Chapter 29

twenty-nine

S helby collapsed in the hammock after a long run on the beach. Exhausted from a restless night spent crying over Luke, she quickly fell into a deep sleep. The sun was high in the sky when she woke to Jolene's barking and Blossom staring down at her. Blossom picked up the dog, dropped her in Shelby's lap, and sank into the hammock beside her. Her added weight made the hammock bounce, sending Shelby and the dog tumbling onto Blossom.

Blossom laughed out loud as she pushed them off of her. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but you looked so comfortable, I couldn't resist joining you."

Shelby's chin quivered as fresh tears threatened. "No worries. I'm happy for the company."

"Uh-oh. Why the long face?"

"Things didn't go well with Luke," Shelby said, swiping at her tears. "He just wanted to have sex with me. He never planned to break up with Alexis."

Blossom pulled a tissue from her pocket and handed it to her. "I say good riddance to him."

Shelby buried her face in Blossom's bosom. "I'm tired of crying. I've been crying all night. But I can't seem to stop."

"Why are you crying? Is it because you lost Luke? Or because he wounded your pride?"

"Good question." Shelby rolled onto her back with the dog on her chest, licking at the salty tears on her face. "We kissed a few times, but the chemistry wasn't there. Maybe I am finally over him."

"Then why the tears?"

Shelby shifted the dog to Blossom's arms as she struggled to sit up. "Because the jerk wanted me to be his side piece. He even offered to set me up in an apartment. I'm the runner-up because my father isn't a billionaire like Alexis's. To make matters worse, I treated Matt the same way when I discovered he's a carpenter."

Hoisting herself out of the hammock, Shelby went to the pool and sat on the edge with her feet in the water. She stared at the dark blob of her reflection, unable to make out her head and torso. For once in her life, she couldn't see her freckles.

Blossom came to stand beside her, hiking up her maxi dress and easing her body down beside Shelby. "Penny for your thoughts."

"Can you wave your magic wand and make my freckles disappear?" Shelby asked.

"Aww, baby girl." Blossom ran a finger down her cheek. "Were you teased about your freckles as a child?"

Shelby bobbed her head. "Mercilessly. To this day, my friends still call me Polka Dotty. You have to admit, I have an abnormal amount of them."

"I rather like your freckles. They add a certain wholesome beauty to your face." Blossom pulled a handheld mirror out of her pocket. "Is this the look you're going for?" she asked, holding the mirror out to Shelby.

Shelby looked suspiciously at the mirror. "Do you always walk around with mirrors in your pockets?"

"They come in handy sometimes. Go ahead. The mirror won't bite," Blossom said, placing the mirror in Shelby's hand.

Shelby held the mirror in front of her face. Her skin was flawless, the cameo complexion she'd dreamed of her entire life. Her image freaked her out, and a chill traveled down her spine. Without the freckles, she was a stranger, even to herself.

"I guess I'll keep the freckles," she said, returning the mirror to Blossom.

"Altering your appearance won't change who you are on the inside, Shelby."

"That's the problem. I don't know who I am on the inside." She lay back on the pool deck and looked at the clear blue sky. "Luke and I had been together for so long that losing him was like cutting off my right arm. But I'm done mourning the loss of that relationship, and I'm ready to move on. But I don't know how or where. I'm definitely not going back to Texas, but I'm not sure I want to stay at Magnolia Shores either. I'm considering asking my mom to help me financially until I can find a job in Charleston." When the dog tried to lick her face again, Shelby gently pushed her away.

Blossom picked up Jolene and cradled her like a baby. "I got the impression you loved it here."

"I do! But this so-called bed and breakfast is a sinking ship. Izzy doesn't have a clue what she's doing, and the tension between us isn't healthy for either of us."

"Is this friction between you something new?"

Shelby rolled onto her belly and rested her cheek on her folded arms. "She was always just my grandmother, never overly affectionate but fun to hang out with sometimes. I learned so much from her about Magnolia Shores' natural habitat. She's the reason I love it here so much. Who knows? Maybe I'm seeing the real Izzy through my adult eyes."

"I don't think what you've seen of her recently is the real Izzy. She's going through a lot right now. As are you. If you tried, you two could work past your differences."

"Don't hold your breath. I don't like being an adult. Can you make me time travel back to my childhood?"

"I'm sorry, baby girl. I don't have that kind of power. Is that really what you want anyway? To relive your breakup with Luke all over again?"

"No! Please! I can never go through that again."

* * *

Isabelle was in the kitchen polishing silver when Blossom came through the back door.

"What're you doing?" she asked, filling a bowl of water for Jolene.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Isabelle snapped.

"Doesn't your housekeeping staff polish your silver?"

"Hilda and Pearl are preparing the garden and pool houses for the upcoming weekend. Besides, I rather like the mindlessness of the task," Isabelle said, using elbow grease to remove the last of the dried polish.

Blossom chuckled. "If you're not careful, you'll polish the silver plate right off that candlestick."

"For your information, this candelabra is sterling silver. It is one of Edward's family's many heirloom pieces."

"I stand corrected." Blossom removed a pitcher from the refrigerator and poured herself a glass of sweet tea. "Based on your foul mood, I assume your apology didn't go well."

"I didn't get a chance to apologize. Pritchard was too busy discussing his expansion plans for The Sanctuary at Magnolia Shores. It's a ridiculous name. This place is anything but a sanctuary."

"I rather like the name," Blossom said.

Isabelle set down the candelabra. "Did you really find Edward's journal in his study? Or did you somehow fabricate it?"

Blossom held her head high, appearing genuinely incensed. "I beg your pardon. I would lose my wings if I did something so dishonest and underhanded. Like I told you, it was front and center on his desk."

"I must have overlooked it. I haven't been thinking clearly since his death. Maybe my grief affected my eyesight." Isabelle went back to polishing silver. "Pritchard and I had a terrible argument. The bed and breakfast was a stretch for me, but this so-called Sanctuary is over the top. I'm a misfit in my own life. I don't even know where to lay my head at night." When Blossom didn't respond, Isabelle glanced over at her. She was tugging at her chin and staring into her tea. "What're you thinking, Blossom?"

"I'm wondering if you like soft-shelled crabs."

Isabelle frowned. "They're one of my favorites. But why are you thinking about soft-shelled crabs when my life is falling apart?"

"Because I'm going to cook us up a mess of them tonight." Blossom dumped her tea down the drain and placed her glass in the dishwasher. "I'll see you at seven o'clock sharp. And don't be late." She scooped up her dog and scurried out of the kitchen. Five minutes later, Isabelle heard Blossom's heaven mobile leave the courtyard.