Page 20 of Happy Harbor
“You know, your mother gave all of us teachers a run for our money.”
“I’ve heard some stories,” Kendra said, laughing.
“Is she more well-behaved now?” Mrs. Hancock asked.
Kendra looked at Josie. “She’s actually pretty boring.”
That made Josie laugh and feel better about herself at the same time.Boringwas not a word her childhood friends would’ve called her. They would have used words likeangry,wild, anddysfunctionalback then. Maybe she had improved and matured over the years. Of course, her most recent boss wouldn’t agree with any of that.
Joe Strand, dressed in his Sunday best, walked up beside Mrs. Hancock. “Excuse me. Josie, can I have a word?”
“Sure,” she said, standing up. “It was nice to see you again, Mrs. Hancock.”
“Same to you, Josie. I do hope to see more of you around here.” She wandered off to talk to someone else as Joe remained.
“Sorry to interrupt your conversation.”
“No problem. I don’t feel much like talking anyway.”
“I hope you’re coming to the luncheon?”
She sighed. “Joe, I really don’t feel like it.”
“Josie, I think it’s important that you meet your grandmother’s friends and share some stories and laughs. Plus, many of these folks will be customers at the restaurant.”
“I never said I was staying to run the restaurant.”
Kendra groaned. “I’m trying to talk her into it.”
Joe winked at her. “Glad I have an ally in this. Look, I came over because I wanted to see if you’d like to visit the restaurant after the luncheon.”
Her guts twisted at the thought. Campbell’s Café haunted her, but she needed to go, and she knew that.
“Fine. I’ll come to the luncheon for a little while, and then we can go to the restaurant.”
He touched her upper arm. “I know this is exhausting, Josie. Please say you’ll stay at the house tonight. I think it’ll do you good.”
“We have a hotel room.”
“But—”
“Joe, please. I can only take so many walks down memory lane on this trip.”
He nodded. “I understand. I’ll see you at the luncheon.”
“Mom, we have to go to the house too. I don’t understand why you don’t want to go.”
“I can’t explain it, Kendra. I just know I don’t feel ready to go there.” Maybe it was the memories. Maybe it was the fact that Nana was gone, and she was afraid the house would feel empty. Or maybe it was because going to that house would reel her in and keep her in Happy Harbor.
* * *
Ethel Boniface’s house smelled like every Sunday dinner, family reunion, and church potluck Josie had ever been to. The aroma of freshly baked buttermilk biscuits, peach cobbler, and strong coffee assaulted her senses all at once as she walked inside.
It was a beautiful home with a long front porch, large columns, and wide stairs leading to the front door. Still, it was not nearly as majestic as Adeline Campbell’s home. That place was something to behold, like a miniature Tara fromGone with the Wind. People came from miles around just to look at the outside. Josie could vividly remember tourists driving through their little town on the way to Myrtle Beach or Pawleys Island, stopping in Happy Harbor to walk the historical neighborhood. They would stand in the street and take photos of the house, and Nana would often walk to the gate and offer them cookies. Josie smiled at the memory.
“What are you grinning about?” Kendra asked, staring at her as they stood in the large foyer of Ethel’s home. Nothing like a smart-aleck teenager to break a person out of their happy daydream.
“Just enjoying the smells,” Josie replied before walking toward the living room. There were at least twenty-five people roaming the house, talking in little groups and eating from trays of food scattered around on tables. She was starving and couldn’t wait to get her hands on something to eat, preferably whatever that meat smell was.
