Chapter 10
10
M arina couldn’t remember when she had seen Heather so happy. Her daughter’s face glowed as she talked about her plans with Blake for the future. She had stopped by Marina’s house to borrow a cocktail dress for a party that one of Blake’s nonprofit rescue organization supporters was having.
Heather held up the black dress. “This is perfect. Everything I have is too young and too short. I want to make a good impression.”
Her daughter was maturing into a lovely young woman. “Take some heels to match.”
“Thanks,” Heather replied as she selected a pair. “I want you to know that Blake and I have made some important decisions.”
“Already?” Marina sat on the bench at the foot of her bed. “It’s only been a couple of days.”
“I know, but we have so much to do,” Heather replied, joining her. “I’ve turned down my out-of-town job offers, so I’m staying in Summer Beach. That’s obvious now, I guess.”
Marina thought that was a good idea. “Do you know what you want to do here? Of course, you’re welcome to continue working at the cafe, but I thought you wanted more of a challenge in marketing.”
Heather grinned. “How about helping you run the food truck side of the business? I know you want to expand that, and I have a lot of ideas to appeal to the new communities we go into. Videos, social media, mailing lists. And an entire branding campaign. You’re going to need that, Mom.”
“I could use your help with all of that,” Marina said thoughtfully.
“And the cookbook will be an important part of the campaign.”
“Will you have time for that?”
“I’ll make time,” Heather said. “I’m so excited about all of this. In one of my marketing classes, we had a case study about how a company grew through branding, which made their franchise program one of the most popular.”
They talked a little more while Marina let Heather select jewelry to match the dress. She tucked a necklace and bracelet into a small pouch and gave that to her daughter. “Did you and Blake talk about where you plan to live?”
“I’ll move into his house after the wedding. But we want to buy a home of our own soon.” Heather hugged her. “I still need to study tonight, so I should go back to Ginger’s.”
“Before I forget, did Blake give you his parents’ number?”
“Oh, sure,” Heather replied, taking out her phone. “I’ll send it to you. See you later.”
As Marina watched her go, her heart was full for her daughter’s good fortune. Finding someone to love wasn’t easy, but she and Blake were a good match.
Marina stood at the kitchen window the next morning, her fingers absently tracing the rim of her coffee mug. She set aside her concerns over Blake’s parents not attending Heather’s party. Blake had also invited them, and she wondered if he was disappointed that they weren’t there for the engagement.
She understood that people were busy, and it was almost an hour’s drive from their home. Perhaps if he’d told them, they would have made the trip for him. Still, they would all have many happy occasions ahead.
Marina picked up her phone and tapped the number Heather had given her for Blake’s parents. The line rang twice before a woman’s voice answered.
“Hello, Arlette? This is Marina, Heather’s mother,” she said, injecting warmth into her voice.
“Oh, yes,” Arlette said, sounding slightly distant.
Nevertheless, Marina continued, “My husband, Jack, and I want to invite you and Ken to our home for dinner. Now that our children are engaged, we’re looking forward to meeting you.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line, long enough for Marina to wonder if the connection had been lost.
“Arlette? Are you still there?”
“Yes, I’m here.” Arlette’s voice sounded oddly strained. “I suppose we should meet in person.”
Marina forged ahead, determined to bridge the unexpected coolness. “We’re planning an engagement party. I would love your input and will be happy to invite guests you want to attend. When would you like?—”
“This week,” Arlette interrupted. “We should meet this week. There’s a cafe in Orange County. The Bluebird. Are you free Thursday evening?”
Taken aback by the abruptness, Marina agreed to the meeting. As she hung up, a knot of unease formed in her stomach. Something didn’t seem right. Or maybe she’d reached Arlette at the wrong time.
The Bluebird Cafe was a quaint spot with pale blue walls and crisp white tablecloths. Marina and Jack arrived early, the bell above the door chiming as they entered. The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air, but it did little to soothe Marina’s growing apprehension.
“Relax,” Jack said. “Maybe she was having a bad day.”
“I hope that’s all it was.” Marina chewed her lip while they waited.
A large, expensive-looking car pulled up in front of the restaurant, and a well-dressed couple got out.
