Memories in Sea Glass: Driftwood Key Beach Reads #2

15. Jess

Afew days later, Jess grabbed a two by four and headed over to join Clint by the side of the house.

Though all she wanted was to get to work on the kitchen, they were spending time putting together a walkway trellis, since there was still no news on the retroactive permit.

I can’t wash dishes in the bathtub forever,Jess thought to herself.

But in a tiny place like Driftwood Key, with so many protections for the environment and recent rules and regulations on housing, she was going to have to face the very real possibility that a permit would not be granted. And she wasn’t sure what would happen then.

The original kitchen had been in a part of the house that no longer existed as its own space after so many rebuilds and additions done in the years since. But there was no point worrying over it. She just had to put one foot in front of the other, like always, and hope for the best.

“This is going to be so pretty,” she told Clint as she placed the wood on the ground where he was laying out the pieces they had cut earlier.

“It’s nice to have something between the front yard and the back,” he said. “Plus, you can grow flowers on it.”

Jess smiled.

Clint remembered how much she liked flowers. She worked in a flower shop, after all, but still. It was nice.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she pulled it out, expecting it was probably one of the girls.

Dan Jansen

Hey, I’ve got some news from the council. Can I swing by?

Jess’s breath caught in her throat. For better or for worse, at least she’d find out something today. She typed back a quick message.

Of course. I’m home now. Come on over.

“What’s up?” Clint asked, looking up from his work.

“It’s Dan,” Jess said breathlessly. “He said he has some news from the council and he’s stopping by.”

Clint shook his head and went back to working on the trellis.

“What?” Jess asked.

“It’s not good news,” Clint said, grabbing another two by four.

“Why not?” Jess asked.

“First of all, if it was good news he would have said so,” Clint said, putting down the wood. “Secondly, you already know he wants to buy the place. That means it’s in his best interests for you not to get the permit, so you’ll be more likely to sell to him.”

Jess nodded, pressing her lips together.

“I guess you make two good points,” she admitted. “And I never should have said anything to him about the kitchen. I had no idea he was on the council when I did.”

“Not your fault,” Clint said.

“But I’m still not sure you’re right about him,” Jess said thoughtfully. “He seems like a decent person. I don’t think he would do anything to actively hurt me.”

“I guess we’ll find out,” Clint said, applying himself to their project again.

Jess had to smile. The man clearly felt better when he was working on something. It was a pretty good coping strategy, in Jess’s opinion. And it was doing wonders for her house.

They both got back to work, but before long there was the sound of a car approaching.

Jess set down the piece of trellis she had been working on and brushed her hands off on her shorts, suddenly feeling a little self-conscious about her appearance. Normally, she tried to look nice even when she wasn’t having company. But she just wore shorts and a t-shirt with a pair of old tennis shoes for home projects.

At least we aren’t painting today, she thought to herself.

A pang of guilt twisted her stomach almost immediately. Why should she care what she looked like when Dan stopped by? She wasn’t interested in him that way.

“Hey, Jess,” Dan said as he stepped out of his big, late-model SUV. “Clint.”

He looked a little surprised to see that Clint was there with her.

“Hi, there,” Jess said. “Clint is helping me with a trellis.”

“Dan,” Clint said flatly, not getting up.

“That’ll be nice,” Dan said, then turned to Jess. “Shall we walk?”

“Oh, I don’t mind Clint hearing,” she said. “He’s been handling almost everything for the house, so whatever comes up, he’ll be the one advising me on what to do.”

She glanced down at Clint and saw that he was smirking at Dan, whose eyebrows went up a little.

“Fine,” he said quickly. “Absolutely, Jess. That’s great that you have a general contractor—the best in Driftwood Key, from what I hear.”

Clint chuckled and straightened up, crossing his arms over his chest, his posture hinting that he highly doubted anything Dan might have to say, including his compliments.

“Well, I’m so eager to hear any news you have,” Jess said quickly to Dan, not sure what was up with Clint, and not wanting things to get any weirder.

“Of course, Jess,” Dan said with a warm smile. “I brought the question before the committee. They were of a mind not to grant a retroactive permit, since the house has been in your family long enough that it’s likely the failure to request a permit happened since the last sale.”

“But not the last transfer,” Clint said.

“Exactly,” Dan said, his smile fading slightly. “And that’s what I brought up with them, Jess. I reminded them that you would have been a child when that kitchen went in and that your grandparents were not, er, welcoming toward your mother during that time. They know the property transferred to your uncle and then to you, and both transfers happened long after the current kitchen installation.”

“Thank you,” Jess said, nodding.

“It was a split decision,” Dan said. “But you were approved for a retroactive permit application, by one vote.”

“Amazing,” Jess cried, feeling the weight of the world fall off her shoulders.

“Application?” Clint echoed.

“Of course, the inspector will have to come out and ascertain that what is here now is up to safety standards, since it wasn’t inspected when it was put in,” Dan said. “Jess, that may mean you need to make certain updates. But it’s better than having to rip the whole thing out and rebuild it in the original location.”

“Dan, this is fantastic news,” Jess told him. “I’m truly grateful for all you’ve done to help.”

“It was my pleasure, Jess,” he said, smiling down at her. “I’m glad you’re settling down in Driftwood Key.”

“Yeah, it’s great news, Dan,” Clint said, stepping between them to put his hand out to the other man. “Now, if we’ve got plans for a kitchen update, do we give them right to you to bring before the council?”

