Sherryl Woods - Sea Glass Island

“I wouldn’t miss any of it,” Samantha assured her. “After all, wasn’t I the one who predicted last August that you and Boone were going to get back together?”

“Yes, you demonstrated amazing insight, but it wouldn’t be the first time that some irresistible part came through at the last second and you bailed on me. My college graduation comes to mind.”

“Well, there’s no way I’d bail on your wedding,” Samantha reassured her. The likelihood of a plum role being offered was abysmally small. Besides, she’d never let Emily down after promising to be her maid of honor. The fact that Emily had even asked had come as a surprise. Their relationship had been tainted by some kind of sibling rivalry she’d never understood, but her sister seemed to be sincerely trying to leave that in the past.

“I’m driving south the day after tomorrow,” she told Emily, not mentioning that the wedding was providing the perfect excuse to leave New York behind during these depressing dog days of summer. “I’ll be there to do whatever you need.”

“Are you bringing What’s-his-face with you? The guy from the network or the producer? I lose track.”

“Truthfully, so do I,” Samantha admitted. “There’s no one I’d want around for an occasion as important as my little sister’s wedding.”

There was a faint hesitation on the other end of the line and then Emily asked slyly, “Not even Ethan Cole?”

Samantha’s heart did a predictable little stutter step. “Why on earth would you bring up Ethan? He’s ancient history. Not even history, come to think of it. He never even knew I existed back in the day.”

“Aha!” Emily said triumphantly. “You do still have feelings for him. I told Gabi you did. She thinks so, too. Our powers of observation are every bit as good as yours when it comes to romance.”

“And you got that from my asking why you mentioned him?” Samantha inquired irritably, hating any possibility that at her age she could be wearing her heart on her sleeve for anyone to detect. Especially when the man in question probably wouldn’t even recognize her if their paths crossed.

“I got that from your wearing his old football jersey around the house the whole time you were home after the hurricane last summer,” Emily responded. “And, amazingly, it disappeared after you went back to New York. I’ll bet it’s in your closet up there right this minute.”

“It is not,” Samantha retorted, glancing down at the gold-and-green jersey she was currently wearing. So what if she still harbored a not-so-secret crush on the star quarterback from the high school? Three years older and surrounded by throngs of local girls, Ethan had never once noticed her back then. She was a summer kid, not even a blip on his radar. She seriously doubted he’d discovered deep feelings in the intervening years just from spotting her in some detergent commercial, and that was even assuming he knew it was her.

“You know he never married,” Emily said casually. “And he and Boone play golf together. Boone’s asked him to be in the wedding.”

Samantha’s stupid heart did another of those annoying little telltale hop, skip and jumps. “Not on my account, I hope.”

“Of course not,” Emily said. “But he is Boone’s best man, which means you’ll be seeing a lot of him.”

Samantha groaned. She’d expected this sort of matchmaking from her grandmother, who’d actively campaigned to see that Emily and Boone were reunited and had done her share of manipulating to see that Gabi wound up with Wade Johnson. Samantha had been certain, though, that Cora Jane would show a little more respect for Samantha’s ability to find her own man. Then, again, there wasn’t much evidence that Samantha had made any particularly good choices up to now. The men she’d dated had been seriously lacking in staying power.

“Did Grandmother put you up to this?” she asked testily.

“Up to what?” Emily replied innocently. “I told you, Boone and Ethan have been friends forever. Their families go way back. It makes perfect sense that he’d want Ethan in the wedding.”

“I suppose,” Samantha conceded.

“Gotta run. I love you,” Emily said. “See you soon.”

“See you soon,” Samantha echoed.

Suddenly going back to Sand Castle Bay for her sister’s wedding had gotten a lot more interesting...and maybe just a little dangerous.

* * *

Gabi held Daniella Jane in her arms, rocking her gently as she studied the color in Emily’s cheeks.

“Well, did you find out whatever it was you wanted to know when you spoke to Samantha?” she asked.

“Oh, Samantha still has it bad for Ethan, all right,” Emily replied with a smirk.

“Which means you intend to meddle,” Gabi guessed.

“Well, why not?” Emily inquired, reaching to take the baby from Gabi’s arms and cooing to her. “Grandmother does it all the time.”

“And gets away with it because she’s Cora Jane and we love and respect her,” Gabi reminded her. “You and Samantha haven’t always seen eye-to-eye on things, not that I’ve ever understood why that is.”

Emily made a face that had the baby gurgling with what could have been delight...or a dire portent of something else entirely.

“I know that’s all on me,” Emily admitted. “And the worst part is that I honestly don’t remember when it started. If I was going to feel this competitive nonsense, it should have been with you. We’re the driven, ambitious ones. Or at least you were until you turned all mellow and had this beautiful baby. She’s the one and only thing good to come out of your relationship with Paul the slimebag. Now you’ve fallen madly in love with Wade, and as much as it pains me to see, now you’re just plain sappy.”

“Hey, I have a thriving art gallery with a dozen temperamental artists working on-site. I’m trying to turn that into a tourist destination,” Gabi protested. “I haven’t exactly slacked off. I just redirected my goals.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Emily said. “You’re missing my point. I can’t figure out why I’ve always had this thing with Samantha, but I honestly do want to put it behind us. It’s past time. I don’t want any of those old lingering feelings to spoil what should be the happiest time of my life.”

“Amen to that, and asking her to be your maid of honor was a really sweet gesture,” Gabi said. “I know how much she appreciated it.”

“It doesn’t exactly make up for the way I’ve treated her over the years, as if her sole role in life was to annoy me.” She tickled Daniella, then grinned as the baby squirmed. “Lordy, but she’s cute. I think I want one.”

Gabi laughed. “I have a hunch Boone will be more than willing to cooperate, but you might want to get this wedding behind you first.”

“First, Boone and I have to be in the same place at the same time if we’re going to make a baby,” Emily grumbled. “He’s checking in on all his restaurants on his way here from Los Angeles.”

“So you’ll be apart how long? A whole twenty-four hours?” Gabi teased.

“Two days actually,” Emily replied with a dramatic sigh.

Gabi laughed. “You are pathetic. You were apart for years before you reconciled. Even after you got back together, your work kept you in different cities for quite a while.”

“And now I’m spoiled,” Emily conceded. “With Boone in Los Angeles with me while I work on those safe houses for abused women and families, I’ve discovered just how amazing living together can be. I had no idea I’d adapt so quickly to having someone in my life 24/7. Add in B.J. and instant motherhood, and it’s been the most incredible few months ever.”

“It really is wonderful to see you so ecstatically happy,” Gabi told her. “It’s great that you and B.J. formed this immediate bond. Not every stepmother is so lucky.”