Chapter 7
7
M arina lined up serving dishes on a table just outside the cafe kitchen. While she could have hosted the birthday party at the home she and Jack shared, she thought Heather, Ethan, and their friends would enjoy the beach setting more. She had closed the cafe a little early for the evening. This time of year, the tourist traffic declined, and many residents ate early.
She added another plate of skewered vegetables with roasted chicken and pork and placed it beside the vegetable and cheese plates. She glanced at her sister. “Kai, would you put out more napkins?”
“Sure. This is a finger food kind of beach crowd.” Kai glanced at the cupcake tower they had constructed. “This idea was much better than a cake.”
“I was afraid it might look like a kid’s birthday party, but they’re still not too old for cupcakes.” Leo and Samantha had sneaked two treats early, but Marina had plenty to replenish.
“Not when they’re red velvet, carrot cake, and double chocolate. Yum.”
“Those are Heather and Ethan’s favorites.”
“Mine, too.” Kai grinned. “Did I tell you I’m eating for two?”
Marina laughed. “Try eating for three. I was huge.”
“Does it seem like it was that long ago?”
“When they were little, I hardly had time to do anything except work and look after them. I didn’t slow down until they left for university. Only when I stopped being a woman in perpetual motion did I realize how fast the years had flown.”
Marina looked for Heather and Ethan in the crowd of young people. They were surrounded by friends and family. Everyone was laughing and having a good time.
Kai nodded toward Heather and Blake. “They sure have become close. I wonder where that’s going.”
Marina shrugged, thinking about the talk she’d had with Blake about Heather. “They’re in love. What can I say?”
“Everyone has to suffer their first love, I suppose.”
“Blake seems like a good guy.” Even if his parents seemed a little stand-offish, she thought. She had invited them, but they hadn’t arrived. It was late now, so maybe something had come up. She bumped Kai’s shoulder. “I was Heather’s age when I married Stan.”
“You were really young.” Kai raised her brow. “Don’t you want her to wait?”
“They’re adults. What I want doesn’t matter anymore.” Marina might have influence, but the twins were making their own decisions now. “I’ve learned I have little control over who they decide to date.”
Kai laughed. “Unless they’re lunatics or something.”
Brooke came up behind them and threw her arms around her sisters. “Are you talking about my boys again?”
“Hey, you,” Kai said. “How’s the newest one?”
“She’s pretty calm,” Brooke replied. “I think I’ll have to wake her up to give birth. I only hope she can sleep through the male ruckus in my house. But I’m thrilled to be having a girl at last. It will still be two against four, but at least I won’t be alone anymore.”
“I’m so happy for you,” Marina said, hugging her. “How is Chip taking this?”
Brooke glanced at her husband, who was talking to Jack and Axe. “At first, we were both shocked, but now he’s going all out in a blaze of Barbie pink.”
“Axe bought a miniature pink tool kit,” Kai said. “And I don’t mean the toy kind. I didn’t even get that.”
“Keep that away from her for a few years,” Brooke said, chuckling. “How have you been feeling?”
Kai twisted her lips to one side. “A little better, although I’ve had some weird stuff going on. Being pregnant is like some alien being taking over your body. Not to mention stretching it into a new shape I’ve never seen before. We can talk later. I don’t want to ruin this vibe.”
“Have you been feeling bad?” Marina shot a look of concern at Brooke.
“The morning sickness has passed, but I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel now,” Kai replied, biting her lip. “I’ve never done this before.”
“You’re probably fine.” Brooke rubbed Kai’s arm. “But I’ll go with you to the doctor if you want.”
“I’d like that,” Kai said, sounding relieved. “This is when you really wish you had a mother, not to minimize Ginger in any way. It’s just been a long time since she had a baby.”
“We understand,” Marina said, trading another look with Brooke. “We’re both here for you.”
Kai swallowed hard and hugged her. “I don’t know what I’d do without you two.”
“Fortunately, you won’t have to,” Marina said, smiling. She remembered being scared with the twins. That was twenty-two years ago tonight, and Ginger had been her rock.
Leo tugged on her sleeve. “Hey, Marina. Dad said to ask you when you’re going to light the candles. I think he wants a cupcake.”
“Let’s light them now.” He had helped her put candles on the cake. “Would you tell Heather and Ethan we’re ready?”
“Okay.” He set off with his friend Samantha beside him.
“Help me light the candles,” Marina said to Brooke, handing her a lighter.
Presently, Heather appeared, dragging Ethan behind her. “Gosh, you act like I’m torturing you. Just blow out your share of the candles. You win a couple of tournaments and suddenly, you’re too good for this?”
“I never said that. I was right in the middle of telling a story.” Ethan threw up his hands at the sight of the candles. “What the heck? How many candles did you use, Mom? This looks like a bonfire.”
Leo piped up, showing his stepbrother his handiwork. “That’s your side, Ethan. You got the blue candles, and Heather has the pink candles. So you each have your own now. No more sharing.”
“Well, I guess that makes sense,” Ethan said, tousling Leo’s hair.
