Page 101 of The Guest Cottage

“Herman is terrific, I agree. He has great management skills. When one customer is trying to monopolize too much of my time, Herman has a smooth way of interrupting. He can be stern with anyone acting up but extra friendly to the locals who seem to need a little more attention.”

“With the aging population, that’s a lot of people.”

Stacking her hands on his chest and resting her chin there, Marlow asked, “As long as we’re talking, will you tell me more about your friend Nathan?

For the first time ever, Cort felt like sharing those memories. Nathan had been an incredible guy, and it seemed a shame he hadn’t boasted about him more. Now he could because Marlow had given him that gift. “What do you want to know?”

“Anything.” Her gaze searched his face, then settled on looking into his eyes. “Everything.”

So he talked. Cort shared funny stories and heartbreaking stories. Times when Nathan had kept him going and when he’d repaid the favor. They’d been so close, Cort missed him daily. The things they’d shared guaranteed a lifetime of memories. He’d be thinking of Nathan, just as he thought of his mom, until he left the earth.

But in between those bittersweet memories, he hoped he’d be enjoying every day with Marlow and making new, wonderful memories—together.

* * *

The meeting was at the tavern! Marlow couldn’t believe it. She heard from Robin, who heard it from Butler—he was the mayor, after all—that Cort, with Herman’s help, had arranged it that way.

Everyone knew everything, and she’d been kept in the dark.

The word going around was that Cort wanted Marlow to have her say. Well, if she hadn’t already loved him, that would have done it.

She’d been busting her butt since her shift started, partly in an effort to distract herself from the possibility that these people might not accept her, and partly in hopes that she’d get a chance to steal away and pitch her case. Then the crowd had started arriving, and she couldn’t understand why a Wednesday should be so blasted busy. Her hopes of attending the meeting had faded, until she’d spoken to Robin.

Now that the meeting was coming to her, nervousness gripped her. In the way of an internal pep talk, she told herself that she was in her Dry Frog Tavern T-shirt. Her hair was in a high, tidy braid. Her only Dior accents were tiny earrings that made her feel good, and she was sure no one would notice them.

She was “one of them.” Surely, they’d see that.

Wade, Gloria, and Bobbi—the siblings, as they were called—came in with Pixie and Andy in tow. Pixie waved to her, but Marlow saw her tension, too. The two of them had so much on the line.

In a relatively short time, Bramble had come to represent hope, happiness, and a better future. Logically, Marlow knew she could find happiness anywhere. It came from within her, not from a location. But it was here that she’d rebuilt her damaged pride, recovered from a brutal divorce and the disappointment of betrayal. Here, she’d been the happiest.

Depositing her tray of drinks to the appropriate tables while deftly avoiding conversation, Marlow made her way to Pixie.

“I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“I know,” Pixie said in hushed, almost excited tones. “Bobbi said that Cort told them to bring me in.”

Uneasily, Marlow glanced around. Everyone was watching her, so she did her best to act blasé. She didn’t want to give anyone warning of her intent to insist, if necessary, that she and Pixie be allowed to make Bramble their permanent home.

Whispering, she said to Pixie, “No matter what happens, we’ll be fine.”

Pixie’s smile was soft, her gaze understanding as she noted Marlow’s nervousness. “I know. You need to know it, too.” Her attention wandered around the room, taking in all the people present. “Like you, I’d rather be fine here, but Cort said family isn’t where you live, it’s who you love.”

That sentiment left Marlow undone. “He is one wise, wise Marine.”

“I think he’s your wise Marine,” Gloria said. Then she went back to cooing to Andy in the most outrageous way. Baby talk, it seemed, was not Gloria’s talent.

Herman called out, “Everybody find a seat. Let us know what you want to drink, then settle down so we can get to it.”

“Oops,” Marlow said. “I think that means I have to get back to work.”

Pixie hugged her. “You’ve got this.”

Such faith!

Marlow made several quick trips before all the locals were served. She kept looking for Cort but didn’t see him, yet Herman repeatedly gave her sly looks, as if he was in on a secret. Well, Herman would be an easier nut to crack than Cort, so she started in his direction, only to be pulled up short as the official meeting got underway.

Jumping the gun a little, Marlow cleared her throat to draw everyone’s attention. “I’d like to state my case for permanent—”

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