When life gets complicated, New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods proves family’and love’can make all the difference

Facing a personal crisis, ambitious and driven Gabriella Castle retreats to the welcoming arms of her family. Everything she’s worked for has been yanked out from under her, and she seeks the serenity of her grandmother’s home on the North Carolina coast. With difficult decisions to make about her future, the last thing she wants is an unexpected love.

Wade Johnson fell for Gabi the first time he saw her. It’s not the only time he’s found himself in the role of knight in shining armor, but Gabi isn’t looking for a rescuer. To get her to stay, Wade will need a whole lot of patience and gentle persuasion…and maybe the soothing sound of wind chimes on a summer breeze.

www.SherrylWoods.com

Praise for the novels of

New York Times and USA TODAY

bestselling author Sherryl Woods

“Woods always thrills with her wonderful characters,

witty dialogue and warm and loving family interactions.”

’RT Book Reviews

“Woods…is noted for appealing character-driven stories that are often infused with the flavor

and fragrance of the South.”

’Library Journal

“Woods really knows what readers have come to expect

from her stories, and she always gives them what they want. Here, she pens another great love story populated with funny, witty and charming characters, written with great care.”

’RT Book Reviews on Where Azaleas Bloom

“Woods knows how to paint a vivid picture that

encourages the reader to feel the emotions of her characters…everyone will be able to relate to this book.”

’RT Book Reviews on Catching Fireflies

“Infused with the warmth and magic of the season, Woods’s fourth addition to her popular small-town series once again unites the unruly, outspoken, endearing O’Brien clan in a touching, triumphant tale of forgiveness and love reclaimed.”

’Library Journal on A Chesapeake Shores Christmas

“Warm, complex and satisfying.”

’Library Journal on Harbor Lights

“Launching the Chesapeake Shores series,

Woods creates an engrossing…family drama.”

’Publishers Weekly on The Inn at Eagle Point

“Woods’s readers will eagerly anticipate her

trademark small-town setting, loyal friendships and

honorable mentors as they meet new characters and reconnect with familiar ones in this heartwarming tale.”

’Booklist on Home in Carolina

Wind Chime Point

New York Times Bestselling Author

Sherryl Woods

www.mirabooks.co.uk

Dear Friends,

Welcome back to Sand Castle Bay! I hope you’re enjoying getting to know the whole Castle family and the men in their lives.

I’m sure many of you will be able to relate to Gabriella’s story’not because you’ve discovered you’re pregnant, have been fired and dumped all in the period of a few days, but because you’ve simply been through one of those times when life just seems to hit a downward spiral. Sometimes it’s not even the major crises that slam us all at once, but the steady drip, drip, drip of petty annoyances that start adding up to overwhelm us.

For Gabi, of course, it’s that huge trifecta of major life changes that sends her back to Sand Castle Bay and the loving arms of her family. And with so much on her plate, it’s little wonder that sexy, attentive Wade Johnson seems almost too good to be true. But Wade truly is one of the good guys. Not perfect, by any means, but caring, generous and steady as a rock.

I hope you’ll enjoy this latest installment in the Ocean Breeze series and will be anxious to return next month for Sea Glass Island to see if the sisters’ grandmother has found the perfect guy for Samantha. Come on! We’re talking about Cora Jane. Of course she has.

All best,

Sherryl Woods

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Excerpt

1

Unemployed and pregnant! Those were two words Gabriella Castle had never envisioned applying to her, at least not in combination. Now, in a twist of fate she couldn’t possibly have anticipated, she was out of work and, just as shocking, expecting a baby. So much for years of fast-track career dedication and workaholic tendencies!

Sitting in the middle of her comfortably furnished living room in Raleigh, North Carolina, Gabi stared at a painting that had cost more than some people made in a year. Her sister Emily had talked her into it when she’d stayed overnight a few weeks ago. She’d seen it in some fancy auction catalog’Sotheby’s or someplace like it’and insisted it would be just the thing to pull all the colors in Gabi’s haphazardly decorated living room together.

“Besides that, it’s a great investment,” Emily had said enthusiastically. “In a few years, it will probably triple in value.”

Gabi wondered if she could simply get her money back now. She was probably going to need it.

In the meantime, she couldn’t help wondering if her sister could come up with a painting’or a magical formula’that would pull her life together.

Even though it had been three days since she’d walked into her boss’s office expecting to be commended on her latest public-relations campaign for their biomedical company, only to leave the room with a severance package, she still couldn’t quite believe what had happened. She’d been working since she was eighteen, climbing the corporate ladder since she’d turned twenty-one.

Driven by ambition and the determination to prove something to her father, she’d worked out a career plan even as she’d scheduled her college classes, taking a succession of internships and summer jobs to gain the experience that would land her a top-notch job after graduation. She’d hoped that job would be with her dad, but Sam Castle had turned her down flat.

Once hired by a competing company and more driven than ever, she’d made a meteoric rise to become the company’s top public-relations executive by the time she was twenty-eight. Everyone had assumed there would be a vice presidency in her future. She’d certainly earned it.

Unfortunately, it seemed that particular career path didn’t blend with being an unmarried mother, not in certain circles, anyway.

Not that her boss had dared to fire her. No, Amanda Warren had just made it impossible for her to stay. She’d outlined a plan that would keep Gabi well hidden from the judgmental world for the duration of the pregnancy. Beyond that, well, the handwriting had been on the wall. Her days of being a high-profile spokeswoman for the company were over.

She could have stayed and fought, but still reeling from the news that she was pregnant, she hadn’t had the energy for a legal battle. She’d opted instead to negotiate a buyout that would give her a smidgen of dignity, a decent severance package and time to consider her options for the future.