“That man looks like Blake,” Jack said. “I’ll bet that’s Ken and Arlette Hayes. In a new Rolls-Royce, no less. I’m surprised they didn’t suggest a more exclusive restaurant.”
“Maybe they’re being modest.”
“By driving that?”
Marina had to concede that point.
When the couple walked in, they introduced themselves. Marina sensed tension in their tight faces, even though they shook hands and were polite enough.
Arlette wore one of the largest wedding rings Marina had ever seen outside People magazine. Marina wasn’t staring, but it was hard to miss. Her husband had another diamond ring unlike anything she’d ever seen on a man. Knowing Blake and how practical he was, she wouldn’t have guessed his parents were like this.
As they settled into their seats, Marina began the conversation. “We’re so glad to meet you. Blake is such a wonderful young man, and we’re delighted that he and Heather are such a good match.”
Before anyone could respond, a waitress approached with menus. Ken waved her off without accepting the menus. “Give us a few minutes,” he said in a gruff tone.
That wasn’t a good sign. Marina’s heart sank as Ken leaned forward, his expression grave.
“I’m sure your Heather is a lovely girl.” His words were clearly patronizing. “And maybe Blake has been sowing some wild oats in Summer Beach. But my son has been engaged to another young woman for several years. She’s a family friend, someone he’s known since childhood.”
The words hit Marina like a physical blow. She glanced at Jack, seeing her shock mirrored in his eyes.
“My daughter is not some wild oats, some fling…” Marina was so upset she stumbled over her words. Jack rested a reassuring hand on her thigh.
Arlette spoke up, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “I’m sorry you drove all this way, but I didn’t want to tell you this over the phone.”
Her husband nodded. “We have nothing else to talk about. This engagement to your daughter is off.”
Marina found her voice, anger rising to replace her initial shock. “They are adults, and that decision is up to Blake. He proposed to Heather at her birthday party with a beautiful ring he’d picked out for her. The one we invited you to.”
Arlette looked away, clearly uncomfortable.
Ken shrugged. “Our son can be impulsive.”
“Blake appears to know what he wants,” Jack said, trying a reasonable approach. “He and Heather have been together for quite some time now.”
Ken’s face hardened. “We’re not going to argue about this. It’s unfortunate that your daughter will be disappointed, but that’s Blake’s doing, not ours.”
“Unfortunate?” Marina couldn’t believe his cavalier tone. “This isn’t some high school crush. They’re in love and are making plans. Heather has turned down job offers to stay in Summer Beach.”
“Again, we’re terribly sorry,” Arlette said, averting her eyes.
“It really is their decision,” Jack added. “Blake is committed to Heather, and they want to marry as soon as she graduates from university.”
Ken lowered his voice. “She’s not pregnant, is she? Because if she’s entrapped our son, she shouldn’t expect any money out of the deal.”
Arlette looked horrified. “That wasn’t necessary,” she whispered to her husband.
“We have to know, don’t we?” Ken’s tone was rude and insinuating.
“That’s it.” Marina couldn’t take this any longer. She stood abruptly, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. The few other patrons turned to look, but she hardly noticed. “My daughter,” she said, her voice low and fierce, “did not entrap your son. How dare you suggest such a thing?”
She grabbed her purse, her hands shaking with anger. “Jack, we’re leaving. I won’t sit here and listen to that man insult my daughter.”
“You haven’t heard the last of this,” Jack said to Ken. He wrapped his arm around Marina and led her from the restaurant.
As he helped her into his VW van, tears of frustration pricked Marina’s eyes. Her heart was breaking for her daughter. “What are we going to tell Heather?”
“Let me talk to Blake first.” Jack sighed heavily. “Something doesn’t seem right. I don’t think Arlette wants to support her husband in this. Ken might be threatening to cut Blake out of an inheritance or something.”
“He appears to be self-supporting, though.”
“I don’t know. Family dynamics can be awfully strange.”
Marina nodded, steeling herself for the conversation ahead. As they drove back to Summer Beach on empty stomachs, she was saddened to think how quickly their joy had turned to heartache. And more pressingly, what would Blake have to say about this?