“No,” Dan said, shaking Clint’s hand. “From here on in, you’ll just bring in applications, same as you would for any other client. Things should be just fine.”

Jess saw Clint flinch at the word client.

“Great,” Clint said. “Well, we’ve got to get back to work on this thing before we lose the light, but I’m sure we’ll see you around.”

There was a strange tension between the two men that Jess simply couldn’t read. Maybe they had some history together that she didn’t know about.

“Thank you again, Dan,” she said quickly. “Can I walk you to your car?”

“Sure, Jess,” he said with a smile.

They headed across the lawn to his SUV and she could feel him relax beside her.

“I really don’t know how to thank you,” she told him when they reached the car.

“Have dinner with me?” he asked.

Her heart sank a little. She hated to tell him no when he’d been helping her, but she had no interest in dating. And maybe she wasn’t reading him right, but she didn’t want to risk it.

“I’ve got a better idea,” she told him in a flash of miraculous inspiration. “How about if we have you and Tristan over for supper as soon as the kitchen is working again? After all, it will be because of your help that we can cook again. We’ll be sure to make all our best dishes for you.”

“That’s very kind of you, Jess,” he said, his smile not quite as wide now. “I’ll look forward to it.”

She smiled back, relieved that he wasn’t going to insult her cooking by implying that he only wanted dinner with her if it was alone in a restaurant.

Or maybe he isn’t really interested in that way, she told herself. Maybe he just wants a friend.

“See you later, Jess,” Dan said, getting in the car.

She stepped back and gave him a friendly wave as he pulled out. When she turned back, Clint was crouched over their project again, as if he hadn’t heard a word.

“Well,” Jess said, walking up to him with a smile. “I guess I was right.”

“What are you talking about?” Clint grumbled.

“He helped me,” she said simply. “Even though he wanted to buy the place.”

“Oh, I know why he helped you,” Clint muttered darkly.

But before Jess could question that bizarre statement, a car rumbled toward the house again. Thinking Dan must have forgotten something, Jess turned. But it was Chase’s gray sedan, not Dan’s big SUV that was pulling up in front of the house.

“Jess,” Chase said, getting out of the car. “How are you?”

“Fine, thanks, Chase,” she said, smiling up at her sweet son-in-law. “Liberty is still on video calls with her patients for another hour or so, I think.”

“Perfect,” Chase said. “Hey, Clint. How’s it going?”

“Fine, son,” Clint said, smiling at him. “Connor let you off early today?”

“He sure did,” Chase said. “I thought I’d take advantage of a moment with Jess when Liberty’s wrapped up.”

“Of course,” Jess said, a little surprised. “What’s up?”

“Well, everything is going well,” Chase said with a big grin. “I think she’s having fun on our dates.”

“I know she is,” Jess told him fondly.

“Me too,” Chase said. “But I want to be her husband again, as soon as she’s ready. And I had an idea.”

“What is it?” Jess asked.

“I thought I’d propose again,” Chase said, looking really excited. “We could renew our vows on the beach.”

“That’s so romantic, Chase,” Jess said approvingly. “And of course I’ll help. I’ll use my employee discount at the flower shop, and we can ask Anna to bake a cake…”

“That’s not what I’m here to talk to you about,” Chase said gently. “Though, of course, you’re welcome to help me with the planning, if you want.”

“What did you need?” Jess asked, wondering if it was money.

She was really hoping that Everett would have news for her on that front any day now. If it was good news, then she could be content in the knowledge that if the kids asked about her helping out with the costs of an adoption, she’d be ready to cut a check immediately.

“I wanted your blessing,” Chase said, his expression solemn. “I’m a simple man, Jess, as you know. I’ll never make your daughter rich or give her the lifestyle you and your husband did. But I promise to love her just as she is, provide everything our family needs, never to take her for granted, and to do all I can to make her happy every single day.”

“Oh, Chase,” Jess said, her eyes filling with tears.

“May I have your blessing to ask your daughter for her hand in marriage?” Chase asked. “Again?”

Last time, he had asked Silas. The two of them had gone into Silas’s study and when they came out, Silas was chuckling and slapping Chase on the back. Now Chase had come to Jess, with the same solemn eyes and hopeful expression.

Jess had never felt her new role in the family more than she did in this beautiful moment. The weight of responsibility was surprisingly easy to bear, when wings of joy and freedom lifted her heart.

“Of course,” she told him gladly, wiping her eyes with one hand and reaching up to clasp his shoulder with the other. “You have my blessing, Chase. And I hope you’ll have Liberty’s soon too.”

“Thank you,” he said, his eyes shining. “I’m hoping to ask her on the Fourth of July, if things keep going like they’re going.”

The Fourth of July was only a few weeks away, and it was always a very special day in Driftwood Key. There was a beautiful town celebration, and the McKinnons had already invited them all to the big house for a potluck supper and an evening watching the fireworks from the beach. It all painted a very romantic backdrop for a proposal.

“That sounds perfect, Chase,” Jess told him. “I’ll be rooting for you.”

He bent to press a kiss to the top of her head.

“I’d better go before she realizes I’m here,” Chase said happily. “See you both soon.”

She watched him jog to his car.

“Now that’s a nice kid,” Clint said approvingly before applying himself to the trellis once again.

“She’s a lucky girl,” Jess agreed, crouching to help him.

“Just has to get out of her own way,” Clint said, nodding.

Jess smiled, amazed at how well her quiet foster brother had gotten to know them all so quickly.