Chapter 15
Lucy
Instead of writing in her gratitude journal, Lucy had spent the last few mornings at the wooden table on her back porch mapping out her new manuscript. Leona had loved her idea for a You’ve Got Mail retelling and asked her to send a synopsis to share with Lucy’s former editor, Sarah, who’d recently announced her new acquisitions editor role at one of the biggest publishers in the industry.
Lucy hadn’t felt this energized about writing in years, and the ideas were flowing easily. She’d gotten so caught up in her writing, she’d forgotten to stop by the Little Free Library to see if she had a new book from Gatsby’s Ghost. She made a mental note to go by before the first community forum that evening.
She looked out at the ocean, appreciating the clouds that dotted the sky and provided relief from the early morning heat. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on the rhythm of the waves crashing and then fizzling out before the next crash followed at perfect intervals. She was mentally running through her list of affirmations when she heard a dog yipping. She opened her eyes to see Pete approaching with Milly, his Pomeranian, from the beach.
Pete waved and Milly ran ahead of him on the boardwalk toward Lucy’s cottage. Pete’s khakis were rolled up a few inches, but still wet from walking in the surf. He and Frank lived a short distance down the beach. Lucy had run into Pete here and there around town while growing up, but her dad was never interested enough in fashion to shop in Pete and Frank’s store. He had been more of a T-shirt and jeans kind of guy. Once Lucy took over the bookstore, however, she’d gotten to know Pete and Frank as fellow downtown business owners, and they often ran into one another on their beach walks. Frank loved to cook and had extended a standing dinner invitation, which she took him up on at least a few times a month.
Milly beat Pete to Lucy and danced around in a circle in front of her barking for attention. Lucy leaned down to pet her.
“Hey there, Milli Vanilli.”
“Terrible excuse for music. You know that’s not where her name came from.” Pete frowned as he approached and sat at the table opposite Lucy.
Milly’s full name was Amelia, and she was named after a nearby island where Pete was born and raised. Frank always called her “Milli Vanilli” after the infamous band that got caught up in a lip-syncing scandal in the early nineties. He enjoyed getting a rise out of Pete and had even changed his ringtone to the group’s “Girl You Know It’s True” on more than one occasion.
“Coffee?” Lucy held up her mug as she stood to go get a refill.
“No, if I have any more my heart might explode. Frank got a new espresso machine, and it has these adorable little cups that look like they came from a children’s tea party set. They’re so tiny that I drank three, and now Milly and I have been walking up and down the beach trying to work off all this energy I have.”
Lucy laughed as she pictured Pete sipping from his tiny espresso cups, no doubt with his pinky out to emulate the royalty he was convinced he was part of in a previous life.
“Be right back.” She slipped through the sliding glass doors into her cottage to refill her mug and grab a treat for Milly. Although she was more of a cat person, she always kept treats on hand for Pam’s and Pete’s dogs when they stopped by the house.
As soon as Milly spotted the treat in Lucy’s hand, she sat without need for a command. Her tail wagged so hard and fast it was shaking her entire body as she tried to sit still for her treat.
“Good girl.” Lucy leaned down so Milly could grab the treat from her hand. The dog ate it and then danced around in circles to show her appreciation.
“You’re spoiled rotten.” Pete rolled his eyes at Milly. As if he wasn’t the one who was constantly spoiling her. Lucy had nearly eaten a dog treat the last time she was at their house for dinner. It was from the dog bakery downtown, but it looked exactly like a human’s cupcake.
“Like father, like daughter.” Lucy gave Pete a knowing smile.
“Guilty as charged.” Pete held up his hand. He liked to treat himself to the finer things in life.
“What brings you by on this fine morning?” Lucy raised a hand to shield her eyes from the sun so she could see Pete better across the table.
“Well, I had an interesting conversation with Steve yesterday.” Pete raised an eyebrow.
“Steve?” Lucy ran through their mutual friends before it hit her. “Oh, the server at the Waterway?”
“Yep.” Pete nodded, his eyes sparkling. Having grown up in a similar small town, Pete traded gossip like the town’s early settlers traded seafood and timber for spices and silk. “He overheard a conversation he wasn’t meant to overhear.”
