“That’s nice. Now that we have to keep a close eye on her glucose levels, there aren’t too many people I feel comfortable leaving her with,” she added, hiding a yawn behind one hand. Once she and Scott had kissed the night before, she’d spent longer than she’d intended with him and hadn’t gotten home until late.
“Anytime,” Jamie replied and sat down at the little wooden table Kara had lovingly refinished as he waited for her to pack up the things Maeve would need to stay with her grandparents for another night. “Since my dad had diabetes all of my life, we’re all familiar with what she’s going to need.”
Kara nodded at him. She had witnessed Jamie’s family’s proficiency with their father’s illness while they were dating. She’d also seen how healthy and active Jamie’s dad had remained as he aged. This helped ease many of the fears she had about Maeve’s future.
Jamie looked around the small space. “It’s nice in here,” he said. “I like what you’ve done with the place. It’s homey.”
Kara nodded. “It’s tiny, but it’s all we need for just the two of us. The rent is reasonable, but now that real estate values are skyrocketing here in town, I’d like to buy it before it gets priced so high that I’ll never be able to afford it.”
Jamie’s gaze sharpened as he followed her into the living room. “Well, that should be manageable for you, right? It sounds like the garden center is doing well. Mom is always raving about how great you’re doing there and how happy you and Maeve are,” Jamie said.
Kara looked over at him and frowned at what sounded like a touch of bitterness in his tone. “Well,” she replied after a momentary pause, not sure how much of her financial troubles she was comfortable sharing with him. “We’re doing okay. Lately, however, business has been slower at the garden center than usual. It’s really weird, considering the spring weather has arrived. But, yes, usually I make enough for Maeve and me to get by on.”
“But the land that the nursery center is on, that’s got to be worth quite a bit too,” Jamie said, tilting his head to one side and studying Kara. “I mean, if the house prices in Larkin Bay have gone up, then the garden center land must be worth more as well, and that’s a lot of acreage. You and Mark must be set up well now, financially at least, seeing as how you own all that.”
Kara stopped packing Maeve’s things and narrowed her eyes as she studied Jamie, wondering what, if anything, he might have heard about the possible sale of the garden center.
“Yep, it’s worth a bit, I guess,” she said slowly. “But honestly, I can’t ever see selling it.” She shrugged. “It was a last gift from my mother. Besides, the mayor and town council all feel pretty strongly that they don’t want it sold to a big developer. It’s important to everyone here in town that we preserve the small-town feel of Larkin Bay.”
Jamie scowled at her and then smashed his fist against the table, causing Kara to jump. She dropped Maeve’s favorite plastic sippy cup that she had been holding and turned to stare at him. “What?” she asked in alarm.
“You have to do what is right for you and Maeve, Kara,” he said. “You can’t worry about what everyone else in Larkin Bay wants you to do.”
Kara blinked in confusion.
Where is this coming from?
“I do. Trust me,” she replied. “No one holds Maeve’s and my best interests dearer than I do. It’s just usually the town’s concerns and ours are one and the same. Besides, I like what I do, and I don’t want things to change.”
“Not even if changing things is going to make things better for you?” Jamie asked. “That’s a lot of money to let just slip away.”
Kara picked up the cup she had dropped and placed it on the table. Placing both hands on her hips, she glared over at Jamie. “How do you know? What do you know about any of this, anyway?”
The smile Jamie gave her didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Not much, really,” he said a little too quickly for Kara to believe him. “I’ve just heard the rumors around town, and I’d hate to see you not at least consider something that might set you and Maeve up for a better life simply because of a few people in town who can’t handle change.”
Kara’s mouth dropped open as she looked over at him.
“Besides, you know, if you don’t take advantage of the builder’s offer, someone else will. Growth is coming to Larkin Bay whether the mayor and the council members like it or not. That’s just the way life works.”
Kara nodded and returned to packing Maeve’s things. “That might be true. And I am considering all that. Courtney is acting as my lawyer and looking at the offer and giving me advice.” She shrugged and headed toward the kitchen door. “I need to fetch another T-shirt to put in Maeve’s overnight bag.”
Jamie pursed his lips as he followed her into Maeve’s bedroom.
“It’s just hard to think about selling something that’s been such a big part of my life. I’m not ready to sell the garden center just because someone has offered me a lot of money,” Kara said.
“Well, that sounds nice in theory,” Jamie replied. “I just worry about you and Maeve, that’s all. I’d hate to see the people of the town manipulate you so you miss out on something great.” He stopped for a minute and, looking down, studied the floor before glancing back at Kara. “Besides, we also don’t know what Maeve’s medical needs are going to be in the future. It would be awful if we didn’t have the money to give her the best possible care. Just promise me you’ll consider it and talk to me about it before you sign anything back to the lawyers.”
Kara tilted her head and studied Jamie uncertainly. She liked that he was finally showing more interest in Maeve’s future, and she had to admit that the added expenses of dealing with Maeve’s diagnosis had been nagging at her too.
Maybe Jamie really is finally growing up.
Mark handed Candy a sweet, frothy-pink, fruit-decorated drink and listened while she updated the group sitting at the bar about Scott’s health.
“Scottie’s doing really well,” Candy announced to everyone around her. “He’s back at his apartment now, and the doctors have told him they think his concussion is mild. The swelling around his nose and forehead, however, is horrible.” She gave a dramatic shudder and widened her eyes before adding, “He looks terrible.”
Mark couldn’t help but chuckle as he listened to Candy embellish Scott’s injuries every time she told the story. But he also admired her ability to dramatize the event and keep her audience entertained while repeatedly telling it. She should be in the theater, he thought, watching her beautiful and expressive features capture and keep the attention of everyone, male and female alike, around her.
Later, when business had slowed down for a few minutes, Mark went over to where Candy was sitting. “Is Candy your real name?” he asked her after some small talk.
“Why?” she immediately shot back. “Don’t you like it?”
“It’s a lovely name,” Mark replied, smiling as he swept around her feet. “It just doesn’t suit you, is all.”
Candy turned the voltage of her smile up a notch higher and placed one elbow on the bar so she could support her chin in her palm while she looked up at him through her lashes.
“Oh? And what kind of name does suit me?” she asked, leaning forward and licking her lips as she twirled a long blond curl around one finger.
“Um, I don’t know, something like Susan or Anne, maybe. Something less fluffy,” he replied.
Candy pouted at him. “Fluffy? You mean frivolous?” she asked.
“Kind of. You seem too smart to have a name like Candy.”
“Well, that’s interesting. I’m not sure if I should be flattered or insulted,” she replied, shifting even farther forward and batting her thick eyelashes dramatically at him as she showed even more cleavage.
Mark reddened and pulled back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. I was just thinking about how entertaining you are and how that takes a lot of effort and wit.” He shrugged. “I meant it as a compliment, even if it didn’t come out that way.”
Candy's lips curled upward. “Apology accepted,” she replied. “You’d be surprised at how many people look at my blond hair and curves and just assume I’m stupid.”
