Shane and Sally were just starting on the arbor and dance floor, so she couldn’t take pictures of those for a few days, but Jane wanted to get back to the client right away. She could send more pictures later.
By the time she was done, it was almost time for Mike to come and pick up Cooper. She took the laptop to the kitchen to organize the pictures and call the lobster-bake company and tent-rental place for quotes so that she could send that along with the pictures to the client.
She had to take all the expenses into consideration, but how much should she tack on for using Tides as the venue? Ten percent? Twenty? She had no idea what was reasonable but knew that wedding venues charged a high fee. Unfortunately, she didn’t have a lot of time for research. She wanted the client to know that she was going to answer promptly and also really wanted to get that deposit in so that she could use it to pay the food-service people, who probably would not deliver food this week if she didn’t pay.
She did her best and sent the email off with her fingers crossed. Part of her was terrified they would say yes, but the other part was getting a little excited about the wedding. It was all overshadowed by worry for her sister and Maxi.
Jane had no idea what the Richhaven job was but could guess it was something important. Andie had acted like the news that someone else had secured it was nothing, but Jane could tell her sister was pretty shaken about it. She’d wanted to go to the garden and see if she needed to talk about it, but she wasn’t sure what to say or even if her efforts would be welcome. It wasn’t like they’d had any heart-to-hearts in the last twenty years.
Jane had been surprised by Andie’s offer to help with the wedding. She hadn’t known what to say. Was Andie planning on staying longer? She did seem serious about the garden, but Jane still wasn’t sure whether she wanted to open her heart to letting her sister in only to be abandoned again.
And Maxi… why had she asked about seeing James with Sandee? Jane tried to remember exactly what she’d seen at the cottage that morning. She’d really only seen a glimpse and couldn’t be absolutely certain that it had been James. The last thing she wanted was to jump to conclusions and cause a problem between James and Maxi.
Woof!
Cooper rushed to the back door, signaling Mike’s arrival.
“Hey, boy, are you ready to go for a ride?” Mike asked.
Cooper spun in circles.
Jane laughed. “I guess you said the magic word.”
“He does love rides.” Mike clicked the leash to Cooper’s collar, but instead of heading right to the door, he lingered at the end of the table.
“Have a good visit with your grandfather. Andie is there visiting my mom, so you might run into her,” Jane said.
“I will.” Mike still lingered, then at Jane’s questioning look said, “I was thinking when we get back, maybe you and I could take Cooper for a walk on the beach together. Since he’s been staying at Tides, I haven’t had much of a chance to walk him, and I noticed that you like to walk on the beach, too, so…”
Jane had been so busy with the wedding she’d forgotten that a big dog like Cooper needed exercise. Just another thing to learn about having a dog. “That sounds like a good idea. I should be done with my work by then.”
Cooper wagged his tail faster, glancing between Mike and Jane as if he knew what they were talking about.
“Should I message you when I leave Tall Pines?” Mike pulled out his phone, and Jane realized they didn’t even have each other’s numbers.
“Right. Good idea.” They exchanged contact info. It made Jane feel as if their relationship was taking a turn. Now Mike wasn’t just some guy she ran into on the beach and hired to make her website. He was becoming a friend.
“Okay, it’s a plan, then.” Mike’s eyes met hers, and Jane felt a little flutter in her stomach. As he left, Jane wondered if the walk was about more than just getting exercise for Cooper. Had Mike just asked her on some sort of date?
Shane and Sally had been working outside for hours, trying to finish the arbor and dance floor so Jane could take pictures. Jane decided to take them some lemonade and check on their progress.
Sally gulped down half the glass. “Thanks. It’s hot out here.”
Shane was a little more polite with his. He took a few sips and gestured to the work. “What do you think?”
Jane wasn’t sure what she thought. All she saw were a few boards and part of a trellis. “I guess it’s good progress.”
“Yeah, the dance floor will go here.” Sally picked up a stick and drew two very long lines in the sand. “Is that big enough?”
Jane nodded.
“And the arbor will be at the edge of the garden so that you can train the rosebushes to grow up it.” Shane turned toward the ocean.
“And then when the bride and groom stand under it, they’ll be facing the ocean, and the guests could be seated in folding chairs in the garden.” Sally chugged the rest of her lemonade and then burped.
“Sounds wonderful,” Jane said.
Sally smiled proudly. “Thanks. And then we can…” Sally paused midsentence, her gaze drifting past Jane’s shoulder. She pulled a face. “Ugh.”
