Chapter 8
8
“ T hanks for managing the cafe today,” Marina said to Cruise, who would cook while a reliable part-timer would wait tables. “All the prep work is complete, and the holiday menu is fairly streamlined.”
“No worries,” he replied, gesturing toward only a few tables occupied for breakfast. “It will be slow today. Most people are shopping for gifts.”
“I’ll be back for dinner,” she said with a wave. They were also closing a little earlier.
Marina strolled along the winding pathway from the cafe to Ginger’s cottage, eager to talk to Ethan. She entered the kitchen, where she saw her grandmother seated at the red Formica table, sipping coffee and reading the Summer Beach bulletin.
“Good morning, darling,” Ginger said, lowering the newspaper.
“Is anyone else up?”
“Not yet. The kids came home late from the bonfire last night, and then they stayed up and talked by the fireplace.”
“This is the first time Heather and Ethan have been separated for any length of time. They probably had a lot to talk about.”
Ginger removed her reading glasses. “Holly was with them, too.”
As much as Ginger’s guest was growing on her, Marina was slightly concerned. “I hope Heather and Ethan still had a chance to catch-up.”
“It sounded like they were all having a good time.” A smile touched Ginger’s lips. “There was a lot of laughter floating up the stairs last night. I wouldn’t worry about them. They’re all adults now.”
Marina sighed and nodded. “When did that happen? It seems like yesterday they were still in grammar school.”
A commotion broke out upstairs, with Ethan yelling and Heather screaming with laughter. A door slammed, and Heather raced downstairs in her pajamas. Her long hair was still sleep-tousled.
“Hey, Mom. I didn’t hear you come in.” Still grinning, Heather hugged Marina and made straight for the coffeemaker.
“What happened up there?” Marina asked, amused at their antics.
Heather shrugged. “I woke up Ethan, that’s all. He’s gotten lazy.”
Marina shot a look at Ginger. “And how exactly did you wake him?”
“She bounced onto my bed and attacked me.” Ethan glared at his sister from the doorway. He still wore his pajama bottoms with a T-shirt.
“You can’t handle a little tickling like you used to do to me?” Heather poured two cups and handed one to her brother. “Here you go, grumpy Santa.”
Marina chuckled; things hadn’t changed between them. “Who is hungry?”
Ethan rubbed his face. “Starving, Mom.”
“As usual.” Marina glanced at Ginger. “Mind if I whip up breakfast?”
“Please. I love watching you cook. You’ll find plenty of eggs in the refrigerator.”
“Can you make one of your special omelets with biscuits, Mom? I miss those.”
“Wow, Ethan, you get special treatment,” Heather teased.
Marina picked up on that. “He’s going to help me right after he changes, aren’t you? We have a guest in the house.”
With a groan, Ethan charged upstairs, and Heather raced after him. Minutes later, they reappeared in sweatshirts and jeans, their dark blond hair looking a little less wild. Ethan’s frame was trimmer but more muscular, and the freckles that appeared in the sun were prominent across his nose now.
Marina whisked eggs in a bowl while Ethan brought out the dry ingredients—flour, butter, and milk. Minutes later, fluffy Southern-style biscuits were baking in the old O’Keefe & Merritt fire-engine red oven.
Heather hip-checked her brother as she reached for berries. “Are you sure those carbs are on your golf pro diet?”
Ethan made a face. “I’m on holiday, and it’s none of your business.”
“These two haven’t missed a beat,” Ginger said, laughing at their behavior.
Marina kept an eye on the oven. When the biscuits were ready, she pulled them out, and a heavenly scent filled the air.
“Good morning,” came a soft voice. Holly appeared in the doorway wearing a sweater and jeans.
Ethan froze mid-reach for a hot biscuit and butter. His eyes followed Holly as she sat at the table across from Ginger. “Did you sleep well?” he asked.
“Until some sort of commotion woke me,” she replied, grinning.
Across the room, Ginger caught Marina’s eye and raised an eyebrow.
Marina picked up on an unusual tone in her son’s voice. Was he interested in Holly or just flirting? Darting a glance at him, she decided it was likely an innocent holiday crush. She slid omelets from a pair of pans and started two more.
“That was your fault for not getting up right away,” Heather told Ethan.
“You can’t expect me to be coherent from a dead sleep,” Ethan protested, then turned to Holly with interest brightening his face. “I meant to ask you about the ornaments and snow globes you make last night. Kai told me about them.”
