Healing Tides by Katie Winters

Author:Katie Winters
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: women's fiction, clean and wholesome romance, women's divorce fiction, single women fiction, sea stories
Publisher: Katie Winters
Published: 2021-04-20T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

MALLORY PROPPED ZACHERY up in his baby chair and cooed at him as Zachery buzzed his little pink lips. His eyes danced with excitement as his mother dropped the tiniest of spoons into pea mash and whispered, “Are you ready for the airplane, Zachery?”

Elsa hovered near the bay window with a glass of water in hand. She was freshly showered, and her hair had curled beautifully down her back from the dense humidity the late July afternoon offered. Only an hour before, Bruce had departed and struck out again on his run. She had watched him for a bit too long as he had stretched his long legs toward the road and then disappeared from sight.

“You look pretty, Mom,” Mallory said as Zachery clopped on his pea mash and smacked his palms across the top of the baby chair.

“Oh? Thanks.” Elsa twirled a finger through her curl and shifted her weight. “Cole said he’s out sailing today. I thought I would head down to the docks later. Say hi.”

Mallory’s smile faltered just the slightest bit. “That sounds fun.” Her eyes reflected a strange mix of curiosity and sadness. “Any reason why? You were never particularly fond of those sailor guys.”

Elsa hadn’t yet explained Aiden’s predicament to her daughter. Elsa made sure that Cole only knew the bare minimum — that various members of the sailing community and otherwise had decided to drag his father’s name through the mud. This was the reason Elsa wanted to journey down there. She wanted to eavesdrop. She wanted to learn all she could. She couldn’t bear the thought that they could just guzzle beer after beer and throw around horrific rumors of Aiden that just weren’t true.

She had to put up a fight.

“I know, but that world means so much to Cole, and it would have meant so much to your dad,” Elsa offered Mallory now. “I’m sure you could come over if you’d like to. Maybe Nancy or Janine would babysit?”

Mallory shook her head sadly. “I have too much to do, I think. I want to apply for a few more jobs. Get something more stable, like a nine-to-five.”

Elsa tilted her head. “You didn’t mention that.”

“Yeah. I’ve been thinking about it a lot. I think now, with Lucas out of the picture, it’s time for me to grow up.”

“You know, we really need a secretary at the Lodge,” Elsa informed her. “And I would love to have you on staff. You’re reliable. And I know the Lodge already means a lot to you.”

Mallory’s eyes brightened. This was a surprise to Elsa, as Mallory had traditionally all been about “forging her own path” and “striking out from her family.” Perhaps that’s what growing up was all about. Realizing that really, you couldn’t do it all on your own.

“I’ll talk to Nancy about it when she gets home,” Mallory offered excitedly. “But I can’t imagine a better gig.”

“It’s a family affair!” Elsa’s heart leaped into her throat. “Your grandfather would be so thrilled.”

Elsa buzzed with this news as she drove over to Edgartown Harbor.

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