Chapter 12 #2
There were family members in the kitchen, the living room, and spilling onto the deck where the table was set.
I tried to settle my nerves. I was only here as a guest. I wasn't Marshall's girlfriend or even a friend. It was polite to invite his roommate for dinner. I had no reason to be anxious.
"How do you like Sanibel, Hayden?" Joy asked.
"It's fine."
"I bet you miss your friends." Joy continued bustling around the kitchen while keeping an eye on Hayden's responses.
Hayden nodded, softening a little. "I do, but I've made some new ones here."
"She's volunteering at the senior center," Marshall interjected.
"That's lovely. Phyllis could always use more help," Joy said.
Jonathan entered the room from outside with an empty platter. He greeted Marshall with a hug. "How are you?"
"Just fine," Marshall said.
"We're very happy to see you, Hayden," Jonathan said with a smile.
"We're going to eat soon if everyone wants to find a seat," Joy said.
It was slightly awkward, but I tried not to let it get to me. Marshall was estranged from his family. There were a few hard feelings. It was bound to be weird. I just hoped Hayden wasn't picking up on the vibes.
In the center of the table there was barbecue chicken, potato salad, and a salad. Elena poured lemonade or water in everyone's glass. When she got to me, she said, "It's so nice to see another woman at dinner."
"I’m happy to be here.”
"We'll have to talk after dinner." Her smile was warm, but I wondered if she knew that something was going on between me and Marshall, and that's why she wanted to talk.
She set my glass down and moved onto Marshall, greeting him with a smile.
When she was done, she sat next to Hudson, and I assumed she was with him.
"Let me introduce you to everyone before we dig in," Joy began, and she went around the table. There was Hudson and Elena, Cooper and Ivy and their new baby, Henry, Brady and Hazel, and Dalton and Shepard, who were by themselves.
When Joy finished the introductions, I said, "It's nice to meet you. Thank you for having me over. Everything looks delicious."
"We're grateful that Marshall was able to stay in the beach cottage. We're so happy to have him home." There was obvious affection in Joy's tone.
I didn't detect any bad feelings from his mother.
But then again, I hadn't heard whether she had much to do with the family business.
From what I'd gleaned from Marshall, his oldest brother, Hudson, and his father were the ones that were upset the most when he decided to go to the military as opposed to working in the business.
I knew not much would be accomplished today, but I hoped Marshall could soothe some of the hurt feelings. It was a start, and I was proud of him for making this step.
Joy waved a hand at Hudson. "Can you start passing dishes around?"
Hudson rushed to comply, and Elena asked, "Is Blaire your grandmother?"
"Yes," I said, nervous again that the attention was on me.
Elena smiled. "She's a character."
"I guess she is. She always knows what's going on around the island."
"She sure does," Elena continued with a smile, accepting the bowl of potato salad from Hudson.
"You'll have to come out with us sometime," Hazel said.
"We like to go out for drinks here and there," Elena agreed.
Ivy cradled Henry in her arms. "I can't always make it now that I have this little guy."
"I can always watch him so you can go out," Cooper offered.
"Maybe when I'm getting more sleep," Ivy said.
"Here, let me hold him so you can serve yourself." Cooper took the baby from Ivy, and everyone smiled.
He was adorable, stretching before settling into his father's arms. I hadn't thought much about having kids, but this was a lovely domestic scene.
One where it was easy to dream about marriage and kids.
After what Flynn had done to me, I assumed it would be a long time before I thought about any of those things.
But being here was giving me ideas I had no business even thinking about.
"It's funny that you both ended up in the same rental. I guess it makes sense since it's your grandmother's cottage, but still," Elena said.
I nodded. "Grandma said she didn't realize it had been booked when she offered the place to me."
"If it were my grandmother, I would assume she was matchmaking," Hazel said before launching into her fake engagement story.
Everyone listened politely even though I was positive I was the only one who hadn't heard the story from her.
Hazel finished with, "I wonder if Blaire learned a thing or two from my grandmother. "
"I'm sure it was an honest mistake," I said, not wanting anyone to think that my grandmother was matchmaking.
"I'm sure you're right," Hazel said with a smile that said she wasn't so sure about my explanation.
"Why did you decide to visit the island for the summer?" Joy asked me.
I spooned the potato salad onto my plate. "I wanted a little break from city life, and I always loved the island."
"So you're planning to go back?" Elena asked.
"At the end of the summer. My job allowed me to work remotely for a few months, but I'll need to go back into the office.
"That's a bummer. It would be nice to have another woman around here," Hazel said.
"Luna should be visiting with Axel soon." Then to me, Joy said, "Luna's my daughter. She met someone on vacation when she was renting a cabin in Maryland."
"She buys and flips houses with Axel. They split their time between Florida and Maryland," Jonathan added.
"Sometimes it seems like they spend more time in Maryland. But hopefully that will change here soon," Joy said.
My brain had snagged on the fact that Luna had met someone while on vacation.
I wanted to know how long they were together before they became a thing, if they tried long-distance, or if they fell hard and fast for each other.
Was it possible to find someone when you weren't looking for a relationship?
Even when you were on the rebound from a cheating ex?