8. Marlie
MARLIE
I’m just aboutto put the coffee on when I hear a knock at the door.
I smooth down my shirt, toss my hair over one shoulder, and swing the door open to find a familiar face that mirrors my own—only blonde.
“Melanie!” I squeal her name like we’re teenagers again, not grown women who’ve carved out separate lives in different states.
“Marlie!” she squeals back, her arms flying open wide.
The space between us disappears instantly as we crash into each other, our embrace a mix of giggles and the kind of tight hug that could squeeze the sadness out of even the gloomiest day.
“Look at you,” Melanie pulls back just enough to give me the once-over, “all sophisticated and married.” Her eyes twinkle with mischief, and I can’t help but laugh because it’s just so Melanie to think that marriage is sophisticated.
I laugh. “I’m hardly sophisticated.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” Melanie teases, nudging me with her elbow. “Marrying a man you barely know, moving into his fancy hotel penthouse. Have you told him that I’m your favorite twin sister?”
“Favorite by default,” I quip, leaning against the doorframe. “And for your information, Jack is?—”
“Your knight in shining armor? Your hero?” Melanie interrupts with an exaggerated swoon, batting her eyelashes.
“Something like that,” I admit, feeling a warmth spread through me at the mention of his name. But I don’t let her see that. Instead, I playfully push her shoulder. “Now come on in. You’ve had enough time making fun of me out here.”
“Never enough time for that,” she says with a smirk, stepping past me into the house. But there’s love in her voice, mixed in with the teasing, and it makes this crazy situation feel just a little bit more like home.
I steer Melanie through the hallway, my heart doing that funny fluttery thing it does whenever I’m about to introduce Jack. “Prepare yourself,” I warn her with a nudge. “He’s even more handsome in person.”
“Is that even possible?” Melanie quips. But I catch the curiosity flickering in her eyes.
When we walk into the kitchen, Jack is standing next to the coffee pot, his hair still damp from the shower. “Jack, this is my sister, Melanie,” I tell him as he turns toward us.
Jack’s smile is all warmth as he strides over, offering a hand that’s confident without being overpowering. “It’s a real pleasure to finally meet you.”
“Likewise,” she replies, her voice taking on that softer note she uses when she’s genuinely pleased. “Marlie hasn’t stopped talking about you.”
“Only good things, I hope.” Jack’s gaze flicks to me, a silent question dancing in his eyes.
“Mostly,” I tease back, nudging him playfully with my shoulder.
Jack wraps an arm around my waist. “Why don’t you two take the day to explore Barton Beach? The weather’s perfect, and I know you haven’t had much sister time lately.”
“Are you sure?” I glance up at him. “I thought you said you wanted to spend the day together.”
“I’m sure, baby. You and Melanie go have fun.”
“Oh, we will,” Melanie chimes in, the excitement clear in her voice as she loops her arm through mine. “Thank you, Jack.”
“Enjoy yourselves,” Jack calls after us as we make our way to the door.
“See?” Melanie whispers once we’re outside. “Knight in shining armor.”
“Okay,so there’s this adorable little spot I’ve been eyeing for my new shop,” I say as we stroll down the sun-drenched sidewalk. “I’m dying to show it to you.”
“Lead the way,” Melanie says with a grin that mirrors mine.
We pass by charming boutiques and cozy cafés until we stop in front of the storefront I showed Jack last week. Its large windows beam with potential, and I can already picture the pastel macaroons lined up in a display that would make anyone’s mouth water.
“Here it is,” I announce, gesturing toward the building.
Melanie’s eyes widen in delight. “Marlie, it’s perfect!”
“Right?” Excitement bubbles up inside me. “Look at the foot traffic, and it’s just a block from the beach. Can’t you just see the tourists flocking?”
“Absolutely.” She steps closer to the window, peering inside. “And your branding will pop against this backdrop.”
I unlock the door with the key I borrowed from Patricia, a sense of pride swelling in my chest as we step into the empty space. It’s not much yet—just bare walls and dusty floors—but to me, it’s a blank canvas full of promise.
“Imagine soft, warm lighting, tables over there, a counter here...” I walk through the shop, pointing out where each piece of my dream will fit.
“You’re going to create something magical here, Marlie,” Melanie declares, her voice ringing with a mix of awe and respect. “And if you’re thinking about setting up shop in your pretend hubby’s hometown, I’d say things are getting pretty serious.”
Her words stir up a whirlwind of thoughts within me. She’s right. This is something I’ve been skirting around, avoiding in my thoughts. Now it’s here, staring me in the face and refusing to be ignored any longer.
“Earth to Marlie?” Melanie’s voice cuts through my reverie. She’s looking at me with concern etched on her face.
I push off from the counter and turn towards her, forcing a smile onto my face. “Yeah... yeah, I’m okay.” My voice wavers slightly betraying my uncertainty. “It’s just that... well...” I pause, nibbling on my lower lip as I search for words. “This whole idea of setting up Macaroons by Marlie here...I guess I’m still a little conflicted about it.”
Melanie steps closer, her blue eyes reflecting sincerity. “You’re worried about how this will affect your relationship with him?”
“Exactly.” I sigh, picking at a nonexistent speck on the counter. “What if this complicates things? Or what if I’m only successful because I’m Jack Barton’s wife, even temporarily?”
She reaches out, taking my hands in hers. “Marlie, you’ve always been the one with drive and ambition. This shop,” she gestures around the empty space, “it’s going to thrive because of you, not because of who you’re married to.”
“But independence has always been my thing, you know? And now I’m tying my dreams to his world.”
“Independence isn’t a place or a situation, sis. It’s a state of mind. And as for Jack, I’ve seen the way he looks at you—like you’re his North Star.”
“Really?” I ask, allowing a sliver of hope to creep into my chest.
“Really.” She nods emphatically. “Follow your heart, Marlie. It’s never led you astray before.”
I squeeze her hands. “Thanks, Mel. That means everything.”
“Hey, what are twins for?” She bumps her shoulder against mine, her smile easy and bright. “Besides, it’s not every day I get to play shop consultant.”
She grins, releasing my hands to wrap an arm around my shoulders. “Now, let’s talk about what flavors we’ll feature on opening day, shall we?”
“Absolutely,” I agree, the warmth of her support bolstering my resolve as I begin to share my vision with renewed vigor.
Inside, Melanie’s advice swirls around like leaves caught in an autumn breeze—each one a whisper telling me to trust, to leap, to believe. And with each step we take away from the shop, her encouragement wraps around me like a cashmere scarf, soft and warm against the chill of my fears.
Hours later,I hoist myself into bed next to Jack, the events of the day weighing heavily on my eyelids.
“Melanie all settled?” Jack asks as I slip underneath the covers beside him.
“Yep,” I respond, stifling a yawn. “She’s camped out in the guest room, chatting away with her boyfriend.”
A soft chuckle escapes him as he sets down his phone on the bedside table and rolls over to face me, pulling me closer into his embrace. His warmth seeps into me, slowing my racing thoughts.
“Did you two have fun?” He asks.
I pause for a moment before answering, choosing my words carefully. “It was fine,” I assure him lightly. But there’s an unspoken weight to my words that even I can’t ignore. “Just...a lot of thinking going on.”
Jack’s thumb traces circles on the back of my hand. “About the shop?”
“About everything.” I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “She told me to follow my heart. To trust in... us.”
“Smart woman, your sister.” There’s a glimmer of something tender in his gaze, something that makes my chest expand with a mix of hope and uncertainty.
The words settle over me and I allow myself to lean into the warmth of hope kindling within—hope for a future that’s starting to look a lot less like convenience and a lot more like something real.