Love Finds the One (Sully Point Book 2) (16 page)

"All right, Julia. There's a little place the bank has
owned for a while, right off the square. We can walk there from here."

They headed down the wide sidewalk. After walking the length
of one side of the town square, they made a left turn onto Maple Street. Set
back from the street was a two story red brick building with a large bay window
on the first floor. They stood on the sidewalk looking at it. Finally, Julia
broke the silence. "Is it--a house? Or was it a store? And who built it? Because
that's the ugliest Gothic building I think I've ever seen."

"Well, yes," Mrs. Gilchrest said. "It does
have its faults. But, it's sturdy, well-made, built to last forever. It's got
the two floors plus a basement. And if you look past the, uh, gargoyle-type
decoration at the arch above the door and window, and the part to one side sticking
out...it's not really too bad."

Julia noticed the certainty in the bank president's voice
faded away by the end of her last sentence. Taking a few steps up the walkway
to the front door, Julia said, "Come on. Let's go look at it. For some
reason this place interests me."

Once inside, she was astonished and delighted to discover
hardwood floors throughout. There was a very large room with a smaller room at
the back adjacent to a small kitchen. The bathroom was nothing exciting but was
serviceable. There was a strangely-shaped room off to the side of the large
room. Upstairs were three rooms and another bathroom. Again, one room had an
unusual shape, following the side of the building that jutted out, seemingly
without purpose.

Julia said, "It's like it was a regular building then
someone came along and scribbled all over the architect's drawings. Strange
place. Still, it would be plenty of room, that's for sure. I could even live
here, upstairs. Not sure I'd want to, though. But for working, it definitely
has possibilities. For computers, I'd need some good wiring--"

"It has excellent wiring. Everything really was built
to be the best. You could run cable in here as well."

"Who built this? What business was in here before?"

Frank said, "You can't really judge a place by who, or
what, had it before."

"Who or what?"

"Frank!" Mrs. Gilchrest admonished. "The
previous owner was a very nice man who believed he was a witch, or rather, a
warlock. He sold herbs, candles, crystals, that sort of thing. The place just
didn't have enough customers to make a go of it. One day he up and left."

"Vanished, that's what he did," Frank commented.

"And so," Mrs. Gilchrest continued in a louder
voice. "The bank took possession. It seems a shame for a good building
like this to just sit here unused."

"I see." Julia wandered around the first floor
again, amused by the oddly shaped room to one side. She wondered if Mrs.
Gilchrest had realized it was five sided. Julia had never been superstitious or
a believer in the paranormal. The history didn't bother her. "I don't know
if it's almost too much space. I wouldn't really need the second floor."

"You never know when you might need storage," Mrs.
Gilchrest said. "And the payments on this property will be quite
reasonable."

She quoted a figure that made Julia blink. It was not just
reasonable, but cheap. Julia nodded thoughtfully. "I need to think about
this. I still hadn't decided I needed a separate office from home. Of course,
I'd need a home, but I really can't see living here. You are right, though, it
would be a good workspace for the computers I might bring in."

"Told you she wouldn't buy it, Betsy," Frank
muttered.

"Hush, Frank. She said she'd think about it," Mrs.
Gilchrest said in a quiet voice.

Julia walked outside to the front of the building. The place
did have a certain weird charm. She was surprised to find herself wanting to
know what Cody thought of the idea. Not that she wanted him to decide for her,
but she wanted his input.

The others caught up to her and they all walked back to the
bank. Julia thanked Mrs. Gilchrest and Frank, and took off in the Corvette for
a drive along the coastline. She needed to think.

Her mind went first to practicalities. She'd need a place to
live here in Sully Point. Her current savings and investments could carry her
for a number of years if necessary, without having to touch her trust fund. Which
would be good, because her parents had control of the dispersal of the trust
fund money until she was thirty. The mortgage payments to the bank on the
gothic building would fit into her budget.