A future that included a baby! That was, of course, the real kicker’the unexpected news that had first left her stunned and shaken and launched this downward spiral.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t understood that no method of protection was a hundred percent foolproof, but she’d thought birth control pills and condoms together were reasonably effective. Her boyfriend of five years, Paul Langley, had thought so, too. In fact, he’d been so certain of it, his first reaction had been to suggest that the baby couldn’t possibly be his.

Then, once convinced of the truth, he’d said she was on her own, that a baby wasn’t part of their deal. She hadn’t even been aware that their relationship was a “deal” only as long as it was convenient for him.

As she was pondering just how wildly out of control her life suddenly was, her phone rang. According to the caller ID, it was her older sister, Samantha. Knowing Sam would just keep calling until Gabi picked up, she answered, trying to inject an upbeat note into her voice.

“When you didn’t answer your cell phone, I called your office and was told you no longer work there,” Samantha said, sounding suitably stunned. “What’s going on?”

Gabi sighed. So much for any chance of keeping her professional catastrophe a secret from her family, at least for a while longer. “I quit,” she explained to her sister. “Or was forced out, depending on your point of view.”

“But why?” Samantha inquired, her tone indignant. “Not because you took some time off to go help Grandmother after the hurricane, I hope.”

“No, of course not. They understood about that, and I had a ton of vacation time coming to me. They owed me that time off. If that had been an issue, they’d have let me go months ago.”

“Then why?” Sam asked, sounding gratifyingly bewildered. “You gave that company a national presence. What’s wrong with those ungrateful wretches?”

Gabi smiled at the fierce defense. “Actually, it was the work that gave them a national reputation. I just spread the word.”

“There you go, being all humble, but we both know the truth.” Samantha hesitated, then asked, “What are you going to do now, Gabi? Have you decided? I know how important that job was to you. It was your life.”

“And how pitiful is that?” Gabi said, seeing clearly for the first time what a mistake it had been to focus almost exclusively on work. Her relationship with Paul had definitely taken a backseat, something that had suited them both. Unfortunately, given his attitude over recent developments, she doubted that even full-time devotion would have changed anything.

“You’ll do things differently next time,” Samantha soothed. “Now you know that no corporation is worth expending all that time and energy on, not when they can treat you like this. Have you started looking yet?”

“I’m still trying to wrap my mind around what’s happened,” Gabi admitted, which was putting it mildly. “With the severance package they gave me, I have some time.”

“Well, you know some other company will scoop you right up. Call Dad. He has a million contacts in that whole biomedical research world down there. Maybe he’ll even rethink his previous stance about not hiring family and hire you himself.”

“Not now,” Gabi said. Not only did she not want her father to know about the pregnancy just yet, she had a hunch it would pose a problem with other old-fashioned employers, as well. As for her dad, well, his reaction wasn’t something she was ready to contemplate.

“Why not now?” Samantha pressed. “This is one of those rare instances when Dad really could help. He’d even want to.”

“I’m not so sure,” Gabi said. Her father was as conservative as anyone. He was very conscious of the need in their field to make the right impression, to demonstrate a seriousness of purpose, no mistakes allowed, personal or professional. He’d been equally rigid with his family. She had a feeling he’d side with her boss and, if that was the case, she didn’t want to know it until she had her feet back under her and a plan in place.

“Is there something you’re not telling me?” Samantha asked suspiciously. “I know you. It’s not like you to let any grass grow under your feet. I’m surprised you didn’t have another job lined up by the end of the day.”

“Haven’t you heard? These are tough times.”

“And you’re very good at what you do and have the perfect mentor in Dad. Of all of us, you’re the closest to him. Why don’t you want to ask for his help?”

Since it was clear Samantha wasn’t going to let this go, Gabi sucked in a deep breath, then blurted, “Because I’m going to have a baby, that’s why.” She nearly choked on the sob that came with the words.

Dead silence greeted the announcement, before Samantha finally said softly, “Holy saints in heaven! A baby, Gabi? Are you sure?”

“Do you think I’d have mentioned it to my boss if I hadn’t been sure?” Gabi said dryly.

“And that’s why they let you go?” Samantha asked, clearly shocked. “Isn’t that illegal?”

“Technically they didn’t let me go. They demoted me, so I negotiated a buyout. A win-win for everyone, according to Amanda. Who knew she was a better spin master than I ever dreamed of being?” Gabi said, unable to keep a bitter note out of her voice.

“Okay, let’s forget the job for the moment. It doesn’t matter,” Samantha said. “The baby’s Paul’s.”

Gabi was grateful that there’d been no question mark at the end of her sister’s statement. “Of course.”

“How’d he take it?”

“As if I’d committed a felony. Needless to say, he’s no longer in the picture.”

“The rat,” Samantha said with feeling. “I never did like him.”

Despite the tense atmosphere, Gabi smiled. “You never even met him.”

“And that’s precisely why I didn’t like him. What kind of man doesn’t want to meet his girlfriend’s family? He never even showed his face when we were helping Grandmother after the hurricane.”

“And what a blessing that probably was. Give him a hammer and he’d probably do more harm than good.”

“Not what you need in a man,” Samantha declared. “Now Wade Johnson? He’s the kind of man to have around in a crisis.”

Gabi stiffened at the out-of-the-blue mention of the man who’d been underfoot nonstop while they were making repairs to the family restaurant, Castle’s by the Sea, after the hurricane. “Why would you bring him up?”

“Because he was around after the storm, just like Boone. And I saw the way Wade looked at you, as if he’d never seen anyone so perfect in his entire life.”

“You’re crazy.”

“Let me remind you that I said the same thing to our sister about Boone, and look at the two of them now. In a few months Emily and Boone will be married, assuming he can convince her to finally set a date. I’m good at this stuff, Gabi. I recognize heat between men and women, even when they’re both in denial.”

“Well, you’re wrong this time. Besides, don’t you think the timing is just a little off for me to be thinking about a relationship? I’m going to be having another man’s baby in a few months.”

