Salty Kisses, page 2
Salty Kisses
A Sanderling Cove Inn Book – 3
Judith Keim
Wild Quail Publishing
Salty Kisses is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, public or private institutions, corporations, towns, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
No part of Salty Kisses may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. This book may not be resold or uploaded for distribution to others. For permissions contact the author directly via electronic mail:
wildquail.pub@gmail.com
www.judithkeim.com
Wild Quail Publishing
PO Box 171332
Boise, ID 83717-1332
ISBN# 978-1-954325-50-0
Copyright ©2023, Judith Keim
All rights reserved
Dedication
This book is dedicated to those people who discover the joy of art in all its many forms and share it with others.
The Five Families of Sanderling Cove
Gran – Eleanor “Ellie” Weatherby – dating John Rizzo – husband deceased – 3 daughters:
Vanessa m. Walter Van Pelt, JoAnn single, Leigh m. Jake Winters
Granddaughter – Charlotte “Charlie” Bradford (Vanessa’s daughter)
Granddaughter – Brooke Weatherby (Jo’s daughter)
Granddaughter – Olivia “Livy” Winters (Leigh’s daughter)
Granny Liz – Elizabeth “Liz” Ensley – husband Sam - 2 sons:
Henry, m. Diana, divorced, then m. Savannah, and 1 son never married
Grandson – Shane Ensley– lawyer in Miami
Grandson – Austin Ensley– IT guru who sold business and is looking for next opportunity
Mimi- Karen Atkins – husband deceased – 1 son, Arthur Atkins, and 1 daughter:
KK. m. Gordon Hendrix,
Grandson -Dylan Hendrix – artist
Granddaughter -Grace Hendrix m. Belinda – owns restaurant called Gills in Clearwater
Arthur m. Elizabeth Brownley
Grandson – Adam Atkins m. Summer, divorced has daughter Skye
Grandson – Brendan Atkins – in construction business with Adam
G-Ma – Sarah Simon – husband Joel deceased - 1 son: Benjamin:
Grandson – Eric Simon- plastic surgeon in Tampa, specializes in cleft palates
Granddaughter – Shelby Simon m. Douglas Sheehan baby due
Grandma – Pat Dunlap – husband Ed – 1 daughter:
Katherine m. William Worthington
Grandson – Kyle Worthington - talent agent in Hollywood
Granddaughter – Melissa Worthington– engaged to Texas oilman
Granddaughter – Morgan Worthington– spoiled baby of family
CHAPTER ONE
ELLIE
From her table on the plaza in a small town in Greece, Ellie Weatherby Rizzo looked out at the activity and sighed with pleasure. She and her husband, John, were fortunate to have this time to travel through Europe after working at The Sanderling Cove Inn on the Gulf Coast of Florida for years. They couldn’t have taken this vacation without the help of their three granddaughters, Charlotte, Brooke, and Olivia, who were running the Inn together while Ellie and John were away.
Ellie cherished the memory of their granddaughters’ excitement at the opportunity to leave their old lives behind in order to accept her request for help. Little did they know that she and the four other grandmothers who lived at the cove had other plans in mind. Tired of seeing their beloved grandchildren’s lives unsettled, they’d decided to bring all the cove kids together. What better way for their grandbabies to find suitable mates?
Charlotte and Brooke had already become engaged this summer—Charlotte to Liz’s grandson Shane, and Brooke to Karen’s grandson, Dylan. That left Livy still uncommitted.
Ellie had someone in mind for her, but planning can do only so much. Time would take care of the rest, she hoped. And then she and John could return to Florida and their Inn. Whether the Inn would stay in the family was another decision yet to be made.
“Ellie, you have a devilish smile on your face,” said John. “What scheme are you cooking up now?”
Her smile grew broader. “I was thinking how much I love you and our family.”
He reached across the table and took hold of her hand. “Not as much as we love you.”
She sighed happily. She and John were in their seventies, but age didn’t matter when it came to love. This trip would be truly successful if Livy could find the man of her dreams.
CHAPTER TWO
LIVY
Olivia “Livy” Winters walked the shoreline of Sanderling Cove with troubled steps. Since coming to the cove to help her two cousins run their grandparents’ Inn, she’d tried to ignore her feelings, but different thoughts kept popping up in her mind like circling sharks about to attack. She couldn’t continue. She had to find someone she could trust to help her. Her cousins, Charlotte and Brooke, would gladly support her, but she wasn’t ready to share this with them. Not yet. They were happily engaged and thinking of bright futures with their fiancés. Livy didn’t want to take any of that excitement away from this special time for them.
She looked down at her feet standing in the lacy foam of the Gulf water as one wave and then another reached her with salty kisses. Their soothing rhythm helped settle the turmoil roiling within her. Seagulls and terns whirled in the sky above her, their cries beckoning people to join them on this early August morning. In a few more weeks, Gran and John would return, and Livy would have to make some important decisions—career, housing, life.
Livy kicked at the water sending spray into the air, creating drops of water that resembled diamonds flying up to the sun. Nearby, the fronds of palm trees whispered in the wind as if they too had a secret to tell.
