Chapter 2
2
M aileah lowered her eyes. She had a hundred reasons why she didn’t dare go to Hawaii with Sailor, starting with his kryptonite grin.
“Junie needs me to work on her marketing campaign.” She’d finished it before she left, but her sister might suggest another idea as she had before.
Disappointment swept over Sailor’s face, but he shrugged it off. “Just a wild thought.”
“Don’t you have a girlfriend to go with you?”
“Not this time,” he replied. “She complained about other women on the beach that talk to me. I can’t help that. Half of them were journalists, and this is what I do.”
Maileah could hardly blame her. Women flocked around Sailor; she’d witnessed that. Her grandmother called him charismatic, but Maileah wanted no part of that competition. At least she could see a wave of trouble before it crashed over her now.
“Maybe you’ll meet someone there.”
“Not likely. When you’re in your thirties, you’re considered an old guy.”
She laughed. “Don’t worry. You’re still hot. Someone will take you off the market.”
It was tempting, but Maileah needed to secure work to move out of Junie’s home. With Junie and Knox becoming more serious, she was only in the way. If she was honest with herself, she had wedged her way into Junie’s house. She couldn’t live there forever.
A server came toward them with two cups of coffee. “I have an extra,” Junie said. “Want to stay for a break?”
“I need to get back to the bike concession.” Sailor touched her hand. “But I’m glad you’re okay.”
She wished he’d stay so she’d have someone to talk to, but he was always running off somewhere. She stared at the two cups of coffee the server put in front of her.
Sailor motioned to the server that he’d take care of the bill. He hesitated as if he didn’t want to leave her alone. “Maybe Junie can join you.”
“I’ll text her.” She put a smile on her face. “See you around.”
“No more dates for today?”
She shook her head. “You’re officially off the clock. Thanks for being part of my rescue squad.”
“Someday, you’ll find someone who appreciates you. You’re a prize, Maileah.” He rose and bumped her knuckles.
She watched him stroll away, tipping his chin or waving to people he knew. Sailor had grown up on Crown Island. She’d discovered he was a local celebrity, although he didn’t act like it. He was a championship surfer that sports magazines covered, yet here he was, managing a bike rental concession just because he liked to hang out on the beach.
Maileah’s gaze drifted after him. Golden sand stretched before her, dotted with colorful umbrellas and beachgoers. Breaking waves glinted under the afternoon sun.
She shot a quick text to Junie. Want to take a break? I’m at the cafe with an extra cup of coffee. She waited while her sister tapped a reply.
Store is super busy. Sending Mom .
Maileah smiled and sent a thumbs-up emoji. She needed to talk to her mother.
After her divorce, April Raines discovered a new passion; she created a new historical society for Crown Island. The recently renovated space was also on the Majestic Hotel grounds, so she often visited Junie or Ryan. April and Ryan were a confirmed couple now.
Maileah sipped her coffee, welcoming the jolt of caffeine. Even her mother had more dating success than she did.
A few minutes later, her mother arrived. Clad in white jeans and a blue-and-white striped mariner T-shirt with navy espadrilles, her mother looked stylish and happy.
“Hi, honey.” April hugged her before she sat down. “What a lovely dress. Did you have an interview?”
“Sort of.” Maileah needed to do that, too. “I had a coffee date.”
“I’m glad to see you’re out meeting people,” her mother said, her voice rising with interest. “And how did it go?”
“Not very well, I’m afraid. Sailor rescued me, though.”
April frowned. “I hope you weren’t in any danger.”
“No, he just wasn’t my type.” Quickly, Maileah added, “By that, I mean my new type. Not the old Hawk version.”
April reached for the cream and poured a small amount. “I’m relieved you’re looking for a different kind of man to date. Where did you meet this one?”
“On a dating app.” When her mother looked alarmed, Maileah touched her hand. “It’s okay. That’s how a lot of busy people meet their spouses, and I’m cautious. That’s why I meet men here at the hotel. If I need help, Junie and Sailor are nearby. So are you.”
