Chapter 10

ten

I sabelle's attempt at making blueberry pancakes—a breakfast food staple in their household when the children were little—was a disaster. She undercooked her first batch and had to start over from scratch. Panic set in. She was far from being prepared for her first guests, who would appear at any moment. She was spooning pancake batter onto her electric griddle when she heard the back door open, followed by dog nails on hardwood floors.

"Good morning, Izzy!"

Isabelle's skin crawled at the use of her family's nickname. She craned her neck to look behind her at Blossom. "Keep that dog away from me. If it bites me again, I'm calling the pound."

Blossom picked up the dog, holding her close. "I can't believe you would consider subjecting an innocent animal to such cruelty. How is your foot, by the way?" Coming around the island, she looked down at her foot and back up at Izzy. "You wrapped your foot in gauze? Seriously, it was only a tiny scrape."

"I didn't have a Band-Aid, thank you very much." Isabelle waved her spatula at Blossom. "I'm warning you. Get that dog away from me."

The dog growled at Isabelle.

"See! She's going to bite me again."

"She feels threatened because you're waving a spatula at her." Blossom's gaze shifted to the griddle on the counter behind her. "Oops. Looks like you burned your pancakes."

Isabelle's head swiveled around, and she stared in horror at what were now black hockey pucks on the griddle. "How did they burn when I haven't even flipped them?"

"Maybe the pancakes don't like you either," Blossom said and disappeared into the dining room.

Isabelle dumped the burned pancakes down the disposal and ladled fresh batter onto the griddle for a third time. At this rate, she would be serving her guests pancakes for dinner.

Blossom returned with a cup of coffee and sat down at the table with the dog in her lap. "That's quite the elaborate feast you have on display. You realize you're going about this all wrong?"

Isabelle grunted. "I don't remember asking for your opinion."

"Then you're in luck. I've never been good at keeping my thoughts to myself. Why not offer a simple buffet with mini muffins, bagels, and items you can freeze? Or foods you can prepare the night before, like fresh fruit? Containers of yogurt and bowls of granola are excellent options, as are small boxes of cereal."

Isabelle let out a humph. "I will not serve boxed cereal to my guests." She transferred the pancakes from the griddle to one side of a chafing dish tray, filling the empty space with sausage and bacon. She carried the tray into the dining room. When she returned to the kitchen, Blossom had her face glued to some catalog.

She peered at Isabelle over the top of the catalog. "How about ordering frozen chicken sausage patties and bite-size frittatas? You would thaw them the night before, warm them in the morning, and you've got yourself a meal."

Isabelle went to stand beside her. "What're you looking at?"

Blossom showed her the catalog's front cover. "A brochure from Waterside Wholesale Food Distributors." She nodded at an envelope on the table. "A handwritten note and business card were attached to the front. Marilyn Daily says she'll stop by on Tuesday to discuss your first order."

"So now you're reading my mail?" Isabelle snatched the catalog from Blossom's hands. "Where'd you get this?"

Blossom pointed at a spot on the table. "It was right there when I sat down with my coffee."

Lines appeared on Isabelle's forehead. "I wiped the table down before starting on the pancakes, and I'm certain the catalog was not there."

Blossom held up her hands. "Some things you just can't explain."

Since Blossom's arrival, many unexplained things had occurred, including burned pancakes and rejuvenated plants. And it was no accident that Blossom had found the journal containing Edward's ideas for the bed and breakfast—ideas she had asked him about that very afternoon during her visit to the cemetery. There were two possible explanations. Either Blossom had magical powers, or the stress was getting to Isabelle and she was losing her mind.

Isabelle returned to the stove, where her pan of sausage patties had begun to boil.

From the table, Blossom, as though reading Isabelle's mind, asked, "Were you able to unlock your husband's journal?"

Isabelle spun around, long meat fork in hand. "That's none of your business, Blossom. Why are you wasting a perfectly lovely morning when you could be walking your beast on the beach?" She brandished her fork at the door. "Get out! Please! I need to focus on cooking, and you're distracting me."

"Great day in the morning! Isabelle St. Clair, you are one grouchy woman." Blossom rose from the table. "Come on, Jolene. We know when we're not wanted." She opened the back door, and the little dog ran outside ahead of her.

