Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Julia took a deep breath of the fragrant spring air as she walked along the sidewalk. It was late in the morning on the day after her date with Cooper, and she’d gotten up with the sun, feeling wide-awake and full of energy from the moment her eyes opened.
Last night was amazing, she thought, thinking of their kiss and smiling uncontrollably. I feel attracted to him in a way I’ve never felt with anyone before. He’s so thoughtful, and fun, and…
She pressed her lips together, getting a rush of nervousness as she remembered how complicated their situation was. Then she brushed those thoughts aside. She was starting to fall hard enough that she could tell herself that things could work out between her and Cooper. She didn’t know yet what the logistics would be, but she liked him enough to be willing to make compromises.
She sighed dreamily as she tucked her manicured hands inside the pockets of her raincoat. She glanced down at the faint white paint stain that was still on her sleeve from when Cooper had caught in her in the rain, and she smiled. Now that paint stain was her favorite thing about the coat, she thought cheerfully.
She turned a corner and saw Alexis sitting on a bench up ahead. She waved her hand in greeting, but Alexis, who was wearing sunglasses and staring straight ahead, didn’t seem to notice her. Julia’s heart twisted with concern for her sister and she hurried along the sidewalk toward her.
“Hey,” she said as she reached Alexis’s side. “Sorry if I’m a little late. I thought we said ten-fifteen.”
Alexis gave her a faint smile and took off her sunglasses. “No, you’re right. I’m just here early. I—I couldn’t sleep well last night, so I got up early.”
Julia swallowed, feeling bad for Alexis. While she herself had been up early with excitement about a potential new relationship, her sister had been up all night worrying about her relationship falling apart.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” She sat down next to Alexis and gave her a hug. “Hopefully our shopping trip this morning helps boost your spirits.”
She and Alexis had arranged to meet up and shop for makeup at a local boutique. They were the two “city girls” of the Owens family, and they loved getting to shop together because they shared the same appreciation for fashion trends in makeup and clothing.
Alexis smiled weakly. “Ordinarily, retail therapy wouldn’t be able to do much for me in this state, but getting to shop with you is a whole other matter.”
“That’s the spirit!” Julia squeezed her sister’s hand. “I think they have our favorite brands here. I’ve been dying to get that new eye shadow palate I showed you the other day.”
“Should we go in?” Alexis still seemed tired and listless, but her smile broadened a little at the mention of the eye shadow palate. She had been excited about the colors when Julia had showed it to her on her phone the other night.
“Yes please. It’s that store on the corner, right?”
“Yes.” Alexis stood. “That little pink one.”
“It’s so charming. Sometimes I really miss Rosewood Beach. It’s like everywhere I turn here, I see something beautiful.”
“I know what you mean.” Alexis sighed. “L.A. has some really beautiful spots, but it’s not the same as home.”
For a moment, the two sisters shared a smile, and then they strolled down the sidewalk and stepped inside the boutique together. The store was cool and smelled fragrantly of lavender and cedar. Soft jazz music was playing on hidden speakers. A cheerfully smiling woman standing behind the front counter greeted them.
“Can I help you find anything today?” she asked. She was wearing a smart pink blazer, and Julia admired the way she’d done her hair in a smooth French twist.
“We’re just browsing for now, but I’ll let you know if we have any questions.” Julia smiled at her.
The sisters began to wander through the store together, but Julia found herself looking more at Alexis than at the makeup products. She could tell that Alexis was fighting back tears as they went, and none of the products seemed to be catching her interest at all. Alexis was usually cooing and chattering with excitement whenever she and Julia went makeup shopping together, and Julia felt her stomach twist with concern.
As they stopped in front of the lipstick section, Julia put on her brightest smile, hoping to cheer her sister up.
“I think one of these pink shades would look darling on you. What about this one? Dusty rose?”
Alexis looked down at the lipsticks and tears started to well up in her eyes.
“Oh, honey,” Julia said. “Picking a lipstick shade is no cause for tears.”
She’d hoped her gentle teasing might lift her sister’s spirits, but instead, Alexis took a shaky breath and a couple of the tears spilled out of her eyes.
“Can we just make our purchases and leave?” Alexis whispered, barely able to get the words out.
“Sure.” Julia laid a reassuring hand on her sister’s shoulder for a moment. “We definitely can.”
She quickly picked out a lipstick shade for herself—a color that she already knew she liked—and they went up to the counter to pay for their makeup. The store owner seemed cheerfully unaware of how close to tears Alexis was, which Julia felt was a blessing.
As they stepped back out into the fresh spring air, Julia glanced down the street and noticed the windows of Ocean Breeze Café gleaming pleasantly in the sunlight.
“How about we go to Ocean Breeze Café for lunch?” she suggested. “I didn’t eat breakfast, and my stomach is really starting to growl.”
“I didn’t either,” Alexis admitted, her voice still hushed from trying not to cry.