Samantha sucked in a deep breath at the reminder. “Are you at least happy about that?” she asked hesitantly. “A baby, Gabi! That is so incredible.”

Gabi rested a hand on her belly, felt the faint stirring there. The first time she’d felt that tiny life inside her, she’d fallen in love. Being pregnant might be inconvenient. It might not have been the result of a love match. It might have cost her a job, but she already loved this baby more than anything. She’d do whatever it took to protect it and make sure it had everything it deserved...including two parents who would treasure this priceless gift when the time came.

“I’m thinking about adoption,” she admitted to Samantha, deciding to test the idea she’d mentioned to no one else.

Her words were greeted by stunned silence.

“Samantha? You still there?”

“You’d give up the baby?”

Gabi closed her eyes. “I think it’s the only way to make sure it has a good life. And, to be honest, I don’t want to be tied to Paul through this child. I don’t want to take a cent of support money from him. I don’t want anyone so selfish in this child’s life.”

“Oh, sweetie, forget Paul for the moment,” Samantha protested. “You can give this baby a good life. You can surround him or her with a whole family who’ll fall in love the instant he or she is born.”

“Babies shouldn’t start life with an out-of-work single mother,” Gabi said wearily.

“It’s not as if you’re going to be destitute. And you’ll find another job when the time comes,” Samantha insisted. “Plus, we’ll all help. Me, Emily, Grandmother, even Dad will be on board. His first grandchild? You know he’s going to be thrilled about this.”

“Is he really?” Gabi asked skeptically, sounding more like Emily than herself. Emily was the one who never gave their father credit for having deep feelings for any of them. Besides, Sam Castle had hardly noticed his own children unless they were in trouble. It seemed unlikely he’d be over the moon about a grandchild. The image of him sitting in a rocker cuddling a baby was so incongruous, it was laughable.

“Well, you don’t have to decide right this second,” Samantha said, backing off to give her breathing room. “We’ll talk about it when I see you.”

“When you see me?” Gabi asked suspiciously. “Since when are you planning a trip back down here?”

“I’m driving home tomorrow,” Samantha said, as if the trip had been scheduled for days, rather than minutes. “Meet me in Sand Castle Bay. You don’t have anything to keep you in Raleigh right now, so no arguments. You’ve already said you’re not looking for work just yet, so you might as well enjoy this unexpected time off. You need sunshine and sea breezes to put this in perspective. You know you do. You’ll see things much more clearly then.”

“I’m not sure I’m ready to lay this on Grandmother just yet.”

“Be there or Emily and I will come and drag you over there bodily, if we have to,” Samantha insisted, refusing to cut her any slack.

“Emily’s there now?” Gabi asked, surprised. “I thought she was working night and day at this new job in Los Angeles.”

“She also has a wedding to plan. And she’s still after Grandmother to do a little modernizing of the decor at Castle’s. She and Boone flew in a couple of days ago. She claims she wants our opinion on the wedding plans. That’s why I called in the first place, to let you know we’ve been called into action.”

Gabi laughed. “Since when does Emily listen to anything you or I have to say when it comes to her life?”

“She says there are incredible weddings on those soaps I’ve been on, and I should know a thing or two. And we’re both her sisters, and we’re to be in the wedding party. I’d suggest if you don’t want to wind up wearing a very unflattering shade of whatever color’s in fashion in Hollywood these days, you need to be there to speak up. Listen to me. I’m the oldest. I know best.”

Gabi laughed. “Since when? I’ve always been the sensible one. Everyone knows that.”

“If that were true, how’d you land in this mess?” Samantha taunted. “See you tomorrow, sweetie. And don’t worry. This is going to work out. I promise.”

Gabi hung up and sighed. Sand Castle Bay was the very last place she wanted to go right now, but Samantha was right about one thing. It was exactly where she belonged.

* * *

Wade was sitting in the middle of his sister’s living room floor with two kids under the age of three climbing all over him. Well, one was climbing. The other was cradled against his chest, drooling.

“Unca Wade?” Chelsea whispered, crawling into his lap and snuggling close.

“What’s up, kiddo?” he said, shifting baby Jason to give her more room.

“Me wants a kitty for my birthday,” the almost three-year-old announced.

He smiled, fully aware he was being manipulated. Once either of his nieces turned their big blue eyes on him, he pretty much gave them whatever they wanted. A kitty, though? Louise would have a fit. His sister had vowed there would be no pets in her household until every last one of her children were out of diapers’and preferably out of college, if he knew Lou.

“What does your mom say?” he asked the toddler, who’d rested her head against his chest with a deep sigh.

“No,” she admitted sorrowfully.

“Then I’m afraid that’s the way it has to be. Maybe when you’re older and can take care of a kitty all by yourself.”

“But I’m going to be three,” she reminded him.

“I think you need to be a little older than that,” Wade said. “Having a kitten is a lot of responsibility.”

He glanced up to see his sister towering over him, hands on hips.

“Good answer,” she said, then frowned at her daughter. “And you. Did we not talk about you going to your dad or your uncle to try to get something I’ve already said you can’t have?”

Chelsea gave her a winning smile that could normally charm anyone whose path she crossed. “But I want a kitty really, really bad.”

“And I said no really, really firmly,” Lou told her, though the corners of her mouth were twitching. “Now, go wash your hands before dinner. Daddy will be home any minute.”

Chelsea heaved another resigned sigh, then dutifully scampered off.

“That child is going to grow up to be a sneaky politician making backroom deals,” Lou predicted.

Wade chuckled. “Or a smart lawyer like her mama,” he suggested. “A weaker man would have brought her a kitten first thing tomorrow, but I know how she operates. I’ve also heard the no-pet rule about a thousand times with the older kids.”

Lou sank down on the edge of the sofa and for an instant he could see the exhaustion on her face. He frowned and scooted closer, then handed the baby over to his sister. He gave her a sideways glance as she instinctively rubbed her knuckles over Jason’s soft-as-silk cheek and seemed to relax.

