Tangerine Morning: Jezzica's Story (Serenity Cove Series) (10 page)

Zack entered the bookshop and smiled at Jezzica. “Reporting for duty, ma’am.” He threw her a salute, along with a wink.

Her laughter jolted the rhythm of his breathing.

“It’s a gorgeous day—go have fun. You’re on vacation,” she lobbed with a backward wave of her hand.

“I say we let the crew finish their remodeling job and go explore Serenity Cove together.” He playfully flung the invisible ball back to her.

Catylen touched her sister’s shoulder. “Go. Enjoy the day.”

Zack nodded toward Catylen. “You’re welcome to join us.”

Catylen tossed Zack a sly grin. “My daughters are due in later this afternoon. I need to get their rooms ready at the cottage.”

Worry lines formed on Jezzica’s forehead. “I’ll stay with Caty. I don’t want her at the cottage alone.”

“Ted’s on patrol this morning. I’ll let him know she’s there.”
Would she really go?

Jezzica pursed her lips and surveyed the shop. “Give me a few minutes to let the contractor know how to reach me.”

Zack couldn’t subdue his look of disbelief. While he waited, he called Ted with a heads-up that Catylen would be at the cottage alone.

Jezzica slung her bag over her shoulder. “I’m ready.” As cheerful as her words were, she stepped back and folded her arms. “Are you sure Caty will be safe?”

“No worries. Ted will keep an eye on things.”

They settled into his truck and whizzed down Shoreview Drive. As she pushed her hair behind her ear, a surge went through him.
How do I settle for friendship?
“Have you visited the harbor?”

“Not recently. Growing up, my sister and I spent almost every summer here with our family. In many ways, this was as much our home as April Springs.” She pulled out a tube from her bag and coated her lips with a clear lip balm, then smiled at him with a smile that reflected in her eyes.

The only thing sweeter than her smile was the person inside. Everything about her heightened his senses. He wanted to touch her hair, grasp her hand—he gripped the steering wheel tighter instead. She had established boundaries and he had given his word.

He made a left into the public parking area. Jezzica was standing by the truck by the time he trotted to the passenger side. They traipsed across the lot and onto the planks of the walkway.

Jezzica pointed. “The lighthouse is the main attraction of the harbor. It stood over the cove’s shoreline when sailors and commercial fishing boats traversed these waters. If I remember correctly, the lighthouse was taken out of service around 1949.”

“Tell me more.” The lilt of her voice was intoxicating like a fine wine.

She did that thing with her hair again—flipped it over her shoulder, exposing her shirt pulled tightly against her chest. It took a moment before his concentration returned to her words. “At one time, it was the only lighthouse in the area. Shall we take a tour of it?”

He followed her lead. They paid the fare and entered the building, which according to the plaque had been built in 1856. It stood seventy-two feet tall, with an attached keeper’s quarters. According to the brochure, the lighthouse had been restored in 1973. With the help of the lighthouse society and the citizens of Serenity Cove, funds were raised for the restoration of Serenity Cove’s historic landmark.

He followed her up the circular stairs to the top of the lighthouse tower. It wasn’t for the squeamish or those with a fear of heights. “Think how many sailors this old lighthouse lit the way for. And how many lives has it has saved.”

She hadn’t commented and he noticed her face turned pale, tinged with green. “I need to go down.” Her voice scarcely a whisper.

She breathed a sigh of relief when their feet left the final step, once again at ground level.

The brochure had offered special full moon tours during the summer months. “Not too sure I’d want to climb those stairs at night—even by the light of a full moon.” He looked up at the tower they’d just climbed down from. She threw him a look that said not in her lifetime as the color returned to her cheeks.

“Let’s go take a look at the gift shop.” This from a guy with a policy of, if it couldn’t be bought online, he didn’t need it.

“Or, we could grab an ice cream cone and follow the walkway.” With that smile, she could have suggested a cup of worms and he might’ve agreed.

The path wound its way through the shrubs and natural terrain and along the breathtaking Serenity Cove shore. They stopped where rocks and boulders filled the shallow water and sat on a boulder to finish their cones.

“Serenity Cove takes the ordinary and makes it spectacular.” She nodded toward the endless sea.

She leaned back against him and he wrapped his arms around her as though they had always been together.
Can two ordinary individuals make a spectacular couple?
He would sure like the chance to find out.

She suddenly leaped up. “I need to go home.” She climbed across the rocks back to the path.

“Jezz, what’s wrong?” He caught up to her. “What happened?”

She stopped. “This isn’t working.” Moisture glistened in her eyes. “I can’t handle the emotional torment being around you creates.”

Pain visually mixed with her tears and left him without an argument. How could he push her to do something that caused her this kind of distress? “It’s okay. I’ll take you home.” He placed his hand on her back and guided her down the path and back to the truck. He had loved Susan, but this was his first experience with falling
in love
with someone. The realization shoved a blade into his heart. It would be impossible to avoid seeing her.
I have to find Geoff’s killers—it’s the only way she’ll ever have peace. Maybe even give her the freedom to live again.

Chapter Sixteen
 

A cool morning run brought the solace that had eluded her during the night. How many times had the same scenes replayed? How many times had Geoff fallen as the killer’s foot slammed into him? How many times had the bullets torn through his flesh?
I have to stay focused. Focused on opening the bookshop. Focused on putting my life back together. Focused on finding a way to live without Geoff.

