Bungalow by the Bay Read online

  “Bobby calls them Grams and Pops, but you call them by their first names.”

  “I know. It’s just… that’s how I got to know them first. Before I knew they were my grandparents.”

  “You didn’t know they were your grandparents?”

  “It’s a long story, but we just found out this year. My father was Tally’s son. He’s dead. He was lost at sea. My mother…” Courtney looked away for a moment and took a sip of her drink. “She died in childbirth when she had me.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “So, I never knew my parents. But we pieced it together after Bobby and I got to town. I’m so lucky to have found them.”

  “They seem pretty happy to have found you two, also.”

  AJ set the glider in slow motion, and they sat and watched Bobby play catch. Now that AJ had asked her, she wondered if she should be calling Tally and Eddie something else? Was it hurting their feelings that she called them by their first names?

  Like she needed one more thing to overthink in her life. She mentally shook her head at herself if that were even possible.

  Tally came out the door with a pitcher of lemonade. “Bobby, you want some?”

  Bobby came racing up. “Yes, ma’am.” He took the glass from Tally.

  Tally poured Eddie a glass, walked over, and gave it to him. Eddie smiled at her, and she lit up. Courtney loved watching the two of them together. So happy after so many years apart.

  “Pops said I get to flip the fish over. I’m big enough for that.”

  “Just be careful. The grill is hot.”

  “I know, Momma. I’m a big kid now, remember?”

  She smiled at him. “I remember.”

  “How’s that leg doing?” AJ asked.

  “It’s okay. But Momma is treating me like a baby. She thought we couldn’t even walk over here.” Bobby let out a long sigh then turned and skipped back over to where Eddie was putting the fish on the grill.

  “Why walk when you can skip?” AJ grinned in amusement.

  “He is constant energy. Always.”

  They sat in companionable silence while Eddie grilled the fish. He took it up, and they all headed inside and sat around the big kitchen table.

  “I thought I only liked fish that was in sticks, but then I had Pops’ fish. It’s the best ever.” Bobby swung his legs as he sat on his chair.

  They talked and laughed, and Courtney enjoyed every single minute of it. She’d never had a family dinner before finding Tally and Eddie. The simple joy of just eating and laughing almost choked her up. She sat back and listened to the talk and watched as Bobby cleaned his plate and finished off a piece of the delicious peach pie.

  Eddie pushed his plate away. “That was a great meal.”

  “Thank you.” Tally glowed at the praise.

  “It was.” Courtney wished she could find time to make meals like this for Bobby every night.

  “Well, the pie was from Julie.”

  “The whole meal was wonderful. Thank you for inviting me.” AJ scooted his chair back and relaxed.

  “So, I’m trying to talk Tally into going away for a few days. The two of us.” Eddie took Tally’s hand and threw a look Courtney’s way, asking for help.

  “That’s a great idea.” Courtney leaned forward.

  “I couldn’t leave Magic Cafe.”

  “Of course you could. You’ve taught me a lot. And Tereza will help. We’ll be fine.”

  “See?” Eddie’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Tally.

  “I don’t know…”

  “Say ‘yes.’ You two never even had a honeymoon.”

  “Didn’t need one. I have everything I need right here.” Tally looked at Eddie and sighed. “But if you really want to go away, we could. Just a few days though.”

  Courtney clapped her hands. “This is great. You’ll have fun. It will be nice to get away from it all for a few days. You should go soon.”

  “I’ll plan everything. You don’t have to do a thing. I promise.” Eddie squeezed Tally’s hand then stood. “Come on, Bobby. Let’s clear the table. What do you say? Then we’ll go in the front room, and I’ll read some more of that chapter book we’ve been reading.”

  “Eddie, you and Bobby go read. I’ll help with the dishes.” AJ stood and gathered some plates.

  “You don’t have to do that. You’re our guest,” Tally protested.

  “I don’t mind. Not at all.”