“You okay, sis?”

“Just trying to juggle too many balls in the air. What was I thinking having all these kids and trying to have a career, too?”

“You were thinking what an incredible mom you’d be, what fabulous children you and Zack would have and that you’d always have backup from me.”

She managed a weary smile at that. “You are a godsend,” she agreed. “Having you here for a couple of hours when I first get home from the office really helps me to hang on to my sanity. The kids adore you and I have some breathing room to get civilized before Zack walks in the door. Believe me, my husband appreciates that.”

“Hanging out with your kids works for me, too,” Wade said quietly. “Especially now.”

Lou reached over and gave his shoulder a squeeze. “You’re so blasted cheerful and easygoing ninety-nine percent of the time, sometimes I forget that your life hasn’t exactly been a bed of roses the past couple of years.”

“Don’t go there,” he pleaded. “Talking about Kayla and the baby... I’m just not up for it.”

“It’s been two years,” Lou said quietly, ignoring his plea. “I know losing your wife and your baby tore you up, Wade, but you’ve never talked about it. Bottling up all that pain can’t be good.”

He gave her a wry look. “I come by it naturally. Johnsons don’t talk about their feelings. Isn’t that the lesson we learned from Dad? After Mom left, he never mentioned her again. We weren’t supposed to, either.”

“And we both know how that ate him alive,” Lou said. “I won’t let you follow in his footsteps. If you don’t want to talk to me, then talk to someone else.”

“A professional? Not likely.”

“Do you plan to hold on to the pain for the rest of your life, never go on another date, never marry and have children?” she demanded. “That would be a crying shame. You’re meant to be a dad, Wade. Ask any of my kids. They’ll give you testimonials. Well, except for Jason here, but I’m sure he’ll be on board as soon as he can talk.” She smiled at the baby, who’d wound his fist in a strand of her hair. “Won’t you, buddy?”

Wade smiled at that. Seven-month-old Jason had come as an unexpected blessing, though with two older brothers and two older sisters, his arrival had been the last straw for Louise, who’d sent her husband off for a vasectomy and had her own tubes tied for good measure.

“Save the pep talk, sis. My life’s okay these days. I’m not living like a monk.”

Lou’s expression immediately brightened. “Really? Do tell.”

What could he say? That he’d finally met a woman who’d caught his attention? That she hadn’t really given him the time of day? That she lived clear over in Raleigh and hadn’t been to Sand Castle Bay in weeks? That his only contact was through her meddling grandmother’s reports? Yeah, like that would reassure his sister.

“I’ll fill you in when there’s something to tell,” he said eventually. He stood. “Now, I think I’ll take off.”

Lou regarded him with surprise. “You’re not staying for dinner?”

“Not tonight. I’ve been working on a new carving. I’d like to get back to it.”

“And you can’t put that off for an hour to have some spaghetti with your family?” she inquired skeptically. “You’re not fooling me, Wade Johnson. You’re trying to get away from my prying.”

He smiled. “Then let that be a lesson to you,” he advised. “Stop prying.”

She stood and wrapped her arms around him. “Never. You’re my brother and I love you. It’s my job to worry about you and pester you and make sure you’re happy.”

“I’m happy enough,” he assured her. “Stop worrying.”

As he drove away, he spotted his brother-in-law pulling into the parking spot he’d just vacated and gave Zack a wave. Lucky son of a gun, he thought. He wondered if Zack knew what a blessing that family of his was and how much Wade envied him.

But despite this attraction he’d felt toward Gabriella Castle, he wondered if he’d ever have the courage to risk the kind of pain he’d been through with his first marriage. Could a man even survive that kind of loss more than once in his life?

* * *

Since it was midday when Gabi arrived on the coast, she drove straight to Castle’s by the Sea. She knew that’s where she’d find her grandmother and, more than likely, Emily, who bit by bit was transforming the restaurant’s decor. Her efforts were progressing at a snail’s pace because their grandmother was resistant to change and because Emily was spending more and more time back in Los Angeles on a project near and dear to her heart.

It was close to two when Gabi arrived. Since Castle’s served only breakfast and lunch, the crowd had already thinned out, and the door had been locked to keep new customers from entering after closing. Gabi walked around to the side deck, then slipped into the kitchen.

As she’d expected, her sister was tucked in the tiny office with fabric samples. Gabi poked her head in. “Any luck on selling the idea of new upholstery for the booths?” she asked.

A frustrated look spread across Emily’s face for just an instant, but then she was on her feet, enveloping Gabi in a hug. “A baby? How exciting!”

Gabi blinked. “You know already?”

“Samantha filled us in when she called last night. She thought it might be easier if you didn’t have to break the news yourself.”

“Really?” Gabi said doubtfully. “Or was she trying to line up you and Cora Jane to be on her side?”

“I didn’t know there were sides,” Emily said, her expression a pitiful attempt at innocence. Samantha the actress could have pulled it off, but Emily failed miserably.

“I’m considering putting the baby up for adoption. Samantha disapproves. Does that ring any bells?”

“She might have mentioned it,” Emily said. “But let’s not get into that now. I’m just so glad you’re here. Boone and I have news.”

“You’ve finally set a wedding date,” Gabi guessed, knowing that had been the hot topic since before Christmas.

Emily nodded happily. “June 2. Surprisingly, I suddenly realized that I want a traditional June wedding.” She shrugged. “Or maybe that’s what Grandmother really wants. Anyway, that’s the date. I think you and Samantha will look stunning in pastel dresses. I took that into consideration, too.”

“You do realize I’ll be very, very pregnant by then. Are you sure the aisle will be wide enough for me?”

“We’ll take out the pews on one side if it’s not. I’ll talk to Wade about it.”