“They all sold out at the market,” Holly said, accepting the mug of coffee Marina offered. “Almost all, that is. I kept a few special ones back.”
Holly’s phone buzzed in her pocket, and she took it out. “That’s the garage. Looks like my car will be ready later this afternoon.” With a small sigh, Holly wrapped her hands around her mug. “I should head to Los Angeles then.”
“Must you leave so soon?” Ginger asked. “We’re going to Beach Waves, a salon in the village, for a little holiday pampering. I’ve already booked us all in—you too, Holly. We’re meeting Kai there, too.”
“For her pink and purple highlights,” Marina added, serving omelets to Ginger and Holly first.
“I could come along,” Ethan said eagerly.
“Down, boy,” Heather teased. “It’s girls only. Besides, your hair’s perfect. Looks like you just had it cut.”
“You could stay another night,” Ethan suggested to Holly, ignoring his sister’s remark. “Leave tomorrow instead? You shouldn’t drive in the dark.”
Holly sipped her coffee, considering. “Maybe...”
“What’s waiting in L.A.?” Marina asked, keeping her tone casual. “The craft show there is over, isn’t it?”
Holly’s voice grew quiet. “There’s someone I’d hoped to see before Christmas.”
“Boyfriend?” Ethan asked, leaning forward.
Smiling, Holly shook her head. “I’m not dating anyone.”
Ethan looked pleased by that. “Family?”
Marina shot him a warning look. “Holly grew up like your Grandpa Dennis,” she said lightly. She plated two more omelets for the twins.
“Oh, I get it.” Ethan’s gaze softened as he realized what that meant. “That’s cool. You’re like us.”
Heather reached across the table and squeezed Holly’s hand. “Welcome to the complicated family club. We’ve got T-shirts.”
Holly’s laughter bubbled up and seemed to surprise even herself. “I’ll join you at the salon. The person I’m meeting has a lot of style. I want to make a good first impression. It’s important…” Her voice trailed off.
“Sounds mysterious,” Ethan said, waggling his eyebrows. “So it’s settled. You’ll stay tonight.”
“Just one more night, if that’s okay.”
“Of course it is,” Ginger said. “However, we should go soon. We don’t want to be late and lose our appointments.”
Ethan wolfed down his breakfast. “I’ll see you all later.”
Marina watched Ethan rush upstairs. Beside her, Ginger murmured, “I’ll bet he finds an excuse to stop by Beach Waves.”
After arriving at the salon, Marina opened the door for their party. The bell on the salon’s front door jingled, matching everyone’s high spirits.
Kai was already waiting for them. “Hi, you gorgeous ladies—who are about to look even more fabulous shortly. It seems Ginger booked every stylist here for us.”
Holly glanced around the bustling salon, splashed in shades of pink and whimsical sayings on the walls. “What a cute place.”
Ginger spoke to the receptionist. “There are several of us, but I would like our guest to have special treatment. It’s a big day for her tomorrow.”
“I understand,” the receptionist said brightly. “Brandy can take her right now.”
At the mention of the owner’s name, Holly swung around, suddenly alert. “Did you say, Brandy?”
A woman a little older than Holly turned around to greet her. “Welcome to Beach Waves.”
Suddenly, Holly looked flustered, and her face paled as she stared at the salon owner. “ You’re Brandy?”
Nodding, Brandy looked surprised at Holly’s tone. “Are you okay?”
“I think I need some water,” Holly said, sinking into a chair. “I’m feeling like I might faint.”
“I’ll get you a glass,” Brandy said, frowning with concern. She hurried away.
Kai sat next to Holly and took her hand. “What was that about? Do you know Brandy?”
Looking panicked, Holly blurted out in a hoarse whisper, “That’s who I wanted to try to meet in Los Angeles. What is she doing here ?”
“This is her salon,” Kai said. “But she moved from L.A. What’s going on with you?”
Holly pressed a hand to her heart. “It’s complicated. Not long ago, I took a DNA test and got a match.”
Marina knelt beside the young woman. “On Brandy?”
Dabbing her eyes, Holly nodded. “I think she’s…my sister,” she finished softly. “But I don’t think she knows that. I wasn’t even sure if I was going to talk to her. I just wanted to see what she looked like.”
“Well, you’re here now,” Kai said.
“But I’m not ready yet.” Holly bit her lip and frowned. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this.”