Chapter 4
4
M arina arranged her thinly sliced, toasted cranberry bread squares on a serving board with an array of cheeses. She joined her sister at the communal chef’s table in the kitchen, open to the cafe. “Here’s a snack before the dinner crowd arrives. And some avocado for Stella.”
Kai bounced the baby on her lap. “Thanks. We’re famished.”
She tucked Stella into a baby carrier beside her, taking care to keep her out of the way of servers who might be whisking in and out with plates of food. Stella squealed with glee at the avocado slices.
After taking a bite of cheese, Kai asked, “Where are all the guys?”
“Jack usually walks Scout about this time, and Leo is probably with him,” Marina replied.
“I’ve been trying to reach Axe,” Kai said. “And Ginger asked me if I’d seen Oliver after his golf game.”
“Maybe they’re all plotting together.”
Kai made a face. “Those guys? Please, they’re the last ones I’d suspect of anything.”
Marina arched an eyebrow at that. “Uh-oh. Bored much?”
She’d been concerned about her sister. As much as Kai had longed for a baby, Marina suspected she might be overwhelmed with the duties of motherhood. Or worse, she would miss the excitement of traveling and performing on the musical theater circuit.
Kai shrugged. “Sometimes I wish something would happen around here. I love Summer Beach, but it’s hardly Broadway.”
“Nothing is,” Marina said, peering at her sister. “Are you feeling blue because you took the holidays off?”
“I had to. That English nanny almost killed me, but now, I miss it.”
“You were fabulous in Mary Poppins , but maybe it was too soon for you to take it on. With Stella getting older, it will be easier.”
Kai’s face bloomed at the memory. “It was a fun production, even with all the kid herding. Little scene stealers, every one of them.” Kai made a face.
“Even Leo?”
“Oh, my gosh, especially Leo.” Kai’s eyes widened. “When I cast him as Tiny Tim last year, I created a monster.”
Marina laughed, knowing Kai didn’t mean a word of what she said.
With a theatrical sigh, her sister rested her chin on the heel of her hand. “I love Stella, but I underestimated this entire mommy gig. If it hadn’t been for Brooke and Ginger, I don’t know what I would’ve done. By next year, Stella should be walking and talking. When do they start speaking again?”
“Give her a little longer to piece together sentences.” Marina grinned, recalling how she managed with twins. Those early years weren’t easy, but she remembered them fondly now.
Marina spread homemade ricotta onto a small cranberry toast, drizzled honey, and sprinkled flaked sea salt. “Here, try this.”
“Do you have any wine to go with it?” Kai asked. When Marina looked surprised, she added, “What? Like you never did that? Besides, I’m on holiday.”
She realized her sister needed an artistic outlet, or at the least, a little break from the daily duties of motherhood—much as she loved her daughter. “How about my bubbly holiday special?”
“Absolutely.” Kai snapped her fingers, swaying to the Christmas pop songs on the sound system. “I’m feeling better already.” Smiling now, she wiped Stella’s green, avocado-smeared face and hands and kissed her cheek. “What a happy mess you are.” She put a few banana slices on the carrier tray in front of her, and Stella broke into a toothless grin.
“I know of a good babysitter you might like. A retired nurse. She might have time during the holiday season.”
“Really?” Kai brightened. “I’d love her number.”
“I’ll give it to you.” Marina brought a bottle of chilled cava—the Spanish version of champagne—to the counter and poured a small glass for Kai. She added a splash of deep red Chambord and a sprig of mint. “A Kir Royale for a royal pain in the?—”
Interrupting, Kai said breezily, “Thanks, Sis. You’re the best. You’re not joining me?”
“Not while I have to cook. That’s how accidents happen in the kitchen. So, do you want to hear some news?”
“Please, I’m dying here. I’ve already outlined the next two years of productions, and I’m choreographing dances and blocking scenes in the living room. I’ve broken a vase and a candy dish with my high kicks. At this rate, Stella will be an assistant director by the time she starts kindergarten.”
Marina jerked her head toward their grandmother’s cottage. “Ginger has a visitor.”
Kai choked on her cocktail. “Not another man?”
“What? No!” Marina chuckled at the absurdity of that. “Holly is her name.” Quickly, Marina told her about their meeting and how Ginger had invited her to stay.
“I think that’s kind,” Kai said. “I probably would have done the same thing. Wouldn’t you?”
Marina shook her head. “Now I feel guilty that I didn’t.”
“That surprises me. You’re usually a good judge of people. This Holly—she’s okay, right?”
“I think so. She’s an artist, and she was on her way to a holiday market in Los Angeles.”
“Why doesn’t she just stay here and set up a booth at ours?”
“Well, I suppose she could. But Kai, there’s something odd about her.”
“Like what?”
“She paints ornaments with images.”
“You mean, like wreaths and trees? Yeah, that’s weird.”
Marina leaned forward and lowered her voice. “No, silly. Houses. The Seabreeze Inn—and even Ginger’s house.”
