Chapter Twenty-Three
B rooke was cuddled up into her blankets, thankful for the sixty-eight degree air-conditioning set point that Trig insisted on. It made her bed feel that much more snuggly. She’d stayed up too late waiting for a text from Nate that never came and wasn’t ready to fully wake up yet, but her phone rang. Jessa didn’t even start with hello. “The bank said someone put an offer in on Camp Dogwood. They won’t divulge who it is.”
“Jess,” Brooke whined. “It’s early. I’m still asleep.”
“Well, our plan for Libby’s wedding might not work, and I’m afraid to tell her. We have got to come up with something else.” Jessa was talking so fast that Brooke was forced to merely listen. “You don’t think Nate could be trying to buy it, do you?”
“I—”
Jessa cut her off. “I mean, he does own that house in Charleston, and he has people working for him in some sort of real-estate-type thing, and he ate at Poogan’s Porch, which isn’t exactly cheap.”
“Well, we ate there, too, and we hardly have any money. You don’t really think he’s rich, do you?”
“Naw, that kind of stuff only happens in the movies.”
Despite his nice clothes and real estate investments, Nate still seemed like the poor boy who tried hard. He had too much to overcome. Surely, he was just overextended and overworked with whatever he had going on. “Unless he inherited it, it would be practically impossible to have that much money at our age. And I’m pretty sure he wasn’t left with anything.”
“Call him and see if he made an offer,” Jessa said. “That might solve all of our problems.”
“Maybe Libby can just get married at the Goose Island Baptist Church and have her reception at home like everybody else.”
“She’s not even from here, Brooke.”
“Okay, then her hometown church. Even better.”
“Are you going to call Nate or not? Because if you’re not, I’m going to need to start researching other venues.”
“I don’t get it, Jess. Why are you so invested? It’s like you were replacing me with Libby, and then I moved back and got in the way of you and your new best friend.”
“Brookie.” Her voice sounded like a pout. “Come on. Never.”
“Then what is going on? Libby should be finding her own wedding venue. It’s not your problem, and it’s certainly not mine.” She knew it didn’t sound sweet. But heck, it was the truth.
“Can’t I do something nice for someone without all this?”
“All this? Really, Jess? You do remember who Libby is, don’t you? You remember what she did to me at camp?” Just mentioning Libby and camp made Brooke want to throw the phone. “You know what? I hope that Nate is buying Camp Dogwood, because I will tell him to ban Libby Trotter from the premises. If she gets anywhere near it, she will be arrested. You just go ahead and find that other venue, because I’m done with this. And so is Nate.”
She hung up. Brooke normally didn’t lose her cool, but once she hit threshold, all of the emotions that had been brewing exploded like the fireworks Libby had planned for her selfish , steal the spotlight from America on the country’s Independence Day , make everyone dress up when they should be in shorts drinking beer on the beach , force people to be bridesmaids , expect a million parties , treat people like crap wedding. It didn’t matter if Libby was two people or wounded or whatever it was that Dottie said. She was awful. Not to mention Brooke was sitting in her stupid childhood bedroom that felt like a hotel room, doing a job that amounted to a big demotion, alone after leaving a decent guy only to come home to family dysfunction and her childhood bully.
And now her best friend was turning on her and the man she’d dreamed about for almost ten years was ghosting her. Perfect. Just perfect. No, she would not be calling Nathan freaking Daugherty to see if he bought Camp Dogwood. She pulled the covers over her head and tried to go back to sleep, but her heart and mind kept racing. Finally, she gave up and went downstairs for coffee.
There, in Cornelia’s white granite and painted wood kitchen, sat Nana with Duke and Trig. Cornelia was at the island putting together egg, bacon, and biscuit sandwiches. Brooke stopped at the entrance and stared. The folks at the table were all taking turns looking at pages from a stack of papers. Brooke stepped into the room, deciding to say hello first to her boss. “Hello, Mr. Bradley. Good morning, Nana, Trig, Cornelia.” She helped herself to a mug of coffee.
“Oh, honey, come sit by me,” Nana exclaimed. “You will not believe what I have done.”
Brooke knew immediately what the papers meant. She slid in beside her grandmother. “You bought Camp Dogwood.”
“Why yes, I most certainly did!” Her face was alight with glee. “And we will begin our new endeavor by hosting that bratty girl’s wedding. What do you think about that?”
Brooke didn’t have the words to answer.
“Don’t look shocked. It’s not about her. It’s about all of the folks who will see the potential of that old place.”
“It’s just that she doesn’t deserve it, is all.”
Nana squeezed the skin above Brooke’s knee too hard. “Don’t let the bride test your pride.”
Cornelia stepped in. “Nana had forgotten how much she loved that place. And it is a direct boat ride from the grounds of the Saltwater Winery. Correct, Mr. Bradley?”
Duke nodded, his face somehow different—softer, less fierce.
“Oh, this is going to be a fun adventure!” Nana said.
“You’re going to run a camp, Nana?” Brooke asked.
