Rose Harbor in Bloom (3 page)

I had some baking I wanted to do that morning, muffins this time. I made a mental note to contact either Grace Harding at the library or Peggy and Bob Beldon, who owned another Cedar Cove B&B, about who I might hire to finish planting the roses and building the gazebo. One thing I could guarantee: whoever took on the job would complete it long before Mark ever would have, had he not quit.

I went inside and fed Rover, and as I was putting his food back in the pantry, I heard a car door close. Checking my watch, I saw it was early yet, barely seven-thirty. The side door opened, and I heard Hailey call my name.

“I’m in here,” I shouted back, and Rover hurried over to greet her.

Hailey Tremont was the high school senior I’d hired, recommended by Grace Harding. Hailey came in twice a week to help me with housekeeping chores and anything else I needed done.

She rounded the corner, leading into the kitchen. “Morning,” she said, and bent over to pet Rover. She was a pretty girl, petite and sweet-natured. She was small for her age, and looking at her, I found it hard to believe she was eighteen years old.

A few weeks back Grace had asked if I could use help. Apparently, Hailey’s family owned property next to Grace and her husband’s ranch in the Olalla area. Grace told me Hailey hoped for a
career in the hospitality business and needed a part-time job. It would give the teenager experience and a little nest egg before she headed off to college in the fall.

“I wanted to see if you needed me Saturday or Sunday,” she asked.

I knew the high school graduation ceremony was scheduled for this weekend. “What day is your graduation?”

“Sunday. I could work if you felt you needed me.” She looked down. “My grandparents will be in town and my aunt Melanie, too, but I could stop by.”

I could use the help on Sunday, but I wouldn’t ask her to come in on the day of her graduation. “Why don’t you come after school today and tomorrow?” I glanced up. “Does that upset your schedule?”

“No, that’s perfect.” Her eyes brightened when she realized she was free on Sunday.

I wished I had more hours to give her, but my business was just getting off the ground.

“I’ll be here this afternoon.”

“Perfect,” I told her.

Hailey glanced at her wrist. “I better get to school. It seems a little silly to attend classes when all our assignments are in and we’ve already gotten our grades. I think most of us go simply because we know these are the last days we’ll be together.”

I remembered my own graduation. It seemed like a lifetime ago. I’d drifted away from most of my high school friends, but stayed in contact with my two best friends. Diane had moved to Texas, was married with two children, and Katie lived in north Seattle. Katie was married with three children. We kept in touch on Facebook and by email, although it’d been far too long since we’d last gotten together. I promised myself I’d make the effort to have Katie over to Cedar Cove soon. She’d seen the inn after I’d first bought it and loved it as much as I did.

“I better head off to class, or non-class,” Hailey said, and added a short laugh. “I’ll see you later this afternoon.”

“Great.” I got out the mixing bowl and the other ingredients I’d need for the muffins.

I had the cookbook open in front of me and brought out the necessary ingredients when I heard a noise outside. I paused, but I didn’t investigate right away. I had a sneaky suspicion it was Mark.

When I peeked out the foyer window, I saw that I was right. Mark stood looking down on the grass he’d dug up in order to plant the rose garden. My guess was he felt as bad about our disagreement as I did and wanted to set matters straight. Most likely he’d just begin working again and pretend yesterday had never happened.

I wouldn’t ask for an apology, although I felt he owed me one. For that matter, I probably owed him one, too. My shoulders relaxed, and I hesitated. I didn’t realize how tense our disagreement had made me, nor did I want to admit how glad I was to see him.

I decided to play it cool. I’d wait a few minutes, pour him a cup of coffee, and tell him I intended on baking muffins and see how he reacted. I watched the clock, and after five very slow minutes I brought down a coffee mug, filled it, and carried it outside. I hesitated on the top step.

Mark was nowhere in sight.

I couldn’t imagine where he’d gone but then noticed the door to the large tool shed was cracked open. I walked down the steps to the shed, opened the door, and turned on the light. Mark wasn’t there. In that short amount of time, just minutes, Mark had come and gone, taking with him the few items he’d stored at my place.

