A Haven on the Bay: A Willa Bay Novel Read online

  A Haven on the Bay

  A Willa Bay Novel

  Nicole Ellis

  Copyright © 2020 by Nicole Ellis

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  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

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  1

  Meg

  Meg Briggs pried the final pansy from the black plastic tray and shook off the loose dirt before placing it in the hole she’d dug with a garden trowel. She patted it into place and leaned back on her heels to survey her handiwork. Before she’d started planting that day, only tufts of knee-high wild grass had bordered the front of the old barn at the Inn at Willa Bay.

  Now, purple, pink, and white flowers brightened the exterior of the structure, contrasting sharply with the peeling white paint. She stood, brushing plant debris off her pants before taking a final look. Someday, the whole place would be revitalized. For now, though, this small patch of color would have to do.

  A little time remained before she had to get ready for her dinner with Theo, the man she’d been dating for the last few months, so she walked around to the opposite side of the barn and sat down on a stone bench. Next to her, the bushes rustled as a brisk breeze swept through them. In the distance, an eagle cried out as it swooped down toward the bay to pluck an unlucky salmon from below the surface. She leaned against the barn’s siding and drew her knees up to her chest, gazing out at the deep blue waters of Willa Bay, and allowing her thoughts to wander and her body to relax.

  At times, it seemed like her life had changed a lot in the last few months, but at other times, it was as though she was an actor in a slow-motion movie. When she’d signed the contract to buy the resort with her friend, Zoe, and Zoe’s boyfriend, Shawn, it had been with the understanding that they’d get the Inn and the grounds in working order before doing anything else. Later, they’d renovate the old barn into a restaurant for Meg to manage.

  Originally, Meg had been fine with that agreement. There wasn’t enough time or money to simultaneously take on all of the necessary projects to turn the resort into an event venue. The restaurant was a lower priority in comparison to everything else on the list. She truly was happy for Zoe to realize her dream of operating the premier wedding venue in the Pacific Northwest, but Meg badly wanted to see her own dreams come to fruition as well. She closed her eyes and inhaled the warm salt air. All in good time.

  The last time she’d talked to Zoe and Shawn, they’d discussed moving up the barn remodel to sometime in early October and postponing their plans to fix up the twenty guest cottages perched above the beach. But starting earlier came with a catch—Meg had been charged with clearing out half a century’s worth of storage from the building by the end of September. If she could complete that task in time, they’d proceed with the renovations. If not, they’d need to do the cottages first.

  If everything worked according to plan, her restaurant could be open as soon as January. The project timeline was ambitious, but Zoe had already worked wonders in getting the Inn ready for their first wedding tomorrow, and Meg didn’t doubt her friend could pull it off. January still seemed far away, but three months had flown by since they bought the Inn from Celia in April. Meg could wait another five or six months for her restaurant to be completed.

  “Oh, there you are,” said a woman’s voice behind her. Meg turned to see Zoe standing about five feet away, shading her eyes so she could see Meg against the glare of the sun.

  “I was just planting some flowers in front of the barn.” Meg grinned. “I was planning on checking in with you before I left, honest.”

  Zoe’s laughter bore a nervous tinge. “I figured you would. I just had a few details to go over before tomorrow. I saw your flowers though. They look nice.”

  Meg glanced at the iPad Zoe held in her hands and raised an eyebrow. “Only a few things?”

  Zoe regarded the iPad ruefully. “Okay, okay. Maybe more than a few. Remember, the wedding is at one o’clock tomorrow afternoon. Shawn will manage the parking, and Tia and I will coordinate the ceremony and reception, but I need you to circulate and make sure nothing goes awry.”

  “It’s going to be great.” Meg got up from the stone bench and walked over to Zoe. “You and Tia have been slaving over the schedule for weeks. Nothing is going to go wrong.”

  “Something always goes wrong.” Zoe frowned, her eyes scanning the tablet’s screen.

  Meg held up her hand. “If it does, we’ll figure it out. Between you, me, Tia, Celia, and Shawn, we’ll have it covered.”

  Zoe’s shoulders slumped. “I hope you’re right.”

  “I know I’m right.” Meg gave her a hug, then glanced at her watch. “I’d better leave now to meet Theo though. I’m supposed to pick him up at the marina in twenty minutes.”

  Zoe took a deep breath. “Have fun.”

  Meg patted her arm reassuringly. “I will. Now go take a bubble bath or something. You’re a ball of nerves.”

  Her advice was met with a meek smile. “Maybe I should do that after dinner.” Zoe stared at her list again and Meg doubted there was much self-care in her friend’s near future.

  “You should,” Meg said firmly. “I’ll see you tomorrow, and I expect to hear all about your relaxing evening.” She trotted off toward the Inn, where she’d left a dress to change into before her date. She was looking forward to dinner, as they had reservations for a steakhouse in a nearby city. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her that she’d only had time to scarf down a granola bar for lunch while they’d all worked their way through Zoe’s massive to-do list. Maybe she needed to take her own advice about self-care.

