted to talk to you about Chuck when the cameras weren’t present.”
“Yes.” Lauren set her laptop aside and sprawled out on her bed.
