CHAPTER SIX
Nadine opened the cabin door to Anna standing on the porch. She clutched a bag of something that smelled sweet and way too delicious, wearing a bright smile on her face. She hoped her father hadn’t put it there. “Hi Anna.” She ran a hand threw her tangled hair and grimaced. “Sorry, I’m just getting up.”
“My mistake. I shouldn’t have come calling so early, but Taylor made these yummy berry and cream croissants and they’re still warm. I thought it would be a nice treat for you and Michael. I have one for your father too.”
“Michael went fishing about an hour ago. Leave the one for dad. I’ll take it to him once I’m showered and dressed.”
“Oh, it’ll be cold by then. I’ll just pop it over to him.” She gave her the one bag, but held the other tightly. Nadine got the impression that if she insisted, she’d have to wrestle it out of Anna’s hand.
Since her mother died, Nadine had seen the parade of women come by the house, bringing casseroles and pies, and promises of nightly bliss. Her father, she hoped, hadn’t fallen for their charms and she truly hoped he’d be immune to Anna as well. After all, it was her wedding, and she didn’t want anyone or anything detracting from it. She had enough problems as it was—with Jeremy here, facing him for the first time since he’d walked out on her. And the job issue. If she continued to fly, and he continued on tour, she’d never see Michael—she didn’t like it now and couldn’t imagine it getting any better.
“So what are your plans?” Anna asked. “The guys won’t be back until after noon, I expect. It’s a great day for the beach or reading by the pool, but if you’d like, I can arrange for you and the girls to visit Key West. Maybe do a little shopping.”
“That might be fun.” She wondered what her friends were up to. Still asleep, having breakfast somewhere? “I’ll check with them and see what they’re up to.”
“Just let Carole know. She’ll be in the office at nine, or knock on my door and I can drive you myself and have someone pick you up at a specified time. Or you could always Uber back.”
“That would be awfully kind of you.” Nadine relented a little. Wasn’t Anna’s fault that her father was handsome and nice. And single. The thought of her mom sent a pang to her heart, and she tried to harden it against this attractive woman.
“It’s just one of the services we offer. We want to make our guests happy, and your wedding perfect in every way. This is your dream wedding, so let us know if there is anything special that you would like done.”
“Your website sold me. The weddings that have taken place here were so beautiful, and I hope mine will be just like that.” When she and Michael started talking about getting married they’d both decided they wanted something small, without any hype. It was hard enough for him to get away for any length of time with his schedule and all, so he let her pick the place and do the planning. All he had to do was show up. Which, thankfully, he had.
Anna smiled and touched her hand. “Yes, those pictures were from my daughter Kayla’s wedding. Miguel, our miracle worker, went to so much trouble and then just weeks before a hurricane hit and we had to do a major clean up and minor repairs. Taylor’s outdoor patio took a big hit, and with everything else going on Miguel constructed a new roof.”
“Wow. You’d never know it from the photos. Your daughters are beautiful. Like you,” she added begrudgingly.
“Thank you. That is very nice to hear, especially at my age.”
“It’s true. When did you lose your husband?”
“It’s been more than four years now. This resort was his retirement plan but he didn’t get to see it. I hope he’s watching us now.” She lifted her eyes to the sky, then stepped back. “But, I won’t keep you. Let us know about Key West. It would be a fun outing for you and your friends. Lots of galleries and interesting shops. Plenty of restaurants and bars, and tourist attractions as well. You could make a whole day of it.”
“I might like that. We’ll be too close to the wedding after today to take advantage of it. With all the guests arriving this afternoon and tomorrow morning.” She was surprised not to feel more excited. But really, she’d much rather just be alone with Michael. They should have eloped. But then they’d have missed this wonderful place, and it wouldn’t be fair to her father and her friends, or his family. Which made her think of Jeremy.
“True—well, enjoy your breakfast.”
Nadine watched Anna head for her dad’s cottage, straight back and cute figure. She had a lot to offer a man, but her dad lived in Baltimore, near her, and she didn’t want him hooked up with a lady from the Keys. No matter how happy it made him, it was too far away from her. That might be selfish, but he was all she had left. Even her brother was gone. Cameron was working now and he’d never return home.
Pushing sad thoughts away, she called Ashley and told her about Anna’s offer and her friend was all over it. “Let’s do it. It’s only eight now. How about if we leave at nine and they pick us up at three? That should give us plenty of time for lunch and a look around.”
“Sounds like fun. I’ll let Anna know.” She called the office and left a message, then went in to shower.
* * *
Anna knocked on Kevin’s door, and his eyes lit with surprise at the sight of her.
“You ready for round two?” he asked with a bad boy grin.
“No. I came bearing gifts.” She opened the plastic bag and let him peek in. “It tastes even better than it looks.”
“So do you,” he answered, drawing her in and giving her a kiss on her neck.
