Page 31 of Starfish Cottage
“I forget what Rose owes me for, but she didn’t have to send you out.” Her eyes clouded. “Been a long time since anyone did anything neighborly for me.”
Dex saw his opening. “Really? Shell Cove is very neighborly. We take care of each other. Maybe you just haven’t been open to it.” He paused, letting it sink in. “But it might not be that way for long. If we can’t attract tourists, then folks might start to leave. Those that are left will keep to themselves. That’s why the town event and the Gatsby party are so important.”
Constance thought about that, her face a mix of emotions. “I certainly don’t want that. But the rules are the rules.”
“Have you looked into the special exemptions that Belinda mentioned?” Dex asked. “Surely you could find a way to get around the laws. You know them better than anyone. If there’s a loophole, you can find it.”
Constance looked pleased, as if she didn’t get complimented a lot for her skills. She glanced at the work he’d done on the garage, her expression softening. “Well, I suppose there is one thing I could look into. It might take a while, and I can’t make any promises.”
Chapter Nineteen
“I’m still forging ahead with the plans just in case we find a way to do the party on the pier. Harley said he’d be happy to host it, but that won’t be ideal,” Maddie said to her cousins. They were seated on the sectional on Maddie’s deck with coffees Jules and Gina had brought from Ocean Brew along with a strawberry pie. “I’m leaning toward still having it there but with no cocktails.”
“That will still be fun.” Maddie knew Jules was just saying that to be nice, but she appreciated the support.
“Let’s talk about the costumes.” Gina had the glossy color flyer from the costume shop. “I think you’d look great in one of these beaded ones.”
Gina pointed to a gold dress that was loaded with layers of beaded fringe. “That thing looks heavy. I like the red one with the big feather headband.” Maddie turned the brochure so they could see the dress. It was a plain sheath but had a beaded headband with a giant feather sticking out of the top.
“Red is a good color for you. I definitely think you should go for that.” Jules flipped through the pages. “I love this black-and-silver one.”
“I’m going for the turquoise,” Gina said.
“Glad we have that settled.” Maddie leaned back and picked up her slice of pie. “Now I just need to fit two months of work into one week.”
“If you need help, we’re available. Not much going on at the motel,” Jules said.
“Some of the ads are going into the paper tomorrow, so hopefully you’ll get some reservations. I’m holding off on mentioning the Gatsby party, though, until we know the details. Dex said Rose might be able to talk to Constance Harbinger, and I’m still holding out hope that we can figure out a way to lift the town restrictions at least for one night.”
“Let’s hope,” Jules said.
“But if not, the event will still be fun, and it will bring in tourists. The Marco Rosone fan club is excited to come no matter what,” Maddie said.
“They’re probably just excited about Burt’s moonshine demonstration,” Gina joked.
Maddie laughed. “That should be interesting, and Harley said he could set something up for him at Sharkies, so that’s a go. Now we just need to see if Rose can work some magic on relaxing those bylaws.”
* * *
Lorelei did not seemthe least bit impressed that Dex had helped Constance out in an attempt to get her to find a way to ease off on the restrictive bylaws.
She glared at him from her position near the windows in the small living room of his apartment. She had her arms folded over her chest, her expression fixed in a scowl that was becoming all too familiar lately.
“So, you wasted a whole day and a bunch of supplies on some woman who is mean to everyone?” Lorelei looked genuinely confused as to why anyone would do that. “That’s not very good business sense.”
“It’s helping the community, and the community is good business.”
“What do you care about a community that you won’t even be living in?” she asked. “I mean youarestill moving in with me in Portland, aren’t you?”
Dex paused. Had he actually agreed to move in with her? As far as he could remember, he’d only vaguely nodded his head or said something noncommittal when it came up in conversation. It had always seemed like something that would happen way in the future, and now he was afraid he hadn’t put enough thought into it.
Now she was getting that pouty, disappointed look that always made him feel like a jerk. He’d do anything to turn that look into a smile, so he said, “Of course I am. It’s just that I have deep ties here, and well, I was thinking maybe I could still keep my place here too.”
Lorelei made a face. “Why would you do that?”
Good question. “I’d still want to come back and visit my grandmother and my friends.”
Speaking of friends, who would he hang out with in Portland? He loved spending time with Nick and Harley at Sharkies. Would his lifelong friendship with them fade away until they eventually only saw each other a few times a year? And what about Gram? Would he be able to spend as much time with her?
