“Of course we can. That would be great. And you’re still welcome for breakfast any time.”
Jane looked back at Tides. From her vantage point on the beach, the new bathroom structure blended in perfectly, as if it was meant to be there. Sally and Shane were putting the finishing touches on the archway while Andie was instructing them where to situate it, probably for the best position to train the roses to climb the lattice on the sides.
The inn was going to be full for the wedding, and Jane had everything under control. And her ads and new website must be working because she’d been getting reservations for several weeks out.
She had a new dog, her sister wasn’t leaving right away, and now Mike wasn’t either. What more could a girl want?
Chapter 29
Jane balanced the plate of oatmeal-peanut-butter-chocolate-chip cookies in her hand as she stepped out of Andie’s rental car at Tall Pines. The cookies were from an old recipe of her grandmother’s and a thank-you gift to Mike’s grandfather for pushing the sewer hookup through. The hookup had gone off without a hitch, and the bathroom was complete except for few finishing touches. With that work behind them, Jane and Andie had decided they could both use an afternoon off and came to visit Addie together.
“We’ll pop in and visit George first. You’ll like him, and I know he’ll love seeing Cooper.” Jane glanced at the dog, who Andie had on a leash, and Cooper wagged his tail enthusiastically, apparently knowing he was going to see George.
“That was nice of him to do that favor. Actually, it was nice of a lot of people in the town. It’s refreshing to see how people went out of their way to help us out. You don’t get much of that in the city.”
Jane smiled. Andie was right—Lobster Bay was special. The more her sister saw that, the more she might want to stay in town. And Jane had decided she really wanted Andie to stay.
The closer they got to George Henderson’s room, the harder Cooper strained on the leash. Jane told Andie to unclip it when they were two rooms down, and Cooper rushed in ahead.
“Cooper! Hey, boy.” The joy in George’s voice was unmistakable.
Jane poked her head in the room, holding up the tray of cookies. “I brought you a little something to say thanks for helping to fast-track that sewer hookup.”
“Cookies?” George’s attention wavered from the dog to the cookies. “I love cookies.”
“It’s my grandmother’s recipe.” Jane turned to Andie. “This is my sister. Andie, George Henderson.”
“Andie. Andie Miller. You know, I think I remember you as a little baby. I knew your grandparents.” His eyes narrowed. “Did you move away? Can’t understand why anyone would do that.”
“I’m beginning to wonder that myself,” Andie said as she shook his weathered hand.
George offered them a cookie then proceeded to munch on his. “I hear you’re going to be taking care of my friend here.” George nodded toward Cooper.
“He’s been staying with me at Tides, and I’ve gotten really attached. I just figured that Mike can’t have him in the cottage, and who knows how long he’ll be staying in town.”
George nodded. “I think Cooper will be in good hands with you.”
“Me too. And I can bring him to visit you whenever you want after Mike goes back to Seattle.”
“I’m not so sure that Mike is going back. I think he might come to see that there is more for him here in Lobster Bay. And I’m not just talking about the ocean. I think he’s met some special people here too.” George’s eyes twinkled as he glanced at Jane before taking another cookie from the plate.
Jane’s cheeks heated. “We’d better go visit our mom. We can swing back afterward and get Cooper if you want to spend more time with him.”
“That would be great. Thanks for the cookies.” George turned his attention back to the dog, and Andie and Jane left.
“Sounds like Mike might stay. What do you think of that?” Andie said once they were out in the hall.
“He’s just a friend, Andie, but it would be great if he stayed. One can never have too many friends.” Jane could feel Andie smirking at her the whole way to their mother’s room, but at least her sister didn’t say anything more. Jane wasn’t sure how she felt about Mike. She liked his company, and there was a hint of attraction, but any thoughts of romantic relationships had died when her husband passed years ago. Or had they? Maybe everyone’s advice was right and it was time Jane opened up and let someone in. After all, she’d let Andie and Cooper in, and that seem to be working out okay.
Addie’s room was cheery and neat as a pin. But she wasn’t in it.
“She’s in the living room playing cards.” A woman that Jane recognized as a volunteer wheeled past them in a wheelchair. “Follow me.”
A small crowd was gathered outside the living room. She recognized some of the people as the children of residents. Her heart leapt. Was something wrong?
She hurried toward the crowd. “What’s happened?”
A woman with shoulder-length salt-and-pepper hair turned to her. “Shhh. Nothing has happened.” She gestured toward the room. “Look at them. They’re having so much fun we didn’t want to disturb them.”
