Lost and Found in Lavender Bay (The Lavender Bay Chronicles #2)

41. Chapter Thirty-Eight

Chapter Thirty-Eight

I t became part of Maureen’s morning routine to take a walk on the beach. And now that summer was in full throttle, the morning light was dawning earlier, so that some days, like today, she found herself arriving before six. Even this early, the air was warm and heavy, promising another glorious summer day.

She had the shoreline to herself, almost. There was one other woman, slightly older than she, who walked in the distance, a small dog running along and yipping at her side. Maureen had never walked on the beach as a matter of routine; she’d been too busy working and raising kids. But she understood now why it was so popular; it was peaceful and relaxing. The sight of the water rolling in, the sound of the surf, and the briny smell that every beach seemed to have. What a comfort. She fingered the St. Anthony medal in her pocket. She carried it everywhere with her, like a talisman.

As she walked north, her gaze naturally swung toward Nadine’s house on Pearl Street. She spotted her sister sitting out on her back porch with a coffee cup in hand. She threw her hand up in a wave.

Maureen was surprised to see her sister up this early, but then maybe she shouldn’t have been, because she knew Nadine served breakfast between seven and nine every morning for her guests.

She changed her course, walking away from the shore and across the thick, heavy sand until she reached her sister’s property.

Herman jumped up and wagged his tail and whined until Maureen petted him. She laughed. “You’re nothing but a big baby, Herman.”

“You’re up early,” Nadine said.

“Can’t sleep. I’ve been coming out in the mornings to walk and to think.”

“It’s a good place for it.”

Maureen sat down in one of Nadine’s new chairs. “I see you’ve gone with the turquoise. It looks great.”

“I wasn’t going to argue with an interior designer.” Nadine stood up. “Coffee?”

“I’d love some if it isn’t too much trouble.”

“Not at all.” She walked over to a small table against the back wall of the house, where she had a coffee station set up. She picked up a carafe and poured coffee into a mug. “How do you like it?”

“A little cream.” Maureen admired the setup. “You’re very organized.”

“I like to sit out here before the breakfast rush. Sometimes, some of the guests are up early and like to sit out here and enjoy the view. I figured they might like to have a cup of coffee while they do. ”

“Smart thinking. Thanks,” Maureen said as her sister handed her the mug.

Nadine sat down, and Herman moved to sit next to her, looking up at her expectantly.

“You’ve already had your breakfast, mister.”

He put his paw on her thigh.

“No, you can’t sweet-talk me.”

Maureen laughed.

“I had him at the vet last week. He’s put on three pounds!” Nadine pressed her lips together and looked at the dog. With a hand at the side of her mouth, she whispered, “He’s on a diet.”

“Welcome to our world, Herman,” Maureen said.

“The guests like to feed him. I know they mean well, but carrying any extra weight will wreak havoc on his joints.”

Maureen nodded, amused. She was grateful for the distraction.

“I had to post a sign in the dining room, asking the guests not to feed the dog.”

“Is it working?” Maureen cradled her mug, enjoying the aroma of the coffee.

“Ninety percent. There’s one guest, Mrs. Habermehl, who’s eighty and has brought a box of Milk-Bones with her.”

Maureen winced sympathetically.

“Luckily, she leaves the day after tomorrow.”

“Poor Herman.”

“Anyway, enough about that. How are you doing?” Nadine asked.

Sensing that the conversation was no longer about him, Herman lowered himself to the porch floor, groaned, and closed his eyes .

“I’m all right,” Maureen said.

“Any word on Everett?”

“No, but Lance knows where he is. At least he’s indoors and not sleeping rough.” She never thought she’d use those words in reference to a child of her own. It was beyond the scope of her imagination.

Nadine grimaced. “I don’t know how you do it. How do you hold it all together?”

Maureen sighed. “I won’t lie. It’s not easy. I keep busy, and I remind myself I have two other children I’m determined won’t get lost in this shuffle.”

“How’s Allan?”

Maureen shrugged. “The same. Worried. Doesn’t sleep well. Waiting for Everett to come to his senses and go into rehab.”

“I don’t know what I would do if that ever happened to Emma.”

“I don’t think you have to worry about that with Emma. Besides, I’ll give you the handbook if you ever do.”

“I give you a lot of credit, Maureen.”

Maureen lowered her head, staring at the inside of her mug, coffee half drunk and growing cold. “Don’t give me too much credit. We haven’t convinced him yet to give up the drugs and go into rehab.”

“That’s a decision only he can make. It must be so painful to stand by and watch.” Nadine’s voice had a sympathetic tone.

“You feel so helpless. Like you’re powerless. Like you’ve been swept up in an awful current and you can’t get out of it. ”

Nadine listened.

Maureen stared out at the lake, squinting. She’d seen a flash of something on the horizon, but it was gone. “You know, I always thought my life was just about perfect. And I’ll admit that at times, I was smug about it. Oh, look at me and my perfect husband and kids, I’m so lucky ,” she said in a singsong voice.

Gently, Nadine said, “No one’s life is perfect.”

Maureen smiled sadly. “I know that now.”

“But everyone has perfect moments in their life.”

Maureen thought about that. “I like that.” She tucked it away for future reference.

Nadine continued to talk. “I wish there was something I could do. You know, Angie and DeeDee and I have talked about this. We wish we could help you, but we don’t know how.”

Maureen smiled, touched by their concern. Sometimes, sisters were great. She lifted her coffee mug. “This helps.”

“Good.”

“How’s DeeDee?” She hadn’t heard from their youngest sister in a while. It was news to her that she knew what was going on with Everett. But she supposed her mother or one of her sisters must have told her.

“She’s good. I spoke to her the other day. Working. Dating some guy, but she was kind of vague on the details.”

“Is he an actor too?” DeeDee had caught the acting bug early, always doing plays at home and forcing her older sisters to perform the parts. Their grandmother, who’d lived with them, encouraged her, even going so far as to sew costumes for the various roles.

“She didn’t say.” Nadine stared out at the water for a moment. “Now that I think about it, she doesn’t say much. It’s all general. You know, ‘Everything’s fine. I’m good.’”

“Do you think she’s not telling you something?”

Nadine shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s just a feeling I get.”

Maureen was about to say something when Nadine added, “I forgot to tell you. Richard got married.”

Maureen arched an eyebrow. “As in, your ex? Did he marry that woman he was cheating with?”

Nadine nodded. “Julie. Yes. They got married two weeks ago.”

“How do you feel about that?”

“To be honest, kind of philosophical. Our relationship went as far as it could. We came to the end of the line.”

“That sounds healthy.”

“The thing is, I’m happy here. Really happy. I mean, I’ve been content all my life, but here, I’m happy.”

Maureen couldn’t help but smile. Her sister had gone through a rough period at the end of her marriage. “That makes me happy to hear that. What about Emma?”

“She still bears a lot of anger and resentment toward him, but I’m encouraging her to keep the relationship going. She’s loyal to me. He was a jerk for a husband, but he was always a good father.”

“She’ll come around. She’s a good kid.” Maureen glanced at her phone and stood up from her chair. “I better get going. I know you have to get breakfast ready for your guests.”

Nadine also stood, and so did Herman.

“Full house?” Maureen asked.

“No, one empty bed, but I’m expecting guests for that room tomorrow. ”

“Good.” As Nadine headed toward the sliding glass door to go inside, Maureen said, “I’ll wait. I want to see this Herman thing again.”

Nadine laughed, rolled the door open, and stepped in. “Come on, Herman.”

The dog faced away from the door, looked over his shoulder, and walked backward into the house.

Maureen chuckled. “That never gets old.”