Gabi’s gaze narrowed at the second deliberate mention of his name in two days. “Wade?”

“He is a master carpenter, after all,” Emily said blithely. “He pops in from time to time, looking for you, I think. Grandmother thinks so, too.”

Gabi shook her head as she rested a hand on her very visible baby bump. “It’s an odd time to be matchmaking, don’t you think?”

“Not matchmaking,” Emily insisted. “I’m just saying he’s around, eager to make himself useful. Actually, it could be he’s courting Grandmother. He does seem to be excessively fond of her pies.”

“Whatever,” Gabi said. “I’d better go into the dining room and face the music. Just how upset is Grandmother about all this?”

“Her eyes lit up when she heard the news,” Emily said. “If you were expecting shock and disapproval, I think you’ll be disappointed. She’s always been on our side no matter what mistakes we’ve made.” She covered her mouth, her expression immediately filled with regret. “Not that the baby is a mistake, Gabi. I didn’t mean that. You know I didn’t.”

Gabriella hugged her sister. “I know you didn’t. And amazingly, all things considered, I never once thought of it that way, either. Even if I do decide to give the baby up for adoption, it will be a blessing for a family who desperately wants a child.”

Even as she said the words, though, there was another of those little fluttery sensations in her stomach that made her heart catch in her throat. It had been one thing to make the whole adoption decision early on. She’d been furious with Paul, even more furious with herself. The baby hadn’t been real to her. Now it was.

And that, she suspected, was going to seriously complicate her determination to do the right thing.

2

Wade told himself he was stopping by Castle’s almost every afternoon for a slice of whatever homemade pie Cora Jane had on the menu, but the truth was he was here because it was usually served with a mention or two of Gabriella. Hoping for tidbits of news about a woman he hardly knew, a woman who’d held herself aloof from him, was pitiful. No question about it. But given his lack of a social life of any kind since the deaths of his wife and baby, he considered this unrequited fascination to be progress on his long road to recovery.

He’d taken two bites of today’s excellent peach pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top when the kitchen door opened and Gabi herself walked through it, then came to a dead stop. Wade came close to swallowing his tongue at the sight of her. She was every bit as beautiful as he’d remembered. She was also very obviously pregnant, a situation not even her loose-fitting T-shirt could hide. If anything, on her petite frame, the shirt only emphasized the baby bump.

Now that was a turn of events he hadn’t anticipated. His heart thumped unsteadily as too many memories came crowding in, memories of Kayla at this stage of her pregnancy, the way she’d glowed, the excitement they’d shared. It had been such a blissfully happy time, only to be shattered by tragedy and inconceivable loss.

He dragged his thoughts away from the dark past and drank in the sight of Gabi, who despite her natural beauty couldn’t hide her bone-deep weariness. A natural protectiveness kicked in. Before he could stop himself, Wade was already considering ways to take care of her. It was ironic, really, since of all the women he’d ever known other than his sister, Gabriella was the most independent and capable. That didn’t seem to matter to this knight-in-shining-armor side of his nature.

Then he was struck by another, far more disturbing thought. Had Gabi gotten married? Surely that was something Cora Jane would have mentioned, rather than encouraging Wade’s interest in her with a litany of less-than-subtle hints. Nor could he imagine why Cora Jane hadn’t mentioned the pregnancy to him, since she knew perfectly well he’d been hanging around not for pie, but for scraps of information about her granddaughter. Was it possible this was going to be news to her, too?

He noted that Gabi still hadn’t budged. Her eyes could be adjusting to the dim lighting, but it seemed to him she was actually reluctant to step into the dining room. He guessed she wasn’t looking forward to seeing Cora Jane. After she’d hesitated for what seemed like an eternity, she finally drew in a deep breath, then walked briskly into the room, an expression of grim determination on her face.

“Looking for Cora Jane?” Wade inquired when Gabi would have walked right past him.

She gave a startled little gasp, then managed a halfhearted smile. “Wade! I didn’t see you there.”

“And I wasn’t expecting to see you today, either,” he said, then cast a pointed look at her tummy. “Guess we’re both full of surprises. Who’s the lucky daddy?”

She visibly flinched at the question. “Unfortunately, the daddy doesn’t consider himself to be all that lucky. Haven’t seen him since I broke the news.”

She said it blithely, as if the man’s irresponsible behavior was no big deal, but Wade detected the hint of hurt in her eyes.

“The man’s a fool,” he declared with feeling. “You know that, don’t you?”

“There’s a growing consensus about that,” she admitted.

His gaze narrowed. He might as well ferret out the whole truth here and now. There’d been mention of a boyfriend back in August, but when the man had never shown his face, Wade had been as skeptical about the relationship as her sisters clearly were. They’d been pretty outspoken on the subject, though usually out of Gabi’s hearing. While he’d worked on custom cabinetry, he’d kept one ear tuned to their conversations, especially whenever Gabi’s name came up. Okay, sure, there were rules about eavesdropping, but come on, this was Gabi and he was just a little bit infatuated with her. Was he supposed to tell them to lower the volume a notch?

“Were you in love with him?” he asked, keeping his tone neutral and his gaze on her face.

He saw the surprise in her eyes before she slid into the booth opposite him.

“You know you’re the first person to ask me that.”

“Seems like an obvious question to me,” he said. “Or did your family know better all along?”

She smiled at that. “I think they did. Samantha said she knew he was a jerk when he wasn’t here helping out after the storm. I’m not sure why I was still making excuses for him then. I imagine on some level I knew he would never really fit in.”

Wade nodded. “So, what’s your plan? Before you try to deny having one, remember that the word around here is that you started making plans in grade school and never lost the habit.”

She chuckled. “Actually, it was high school, but point taken. Amazingly, though, I’m still figuring things out. I got hit with too many unexpected changes all at once. A baby, the discovery that my significant other is a jerk, losing my job.”

