Tangerine Morning: Jezzica's Story (Serenity Cove Series) (4 page)

Jezzica moved and bent over her sister’s chair and placed her arms around her. “Stay here. It’ll give you time to—to make decisions. And there’s plenty of room if Tasha and Lauren want to stay during their summer break from college.”

“You’re the first to know. It’s not easy to have the details of your failed marriage made available to the whole family.” She paused. “I wasn’t good enough—defective in ways that really mattered.” Catylen shifted and swiped at the wetness on her shirt where her tears had splashed.

“You’re none of those things. Apparently Mike is.” Jezzica went in the kitchen wanting to give her sister a couple of minutes. She returned and placed two glasses of tea on the table separating the chairs. “Stay. Let everyone think you’re here to help me.”

Catylen wiped the moisture from the outside of her glass. “Are you positive? You have enough without adding my drama to the mix.”

“I’ve hardly made a dent in the shop. Help would be a good thing, and yes, I’m sure. We’re sisters—I love you.”

“I love you, too. Join me for a walk?” Catylen pulled on a light jacket.

“Yeah, I will. My brain’s a little mushy.” They ventured down the wooden steps and padded onto the sand, strolling along with the waves lapping on the shore, but not quite reaching their feet. “And you question why I’m at a crossroads when it comes to God. A God who’s supposed to care—I don’t think so.” Jezzica zipped her jacket against the bite of the wind.

Catylen grasped her sister’s hand. “God never promised us a life filled with cloudless days of sweet fragrance. Like Mom’s favorite poem about the footprints on the sand. He walks beside us through life and we can see His footprints alongside ours. But when we can’t seem to put one foot in front of the other and find it difficult to breathe, He picks us up in His loving arms and carries us—then there’s only one set of footprints along the shore.”

Jezzica pulled a tissue from her pocket. “Sounds nice. But when I see my footprints in the sand, they’re deep crevices from the heaviness of sorrow draped over my shoulders. It’s like living a nightmare, where I’m tossed into oncoming traffic and forced to keep dodging all the cars—unable to get off the road.”

Catylen reached over and grasped Jezzica’s hand. “There’s always hope. Without hope, what would we cling to?”

“You’re still talking about hope after what Mike did?”

“I hurt. It’s as though he jabbed a knife into my heart, dead center. If Mike and I end up divorced, I’m not sure I can handle it. The only thing I can do is put it in God’s hands.”

“It’s cold. Ready to head back?” Jezzica pulled the hood of her jacket over her hair.

Catylen nodded. “I intend to sit by a warm fire, eat a sandwich and find a good book to take me away from all this.” She quickened her steps and followed Jezzica up the stairs and through the door.

While Catylen lounged with a book, Jezzica retreated to her room. The unraveling of secrets had drained her energy. She opened her journal and noted the call from Jackson, the private investigator. She turned the page, along with her attention, to a more positive direction. She compiled a list of the supplies needed to restore life to the bookshop, tore it from the journal and placed it next to her bed.

With her alarm set to wake her in time for an early morning run, she twisted the little knob on the lamp and the room filled with the moodiness evening had a way of conjuring up. She longed for the flicker of hope her sister freely talked about, reassurance that life in Serenity Cove could become her new reality. Hope continued echoing in her mind as she fell asleep.

Chapter Five
 

Zack slapped the button on the blaring alarm clock. It crossed his mind to sleep another hour, but he threw back the covers. He hadn’t maintained his body by being lazy. The moment his feet hit the sand and he felt the briskness of the sea air, he was in his element. His comfortable stride soon morphed into a faster paced run. The sweat began to build, a signal he’d forced his endurance into the zone.

The nice pair of feminine legs up ahead, wasn’t lost on him. Something about her seemed familiar—but mostly he was impressed with her stamina. Not many women on the force could maintain a run like this one. He picked up his pace. She moved with caution, as though she’d sensed he had moved closer.

“Jezzica?” He lengthened his stride until he fell into rhythm with her.

She covered her heart with her hand. “It’s you. You startled me for a moment.”

“You have a powerful run.”

“For a woman?”

“I’d say you have a great style, period—but no, I haven’t seen many women that could compete.”

“I started running in high school—now I need it like some people need caffeine.” Her breathy laugh sent shock waves through his senses. “Of course, I indulge in the caffeine after my run.”

“We all have our vices. I tend to down a few cups of it myself, especially when I’m locked in my office with paperwork. How far do you run?”

“Most often I like to get in five miles.”

They continued along the shore with the waves splashing their legs, as the cool gust created comfort. They ran in tandem as though they had been running together for years. He thought of Susan, the woman he’d been engaged to while he was in the academy. Being a police officer had been his dream for as long as he could remember. When Susan decided she didn’t want to be in a relationship, especially a permanent relationship, with a policeman, he chose the academy. A big indication it wasn’t the kind of love that withstood pressure, the kind of test that life often litters our paths with. He returned his focus to the partner he’d gained.
I think I could get used to this. But it seems Jezzica isn’t any crazier about policemen than Susan was.

