Chapter 14
Key West, Florida
Jack squeezed Charli’s hand reassuringly as they wove through the booths. He had to admit that he was more than a little anxious to introduce her to his parents—not nervous or reluctant. He was excited about the introduction.
Chill, dude! Nice and relaxed...you don’t want to make her nervous...
“Jack, are you all right?” Charli asked, squeezing his hand back and seemingly reading the energy he was feeling.
He glanced at her smiling face. She was calm and collected...beautiful in her green sundress that made her eyes brilliant today.
“Huh?” he responded and waved his hand in the air. “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.”
That wasn’t completely the truth, but how to explain it to her? Her call with Annette yesterday had him in a panic. She still had ties to Boston and felt obligated to her clients and firm, and he was starting to feel like there was nothing he could do to change her mind.
“You’re not getting a headache again, are you?” She stopped, bringing him to a halt. “We can do this another time if you’re not feeling well.”
Jack stopped and drew her toward him, placing a kiss lightly on her lips. “I’m feeling great today. If you must know, I’m eager to introduce you to my mom.”
Her lips quirked up in a lopsided grin that he wanted to kiss off her mouth, instead he gestured with his head. “Come on. The booth is this way.”
They wound around several local artisan booths selling handmade soaps, coffee, and jewelry before finally stopping in front of the largest, most visible stall in the market.
Large, vibrantly colored flags advertising the touring company fluttered in the breeze, and the line to speak to Janie was currently three guests deep.
“They’re having a busy morning,” Jack muttered as he scanned the area for his mother. “Janie can’t be here by herself.”
“She’s not,” came an eager voice behind them. Jack turned and grinned—his mother had found them.
He threw a thumb over his shoulder. “Looks like David will be slammed for the next couple months.”
His mom’s eyes hadn’t left Charli and currently scanned her from head to toe as she nodded in agreement.
“Yeah, we’ve been fairly busy since the new year, but that’s no surprise.
” She primmed her mouth at Jack, rolled her eyes, and shook her head slowly.
“Where are your manners, Jack? Aren’t you going to introduce me? ”
Jack chuckled and draped an arm around Charli’s waist, pulling her into him. “Mom, this is Charli Harris. Charli, this is my mother, Faye Sullivan.”
Charli smiled as his mother practically launched herself like a missile, grabbing Charli’s hand and shaking it up and down.
“Oh, it’s so nice to finally meet you, Charli. I’ve heard nothing but great things from all over the island, and Janie and David practically raved about you. I just want to tell you how sorry I am about your aunt’s passing and I really hope you’re adjusting to life here.”
Jack blinked. His mother could really ramble when she got going, and she was definitely on a roll, but Charli seemed to be taking it all in stride.
“Thank you, Faye. It was a big shock for me—Aunt Dottie’s death, inheriting not only the house, but a partnership in Paradise West, the restoration project, and living down here—but Jack has been such a huge help to me. I don’t know how I would have handled any of it without him.”
A beaming smile stretched across his mother’s face and Jack knew a dinner invitation was forthcoming.
“Oh, you must come to our house for dinner this weekend.”
Bingo!
“Dennis still has to meet you,” Mom continued. “And I can’t wait to hear more about the renovation you two have been working on. Jack has been practically a clam about the whole thing, and I’ve been threatening to just stop by for weeks.”
She patted Charli’s hand and wiggled her head, making her gray bob bounce. “Maybe I should do that anyway so we can catch up. It’ll also give me a chance to bring treats to the crew. The poor dears probably think I’ve forgotten all about them it’s been so long.”
Charli chuckled and looped her arm through his mother’s and turned toward the center of the farmer’s market.
Jack fell in behind them, his eyes narrowed as he watched Charli charm his mother.
“I’d be more than happy to give you a tour of the compound, although there are still plenty of areas we can’t go yet.
Jack and Gus let me help out with some of the smaller tasks, like sanding or painting.
But they’re pretty adamant that I stay away from any of the major jobs. ”
“And away from the Widow’s Walk, but she doesn’t listen very well,” Jack added lightly, but with an edge of steel to his voice.
Charli glanced over her shoulder and batted her eyelashes at him.
“Well, since you’ve boarded up the staircase to the Widow’s Walk, I guess I won’t be going up any time soon, right?
” She turned back to his mother, whose mouth was hanging open at their exchange.
“Now, that’s a spot you’ll want to see once everything has been renovated.
