“No offense taken. I actually moved it into my cottage. Thought it was time for Aunt Ginger’s floral couch to go. Hope she doesn’t mind.”
“I’m sure she’d just want you to live in a place that felt like home.”
Dale stood. “If you don’t need me for anything else right now, I need to go close up the shop.”
“Yes, go. I appreciate your help today, though.”
“My pleasure.” He walked to the door and turned back and gave one quick glance at Maxine, sitting on the floor, turning pages of the album. Her face looked a little bit less sad now. Maybe.
CHAPTER14
Maxine’s life settled into a nice routine. One she enjoyed. Work, redoing furniture, and spending time with Beverly and Dale. The coffee table she did for Harv and Judy turned out beautifully, and when Judy was bragging about it one day at Coastal Coffee, another customer asked her to redo a dresser for her son’s room. That was on top of the table, chairs, and bookcase she did for her own cottage. Dale complimented the work she did, unlike Victor, who never complimented her on anything.
She could tell Dale was still being judicious with any offers of help. Since they’d cleared up that misunderstanding, their friendship had continued to blossom. They took walks on the beach and sat in the courtyard talking, enjoyed the occasional meal together, and often shared wine on his deck while watching the sunset. It was an easy friendship, and a welcome one.
Dale had asked her over for their own happy hour tonight. She brought cheese and crackers and he opened a nice bottle of red wine. They sat outside on his deck, unwinding and chatting about their days. She liked this time they spent together. It’s how she’d foolishly imagined—at the beginning of her marriage—she and Victor would have spent their evenings. But that hadn’t happened. Victor wasn’t interested in her day.
Not the little details that Dale was interested in. Things like what was the special for breakfast. Did anyone new come into Coastal Coffee? How was the lending library going? He always asked questions and seemed genuinely interested in her answers.
“Any more interest in your furniture refinishing?” he asked as he poured them each a glass of wine.
“I did get another job. This one is a cradle that has been in the family for generations. I’m just going to sand it and refinish in a baby-safe stain.”
“This side job of yours is really picking up.”
“It is. And I enjoy it.”
“I was wondering if you’d like to have a small area in my shop to sell some of your refinished furniture. I get a lot of customers wanting more beachy items. We could have a kind of coastal decor corner. We could pick out pieces, you could paint them, and we could split the profits?”
Her pulse raced with excitement from his offer. “I’d love to do that.” It was sweet of him to offer her an opportunity like this.
“Perfect. We’ll find a day for you to come over and look at some pieces I have in the back storeroom. I have to admit, I was hoping you’d say yes, and I set some pieces aside for you to look at.”
This could be a nice source of second income for her. She was always hoping to add to her savings. And it would be fun to work together with Dale. Her mind raced with how they could create a cute corner in his shop full of coastal decor. What colors would go well together to make it all look appealing. What type of furniture. How long it would take to get something like this set up.
He laughed. “I can hear your thoughts rambling around in your brain.”
“I’m sorry.” She grinned sheepishly. How long had she been lost in her thoughts? “I’m just excited about the idea.”
“I am, too. I think it will be profitable for both of us.” He raised his glass. “To a new partnership.”
She clinked her glass to his, then took a sip, watching him as he did the same. His eyes glimmered with the same excitement she felt.
“I have another question I’ve been meaning to ask you.” He set down his glass and shifted in his chair.
“Oh? What’s that?”
“I was wondering. I mean…” He shook his head. “I’m terrible at this. No practice. No clue how to do this right.”
“Do what?” What was up with him? He wasn’t usually flustered about anything.
“Ask you out. I mean, I’mtrying—and failing miserably—to ask you out. Will you go out with me? On a date. A real one. You know, we go somewhere together. I pay. We have a good time.” He grinned now. “Is that better?”
Surprise crept through her. Though, really, should she be surprised? Didn’t she half expect this? Just maybe not this soon. Though she had been here for a few months now.
“So, is that a yes or a no?”
She took a sip of her wine as her surprise faded and was replaced with a growing excitement. “Yes. That’s a yes.”
