week ago, but like most of his charming missives, I’d trashed it after I’d skimmed the message.
“Oh, yes, the grand opening began this morning. I didn’t realize there were so many people who liked those things.” I heard the pause in my aunt’s voice. “Don’t tell Harrold, because the dear man stopped and bought me one on his way here to have lunch, but I think they’re kind of creepy.”
I’d always wanted one of the stacking dolls as a child. It was like having a whole family of identical playmates. Of course, I’d never gotten one, mostly because we didn’t have the money to spend on an imported toy. “I’ll try to stop by on Monday when we get back from the party. You realize I’m away for the weekend, right?”
“You’re a few minutes from town. I don’t think that qualifies as away. Besides, you could come over tomorrow morning and take the owners a dozen cookies and the invite.” I heard my aunt greet a customer as they walked into the store.
“I’m not coming into town just to invite them to the Business-to-Business meeting. If Marvin’s that worried about it, he can do the honors.”
“Tina and Marvin are in the city for the weekend. She only stopped by for a book to read while they relax poolside.” I heard the bell over the door chime again and I knew the shop was getting busy. “Look, I’ve got to go. Just make sure you invite the man and his daughter. I have their names written down on a piece of paper in the cash register for you.”
“Aunt Jackie,” I started but realized I was talking to dead air. She had hung up on me.
I sat the phone down and lay on the bed next to Greg.
He put his arm around me and pulled me close. “So you going into town tomorrow?”
“No, I’m not.” I watched the alligators fight over some sort of deer that had gotten too close to the water. Probably just trying to get a drink, I thought. Wrong place, wrong time. Just like my mini vacation. “We should have flown to Hawaii for this weekend.”
“Probably true. But Levi didn’t want us to worry about being away from South Cove.” He rubbed my arm. “Besides, for him, this is a vacation spot.”
Levi and Jessica lived in Raleigh, North Carolina. Apparently, that was a hot spot for computer geeks.
The room phone rang and Greg answered it. “Hello?” He paused, listening. “Okay, see you in a few.”
When he replaced the handset into the cradle, he grinned at me. “We’re being summoned to the pool. Everyone is down there but us and from the sounds of it, the drinking has started.”
“In suits?” I closed my eyes. I wasn’t a prude, but a pool filled with thirty-somethings in their birthday suits didn’t make me want to jump up and join them.
“In suits.” He kissed me. “I’m sure Jessica was just teasing.”
I wasn’t so sure, but I changed into my swimsuit and slipped on a cute cover-up I’d bought just to match. I added my flower flip-flops and then we left the room. Greg had been ready in two and a half seconds. This weekend was for him and his friends. I was just along for the ride. I’d never been arm candy before and compared to Jessica, Greg wasn’t winning that competition. But I didn’t care. I was going to have fun this weekend, even if I had to turn my phone off to keep my aunt from calling.
First stop, pool party. I brought a bag with our room key, sunscreen, and a book I’d been wanting to read forever. In two weeks, classes would start up again, and my free reading time would be filled with text books about business stuff. I wasn’t sure that I was learning as much as my aunt thought I would, mostly it seemed like the curriculum was focused on big corporation, not small town stores like ours. I had no interest in franchising, and yet, that was one of the core classes I had to complete. And this semester, included a math class for business decisions. I was hoping I’d at least get a ‘C’ so I wouldn’t have to re-take the course. Math and my brain just didn’t mix.
“You don’t really think you’ll be reading, do you?”
Greg had seen me stash the book. “It could happen. Maybe the other women will be swimming or something else?”
“Then you could talk with me and my friends.” He held open the door. “I want them to get to know you, not just see you with your nose in a book.”
“Books are my business.” I reminded him.
He pulled me close. “But we are on vacation, dear. You can’t have it both ways.”
He was right, of course. I’d just told my aunt that I wasn’t working this weekend, and yet, I wanted to justify my reading by pulling in my store. Sometimes I was complicated, even in my own mind.
The pool area was beautiful with most of the tables and chairs stored away. There were just a few scattered around the patio area. The wisteria drooped over the wooden pergola, the blooms a deep purple and they filled the area with a floral scent. The men were all gathered around one table and the women were mostly on reclining chairs, sunbathing. One woman swam laps in the too blue pool. A small bar was set up near the entrance.
“Can I get you a cocktail? We have frozen strawberry margaritas or a full bar.” The bartender was young and must have been from Bakerstown, as I didn’t know him. Of course, there weren’t a lot of young people in South Cove. Most of them went off to college, then found jobs elsewhere. I was lucky that Nick Michaels, my friend Sadie’s college-aged son liked working at Coffee, Books, and More during his college breaks, although Sadie had mentioned an internship he was looking at for next summer. One actually in the kid’s field of study.
I realized Greg and the bartender were watching me. “Sorry, I was thinking about something else. I’ll have a margarita.”
“Good choice. The strawberries are fresh from Jensen’s farm, right down the road.” The bartender turned toward the machine that swirled the iced mixture. Greg sipped on his beer and pointed to the line of chairs. “Looks like you might get some reading in after all. The women don’t seem to be all that interested in chatting.”
I shrugged. “We don’t know if we have anything in common besides you guys. Give the group some time to feel each other out and I’m sure we’ll be inseparable by the end of the weekend.”
Or we’ll hate each other. But I didn’t say that part aloud. Let Greg have fun with his buddies. I’d deal with the other women, even if they were all wannabe beauty queens like Jessica.
I’d dealt with that type before. Kathi Corbin who ran Tea Hee across the street had come into town with a distinct handicap. The real former beauty queen was knock out gorgeous. But as I’d spent time with her, I’d also found out she had a quick wit and kind heart. We weren’t best friends, but I trusted her and enjoyed spending time with her.
“I’m not sure that’s true, but…” Greg moved me toward the table. “Come over and meet the guys, then you can go mingle and read.”
I loved how he knew me too well. The bartender handed me a plastic glass filled to the brim with the red ice mixture that looked more like a slushy with a dollop of whipped cream over the top.
I took a sip of the drink and choked a bit. The alcohol level was strong for the fruity mixture. Good, but strong.
“Greg,” the group chimed in almost perfect unison when we walked toward the table.
“Where have you been, man?” A blond man with glasses and a bit of a tummy pooch stood and gave Greg a bro hug. His skin was the color of a codfish. “I haven’t seen you since your wedding.”
“I’ve been here in South Cove since the divorce.” Greg took my arm and stood me in front of him. “Guys, this is my girlfriend, Jill Gardner. She owns the coffee shop and bookstore in town.”
“Hi, Jill!” Again, the group responded in unison.
The standing man flushed. “Sorry about bringing up the whole wedding and Sherry