Page 12 of A Room By the Sea

Audrey’s heart sank. “I’m sorry. But feelings change—don’t give up yet. Maybe he’ll come around and realize what a fool he’s being to not treasure you.”

Penelope’s eyes filled with tears. “I’ve been trying to be hopeful, but—” She offered Audrey a small smile. “I have a feeling that my marriage is on the verge of falling apart completely.”

“Don’t say that. You don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Penelope chuckled. “I appreciate your optimism, Audrey. It’s like the counterbalance to Harper’s pessimism. And it makes sense that you’re feeling optimistic about men right now, considering you’re in a happy place with Evan.”

“Hey, that’s not really fair.” Audrey felt a little defensive. “I’m still recovering from heartbreak, remember? My husband left with another woman and let me think he was dead for days. He didn’t bother to call or even leave a note. Trust me, something like that could make anyone cynical about men. I’m just choosing to believe that all men are capable of change. I believe all people are capable of becoming better.”

“Just because they’re capable of becoming better doesn’t mean they will.” Penelope looked up at the sky, frowning at the seagull that was still circling listlessly overhead. “I appreciate you trying to be optimistic, but I feel like the way your own marriage fell apart should show you that mine is headed in the same direction. You can’t save a ship that’s got too many holes.”

Audrey’s mouth popped open, and she wanted to assure Penelope that ships could in fact be repaired with the right resources, effort, and strategy, but she could sense that her friend wasn’t open to hearing a statement that hopeful at the moment.

“I should go.” Penelope stood up. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier, Audrey. Thanks for talking.” She picked up her bag and hurried away.

Audrey watched Penelope go, her heart aching. She wished she’d known what to say, but she reminded herself that there might not have been anything she could have said to make Penelope feel better.

She glanced down at the bench and saw that Penelope had left the caramel popcorn container behind. Sighing, she popped a few kernels into her mouth and closed the lid of the jar. She munched the popcorn, feeling comforted by the taste and hoping things turned out okay for her friend.

I know staying optimistic feels impossible sometimes, but there’s never a good reason to despair, she thought. I think there’s hope for Penelope and her marriage yet—but whatever happens, she’s going to need me and Harper at her side.

Audrey smiled, feeling her heart twist as she thought about how much she’d needed Michelle when her marriage was falling apart. Life got tough, but friends and family made everything bearable. She hoped that Penelope would continue to confide in her and Harper, and that they’d be able to help her through her difficult time.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Shep adjusted his reading glasses on his nose and peered down at the account book in front of him. He jotted down a note with his pencil, grunting a little. He enjoyed going over the account books, but it was a task that required a great deal of concentration and he tended to grunt a lot when he was concentrating.

Normally, he didn’t stay at the bakery that late in the afternoon. Once it reached one or two p.m. he typically handed the running of the bakery over to Iris and went home. On days when he did the accounting, however, he stayed later, sitting at a little makeshift desk that he’d set up in a corner of the counter in the kitchen. As soon as he’d finished with the accounting, he intended to sneak out the back door and head home.

“Hey, Shep?” Iris opened the door that led from the kitchen into the front of the shop. “I need to step out for a minute. My baby is all done at Whiskers and Wags and I have to go pick her up and bring her home. We live right by there so I won’t be long at all—back in a second.”

Shep’s brow furrowed. He always disliked it when people used phrases like “in a second” when what they actually meant was twenty minutes or more. Still, he knew that Iris meant well and was simply trying to communicate the fact that she would be back soon. The second thing that had confused him for a moment was the phrase “my baby,” but he realized an instant later that Iris was referring to her beloved poodle, who must have been getting groomed at Whiskers and Wags, Coral Sands’ pet shop, which also offered dog grooming.

“Okay.” Shep sighed internally as he realized that Iris was asking him to man the front of the shop while she was gone. His personal inclination would have been to just put a “Be Back Soon” sign in the window and not fuss about it—but he had to admit to himself that was bad business. After all, he was there, and he was perfectly capable of greeting customers, even though it was far from his favorite thing to do.

It should be uneventful, he thought, glancing at the clock. This is a slow time for the shop. Maybe no one will come in at all.

“Thanks, boss.” Iris grinned. “Be back in a jiffy.”

Shep nodded, standing up. He would have to finish the accounting later. He trudged into the front of the shop, sniffing the air and smiling slightly as he noticed how pleasant it smelled. In addition to the sweet aroma of the cookies and the doughnuts, Iris seemed to have added the scent of vanilla to the air. He glanced around and saw that she had one of those fancy little scent plug-ins inserted in an outlet behind the counter. He grunted. He was glad Iris took charge of making the bakery more homey. It was the sort of thing his wife used to do, and he was glad it was getting done. He himself didn’t have the talent for cheery little details like that.

Women tend to be better at those things, he thought. Some women anyway. And some men aren’t good at them, like me. I guess I’m the kind of man that really ought to have a wife.

His heart ached for a second, and he stared down into the bakery display case without really seeing anything inside it. He missed his wife. They’d had good years together before she’d passed away. He didn’t often acknowledge how lonely he was, but there were moments when a longing for a partner overwhelmed him.

There’s no point in feeling this way, he thought, shaking his head. I’m going to be a bachelor for the rest of my life, and I’m okay with that.

At that moment, the shop bell jingled. Shep looked up, his heart jumping up as he was startled from his reverie and then sinking as he realized that he had a customer.

For a moment, he couldn’t see the customer, since they were blocked from his view by a floral arrangement that Iris had set up on the end of the display case. A second later, however, they came into view.

“Elaine!” he exclaimed.

Elaine Sutton might have been the one person in town Shep never minded running into. Despite the fact that she herself always seemed to be buoyant with kind, positive energy, she never acted offended by his gruffness or his terse replies. Her bright blue eyes shone with kindness as she stepped up to the counter, and he noticed that she’d pinned her silver curls back with two gold hairclips, which he thought looked very nice on her.

“Hi, Shep.” She smiled at him. Her smile always had a way of making other people feel at ease. “I haven’t seen you in a long time. I feel like you never show your face, even in your own shop.” She dropped her voice conspiratorially and then winked.

Shep felt embarrassed by the bluntness of her comment. “I have to stay in the kitchen most of the time,” he replied in a tone that was more gruff than he’d intended. “Otherwise the pastry shelves wouldn’t be stocked, now would they?”