  Courtney watched as AJ balanced some plates and headed over to the sink. She jumped up to help and stood beside him at the counter, near enough to touch him and feeling strangely jumpy at the closeness. He smelled of a faint, clean, woodsy scent. He turned and smiled at her, and she almost dropped the dish she was holding.

  From the corner of her eye, she saw Tally smile and shake her head. Her grandmother didn’t miss much of anything, and she was beginning to believe this dinner was less of a thank you and more of a let’s fix Courtney up.

  Chapter 9

  AJ couldn’t believe what a wonderful time he was having. Just a simple family meal. But they never made him feel like he wasn’t welcome or like an outsider. He felt more at home at their kitchen table than he did at his own father’s house.

  He helped Tally and Courtney with the dishes, something he’d never done before past just rinsing a few of his own dishes and throwing them in the dishwasher. And most of the time, he ate takeout or leftovers from some meal he’d had at a restaurant. His cupboards were usually fairly bare except for the ever-present coffee.

  They finished doing the dishes, and he followed Tally and Courtney into the front room. He paused in the doorway. Bobby was sound asleep on the couch, curled up against Eddie.

  “You know, why don’t you just leave Bobby here for the night? We’ll just carry him up to bed. There’s no reason to wake him up to take him home.” Tally walked over and draped an afghan over Bobby.

  Courtney bit her lip. “I guess so.”

  “I’ll bring him to Magic Cafe with me tomorrow. You’re working the early shift, right? How does that sound?” Tally turned to Courtney.

  “Okay. That’s probably better than waking him up to walk back to our apartment.” Courtney leaned down and kissed Bobby, smoothing his hair from his face. She paused and stared at him for a moment, her expression filled with love. “I should probably go now. I do have an early morning.”

  The look hit him hard. That look of a mother for their child. His mother had probably looked at him like that, too, but he couldn’t remember. He had so few memories of her, and his father certainly hadn’t filled in any of the blanks.

  He pulled himself back to the present. “I should go, too. Thanks again for the invite. I had a wonderful time.”

  “You’re more than welcome. We’ll do it again.” Tally walked them to the door.

  He and Courtney walked outside into the balmy night air. The sky had darkened, and stars broke through in brilliant speckles of light.

  She turned to him. “Well, I guess this is good night. I really do appreciate your help with Bobby today.”

  “Can I walk you home?”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “But I’d like to.” He didn’t like the idea of her walking herself home alone, even if the island was one of the safest places he’d been to.

  “Okay.”

  It wasn’t much of an enthusiastic agreement, but he’d take it. She turned to head down the sidewalk.

  He walked beside her in the silence. One lone car slowly passed them, then darkness surrounded them again. Music softly drifted out from a house as they walked by. A dog barked in the distance.

  He wanted to take her hand, connect with her, but wavered in his decision until he decided he better not. And why he wanted to walk hand in hand was beyond him. It wasn’t something he normally did. Like ever.

  They turned into a lot surrounded by separate bungalows, each painted a different, bright color. She stopped in front of a teal bungalow with pretty flowers planted
outside. “This is me.”

  “These are nice.”

  “They are. We just moved here a few days ago.” She put her key in the lock then paused after she turned it. “Um… would you like to come in for a few minutes?”

  “I would.” He wasn’t really ready for the night to end.

  She stepped inside and flipped on the lights. A few lamps illuminated the sparsely furnished apartment. She picked up a truck and a baseball bat on the floor and set them in the corner by a stack of boxes. “Sorry, it’s kind of a mess. I haven’t had much time to unpack yet.”

  “That’s okay.”

  “I—” She stood in the middle of the room, looking undecided. “Would you like a drink? I have a couple of beers in the fridge or an open bottle of wine. That’s all I have to offer.”

  “A beer would be great.”

  She went to the fridge and grabbed two beers. “We could sit outside on the bench. It’s a nice night out.”