It looked like he was serious about breaking the contract. He’d had all night to think matters over. If he felt the same in the light of a new day, that told me he didn’t have any regrets. Well, so much for that.

I heard the phone ring in the distance and hurried back into the
house. I dumped the coffee on the lawn, rather than risk spilling it in my rush to get to the phone.

“Rose Harbor Inn,” I said, hoping I didn’t sound as breathless as I felt.

“Good morning,” a cheerful male voice greeted me.

“Morning,” I replied.

“I’m calling to see if you have any more rooms available starting tomorrow and through the weekend.”

I didn’t need to check my reservation book to know that I did. “I only have one room left.”

“Great; book it. I’ll be driving Kent and Julie Shivers from Portland. My name is Sutton, Oliver Sutton, and I’m a longtime family friend. I’ll be in town for their anniversary party.”

“Yes, yes, I have their reservation right here,” I said, glancing down at the book. The family would be gathering in Cedar Cove. I had to wonder why they would choose to come all the way from Oregon to our sleepy town, but I figured I’d find out soon enough.

“Would it be possible to give the Shivers a room on the bottom floor?” he asked. “I’m assuming there are stairs from the photo of the inn I viewed online?”

“Actually, the inn has guest rooms on three floors, but fortunately I do have a room on the main level.” It was my favorite one, larger than the other rooms, with a love seat and fireplace. It had a beautiful view of the cove, and when the weather was clear the Olympic Mountains shone as a backdrop. Some days they were so breathtakingly beautiful it was all I could do not to simply stare at them.

“Is it available?” Oliver asked.

“Yes.”

“Wonderful. I’m afraid stairs are a bit much for Kent these days, although he’d never admit it.”

“I can switch rooms without a problem, but there’s a slight price difference.” It was only fair that I tell him that.

“No problem. Just add that to my bill, if you would.”

“Okay. Do you have a preference when it comes to your room?” I asked.

He hesitated. “Annie Newton has also booked a room at the inn, is that right?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, she has.” I’d met Annie a couple of times, although only briefly. She was the Shivers’s granddaughter and the reason I knew that the Shivers were celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Annie lived in the Seattle area and had stopped by to check out the inn and make other arrangements for the family gathering. I’d learned she was a party planner by profession, and had taken on organizing the event.

“If possible, I’d like a room on the same floor as Annie’s.”

“I can do that.” That meant shifting Mary Smith to another room, but that wouldn’t be a problem.

“Perfect. I’ll see you tomorrow, then, with the Shivers. I plan to arrive around noon.”

I took his credit card information and paused as I looked down. I’d taken the reservation for Mary Smith the same day that Kent Shivers had phoned. Both conversations had stayed in my mind, which was unusual.

By mid-morning, the scent of the carrot-and-pineapple muffins filled my kitchen. The recipe was a new one, and I was anxious to try it out. The ingredient list called for walnuts, raisins, and flaxseed. Filled with fruit, nuts, and seeds, they were healthy, and if the heavenly scent coming from the oven was anything to go by, they would be delicious, too. I also planned to bake cookies, if time allowed.

Hailey arrived around two, when the kitchen countertops were lined with cookies and the muffins rested on top of the stove.

“Where would you like me to start?” she asked, after setting her backpack inside my office.

I gave her a detailed list that I’d made up earlier. She read it over, asked me a couple of questions, and then set about completing the tasks. While she was busy I worked in the kitchen. I finished loading the dishwasher, and after placing the cookies for the open house in an air-tight storage container, I wiped down the countertops.

I planned to serve the muffins with breakfast over the weekend. My baking for the open house was just getting started. I had several cookbooks spread out across the table when I heard the sound of a car approaching.

I looked out the window as the driver parked the car, climbed out, and then came around to the other side of the vehicle and opened the passenger door. A woman I could only assume was Mary Smith slid out and paused as she viewed the inn. She was an elegantly dressed businesswoman.

I removed my apron, and with Rover at my heels met her on the walkway leading to the front door.

“Hello and welcome,” I said. “I’m Jo Marie Rose. Welcome to Rose Harbor Inn.”