Wade whistled. “You lost your job, too? Talk about a trifecta, and not the winning kind.”

“My boss wasn’t impressed with my moral character.”

Thus that weariness he’d noticed, he concluded. Wade was surprised she looked as good as she did with that many blows all landing at once. He suspected she’d come to Sand Castle Bay to spend time with the family and heal, but this might be his one and only opportunity to show her that not all men were idiots.

“You know what you need?” he declared, impulsively seizing a moment that might never come his way again.

“Aside from a plan?” she asked wryly.

“That’ll come,” he said with confidence. “You need dinner and a movie. It’ll take your mind off everything. How about tomorrow night? I’ll pick you up at six, unless you’d like to go for an early bird special. I remember when Kayla...” He tripped over the mention of his wife’s name, shifted gears. “When Lou was pregnant,” he corrected hurriedly, “all she wanted to do was sleep.”

“Lou? Your wife?”

He laughed at the disapproving expression that accompanied her question. “Not all of us are jerks, sweetheart,” he said, glad he’d not opened the whole sad tale about his wife. “Don’t you remember Louise, my big sister? She has five kids now, all of them little hellions, which if you ask me is exactly what she deserves for all the grief she gave me when we were kids.”

Her expression brightened. “Of course I remember Louise. Five kids? Wow! I thought she planned to be a lawyer.”

“She did and she is. The two of you are a lot alike, both driven. Not much gets in the way of what you want. I’ll have to get the two of you together. She can tell you what to expect when your baby turns your life upside down.”

“This baby’s already accomplished that,” Gabi reminded him.

“So, about dinner? Will six o’clock work?” he pressed, determined not to let this opportunity slip away. In his opinion, Gabi not only needed family right now, she needed a friendly, impartial ear. He could provide that.

A frown settled on her face. “I don’t think it’s a good idea, Wade,” she said. “My life’s just too unsettled.”

“And you think if you stay home tomorrow night and concentrate real hard, you’ll figure everything out?” he asked skeptically.

“No, but’”

“Okay, then. I’ll see you at six,” he said, sliding out of the booth and dropping a casual kiss on her forehead. “Don’t even think about standing me up. I have allies.”

He could tell by her resigned expression that she knew exactly who those allies were. Maybe if she hadn’t taken so many hits recently, she’d have fought him harder. As it was, she merely sighed.

“See you at six,” she said, then glowered at him. “I want my own bucket of popcorn.”

He grinned. “Of course you do.”

He couldn’t seem to stop smiling as he paid Cora Jane, who’d remained suspiciously out of sight during his entire exchange with Gabi.

As she handed him his change, she threw in a piece of advice free of charge. “You hurt that girl and there will be no place around here for you to hide,” she said. It was a pretty fierce warning from a woman who stood five foot two in her sneakers.

“Got it,” he told her somberly, dropping a kiss on her cheek. “No worries.”

“If I didn’t believe that, you wouldn’t have spent five seconds alone with her just now,” she said, proving that her avoidance of his table had been deliberate. “Not when she’s this vulnerable.”

“You want to come along tomorrow night to chaperone?” he asked, only half in jest.

“Don’t think I wouldn’t do just that, Wade Johnson, if I didn’t think you’re going to be exactly what she needs. Don’t prove me wrong.”

“Understood.”

Even more than Cora Jane probably realized. He’d seen for himself just how fragile Gabi was. Seeing her like that when he knew firsthand the sort of confident, successful woman she’d been just a few months ago had made him want to smash his fist into something. That idiotic ex’s jaw came to mind as the perfect starting point.

* * *

Cora Jane found Gabriella exactly where Wade had left her. She looked as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders. Cora Jane leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek before nudging her over to make room beside her in the booth. Cora Jane settled close, then cupped Gabi’s chin in her hand.

“You doing okay, honey bun?”

To her shock, Gabi took one look at her and burst into tears.

“Everything’s such a mess,” she said with a moan. “I know you already know, because Samantha has a big mouth, so you can’t deny that I’ve really screwed up this time.”

Cora Jane gathered her close and let her cry herself out. She’d thought long and hard since hearing the news about the best way to handle it. Nothing, though, had quite prepared her for the self-derision she was hearing in Gabi’s voice. When Gabi’s tears had dried, she looked directly into her eyes.

“Now, then, young lady, you listen to me and listen good,” she said in a tone intended to catch Gabi’s attention. “You’re having a baby, which from here on out we’re all going to think of as the blessing it is. You broke up with a man who obviously didn’t deserve you. You lost a demanding job that was draining the life out of you. And you’re here with family who’s ready to love you and support you in any way you need. I plan to see only the good in all that. I suggest you do the same.”

A watery smile formed on Gabi’s face. “I always thought I got my ability to put a good face on things from Mom, but it was you.”

Cora Jane smiled and squeezed her hand. “I have my moments,” she said modestly. “Now let’s back up a minute. Tell me how you’re feeling, physically, not emotionally.”

“Tired,” Gabi admitted.

“Then you’re in the right place. You can sleep as late as you want while you’re here.”

Gabi looked startled. “You aren’t going to insist I come to Castle’s at the crack of dawn for the bakery deliveries?”

Cora Jane chuckled, fully aware that her granddaughters all hated the early-morning demands of running a restaurant that served breakfast starting at 6:00 a.m. “Not this week, anyway,” she responded. “Next week, we’ll see how you’re doing. I want you to concentrate on getting plenty of rest, fresh air and exercise right now.”

“I love you,” Gabi said, leaning against her.

“I love you, too, and this baby you’re carrying. Now, Samantha just called from the house. She arrived a few minutes ago and has started dinner. Let’s get Emily and head home, put our feet up and relax. Tonight we’re going to focus on Emily and Boone’s wedding. Tomorrow will be soon enough to tackle everything else.”

Gabi smiled. “You sound as if we can fix my life up in an afternoon.”