  They headed back out and sat on a white wooden bench outside her door. She kicked off her sandals. Her thigh brushed against his as she stretched out her long, slender legs. Her toenails were painted a bright pink. He deliberately ignored her leg resting against his and took a long swallow of his beer. Then another. Why did this woman get to him? He barely knew her.

  “I love these warm summer nights on the island. Though, it seems like summer goes through October or November down here, not that I’m complaining.” She picked at the corner of the label on her beer bottle.

  “I’m all for non-winter weather. Well, except for skiing. I do love to ski.”

  “I’ve never been.” She turned and looked at him with her luminous blue eyes.

  He could get lost in those eyes. Which was ridiculous because, as he just told himself, he hardly knew her. And she was nothing like the women he dated. She wasn’t his type. Not at all. She probably would hate to go clubbing. He knew she’d dislike the friends he hung out with. Not that they were really friends, per se. They were just the crowd he ran with.

  But none of that mattered right now, because he was right where he wanted to be. Except that bothered him somewhat… How could he be content with a night that consisted of a family dinner, a leisurely stroll, and just sitting on a bench in the moonlight?

  Yet, he was strangely content tonight. A feeling that he hadn’t felt in… well, he couldn’t remember ever feeling like this.

  What had he been talking about? He had no clue. His mind just bopped around from thought to thought.

  “Do you go skiing often?” She sent him a look that made him think her question was more than just small talk. Like she was really interested in his answer. Like… like she really wanted to get to know him better.

  Ah, he’d been talking about skiing. “I try and go a couple times a season.”

  “What’s it like to go soaring down the slopes? I always imagined it would feel like you were flying, the wind brushing your cheeks, that it would feel so… free.”

  For someone who’d never been, she’d described it perfectly. “That’s it exactly. You should try it sometime.”

  “Well, I pretty much have my hands full right now. I will someday though.”

  He couldn’t miss the wistful look in her eyes. He wished he could whisk her off to the slopes right now, teach her to ski, and let her swoosh down the slopes with him. He could just picture her face, her eyes wide with amazement and awe. And he’d love to be the one to put that look on her face and share the experience with her.

  Whoa.

  He needed to slow down and stop the crazy thoughts.

  But he couldn’t help himself.

  “So…” He paused and took a breath. “Do you think we could try going out again?”

  She looked at him directly. “I thought Bobby scared you off.”

  “He…” He paused and shrugged. “I was surprised, I admit. I’m not used to children. But Bobby seems like a good kid.”

  “He is. He’s my whole world.” She took a sip of her beer. “So, I think it would be better if we just… left it like it is. I’ll see you if you come by Magic Cafe—you don’t need to stay away because of me. But I think maybe I’m not ready to date.”

  Disappointment swelled through him, which annoyed him no end. Since when did he care if a woman turned him down? Not that many did…

  “If you’re sure that’s what you want.”

  “I’m sure.”

  But her voice didn’t sound like she was exactly sure. He’d drop by Magic Cafe and keep trying to ask her out. He wanted to spend more time with her. He wanted more simple, easy-going outings with her. He wanted… he raked his hand through his hair.

  The sad fact was he didn’t know what he wanted anymore.

  Courtney leaned against the doorframe and watched as AJ headed back to his rental. She was certain she made the right decision to not go out with him again.

  Fairly certain. Kind of certain.

  It did seem he’d warmed up to Bobby a little bit. She didn’t need another complication in her life. Her life was perfect now with Bobby thriving and Tally and Eddie in their lives. She had a job that supported her and Bobby. Bobby had a family that loved him, something she’d never had growing up.

  Why would she go and complicate all that by dating some guy who was here for a month or less? A rich guy that ran in different circles than she. Circles she’d never run in or ever want to run in for that matter.

  A bit of a shiver trilled through her, and she glanced around the empty courtyard between the cottages. She rubbed her hands on her arms, feeling the instant goosebumps. A slow scan of the area revealed nothing out of sorts.