“Down, Romeo.” She pushed out of his arms. “I dropped croissants off at your daughter’s and talked her and the girls into going to Key West for the day. I’ll drive them and be back here by noon, hopefully before. The guys are out fishing. Shouldn’t be back before possibly one or two. So that means you and me can have a little alone time.”
“I could drive down with you,” he said hopefully.
“No.” She tilted her head to look at him. “I don’t want your daughter to pick up on our vibes. Got a feeling that we’d be a dead giveaway. I’ll just come here when I’m done. Gives you a few hours to take in the sights. Go for your run or walk, or take a look at some of the nearby shops.”
“You should have been a sales person,” he said, and pulled her into his arms. “Okay, one kiss and then you can go.”
“Just one, or I won’t want to go.”
He kissed her long and hard and made her knees weak.
“Oh, Kevin. I want to tie you up in bed and have my way with you.”
“You say the most romantic things.”
She laughed and backed out of the room, a naughty look on her face. When she got to the office, she listened to the message from Nadine and grinned. She really was a good sales person, not that the idea of a half day in Key West was a hard sale—especially chauffeured there and back. She’d have enjoyed the change of scenery herself, if she didn’t have such a good thing waiting for her right here at Harmony.
She returned a few calls, completed some chores and then Kayla dropped off her two-year-old Shauna while she went to help out Taylor at the Café.
Kayla was in her early thirties, taller than Anna by at least half a foot. She had long dark wavy hair and the same olive skin. Anna’s mother had been born and raised south of Athens, the port town of Piraeus. She’d married an American sailor and moved to Boston at the age of nineteen.
“Hi, baby,” she picked up her favorite—and only—grandchild and kissed her sweet cheeks, and nibbled on her tiny fingers. “You get bigger everyday,” she told her. “Soon you’ll be carrying me around.”
The blonde-haired little beauty wiggled out of her grasp, and put her arms around her mother’s legs. “Nana, you ate my fingers.” She looked at her hand, then held one behind her back, her face buried in her mom’s skirt.
Kayla patted her daughter’s head, and said to Anna, “Nana, you must stop that. I told you to stop eating my little girl, no matter how yummy she is.” She bent over and smiled at the love of her life. “You be good with Nana, and I’ll be at Auntie Tay’s for the next few hours. Love you.”
“Love you too, Mommy.” Shauna clung for another moment then toddled over to the play station and grabbed her favorite doll.
Because the office connected to the cottage in the back, Kayla and Juanita didn’t need daycare. Anna had loved taking care of the babies while both women worked. She’d set up a little area in the back corner with a small table for the girls to play arts and crafts. Play-Doh was a big hit, and they liked to finger-paint, but since it was all washable Anna didn’t mind.
The resort was small and family oriented with just twelve efficiency cottages, a pool, swings, and bikes for the kids, plus the beach. Most of the guests were out during the day and only popped in for brief moments during the day, so the system worked.
Carole had taken over a lot of the office work, and she loved the girls as much as Anna did. When they were all busy, Carole’s mother Joan would baby-sit and use the cottage where Anna had everything set up, including beds for the girls in the second bedroom.
Kayla was just walking out the screen door when Carole arrived. “Call me if she gives you any trouble,” Kayla said in passing.
“You know I will,” Carole answered in a teasing voice. They both knew that once Kayla was out of sight, she was quickly forgotten. Especially when Juanita dropped off Meri. This would be the last summer the girls would have together, because in the fall Meri would start preschool.
“I’m going to drive Nadine and her friends to Key West,” Anna told Carole, “and I have a few things to take care of when I get back. If you get busy, maybe your mom can watch the girls?”
“Sure, no problem.” She went over to Shauna and cooed over her toy doll. “She looks just like you with her pretty blonde hair,” she told her. “I’ll set up the Play-Doh for you and Meri. She’ll be here any sec.”
Juanita rushed in. “Good morning!” She handed Meri over to Anna. “So much to do. Exciting day, no?”
“Si,” Anna agreed, knowing that by mid-afternoon all the guests would be here, except for Kevin’s son, Cameron. He would arrive tomorrow, which meant that today was her last hope for sex with Kevin. She wasn’t the sort to let an opportunity go to waste.
“I’ll be available late this afternoon to help. I can do airport pick up or just be around to greet our guests and make them welcome.” Anna grabbed her handbag and keys. “We have a lot going on. Let’s book the girls a ride back. Can you handle it, Carole?”
“Of course.”
Juanita nodded. “Si. The cabins will be ready. Most of them are all set to go,” Juanita told her. Then she gave both girls a kiss and hug. “Have fun playing, my sweet peas.” Juanita, recently from Cuba, enjoyed using American slang.
Anna followed her out, got into her SUV and put the air-conditioning on high. She wanted the car comfortable for the long drive ahead. It would be over a three-hour return trip and she didn’t want to show up at Kevin’s cabin like a wilted rose.