Guarding Your Heart, page 6
She walked into her kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from her refrigerator. The cool water did little to dampen her excitement, so she decided to celebrate the possible job with some ice cream. Opening her freezer, she was thankful for the brand-new pint of chocolate-cherry ice cream she had splurged on the day before.
Carrying it over to her settee, she plopped her feet up on her coffee table and dug in. She had just taken a large bite and felt the effects of brain freeze setting in when her phone rang. Grabbing it off her desk, she choked on her ice cream as the caller ID showed The Dunes Resort Realty. Terrified to not answer, she swallowed, coughed, and grabbed the top of her head which felt as though it was going to explode. Shit, shit, shit! Taking a swig of water, she dimmed the brain freeze just in time to answer the phone.
“He…hello?” she croaked, then quickly cleared her throat, trying again. “Hello. This is Sophie Bayles of Bayles Interior Design. May I help you?”
“Sophie? Hello. This is Carlotta Ventura, and I just read your email response. I would be so thrilled to have a homegrown Baytown designer work on our project.”
“Ms. Ventura, I was equally as excited to get your email. I would love to set up a time to come talk to you.”
She could not sit still and paced the living room as Carlotta set up a time for her to come visit. “Absolutely, I can come on Wednesday,” she assured. They settled on the time and disconnected the call. Once more, she twirled around the room with her arms waving in the air. She could not remember the last time she felt such elation.
Take that, Tommy and Holston Design! She felt sure that she would be able to get the contract, but quickly plopped back into her desk chair and pulled up The Dunes Resorts on her computer. Determined to spend the next couple of days memorizing everything she could about the resort, she began a portfolio of ideas to present. For the first time in months, things were looking up, and she focused on that…not the simmering worry that going home might open doors she had worked to keep closed.
“You’re not going to tell your parents that you’re here?” Katelyn asked, her head tilted in question.
Sophie smiled at the sight of her friend sitting across from her, holding her baby. Little Finn had just been fed, and Katelyn leaned forward to let him sit on a blanket on the floor with a few soft toys around. As much as she had wanted to escape Baytown and its memories, she had remained close to the woman she considered to be her sister.
She remembered Katelyn’s wedding to Gareth, declining the invitation to be a bridesmaid. Katelyn had understood, which Sophie appreciated. She wanted Katelyn to be happy but anticipated it was going to be an emotional day, knowing that they had always planned for Katelyn to marry Philip.
“Until I have a chance to find out if I actually get the job at The Dunes Resort, I don’t want my parents to know about it. I’m already nervous enough, and they would just get their hopes up. Lord knows I feel like I’ve disappointed them enough times.”
Katelyn shook her head and said fiercely, “You’ve never disappointed your parents.”
Shrugging, she said, “I suppose. I know they were proud of me when I started my own business, but they also knew it was a huge risk leaving a prestigious firm. Plus, the whole Tommy fiasco. I know my parents have been worried about me, and my being in a relationship eased their concerns.”
Katelyn rolled her eyes. “I never met him, but from what you described, Tommy was a wimp. You’re better off without him.”
Little Finn clapped, and Katelyn said, “See, even Little Finn agrees.” At that, Katelyn laughed out loud, causing Finn to look up at his mother and gurgle.
Sophie watched as Katelyn bent over, picked up her son and blew raspberries on his belly. Pleased for her friend, she felt the familiar pain of knowing her Baytown friends had moved on with their lives. Pushing that thought to the side, she glanced at her phone and said, “Okay, I need to go now. Wish me luck.”
As they stood, Katelyn pulled her in for a deep hug. “You know I wish you all the luck in the world.” Moving back, Katelyn held her gaze and said, “Having you back in Baytown, even for several months, would be a dream come true. For a lot of people.”
Callan crossed her mind, but she simply nodded and headed out to her car. Driving toward The Dunes Resort, she tried to settle the butterflies in her stomach. Time to go get this contract!
8
Hours later, sitting in her parents’ kitchen, Sophie celebrated. Her mother was beaming, and her father was nodding enthusiastically as she described the offer.
“There are three huge, beachfront homes that have just been built, and one will be featured in Southern Living. I’ll have carte blanche to design each of the rooms. There are four bedrooms, each with their own bathroom. The master suite has a bayside deck with sunset views. The downstairs consists of a formal living room, dining room, large kitchen, family room, sunroom, and wide front porch.”
“You get to do the interior designing and decorating for the entire house?” her dad asked. “Are you going to have enough time to do that?”
“Well, according to Carlotta, I’ll have a budget large enough to handle everything. I’ve already started on some designs and already know companies that I can order furniture from. I don’t think I’m going to have a problem getting it done. But I also have to do one of the condo designs.”
“Oh, tell me about those,” her mother prodded.
“They’re one-floor living, each with three bedrooms, an eat-in kitchen, and a great room that includes a dining area as well as a living area. Some units are on the second floor, but they’re only going to have me design one of the downstairs units. They’re uncertain if Southern Living is going to include that in their article but want it staged for future publications and advertisements.”
