Home to Seaview Key (A Seaview Key Novel) (24 page)

On his way to work, he called Meredith, hoping to put his mind at ease on that front, anyway.

“Hey, Seth,” she said wearily. “I’ve been meaning to call you.”

“And yet you haven’t,” he said. “How are things between you and Laura?”

“Surprisingly calm,” she admitted. “No threatening calls in days now. No pleading. I’m a little worried she’s dreaming up some new sneak attack. Have you spoken to her?”

“Nope. I didn’t even hear from her over the holidays. She’s my next call.”

“Well, let me know if you find out anything.”

“Will do. Everything else okay?”

“If I could get this particular albatross off my back, my life would be great,” she said.

“One way or another, it will be over soon,” he assured her. “If Laura’s attorney has his way, he’ll have a court date this month.”

“So I hear,” she said. “Love you.”

“You, too,” he told her. He disconnected, then called Laura. To his astonishment, it was Jason who picked up.

“Hi, Seth,” his ex-brother-in-law said.

“Hey, pal. What are you doing answering Laura’s phone or do I even want to know?”

“We’ve kind of made peace,” Jason admitted.

“You’re kidding me!”

“It’s true.”

“When did this happen?”

“Christmas day,” Jason told him. “She showed up at my place with a handful of credit card statements. Every one of them had zero balances. She said that was my gift.”

“Where’d she get the money to pay them off?” Seth asked suspiciously.

“That was my first question,” Jason admitted. “She sold her car.”

Seth didn’t even try to hide his astonishment. “But she loved that Jaguar.”

“I know,” Jason said. “She said she loved me more.”

“So, what’s she driving?”

“A used VW,” Jason said. “She says it’s cute and that it gets good gas mileage.”

“She actually knows what kind of mileage it gets?” Seth asked incredulously.

“I know. It blew my mind, too. You probably think I’m nuts to give her another chance, but she’s really trying.”

“No,” Seth told him. “I’m actually happy for you. I hope she sticks to it this time.”

“All I know is that she stood right in front of me and cut up her credit cards,” Jason said.

“All of them?”

“Every one,” Jason confirmed. “Believe me, I checked. She’s out of the shower now. Want to speak to her?”

“Sure,” Seth said. “Good luck, pal. I mean that.”

“Thanks. Here’s Laura.”

“Hi,” she said hesitantly.

“I am so proud of you,” Seth said. “What finally got through to you?”

“The lawyer told me what you’d said. I know it was nothing you hadn’t said before, but he explained that he was starting to see that I didn’t stand a chance of winning. He asked me if I hadn’t lost enough without paying him a fortune just to lose in court. I guess I needed to hear it from an objective outsider, or maybe even more from someone I was paying to be on my side. I weighed winning against getting Jason back. It was no contest.”

“How come you haven’t told Meredith you’re dropping the suit?”

She hesitated, then admitted, “I don’t want to listen to her gloating.”

“Laura, she’s not going to gloat, any more than I am. We’ve both always wanted what’s best for you. Sounds to me as if you finally have it.”

She laughed. “I really do, don’t I? Who knew I didn’t need all that stuff to be over the moon? All I need is Jason. Now, tell me about you.”

“Do you realize this is the first time you’ve asked about what’s going on in my life in months?”

“I know. I know. Selfish me. But I’m asking now.”

Seth filled her in on his plans to marry Abby. “She wants you and Meredith at the wedding. Jason, too.”

“I can’t speak for our big sister, but Jason and I will be there. I want to meet this woman who was smart enough to grab the second best man on the planet.”

Seth laughed. “Meaning Jason tops the list, I assume.”

“Of course.”

“Abby might take exception to that, but you two can battle it out when you meet. See you soon.”

“How soon? When is this wedding?”

“Soon, if I have my way. I’ll keep you posted.”

He drew in a deep breath after he’d hung up. Knowing that Laura and Jason had worked things out was a huge relief. Not only was he happy for the two of them, but it reassured him that even complex differences could be resolved if two people worked at it with open hearts.

* * *

Abby’s presentation to the council was much more succinct this time. She figured there was very little to add to what she’d already told them, collectively and, in Sandra’s case, individually.

She sat back down next to Seth, who took her hand in his. Luke and Hannah were seated on her other side, along with Jenny, Kelsey and Jeff. Jack Ferguson and Lesley Ann were beside Seth. Mary and Kyle Whittier were beside them. It was an impressive show of support that didn’t go unnoticed by anyone on the council, least of all the mayor.

“I’ve had some time to think about Abby’s proposal,” Sandra said to her fellow council members and the audience. “The concerns I had about the changes this would bring to Seaview Key have been resolved, at least in my mind. I see the benefits and those outweigh any disadvantages I perceived. I think this community can handle a development of this limited scope, that it would be a boon to our economy. I’m prepared to vote. Is there a motion for approval?”

“So moved,” one of the original supporters said.

“Second,” another backer added.

Abby held her breath as the vote was taken. Sandra called on her two backers before casting her own vote, then smiled as she added her own “Yea” to make it unanimous in favor of proceeding.

Seth turned to Abby and kissed her soundly. “Congratulations!”

Abby was immediately surrounded by well-wishers.

“Drinks are on me at The Fish Tale,” Jack said. “I’ll see you all there.”

As the crowd filtered out, Abby noticed that there were messages on her cell phone, which she’d turned off earlier and forgotten about.

“I’d better check these,” she told Seth. “You want to go on ahead?”