“You can also call on Ryan and Whitley if you ever feel threatened.” April took Maileah’s hand. “Honey, maybe you shouldn’t try so hard to meet someone.”
“I have to.” Brimming with pent-up emotion, Maileah lowered her voice. “I’m running out of time to start a family. I want a life, Mom. Like everyone else has. ”
“You can have a good life without a partner.” April gave her a look filled with compassion. “Try to be patient, sweetie.”
Maileah gulped her coffee, sloshing a little on Junie’s dress. It was all she could do to hold back tears. “I can’t go back to Seattle; Dad and what’s-her-name won’t let me stay in my old room, not even to interview and get back on my feet. Even though there’s little work here for me, I don’t want to leave. Does that make any sense?”
“More than you know.” April put down her cup. “It’s such a pretty day. Let’s slip off our shoes and walk on the beach. That always lifts my spirits.”
Fighting her feeling of failure, Maileah followed her mother.
When they reached the sand, they took off their sandals and dangled them between their fingers.
Her mother put her arm around her. “You’ve been through an entire life upheaval. But you’ve come through it, so give yourself credit.”
Maileah remembered the days she could barely get out of bed. Not unlike Junie after her husband died. Yet, Junie bore no guilt in the freak accident that happened to Mark. In Maileah’s case, she was guilty of bringing all her problems upon herself.
Pressing a finger to the corners of her eyes, she sniffed back hot tears, confiding in her mother as they walked.
April listened. When Maileah finished, she said, “You’re being too hard on yourself, darling. You have more going for you than you imagine.”
Maileah still felt so lost and adrift. “Like what?”
“First, you’re surrounded by a family who loves and cares for you. You’re making friends on the island, and Junie says you’ve done a great job with her website, mailing list, and ad campaigns.”
Maileah lifted a corner of her mouth in acknowledgment. She was proud of what she’d done for Junie. “I guess so. I just set up the backend of her online shop with the right software and started some ads for her. Now everything is automated, so there isn’t much to do that she can’t handle.”
April considered this. “Others who have small businesses might need similar services. You’re so good at what you do. Many could use more marketing.”
“I’ve thought about being a marketing consultant.” The idea was appealing, if a little unreliable. “But I’m not an entrepreneur like Junie. She knows things I don’t about running a business.”
“Only because she’s done it before. We could both help you.”
“I’ll think about it.” She had to figure out her life.
April paused on the sand. “Are you and your sister still getting along?”
Maileah hesitated, watching the cool saltwater rush around her ankles. “We are, but with Knox around, I feel like I’m intruding on their private lives and conversations.”
“Does he spend much time there?”
“He comes over after Penny goes to sleep almost every night. He and Junie talk for a couple of hours, and then he leaves. I usually work or go for a walk.”
“I can understand how you feel. Do you want to come back to Nana’s house?”
Maileah shook her head. “Not that I don’t appreciate the offer, but I want my own space.”
Even though she had stayed with her mother and grandmother when she’d first arrived, now it would feel like she was going backward.
April took her hand. “You’re accustomed to your independence. So was I.”
Maileah realized her mother might feel the same way. “How do you handle living with Nana?”
“My mother is easy to be around, and I’m glad I can help her when needed. She’s been alone for a long time, so she’s more independent than I was. When Ryan isn’t busy, we spend time at his home. That’s the advantage of dating someone who lives on Beach View Lane.”
Maileah wiggled her toes in the sand. “What if it doesn’t work out?”
“There are no guarantees in life, but we’re both old enough to handle problems.”
“What about Dad? Wasn’t he old enough?” As soon as Maileah spoke, she regretted her words. He was the dark cloud over her life—and her mother’s.
“Your father is in a different category than Ryan.” April touched Maileah’s shoulder. “He was never very prudent.”
This suspicion had haunted Maileah’s mind for a long time. “Meaning that he’d cheated before?”
April nodded. “I didn’t want to upset you girls.”
There was the confirmation, but Maileah was far from relieved. Only a little sadder for her mother. “That must have been hard on you, Mom.”