Her mom stood to clear away the coffee cups but first bent to give Sophie hug. “Honey, I’m so excited for you to have this opportunity, but I also confess that I’m excited that you’ll be back in town for a couple of months.”
She heard her mother’s voice catch on the last couple of words and blinked at the sting of tears that hit her eyes. Her parents had been so supportive over the years…with her leaving Baytown for college, her career, her decision to work in Richmond. But when I came home, it was always what was left unspoken that I felt deep inside. Grateful that her parents had not spent a lot of time talking about Philip, but instead, always focused on her as though they knew the subject tormented her. But was that fair to them? Sighing, she had no answers but hugged her mother in return, admitting, “It’ll be good to be back and spend more time with you.”
“Will you be able to stay here?” her mother asked, holding her gaze.
It was obvious her mother wanted her back home while trying to sound nonchalant. Sophie had always stayed with her parents when visiting but moving back for the first time since she left for college right after Philip’s death would be different. Surrounded by memories for an extended period of time. Staring at her mother’s expressive face, she felt the warm desire down to her core and could not possibly say no. Once more, a flash of Callan’s face moved through her mind, and she thought about him being so close. If I’m honest? I want to be here. I need to be here.
Nodding, she assured, “Since I’ll still be paying rent on my little apartment in Richmond, I would rather not have to pay rent here. So, unless you and Dad are going to charge me an arm and a leg to stay in my old room, I think I can swing staying here.”
Her mother rolled her eyes and said, “Oh, pooh! You’re just teasing me. We would be disappointed if you stayed anywhere else.”
Her dad reached across the table and squeezed her hand, asking, “Are you sure you want to drive back tonight? Wouldn’t you be safer if you spent the night here and left in the morning?”
“I really need to get back so that I can start making plans. I want to work on my designs, and I have a couple of furniture stores in Richmond that I have a relationship with. I’d like to go in and speak to them personally so that I can be ready to get some things ordered.”
“Yes, but you can’t do any of that tonight, and if you get up early in the morning you could be home in time for any of the stores to open. Plus, we’d feel better about you not driving several hours so late at night.”
The excitement of the day was taking its toll, and a yawn slipped out despite her best efforts to appear awake. She giggled and said, “I think I’ll take you up on that. I might as well get used to being back in my room anyway.”
Hugging her parents, she grabbed her purse and slim briefcase and walked upstairs. As tired as she was, her senses were heightened with each step she took, the ache of grief always tugging at her. How do my parents do it? Continue to live in this house where memories are in the very walls?
She passed the room that had been Philip’s, the door open. Unable to stop herself, she glanced inside, but it was dark, and she had no desire to turn on the light. Her parents’ master bedroom and en suite bathroom were across the hall, and she continued into her old bedroom, flipping the light switch.
Stepping inside, she was always pleased her parents had not left it the way it was when she had been a teenager. The bed was the same, but a peach floral comforter with light blue pillows decorated it. The walls had been painted a peach hue that was so light it was almost cream. The oak dresser was the same, but all of her old jewelry and high school memorabilia had been cleaned off. She walked further into the room, turned, and sat on the edge of the bed. It was a comforting space, a welcoming room. She grinned and felt the weight on her chest ease somewhat.
Moving into the hall bathroom, she quickly took a shower. Back in her room, she found a drawer with some clothes that she had left the last time she visited. Sliding on clean panties and a large T-shirt, she turned off the light.
Before crawling into bed, she walked to the window and pulled back the curtain looking down into the backyard. Jars of sea glass still rested on the windowsill. Her gaze naturally drifted toward the Wards’ house, memories flooding her as they always did. Her mother had told her that Callan lived in the apartment above the garage, and unable to stop, she looked that way. No movement was evident, and she wondered what it would be like to live near him again. Instead of the heartache she expected to feel, a strange sense of excitement moved through her. Refusing to ponder what it meant, she forced her mind to the new job as she climbed into bed, willing sleep to come.
When Callan had parked his truck next to his garage apartment, he noticed a small car in the alley right behind the Bayles’ house. Sophie’s? It seemed late at night for her to be visiting, and he hoped everything was all right. Once inside his apartment, he got ready for bed but continually looked out his window toward the alley, noting the car did not leave. While the curtains across the way were drawn, he could see a faint light in the window of the room that had been Sophie’s. He had already turned out his own lights but stood in the dark staring across the yards.
Memories, so often held at bay, flooded back. The Baytown Boys running through the alley. The clubhouse they made out of an old shed. He and Philip spending every summer evening after they came in from the beach tossing a ball back and forth. Pretty Sophie, with her mass of curly blonde hair, playing in their backyard. Then the memories turned dark as he remembered her standing there, her grief etched so deeply on her face he wondered if it would ever leave, saying her final goodbye. He wondered if she still kept her heart from taking risks.
Just as he started to move into his bedroom, a slight movement at her window caught his eye. It appeared that someone had pulled the curtain back, but in the dark, he could not see who it was and knew they could not see him either.
A tug at his heart caused his hand to move up and rub over his chest. The curtain across the street dropped back into place, and he sighed.
