“Now, don’t you forget about Tides. It’s as much as part of the family as you and your sister are, and it needs to be kept up.” Addie clutched Andie’s hand with a surprisingly strong grip. “Promise to help your sister with the inn.”
Andie covered her mother’s hand with her other hand. “I promise, Mom.”
“That’s good, Bridget. I knew I could always count on you.” Her mother’s eyes turned cloudy again, her gaze drifting to the window. Andie’s heart pinched. Her mother had gone back to the past. Maybe her mother thought that it was Bridgett who had just promised to help with the inn. That might be just as well, as Andie wasn’t sure she could keep that promise, even if Jane wanted her to.
“Well, I guess Mom was right about one thing.” Jane appeared in the doorway holding a sea-green sweater with seashell-shaped buttons down the front. “Sadie Thompson actually is here, and she really did have Mom’s sweater.”
Chapter 13
Maxi took the scenic route to Tides, walking along the path on the ocean cliffs called the Marginal Way and then down across the beach once that path ended. She arrived right at ten, just as Jane had requested.
Jane was standing on the back deck, and a striking woman with long dark hair pulled up in a ponytail stood beside her. Was that Andie? Maxi hadn't seen her in years, since her visits to Lobster Bay were so infrequent.
"Andie, do you remember my friend Maxi?" Jane asked.
"Of course." Andie shook Maxi's hand. "How are you doing?"
"Fabulous. How are things in New York?"
Andie gave a half shrug, and Maxi sensed that maybe New York wasn't all she had hoped it would be. "It's okay. Right now I'm enjoying this amazing beach. You don’t get that in the city. In fact, I was going to go take a walk on the beach. Unless you guys need me?" She looked at Jane.
"No, go ahead. Maxi and I are just going to discuss how we might decorate for a wedding here.”
Andie hesitated for a second but then started down the steps onto the beach. "Okay, I'll leave you to it, then."
"How are things going with your sister?" Maxi asked as they watched her walk toward the surf.
"It's nice having her here, but I doubt she’ll stay long, so there’s no sense in having her in on any of these plans." Jane’s voice didn't hold much emotion, but Maxi sensed regret and wondered if Jane wanted her sister to stay. It might be good for her if she did. Jane needed someone to be close to, especially now that her mother was at Tall Pines.
The back porch at Tides was wide, with an unobstructed view of the ocean. Living right on the ocean must be amazing. Sure, her house up on the cliff was nice, and it had a fabulous view, but to be down here right on the sand, listening to the waves crash on the beach and smelling the salty air, was a whole different experience.
"I was thinking the dance floor could go over there." Jane pointed to an area to the left of the house near the old garden. The garden used to be Jane’s mother’s pride and joy. She’d had a knack for gardening, and the whole area would be bursting with color and lush with greenery. Now it was overgrown and dotted with dead, dry leaves.
"Of course, I have to spruce up the gardens," Jane said, as if reading Maxi’s mind.
They descended the steps, walking out onto the sand then turning to look back at the house.
"The tent would go over the dance floor, and the seating could be up on the deck for small weddings and then maybe under the tent for larger ones,” Jane said. “That’s what I know so far. Do you have any ideas as to how to make it cozy and unique?”
Maxi liked the idea of seating on the deck. It was under cover, so there would be good protection if it rained. She was brimming with ideas on how to make it unique. “How about getting some sheer drapes and hanging them at the corners of the deck and the sides of the tent? Bunch them up so they don’t obstruct the view, but let them flutter in the breeze. It would add a dreamy feel to the wedding, and if you got the right type of rings, you could remove them when the wedding was over.”
"That sounds perfect. I never would've thought of that!" Jane’s eyes shone with an excitement that Maxi hadn’t seen in a long time.
"And you need fairy lights. Depending on how you do the garden, we could twine them around some of the shrubs and string them on the tent. The deck, too, but we don’t want to go overboard. You could keep the ones on the deck even when there isn’t a wedding. And maybe add some lanterns with soft lights.”
Jane clapped her hands together. “Another great idea. It would be magical."
"Yes." Maxi spun around, looking at the area, trying to picture it decked out for a wedding, searching for what else she might want to add. She pointed toward the ocean. "An arched arbor with roses climbing at the edge of the garden would be a perfect frame for the bride and groom to say their vows.” She turned back to the house, pointing to the steps and running an imaginary trail with her finger. “You could roll out a runner on here for the bride to walk down the steps to the arbor.”
"This all sounds amazing." Jane was thumbing notes into her phone. Maxi smiled. It felt good to be doing something productive and useful.
While Jane made notes, Maxi gazed out at the waves. The tide was coming in, so they were large, peaking up about three feet and then crashing into the beach. Farther to the right, where the tidal river met the open ocean, several surfers were bobbing in the water with surfboards, waiting to catch the perfect wave. Down near the edge of the water, a small dog chased a Frisbee, leaping into the air to catch it.
“That dog looks like he’s having fun. Have you seen that one that you met at Tall Pines again?”
Jane looked up from her notes. "Yes, a few times. Actually, his owner, Mike, is doing my website.”
“He is? How did that come about?” Maxi was intrigued. Jane wasn’t the type to just ask strangers to work for her. She must really have taken a liking to the owner, as well as the dog.