  Twenty minutes later, Meg walked down the dock to Theo’s slip at the marina. The rough wooden slats creaked and bobbed underfoot. Some people might be unnerved by the uneven footing, but she’d grown up in Willa Bay and had been around boats her entire life. She wasn’t sure she’d want to live on one like Theo did, but there was definitely something appealing about the freedom of being out on the water.

  When she reached Theo’s boat, she found him sitting on the deck at the stern, repacking his tackle box. He wore jeans and a paint-stained t-shirt—not what she’d expect for a night out on the town. He lifted his head when she approached.

  “Hey,” he said, flashing her a toothy smile. “You look nice.”

  Her cheeks warmed and she smoothed the knee-length skirt of her dress against her legs. “Thanks.” She cocked her head to the side. “Uh, are you planning on changing?”

  His eyes flickered down to his shirt and he laughed, jumping to his feet. “Oh, yeah. Give me a minute and I’ll swap this out for something nicer.”

  “No problem.” A breeze rippled the surface of the water and chilled Meg’s bare arms. She shivered and crossed them over her chest, wishing she’d worn a sweater over her dress. It was cooler on the water than it was back on shore. She couldn’t complain too much about the we
ather though. The thermometer had read eighty-five degrees earlier that day, and some of the warmth still lingered in the air.

  Five minutes later, Theo climbed off the boat onto the dock behind her. “Okay, I’m ready. Where did you say we were going tonight?” He’d changed into a pair of charcoal-gray slacks and a pinstriped, button-down shirt in a shade of blue that accentuated his dark eyes. He flashed her a slightly lopsided grin and her heart skipped a beat. She’d always been attracted to slender-built men with blond hair, and Theo was no exception.

  She tore her eyes away from his physique and returned his smile. “We have reservations at Finnerton’s Grill in Everton. They’re known for their seafood dishes, so I thought they’d be good to check out. The restaurant at the Inn at Willa Bay may not open for a while, but I’d like to start building my repertoire of recipes now.”

  His forehead creased into a shallow frown. “Oh man, I was hoping for a steak tonight.” Then he shrugged and his lips turned upward into his customary happy-go-lucky grin. “But seafood sounds good too.”

  “I think they have steak on the menu.” She’d read everything she could find about Finnerton’s, hoping to learn how they achieved almost a five-star rating out of hundreds of reviews. Normally, online reviews were written by customers who were either extremely pleased or horribly unhappy with their experience at an establishment. To get close to a five-star average was quite a coup, and she was excited to experience the restaurant for herself.

  “Great. Surf and turf it is.” They neared the end of the ramp leading from the docks to the parking lot and he reached for her hand, squeezing it lightly. His touch was warm and comforting as his fingers intertwined with hers, although the electric tingles from early in their relationship had faded away after the first few weeks. When they reached her car, he broke away from her and waited next to the passenger side for her to unlock the door.

  Theo didn’t want to remain tethered to any one spot, so the only vehicle he owned was his boat. While Meg didn’t mind always being the driver, it did leave her wondering if he’d ever settle down in one place, or if he intended to always be a wanderer. When she’d lived in Portland, she’d enjoyed her freedom, but had also greatly missed her family. Being constantly on the move like Theo would be fun for a while, but not for the long-term.

  The drive to Finnerton’s took thirty minutes. By the time they arrived and parked, Theo’s light banter had eased some of Meg’s troubles. Before they entered the restaurant, she stopped and appraised the exterior, wanting to take in every minute detail.

  Finnerton’s was located on the river that ran through the center of Everton. The entrance from the parking lot wasn’t terribly memorable. A few concrete steps led up to a wide front door, offset from the center of a façade plastered with dark cedar shingles. The name of the restaurant had been hand-lettered on an unassuming sign next to the door. However, the parking lot was almost full—always a good sign in the restaurant business.

  “Are you ready?” Theo asked, coming up beside her and offering her a hand. “You kind of look like you’re casing the joint.”

  Meg laughed and grabbed his hand, squeezing it. “I am, in a way.”

  He raised his eyebrows, but then just grinned and shook his head. “I’m not even going to ask.”

  Inside the restaurant, she gave her name to the hostess, who informed them they’d need to wait a few minutes for their table. They sat down on a long bench to the right of the front door, giving Meg a prime view of the wait staff as they exited and entered the kitchen carrying circular trays of food, drink, or used dishes. She’d worked in the industry for so long that observing the inner workings of a restaurant as an outsider felt oddly voyeuristic. She couldn’t take her eyes off of them, fascinated by their well-choreographed movements as they wove around patrons and co-workers alike.

  She looked over at Theo, suddenly realizing that she’d been ignoring him for several minutes. He was engrossed in his phone, so she returned to people-watching. In the kitchen, something metal clanged to the floor and she winced. The telltale crash of glass or metal objects anywhere in a restaurant were never good, but even that interruption didn’t faze the staff.

