Читать книгу Christmas In The Cove - Carol Ross - Страница 13
ОглавлениеONE OF THE many things Aubrey loved about Tabbie’s was that the owner, Lily, didn’t blare music so loud throughout the pub that you couldn’t hear yourself think—or talk to your friends. And the music she did play was a nice mix of country and classic rock. Except during the holidays when vintage Christmas tunes filled the air, like they did now.
It was a popular hangout for Coasties and local folks who were more interested in a sourdough bowl of seafood chowder, a couple microbrews and maybe the latest gossip than in forming a romantic liaison.
Aubrey was sitting in her favorite booth sipping herbal tea and listening to Bing Crosby dream about a white Christmas. Normally she would relish both but right now she couldn’t enjoy either because Nina was busy explaining why her impulsive purchase of the county’s iconic Quinley’s Berry Farm was a good idea. Odd, how she’d been thinking about that place just yesterday. It was like, now that he was back, all things Eli had decided to rise up out of the depths and taunt her.
“This is perfect for me. I need to get out of the city. I need fresh air and space and the countryside.” Nina smoothed her thick ash-blond hair over one shoulder.
“Pacific Cove isn’t exactly a metropolis, Nina. Mayor Hobbes was just telling me last week how his worst fear is that we’re never going to break that three thousand mark.”
The coastlines of Washington and Oregon were dotted with small towns like Pacific Cove. In the summertime the population more than doubled. During weekends and holidays, tourists could swell those numbers manyfold. The nearest city of substantial size was hours away. There was a constant battle between the folks who wanted to maintain this small-town feel and those who wanted “growth.” The proper way to foment that “growth,” as well as acceptable manifestations, varied considerably depending on who you talked to. Although, luckily, most of the town seemed on board when it came to the Christmas competition. Pacific Cove pride was at stake.
“All we have here is fresh air. Unless you’re down at the docks and then it can get a little fishy.”
“I love pie,” Nina countered as if this was also a legitimate argument for her relocation to the countryside.
“So...what?” Aubrey asked with a baffled shake of her head.
“Everyone loves pie.” She jabbed a finger Aubrey’s way. “Well...except you.”
“I like pie. I just don’t eat it because it has too much sugar.”
“Yeah, well, as I was saying almost everyone eats pie. Therefore, they would love berries with which to make pies, right? Or muffins or jam or...compote or aioli or whatever the foodies are into these days. And smoothies—you eat those. I could sell them at the farmer’s market in Astoria.”
Aubrey stared blandly at her sister even as her heart clenched inside her chest. Less than a year ago her big sister, at the age of thirty, had been running her own wildly successful marketing company. She’d owned a three-million-dollar showpiece of a home in California and a vacation house in Aspen. That was before her world had imploded. Now she was going to retire to the countryside where she planned to grow organic berries and bake pies?
Nina met her eyes with a solid challenging gaze of her own. She was going to make her say it? Fine. If that’s what it took to keep her sister safe, she’d say it. Aubrey accepted that it was her role in life to keep people safe—including her family.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be living that far out.”
“It’s twelve miles from town. I clocked it yesterday when I drove out there. That’s hardly far out.”
“You know what I’m talking about. You’re way closer to civilization here.”
“You honestly believe the Cove is civilization?” she quipped.
“You know what I mean.” Aubrey stared, willing her sister to take this seriously.
Nina began fiddling with her silverware. “I haven’t had a seizure in ages.”
Her sister had been diagnosed with epilepsy when she was a teenager. Medication had kept it under control, an occasional seizure cropping up only now and then. Something had changed when her marriage began to fall apart. Stress, the neurologist hypothesized. Aubrey believed it; she couldn’t imagine anything more stressful than the breakup of her sister’s marriage to the lying, abusive Doug Halloren.
There was really no way to know for sure, but Nina had been through hell. Whatever the trigger, the result had been an increase in the frequency and intensity of her seizures. Changes in medication, dosages and counseling to manage her stress level had ensued in an effort to get her stable. To Aubrey’s way of thinking, that stability had yet to be achieved and her city-girl sister moving even farther out into the country was not going to help matters.
“Six months and three days is ages?”
Brows scooted up onto the flawless alabaster skin of her sister’s forehead. “You keep track?”
“Of course I keep track. You’re my sister. I love you.” And she did. Bottom line, the thought of her living so far out by herself scared her to death. “You know what? Forget about civilization. You’re closer to me living here and that’s what I want. Let’s make this about me.”
“That is so sweet. I don’t know what I’d do without you—what I would have done without you all these months.” Nina reached over and squeezed her hand. “But it’s too late. I signed the papers this morning. I’m moving in this Thursday.”
“Thursday! Without even talking to me about this first?”
She dipped her chin and looked up at Aubrey through her lashes. “I know you, too, Aubrey. Just as well as you know me. I knew you would try and talk me out of it.”
No point in trying to deny that.
Nina gave her a beseeching smile. “Please try to understand, okay? I need something. I need... I don’t know what I need, but this feels right somehow. Mom and Dad will be home for Christmas soon. I’m excited to show them how much better I am. Dad is so...judge-y. Especially when it comes to me. I want them to see that I can take care of myself again. I know they’ve had their doubts. And I can understand that. But I’m better now—you know that. I could really use your support here.”
“Of course you can take care of yourself. No one doubts that. And Dad is not judge-y. He only wants you to be happy. But...a farm? How are you even going to...?”
A Santa-hat-wearing waitress stopped by to take their orders. Aubrey complimented her festive attire and requested another minute.
Nina reached down to the seat beside her and heaved a large three-ring binder onto the table between them. Giving it a firm pat with the palm of her hand, she added, “Don’t worry, I have months to read up on how to be a farmer.”
