Sweet Memories, page 14
They both nodded. “Yes please.”
Rilla set two cups of coffee down on the table, along with a cutting board. She picked up a paring knife and with the flip of her wrist, sliced off the top of a strawberry, neatly cutting it into even portions.
Angel sipped her coffee, trying to come up with something to say to her aunt.
Rilla broke the silence first. “I knew your mom had gone to Los Angeles. She sent me a postcard when she first got down there, letting me know you were both okay.”
Angel stared at her. “So why didn’t you contact us?”
Her aunt studied the strawberry she held in one hand. “I didn’t want to cross my father and I was only in middle school. I had no way of getting down there to see the two of you. After I graduated from high school, I attended college in California, hoping to see her. But when I located the return address from the postcard, you’d already moved.”
“We moved a lot when I was a little kid.” Angel rubbed her finger along the handle of the ceramic mug. “Until my mother met my stepfather, we didn’t have much money.”
Rilla covered Angel’s hand with hers. “It must have been very difficult for her, being a single mother of a young child.” She shook her head. “I can’t even imagine.”
Tears formed in the corners of Angel’s eyes. “She was a wonderful mother.”
Rilla looked down at her lap. “I miss my big sister. I wish I’d stood up to my father. I know Mom does too.”
Angel stood and leaned over to hug her aunt. “I’m sure my mother understood.”
From the doorway, one of her cousins cleared her throat. “Is it time for lunch yet? We’re starving.”
Rilla glanced at the timer. “Just about. Why don’t you girls get washed up and set the table.”
“Oh, I can do that,” Angel said.
“No, no.” Rilla gestured to the table. “You’re our guest. You don’t need to help.”
“I’m not a guest.” Angel grinned as she pulled plates down from a cabinet with glass doors. “I’m family.”
Rilla bit her lower lip and her eyes were misty. “Yes. You are.”
During lunch, Angel kept taking surreptitious glances around the table. Family. She had a family again. Coming to Candle Beach had been a leap of faith, but it had paid off.
After eating, they chatted for a while in the living room until Rilla realized she was late for a church commitment.
“I’m so sorry, Angel. I’d love to stay here with you all day. It’s been almost like having my sister here with me again.”
“I know the feeling.” Being around her aunt had helped fill the void that her mother’s death had left. If only her mother had been able to see her mother and sister again and meet her nieces. She would have loved the woman her little sister had become. “I’ll call you later, okay? Maybe we can get together for dinner later this week.”
“I’d like that.” Rilla put her coat on and they walked to the door together. “And Angel? Thank you for giving us a chance.” She turned to Adam. “It was wonderful to meet you too.”
He nodded. “Thank you for lunch. I’m happy Angel had the opportunity to meet you.”
“I’m so glad I found you. Bye, Aunt Rilla.” Angel hugged her aunt again, then waved goodbye and she and Adam walked down the street to her car.
The next day, Angel burst into the newspaper office. Adam glanced up in surprise.
“I thought you had to work.”
“I did. I mean, I am working.” She sighed. “Maggie said it was okay for me to come down here for a few minutes.”
A slow smile spread over his face. “Well, I’m glad you did.” He got up and kissed her gently. “Are you able to stay for lunch? We could grab Chinese takeout.”
She shook her head. “I can’t. I only came down here because I wanted to tell you that according to Maggie, John Nichols comes in for an afternoon coffee break almost every afternoon around two.”
“Good for him. He’s a busy man and he deserves to take some time off to relax.” Adam cocked his head to the side. “But why are you telling me this?”
She sighed in exasperation. “Because, he’s there alone every afternoon. If you just happened to be there at the same time…”
“Maybe he’d be willing to talk with me about his deal with the timber company,” Adam finished. He gave her a giant bear hug. “Angel, you’re a genius.”
She flushed. “I don’t know about that, but I figured you could probably charm your way into a meeting with him. After all, you do share a love of coffee and sweets.”
He grinned. Angel knew him well. “Thank you.” He cast a frenzied glance around the office. “I’ve got so much to do if I’m going to talk with him today.”
She laughed. “I’ve got to get back to work.” She turned to leave, calling over her shoulder, “good luck!”
Chapter 21 and Author’s Note
Angel peered anxiously at Adam as they drove to his parents’ house. “Are you sure your mother will like me?”
He smiled. “You wondered the same thing about your aunt and she adores you. Don’t worry. Mom and Dad are going to love you.”
