By seven, Rose is in the kitchen, and the griddle is hot. She’s making blueberry pancakes today, and the batter smells like sweet vanilla. I pour fresh coffee in my mug and then balance yesterday’s receipts from the fundraiser. We made six thousand dollars, which is incredible, but it’s only enough to keep us going for another month. With Carter’s reservation, we’ll survive through September. This keeps the doors open through October. It’s a cushion that I’m grateful for even if it’s not enough to survive the off-season.
At exactly seven thirty, Birdie walks in with Bitsy Havenbrook behind her, who’s carrying Tupperware that smells like banana bread. Bitsy is Luke’s grandma. And Luke? Well, that’s Mia’s best friend, and I honestly don’t know what the hell is going on between them.
“Hi, Bitsy! Been a while since I’ve seen you,” I say, pouring more coffee.
“Sweetie, I’ve been here; you’ve just been occupied these last few weeks.”
“Good morning, dear,” Birdie says, claiming her usual seat. “Wonderful party last night. Who was that handsome man who showed up during the fireworks?”
“Adam,” I say.
“Heard he was staying in the Coral Room,” Lucille adds.
“Is he your ex?” Birdie asks, just as Adam walks into the dining room.
He’s dressed in slacks and a button-up shirt, like he has a business meeting in five minutes. His cologne takes me back to when we first started dating. I hate that it triggers good memories.
“Good morning,” he says.
His smile goes to the Bees first, and then his eyes find mine. I slowly exhale because Adam looks like the man I fell in love with all those years ago.
“Sit, sit.” Birdie pulls out the chair next to her. “Rose made blueberry pancakes. They’re incredible.”
I swear they pull this with every eligible bachelor who enters this building.
Adam sits and compliments the food before he takes a bite.
Gran comes in from the back door. “Adam, sweetheart, did you sleep well?”
The interrogation is coming. It always does.
“Best I’ve slept in months, Mrs. Winslow. The Coral Room is beautiful. That driftwood mirror is stunning. The craftsmanship to build something of that size? It’s impressive.”
“My late husband made that.” Gran beams. “Pulled the wood from the beach. A lot of the decorations are repurposed from the beach. The good ole days.”
I set my mug down harder than I meant to. Gran glances at me, and her eyebrows lift.
Carter comes through the front door from his run, sweaty and breathing hard. His eyes move from Adam at the table with Gran to me behind the counter. He goes upstairs.
Adam watches him, then returns to his conversation, laughing.
“I’m going to check on the upstairs rooms and restock towels,” I announce to no one. I can’t sit here and listen to this for another damn minute.
Instead of going upstairs, I walk outside. I escape to the backyard and stand in the garden behind the bungalow. I try not to spiral as I pace back and forth.
“I don’t share, Wendy. That even includes up here.”
He was talking about Adam being in my head, taking up space in my mind and heart. I suck in a deep breath, needing my pulse to stop racing. This is too much at once.
Carter stays upstairs most of the afternoon. Eventually, he comes downstairs with a baseball cap on and heads to the beach. He passes within three feet of me and says nothing. He’s not being cold, just indifferent. Adam seems to notice too.
“Trouble in paradise?” Adam asks from the porch while I water the hanging baskets.
“Excuse me?”
Adam leans against the railing with his arms crossed. “I saw the way he looked at you, Wen, I haven’t been with anyone since us. I’ve been waiting?—”
“Don’t do that.”
