3. Jenna #2
Miles turns back toward me. “Ellie is Liam’s next-door neighbor.
She’s a dear friend to all of us. She has a little guesthouse on her property.
If it’s open, I’m sure you can stay there tonight.
” He awkwardly pats my shoulder in an effort to be reassuring.
“In the morning, I’ll pick you up, and we’ll figure out the house situation. ”
“Guesthouse is booked, but Ellie says she can stay in one of the rooms in the main house. She’ll get it fixed up right now,” Liam calls from his spot across the bar.
I scrunch up my nose. “Is that awkward? Me staying with a strange woman I’ve never met before.”
Miles barks out a laugh. “I mean, you’re welcome to stay with me.” He takes a swig of his beer. Heat pricks the back of my neck.
Melanie pats my hand. “It won’t be awkward. Ellie is in her seventies, and she is the kindest soul. She’ll make you feel comfortable.” She gives me a reassuring smile as a food runner brings out our burgers.
“That was fast,” I say, and suddenly, I’m starving.
I take one bite of the burger and all bets are off.
It’s a good thing I’m not trying to impress anyone because I devour it like I haven’t eaten in weeks, all traces of dignity gone by my second bite.
Miles eats his equally fast. We must be a sight.
“I got to jet,” Danny announces from his spot on the corner. He walks over to us and puts a hand on Miles’s shoulder. “Miles, call me if Jenna needs anything with the house.” He pulls a business card from his pocket and hands it to me. “I’m a contractor,” he adds with a smile.
“I probably can’t afford you,” I grumble, wiping my mouth with a napkin. “But thanks.” I take the card and drop it into my tote bag, probably never to be seen again.
“I’m out too,” Jack says, throwing some money on the bar. “Kid sports tomorrow. It was nice meeting you, Jenna.” He smiles and holds up his hand in a wave to everyone as he and Danny exit together.
I am finishing my burger when Miles says, “Liam, do you mind giving Jenna a lift to Ellie’s since you’re right next door? I have something I need to take care of.”
A wave of nerves swirl in my belly, threatening to send that burger right back up.
Liam seems kind enough, but his quiet, serious demeanor puts me on edge.
He’s a stark contrast to Miles’s happy-go-lucky energy and easy charm that has already started to wear down my walls.
I shoot Miles a concerned look, but suddenly he’s all business like I’m another task on his to-do list. It stings more than I’d like to admit.
“Sure thing. Whenever you’re ready, Jenna. My wife is going to kill me for being out this long while she’s home with the babies.” Liam chuckles, and it puts me at ease.
“Okay. I’m ready.” I push back my barstool and fumble in my purse for my wallet. “Melanie, can I have my check?” I call. She’s the only bartender working and things are picking up. I note the flyer sitting next to me: Fridays in September: Open Mic Night.
Miles waves his hand, shaking his head. “Don’t worry about it. I got it.” He stands and throws three twenties on the bar. “Let’s get your bag out of my car.”
If I were anywhere but Cape May—with its small-town-everyone-is-family feel—I’d probably call a ride share and book it to the nearest hotel, but something stops me from doing the one thing I know is most rational.
Maybe it’s Miles, maybe it’s this town that inherently feels like home, or maybe it’s just that I’m realizing now how damn lonely I’ve been all this time.
Either way, something about Miles makes him seem instinctively trustworthy.
So, I blindly follow the two men out of the bar to get in a car with the second strange man in one day.
As it turns out, Liam is totally and completely fine.
As we drive over to Ellie’s house on Perry Street, he tells me how he met his wife, Sophie, when she was staying at Ellie’s cottage.
I listen intently and the nerves in my stomach settle almost immediately.
It’s already seven p.m., and I know most of the anxiety I was feeling is due to the condition of the house, losing my mom and my job, and the uncertainty of my life before me.
It has nothing to do with the kind stranger driving me to a place I can stay for the night.
He pulls into the driveway of his house and kills the engine. A pretty woman that I assume is his wife stands on the porch, holding a baby girl. He gestures toward them. “That’s Sophie and our daughter, Leah. Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
I gather my small duffel bag and purse and climb down from his enormous truck. Liam looks like the kind of guy who would drive a pickup this big. I walk around in front of the truck, where Sophie meets us in the driveway.
“You must be Jenna.” She smiles. “I’m Sophie. This is Leah.” She gives the squishy baby a little nuzzle and her chubby hands grip Sophie’s cheeks.
“Hi.” I force cheerfulness into my voice, hoping to contradict the melancholy I feel inside from the absence of my own family. Liam clears his throat and gestures at the sage-green Victorian house next door. “That’s Ellie’s house.” He reaches for Leah. “Soph, why don’t you walk Jenna over?”
“I’d be glad to.” Sophie smiles, the epitome of a warm fire on this cool autumn night. “Let me take something from you.” She reaches for my tote bag.
I shake my head. “Oh, no. You don’t have to. I’ve got it.”
“I insist,” she says, patting my arm. “Ellie will be having her evening tea right now. Maybe we can join her.” She takes my tote bag and links her arm through mine.