He shook his head. “I’ll wait.”

She listened to a couple of messages that were routine, then realized that the next one was from the doctor she’d seen. Heart pounding, she listened to it.

“Oh my God,” she murmured, then played it again. No, she concluded, she hadn’t misheard.

“What?” Seth asked. “Are you okay? What’s going on?”

She handed him the cell phone. “Listen,” she whispered. “Then tell me if I heard it right.”

As his jaw dropped and his eyes widened, she knew there’d been no mistake. He stared at her.

“You’re pregnant?” he whispered.

“Apparently so,” she said, her astonishment mirroring his.

“You saw a doctor?”

“I went to see an infertility expert to see if I could get pregnant. She ran some tests. I had no idea I might already be pregnant. It must have been really early because she missed it in the exam, too.” She stared into Seth’s eyes. “Are you okay with this?”

He laughed. “I’ve never been more okay with anything in my life,” he told her, picking her up and twirling her around.

Just then Luke and Hannah walked back, regarding them curiously.

“Everything okay?” Hannah asked.

“We’re having a baby,” Abby blurted.

“And getting married,” Seth added hurriedly. “But not in that order. We’re getting married first. I’m thinking tomorrow would be good. Or the next day.”

Luke laughed, then slapped Seth on the back. “Boy, once the two of you get with the program, you don’t waste any time, do you?”

Hannah nudged him with an elbow. “No gloating.”

“Hey, who’s gloating? I’m just happy they saw the light.”

“He’s gloating,” Seth said. “But you know what? I don’t care.” He grinned at Luke. “Are you interested in being the best man?”

“I’m there,” Luke confirmed.

Abby turned to Hannah. “And you? Matron of honor?”

Hannah’s smile was almost as wide as the one Abby could feel on her own face. “Done,” she said at once. “Anything you need, you can count on me.”

“Just make sure I don’t trip going down the aisle,” Abby said.

“Church wedding?” Hannah asked. “Town hall?”

Abby glanced at Seth, who clearly guessed exactly what she was thinking. He nodded.

“Seaview Inn, if it’s okay with Grandma Jenny,” Abby said.

“That’s perfect!” Hannah said. “She’ll be thrilled.”

And for Abby, it would be proof at last that she was well and truly home for good.

Epilogue

S
eth stood nervously beside Luke in the living room at Seaview Inn. Christmas decorations had been replaced with huge bowls of fresh spring flowers. Only a few guests had gathered, including his sisters, Jason, Jeff, Jack Ferguson and Lesley Ann. Grandma Jenny and Ella Mae sat in places of honor in the front row of chairs set up for the service.

Recorded music announced the start of the ceremony. Seth looked toward the foyer, then grinned as Isabella toddled unsteadily into the room clinging to Kelsey’s hand and tossing fistfuls of flower petals in her path. When she caught sight of her dad, she let out a scream and headed in his direction.

Then came Hannah, wearing a deep blue silk dress that shimmered like the sea at night.

Seth’s breath caught in his throat as Abby stepped into view, wearing a simple cream silk sheath and carrying a bouquet of daisies as a tribute to the day he’d brought her flowers stolen from one of Jenny’s containers. As she reached his side, he leaned close.

“Did you steal those?”

She laughed. “Nope, Grandma Jenny gave them to me of her own free will. She seemed to think they might have some special significance.”

“And I thought I’d gotten away with it,” Seth said, then turned to face Sandra, who’d agreed to conduct the ceremony.

When it came time for their vows, Seth looked into Abby’s eyes and saw everything he’d ever dreamed of. “You are my future and my hope for all that’s good,” he told her. “Whatever comes our way, we’re strong enough to face it together. If there’s heartache, I promise there will be joy. If there’s tension, I promise to balance that with laughter. Above all, there will be love.” He held her gaze. “Never-ending love.”

Instinctively Abby’s free hand went to her stomach and stayed there. With her other hand, she clung to his. “You have given me everything I ever wanted,” she said. “My dreams are coming true because of you and this life we’re pledging to build together. You are my heart and my future. You and our family will always be the most important things in my life. I love you, Seth, today and forever.”

They exchanged rings and Sandra pronounced them husband and wife. Seth looked into the face of this woman who’d taught him that love was possible, even after heartbreak.

“I love you,” he said as he leaned down to kiss her.

And in that kiss he proved that what had happened on the beach all those weeks ago was no fluke. Abby could still—and always would—take his breath away!

* * * * *

Look for Sherryl Woods’s next novel,
THE DEVANEYS: RYAN AND SEAN
available soon from Harlequin MIRA
at your favorite retail outlet.

Keep reading for an excerpt from SEAVIEW INN by Sherryl Woods.

“Woods is noted for appealing, character-driven stories that are often infused with the flavor and fragrance of the South.”
—Library Journal

If you loved
Home to Seaview Key
, be sure to catch
Seaview Inn
by #1
New York Times
bestselling author Sherryl Woods. Available in ebook format.

Order your copy today!

For more warm and inspiring stories of friendship, families and heartfelt emotions, don’t miss The Ocean Breeze series, also by Sherryl Woods, featuring
Sand Castle Bay
,
Wind Chime Point
and
Sea Glass Island
.

Looking for even more? Check out the Sweet Magnolias and Chesapeake Shores series and dozens of other titles also by Sherryl Woods. All are available in ebook format!

Connect with us on
Harlequin.com
for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!

Other ways to keep in touch:

Harlequin.com/newsletters
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
HarlequinBlog.com