“I hope so.” She’d never been in a serious enough relationship before to meet her boyfriend’s parents, so this was all new to her. And for her first time meeting them to be at a Sunday family dinner—well, that just wasn’t fair. “Maybe we could do this a different day.”
He reached across the center console and covered her hands with his right hand. “It will be fine, stop worrying so much.”
She sat back in the passenger seat. He drove down a street not too far away from where her Aunt Rilla lived and parallel parked outside a green rambler.
“This is it.” He came around to her side and opened the door. “They don’t bite.”
She took his hand and he led her up the cement walkway.
A woman came to the door before they’d even had a chance to ring the doorbell.
“You must be Angel!” She enveloped Angel in a big hug.
Angel’s limbs felt like they were made of wood, hanging awkwardly down by her sides. The woman, who had hair the same carrot-red as Adam’s, didn’t seem to notice.
“I’m Sally,” she said after she released Angel. “Adam’s mother. “Come in, come in. Everyone’s here—well, except Sarah.” She motioned for them to follow her down the hall. A child’s shriek echoed down the hallway. “They’re all excited to meet you,” she called over her shoulder.
Angel exchanged a glance with Adam and he shrugged.
“You’re the first girl I’ve ever brought home.” He flashed her a grin, holding her hand as they walked down the hallway.
She took a deep breath and tried to focus on him and how much he meant to her. Meeting his family was big. No pressure, Angel.
In the living room, a woman and man in their thirties sat next to each other on the couch. Two small children ran around the room, the little girl chasing the older boy. An older man rose from his chair and held out his hand to Angel.
“I’m Del, Adam’s father. It’s good to meet you.” He leaned in closer and whispered, “And don’t let us intimidate you. Sally will probably be full of questions.”
Angel nodded. “Thanks,” she whispered back.
After Adam introduced her to Jenny and Rick and the kids, his mother announced dinner was ready.
“Are we waiting for Sarah?” Jenny asked, glancing out the living room window.
“No, she said she’d be a little late and to start without us.” Sally came out of the kitchen holding a large roasted chicken in a pan. She set it down on a trivet on the table and removed the potholders from her hands. “Sit, everyone, sit.” She exited to the kitchen to get the rest of the food. As soon as his mother was out of the room, Adam disobeyed her and went into the kitchen to help her carry out the food.
Angel sat near one end of the table, next to where Adam had been sitting. After everyone was seated and ready to eat, a woman in her late twenties came in.
“Sorry I’m late, everyone.” She noticed Angel and introduced herself as she slid into the empty chair. “You must be Angel. I’m Sarah.”
“Nice to meet you, Sarah.”
Angel looked down at her full plate. Around her everyone was chattering about things that had happened during the week. For someone unused to big families, it was a little overwhelming.
“Are you okay?” Adam asked, nudging her with his shoulder.
“Yes.” She smiled weakly. “Just getting used to everyone.” She lifted her head to look at everyone. Across the table, Sarah grinned at her, and Angel could instantly tell that they’d be friends.
“So, Angel. Adam tells me you’re from California. Have you been in Candle Beach for long?” Sally asked.
“Oh, about two months.” She ate a bite of chicken.
“Have you and Adam been dating long?” Sally leaned forward to hear her answer. “Adam doesn’t tell us much about his personal life.”
“We’ve been together about a month.”
“A month?” Sally stared accusingly at her son.
“Yes, Mom.” Adam wiped his mouth. “I didn’t want to scare her off earlier by telling her all about you guys.”
“Hey.” Sarah smiled at Angel again. “Let’s give them a break. Adam brought her to dinner to meet you now.”
“Thanks, Sarah,” Adam said.
Del cleared his throat. “Adam, how is your story on the logging industry going? Your mother said you’d made some progress lately.”
Adam smiled at Angel. “Yes, thanks to Angel, I was able to secure an interview with John Nichols about his plans to sell the timber rights for some of his acreage. The article will be out in next week’s edition of the Candle Beach Weekly.”
“That’s wonderful,” Jenny said. “I’m looking forward to reading it.”
They all started chattering again, and this time Angel did her best to follow the conversation, which ranged from school to work to the logging industry’s effects on the town. It amazed her how much they all knew about each other’s lives. No wonder they were upset that Adam had kept her a secret. It was hard to imagine living in a family like this where everyone shared things. Would she ever have that with her grandmother and aunt?