Nothing will ease the pain of the loss of my mom but the kindness I have encountered today is slowly melting the ice around my broken heart.
When we reach the front door, I expect Sophie to knock, but she lets herself in. “Ellie, we’re here!” Sophie calls. She turns to me and motions for me to follow.
Ellie steps out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish rag. “Oh, hello!” She smiles, her warm countenance instantly making me feel safe. “I’m Ellie. You must be Jenna.”
“Yes.” I nod, offering a tight smile. “Thank you for letting me crash here tonight.”
Ellie waves her hands. “Nonsense! Robert and I love the company.” She turns toward the kitchen. “Leave your bags. He’ll bring them up to your room. I’ve made us some tea.”
I smile for real this time, marveling at the way this small group of friends came together today to help me, a newcomer.
Sophie shoots me an I-told-you-so look and grins. “Come on,” she whispers.
In the kitchen, Ellie has set the table with four saucers and some Italian cookies I remember from my childhood.
I pull out the nearest chair, suddenly desperate to sit down.
“Oh, I wish you didn’t go to any trouble.
I really just need a warm bed tonight,” I say meekly, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“This is what she does.” Sophie looks at Ellie with fondness. “She loves taking care of people.”
“I do.” Ellie nods, bringing the teapot over. She pours hot water into each of our mugs and offers me a basket of tea bags. “Pick any kind you like,” she urges.
I do as I’m told, and we sit quietly together while our tea bags steep.
I know as soon as my head hits the pillow, I will zonk.
Tomorrow I will figure out what’s next. What’s next has been a question I’ve been chasing the answer to since my dad died.
After he died, my mother and I moved into a town house.
The day we sold my childhood home felt like closing the door on a whole life we were leaving behind.
By the time I left for college, my mother was ready to downsize again.
She moved into the two-bedroom apartment that we’d shared after her diagnosis.
When she died, there was no home to sell, no place to return to.
Just a month-to-month lease that ended with everything else.
The Cape May house came as a great surprise—a leftover piece of my family history.
I came here feeling hopeful, but instead, I’m disappointed.
I have no plan and even worse, no money to make one.
“So, Jenna, tell me about yourself.” Ellie’s voice interrupts my thoughts.
“Oh… I… Well, I just discovered last week, during the probate of my mother’s will, that our house here still existed.
” The words tumble out of me before I can stop them, rambling and messy.
“I’m planning to sell it, and I naively thought I’d be able to stay there while I do, but I’m not sure if that will be possible.
” I exhale loudly and take a sip of my tea, hoping it’ll settle the discomfort inside me.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do. My aunt lives here in town, but… we’re estranged.”
Ellie slurps her tea, making me smile. I can already tell she is a warm light to everyone she meets, while at the same time, unapologetically herself. “Who is your aunt? Maybe I know her.”
Just then, Robert interrupts us with a peek in the kitchen from the hall.
He’s holding my bag. “Hi, everyone,” he says.
Then, turning to me, “You must be Jenna. I just wanted to introduce myself and say goodnight,” he says, chuckling.
“You know we old people can’t stay up too late.
I’ll just drop your bag in the purple room, if that’s okay? ”
I grin, nodding. “That’s more than fine, thank you,” I say. “And thank you for letting me stay here.”
“You’re welcome, dear. Goodnight.” And then he’s gone.
Ellie smiles after him. “That man has more creeks than our porch swing, but he’s my favorite place to rest.” She sighs, a content smile crossing her face. “Now, tell me about this aunt of yours.”
I hesitate. If she does know my Aunt Leona, I’m not sure I want her to know I’m back in town.
But Ellie has a kindness about her and I get the feeling she can make everyone she meets spill their guts.
I don’t want to alienate myself by keeping secrets from the people who are helping me.
“Her name is Leona Walker. She is my late father’s sister.
But I haven’t seen her since a year after he died.
My mom and aunt didn’t exactly get along.
” I scrunch up my nose. “I have a cousin too—I saw him more when I was in college, but I think he lives nearby. His name is Jake.”
Ellie dips her chin, and just when I think she may judge me for being estranged from family, she reaches for my hand.
“Sometimes, cutting toxic people out of our lives is the best thing we can do—family or not. I’m sure your mother had a good reason.
” She pulls her hand back and takes a sip of tea.
“Your aunt is in my book club, but I don’t know her well.
I do know though that you and your mother are different people, and it sounds like your aunt is your only family left. Maybe you should try reaching out.”
I don’t have the energy for this type of conversation—not after the day I’ve had. It’s taking everything in me to smile and take this stranger’s advice with a grain of salt.
Maybe Sophie can sense it because she interjects. “Jenna, you must be exhausted. Where did you say you drove here from?”
I clear my throat. “Oh, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.” I stifle a yawn. “I am very tired, yes.”
Sophie rises. “Ellie, why don’t I show Jenna to her room?”
Ellie smiles. “That would be lovely.”
“Thank you for the tea,” I offer, standing. “And I will think about what you said.”
“You’re welcome, dear.” Ellie turns back toward me. “And Jenna? Don’t fret. Everything looks better in the morning.”
I sure hope she’s right.