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He snorted. “I’ve talked to a lot of people. I’m trying to learn what I can. I appreciate that Tess was willing to help out and walk me through things and that her staff all stayed on, but that doesn’t mean I’ve got time to smell the roses.”
His mother laughed at him. “We all need to take the time to smell the roses, Wesley. Even you.”
It was the last thing he wanted to do. He looked down at his hand where his wedding band had been until he moved here to close on the property. The faint outline was still present, but the time had come to take it off.
New state. New career. New home. That meant the life he had that he was drowning in had to be left behind too.
Or so his mother said.
“If you say so,” he said. “But the new signs are coming today at some point and if they show up while we are meeting with the florist I’m going to have to leave to take care of it.”
“That is fine,” his mother said. “I’m so excited. It took us long enough to design them.”
“I’m sure everyone is going to continue to call this the Whitney Marina and not the Wright Marina, but whatever. I want my name on it.”
“As you should,” his mother said. “Do you think people will start to call my restaurant Mona’s?”
“I think restaurant names are easier to catch on than the marina, but it is what it is.”
His mother and he had gone around the block on what to call the restaurant and he’d finally told her to name it after herself. She agreed. He wanted to say a name didn’t mean as much as the reputation his mother would build, but he knew that wasn’t always the case.
“Come,” his mother said. “Have a cup of coffee with me and let’s chat. Things are coming together and I’m glad the staff stayed on too. It makes me feel good they were willing to make some of the food changes.”
“If you want this to be a wedding venue, it can’t all just be pub-and-lunch-type foods, but I understand you don’t want something so fancy people shy away or don’t feel they are dressed appropriately coming off the water.”
“No,” his mother said. “I think it’s a nice mix. I tried to channel my inner Tampa for it. You can still get good quality, nicely presented food. Even burgers and chicken sandwiches. I’m looking for that perfect mix.”
“If anyone can find it, it’s you,” he said.
What he liked about this marina was the fact that it wasn’t the poshest. He wouldn’t have to rub elbows with the extremely wealthy in Connecticut, but more everyday people like him.
He’d had a great career he loved. One he’d worked hard at.
He wasn’t poor. No way. But he didn’t consider himself richly elite either.
His father had been out of his life for years. His mother’s job had put too much pressure on the marriage, so he’d left and found another woman to care for him. They were in contact but not often. Not enough to say he was close.
The money his family had came from his mother. She worked for it. She earned it. And this had been a little dream she’d had since she was a kid that she never thought would come true. The party planner part of the business.
Owning a marina had never been on his radar.
Sure, he loved the water and being on boats, but he’d never owned one. He spent more time on them since it was a love of Noelle’s. Even here though, it was more sailboats than what he was used to.
But he was going to learn because it was the only thing he had in his life currently.
“Thank you for that,” his mother said. “Oh, here they come. Be nice.”
He turned his head and saw the tall woman with light brown hair coming in. She looked to be pregnant but not too far along. There was a pang in his heart over never having that child he wanted.
The one next to her was a little shorter, maybe younger. Brown hair and a nice compact body on her.
Hmm, when was the last time he noticed that?
“Hello,” his mother said, moving toward the taller one. “You must be Lily. I recognize you from your picture on your website.”
“Yes. I’m Lily Bloom-Wolfe. This is Jasmine Greene. She is the brains that puts the beauty behind the greenhouses at Blossoms.”
“You grow your own flowers?” he asked.