She’d enjoyed getting to know Rilla and her cousins. Eventually, she hoped to have a real relationship with all of her family in Candle Beach. For now, she wasn’t going to push it. She looked over at Adam. She planned to stay in Candle Beach for the foreseeable future, and there would be time to get to know the members of her mother’s family.
After they finished eating, Sally invited everyone to stay for a game of Pictionary. Adam demurred, saying Angel needed to get home. Angel was about to protest that she didn’t have to work the next day, but then thought better of it. As great as his family was, she wasn’t used to being around so many people at once and she needed some down time.
Outside the house, Adam squeezed her hand. “See, I told you they’d love you.”
“I really liked them too. Your sisters are great.”
He made a face. “Yeah, most of the time.”
She laughed. Seeing the gentle jesting between him and his sisters had made her wish even more than before that she’d had a sibling.
He looked into her eyes. “Do you want to grab Otis and go for a walk on the beach?”
“Yes,” she said. “That sounds perfect.” Somehow, he’d known exactly what she needed—a quiet walk on the beach.
They drove back to his apartment and parked. Otis heard them coming up the stairs in the newspaper office and barked a few times.
“Yeah, yeah. We’re here to spring you,” Adam said as he ruffled the dog’s fur and attached his leash.
When they got to the beach, there were a few people out for a post-dinner stroll. They held hands, walking together on the sand with Otis running out in front of them.
“This is nice. A perfect way to spend a Sunday evening.” She gazed out at the ocean. The sun was a ball of fire, slipping behind the horizon and leaving a trail of oranges and pinks behind it.
“You mean you didn’t like dinner at my parents’ house?” Adam asked.
Her eyes widened. “No, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that…”
“They can be a bit much.” He finished her sentence. “I often feel the same way. But they’re my family and I wouldn’t change them for anything.”
“I’m sure I’ll get used to them.”
“You’d better,” he teased. “I plan for you to be at many more Sunday dinners in the future.”
“I’d like that.” She turned and put her hands on his chest, looking into his eyes. “Thank you again for finding my family. It means a lot to me.”
He kissed the top of her head. “Me too. I want Candle Beach to feel like home to you.”
She moved her hands up to his neck and kissed his lips. “It already does, because you’re here.”
His eyes met hers. “I never thought I’d say this to anyone so soon, but it feels like I’ve known you forever. Angel Bennett, I love you.”
“I love you too,” she said softly.
He smiled and pulled her snugly against him. She closed her eyes and rested her head on his chest, feeling safe and loved. Family, friends, and a new love. Candle Beach was home.
Author’s Note
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Thank you for reading SWEET MEMORIES. I truly appreciate all of my readers! If you enjoyed the book, please consider leaving a review.
Continue your visit to Candle Beach with the next book in the series, SWEET HISTORY.
A whimsical gift shop, a BBQ food truck, and their feuding owners.
Charlotte Gray grew up spoiled and privileged but gave it up to make her own way in the world. Years later, she’s fought to get where she is, the owner of a gift shop located in a vintage Airstream trailer in scenic Candle Beach. Everything is perfect until she finds a smelly BBQ food truck parked next to her gift shop one afternoon. The minute she sees it, she knows it’s got to go or her business will be down the tubes.
Luke Tisdale was raised by hard-working grandparents in nearby Haven Shores. After attending college on a scholarship and joining the tech world, his company went public and he became a multi-millionaire overnight. Unfortunately, now he doesn’t know whether people like him or his money more. Buying a food truck and moving to Candle Beach seemed like the perfect plan to start over where no one knows about his wealth. What he didn’t expect was to find his best friend Parker’s spoiled little sister standing on the steps of his food truck demanding that he leave.
How can Luke and Charlotte forget old history to broker a truce and find a friendship or more?
<<<<>>>>
* * *
Candle Beach novels
Sweet Beginnings (Book 1)
Sweet Success (Book 2)
Sweet Promises (Book 3)
Sweet Memories (Book 4)
Sweet History (Book 5)
Sweet Matchmaking (Book 6)
Sweet Surprises (Book 7)
Sweet Sacrifices (Book 8)
* * *
Also by Nicole Ellis
* * *
Jill Andrews Cozy Mysteries
Brownie Points for Murder (Book 1)
Death to the Highest Bidder (Book 2)
A Deadly Pair O’Docks (Book 3)
Stuck with S’More Death (Book 4)
Murderous Mummy Wars (Book 5)
A Killer Christmas Party (Book 6)
Acknowledgments
Cover Design: Elizabeth Mackey Graphic Design
Nicole Ellis, Sweet Memories