Following the trail of tiny footprints left behind by sandpipers, sanderlings, and other shore birds, Livy was startled when someone called her name. She turned to see Skye, Adam Atkins’ four-year-old daughter running to her. Adam was Mimi’s divorced grandson who was temporarily living with her at the cove.
Livy opened her arms, waited, and then swept Skye to her. She adored this sweet little girl who was curious about the world around her. “Hey, Skye. Are you looking for more shells today?”
Skye’s blue eyes shone beneath the pink sun bonnet she wore. “I’m looking for pink shells. Mimi and I are making a wedding picture for Gran and Mr. John.”
“A wedding picture? How lovely,” said Livy, giving Skye another squeeze before setting her down and glancing at Adam walking their way.
“Hi, Livy. Not working the kitchen at the Inn today?” said Adam when he reached them.
“Not until later. Most of the breakfast group was off to an early start so I could squeeze out some time for myself. I’m trying to do it more and more.”
“We all need to do that,” said Adam with a note of sadness to his voice.
They stood a moment and watched while Skye ran to catch a wave. “I’m sorry about what happened with your ex,” Livy said to him. “I know you were hoping for Skye’s sake that she’d changed.”
“Thanks. That is the end of my trying to make any relationship work. I don’t trust her anymore. Skye’s happier when her mother isn’t around. Moving forward, we’ll just let nature take its course.”
“A smart idea,” Livy said. She liked Adam. A big affable man, he’d been a natural leader in the sports games the cove kids had played when they all were growing up. Now, after moving back to Florida, he’d bought an older house to fix-up while he started a new job as a supervisor with a local, well-respected construction company. This kept him busy as he began to set up his own business. His grandmother, Mimi, was delighted with his move and temporarily adding two people to her household.
“Happy shell hunting,” Livy said. “I’m headed down the beach. See you later.” It was such a relief to give herself permission to do her own thing. In the past, she’d ask if Skye needed help or continue talking to Adam out of politeness. She wasn’t being rude, just allowing herself to make choices based on what she wanted.
As she continued walking, she considered her past. She’d had a pleasant childhood, but it had sometimes been marred by the competition between her and SueEllen Sutton, the girl next door. It was hard when your mother constantly compared you to someone else, and you came out lacking. The more her mother wanted her to be like SueEllen, embracing a southern feminine role, the more Livy fought against it. She could’ve married early like SueEllen—she’d had more than one man who wanted a serious relationship. But she never felt ready.
After graduating from culinary school, all she’d wanted was to run her own successful business. Too bad her business partner had been willing to throw away her dream and replace it with the goals her “boyfriend” was chasing.
Livy stopped walking and faced the water. Dating Wayne Chesterton had been the biggest mistake of all. A shiver raced through her. She didn’t know if she’d ever get over what he’d put her through. She felt the sting of tears and couldn’t prevent them from rolling down her cheeks. She needed to let it go. But how?
Moments later, she brought out a tissue from the pocket of her shorts and wiped her eyes, thankful no one was around.
As she headed back to the Inn, she heard footsteps pounding on the sand behind her and turned to see Austin Ensley jogging toward her. A smile spread across her face. He’d been her crush when she was a teenager, and though she tried to keep anyone from knowing, she still was attracted to him.
“Hey, Livy, just the person I want to see,” he said, stopping beside her. He removed the white towel wrapped around his neck to wipe his face. His dimple appeared as he smiled at her. “I’ve been trying to set up a time to take you out to dinner as a thank you for standing by me throughout the memorial service for my mother. Knowing I could count on you helped me get through that difficult time. I really want to do this. How about this evening? I talked to Brooke and Charlie, and they said you don’t have duties at the Inn tonight.”
Realizing any attempt to sidestep the invitation would be rude, Livy did her best to smile. Being with him always made her nervous. She looked at his ripped body, his sandy-colored hair, and the way his blue-eyed gaze had settled on her and took a deep breath.
“Well?” he asked.
“That would be nice, Austin, but you know my intention was to support you, nothing more.”
“And you did,” he said. “Where would you like to go? We could try Gavin’s at the Salty Key Inn, the Don Cesar Hotel, or any fancy place you want.” He made it difficult to say no.
“How about we keep it simple?” Livy said. “How about The Crab Shack?”
His lips curved. “Should be fun. I’ll pick you up at six thirty, if that’s okay.”
“Sure. Thanks, Austin.” The melancholy that had gripped her earlier faded. Austin was an interesting man, and conversation would keep the evening going. She started to walk away.
He came up beside her and casually swung an arm around her shoulder. “Are you all right?”
She looked up at him in surprise.
He thumbed a tear from her face. “You can talk to me about anything, you know. We’re friends. Remember?”
She nodded and looked away. “Thanks.”
He released her. “See you later,” he said, and jogged away, leaving her wondering about the way he’d made her feel.
When she returned to the Inn, Charlie met her in the kitchen with an impish grin. “You going out with Austin tonight?”