Fearing Pete was about to share some sort of marital confidence Steve had overheard between Mildred and Marty, Lucy’s eyebrows knitted together, her mouth pulling to one side.
“Is this something I should know?”
“It involves that Logan fellow.” Pete raised an eyebrow.
Lucy’s heart rate matched that of the hummingbird hovering nearby above a red hibiscus bloom. Had someone seen her with Logan at the Sand Dollar? Had they looked as if they were on a date, making them fodder for the gossip mill? She had to admit at times it had felt like a date. She remembered the tingling that had shot up her arm and across her chest when they’d shaken hands in agreement over playing fair with the community forums.
Pete’s voice interrupted the memories of dinner replaying in Lucy’s mind. “Seems he paid Mildred a visit.”
She felt as if someone had dropped lead in her stomach. Lucy knew the Waterway Café was on the chopping block, but she didn’t like the idea of Logan going to speak with Mildred. What was he trying to sweet-talk her into? Or, rather, out of? Hadn’t they agreed to let the community forums do the work—no more going door-to-door downtown trying to sell people on his ideas without someone to present the other side?
“I had a sneaky suspicion you’d want to know.” Pete wagged a finger at her.
“When was this?” Lucy silently prayed it was before they’d had their ceasefire conversation. Hopefully Steve was just slow in sharing the information.
“Steve told me last night, but it sounded like it happened a few days ago.”
It had been a few days since their ceasefire conversation. Maybe he’d hit up Mildred before then.
“Okay, spill. What did he overhear?” Her mind raced with possibilities. It was obvious the night when they’d spoken at the restaurant after the council meeting that Logan thought something had to be done about the restaurant and their below-market-value lease.
“He was bringing some takeout up to the hostess stand and overheard Mildred talking to Logan about the city buying out the lease. It sounded like a done deal.” Pete tsked, crossing one leg over the other while he waited for Lucy’s reaction.
“Did Steve say how Mildred reacted? Should we check on her and Marty?” Lucy looked at her watch. She could probably drop by the restaurant quickly before she headed to the shop and catch them prepping for lunch.
“He said Mildred didn’t sound surprised. She just asked how much they were willing to offer.”
“And?” Lucy hoped Logan had insulted Mildred with a ridiculous number.
Pete shrugged. “That’s all Steve heard.”
She looked out toward the ocean, as if it might offer her advice. Then she threw up her hands. “Well, what can we do? We can’t just ask Mildred about it. We’re not even supposed to know.”
“Can you close the store for lunch? Maybe we should have lunch at the café and poke around, see if she’ll mention it. I can close down around two and do a late lunch. We’re slow in the afternoon this time of year, anyway, because everyone’s out on the beach or playing golf.”
“Sure, I can do that. Bob won’t leave during the day, but I’m sure Pam will.” It was commonplace for businesses downtown to close for lunch at varying times, merely placing a sign in their windows to indicate what time they’d return. Many of the businesses were run by owners or operated with a single sales associate, so there wasn’t always someone to keep things running while they stepped out.
Lucy considered calling Logan and demanding he tell her what was happening, but she didn’t trust him to tell her the truth. She and Pete agreed they’d simply engage Mildred in a conversation about the waterfront project and see what happened. If nothing else, at least they’d all get a good lunch.
Lucy was surprised when they entered the restaurant and instead of finding Mildred at the hostess stand where she was essentially a permanent fixture, one of the servers greeted them.
“Is Mildred here?” Lucy asked as they were escorted to their usual table.
“No, poor thing. She broke a crown and had to go to the dentist. It’s the first time she hasn’t been here since I started working here last December. There must be a better way to get a day off though.” The server laughed.
Lucy turned to look at Pam and Pete as they approached their table, and they exchanged defeated looks.
“Should we ask if Marty’s in back?” Pam whispered after the server left.
“Mildred would have been easier. He’s not as—” Pete searched for a word.
“Loose-lipped?” Lucy giggled. Mildred was an open book, but Marty could be moody and was less inclined to be chatty.
The other two smiled and Pete pointed at Lucy. “Exactly.”
“Still worth a try though?” The community forum was that evening, so Lucy didn’t think it would look that suspicious for a group of downtown business owners to be checking in on the Bankses before the big meeting.
