Page 65 of The Beachgoers
“Always believed in you guys,” he admits, patting her hand.
“That means a lot, Jason. So you just name it, if I can help you and Maris…”
“Don’t worry, you just did.”
“Good, that’s good.” With a quick breath, Lauren stands then and straightens her lace skirt. “Because Ireallyhave to get back inside now.” She kisses Jason’s cheek, then crosses the porch to the inn’s main door. But while opening it, she suddenly turns again. “Oh, I almost forgot! Kyle has giant sparklers he wants to light later. They’re in the back of his truck. Would you mind getting them for us?”
“No problem,” Jason tells her as he walks down the porch steps. “Anything for you two.”
* * *
Lauren watches Jason go, knowing how rare that is. To have someone in your life who would do anything for you. For her and Kyle, Jason Barlow’s been that person.
In the evening light, he crosses the front lawn to the driveway. When he gets to Kyle’s truck, Lauren opens the inn’s front door and hurries down the hall. She passes the reservation desk, the Mason-jar chandelier, and a beribboned grandfather clock before half-trotting through the kitchen, toward the crazy-busy dining room.
She knows it’s crazy-busy by the racket alone—the voices and clinking glasses and laughter—that gets louder with each step she takes. Turning into that room, Lauren sees scattered flickering lanterns—across the long dining table, on the server. The golden candlelight reflects in the floor-to-ceiling windows. Crystal glasses sparkle. Trays of condiments line a buffet top. There’s that spread of whiskey-tinged relish; ketchup; sautéed mushrooms and caramelized onions; sauerkraut and brown mustard; mac and cheese with crispy bacon. There are salads, too, on Elsa’s gorgeous planked table. Red-cabbage coleslaw and potato salad with dill. Stacy is carrying in a platter of steaming, grilled corn on the cob.
And the people. Above the dining room table, Elsa’s grand chandelier—clear fishing globes wrapped in jute rope—shines on them all. Everyone Lauren loves is gathered around that table. Her children. Eva and Matt. Shane. Nick. Cliff. Celia is in and out of the room. Paige and Vinny, too.
Then there’s Kyle. He’s sitting close to Maris and firming up Operation Get Jason Home. Oh, they’re in the thick of planning, hashing out the particulars. When Kyle looks up and sees Lauren, he gives her a nod and a quick thumbs-up.
To Lauren, it’s the best sign of the night. It covers everything that’s happened the past few hours—oh, yes it does. From the surprise vow renewal to talking alone with Jason, Kyle’s nailed it.
Becauselife’sgiving her a thumbs-up, too. Giving them all a thumbs-up.
For tonight at least…all’s good.