She finished her run, fed Rusty and headed to her shop. Pride washed over her as she unlocked the door and clicked on the lights, illuminating the progress. The upstairs was just the way she had imagined it would be. A soft knock sounded and the door slowly opened.

“Julia. This is a surprise.” Jezzica greeted her with a hug.

“I arrived early to get my baking done and saw you pull up. Have time for coffee, Danish, and a little chitchat?” Julia held a thermos and a pastry box.

“Yes—to all three.” Jezzica led the way to the table in the back of the shop.

Julia looked around. “It’s looking sensational in here.”

“It’s strange to have something you envisioned unfold before your eyes.” Jezzica sipped her coffee. “There aren’t many secrets in Serenity Cove. I heard about your husband. How do you move past it?”

Julia flowed with the change of subjects without hesitation. “Baby girl, it’s one of the hardest experiences I’ve ever encountered. Death doesn’t leave room for compromises. Its finality bruises the soul.” Julia dabbed her eyes with her napkin. “But every morning the sun rises, and I tell myself I can make it through one more day.”

“If we pretend we’re okay, will it happen?” Jezzica brushed her hair from her face.

“There’s a multitude of old sayings: Life goes on. Life is for the living. They all have a thread of truth woven through them. My answer to your question is yes.” Julia fingered the edge of her plate. “There are many mornings I want to pull the covers over my head and stay in bed. I force myself to get up. I remind myself how much I enjoy baking. And I keep going step by step and before I know it, the end of the day comes, and I’m tired enough to sleep. So yes, sometimes we have to just go through the motions until it gets easier.”

“It’s difficult to move on with life when the biggest part of it’s gone.” Emotion clogged Jezzica’s throat. She blinked back the tears, seriously wanting to hear what Julia was saying.

“But then one morning, you notice the sun shining. You notice the birds chirping. You notice the flowers blooming. And you start to feel again.” Julia twisted the cap back on the thermos, as though she needed to do something with her hands.

“Would you ever think of dating?” Jezzica nibbled on the edge of her sweet roll.

Julia’s laughter boomeranged through the room. “Sorry, don’t think I’ll ever have the chance to worry about it.” Her expression turned serious. “You’re young and if God gives you another chance at love—don’t be too quick to toss it away. Life zooms by, and honey, nothing compares to traipsing through life with someone you love, and who loves you in return.”

They both looked up as Zack strutted into the shop. “Morning, ladies.”

Julia scooted back and eased out of her chair. “Hunting down your coffee?” She grinned at him.

“You know it. Best coffee in Serenity Cove—no, make that the best I’ve ever tasted.”

A soft glow spread over Julia’s cheeks, broadcasting the pleasure she had found in his compliment. “The time slipped away from me. I better go open my doors before half the town knocks on your door.” Julia eyed Zack and tossed Jezzica a knowing wink before waltzing out the front door.

Jezzica caught Julia’s signal, and a heated blush settled on her face as she focused on Zack. “This is a surprise.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I dropped by to apologize. You made your position clear and I crossed the line. Is it possible to take a step back to being friends?”

“Friends.” She extended her hand. “You didn’t cross any lines—I sent conflicting messages.” It wasn’t easy to restrain the words that wanted to burst forth and tell him she wanted to be more than friends. Except an equally strong voice, from the same place in her head, screamed no.
I’m becoming mentally deranged.

“I’m still on vacation. Where should we begin?” His eyes wandered over the interior of the shop.

“Several boxes of books were delivered—they’re in Maggie’s storage room. It would be a huge help if you brought them to the bookshop.”

Zack eyed the big shelves that had been refinished with the soft sheen of a cherry wood stain. “I’ll give you a hand with the shelving units first.”

Jezzica went to her desk, retrieved a sketch she’d drawn and handed it to Zack. “This is the placement I want. I’m going for the ambience of a private library in someone’s home, one that might have been found in the early nineteen hundreds.”

Zack looked the shelves over. “These need to be secured to the walls with brackets. Otherwise it could pose a safety issue.”

“Oh, right. I have the old brackets from when the shelves were removed.”

“Good.” He went outside and returned with his toolbox. He positioned the shelves along the walls according to the sketched design.

Jezzica began working on the children’s section. She went in the back and came out, attempting to drag a rolled-up rug.

Zack shook his head and with a chuckle ran to her rescue. “Here, let me get that.” He hefted one end against his shoulder, then helped her center it in the children’s area.

“Perfection.” Jezzica clapped her gloved hands.

Zack nodded, and returned to installing the shelves. “There seems to be hollow places behind the paneling on this wall.”

Jezzica stood next to him. “Wonder what’s behind it?”

“Only one way to find out?” He looked at her for approval.

“Do it. Let’s see what’s there.” If it had been Christmas morning and she had been eight years old, her excitement would not have reached any higher.

With the help of a hammer and large pry-bar, he pulled off the first sheet. He ran his gloved hand over the exposed rustic brick.

She touched the brick. “A fireplace?”

“Maybe. You want to keep going? It may have been covered up because of a potential hazard issue.”

She blew strands of hair off her face. “Take it down. If it’s a problem, we’ll cover it back up.”

“Electric logs would eliminate the smoke and ashes.”