Steve appeared to take their drink order, but didn’t let on in front of the group that he had anything to share, and Pete didn’t bring up their conversation. Lucy knew Steve socialized with Pete and Frank outside of work. They were all part of the local artists’ guild, so he probably felt more comfortable with Pete. They asked if he’d send Marty out when he went to fetch their drinks.
“So Taylor was in the store dropping off some clothes the other day, and she mentioned you’ve been spending a lot of time with Logan.” Pam raised an eyebrow in Lucy’s direction. “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer?”
“Something like that.” Lucy busied herself with unrolling her silverware and laying it out at her place setting. That was how it had started. Now, though, Lucy couldn’t exactly call him the enemy. He was helping her with a personal matter.
“He’s been making the rounds.” Pete nodded. “Missy came in to buy her dad a tie for his birthday and told me Logan tried to sell her on bringing cruise ships into port. I’ve been sitting around waiting for him to come visit my store, but no sign of him yet. I have a shirt set aside that would just make those gorgeous green eyes pop. Somebody better send him my way.”
Lucy rolled her eyes even as she pictured Logan’s and the way the gold in them had danced under the lights when they’d shared dinner at the Sand Dollar. Pete would probably roll over even faster than Missy if Logan laid on the charm, especially since Lucy herself was struggling to resist. Pete was a flirt by nature. He tested his lines on men and women alike, and they all loved him. Logan’s charm made everyone feel like the most important person in the room, and Pete’s made them feel like the most beautiful. She had to admit she’d seen Logan’s eyes drink her in on more than one occasion lately, and it made her feel appreciated in a way she hadn’t in a long while.
“I ran into him on the beach last week.” Pam took her tea from Steve when he returned to the table, the silver-and-gold bangles on her slender wrist tinkling. “Ava bounded right over to him and soaked his shirt.”
Pete’s mouth dropped open as he took his tea from Steve. “Did he take it off? Please tell me he took it off.”
Steve raised an eyebrow as he placed Lucy’s tea in front of her, but he pretended not to eavesdrop on their conversation. Lucy decided not to share that she’d seen Logan with his shirt off more than once on his morning runs, and it was definitely a sight to see.
Pam turned to frown at Pete. “No, he did not take off his shirt.”
“What?” Pete turned up his hands. “You said you were on the beach. People take off their shirts on the beach.” He shrugged. “I was just trying to get a visual.”
“Yes, I’m sure you were.” Pam turned back to Lucy. “Anyway, he didn’t tell me much. Just that he planned to hear everyone out and try to find something that worked for us all. He mentioned he had some ideas, but he didn’t elaborate. Do you know what might come up at the meeting?”
Lucy sighed, poking her straw at an ice cube in her sweet tea. “Cruise ships. Another casino boat.” She shrugged. “I wish Helen was here to lead these meetings, but she left me the number of her water expert.”
“Did y’all ever do the dinner cruise on that dreadful casino boat?” Pete scowled. “I could have broken a tooth on the roll they served with my dinner, and the fish was definitely frozen. I do love me some blackjack and a spin or two on the roulette wheel though.” He wiggled his eyebrows, eliciting laughter from the rest of the table.
Marty approached, interrupting Pete’s commentary.
“Afternoon.” Marty nodded. He was dressed in a chef’s coat and black pants, both perfectly pressed and clean. Lucy knew from Mildred that Marty didn’t do much of the cooking anymore, preferring instead to check orders before they went out to make sure the presentation was up to his standards. Marty was in his mid-sixties and his hair was now more salt than pepper, the deep lines in his face making him look older than he really was. He and Mildred were practically at the restaurant every waking hour, and it had taken a toll on both of them.
“Hey, Marty.” Pam smiled up at him. “We heard about Mildred. Poor thing. I dread going to the dentist.”
“Yeah, she wasn’t real excited about it either. She’ll be fine though. Hopefully she’ll feel up to going to the forum tonight because at least one of us needs to be here for dinner service.”
“We heard the city wants to make you an offer,” Pete blurted, much to the surprise of both Lucy and Pam.
Lucy stared at him, her eyes wide.
Marty’s expression darkened, the line between his eyebrows deepening. “Is that so? First I’ve heard of it.”
Lucy looked to Pete. They’d all just assumed Marty knew.
Pete hesitated, as if deciding how much to divulge. “Oh, maybe I’m mistaken.”