“So? Artists paint what they see. She’s obviously been here before.”
“No, she insists she hasn’t been. But then she says she paints from memory.”
Kai held her glass in midair. Even Stella looked up with rounded eyes. “Okay, that is weird. What’s up with that?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I think we should watch her. She’s not telling the truth, but I don’t know why she would lie. Why not just say you painted it from something you saw online? Or admit you’ve been here before. We don’t know her; we’re not judging her.”
“Really?” Kai raised her eyebrows.
“Okay, maybe a little.”
“Does she seem threatening or anything?”
Marina wiped Stella’s sweet little face again. “No, just…lost,” she added, looking for the right word. “Artistic, of course. Kind, I think.”
Holly had given Ivy and Ginger the ornaments, almost as if she’d been expecting to.
Kai scooped more cheese from the board. “I’ll invite her to the market in the morning.”
Marina touched a finger to her lips. “You can do that right now. Here they come.”
“Doesn’t this look cozy,” Ginger exclaimed when they arrived. “I wanted to show Holly your cafe before I began dinner.”
“I can bring dinner to you, or you can join us here,” Marina said. “Holly, too, of course.” If Ginger didn’t eat at the cafe or go out with Oliver or friends, Marina often brought dinner to her.
Marina gestured to seats at the table. “Would you like to join us at the chef’s table? It’s where family and friends sit.”
“It’s a little chilly this evening,” Holly said with a shiver.
“We turn on the heat lamps,” Marina said. “It’s quite cozy on the patio this time of year. And we have wraps if you need one. A local woman makes them for us.”
Cruise walked in through the rear door for his shift. “I’ll get them for you,” he offered. A few moments later, he reappeared with beautifully woven shawls.
“Thank you, dear,” Ginger said, putting one around her shoulders. Holly did the same, admiring it as she did.
After they sat down, Kai said, “Our friend has a booth to sell these shawls at the holiday market. I’d like to buy a couple for gifts.”
Ginger turned to Holly. “Since you have to forgo your market in Los Angeles, perhaps you can sell your ornaments here.” To Kai, she added, “They’re quite lovely.”
“So I’ve heard,” Kai said.
Marina nudged her under the table. “That’s a great idea, and Kai will be happy to help.”
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this,” Holly said with relief. “Everyone in Summer Beach has made me feel so welcome, and just when I didn’t know where to turn.”
Feeling a little guilty, Marina glanced at Kai before continuing. “Our sister Brooke delivers her fresh produce and picks up my baked goods early in the morning from the cafe. She can give you a lift to the market.”
“Most of my inventory is in my vehicle,” Holly said. “I would have to get it from the garage.”
“We’ll figure it out,” Kai said, soothing her concern.
Marina nodded in agreement. Giving residents a chance to earn money from their arts and crafts was the impetus behind the holiday market.
This season, Holly was one of them.
“Hi everyone,” Heather said, breezing into the kitchen. “We have a party to cater tonight, but I wanted to welcome Holly. Ginger told me you’re staying upstairs with us. I’ll be back late, so I hope I don’t wake you.”
“When I’m in dreamland, nothing wakes me,” Holly said, smiling shyly.
The two younger women chatted while people began arriving for dinner. Marina excused herself to put on her chef jacket.
While she was changing, Kai slipped into the room.
“Well, what do you think?” Marina asked.
“Holly seems sweet,” Kai said. “Maybe she misspoke earlier. You and Ginger are a formidable pair.”
“But her story about never having been here, yet painting from memory, doesn’t make sense. Still, I want to help her because she seems adrift.”
Kai waved off her concerns. “People don’t always say exactly what they mean. I’m sure we’ll have a good day at the market.”
Marina wondered. She would hear all about it, for sure. They returned to the front with the others. She saw Jack and the other men heading toward them.
“Hey, look who’s here.” Kai scooped Stella from her carrier and wiped banana from her smiling, happy face. “It’s Daddy.”
“With Leo and Oliver,” Marina added. “I’ll bet they’re hungry.”
Her special this evening was roasted turkey over wild rice and a side of rosemary-infused red potatoes. With that was a garden salad with pomegranate seeds and mandarin orange slices.
“Here’s the light of my life,” Jack said, kissing Marina’s cheek.
“Now I know you’re hungry.” She laughed, hugging him and Leo.
Oliver greeted Ginger with a kiss, and Axe did the same with Kai before taking Stella to lift her into the air. The baby squealed with glee.
“She’s as expressive as her mother,” Axe said, laughing and cooing at his daughter.
“What have you guys been up to?” Kai asked.
“We ran into each other on the beach,” Axe replied. “I met Tyler to discuss a new project and saw these guys walking.”
“That’s good exercise for you,” Ginger said, giving Oliver a smile of approval.
“I don’t know,” Marina said, sizing up the innocent look Jack had on his face. “My husband looks sort of guilty to me.”