Page 7 of The Glass Dolphin

Kristen edged away from him, the echo of his words in her ears.To be honest. I—

“Just a minute,” he said to his granddaughter. But that only spurred her to groan and insist he come now, before Marty ate the artwork.

What came after thatI? He what? He never wanted to get married again? He never thought he would? He liked things how they were?

Theo sighed amidst more insistence that he come join them at the cookie bar, and he said, “Be right back,” and walked away.

Kristen stayed over by her electric fireplace, watching. Part of her mind whispered at her togo join them. You can’t be part of them if you stand over here.

The other part really wanted to know what Theo was going to say.Neededto know.

Cleo met her eyes and gave her the tiniest gesture to get over there. Kristen would have to shelve her disappointment and rein in her imagination for now. Once Theo’s children left, she’d ask him again. Oh, yes, she would, because she needed to know what the past six months had been, if anything, if it hadn’t been building to a permanent, long-lasting relationship.

ChapterFour

Robin Grover needed more time to get used to, well, having her own free time. She’d dedicated so much of the last twenty years of her life to raising her children, and in more recent years, running her wedding planning business, that she wasn’t used to unrushed lunches with her friends.

But the Saturday following Thanksgiving had provided her with that opportunity. Her eldest daughter, Mandie, had come home from college for the turkey festivities, but she was returning today.

Duke, Robin’s husband, would be taking her and their younger daughter back to the city that evening. They’d stay over there—just the two of them—and return tomorrow afternoon. Robin would have the house to herself—another luxury she’d given up years and years ago.

She sometimes didn’t thrive in the quietness of a house without anyone else in it. Sometimes, she adored being able to make what she wanted to eat without consulting with anyone or worrying that they might not like it. Sometimes, she needed the silence to order her own thoughts and put her own life in order. But sometimes, it only reminded her of being alone—and Robin didn’t like being alone.

“There you are,” Alice said, and Robin blinked her way back to reality. Back to the present, where she sat on a plush bench in the lobby at The Glass Dolphin. She’d been the first to arrive for lunch today, but now she rose to her feet to hug one of her best friends.

Alice, in her fashionable slim-cut black slacks and a sweater with swirling black and white roses on it, embraced her back. “El says she’s running late.”

“When isn’t she running late?” Robin asked, though she didn’t mean it unkindly. “That inn is going to eat her alive.” She pulled away from Alice and re-shouldered her purse so it wasn’t slipping down her arm.

Alice wore concern in her expression, a similar vein of which ran through Robin. “She seems to love it, though,” she said. “And she did just hire more help.”

“Three managers,” Robin acknowledged. “Plus her.” She looked out the wall of windows at the front of the restaurant. “I hope it gives her more time at home.”

“I think it will.” Alice turned to face the weather outside too. It hadn’t snowed yet, but it would soon enough. Usually not until January, and it didn’t stick for long, a fact Robin appreciated. Duke had to go out fishing every day, rain, snow, or shine, and she worried about him during the winter squalls.

He had a new boat now, however, and he’d been doing better than ever. Robin allowed a small smile to move through herself, erasing the tension in her muscles. This was an easy-going, Saturday afternoon lunch with her two best friends. She didn’t need to be stretched so tight.

“Hey,” Eloise said a couple of minutes later, breathless as she bustled into the restaurant. “I’m so sorry. I barely made the ferry off Sanctuary.” She hugged Alice, who reassured her she wasn’t late, and then she moved into Robin’s arms.

“Mm, it’s so good to see you,” Robin said, squeezing Eloise. Both of her friends had dark hair and eyes, and Robin, as the only blonde there today, stood out among them. “How’s Aaron? The girls?”

“Good,” she said. “He’s home this weekend, which almost never happens.” Eloise stepped back, her smile glorious and her cheeks a bit pink, probably from the chill on the ferry ride from Sanctuary Island, which sat just north of Diamond, where her inn overlooked the world.

Alice stepped over to the hostess station while Robin stayed closer to Eloise. “How was dinner at his parents’?”

“Good,” Eloise said with a note of falsehood in her voice. “I like his mom and dad.”

Robin nodded. Her mother had spent the Thanksgiving holidays on the mainland, and Duke’s parents lived in the Midwest. Robin hardly ever saw them, and her core family unit felt smaller than ever.

Her heart pinched once, and then she brightened as Alice turned toward them. “They’re ready for us.” She led the way, and all Robin had to do was follow. With every step, she reminded herself that she had more friends—good friends—than some people had family members.

They could’ve invited a dozen women to this luncheon—and they had. But everyone else had had plans, and Robin knew better than most that not everyone could attend everything. She took a seat on the bench next to Alice, and Eloise sat across from them in a chair.

The waitress introduced herself and handed each of them a menu she opened for them. The Glass Dolphin was fairly new to the cove, and they definitely catered to a high-end clientele.

That didn’t normally include Robin, but she could come here with her friends for lunch and only order for herself. “Did the twins get back to the city?” she asked as she perused the salads. They had one here with roasted beets, goat cheese, and candied walnuts that made Robin’s mouth water just thinking about it.

“They’re not going back until tomorrow,” Alice said. “They met up with some friends from high school and went to the beach today.”

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