Zack reversed directions, slowing his stride for an easy cool down. Jezzica followed his lead and stopped when she reached her cottage. “Nice run.” Zack smiled at her.

“It was fun. I enjoyed it.” Her expression said her words had surprised her more than him. “See you around.” She jogged up the steps, and with a half-turn, she tossed him a wave before disappearing inside.

Zack continued to his own cottage, two doors down. He showered and arrived at the office well before his scheduled time. Because of the nature of his job, he didn’t hold to prearranged hours. Still, when circumstance allowed, he liked to be in the office early and today he anticipated having the results of the lab work from the flower shop. He’d sat at his desk and barely taken a swallow from his mug when Ted came in.

“The reports are in from Serenity Blooms. Clean—not a print that couldn’t be confirmed with the list Gina gave us.” Ted tossed a file across the desk.

“Anyone on the list from out of the area?” Zack shuffled through the reports in the folder.

“Not according to Gina or Pete. And I didn’t spot any names I found suspicious.”

“Thanks, Ted.” His voice held a tone that said he was dismissing him, even though Zack wasn’t his superior.

“No problem.” Ted called over his shoulder.

Zack rushed across the hall and knocked on the door of Logan’s office, then plopped into the chair in front of Logan’s desk. “The investigative team came up empty-handed on the flower shop. We need to hold another meeting with the business owners.”

Logan rubbed the back of his neck. “What can you tell them that’s different from before? Do you have a new plan of action?”

Zack set an ankle on the opposite knee. “Reinforce the information we gave them at the last meeting. And discuss new customers—people that are unfamiliar to them. Criminals, especially inexperienced ones, usually inadvertently leave clues of some kind.”

Logan clicked on his calendar, and gave Zack a choice of evenings that worked for him. “Get with Hank and he’ll create the flyers. Good job, and I like the idea of a follow-up meeting—lets them know we’re taking action.”

Zack stood to leave. “I’ll be at the bookshop this afternoon. Your gorgeous wife thinks Jezzica could use my muscles.” He raised his eyebrows.

“Then, by all means, offer your services.” Logan laughed as though he was in on his wife’s ulterior motives.

“There’s a distinct possibility I’ll get booted out of her shop.”
Zack heard Logan’s hearty laugh as he settled back into his own office.
Samantha is definitely doing a little matchmaking.
Zack smiled as he moved the mouse bringing his computer screen to life.

Chapter Six
 

“What’s on the agenda today?” Catylen kicked back at the table where her sister sat working, and blew across the steamy liquid before taking a sip.

“A list of supplies for the shop.” She pushed the paper with one torn edge to her sister.

Catylen studied the list. “You pick up the boxes and start on the books, I’ll grab the supplies and meet you at the shop.” As she shoved the list into the pocket of her jeans, sadness settled on her face and reflected in her eyes.

Where had Catylen’s thoughts taken her? Jezzica didn’t push. Her sister would talk about it when she was ready. “Sounds like a plan.” She searched her bag and found her keys. “See you in a while. There’s cereal in the pantry.”

Jezzica followed the bend in the road onto Main Street. The shops were various hues of pink, yellow, blue, white, and creams—like the cottages, the weathered colors blended and gave the town character. A few of the shops had upstairs apartments, which the owner either lived in or rented out. She continued around back and parked in the alleyway behind Magnolia’s Antiques.

Maggie stepped out the back door of her shop and waved, her bangles slipping toward her elbow. A long gauzy skirt gently brushed her ankles as it moved in the soft morning breeze. She possessed a gracefulness that many would admire and others envy. “Here to pick up the boxes?” Maggie’s voice carried a lyrical tone that caused others to feel comfortable.

Jezzica shoved her hands into the pockets of her denim shorts and followed Maggie. “I appreciate your help.”

“It’s how we do things here in Serenity. Anything you need, you let me know. If I don’t have it—I’ll find it for you.” Maggie’s warm smile sent the message she meant what she said. “Have time for a cuppa? I have fresh scones from the coffee shop.”

“British teatime and antiques—it works.” She closed the trunk of her car, now filled with boxes. “Rain check on the cuppa?” Her smile matched the easiness of Maggie’s.

“Anytime.” Maggie waved as Jezzica inched her car two shops down, ending up at the back door of the Sea Glass Bookshop.

She twisted the key into the lock, and opened more than the door. Excited and overwhelmed—her plans were closing in on fruition. She’d never managed a business.
What made her think she could run one now? What if she failed?
“None of that.” She fussed at herself.

She attacked the books saturated with dust and soot and began throwing them into the boxes. The shop door opened. “That was quick.”

“Good. Samantha told you I agreed to help.” At the sound of that deep, riveting male voice, her heart added an extra beat.

Zack strutted as though they’d had a prearranged time for him to drop by. “I was expecting my sister.”

“Sorry, I should’ve knocked.” He moved into the interior of the shop. “Samantha said you needed some muscle.”

“I’m good. But thanks. My sister is helping, and between the two of us, we have it all in hand.” She held her breath a moment, trying to still the fluttering as her pulse rate increased.