Page 51 of Mine to Keep

Chapter10

Bryn had spent the last ten years of her life resenting the fact that her husband was wealthy. Timothy and his family hadn’t earned their fortune the legal way, for one. And Timothy had kept her on a tight leash. Sure, she could spend to her heart’s content when it suited Timothy. As long as she looked the part, he was happy. But the second she bought something he disapproved of, she ended up having to spend a small fortune on better makeup to cover all the bruises.

“Why don’t you let me take her for a little bit?” Willa said. “She’s fed. She’s happy, and I saw Jamison head out toward the beach. Why don’t you go join him?”

The entire ride over, Willa couldn’t stop talking about how wonderful Jamison was and what a great husband and father he’d make. The last thing Bryn needed was a man. She could raise her child and support them both all by herself. However, the crowd and everyone coming at her, asking her a million questions, had been overwhelming. She could use a little walk along the shore.

“Sounds like a plan. Just text me if you need me, okay?” She kissed her little girl and placed her back in the stroller.

“Don’t you worry about us. You go find that handsome young man and have a romantic—”

“Willa, for the last time, it’s not like that. We’re just friends.”

Willa smiled. “For now.”

Bryn rolled her eyes and chuckled as she dodged the people mingling on the patio. The older woman meant well, but Jamison had a moodiness to him that Bryn didn’t want to deal with. As a friend, he was solid.

As a boyfriend, he couldn’t be trusted. Not that he was a cheater. Or an abuser. She didn’t believe that. But he had his faults, and they kept popping up like an old-fashioned tin of Jiffy Pop Popcorn.

“Excuse me, ma’am?” a male voice called.

It couldn’t be for her, so she kept heading toward the pathway to the beach.

“Oh. Miss. Can I speak to you for a second?” the same voice asked a little louder. “Bryn Tinsley, is it?”

She paused by the edge of the sandy path and turned.

A gentleman, maybe age forty or so, stood five feet away. He wore white shorts and a blue and white golf shirt. His sunglasses were designer and dark, so she couldn’t see his eyes.

“Can I help you?”

“Are you Bryn Tinsley?” the man asked.

“I am.” She clasped her hands together and fiddled with her thumbnail. “And you are?”

“My name’s Jon Kaplan.” He held out his hand. “I was hoping to interview you.”

“Oh. You’re a reporter?” Her insides shook like an earthquake. She searched her brain for the name that Jamison had given her if she ever wanted to do an interview for her jewelry. Maybe it was Jon Kaplan.

It sounded familiar.

“I am. I work for a local magazine. You might have heard of it.The Lighthouse Cove Living. I heard about how you gave birth in the middle of the road. That must have been scary.”

“It was, but Jamison Kirby kept me calm.”

“He’s a good man. And one of the best firefighters this town has,” Jon said. “He might have told you about me?”

“Yes. He did.”

“I was hoping I could do a feature about you and your new business.”

“Oh. Well. I guess that would be okay.” She fiddled with her thumbnail some more. She hadn’t thought too much about this kind of advertising, but it would be good for business. “How much reach does the magazine have?”

“It’s mostly local, but it’s great when tourists come to town, and we get a lot of those. And since yours is an internet business, you could receive a lot of online orders. Are you interested?”

“I am. Thank you.”

“Here’s my card. Give me a call on Monday to set something up. I’d like to take some pictures of you wearing your jewelry if that’s okay.”

---