Marina clasped her hands. “Beyond happy. Completely fulfilled. Everyone I love is here now.”
Although Marina had welcomed Oliver into their family, she fervently hoped this wouldn’t be the last year Ginger would spend with them here.
But if it was, it was perfect.
8
“Thanks for managing the cafe today,” Marina said to Cruise, who would cook while a reliable part-timer would wait tables. “All the prep work is complete, and the holiday menu is fairly streamlined.”
“No worries,” he replied, gesturing toward only a few tables occupied for breakfast. “It will be slow today. Most people are shopping for gifts.”
“I’ll be back for dinner,” she said with a wave. They were also closing a little earlier.
Marina strolled along the winding pathway from the cafe to Ginger’s cottage, eager to talk to Ethan. She entered the kitchen, where she saw her grandmother seated at the red Formica table, sipping coffee and reading the Summer Beach bulletin.
“Good morning, darling,” Ginger said, lowering the newspaper.
“Is anyone else up?”
“Not yet. The kids came home late from the bonfire last night, and then they stayed up and talked by the fireplace.”
“This is the first time Heather and Ethan have been separated for any length of time. They probably had a lot to talk about.”
Ginger removed her reading glasses. “Holly was with them, too.”
As much as Ginger’s guest was growing on her, Marina was slightly concerned. “I hope Heather and Ethan still had a chance to catch-up.”
“It sounded like they were all having a good time.” A smile touched Ginger’s lips. “There was a lot of laughter floating up the stairs last night. I wouldn’t worry about them. They’re all adults now.”
Marina sighed and nodded. “When did that happen? It seems like yesterday they were still in grammar school.”
A commotion broke out upstairs, with Ethan yelling and Heather screaming with laughter. A door slammed, and Heather raced downstairs in her pajamas. Her long hair was still sleep-tousled.
“Hey, Mom. I didn’t hear you come in.” Still grinning, Heather hugged Marina and made straight for the coffeemaker.
“What happened up there?” Marina asked, amused at their antics.
Heather shrugged. “I woke up Ethan, that’s all. He’s gotten lazy.”
Marina shot a look at Ginger. “And how exactly did you wake him?”
“She bounced onto my bed and attacked me.” Ethan glared at his sister from the doorway. He still wore his pajama bottoms with a T-shirt.
“You can’t handle a little tickling like you used to do to me?” Heather poured two cups and handed one to her brother. “Here you go, grumpy Santa.”
Marina chuckled; things hadn’t changed between them. “Who is hungry?”
Ethan rubbed his face. “Starving, Mom.”
“As usual.” Marina glanced at Ginger. “Mind if I whip up breakfast?”
“Please. I love watching you cook. You’ll find plenty of eggs in the refrigerator.”
“Can you make one of your special omelets with biscuits, Mom? I miss those.”
“Wow, Ethan, you get special treatment,” Heather teased.
Marina picked up on that. “He’s going to help me right after he changes, aren’t you? We have a guest in the house.”