“Thank you,” she returned with a faint New York accent.

I recognized the high-end designer suit immediately and realized it was slightly too big for her. It wasn’t until then that I noticed the scarf on her head cleverly disguised the fact that she had lost her hair. Mary Smith appeared to have recently undergone chemotherapy. She had cancer, and I could only speculate what would bring her all the way from New York to Cedar Cove and Rose Harbor Inn.

Exhausted from the long flight out of Newark, Mary Smith lay down on the bed and closed her eyes. The desire to visit Cedar Cove had come after she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer. It’d been an impulse motivated by fear, she realized. The truth was she never actually expected to make the trip. She wasn’t an impulsive woman. She lived a purposeful life. Flying all the way across the country on a whim was completely unlike her, and yet … yet here she was.

Mary had intentionally booked a nonstop flight into Seattle so she wouldn’t have to change planes. She feared the necessity of rushing from one gate to another might have completely worn her out physically. As it was, the six-hour flight between the east and west coasts had utterly drained her. Yet tired as she was, she found
it impossible to nap. Her mind raced, tumbling back through the years … to the decisions she’d made and the man she’d once loved.

For all she knew George might still live in Seattle. The last she’d heard, nineteen years ago—oh, had it really been that long?—he’d married. Mary wanted him to be happy, which was one reason she didn’t plan on contacting him. She’d stayed completely out of his life and that wasn’t going to change.

The app on her phone displayed the weather forecast for the next five days, including the weekend. What she remembered, having lived in the Seattle area for almost a year, was that it had rained almost continually. As if to contradict her, the app showed nearly five days of sunshine, which came as an unexpected bonus. What she was surprised to learn, once she’d left Seattle for a position on the East Coast, was that New York City received a higher annual rainfall than Seattle. But then Seattle had the drizzle factor and more days in which the skies were gray and overcast.

The song that said the bluest skies they’d ever seen were in Seattle had it right, though. Despite the weather, whatever it might be, Seattle would always hold a special place in her heart. It was here that she’d fallen in love, truly, deeply in love, for the one and only time in her life.

It seemed ridiculous to stay indoors and attempt to sleep when the sun was out. She had packed light, and it didn’t take her long to place the few items in the dresser drawer.

Once she’d finished, she left the room and slowly climbed down the stairs. The proprietor stepped out of the kitchen when she reached the bottom step.

“I hope everything in your room is satisfactory?” Jo Marie asked, and then with a look of concern added, “Are you going to be all right with the stairs?”

“It’s fine.”

“There is one room on the main level, but unfortunately I’ve
already promised that to an older couple. Had I known …” She hesitated.

Mary held up her hand, stopping her. “It’s fine. I’m getting stronger every day.”

“Is there anything more I can do to make you more comfortable?”

“Nothing, thank you,” Mary assured her.

The proprietor didn’t look convinced. “Can I get you a cup of tea?”

“That would be lovely.” Mary didn’t much feel like chatting. “Would it be all right if I drank it on the porch?”

“Of course. I’ll bring it out to you. Would you like sugar or milk?”

“Just plain.”

The Adirondack chair offered her a view of the Olympic mountain range as a backdrop to the smooth waters of the cove in the forefront. The shipyard was across the way, with an aircraft carrier and a number of other vessels docked there. The waters of the cove were a deep green, with a lighthouse at a point in the distance. This was a lovely area. Ideal, really.

The door leading off the porch opened, and a teenage girl stepped out carrying a tray with a teapot and china cup and a couple of cookies on a matching plate. She set it down on the table next to Mary’s chair.

“Hello,” Mary said, smiling up at the girl.

“Hello. Jo Marie asked me to bring this out to you.”

“Thank you.”

“Would you like me to pour?”

Mary hesitated. She was perfectly capable of pouring her own tea, but she welcomed the girl’s company. “Please.”

The girl lifted the teapot and, holding onto the lid, tipped it ever so carefully as she filled the delicate cup. Steam rose, and the scent of chamomile wafted toward Mary.

“What’s your name?” Mary asked.

“Hailey.”

“Do you live in the area?”