Isabelle fielded complaints and requests throughout the breakfast hours. Some guests were vegan, and others were gluten free. A few named diets she'd never even heard of. They wanted poached eggs and eggs cooked sunny-side up. They asked for fruit, smoothies, and yogurt parfaits. One woman claimed to have found an eggshell in her pancakes. One man said his sausage was raw. And one young woman called Isabelle over to her table to show her the rash on her arm.

"I'm allergic to dairy," the woman said. "Did you use real milk in the pancake batter?"

Isabelle glared at her. "Of course. What else would I use?"

The woman rolled her eyes. "Dairy-free. Duh. Either soy or almond. Real milk is so last century. Then again, considering your age, I wouldn't expect you to know that."

Isabelle grabbed the woman's arm and inspected the rash. "Looks like sunburn to me."

The woman snatched her arm back. "Are you out of your mind? No ray of sunshine has touched my skin in a decade."

Isabelle studied the woman's pale complexion. "That explains why you're so gaunt looking. A little color on your cheeks might improve your disposition." She felt the woman stare daggers at her back as she disappeared into the butler's pantry.

Sneaking a peek down the hallway, Isabelle was relieved to see Shelby at the reception desk. After their unpleasant exchange yesterday afternoon, she had been worried when her granddaughter hadn't returned to the cottage last night. She must have found somewhere else to sleep, which was just as well. The girl had an attitude, and Isabelle was too preoccupied with her own troubles.

* * *

On Sunday morning, numerous guests complained about Shelby's grandmother, citing a long list of grievances about breakfast food and Izzy's rude behavior. It was only a matter of time before one of these disgruntled guests would voice their irritation on a travel review, which could mean the endgame for Magnolia Shores B&B.

A smiling Pritchard appeared on time for their one o'clock meeting.

"You seem happy," Shelby said. "Did you win the lottery?"

He started to say something but then changed his mind. "I'll let Harper tell you the news when she stops by later."

Shelby narrowed her eyes. "Now I'm curious. I know she's been dating the same guy for a while. Did they get engaged?"

Pritchard drew an imaginary zipper across his lips.

"Ugh, okay. I hate to burst your happy bubble, but we've had several complaints about Izzy this morning," she said, handing him the list.

Pritchard sighed as he scanned the list. "This isn't good. I'll talk to Mom."

"We have our reputation to think about, Pritchard. One bad review on Yelp, and we're doomed."

Pritchard furrowed his brow as though he hadn't thought of this. "That's a valid point."

Seated together at the desk, Pritchard and Shelby discussed options for central reservation systems, identified their preference, and sent the information to the web designer for approval.

"As soon as Claire gets back to us, we'll purchase the software so you can start using it," he said.

"I took some photographs of the main house at sunrise this morning. Here, I'll show you," Shelby said, accessing the pics on her computer.

Pritchard peered at the computer screen. "These are excellent, Shelby. You've inherited your grandfather's keen eye for photography. Keep up the good work."

Shelby beamed. "Thanks." She turned away from the computer to face him. "I'm still unclear about my hours and responsibilities. Am I supposed to be stationed at this desk all day long?"

"Not at all. Only during peak check-in and check-out hours. Let Silas know how he can reach you when you're away from the desk, and return all calls as soon as possible when you get back. Does that work for you?"

"Yes! That sounds perfect!"

They were finishing their meeting when Harper arrived, wearing her bathing suit and cover-up. Shelby's eyes traveled to the small diamond ring on her left hand. "You got engaged! Pritchard said you had news. I thought it might be this. Congratulations!"

Harper admired her ring. "Thanks! I'm beyond thrilled. Wait until I tell you how he proposed. Are you free to take that walk now?"

Shelby looked uncertainly at Prichard. "Do you think it's okay?"

"Of course. I'll be here for a while. I can cover for you. I need to have that little talk with Mom anyway."

"Let me go change. I'll be back in a second." Dashing up the stairs, Shelby quickly changed into her bikini and coated herself with sunscreen. Returning to the living room, she took her cousin by the arm and dragged her through the French doors. "Come on. I can't wait to hear about the proposal."

