Page 39 of A Room By the Sea

“You’re right, but I’m sure some people see our relationship as an advantage for you,” he said. “They probably think I am biased toward you.” He stroked her hair back from her forehead, and she felt almost grateful that the article had been written because it had led her and Evan into such a tender moment. “And the truth is, I am most of the time. But when I’m involved in contests, I’m careful not to let my personal feelings cloud my judgment. I commend people and things based on how well they score on a rubric of pre-established guidelines. I’m going to do the same for this contest.”

Audrey couldn’t help chuckling to hear him speak so formally and earnestly. If there was anyone in the world who could put aside their personal feelings and judge fairly, it was her extremely conscientious boyfriend.

“I know you will, but other people can’t know that, at least not really,” Audrey said, sighing. “I can understand why people who don’t know us might think that you’re going to show favoritism, but—” She shook her head, pressing her lips together. “I just don’t understand how people in Coral Sands would think that you would do that. Or that Mom and Michelle and I would let you.” She felt her heart sink, and she wondered if the excitement of the competition had been permanently tainted for her. She didn’t want anyone to think that Evan was going to judge the contest using bias.

And what if we win? she thought. Up until this moment, I really, really wanted to. But now if we win, people will say that it’s because Evan turned things in our favor and it wasn’t a fair judgment. I don’t want those kind of rumors circulating about the hotel. So I don’t want to win. And what’s the point of being in a competition if you don’t want to win it?

“Do you think we should withdraw from the contest?” she asked, sitting up so she could look Evan in the eye.

Evan shook his head, smiling reassuringly at her. “I don’t think that will be necessary,” he told her. “Things like this tend to be forgotten soon enough. Unless—” He paused and frowned slightly.

“What?” she prompted, trying not to be upset by the whole thing but feeling her stomach slosh with disappointment anyway.

“I just hope these rumors won’t become worse,” he said, shaking his head. “I mean, I have helped you out a lot. Most of it I did long before I even thought about suggesting that you enter the contest, but people might speculate that things happened differently.”

Audrey sighed, feeling unsettled by the whole situation. Evan clearly sensed her discomfort and smiled warmly at her.

“Come on,” he said, standing up and tugging her to her feet. “Let’s go finish planting those flowers in the window boxes. Looks like a fun project.”

She smiled back at him, feeling excited about him helping her. When she was halfway down the porch steps, however, she paused.

“Oh no,” she said, as she was struck with a thought. “What if people see you helping me with the flowers, and they think you’re being unfair about the contest again?”

He shook his head firmly, his expression grave. “If I see any paparazzi, I’ll run.” His expression changed suddenly to an impish one, and he picked up a trowel that was lying on the lawn and ran around the side of the house with it.

Audrey laughed until her side hurt—and by that time, Evan had returned, perspiring slightly around the temples and also laughing.

I never would have thought, when I’d first met him and he was being so fussy, that we would have a day like this together, she thought. Whatever happens with the contest, in the long run, it doesn’t matter. Evan’s my guy, and I’ve got The Birchwood House, and my wonderful mother and daughter.

“You ready?” he asked her, holding up a pot of geraniums.

“Absolutely,” she said, and they shared an enthusiastic kiss.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Michelle tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she walked. It was a beautiful day, but unusually windy, and the breeze off the ocean seemed to be determined to get her hair in her eyes.

She’d been feeling strangely restless and moody ever since the conversation that she’d had in the garage with Theo. She kept telling herself it didn’t matter, and that how he behaved wasn’t any of her concern. No matter what she said to herself, however, a tight feeling in the pit of her stomach remained. She wished she’d handled the situation differently, and that she knew why Theo had said the things he had.

She’d decided to go for a walk that morning, hoping that some fresh air and sunshine would be enough to take her mind off the matter and that being outdoors would lift her spirits. She’d soon realized, however, that with nothing to occupy her mind, her thoughts returned to the situation with Theo with a vengeance.

I need something else to distract me, she thought, after she’d caught herself slowing down for the seventh time and staring into space, thinking of the way Theo had shrugged while sitting on the floor of the garage, avoiding eye contact with her. She felt frustrated and confused by the whole thing, and she didn’t know how to stop thinking about it.

She kept walking along the sidewalk, considering stopping at Townsend’s for a pastry or the library for a good, engaging book. A moment later, however, she caught sight of the animal shelter and grinned.

That will be just the thing, she thought. Nothing like some fur therapy to totally occupy my mind and make me feel better.

She scampered up to the front door of the shelter and pushed it open. She found Harper sitting in her office, scribbling down notes in a pink notebook.

“Hey!” Harper looked up and greeted her with a grin. “Welcome back.”

“Thanks.” Michelle smiled at her, glad that Harper was always happy about her visiting, instead of finding it an inconvenience. “I need some cat and dog therapy. Can I pet some of the babies for a while?”

“Please do.” Harper set down her pen. “We just got in a couple of new dogs. They’re total sweethearts, but we haven’t put them out into the main room yet. They’re basically teenagers, based on their ages in dog years. A couple of St. Bernards—big and fluffy.”

“Oh yay!” Michelle clapped her hands together. “One of my friends in grade school had a St. Bernard. I love them.”

“Good. These boys need some love—right now they seem stressed out. They came to us from an owner who had to move overseas for their job, and I think the dogs are having separation anxiety.”