Page 24 of Starfish Cottage
Besides, shehadbeen working hard and could use a little break.
“Okay, what time?”
“Six. We usually just split a few appetizers.”
“Sounds perfect. Have we gotten any new reservations?” The event planning had taken up all of Maddie’s time, and she hadn’t been paying attention to the goings-on at the Beachcomber. “Sorry I haven’t been around to help out.”
Gina held up her hand. “No need to apologize. There’s not much going on. We’re down to just Aggie and no new reservations.”
“I’m sure that will change once we start advertising the event,” Jules said.
“The ads should start showing soon, and I put flyers up around town. Some local television stations might come out and report on the event. The committee meeting is tomorrow night, and I have all the ads ready to go. I just need the approval.” Rose had formed a committee right after the meeting and asked Maddie to come up with final plans to present, and then they would vote.
“It’s all good. Gives us time for some repairs,” Jules said. “Speaking of which, how are things going at the cottage?”
“I haven’t had time to do much myself, and Dex was helping me figure out where to set the tents and displays downtown, so there hasn’t been much progress. He was going to finish removing the whisky wall today. I can’t wait to see the ocean through the kitchen as soon as I walk in.”
“That’s going to be amazing. We can’t wait to see it either,” Gina said.
“After this week, I’ll have more free time. We’ll have a get-together.” Maddie felt guilty that she’d neglected her cousins. “I should get going. I need to work up some ideas about the Gatsby party for the committee.”
Maddie stood and took one last look at the ocean. Even though she could work on her back deck, she’d be much too busy focusing on that to look at the scenery. “See you at Sharkies at six.”
* * *
* * *
Maddie openedthe door to Starfish Cottage and gasped. Dex had removed the wall, and even though there was debris everywhere, all she could see was the aqua ocean vista through the window over the sink that was in the direct line of sight as soon as you entered.
Could the window be enlarged? She’d have to remove the cabinets on either side of it, but opening up that window would add a lot of light and more of the view. Maybe she could put a pantry cabinet in the dining room to make up for the lost space. But that would have to come in the future. She didn’t have the money for that kind of renovation as it would entail a new window and probably some juggling of the existing cabinets.
“I’ll just be happy with what I have,” she said to no one because Dex wasn’t there. The cottage felt a bit empty, but she needed the alone time to focus on her work anyway. She took a notebook and her iPad out to the deck and started to outline her ideas for the party.
By five p.m., she’d pretty much finished the plan and printed out some handouts for the meeting. Now, it was time for a much-deserved break.
It was a weeknight, so Sharkies wasn’t crowded. She spotted Jules and Nick at a high-top table near the window and headed over.
“Hey, how’s it going?” Jules gestured toward a chair opposite her. Jules and Nick both had mugs of beer, but there was a third mug on the table too. Had they ordered for her?
From behind her she heard, “Sorry guys. I got caught up talking to Harley… oh, hi, Maddie.”
Dex took the seat with the beer in front of it. He was here too? She looked quizzically at Jules, who shrugged. Dex and Nick were best friends, so she supposed it stood to reason that Dex would happen upon them and join them. Strange coincidence… or was it? Judging by the guilty look on Jules’s face, it might not be.
“Are you going to join us?” Dex asked. “Sorry I wasn’t at the cottage. I had another job to go to, but what do you think of the wall?”
“It looks amazing.” Maddie described how it had opened up the cottage to Jules and ordered a local IPA from the waitress.
“I’m so glad the place is coming together,” Jules said. “What about the plan for the party?”
“That’s coming together too.” Maddie was pleased with the progress she’d made.
“Party?” Dex asked.
Maddie told Dex how the clothing in Deena’s trunk had given her the idea.
“That’s a great idea, and maybe it will keep you-know-who from being down on the event because of the association with spirits.” Nick lifted his mug to emphasize the spirits part.
Harley came over to the table. He was tall, his slightly graying hair in a buzz cut and a white bar towel slung over his wide shoulders. “I hope you guys are enjoying the beer.”