She had no idea what to even say to that. Did her sister seriously believe a notebook was going to teach her how to be a commercial berry farmer?
“Plus, I ordered three pairs of overalls from Amazon and the barn came with a pitchfork.”
Aubrey snuffled out a surprised laugh.
“According to the Quinleys, buying in the winter is the way to go. Gives me plenty of time to get up to speed.”
“Gives them plenty of time to get that humongous RV to Sedona in time to spend the holidays with their new grandbaby you mean?”
Nina let out a chuckle. “There is that.” Something caught her attention in the direction of the door. “There’s Alex! And, wait, is that...?”
Aubrey turned to look.
“Oh, my... Is that Eli? He looks...different. Wow. Even better.”
Aubrey’s pulse took off at a crazy flutter as the men strolled toward their table.
“Hey, ladies,” Alex said, stopping in front of them. He removed a baseball cap to reveal his thick, brown thatch of unruly hair. It was the one thing about him that hadn’t changed over the years. Unlike his once-stocky frame of muscle, which was rapidly softening toward plump. Of course, that was no surprise what with the atrocious eating habits Aubrey was constantly harping on him about.
He gestured happily at Eli. “Look who I ran into? Didn’t think you’d mind if I asked him to join us.”
Nina was already on her feet, moving toward him for a hug. “Of course we don’t mind. Eli, hi! Alex told me you were back. It’s been ages.”
Nina was right; the years had been ridiculously kind to him. She’d always thought his sculpted and flawless features were unfairly beautiful. A thin white scar was now etched below his bottom lip and his olive-toned skin was a bit weathered from so much time outdoors. Soft lines were making a home around his eyes. The combination made him look less...perfect. And even more appealing, if that were possible.
Alex slid across the booth from her while Nina and Eli chatted. Her sisters had always adored Eli. Three years older than Aubrey, Nina had been away at college by the time Aubrey and Eli’s romance began. Aubrey had never told her about it. Camile, being four years younger than Aubrey, had also been clueless. But then again, no one had noticed.
They’d always been friends so it wasn’t unusual for the two of them to spend time together. They’d been very aware that if her parents, especially her father, knew their friendship had blossomed into more, restrictions would be placed on their time together. They had planned to reveal the status of their relationship at the end of summer, when it was time for Eli to leave for the Coast Guard Academy.
But they didn’t make it that long. Aubrey had never shared her heartbreak with anyone, not even her sisters. She’d suffered silently and persevered, focusing on swimming, school and her own career goals. The distance between them had been the perfect cover for their waning friendship.
Nina resumed her spot next to Alex. Eli slid in beside her. Why hadn’t she thought to scoot over first? Because now his muscled thigh was pressing against hers and burning her skin. She felt a flush creeping up her neck and hoped no one would notice.
After another few moments of small talk, Nina flashed her a grin. “Let’s ask Alex his opinion.”
She shot her sister a wry look. They both knew very well he would support whatever Nina decided to do. He held himself partially responsible for Nina’s disastrous marriage. He’d been the one to introduce her to Doug.
“Alex, you like pie, right?”
His eyes widened in surprise, as if she’d asked him if he liked to breathe. “Do I like pie? Remember how I used to have birthday pie instead of cake at my parties when I was a kid?”
“That’s right!” Nina exclaimed. “I do remember that. Geez, your birthday parties were fun. I still remember that magician—the one who made your dad’s plate disappear?”
He belted out a laugh. “I remember that. My mom was worried the guy was going to steal the china. My parties were epic.”
Aubrey had to agree. Alex’s parties had been legendary. The St. Johns would go all-out. Every year there’d been something new to look forward to—pony rides on the beach, a bouncy house or a magician. And Mrs. St. John would put together party bags so every kid would have a gift to take home. She and Eli used to discuss how the gift was always something more expensive than either of them could expect to receive for their own birthdays. One year they’d all gotten hand-held video-game systems.
Alex’s dad, Carlisle, was a gazillionaire who’d only joined the Coast Guard because that’s what the men in his family did—they gave back by serving their country. He’d been unusual in that he’d chosen to remain in the service beyond the requisite years before he’d retired to run his family’s empire. Alex liked to joke that his dad’s extra years entitled him to skip military service altogether. He made up for it by doing volunteer work and serving on the town council, which he loved. Aubrey believed he had political aspirations beyond the local level, although he had yet to confess as much.
“Remember your parents’ Christmas Eve parties?” Nina asked. “Those were like...fairy-tale stuff. Do they still have those?”
Was it her imagination or did Eli tense beside her? And was it for the same reason that she was gripping her fingers together under the table so tightly they hurt? Thirteen Christmas Eves ago, with the scent of evergreen subtly floating on the air and soft Christmas lights twinkling around them, Eli had kissed her for the first time right beside the tree at the St. Johns’ party. That kiss had marked the beginning of their romance.
“When she and Dad aren’t traveling, they do. They’ve been wintering in the south of France for the last few years. They’ll be home this year. I’ll have to ask Mom.”
Nina clapped a hand on the tabletop to indicate a subject change. “Eli, what about you?”
Eli, who had been studying the menu, looked up. “What about me?”
“Do you like pie?”
“Uh, no to pie.”
Aubrey almost laughed at the stricken look on her sister’s face. “What do you mean ‘no’? You don’t like pie?”
He hissed out a breath. “Sorry, no. Too much sugar.”
Alex gave his head a mystified shake.
“You don’t eat sugar?”
“Very little.”
“Not another one?” She rolled her eyes. “Neither does Aubrey.”
