Page 17 of Return to Rosewood Beach

Alexis stayed out of her sisters’ conversation, listening and smiling a little but not adding any input of her own. She did want Julia to find happiness with someone, but as she listened, she realized that she was feeling a little bit like a cynic. Given her own tense marriage, she wasn’t in much of a positive mood when it came to anything romantic. She didn’t feel as though it made sense to encourage Julia to get excited about some man who lived in another place than she did. However handsome he was, or however romantic it might be that he’d caught her when she stumbled in the rain, it was no reason for her to consider turning her life upside down for him.

“What do you think, Alexis?” Hazel asked, turning to her with a questioning gaze.

Alexis blinked. She hated to be the voice of pessimism, especially at a time when they could all use some cheering up, but she didn’t want to be totally dishonest about her thoughts either.

She was saved from having to answer, however, because at that moment there was a knock on the door.

“Who would be knocking on your door after dinner?” Julia asked, frowning in surprise. “It can’t be any kind of package delivery at this hour, can it?”

“Let’s find out.” Hazel stood up and hurried over to the door. The moment she opened it, the tips of her ears turned bright pink. “Jacob! Hi.”

Jacob Dorsey, the town handyman, stood on Hazel’s front step, smiling in a calm manner. “Hey, Hazel. How’s your night going?”

Julia and Alexis exchanged a curious glance. Hazel had had a massive crush on Jacob in high school—she was one of many girls who had—and the sight of him showing up on her doorstep like that in such a friendly way made them raise their eyebrows.

“Are they going out?” Julia mouthed at Alexis, but Alexis just shrugged and shook her head, signaling that she had no idea.

She berated herself for not asking Hazel sooner if she had anyone special in her life at the moment. She told herself that it was her duty as a sister to know and care about those kinds of things. She realized she probably hadn’t brought it up because she was avoiding the topic of romance as much as she could, since any reminder of her situation with Grayson made her stomach tense up.

“Um, fine,” Hazel said a little breathlessly. “How about you, Jacob?”

“Oh, fine, fine.” He smiled pleasantly. He’d always been a kind, down-to-earth sort of guy with a simple nature. He seemed to be blissfully unaware of how many women were still pining after him, even after high school. He was well-known enough in town that news of him had reached Alexis the other day at the pub, where she’d learned that he was now the local handyman, well-respected, and sought after by many women. She wasn’t at all surprised, considering what a sweet, attractive young man he’d been when he went to school with Hazel and Dean. “I was just driving past and I heard a clicking sound coming from your fuse box.”

“A clicking sound?” Hazel blinked worriedly. “That’s probably bad, right? What do you think it could mean?”

Jacob shrugged good-naturedly and smiled at her. His kind gray eyes, along with his neatly-trimmed brown beard, gave hima professional appearance despite the fact that he was wearing a dirty flannel work shirt. “While I’m not formally an electrician, I know a lot about fuse boxes and I’ve done my share of work on some of the fuse boxes around town. I wouldn’t worry about it—especially because I’d like to come by tomorrow and take a look at it for you.” He grinned at her, and the flushed shade of her ears got brighter.

“Oh, would you? Thank you so much.”

“Of course. I want to do my part to make sure everyone in our town stays safe. Call me if you notice anything odd happening before tomorrow.”

“I will. Thank you again, Jacob. Get home safe.”

“I will.”

With a smile and a nod, he stepped off the front porch, and Hazel shut the door behind him, seeming to do it a touch reluctantly.

“Well, what was that?” Julia crowed gleefully, hugging one of the couch pillows to her chest and grinning at Hazel. “What’s up with you and Jacob?”

“What?” Now Hazel’s whole face was a bright shade of pink. “Didn’t you hear him? He offered to help me because my fuse box is making clicking noises.”

“Mm, yeah, I heard it. He really seems to be going out of his way for you, Hazel.” Julia’s eyes danced mischievously.

“But… he’s just being nice.” Hazel sat down in her spot on the couch and hurriedly drank some of her tea as if to hide her face.

“Oh, come on, Hazel, you had the biggest crush on him when we were growing up. For years.” Julia waggled her brows, poking her sister’s shoulder with the pillow she was holding.

Hazel shook her head, although she looked as though she was trying not to smile.

“That doesn’t mean he’s interested in me! He could have his pick of any girl in town, easily. He’s just being chivalrous.” A sillysmile formed on her face, however, giving away the fact that she was thrilled he was being so sweet to her.

“Ahh, look at that smile! You’re totally smitten.” Julia threw the pillow at Hazel, who dodged it, laughing.

Alexis swallowed, trying to fight off the pit in her stomach that wouldn’t seem to go away. She was happy for her sisters, but the fact that their romantic lives seemed to be on the up-and-up and hers seemed to be plummeting to the depths made her heart feel as heavy as lead. She wished she could just enjoy her sisters’ good news and exciting prospects, but their hope seemed to highlight the fact that she was starting to feel as though she didn’t have any, at least as far as her relationship with Grayson went.

I keep clinging to the hope that things are going to get better,she thought, taking another sip of her tea and watching Julia and Hazel laughing on the couch.I keep pretending I’ll never have to say anything to anyone about what’s happening. I don’t want to have to tell anyone. I’m afraid to tell anyone.

She bit her lip, finding it harder and harder to tell herself that things were going to turn out okay between her and her husband. He hadn’t even returned the calls she’d made to him since she arrived in Rosewood Beach. He’d replied to her with short texts that contained supportive words, but texts were far from reassuring, especially when she was dealing with something as difficult as the death of a parent.

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