“I would love to go,” Sarah chimed in.
“We’ll be here,” Raelene said. “I wouldn’t miss that trip for anything. And Audrey’s Instagram has been blowing up with the pictures from the restaurant.” Macy could hear the wistful tone in her voice.
“Why don’t we get you a phone of your own tomorrow?” Sarah said, clearly picking up on that. “We’ll go by the phone store on the way to the boat, buy you one, and get you set up on my plan. You’ll need one when you go to college, so we might as well get it right now.”
“For real?” Raelene asked.
“For real,” Sarah said. “Now, you two get on out of here. Us old ladies need our beauty rest.”
“Who are you calling ‘old’?” Beezy teased.
The girls’ giggles followed them out of the room, and then Macy got to her feet. “I get first shower—and, Grace, maybe the third time is the charm.”
“What does that mean?” Grace asked.
“Sarah and I both didn’t have things turn out right, but maybe this will work out for you. All I ask is that you give it time, and a lot of it.” Macy crossed the room and gave her cousin a hug, feeling a little wetness on her shoulder as Grace’s body tightened and relaxed.
Grace released Macy, running the back of her wrist across her eyes. “Don’t any of you worry. I’m not in any hurry—and just so you all know, Travis told me that he’s no longer interested in our land or our shop. He’s here with no agenda, which means we aren’t talking business at all. Don’t tell the girls, but if tomorrow goes well, he wants to take whoever wants to go parasailing the next day.”
Beezy got to her feet and began to unbutton her blouse. “The way to a man’s heart might be through his stomach, but the way to a woman’s heart is through her family. I’m going to bed. I’ll have a morning shower. Good night to all of you.”
“Good night,” Macy said. In spite of the jealous streak that shot through her heart, she wanted to be happy for Grace, and she hoped that she and Travis would develop a good relationship... but with the luck all three of them had been having recently, she wouldn’t put money on it—not just yet.
Chapter Eighteen
So this is what it feels like to have a family,Travis thought as the boat moved slowly through the emerald-green waters toward Shell Island. In his imagination, the two girls belonged to him and Grace. Beezy was the grandmother figure. Sarah and Macy were his sisters-in-law.
Two outings do not make a long-term relationship,his grandfather’s voice whispered in his ear.
I know, Granddad, but it’s nice to pretend,Travis thought.
“Thank you... again,” Grace said. “We’re making memories that we’ll talk about for years to come. And I want you to know that I appreciate knowing the information about you withdrawing your interest in our business.”
Travis slipped his arm around her shoulders. “What business? I don’t know what you are talking about. We’re just a couple of adults down here in the sand and surf, having a good time with the family. With that said, thank you for sharing them with me.”
Grace moved a little closer to him. “You are so welcome.”
His arm lay around her shoulders so comfortably that it was like they were meant to stand together. She didn’t have a bit of makeup on, and the breeze had caused a few errant strands of her blonde hair to escape her ponytail. Travis liked that she was comfortable in her own skin around him. Most women that he had dealt with—or even dated a couple of times—weren’t.
“I’ve got to admit that I’m having a wonderful time with such beautiful women around me, especially you.”
“But, honey, you might ought to have your eyes checked and get stronger glasses,” she teased.
“Never underestimate the power a woman has on a man when she is just herself.” He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.
“It’s too much trouble to be anything else.” She smiled up at him and then changed the subject. “I thought that you would be the one driving the boat.”
“I would,” he said, “but then I would have a job, and I’m on vacation. Julie does a fine job of managing the boat and the house for us. Our HR department runs a calendar for folks who need to come down here for a week. That way, Julie knows when to get the boat ready for short trips like this or longer ones for some deep-sea fishing, or when to have the house cleaned and stocked with food and liquor.”
“That’s pretty amazing,” Grace said.
“If you don’t use money, it’s nothing but dirty paper stacked up in a bank somewhere. I like to make people happy—and who doesn’t like the beach and a boat ride?” Travis asked.
“Certainly not any of us,” Grace answered.
“Like I said before, you are treating me, not me treating you,” Travis told her.
“Mama, come and look,” Audrey yelled from the other side of the boat. “There’s a dolphin.”
