Page 17 of Sweet Escape at Bayside
Brindle had planned her vacation to Paris to figure out what she wanted out of life, and then she found out she was pregnant. She and Andre had connected while there, commiserating over love, life, and what it really meant to be happy.
“Good. I’m glad, babe.” He headed for the inn, instantly spotting Violet’s silky black hair. Relief swept through him. Even though she’d said she had nowhere to run, he wasn’t sure if she’d had second thoughts and would ditch him this morning. She didn’t need any particular place to run to. She was the queen of finding her way. After all, she’d had to do it her whole life.
“By the way,” he said, “thanks for your advice. I took it and came to the Cape with Lizza.”
“And…?”
Violet was eating breakfast at the table in the side yard at the inn with Desiree, Serena, Chloe, and Emery. Her newfamily. He was glad she’d found them, even if it had caused him years of grief. “The woman I told you about owns the cottage I’m staying in.”
“Owns?I thought you said everything she owned could fit into a duffel bag and that she never stayed anywhere long?”
“Everything she ownedused tofit in a duffel.” Violet’s eyes met his, hitting him with the electric jolt of a defibrillator. “But I guess people change.” He walked into the fenced-in area and waved to Rick, Dean, and Drake, who were coming up from the beach, shirtless and sweaty. “Listen, Brindle, I’ve got to go, but I think you made the right decision, and I’m here if you need me. Let me know what happens when you get back to Oak Falls.”
He ended the call, and as he slipped his phone into his pocket he noticed Violet was scowling and pointedly avoiding his gaze.
“Did you say Oak Falls? As in Oak Falls, Virginia?” Desiree asked as she poured syrup over her waffles.
“Yes. I was just catching up with my friend Brindle. She’s from Oak Falls.”
“No way. BrindleMontgomery?” Emery said as she glanced at Desiree, who was watching him and Violet like a hawk. “Desiree, Gavin, and I are all from Oak Falls. Violet lived there too, until she and Lizza moved away.”
“Gavin was just there for a weekend over the summer,” Serena said.
“Wow, small world. I met Brindle while I was in Paris attending a conference. She’d never been there before, so I showed her around.” Andre realized Violet had never mentioned the name of her hometown. He looked over, but she turned away and shoved a piece of a muffin in her mouth.
Chloe handed him a plate and patted the chair beside her. “Sit down and have some breakfast. We havelotsof extras. Des and Rick might not have left for their honeymoon yet, but it is officiallyon, if you know what I mean.” She winked, and Violet glowered at her. “What? Everyone knows Desiree makes fabulous breakfasts when she and Rick have a great time the night before.”
He couldn’t react to that strange explanation. He was too busy wondering if Violet was jealous over Chloe. If she was, that was new too.
“Breakfast fit for a king,” Rick said as he and the guys came through the gate. He leaned down and kissed Desiree. “Hey, beautiful wife. This looks delicious.”
Dean pulled out the chair beside Emery and said, “I’d say fit forseveralkings, right, doll?” He leaned in for a kiss.
Andre got up and sauntered around the table.
“Severalhotkings,” Serena agreed, holding a forkful of waffle up for Drake as he took the seat between her and Chloe.
“There is a lot of extra food,” Emery agreed. “Matt, Mira, and the kids almost never come to breakfast during the school year, Gavin had an early meeting with a client, and Daphne couldn’t make it because she’s organizing something for her book club.”
“I’m in the book club,” Chloe said, watching Andre. “Daph’s putting together the itinerary for our next in-person meeting.”
“I had no idea you knew how to read,” Serena teased.
Emery waved at the food and said, “Andre, grab some breakfast and tell us how Brindle’s doing before these two start bickering.”
He knew Brindle hadn’t told anyone about the pregnancy yet, so he said, “She’s doing well. Enjoying her vacation.” He piled fruit and eggs on his plate, and then he sat beside Violet and said for her ears only, “Good morning, gorgeous. Did you sleep well?”
“I don’t know,” she grumbled. “How didBrindlesleep?”
He chuckled.Oh yeah, you’re jealous all right.
“How close were you and Brindle?” Desiree asked.
“Did you two hook up in Paris?” Emery asked. “I’d imagine she’d be all over a good-looking guy like you.”
Now Chloe, Desiree,andViolet were giving Andre the stink eye.Oh no. What did I do?
A motorcycle roared up the driveway, drawing everyone’s attention.