  She turned around and went inside, carefully locking the door behind her. With brisk steps, she walked to each window and made sure the blinds were firmly closed.

  It must just be that the place was new to her. She didn’t usually get spooked over nothing. She swept a look around the front room. Nothing seemed out of place. It was deathly quiet without Bobby, though. She didn’t think she liked this deal of him staying over at Tally and Eddie’s. She wasn’t used to being alone. That was all it was.

  She reached over to turn out the lamp but then just turned it lower so it cast a faint illumination in the front room. With one last look around, she headed back to her bedroom.

  Feeling foolish, she locked the door to her bedroom behind her.

  Chapter 10

  AJ already regretted going into Sarasota to the new club with Camille and Delbert tonight. The whole scene didn’t even appeal to him anymore. Delbert chatted with other movers and shakers in the town. Camille was… being Camille. Making fun of some of the women’s outfits and hairdos. Complaining about the food. He glanced at his watch for like the tenth time in an hour. The evening dragged on and on. He smiled and tried to make small talk with Camille, unsure when he could make his excuses and beg off.

  He leaned back in his chair and watched some fairly drunk guy lurch across the floor to the bar. The man stopped by a woman sitting alone and said something to her, flinging his arm while he spoke and sloshing his drink. She shook her head no. The guy leaned in toward her, and she pushed him back.

  AJ sprung to his feet and crossed the distance to the bar. “Is he bothering you, ma’am?”

  She looked at him gratefully and nodded. “I just asked him to go away.”

  “But, little lady, you didn’t mean it. Let me get ya a drink.” The man slurred his words.

  “No, thank you.” The woman scooted to the far edge of her stool.

  “How about you just move on?” AJ stepped closer to the man.

  “Or what?”

  “I just think it would be best if you moved on down the bar.”

  “Why, so you can get this sweet thing a drink?”

  “First off, quit calling the lady names. Second off, you’ve had too much to drink.”

  “Mind your own business.” The man stumbled to the side and swung a punch toward AJ. AJ ducked to the side, and the man fell forward a
nd caught the lady’s arm with his fist. She cried out.

  AJ slipped in between the man and the woman. “It’s time for you to leave.” His voice was low and threatening.

  “I don’t think so.” The man raised his fist, and AJ easily caught his wrist and held firmly, preventing another punch.

  “You need some help, Jonny?” Two burly men walked up. There was no other way to describe them. Big. Tall. And they each had a hundred pounds on him. At least.

  “Yeah, this joker won’t let me talk to the lady.”

  “Is that so?”

  One of the big guys threw a punch and caught AJ under the jaw. The lady fled from her stool to safety. AJ shook his head, trying to clear his vision. The three men lunged toward him, though he managed to right himself and step back.

  From behind the men, he saw a group of police rush into the club.

  Great. Now they show up.

  Cameras flashed. The manager hurried over. “Take them all.”

  “Wait.” AJ stood frozen.

  “All of them. We won’t have this nonsense in my club.”

  “I was just…”

  “Save it.” A policeman reached out to cuff him.

  Delbert hurried up to them. “Really? The police? You can’t stay out of trouble for one night?” His cousin looked at him in dismay. “When are you ever going to grow up?”

  Hot anger flashed through him. Delbert. His cousin, too. He was just like the rest of his family who always thought the worst of him.

  “Officer.” The lady slipped up by his side and placed a hand on the policeman’s arm. “This man was just trying to help me. That man—” She pointed to the drunken man. “He hit me. This man was just protecting me.”

  The policeman looked at the manager, who frowned then nodded. The policeman put away the cuffs.

  The lady handed AJ a napkin. “Here, you have a bit of blood by your lip.”

  He took the napkin and dapped at his face.

  The lady then whirled around and faced off with Delbert. “This man—” She turned to AJ. “What’s your name?”

  “AJ.”