Page 72 of Hearts at Seaside
“So were we.” She smiled up at him, and he draped an arm over her shoulder and pulled her close.
“What’s with all the touchy-feely stuff?” Pete’s father and Sky had taken a walk together on the beach, and judging by their smiles, it had done them both a world of good. Joey trotted along beside them. Joey and Neil were as close as Pete and the lovable pup.
Neil had looked relaxed in the days since he’d come home, and now his eyes had a sparkle in them that Jenna hadn’t seen when they’d visited him in rehab. He had a long road ahead, but he was working closely with his counselor to ensure his transition into living a sober life went as smoothly as possible. Pete, Jenna, and Sky attended weekly meetings for families of alcoholics to learn how to support him in ways that would make sobriety easier for him, and it had brought all three of them closer together.
Sky smiled at Pete, and Jenna saw a silent message of something positive pass between them. Pete had told Jenna that Sky had grown up over the past six weeks. The hardware store customers loved her, and although Pete visited her daily and helped her with shelving supplies and handling the books, she was already putting her own touches on the shop with plants on the counter and in the window and colorful knickknacks that should look totally out of place in a hardware store but somehow warmed it instead. Pete must have told Jenna a hundred times in the last few weeks how proud of Sky he was, and Sky seemed to flourish with his praise.
“Mr. Lacroux, how was Florida?” Jamie asked.
Jenna had kept Pete’s secret about his father’s rehab. He hadn’t asked her to, but she’d known it was the right thing to do. Even friends could make a mistake and let something slip out in the wrong company.
Pete’s father slung an arm over Pete’s shoulder. “It wasn’t what I expected. You know, helping my cousin care for his wife and all. It was touch and go for a while, but they pulled through and were even stronger than they’d been before the whole nightmare arose.”
“Glad to hear it.” Jamie held a hand out to Sky. “We’ve never officially met. I’m Jamie Reed.”
“Oh gosh.” Jenna ran over to Sky. “I’m sorry. It feels like you guys all know each other. Sky, this is Jamie, and the guy glued to Amy is Tony.” Jenna hoped that the endless hug was a sign of more to come for Amy and Tony.
Tony set Amy on the ground and they joined the group.
“Hi. Pete’s talked about you guys forever. It’s nice to finally meet you.” Sky crossed her arms over her long-sleeved cotton shirt. She looked like she’d walked out of a summer clothing magazine with her long skirt, sandals, and layers of bangles on her thin wrists. “I’m going to grab a sweater.” She headed for her car, and both Tony and Jamie watched her walk away.
Amy swatted Tony. “She’s too young for you.”
“Pfft. What’s age but a number?” Tony bumped her with his elbow and winked.
Amy rolled her eyes.
They took two cars over to the marina. The boat looked picture perfect in the water with a bright red ribbon running along the railing. It had leaked for the first few days until the wood swelled into place. Jenna had fretted over the leaks, imagining the boat sinking while they were at sea, but both Pete and his father had assured her that minor leaks were normal in older wooden boats that had been out of the water as long as his had.
She stood on the deck of the schooner, watching Pete and his father talk on the dock. Pete’s head kicked back with a loud laugh, and his father’s shoulders moved up and down with a chuckle.
“I missed your whole courtship.” Jamie leaned on the railing beside Jenna.
“No, you didn’t. Pete still courts me every day.” She smiled at Jamie as their other friends gathered around them.
“I’d say you’re a pretty lucky lady, then, Jenna.” Jamie glanced at Sky, talking with Amy and Bella. “At least now Bella and Amy can stop sneaking into your cottage to break things.”
“Yeah, as much as I’d like to bonk them on their heads for turning off my hot water, I can’t.”
“And the dishwasher last summer. And the roof the summer before…”
Jenna’s jaw dropped open. “What? Are you kidding me?”
“Nope. They’ve been working their magic for years.” Jamie laughed.
Jenna narrowed her eyes and glared at Bella. “Nope. I still can’t be mad at them. They deserve medals for not giving up on us.”
Jamie draped an arm over her shoulder. “You know better than that. Seaside friends never give up.”
“Get your own girl already.” Pete’s smile told Jenna he was kidding. He knew how close she and her friends were, but she also knew that Pete had at least one jealous bone in his body, though he hid it fairly well most of the time. She didn’t mind, as she felt the same pangs of jealousy when other women ogled her man.
“Ready to christen this baby?” Pete asked. He helped his father onto the deck of the boat and stepped on behind him.
“I thought we already did that,” Jenna whispered.
Pete patted her butt and leaned in for a kiss. “How about we name it, then?”
Pete hadn’t even revealed the name of the boat to Jenna yet, and she was dying to know what name he and his father had chosen. His brothers had come to visit the day his father came home from rehab, and even after hours of brotherly pressure, Pete hadn’t caved.
