Page 18 of Coastal Reflections

“Sounds good,” she said, pouring cream into both mugs and then plopping a sugar cube in each.

She sat down next to him on the couch, handing him his mug of coffee. He took a sip, and then grunted appreciatively.

“Very good coffee. Excellent.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

She smiled, feeling a glow in her chest. She was thrilled that Shep had appeared in her home right when she’d been feeling so troubled about Audrey’s predicament. Shep seemed to have a way of making her feel more cheerful whenever he was around.

Not even Shep could totally keep her mind off the situation with Clark, however. As they sat and talked about the menu, Elaine found herself growing increasingly distracted. The grandfather clock was directly in front of her, visible through the doorway that led into the front hall, and she kept feeling spurts of indignation as she thought about Clark demanding to take it from Audrey. She did her best to stay focused on the meeting, but more than once Shep had to repeat a question before she heard him fully.

“Elaine,” Shep said gruffly but not unkindly. “Your distraction is keeping us from getting anywhere with this meeting. I suggest that you tell me what’s the matter and get it off your chest.”

Elaine sighed. “I’m sorry, Shep. You’re right, I am completely distracted. Something happened a few days ago and it’s had all of us upset.”

Shep waited for her to say more, his expression concerned.

“Audrey used to be married to a man named Clark, and he—well, let’s just say he didn’t hold up his end of the bargain and their marriage ended. Good riddance to him. But now the problem is that we aren’t as rid of him as we thought we were. He showed up here completely unexpectedly and told Audrey that he was demanding to take that clock from her.” She gestured to the grandfather clock. “Which is just ridiculous, because it belongs to her—and he’s the one who caused them to lose their old house because he stopped paying the mortgage. Not that Audrey would have lived there anyway after the divorce, but—well, you know what I mean? He took so much away from her and now he’s demanding even more?” She huffed and tossed her hands in the air, feeling another surge of indignation.

Shep shook his head. “That’s ridiculous,” he growled. “Poor Audrey. I’m sure him showing up like that must have been very disruptive, to all of you.”

Elaine nodded. “It has been. It’s been so hard to watch my daughter go through something like this. The first night he was here, she went up to her room and never came down for dinner, even though Evan was here. She’s never done anything like that before, so I know that this whole thing has her shaken badly.”

“She’s going to be okay,” Shep said encouragingly. “One visit from an old rat can’t take away the life that she has now. She’s got her wonderful job here in the hotel, getting to work alongside you and Michelle, and she’s got Evan! He’s the best man I know, and I’m pretty sure he’d do anything for her. Everything will be all right, don’t you worry.”

Elaine smiled at him, immediately brightening when she heard his words. He spoke with a tone of certainty that was hard to dismiss, and when she inhaled, she seemed to be breathing in his confidence.

“You’re right, Shep,” she said, smiling brightly at him. She knew in her heart that he was right, and that Audrey was going to be okay. Clark returning might have been a blow to her heart, but it wasn’t one that was going to knock her over.

Look at this, she thought, feeling suddenly cheerful. Shep of all people had the power to make me feel more optimistic on this dreary matter!

She took his hand and squeezed it gratefully. “Thank you for your words. I feel much better.” She took a deep breath. “Now, let’s get back to our work. I’m sure I can concentrate just fine now that you helped me get that off my chest.”

Shep smiled at her. “Always glad to be of service.”

Elaine and Shep continued their meeting, sipping their coffee and laughing quietly as they went over the bakery lists for The Birchwood House. Elaine’s heart felt lighter, and she found herself wondering what other surprises Shep would bring her way during the course of their deepening friendship.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Audrey straightened the strap of her purse on her shoulder as she walked down the sidewalk of Coral Sands’ main street. The long skirt of her black maxi dress swished around her ankles, and she tugged on the sleeves of her dark red leather jacket, trying to cover more of her hands against the chilly autumn air.

She was on her way to have dinner with her friends Penelope and Harper at Brasserie Belle, a gourmet French restaurant the three women loved going to. Ordinarily, she would be overjoyed to go out to dinner with her friends, whom she loved very much, and dinner at Brasserie Belle was always spectacularly delicious. Ever since Clark had intruded on her new life, however, she’d felt drained. She moved along the sidewalk as if there were rocks tied to her limbs—even taking deep breaths felt harder. Her body was exhausted from the rollercoaster of emotions that she’d been riding, and her heart felt bruised and vulnerable.

I don’t know how I’m going to make conversation tonight, she thought with a sigh. I feel like I don’t have the energy at all.

She stepped inside the restaurant, immediately looking around the dimly lit room for Clark and Molly. Candles flickered around the elegant dining room, illuminating the faces of the people dining there. She breathed a sigh of relief when she didn’t see them. She dreaded running into them so much that the thought caused her to have a knot in her stomach.

They’re not going to be here, she told herself firmly. And even if they are, I’ll be fine. And then, no matter what happens, they’re going to leave Coral Sands and I can have my peaceful life back. I can get through this, I know I can.

She squared her shoulders, taking a deep breath. Her eyes scanned the dining room again, this time looking for Penelope and Harper. She didn’t see them, and a quick glance at her watch told her that she was ten minutes early. Despite the slow pace at which she’d walked, she’d clearly beaten her friends to the restaurant.

She gave the hostess Harper’s name, since Harper had made the reservation, and she was led to a table that offered a picturesque view of the ocean. She sat down, trying to settle her nerves and just enjoy the beautiful sights around her. The candle on their table flickered with a captivating, playful glow, and the ocean looked breathtaking under the light of the first stars and the golden autumn moon. She inhaled the delicious smells that wafted through the air and her stomach grumbled hungrily. Soft music that had a Parisian flair played gently over the loudspeakers, and she closed her eyes for a moment, wishing she was on the other end of the world from Clark.

She heard the sound of laughter, which she recognized as Harper’s. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she took a deep breath and mustered a smile when she saw her friends hurrying across the restaurant toward her.

“Hey, girl!” Harper bent down to give Audrey a big hug.

“You looked like you were asleep.” Penelope chuckled and hugged Audrey as well.