“Well, there you go! Not eating will always make things seem worse than they are. Food is an important way of bolstering the spirits.” She smiled at Alexis, but her sister was just staring straight ahead and seemed to have not heard her.
They made their way to Ocean Breeze Café and got a charming little table by the window. After they’d both ordered eggs benedict and hot chocolates, Alexis seemed steadier emotionally. She took a deep breath and looked Julia in the eyes.
“Okay. I know I should tell you what’s been happening. It feels better to not have all this be a secret anymore, and I—well, I think I should talk about this new development with someone.”
Julia nodded, her heart thumping with concern. She wondered what the new development was.
“I was making a payment to my and Grayson’s joint account,” Alexis said, her voice soft. She stared down at the table in front of them. “I saw a charge to this high-end downtown restaurant in L.A. It’s pricey there, but the bill still looked like a dinner for two. I—I’m worried that all of this—him not returning my calls, his lack of effort in our relationship—means that he’s been busy with another woman.”
Julia’s heart gave a jolt. “Oh, no—Alexis—there’s no way that could be true. Grayson is just busy with work, he’s not that kind of guy.”
“Well, Mom didn’t think Dad was a gambler either,” Alexis said, looking up from the table. Her eyes were brimming with tears again.
“Julia and Alexis Owens!” A woman wearing a bright purple sweater hurried up to their table, all smiles. “So good to see you both.”
“Hi, Alice,” Julia said, smiling at the woman as she remembered her. “Good to see you too.”
“Would you pass along a compliment to your mother and the chefs at The Lighthouse Grill? I just loved their latest dinner special, and so did my elderly father-in-law. He hasn’t been able to talk about anything else. He keeps asking when they’re going to have it again.” She laughed a loud laugh that reminded Julia of bells tinkling.
“I’m so glad.” Julia smiled at her. “I’ll be sure to pass the compliment along.”
“Well, I won’t keep you. Have a great day, both of you!”
“You as well!”
Julia waved goodbye to Alice, and Alexis mustered a smile of farewell as the other woman stepped out of the cafe. Julia turned back to her sister with a frown of worry, her mind back on what Alexis had told her before Alice had come to speak with them.
“Don’t stress about it. You know he goes out to eat with other businessmen all the time. He probably just paid someone’s tab as a way of earning favor.”
Alexis pressed her lips together, looking doubtful, and at that moment, their waitress returned to their table with the hot chocolates.
“Your food should be out in a couple of minutes,” she said. “And I overheard just now that you’re the Owens sisters. I’d thought so, but I wasn’t sure. I want to offer my condolences about your father.”
“Thank you.” Julia felt touched by the woman’s kind manner.
“How is Vivian doing?” the waitress asked. “Is The Lighthouse Grill going to be all right?”
Julia sighed. “I hope so. We’re doing everything we can.”
The waitress nodded, and then lowered her voice. “That man—that Judd McCormick—has been lingering around more than ever. I know he’s got all those fancy ideas about him and his sons taking over your property. I heard him talking about it on the phone to someone one day. I hope he won’t manage it, but I know it’s hard for small businesses to fight against these big ones that are expanding.”
“I know.” Julia nodded, doing her best to smile, but internally her heart was sinking. The waitress was right. They didn’t stand much of a chance against the McCormicks.
“It would be such a shame if your pub turned into some silly brewery.” The waitress sighed. “Rosewood Beach loves that place. It’s been the town’s favorite restaurant for years.”
“Thank—oh!” Julia suddenly sat up straighter as she was struck with an idea.
“What?” Alexis asked, leaning forward.
“That’s true. Our community loves the pub. What if we had a fundraiser for it? Save The Lighthouse Grill!”
“Oh, that sounds like a wonderful idea,” said the waitress.
Alexis nodded, looking excited. “I think that could work,” she said. Her sadness over Grayson seemed to be fading as she became enthusiastic about Julia’s inspiration. “That’s a great idea.”
“We’ll absolutely put up fliers here if you decide to do that,” the waitress assured them warmly. “Keep us posted.”
She excused herself and returned a moment later with piping hot plates of eggs benedict. As she and Alexis started to eat the delicious food, Julia could see a worried frown return to her sister’s face.
“Hey.” She reached across the table and squeezed Alexis’s hand. “Things are going to be okay with Grayson.”
Alexis pressed her lips together. “I just—I’m not sure. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
“I understand. I can relate—since I’m jobless, I’m also in an uncertain place and I know how hard that is. But let’s focus on what we do know—we’re here together now, and we want to keep The Lighthouse Grill. Let’s focus on saving the pub and push aside our other worries for a while.”
Alexis nodded, smiling a little. “I agree. Let’s focus on saving the pub.”
They continued to eat their lunch, beginning to talk excitedly about what a fundraiser for The Lighthouse Grill could look like.