As they crossed the terrace toward the dunes, Harper told Shelby about the gospel choir Cody had hired to sing one of her favorite classic country songs.

Shelby placed her folded hands on her chest. "Aww. That is so romantic. When's the wedding?"

Harper laughed. "Good question! We only got engaged last night, but we're thinking sometime next spring."

Shelby walked ahead of Harper down the path to the beach. Over her shoulder, she said, "Will you please make it April nineteenth? If you get married the same day as my sister, I will have a legitimate reason not to attend her wedding."

"That would make things complicated for family members who would like to attend both. Why would you want to miss your sister's wedding?"

Shelby kicked at the sand. "We don't get along. She didn't even ask me to be a bridesmaid."

When they reached the beach, they walked side by side, heading north. "I'm sorry, Shelby. As an only child, I don't pretend to know what that feels like. I always wished I had a sibling."

"And I always wished I was an only child. You'd understand if you knew Grace. I'd rather have Cruella de Vil for a sister." Shelby inhaled a deep breath of salty air. "It feels good to be outside. I'm not used to being stuck inside all day."

Harper laughed. "Adjusting to the working world takes time. I was a paralegal before moving to Water's Edge. Being cooped up in an office is difficult. At least your office is swanky. And you have incredible views from every window."

"True," Shelby said with a chuckle. "Tell me about your fiancé. I don't even know his name."

"His name is Cody Porter, and he's an officer with the local police force."

Shelby thought his occupation sounded dreadful, and she didn't think police officers made much money. "How'd you meet?"

A dreamy expression settled over Harper's face. "Cody was the first friend I made when I moved to Water's Edge. I was working at a women's boutique at the time, and he showed up one Sunday morning to help me give the shop a minimakeover. I'd just lost my mother, and I wasn't interested in romance, but he waited patiently until I was."

"That's so sweet. I'm so happy for you, cuz."

Harper shoulder-bumped her. "What about you, cuz? Do you have a significant other back home in Texas?"

"We broke up. He started dating someone else right away and now they're engaged. I keep hoping he'll come around." Shelby grew silent for a minute, thinking about Luke. "Do you think absence makes the heart grow fonder?"

"Sometimes. It also makes you forget."

Shelby's heart sank. "That's what Blossom said."

Harper made a funny face. "Interesting name. Who is she?"

"Some woman who is staying here for the summer. I get the feeling she's more than a guest."

Harper tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

"Like maybe she's here on a mission. She appears to have magical powers." Shelby told her about the odd things that had happened in Blossom's presence. "Maybe she can wave her wand and make me stop thinking about Luke."

"You don't need magic, Shelby. You need a new man to help you forget about Luke."

The image of Matt popped into her head, but she quickly dismissed it. How could she think about someone else when she wasn't over Luke?

Shelby stopped walking and turned to Harper. "Can I ask you a personal question?"

Harper chuckled. "You can ask, but I'm not sure I'll answer."

"And I won't blame you if you don't because I'm totally being nosy. But I'm dying to know the story behind your adoption. My mom told me that Pritchard and Savannah dated in high school and that she got pregnant with you. But I don't understand why she put you up for adoption and ran away for thirty years."

Harper lowered her gaze to the sand. "It's not a pretty story, Shelby. And I don't think I should be the one to tell you. Maybe you should ask your mom or Pritchard."

"Does it have something to do with Izzy? I sensed tension between you two yesterday."

"I really shouldn't say anything, Shelby. Pritchard loves his mother despite what she did. And he takes good care of her. I respect him for that."

Despite what she did? Harper basically admitted Izzy was somehow involved in her adoption. She wouldn't press for more details today, but she would find out in time. "I understand, and I respect you for not telling me. I've seen a different side of Pritchard these past few days. Or maybe I've never noticed it before. But he's a kind man and a good person."

Harper beamed. "Pritchard's the best. I'm a lucky girl to have him as a father. And you're pretty awesome too, Shelby. I'm going to like having my first cousin around," she said, her genuine smile matching her father's.

Looping her arm through Harper's, Shelby smiled as they turned back toward Magnolia Shores. "Me too. I'll trade my mean old sister in for a cool cousin any day."