“Well, not a little kindergarten camp or that teenybopper camp you went to. I am far past that nonsense. No, it will be a nice resort.”
“And people will have a place to stay just a short boat ride from the winery,” Cornelia added.
“Mr. Bradley and I are entering into a symbiotic relationship,” Nana said with a voice that sounded so Marilyn Monroe sexy that it made Trig visibly cringe. She switched back to bossy just as quickly. “And, in answer to your question, young lady, no, I will not be running it. You will.”
“What?” Brooke definitely did not see that coming.
“So, we’ll begin with cleanup, of course, and fix up the lighthouse for you to live in.” Nana was talking a hundred miles an hour. “Then, on to renovating the building at the top of the hill, I believe it is called The Doghouse. We’ll fix it up and add some more cabins—the new ones will be the high price suites. We’ll have a separate café that will serve local coffees in the morning and Saltwater Wines at night, and we’re gonna fill the stables with horses. Honey, we’re about to provide so many jobs for this area that ol’ Fred’s place might even start turning a profit.”
Brooke’s head was spinning. She was going to be in charge of all that? And did Nana say lighthouse ? “I can’t believe it” was all she could say. She should be elated. She should be absolutely beside herself with happiness. Not only had Nana found a place to put her money, but this amounted to Brooke’s greatest dream. To rebuild, market, and run a place she loved so much? It was the greatest gift. So, why did she feel disappointed? Why was she trying to fight back tears? She stuffed the feelings and held up her coffee mug for a toast. “Ba,” Brooke said.
“Nana!” said Trig and Cornelia, holding up their mugs.
Duke looked confused, but Grace “Nana” Sharon Beauregard Warter had never appeared more in her right mind than at that moment.
No one moved from the kitchen table for the next three hours. The family was awash with ideas and dreams and excitement. Brooke forgot all about her fight with Jessa and Nate’s suspicious absence. She was filled once again with the hope of Camp Dogwood.
When lunchtime came, Brooke went outside to pick tomatoes and Cornelia turned them into soup. They paired it with grilled cheese, and Trig cleaned up the dishes. Little old Duke stayed seated in their kitchen looking more content than a sugar ant on a half-licked lollipop. There was nothing scary about that man, especially when Nana was near. When lunch was over, he dug into one of his pants pockets, pulled out a hard caramel candy, and slid it across the table to Nana. She looked at him like he was King Louis giving her the Hope Diamond and kissed him sweetly on the cheek before opening it and popping it into her mouth.
Those two felt like proof that it was never too late for love.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Brooke said. “I have to make a phone call.”
Jessa answered before Brooke heard it ring. “I could never replace you, Brooke. You know that. You’ve been my best friend my whole life, and you always will be.”
“I know,” Brooke said. “I’m sorry. Everything piled up on me, and I took it out on you.”
“Good,” Jessa said. “So, we’re over it?”
“Yes.” Brooke always marveled at how easy it was to get along with Jessa. “And I have good news.”
“Oh, please, tell me it’s about a venue. At this point, Libby’s going to have to make some new friends to help her. Unless she wants to have it in my weedy backyard, we’re running out of options.”
“Nana is buying Camp Dogwood.” Saying the words felt too good to be true. “I mean, it’s not hers yet, but she has made an offer and requested a short escrow.”
Jessa sucked so much air through the phone that it hurt Brooke’s ear. She repeated the words slowly. “Your nana’s buying Camp Dogwood.” She gasped again. “I think I’m having a heart attack.”
“Can you believe it? And if it all goes through, I might need to put in my resignation soon, because she said she wants me to run it.”
“Oh my word, Brooke! That is such good news. I mean, not for the winery but for you!”
“But I’ll still be working with you, because we’re planning to tie the two places together by boat.”
“By boat?” Jessa asked.
“Yes. And with Nana and Duke’s symbiotic relationship .” Brooke mocked her grandmother’s sexy voice.
“That is the coolest thing I’ve ever heard. Both things, I mean. The boats and the old folks getting together. I’m so happy for them. Duke has been needing someone like Nana in the worst way.”
Brooke’s phone buzzed in her hand. “Nate’s calling.”
“Answer it. But first, Libby’s wedding?”
“I think we can do it.”
“Whoop!” Jessa yelled. “Okay, answer that man!”
Brooke switched lines. “Hello?” She didn’t have time to get nervous.
“Hey.” She was still getting used to the fact that his voice was so much deeper than years ago when she’d fallen for him. “Are you busy tonight?”
“No.” She attempted to match the tone of his voice and tried to subdue herself as she added, “Are you back in town?”
“Just got here. It’s been crazy. I owe you an explanation.” He sounded trepidatious, like he’d done something wrong. “Will you let me take you to dinner?”
“Sure.” Her nerve endings felt raw. He was acting far too serious. “I think I can do that.” The fact was, nothing could stop her from going to dinner with Nate Daugherty. She wanted to hear everything… anything …he had to say.