Читать книгу Forget Me Not - Brenda Jackson - Страница 14

RAY COULD ONLY shake his head at Kaegan Chambray and Sheriff Sawyer Grisham. As most mornings, the two had joined him for coffee and blueberry muffins at the Witherspoon Café, a popular eating place in town.

Sawyer’s wife, Vashti, had given birth to their son, Cutter, six months ago and already Sawyer was anticipating having another. Their oldest daughter, Jade, would be leaving for college in the fall. Since Sawyer had been away in the military during the first six months of Jade’s life, he had missed out on all the newborn baby stuff he was experiencing with Cutter.

“I hope Vashti is in agreement,” Kaegan was saying. “I’m sure that’s nothing you can spring on a woman.”

Sawyer gave them a devilish grin. Too devilish for a man who was the town’s sheriff. “I got everything under control, trust me.” He glanced over at Ray. “How have you been doing? Did you ever contact your therapist?”

Ray knew why he was asking. He’d mentioned to Kaegan and Sawyer about waking up last week on a day he felt should have meant something to him. They suggested that he call the therapist whom he’d routinely visited every six months up until the beginning of this year. Now he would contact him on an as-needed basis.

“Yes, I called Dr. Martin. He said the date probably meant something in my prior life, just like I thought.”

“Does he think that means your memory might be returning?” Kaegan asked, before biting into his blueberry muffin.

Ray shook his head. “No, he doesn’t think that,” he said, trying to keep the disappointment from his voice. “However, he did suggest that I make a note of it in my journal.”

“I hear business is going well,” Sawyer said.

Ray nodded, knowing Sawyer was intentionally changing the subject to talk about a positive in Ray’s life. He also knew where Sawyer had heard that from. Vashti owned and operated Shelby by the Sea, a bed-and-breakfast in town, and she had encouraged Ray to print brochures to place in the inn’s welcome packet. That had been a great idea and a number of his new customers were people staying at Shelby.

“Yes, it is. I’m averaging a good ten to twelve trips a day. That’s why I’m thinking of getting an additional boat.”

“You should,” Kaegan said, looking over at him, but only for a short while.

Kaegan’s attention was drawn to Bryce Witherspoon, the daughter of the owners of the café, as she appeared from the back. Bryce, who owned a real-estate office in town, often helped her parents at the café by assisting with the breakfast and dinner crowds. Bryce had also worked for a while as assistant manager at Shelby by the Sea that first year to help Vashti, who was her best friend, get things off the ground, and had remained through Vashti’s maternity leave. It hadn’t been hard to figure out that there had been something between Kaegan and Bryce a while back that obviously hadn’t ended well.

“Time for me to start the day,” Sawyer said, standing and then leaving with a nod of farewell.

Ray knew it was time for him to start the day as well, but decided to get a refill on his coffee first. He figured sooner or later Bryce would mosey over to their table.

He didn’t have long to wait when she approached their table with a smile. “Want a refill, Ray?”

He returned her smile. “I sure do, Bryce. Thanks.”

She then turned to Kaegan and Ray didn’t miss the glare that appeared in her eyes. “What about you, K-Gee?”

Ray tensed. K-Gee had been Kaegan’s nickname while growing up, and apparently when he returned to town a few years ago to take over his family’s shipping company, Kaegan had made it known that he would no longer answer to that name. He was certain Bryce had deliberately used it anyway and saw Kaegan’s jaw tighten.

“No, I don’t want a refill.”

“Fine,” Bryce all but snapped.

Ray figured this was a good time to leave before sparks started to fly more than they already were. Clearing his throat, he stood and said, “I just remembered there’s somewhere I need to be. Can I get mine to go?”

Bryce smiled at him. “Sure thing, Ray.”

When she walked off, Kaegan turned to him. “One day, do you know what I’m going to do to her?”

Ray chuckled. “No, and since you’re best friends with the sheriff, I would suggest you forget that thought. See you later.”

He decided to walk over to the counter to save Bryce the trouble of coming back to their table. That was the least he could do to keep Kaegan out of trouble.

* * *

ASHLEY GLANCED AROUND her studio bedroom at Shelby by the Sea. Her friends had really outdone themselves in sending her here and making sure her room that faced the cove was spacious and accommodating. Even with the closed windows, the sound of the ocean filled her ears.

Placing her luggage aside, she moved toward the huge picture window to appreciate the panoramic view of the gulf. Below she could also see a boardwalk that led down the marshy path to the cove. She could see herself spending a lot of her time beneath the huge gazebo reading and had brought several books with her to get her started.

She liked this place already and a deep feeling of peace and tranquility flowed through her for the first time in years. Three, to be exact. The drive from the airport had initiated those feelings. The route connecting New Orleans to Catalina Cove had been scenic to the point where she’d pulled to the shoulder of the road and sat there to stare at the giant oak trees lining both sides of the highway. Through the low-hanging branches you could see the sea marshes and the gulf. The closer you got to Catalina Cove, the highway merged from four lanes to two, and even more tall oaks were perfectly strung along the roadway, providing a countryside effect.

The first thing she noticed when she drove into town was how Catalina Cove’s downtown area was a close replica of New Orleans’s French Quarter. She couldn’t help but like the stately older homes, most of them of the French Creole style, that lined the residential streets with pristine manicured lawns.

She moved away from the window to begin unpacking. Another thing she liked was the friendliness of the owner and staff. Vashti Grisham had greeted her at the door with so much enthusiasm in her voice that Ashley had felt totally welcomed before taking one step over the threshold. The woman had explained that everyone here was on a first-name basis unless she chose otherwise. She didn’t.

Vashti had invited her down for blueberry muffins and tea once she got settled. Looking forward to that, Ashley finished unpacking.

* * *

“THANKS FOR BRINGING these here, Ray,” Vashti said as he walked through the back door of the inn. “It was nice of you to help Kaegan out.”

“No problem,” Ray said, placing the huge box into the freezer. “I don’t have another tour until three. I knew one of Kaegan’s guys was out today, so I told him I would deliver this to you.” He appreciated Vashti for teaming up with local businesses to provide goods and services to the inn. Kaegan’s company provided all the seafood she needed.

“I didn’t expect to find you in the kitchen. Where’s Ms. Livingston?” he asked about the fifty-year-old woman who was the chef at the inn.

“She went grocery shopping. We have another full house. Five more people checked in today and one of them will be here for two weeks.”

“Is there anything you need done while I’m here?”

She shook her head. “No, but thanks anyway. You’re okay?”

He knew why she was asking. Since marrying Sawyer, she’d learned the details of Ray’s memory loss. He didn’t mind and knew she would keep those details private just like Kaegan and Sawyer were doing. “I’m fine, Vashti. How’s the baby?” he asked, quickly changing the subject.

For the next ten minutes he listened while she told him how great motherhood was and shared that she wanted another baby. He was tempted to tell her Sawyer was on the same page, but figured she would find that out soon enough.

He glanced at his watch. “Time to go so I’ll be there when my three o’clock tour arrives.”

“Okay, and thanks again.”

“No problem,” Ray said, heading for the back door. “See you later.”

“Okay,” Vashti said, already moving through the swinging door of the kitchen.

His eye caught the barest glimpse of a woman coming down the stairs, and he overheard Vashti say, “You’ve settled in?”