“Maybe not in an afternoon,” Cora Jane conceded. “But it seems to me tomorrow evening might get things rolling.”

Her granddaughter frowned at her. “Wade Johnson is not the answer,” she said forcefully.

Cora Jane didn’t argue. Instead, she simply smiled at Gabi’s emphatic declaration. “I suppose we’ll have to wait and see, won’t we?”

“Grandmother!”

“Come along,” Cora Jane urged. “Emily’s found the perfect wedding dress. I can’t wait for you girls to see it.”

“Emily has also found an excellent fabric for the booths in here,” Gabi said slyly. “You don’t seem nearly as enthusiastic about that.”

“This old vinyl has served us well for a lot of years,” Cora Jane said with a huff.

“Which explains why it has cigarette burns from the days when smoking was allowed and tears from rambunctious kids,” Gabi countered.

“Your grandfather picked it out,” Cora Jane argued, unexpected tears welling up in her eyes. “Every detail in here was the way Caleb wanted it.”

Gabi stopped and stared at her. “It’s because of Granddad you don’t want to change? Not because you’re being stubborn?”

Cora Jane chuckled. “Well, of course I’m being stubborn, but I’m nostalgic, too. It wouldn’t feel right to come in here and see things changed too much. I know your grandfather’s gone, but sometimes when I walk in here, I expect to see him coming out of the kitchen or catch a glimpse of him just outside on the deck.”

“You need to tell Emily that,” Gabi said. “She thinks you’re just dismissing everything she suggests without a second’s thought. It hurts her feelings.”

Cora Jane sighed. “I know that. I guess I thought she’d figure it out when I kept balking.”

“None of us are mind readers,” Gabi said. “Not even you.”

“I’ll try to remember that.”

Gabi studied her worriedly. “How does Jerry feel when you get all nostalgic about Granddad?” she asked, referring to the restaurant’s longtime cook, who’d become a lot more to Cora Jane since Caleb’s death.

“He understands, or says he does,” Cora Jane said. “It may not make sense to someone your age, but in a way it’s him knowing your grandfather that’s made it easier for us to be together. He doesn’t expect more than I’m ready to give. He knows I had one huge love in my life.” She smiled. “And now I’m blessed to have a dear friend by my side.”

“Just a friend?” Gabi asked.

Cora Jane chuckled. “That’s all I’m admitting to, young lady, and all you need to know. Some things are meant to be kept private.”

Gabi laughed. “I hope you’ll remember that and stop pushing Wade and me together.”

Cora Jane was so happy to see some color in her granddaughter’s cheeks at the mention of Wade, she decided to leave well enough alone, at least for now.

“No meddling,” she promised, then amended to herself, unless she saw a need for it.

* * *

Emily slanted a worried look in Gabi’s direction. “Are you sure you’re up for this? Maybe we should focus on you tonight,” she said after they’d finished dinner and were settled in the living room. They were drinking herbal tea out of respect for Gabi’s pregnancy, though normally by now Samantha would have made a pitcher of something a whole lot stronger. Cora Jane had pleaded an early morning and gone to bed, leaving them to spend the evening together. It was a sign of just how well she knew them and understood their need for sisterly bonding.

“Please, my situation is not going to change anytime soon,” Gabi told her. “Tomorrow’s soon enough. I want to see this wedding dress Grandmother’s been raving about.”

Emily’s eyes lit up. “It’s absolutely gorgeous. I found it on Rodeo Drive. I have a couple of fittings yet to do, but I have pictures.” She whipped her cell phone out of her purse and clicked on a series of shots showing the dress from every angle.

“Oh, my God, it’s gorgeous,” Samantha breathed with genuine awe in her voice.

Gabi grinned. “You’re going to look like an elegant princess, and here I was hoping you’d have all these ruffles and layers of lace so we could giggle behind your back.”

“Ha, ha,” Emily said. “As if I’d ever be caught dead in a dress like that. I’m understated all the way.”

“Which means our bridesmaid dresses are, too?” Gabi inquired hopefully. “We’re not going to look like something from Gone with the Wind, are we? Add in my pregnancy, and I’d look like a wayward balloon from the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade.”

“I wouldn’t do that to you,” Emily said. “Even if I can’t have you two looking more beautiful than I do that day.”

“What do you care what we look like?” Samantha asked. “Boone only has eyes for you.”

Emily grinned. “Yeah, he does,” she said with satisfaction.

“Where is he, by the way?” Gabi asked. “He did come with you, didn’t he?”

“He took B.J. over to see Jodie and Frank tonight. To give the man credit, he’s determined to see that his son has a relationship with his grandparents despite everything they did to make Boone’s life miserable.”

“And yours,” Samantha said. “Have they accepted that the two of you are getting married?”

Emily’s expression fell. “I think Frank’s okay with it, but Jodie?” She shook her head. “She’s going to blame me forever for ruining her daughter’s life.”

“Which you didn’t do,” Gabi said loyally. “You were completely out of the picture when Boone and Jenny were married.”

“Jodie doesn’t seem to give two hoots about reality,” Emily said wearily. “It’s sad, really. I almost feel sorry for her.”

“Save your pity,” Gabi said. “She seems to enjoy clinging to her misery over Jenny’s death.”

“Jenny was her daughter,” Samantha said with sympathy. “Of course she’s going to grieve for her.”

“She just doesn’t have to take it out on everyone around her, that’s all I’m saying,” Gabi countered.

“Okay, enough,” Emily said. “Here are the dresses I have in mind for you. If you hate them, I have backups. And you can pick the colors, though I think Gabi would look beautiful in a pale sage-green and you’d look fantastic in soft yellow, Samantha.”

She handed over her cell phone.

“Oooh,” Gabi whispered. “They’re gorgeous.” She handed the phone to her sister.