Marty frowned, crossing his arms over his chest. “I doubt it. I’m sure they’d love to toss us out on our keisters. I’ve already talked to our attorney.”
Steve started to approach to take their order but did a quick U-turn when he realized they were talking to Marty.
Pam, ever the reasonable one of the group, spoke gently. “That’s probably why they want to make an offer, right? They have to give you incentive to go willingly.”
“Yeah, well, they’ll have to pry me out of here. I’m not going to just sit back and watch them turn this into Coney Island or some nonsense.” Marty’s voice was getting louder and Lucy looked around to see if anyone was sitting close enough to overhear.
“I’ll bring it up at the forum tonight,” she said. “I’m sure everyone there will be on your side.”
“Except Logan Lancaster,” Pete snarked, crossing his arms as he leaned back in his chair.
“Yet another blunder by the city, hiring that guy.” Marty shook his head. “Did you hear about what he did in San Diego?”
Lucy looked from Pete to Pam, but they looked as confused as she was. When Logan was first introduced as the new consultant, she’d meant to search for more about him online, but she’d been so busy she’d never gotten around to it.
“What did he do? Bulldoze the waterfront and throw up some gaudy condominiums?” Pete was leaning forward on the table again, eager to hear the gossip.
Marty raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised the group wasn’t better informed. “No. He blew the whole thing. Spent over a year there working on a new waterfront project to replace their old port. Some ‘live, work, play’ concept. Apparently, he was dating the daughter of the biggest investor in the project and dumped her before he crossed the finish line. Her father pulled his money out of the deal and convinced every other deep pocket in town to follow suit. Logan was chased out of town with his tail between his legs.”
Lucy was too stunned to speak. Had he used this man’s daughter to grease the wheels of his project then let her go once he’d gotten what he needed from her? She’d heard the way he charmed Mildred that first night and then Missy in the flower shop. Maybe he was the type of guy who used his good looks and charm to weasel his way into the hearts of women who could help him achieve his professional goals. Was that why he wanted to help her buy the building? Did he think she’d be so grateful she’d just turn to putty in his hands and go along with his ideas for the waterfront?
“Lucy?”
Pam’s voice startled her. She was so caught up in her thoughts, her mind racing with questions, she hadn’t heard Pam’s question. She stilled her bouncing foot.
“Sorry, what did you say?” Lucy looked around the group and realized all eyes were on her.
“Has Logan mentioned what happened in San Diego? You’ve spent the most time with him.”
“No.” She shook her head. “He’s never said a word about San Diego.”
“Isn’t that alone suspicious?” Pete raised an eyebrow as he looked around at the others.
It was, and Lucy vowed to investigate it more later.
The group promised Marty they’d look out for the restaurant at the forum, even if Mildred couldn’t make it. Lucy didn’t have much of an appetite and only took a few bites of her burger when it came. She was too preoccupied with thoughts of Logan and whether their time together had been sincere or not. Maybe those looks he gave her that made her feel as if he could see into her soul was just something practiced, like the prosecutor on the television show she watched practicing the facial expressions and eye contact his jury consultant taught him.
As they walked through the square back toward their respective shops, Lucy told the others she was veering off to check the Little Free Library.
Pam’s eyes lit up. “Ooh, is your friend still leaving you books?”
Pete stepped forward, effectively blocking their path. “Wait, what did I miss? Dish!”
Pam looked to Lucy for permission to proceed, and Lucy nodded, shrugging a shoulder as Pam told him about Gatsby’s Ghost.
“So he knows who you are, but you don’t know who he is?” Pete was as intrigued by the story as he might be about a whodunit thriller.
“No, he doesn’t know who I am either.” Then she realized he might. She wasn’t really sure. “At least, I don’t think he does.”
“How does he sign his notes? What kind of books is he leaving you?” Pete was in full detective mode now.
“He signs them all Gatsby’s Ghost, and it’s all kinds of books. It started because I left a book about Hemingway’s wife, and then he left me one about F. Scott Fitzgerald. You know I love the twenties.” Lucy’s birthday party the previous year was The Great Gatsby themed.
“Hmm.” Pete tapped a finger along his jawline. “Who do we know who also loves the twenties?” His mouth fell open dramatically. “Frank! Maybe my dear Frank is thinking about stepping out on me.” Shaking his head, he frowned. “But he hates reading. Who else?”