The next day he had a later shift, and as he jogged down his outside steps to his truck, he noticed the car was no longer there. It felt like a piece of him was once again missing.
The gathering of women in the upstairs galleria of Jillian’s coffee shop pushed a few tables together so that they could all fit around them. The Baytown girls’ posse had grown over the years, each welcoming new friends.
Jillian walked up the stairs and rounded the top, her hands full of the large tray loaded with dainty cups and a teapot. One of her servers followed with a tray full of pastries. Setting them down in the middle of the tables, she thanked her assistant and turned toward Katelyn.
“Can you please tell us why you had us all meet here so early in the morning? I know you can’t be pregnant again!”
Tori, Madelyn, Ginny, Jade, Lia, and Belle sat around the table, their attention riveted to the other two women. Sharing glances between each other, they all shook their heads indicating they had no idea why they were together.
Katelyn grinned and replied, “Because I’ve got a surprise coming…and no, I’m not pregnant.”
Jillian, tossing her long blond braid over her shoulder, stood with her hands on her hips staring at her best friend. “Well? Where’s your surprise?”
“I guess it’s me,” Sophie said, rounding the top of the steps and walking toward them.
“Oh, my God!” Jillian and Tori shouted at the same time. Jillian, already standing, got to Sophie first, pulling her in for a hug.
Tori, close behind, greeted her as well with a hug and a huge smile.
Katelyn turned to the others and said, “Sophie is Tonya and David Bayles’ daughter. We all grew up together.”
Belle, quieter than the others, stood and moved over to Sophie. “You probably don’t remember me, but I’m Belle Simmons. Well, that’s my married name. I was Belle Gunn when you and I were friends in preschool and kindergarten.”
Sophie pulled Belle into a hug and said, “Oh, my goodness. Mom told me that she had met you. I do remember us being friends so many years ago.”
Katelyn, with her hand around Sophie’s shoulders, led her to the table and re-introduced her to Madelyn, Ginny, Lia, and Jade. “This is Madelyn, Zac’s wife. And Ginny is one of the town’s police officers, married to Brogan. Jade is married to Lance, another police officer, but I’m not sure you’ve met him. And this is Lia, Aiden’s fiancé.
“It’s really nice to meet all of you,” she said, her voice as sincere as her heart felt. Having spent the last several years away from Baytown with only occasional visits, it hit her how much she missed having a group of women friends.
The large gathering sat around the table and immediately dove in for the pastries and tea. Jillian, ever curious, asked, “Are you just here for the weekend to visit your parents?”
Sharing a glance with Katelyn, she grinned. “Actually, I’m moving back here for several months.”
Smiles greeted her announcement, and the women appeared genuinely happy. She continued, “I’m going to be working for The Dunes Resort as their interior designer for the model home that will be in a Southern Living photo shoot.”
“Oh, my goodness!” Tori exclaimed. “What a fabulous opportunity!”
Still grinning, she agreed, “Yes, it is. It could be a real game-changing opportunity for me and my new business. I quit my other job, struck out on my own, and this should make the risk easier.”
“I like running my own business,” Jillian said, leaning back in her chair, taking a sip of tea.
“Me too,” Tori and Katelyn said at the same time.
“It’s a lot of work,” Tori continued, “but I love running the Sea Glass Inn.”
Sophie agreed. “It’s not easy, but it’s definitely better than working for a company that was more dog-eat-dog than caring about its employees.”
Belle smiled, adding, “I’ll bet your parents must be thrilled to have you back in Baytown.”
Nodding, she said, “Yes, they are. I’ll only be back for a few months, but this is such a great opportunity.”
Katelyn gushed, “I was so excited when she told me, I wanted to make sure she had a chance to immediately connect with all of us, including our new friends.”
They spent the next hour plying her with questions about the job at The Dunes Resort, and she learned about their lives in Baytown. Katelyn had been the only friend that she had truly kept up with, although Katelyn often spoke of the others. She loved getting to know Madelyn, Ginny, and Lia since they were married to original Baytown Boys, but she also found Belle and Jade to be delightful as well.
Looking around at the artwork on the walls and in wooden, glass-front cases, she said, “Jillian, I love what you’ve done here.” Paintings of beach scenes, waterfowl, and boats graced the exposed brick walls. Mobiles created from sea glass hung from the ceiling. A large sea glass mosaic hung on one of the windows, the sunlight beaming through the multi-colored shards. Her design-oriented mind overflowed with ideas.
Smiling, Jillian thanked her. “I wanted to showcase the local artists.” Looking back at her, she added, “If you’re interested in any pieces for the house, I know the artists would be thrilled to have the possibility to be in Southern Living.”
“The sea glass art is exquisite!”
“Oh, Lordy,” Jade groaned. “My husband makes those, and he definitely doesn’t want the publicity.”
Sophie laughed, saying, “Then I might just have to make sure they’re in the background, but they are definitely gorgeous.”
Needing to get on the road, she stood to offer her goodbyes. Hugging each woman in turn, she thanked them for the impromptu tea party and promised to get together as soon as she arrived in town the next week.