  “Briggs, party of two,” the hostess called out. Meg tore her attention away from the kitchen with reluctance.

  Theo slipped the cell phone into the pocket of his pants. “Ready?”

  She nodded, and they followed the hostess to a table on the outside deck.

  “This is nice.” Theo pulled out a chair and gestured for her to sit.

  “Thanks.” She flashed him a smile. It had surprised her the first time Theo had helped her into her seat at a restaurant, but now she appreciated his thoughtfulness. She sat, then looked around. He was right. The restaurant hadn’t looked like much from the parking lot, but the massive cedar deck overlooking the river was impressive.

  Planter boxes interspersed along the railing contained flowers that lightly scented the air. Wrought iron tables shaded by red canvas umbrellas dotted the deck’s surface. Below, the river bubbled softly as it made its way out to Puget Sound. The overall effect was enchanting. She turned back to face Theo. “Wow. I like this a lot.”

  “Me too,” he said absentmindedly, as he reached for one of the menus the hostess had left with them and turned his attention to the food selections.

  He didn’t seem nearly as impressed with the restaurant as she was, but then again, he was there for the food, not a reconnaissance mission. She surveyed the seating area. Almost all of the patrons were talking and laughing as they ate. No wonder this place received so many positive online reviews. She swallowed a lump that had formed in her throat. It wouldn’t be easy to achieve the same thing when they opened the restaurant at the Inn.

  Theo placed his menu on the table and sipped from the glass of wine that had appeared only a few minutes after he’d ordered it, right after they’d been greeted by their waitress. “You okay?”

  She tried to smile, but her lips quivered.

  “What’s wrong?”

  She gestured to their surroundings. “They’ve done such a great job here. I don't know if I can pull off the same thing at the Inn.”

  “I'm sure you'll be fine.” He smiled, but his tone was dismissive. He pointed at her menu. “Did you decide what to order yet? Our waitress will be back soon.”

  “Uh, no. Not yet.” She would have liked to discuss the apprehension she was feeling about starting a new restaurant, but he didn't seem interested in doing so. She grabbed the menu and selected the first thing that appealed to her: a plank-grilled salmon and a side of asparagus with a balsamic reduction.

  The waitress reappeared as soon as Meg set her menu down on the table. “Hello,” she said. “My name is Paula. Have you decided what you’d like, or do you need a little more time?”

  “I think we’re ready.” Theo grinned up at her. “I’m going to have the ten-ounce sirloin.” He gave the waitress the particulars, then Meg relayed her order. When she was finished, he added, “Oh, and we’re celebrating her birthday tonight. Do you have anything special for dessert?”

  Paula beamed at them. “We certainly do. I’ll make sure to bring out our special complimentary birthday dessert after you’ve completed your main course.”

  “That would be wonderful.” He smiled at her again. “Thank you so much, Paula.”

  She blushed slightly and nodded. “It’s my pleasure.” She spun around and walked quickly back into the restaurant.

  Meg stared at Theo. “My birthday isn’t until February.”

  He shrugged. “I know, but they don’t know that.” He reached for her hand. “You seemed a little down tonight, so I thought you could use some cheering up.”

  Her stomach flip-flopped. On one hand, she didn’t like lying to the restaurant staff. On the other, it had been a thoughtful gesture on his part and showed that, while he wasn’t terribly interested in her concerns about her planned restaurant, he’d picked up on the stress she was experiencing.
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br />   She forced herself to smile. “Thanks.”

  “No problem.”

  They chatted for about thirty minutes until the food arrived. After a delicious dinner that lived up to the wonderful reviews, the waitress brought out a small chocolate lava cake topped with vanilla ice cream, and two spoons. A red candle perched atop it like a lighthouse, signaling to everyone that it was supposedly Meg’s birthday. The flame flickered as several other members of the waitstaff joined their waitress at the table to sing a slightly off-key rendition of Happy Birthday. Meg’s face burned. By the end of the song, she was sure her cheeks glowed as brightly as the candle.

  They left, and Theo burst into laughter. “You should see yourself. You were pressed so tightly against your chair that I thought you’d disappear into it.”

  Meg glared at him and took a deep breath, then reminded herself he was only trying to cheer her up. “I’m not big on public attention.”

  He waved a hand in the air. “Eh, it wasn’t a big deal.” He took one of the spoons and held it over the dessert. “Are you willing to share?”

  Meg sighed. “Of course.” She picked up her own spoon and sampled the rich chocolate cake mixed with just the right amount of creamy, vanilla bean-specked ice cream. By anyone’s standards, it was excellent, but she couldn’t eat more than a few bites.

  “You don’t like it?” Theo gestured to the cake.

  “I liked it. I’m just full.” Her face had cooled, but her stomach was still unsettled from all of the attention on her fake birthday. “Go ahead and take the rest if you want.”

  His eyes widened and he reached for the plate. “I’m not going to pass up that offer.”