Then her thoughts slid over to the impractical side--the
part where her feelings for Cody entered into the equation. Was she considering
this whole idea just to stay near him? She had to be clear in her own mind
about that, she decided. To do something this major to be close to a
man--except it wasn't just any man. It was Cody, the man she had deep feelings
for already. She couldn't leave her feelings out of the decision-making
process. Where the relationship was going still wasn't clear to her, or to Cody,
she thought. But something major was happening between them. She wanted time to
sort it out, to see if it was real and lasting, or not.

The other side to all of it was dealing with her mother. If
she did start this business, she'd have to face down her mother, and all of her
manipulative emotional warfare. It made Julia a bit shaky inside to think of
how it would be. But if she was ever going to break away, it had to be now. If
she gave in at this point, she wasn't sure she'd ever have her own life.

When she returned to the beach house, she pulled on a thick
sweater jacket and headed out to sit on the deck. It was sunny today and
warmer, but still cool by the water. She sat staring out at the turbulent
waters for a long time, watching the waves coming in and out, much like her
thoughts, pro and con, washed over her mind.

The bottom line, she finally decided, was about working at
something she loved. Aside from making money, getting closer to Cody, being
healthier in her life, getting away from her mother--all these were unimportant
compared to her doing something with her life that she would enjoy. As she
shivered in the breeze she realized she made a decision, and smiled.

Cody came around the side of the house at that moment, and
stopped dead, looking at her. "What are you doing out here, you crazy
woman?"

She laughed, a joyous laugh, because no matter what, she
knew she'd made the right choice for her.

"It's cold by the water, Julia, honestly what were you
thinking? Here, come inside and get warmed up." He was bundling her along
and into the house while she continued to giggle. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, yes," she managed to say. "I'm just a
bit giddy with happiness at the moment."

He looked at her curiously, but didn't say anything. Instead,
he went into the bedroom and brought back a blanket.

"Haven't we done this before?" Julia asked him,
settling on the couch. "Come share the blanket with me and I'll warm up
faster."

He stood looking at her for a moment, eyes concerned, then
nodded. "You're right."

She fitted her body to his under the blanket, head on his
chest, an arm around his waist. The feel of his hands rubbing up and down her
back felt amazingly good. "It wasn't cold out there when I first went out.
Then, I was thinking hard and lost track of time."

"The wind did come up rather suddenly. I drove out to
have lunch with you and when you didn't answer the door I got worried. Thought
I'd see if you'd locked the back door and then there you were."

"It's only lunch time? I feel like I've been thinking
for a whole day."

"Well, it's a late lunch time. I have people at the
store for the afternoon, which means I'm all yours for the rest of the day and
night."

"Mmm. Sounds perfect." She tilted her head up and
met his kiss. They both froze when they heard someone at the front door,
unlocking it.

"What the--" Cody began. He quietly moved Julia
off his lap and got up from the couch.

The door opened.

"Sam--Anna! What are you guys doing here?"

Julia watched Cody walk quickly over to hug his sister. They
didn't look much alike as Anna had dark auburn hair compared to Cody's dark
blond. She wasn't a beautiful woman, but a striking one. And one who had
surprised her brother.

"Anna--you're pregnant!" He hugged her again, more
gently this time.

"Yes, I am. We came back because I want to have the
baby here, in May probably."

"Congratulations, Sam," Cody said, shaking his
brother-in-law's hand with a wide smile.

Anna had walked past Cody into the living room and stood
looking at Julia. "And you must be Julia Tremaine, am I right?"

Julia nodded. "Yes, it's nice to meet you. Your beach
house has been lovely to stay in."

Cody had turned to walk back over. "Yes, except for the
little spot of trouble at the beginning."

Sam stood by Anna and took her hand. Anna said, "We are
so sorry that happened to you. I'm just glad she's locked up again. But
what," Anna continued, "are you doing here Cody?"

Cody grinned at Julia for a moment. She shrugged.
"We're dating. Julia and I have only recently gotten together, Sis."