Livy’s gaze rested on Charlie. She was striking with long auburn hair and green eyes that were now lit with mischief. “Austin said that you and Brooke told him I was free tonight. How could I say no?”
Brooke walked into the kitchen. “Say no to what?”
“To Austin,” said Charlotte. “He’s taking her out to dinner tonight.”
“About time you two got together,” said Brooke. Not as tall as Charlie, and with short hair dyed purple, Brooke was as attractive in her own way. “What fancy place is he taking you to?”
“No fancy place,” said Livy. “I chose The Crab Shack.”
Brooke laughed. “That’s perfect.”
Livy frowned and studied her. “Why? What are you two planning?”
“Nothing,” said Charlie.
“It’s just that he’s been dating a woman named Aynsley Lynch, and she’d never be seen in The Crab Shack. Heaven forbid. Not posh enough for her.” Brooke shook her finger. “I warned Austin that Aynsley was just after his money, and he seemed surprised.”
“Wow, Brooke, I can’t believe you said anything like that to him,” said Livy.
Charlotte gave Brooke a pat on the back. “Our Brooke is speaking up these days. All that freedom from worrying about her mother is giving her wings.”
“And a mouth,” said Brooke, laughing. “It’s true. After climbing out of the rut I was in before coming here, I feel as if I can speak up.”
“Gran’s asking us to come help out at the Inn for the summer has been a gift to all of us,” said Charlotte. “We’re each finding our own way.”
“And love too,” said Livy. “At least for you two.”
“Aw, Livy, it’ll happen for you,” said Charlie.
“I’m not sure what I want,” said Livy truthfully. “But as the summer is progressing, I’m thinking more and more about making a change and staying in Florida.”
“Dylan and I are seriously thinking of splitting time between Florida and Santa Fe,” said Brooke. “We haven’t worked out the details yet, but we will.”
“And you all know that after Gran and John return, I’ll be moving to Miami to be with Shane,” said Charlotte.
They looked at one another and smiled.
“We just might be able to do it,” said Charlotte. “Run the Inn with Gran and John. Even if it’s part-time or from a distance, each of us can help in our own way.”
Livy wished she didn’t feel so overwhelmed and adrift. Knowing where she wanted to live was a start, but there were still many other decisions she needed to make. But then, how could she make choices for the future until she’d dealt with the baggage of her past?
###
That evening, Livy waited with a mixture of anticipation and dread for Austin to pick her up for dinner. Of all the men at the cove, he was the one she tried to avoid. He brought out conflicting feelings within her. He had her wanting things she wasn’t ready for, and aroused feelings she couldn’t deal with. Not yet.
His car pulled up to the back of Gran’s house, and she went outside to greet him.
“Hi, Livy,” he said, climbing out of the car. “You look great.”
“Thanks,” she said, happy she hadn’t overdressed for the occasion. Her short denim skirt was comfortable. The light, frilly white top was another of her favorites. She had no intention of trying to compete with the women Austin had been seen with in the past.
Austin assisted her into his car and then took off down the coast to The Crab Shack, a favorite of locals and tourists alike.
When they pulled into the crowded parking lot, Austin said, “I’m glad I made reservations. Look at the line waiting to get inside.”
Livy liked the notion of the restaurant being crowded. It meant talk wouldn’t be necessary to fill any quiet between them. She knew Austin might ask her again about her tears that morning, and she didn’t want to get into that discussion.
After she emerged from his car, Austin took her elbow and led her past the people waiting outside.
When Austin gave her his name, the hostess said brightly, “Right this way. I saved the spot you wanted.” She led them to a corner table where they could get a view of the others in the crowded interior and gave them each a menu before she left.
Livy took a moment to glance around. It amused her to see adults wearing plastic bibs with a red lobster pictured on them. But they were needed if those people liked to dig into crabs the way she did. The room was filled with conversations as people enjoyed the casual atmosphere. Brown paper covering the tables along with the roll of paper towels atop each table contributed to the informality of The Crab Shack.
“I know I’m going to order the crab special. I get it every time. How about you, Livy?” said Austin. “Should we order beer, or would you rather have a cocktail or wine to begin?”
“Beer sounds perfect with the crab. I love a good IPA,” she said, putting down her menu. “Like you, I’m getting the crab special.”
He smiled at her, bringing out that devilish dimple of his. “You sure make it easy.” He signaled the waitress, and they placed their orders. After their pitcher of beer came, he filled two chilled mugs and then lifted his mug in a toast. “Here’s to a pleasant evening.”
Smiling, Livy clinked her mug against his. “Thanks.”
They each took a sip of beer and then Austin set his down. “I meant what I said this morning. I’ll never forget your offer to sit in the front of the church facing me so I could focus on a friendly face while I spoke about my mother. It meant a lot to me.”
“I was happy to do that for you,” Livy said sincerely. “How are you doing with the aftermath of her death?”
Austin shrugged. “So-so. I’m talking to Shane’s psychologist about the toxic relationship I had with my mother, and I’m trying to keep busy. As you know, I’ve been staying in Miami a lot, seeing old friends.”