Ginger started singing the birthday song, and everyone joined in.
Marina watched her twins’ eyes sparkle with happiness as the raucous chorus rang out. The last few years had been a transition for them, but at last, they were both in good places in their lives.
After dropping out of Duke, Ethan was proving himself in the amateur golf circuit and planning to turn pro, and Heather was graduating and entertaining job offers.
As the song ended, Ginger said, “Make a wish, and aim high.”
Ethan shot his sister a mischievous look before they leaned forward. Heather blew out hers with a long breath, while Ethan needed a couple of attempts, thanks to his exaggerated cheek-puffing shenanigans. Laughter exploded around them as the last candle flickered out.
“What kind are these?” asked the athletic young woman who had come with Ethan. “They all look so yummy.”
Marina reeled off the choices again. “Take a couple,” she added. Ethan told her they had met golfing, and she seemed nice enough.
A murmur of satisfaction rippled through the crowd as Heather’s friends and Ethan’s golfing buddies swarmed the cupcakes and began to eat.
Heather handed one to her boyfriend. “Saved you a double chocolate one. These are the best.”
Blake shook his head. “Thanks, but I can’t eat right now.”
“Are you feeling okay, sweetie?” Heather asked, furrowing her brow. “You didn’t have much for dinner either.”
“I’m okay.” Blake checked the time. “But there’s something I need to talk to you about. Could you come with me?”
“Sure,” Heather replied, looking curious and a little concerned.
Marina watched Blake lead Heather toward the fire pit at the edge of the patio. Her heart leapt for them. She’d been watching them all evening.
“Hey, Marina,” Kai began.
“Shh, not now.” Marina waved a hand.
“What’s going on?” Kai followed her line of sight.
Brooke and Ginger leaned in, too. Marina motioned to Jack and pressed a finger to her lips. This is it. This was the moment she’d been waiting for.
With the firelight illuminating their silhouettes, Blake dropped to one knee and brought a ring from his pocket. Before he could finish, Heather nodded her ecstatic answer, pulled him up, and flung her arms around him, screaming with joy.
“I think that’s a yes,” Jack said, chuckling. “That sure was easier than the way we did it.”
Marina poked him in the ribs. “Took you long enough, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
When Blake scooped Heather up and whirled her around, their friends cheered them on.
Blinking back tears of joy, Marina pressed a hand to her heart. “I’m so happy for them.” Blake had asked her permission, which Marina thought was sweet, even if it was a little old-fashioned. But she liked that about him. He was solid and, in some ways, even reminded her of Stan. Her first husband had loved being out on the ocean, too.
Ethan was the first to congratulate them, hugging them both at the same time.
“Those three get along so well,” Marina said.
She hoped Ethan would find someone Heather liked, too. Maybe it would be the young woman he’d brought tonight, although they didn’t seem that serious about each other.
After the congratulations, Heather raced toward her with tears of happiness on her cheeks. “Mom, we’re engaged!” She held out a glittering diamond solitaire on her finger. “Blake told me he asked you first.”
“I’m so happy for you, honey.” Wiping away tears of her own, she hugged Heather and then embraced Blake, who was going to be part of the family. “I didn’t know when it would happen, though. I was dying to tell you, but Blake swore me to secrecy.”
“Thanks for keeping the secret,” he said, his face shining with happiness. “I’d planned to propose at Christmas, but I couldn’t wait. As soon as I bought the ring, I wanted to give it to her.”
“You’ll make a fine couple,” Ginger said. “You have my blessing, too. Now we have an engagement party to plan.”
Heather and Blake exchanged a look of excitement. “We’d love that,” Heather said.
“Then it’s settled.” Ginger clasped her hands. “We have so much to do. And Marina, you and Jack must meet Blake’s parents.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Marina said, taking her husband’s hand. But as she did, she caught a glimpse of Blake. A look of concern flashed across his face before turning back to Heather.
Although Marina didn’t say anything that might spoil the moment, she wondered if Blake’s parents were as pleased as they were. Yet, Heather was sweet, intelligent, lovely, talented, and kind. And she adored Blake. Any in-laws would be happy to have Heather as a new daughter-in-law.
Surely, she’d imagined Blake’s reaction. She turned to him. “I’ll call your parents and introduce ourselves.”
Before Blake could reply, he and Heather were drawn into their crowd of friends. Marina dabbed her eyes and watched them go.
Ginger put her arm around Marina’s shoulder. “Heather has chosen well, and she’ll soon start a new chapter in her life. How exciting for her. I hope she’s as happy as I was with Bertrand. Why, I still remember every moment of that happy day.”
Jack leaned toward her. “I’m looking forward to hearing all about it.”
Smiling, Ginger tapped his cheek. “You will, my dear. You will.”
Marina gazed around the patio, fixing the scene in her mind. Her little girl was grown and would soon move out of Ginger’s cottage to join Blake and make a home with him. They would most likely remain in Summer Beach. Her mind skipped ahead to grandchildren, a possibility that seemed so far away.
But for now, she had an engagement party to plan and her daughter’s future in-laws to meet.