Did Jack tell you what I found up there? ”
His mother’s eyes widened, and she squeezed Charli’s arm. “Yes! The diaries and a box, right?”
Charli grinned. “That’s right. The box is locked and we haven’t found the key yet.
Once you see the box, you’ll understand why we don’t want to damage it.
I started the fourth diary yesterday and found the first reference to Amelia’s sailor—at least I think it’s her sailor.
He worked on one of her father’s ships. But she talks a lot about her family, especially her sister, Elizabeth and her brother, Gordon. ”
“Oh, how exciting!” Faye clapped her hands.
Jack rolled his eyes. His mother was literally bouncing with excitement. “You know, I found some things in the house, too.”
His mother pursed her lips at him. “You have had plenty of opportunity to share that information with me, and I’m just now hearing about it?” She patted Charli’s hand. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to hear what Charli’s found right now, thank you.”
She pointed toward a booth at the far end of the market. “Ohhhh! Let’s go over there. You’ll want to see what the Artist Guild has put together. You’re one of their benefactors now, right?”
“Mom!” Jack growled.
His mother turned and blinked at him. “What? It’s not a secret.”
Charli snickered.
He gave his mom a firm look, knowing full well it wouldn’t work. “Don’t be rude.”
His mother tossed her head. “It’s not rude if everyone on the island knows about it, dear.” She tugged on Charli’s arm. “Come on. Marsha will want to see you again.”
Jack shook his head, hands on his hips, watching them walk away.
Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all...
* * * *
Charli chuckled to herself as Faye escorted her across the farmer’s market. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure Jack was still with them. He was...slowly and with a slightly pained look on his face.
“Oh! Look!” Faye piped, pointing at a booth across the courtyard shaded beneath a red and white striped tent with a logo containing a loaf of bread on each side.
“That’s the Howard Bakery over on Eaton.
They have the best chocolate chip cookies and sourdough bread.
And over there is Annie and her husband Michael.
They run a cute bed and breakfast up on Big Pine Key that even the locals like to go to. ”
Faye giggled and squeezed Charli’s arm again, practically skipping in excitement.
“I’m so happy to finally meet you.” She stepped to the side, giving Charli a wide-eyed look.
“Do you know that you’re the first girlfriend of Jack’s that we’ve ever gotten to meet?
Why, for the longest time, Dennis and I wondered if he might be gay. ”
“Mom!” Jack exclaimed in shock.
“Which would be fine with me of course, but we never met any boyfriends either,” Faye continued, “I just don’t want my baby boy to be alone for the rest of his life.”
Charli sputtered and began to howl, guffawing hysterically and holding her belly.
“It’s not funny,” Jack ground out, teeth clenched. “Mom, would you stop with the anecdotes?”
Charli was laughing so hard, she was gasping for air and holding on to Faye for support.
Faye’s brows dropped. “Are you okay, dear?”
Charli gasped, pointing at Jack. “I thought he was gay, too!” Another wave of laughter had her bending over.
“Christ.” Jack groaned as heads swiveled in their direction. “Can we not do this here?”
Faye stared at Charli wide-eyed. “You did?”
Charli nodded, her laughter dribbling down to giggles. “Yes! He was just too handsome and well-mannered, and there were never any women around.”
Faye clapped her hands. “Exactly! I thought the same thing. I mean, I raised him to have manners, but he was so much better behaved than his brother. But now he has you and you’re just as pretty as a picture.
Dennis is going to be thrilled.” She stopped and pointed toward the far booth.
“Oh look, there’s Marsha right now.” She hurried off in that direction, waving her hand. “Marsha!”
Charli watched Faye go, still giggling, and looked up at Jack. “I really like her!”
“I’m starting to think it was a mistake to bring you here,” Jack grumbled, his expression resigned.
Charli shook her head and wiped her eyes. “No, no, I’m glad you did.” She glanced over at Faye who was studying something in the Artist Guild booth. “She’s like the energizer bunny.”
Jack smiled at that and laughed. “That’s a good way to describe her. She literally never stops.” He reached down and grabbed her hand. “Are you okay?” he asked, a concerned look on his face.
Charli leaned slightly away and tilted her head back so she could look him in the eye. “Why wouldn’t I be? Your mother is great, and it’s a beautiful day.”
Jack pressed his lips together as if fighting with himself to say something. “She called you my girlfriend. I didn’t want that to upset you.”