"You let her drive your Corvette," Anna said,
wonderingly. "I only just put together the fact that your pickup and your
corvette are outside. Did you, let her drive it, I mean?"

Cody said with a frown, "Well, yes, but I don't see
what--"

"Cody, that's wonderful! I'm so happy for both of
you."

Cody turned red and looked down at his feet, and Julia felt
curious. What did Anna mean?

"All right, Sis. Let it go," Cody said, waving a
hand at her in dismissal. "I've only been here a few minutes. Julia was
sitting out on the deck, and we came in to get her warmed up."

"The ocean view is truly restful. Conducive to
thinking," Julia said in explanation. "But now I think I should start
packing. I'm going to need some place else to stay."

"How about the loft?" Cody asked. "If you
want your space, it's empty since I moved back to the boat."

His sister nodded. "Yes, the loft would be perfect. You
must stay there. I'm sorry we're kicking you out of here."

"Not a problem. The loft will be great. Come help me
pack, Cody." They got up and went into the bedroom, while Sam got the rest
of his and Anna's luggage into the house.

While she opened up her suitcase Julia asked, "What did
Anna mean? About my driving your Corvette? Your father this morning acted weird
about it too."

"You saw Dad this morning?"

"Yes, but don't change the subject."

Cody stopped carrying clothes from the closet to the bed. He
put his hands on her shoulders and drew her to him. "Because I've never
let anyone else drive the Corvette. And she knows--I must feel something
special for you to trust you with my car. It is my baby after all." He
grinned at her and kissed her lightly. "Back to packing."

Julia had the distinct feeling he'd changed what he was
going to say Anna knew, but that was okay with her. He feels something special.
Interesting, since what she felt for him was pretty special too.

They packed quickly, wanting to give Sam and Anna back their
house after the long trip from Italy. Once everything was in suitcases, Julia
got out clean sheets and they changed the bed. She stuffed the used sheets into
the washing machine and started it up, along with the towels from the bathroom.

"There. All set, I think," she told Cody who was
carrying out suitcases.

Anna was sitting in the big leather chair. "Don't
forget this," she said, holding up the beginnings of the crocheted
sweater.

"Thank you, I was about to leave it here." Julia
got everything back into its quilted bag to go out to the car.

"You do beautiful work. The color reminds me of Cody's
eyes."

Julia felt herself blushing. "Yes, that occurred to me
also."

Anna gave a soft laugh. "He looks happy. I'm
glad."

"He makes me very happy," Julia said to her in a
quiet voice.

"That's what matters," Anna replied.

Cody called out, "Anna, we're ready to go. Julia and I
will take the truck and her car now. Then we'll come back for the Corvette and
leave you two in peace. When are you going to see Dad?"

"Tonight. We'll show up for dinner there--and it's to
be a surprise Cody, so no telling him we're here, or about the baby."

"Ah, you're spoiling my fun. Can we at least be there
when you come for supper?"

"Of course. Whose night is it to cook? Because I don't
want pizza."

Cody looked affronted. "I'll have you know, I now cook.
Learned while you've been gone."

"Nice!"

"Don't worry, we'll have a good home-cooked meal for
you."

Julia watched as he hugged his sister one more time, and
then they headed out to the cars. "You seem close to her."

"I am. More now than before, actually. We grew closer
last year. Dad is going to bust a gut when he hears about the baby."

"I'll follow you to the loft," Julia said as she
got into her car. "I was a bit distracted the last time we drove
there."

Cody laughed and nodded.

Julia was glad she got to see him with his sister. There was
a sweetness between them, an obvious caring. She'd always wanted a brother or
sister and was determined, if she ever had kids, she would have more than one. She
wouldn't want them to be lonely like she had been.

* * * *

Cody thought about the Corvette as he drove to the loft. He
knew very well what Anna had been referring to. He'd always said, only the
woman he planned to marry would be allowed to drive his Corvette. Yet, today
he'd gone off and left her the keys as if it were nothing. He trusted her, he
realized with a start. More than anyone he'd ever known.