April swept a few strands of hair from Maileah’s face. “Back then, I didn’t know the extent of his actions. The first time, I did what I thought was right for our family and forgave him. I loved your father, and I believed he could change. He promised he would.”
“But he didn’t.”
“I thought he tried. However, when I would suspect something and confront him, he made me feel my suspicions were unfounded and that I had a problem. He was very good at gaslighting and turning the problem on me.”
Hearing that, Maileah’s heart broke a little more for her mother. “Dad can be convincing.”
“Except this last time was so blatant and pathetic,” April said. “His lies caught up with him.”
Maileah understood that now. “I’m sorry if I was only thinking of myself when you split up.”
“You always looked up to your father,” April said, catching Maileah’s hand as they walked. “I know how it feels when everything you thought was true you find out isn’t. ”
Maileah put her arm around her mother. “If I haven’t told you before, I’m proud of you for standing up to him. Seeing you do that helped me, too.”
Smiling, April hugged her. “You’ll find your way, darling.”
Just then, Maileah’s phone dinged. She pulled it from her pocket and peered at it.
“Something important?”
“It’s my dating app. Just another guy.” She started to put it away.
“I’ve never seen one,” April said. “Mind if I look?”
Maileah hesitated. “You won’t like it. But go ahead.”
As her mother read, her eyes widened. “He’s bold, isn’t he?”
“Some are,” Maileah said, deleting his message. “There, he’s history.” She lifted her chin and grinned. “See? I’ve changed.”
Her mother nodded her approval. “Yes, you have. Did Junie tell you about the young man she met at the gift shop for you? His name is Todd, and he sounds interesting.”
“I’ll call him later.” Maileah shrugged. What was another ten minutes out of her life? “I’ll think about what you said about marketing my services. I need to get my life back on track.”
April squeezed her daughter’s hand. “You will. Crown Island may be small, but it’s full of opportunities if you know where to look.”
Hope glimmered in Maileah’s mind. Perhaps a fresh start was waiting for her here. They turned to walk back.
When they reached the Majestic, her mother hugged her. “Give Todd a call. You never know how life might work out. And I’ll ask around to see if anyone needs a talented marketing professional.”
“Thanks, Mom. That means a lot to me.” As a rebellious teen, Maileah was loathe to listen to her mother, and their relationship had suffered in the years since. But after the debacle with her father, Maileah saw her mother in an entirely new light.
After leaving the Majestic Hotel, Maileah returned to Junie’s house on Sunshine Avenue. She waved at Knox’s parents, who were working in the garden with little Penny.
Inside, she turned on her computer and made a few more tweaks to Junie’s website.
After working for the rest of the afternoon, she walked into the kitchen and snitched a couple of oatmeal raisin cookies Junie had made for Knox’s family. They were Penny’s favorites, and Maileah needed some sweet courage.
She gobbled the cookies, then pulled out Todd’s phone number and tapped it into her phone. She almost hoped he might not answer so she could go for a long run on the beach, one of her favorite things to do.
He answered on the first ring. “Todd Williams here.”
“Oh, hi. You don’t know me, but my sister Junie runs the gift shop at the Majestic?—”
“You must be Maileah.”
“Guilty.”
Todd chuckled, immediately scoring points over straight-faced John. “I just arrived at Cuppa Jo’s. Your sister told me to check it out. Will you join me for a burger and some live music? The guy playing the guitar is pretty good, and I’d like to learn more about the island.”
She hesitated. “I don’t know how much I can tell you.” Eating a sloppy burger in front of someone she didn’t know could be awkward. Besides, she preferred sushi—fewer chances of accidents unless you were sloppy with the soy sauce or chopsticks. At least she has mastered that.
Still, she’d committed herself to stepping outside of her comfort zone. She should get this meetup over with, if only to tell her mother and Junie she’d followed through. It was a short walk to Jo’s diner.
“I’ll meet you there,” she replied, hoping he wasn’t remotely like John.