Samantha’s eyes widened. “Absolutely perfect.”

Unbidden tears welled up in Gabi’s eyes and spilled down her cheeks before she could stop them. “I wish I weren’t going to look like a blimp,” she whispered with a sniff. “By June 2, I’ll be lucky if I don’t go into labor in the middle of the ceremony.”

Emily looked crestfallen. “When’s your due date?”

“Mid-June,” Gabi said.

“Then we’ll move the wedding,” Emily said without even an instant’s hesitation. “A few more weeks won’t be a big deal. Boone will understand.”

“Not on my account,” Gabi objected. “You wanted to be a June bride.”

“June, July, August’it’s all the same, really. And goodness knows, Grandmother will be relieved to have an extra few weeks to plan. As anxious as she is to seal this deal, she seems to think a proper wedding can’t be planned in anything under a year. I’m testing her sense of decorum, as it is.”

“But I know you,” Gabi said. “You probably worked some sort of complicated miracle to get time off in June to do this right.”

“And now I’ll work another one for whatever the new date is,” Emily said. “I don’t want you to be miserable about the way you look, or worrying about swollen ankles or having your water break when you walk down the aisle. If I’d known about the pregnancy sooner, I’d have taken all that into consideration in the first place. It’s all good, Gabi. I promise.”

Gabi picked up the cell phone again and clicked on the image of the bridesmaid dress and a reed-thin model. “It would be nice to look like that for your wedding,” she admitted.

Emily grinned. “Then it’s settled. I’ll check with Boone and we’ll set a new date.” She glanced at Samantha. “Any complications in your life I need to know about?”

“Not a one,” Samantha responded.

“Don’t let Grandmother hear you say that,” Gabi advised. “Her meddling gene is just itching to take your life on, too. I’d lay money on that.”

“Heaven forbid,” Samantha said with heartfelt emotion. But even as she spoke, Gabi and Emily exchanged a knowing look. They might not know what Cora Jane had in mind, but they were certain of one thing’ Samantha was not going to escape their grandmother’s wiles.

* * *

Sitting on the narrow twin bed in the room she’d shared with Emily when they’d spent summers with Grandmother, Gabi felt a sense of peace steal over her. For the first time in weeks, her stomach wasn’t in knots. It wasn’t as if she’d reached any decisions overnight or written down the first word of a new plan. It was this place with the windows open, a salt-air breeze coming in and Cora Jane’s old-fashioned glass wind chimes tinkling merrily on the porch down below. The sound was so familiar, so comforting, she could have been a child again, a child without a care in the world, with the whole summer stretched out ahead.

There was a tap on the door an instant before it was flung open.

“You up?” Samantha asked, though she was already in the room and settled on the other twin bed without waiting for an answer. “How’d you sleep?”

“Like a rock,” Gabi admitted. “Best sleep I’ve had in ages.”

“Even with that noise outside?” Samantha grumbled.

Gabi grinned. “You always hated Grandmother’s wind chimes.”

“Because they make an unholy racket. I’m looking for earplugs first thing today.”

“Don’t they remind you of summer at the beach?” Gabi enthused. “They say smell stirs memories’the salt air by the ocean, cookies baking, the scent of a Christmas tree’but for me it’s those wind chimes. I feel just like a kid again.”

“Yeah, they take me back, too,” Samantha admitted. “I never slept a wink then, either.”

“How can a woman who lives in Manhattan with garbage trucks, taxis and car alarms going off in the middle of the night be bothered by little pieces of glass making music in a breeze?”

Samantha shrugged. “All in what you’re used to, I guess.” A grin spread across her face. “So, tell me about this date you have with Wade tonight.”

Gabi regarded her incredulously. “How on earth... Never mind. I know Grandmother overheard us. It’s not a date. We’re going out to grab dinner and see a movie. No big deal.”

“Sounds like a date to me, and I speak from some experience. Unlike you, I have those kind of dates on a regular basis.”

“Wade just took pity on me, that’s all. He thought I needed a distraction.”

“How thoughtful!” Samantha said, her expression amused. “You just keep telling yourself it’s as innocent as all that. I’m so mad I wasn’t there to see the two of you for myself. I would have known right off if sparks were flying. Grandmother said they were, but she’s unreliable. She sees what she wants to see. Emily doesn’t see anything except Boone these days. She didn’t even know you spent close to a half hour huddled with Wade. Her powers of observation are pitiful.”

Gabi sighed. “Is this why you wanted me to drive over here, so you could try to set me up with Wade? I thought you wanted to be supportive.”

“Nudging you in Wade’s direction is being supportive. He’s a great guy.”

“Who’s probably not one bit interested in being saddled with a woman carrying another man’s baby,” Gabi said. “What sensible man would want to sign on for that?”

“If you ask me, sensible can be highly overrated. Wasn’t Paul sensible?”

“Point taken,” Gabi conceded. “But please, please, leave this alone. I can’t take one more complication in my life right now.”

“Which is why you need someone like Wade to help you shoulder the burden,” Samantha insisted. “He’ll make you laugh. Even when you were pretending to be oblivious to him this summer, he could still make you laugh.”

“I doubt there are enough comedians in the country right now to make me laugh,” Gabi said.

“I think Wade’s up to the task,” Samantha contradicted. “Grandmother says he had you smiling yesterday. And given that he asked you out after seeing that you’re pregnant, obviously your situation hasn’t scared him off. He gets points for that, too.”

“Cora Jane needs to mind her own business,” Gabi said with frustration, unwilling to admit that it had been surprising to find that Wade wasn’t put off by her pregnancy. She wasn’t entirely sure if that made him extraordinarily rare, or perhaps just a little bit odd.

Samantha laughed at the reference to Cora Jane’s penchant for meddling. “Let me know if you find a way to make Grandmother stay out of our lives.”

Yeah, Gabi was pretty sure it was mission impossible, too.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.