“We can stay if you’d like,” Evie offered.
“No, I’m fine. I think I’ll lie down for a few minutes and get some rest.”
“Okay. Call if we can help.”
Both women left, and Charmaine locked the door and the cat door behind them. Watson was in for the night, already crouched in the kitchen eating his dinner from the bowl on the floor. She ran her hand along his back, and he arched beneath it, purring at her touch.
Perhaps it was time to move on again, although she’d finally found somewhere she felt at home. How had Sean located her? And why had he come? Anger darkened her thoughts. She should’ve changed her name, but she didn’t think he was looking for her. Clearly, he was fine and yet had still abandoned her. He didn’t deserve to see her.
The way he’d left things between them — she had suspicions about his behaviour. Nothing concrete, nothing she could prove or put her finger on, simply a feeling, a squirmy discontent in the pit of her gut whenever she thought about him.
He’d disappeared, and she’d assumed she wouldn’t hear from him again. Now that he was on the island, all she could think about was fleeing. But what would that achieve? He might simply follow her. He must be there for a reason — what did he want?
Her phone jangled, and she answered without thinking. When Sean said hello, her breath caught in her throat. She hung up the phone with a rush of adrenaline, then threw it onto the couch and stared at it in surprise. How had he found her number? He must know where she lived. There was no other explanation. She wasn’t ready to talk to him yet, needed time to gather her thoughts, to consider what she’d say.
She ran to the window and pulled the curtains shut, then hurried to push a dining chair beneath the door handle. Perhaps she was being overly dramatic. After all, he was her brother. But there was so much she didn’t understand. So many things about him she didn’t know. There were times it felt as if he was a stranger.
When her phone rang again, she turned it off, then went to bed with the lights on.
Eighteen
THE CAFÉ WASempty when Charmaine walked through the front door the following evening. Beatrice was sweeping the floor. The chairs were upside down on all of the tables but one. Evie sat on that chair, sipping a cup of tea and looking over some paperwork. The last of the waitresses brushed past her with a wave and whooshed out the door as Charmaine made her way across the floor to sit with Evie. Outside, the afternoon sun sat low over the ocean, giving the entire town an orange glow.
“Have you heard from Penny and Rowan?” Evie asked.
Charmaine shook her head. “No, they’re on their honeymoon in New Zealand, so I don’t expect to hear anything. I’m sure they’re having a great time.”
“I haven’t called or texted,” Bea said, joining them at the table with a large casserole dish in her hands. “I don’t want to disturb them.” She set the dish down on the table with a grunt. “I brought you a lasagne.”
Charmaine looked at Evie, then held a hand to her chest. “Who? Me?”
Bea laughed. “Yes, you. You’re new to the island, so I thought I’d make you a lasagne. I’m sorry I took so long. My allergies have been giving me so much trouble lately, but I’m finally feeling a lot better.”
“That’s so nice. Thank you.” Charmaine looked at the lasagne through a veil of tears. No one had ever brought her a meal before.
“You’re welcome. Since we’re here to talk about weddings and food, it made me hungry thinking about it. And when I’m hungry, I cook.”
“I can’t believe you made something in your downtime when you have to do so much food prep here in the café,” Evie said with a shake of her head.
“Well, I enjoy it. Besides, I wanted to do something nice for Chaz. Are you feeling any better after what happened yesterday?”
“Yes, thank you. I feel fine today.”
“Did you ever speak to your brother?” Evie asked.
“Sean called my phone,” Charmaine said. “I have no idea how he got the number.”
Bea cleared her throat, then pointed at the bulletin board on the wall of the café. Charmaine slapped a palm to her forehead. “Of course, my flyer. I left my number on the notice board, advertising myself as a wedding planner. He must’ve seen it.”
“Did you speak to him?” Evie asked.
Charmaine shook her head. “I hung up the phone.”
“Maybe you should find out what he wants,” Bea suggested. “Unless you’re afraid of him for some reason.”
“No, I’m not afraid.” Charmaine was angry more than anything. Maybe all he wanted was to reconnect as a family. “I don’t know if I want to talk to him, but I suppose I’ll have to eventually. He’s my brother — he came all this way for a reason. I guess I should find out what it is.”
They spent the next hour talking through Bea’s upcoming wedding. Charmaine took notes and made suggestions. Beatrice and Aidan were two of the nicest people she’d ever met, and she was excited to be able to help them tie the knot.