Pam laughed. “Basically everyone who came to her party all dressed up last year?”
Everyone had really gotten into the spirit with their flapper costumes and tuxedos. It had been one of the best birthdays she’d ever had, which she’d desperately needed with Carter newly gone off to Chicago.
“I still have the invite list. I’ll have to check it when I get back to the store.” He winked and then clapped. “I love a good mystery.”
After they said their goodbyes, Lucy checked the Little Free Library and was disappointed to find nothing new from Gatsby’s Ghost. Back at the bookstore, she removed the “Gone to Lunch”sign from the window while silently hoping no one came in. She wanted to look into what Marty had said about Logan’s project in San Diego.
The story wasn’t hard to find. Every major newspaper and online outlet in San Diego had multiple articles on Logan’s deal gone wrong. They hadn’t spelled it out, but the insinuation was clear: Logan had used his relationship with the investor’s daughter to seal the deal. His only mistake had been breaking up with her before the project was complete.
At first, Lucy couldn’t reconcile what she was reading with the Logan who’d taken her on the historic tour and gazed at the gingerbread detailing like most men would a steak. Or the Logan who’d taken her to dinner and broken down some of her walls. Or the Logan who was helping her buy her building.
But then she remembered the Logan who was going door-to-door charming the downtown merchants, like Missy. The Logan who dramatically ripped up the former development plans and tried to sweet-talk the town at his first meeting. The Logan who was making offers to Mildred behind Marty’s back.
Had she let Logan charm her just like he’d charmed the investor’s daughter and probably countless others across the country? Hadn’t she suspected all along that was how he did business?
She remembered the line Gatsby’s Ghosthad underlined in the Mel Robbins book. “Your feelings don’t matter. The only thing that matters is what you DO.”
What was she going to do?
Lucy found herself wondering whatGatsby’s Ghostwould say in this situation. He had solved her problem and helped her get back to writing, or at least the book he’d left her had.
She couldn’t help but feel a connection to Annie through him. Annie had always given her the right advice—or the right book—to help her navigate obstacles. She didn’t tell her what to do, she just gave her the tools to build a solution. Gatsby’s Ghost had done the same. If he hadn’t left her the last book, she might not be working on a new manuscript. Maybe he could help her figure out her Logan problem too. She couldn’t just stand by while he sweet-talked Mildred and the others into signing off on his plans, and she couldn’t sit around and wait, hoping Gatsby’s Ghost magically delivered another book that steered her in the right direction.
She had another idea.
Maybe they could meet.
But that was crazy. They’d been sharing book suggestions. He didn’t want to be her therapist or her business coach or whatever she was asking him to be when it came to the waterfront development. It wasn’t like he’d even known about her writing career being in a shambles when he suggested The 5 Second Rule.
But it had been the exact book she’d needed at the exact moment she needed it. And if she’d learned anything from the book, it was to push aside her hesitations and go with her gut. And her gut said it was time for them to meet.
This time, she wouldn’t leave him a book. Just a note in an envelope addressed to him.
Dear Gatsby’s Ghost,
I’m sorry I have no book recommendation today. I’ve been busy, and I have you to thank for that. Your last book suggestion was so antithetical to my nature that I questioned your wisdom. Thankfully, however, the author made a compelling argument, and I found myself doing things boldly, without hesitation. Things I never would have done just a few weeks ago. One of those things even lead to a major breakthrough for my writing career.
I’d like to thank you in person. But I have to admit I have selfish motives. It’s just that you’ve given such good advice, and I find myself in need of more than I can ask for in a note like this.
Meet me on the benches by the marina on Thursday at 5:00 p.m.? I’ll be the one holding your copy of The 5 Second Rule.
I hope you’ll be there,
Island Girl
Before she could change her mind, Lucy nearly sprinted across the square to the Little Free Library. Propping up the envelope on the top shelf where it would be at eye level, she shut the door and forced herself to walk away, even while her heart pounded and a voice in her head yelled at her to take the envelope back.
No more hesitation. No more standing in her own way. It was time for her to stand in someone else’s way. And that someone else was over at city hall getting ready to make his pitch to her community. There was no time to waste.