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Eloise leaned into the counter just as Madeline Lancaster and Julia Harper came into the living room. Her mouth instantly watered, because both of them were excellent cooks. Maddy worked at The Glass Dolphin, for crying out loud, and it had quickly been hailed as Five Island Cove’s newest premier restaurant.
“In the kitchen,” Alice said, pointing. “El will help you.”
The women came toward her, Tessa Simmons right behind them. They each carried a tray of something delectable, and Eloise wanted to try the stuffed dates Maddy had, as well as the cheese and spinach mushroom caps in Julia’s hands.
Tessa cleared a spot for Abe, her boyfriend, to put down the largest meat and cheese platter El had ever seen. “My goodness,” she said.
“He’s almost retired from the deli,” Tessa said with a beaming smile at him. “Then he’s going to move here.”
“That’s amazing.” Eloise smiled at the two of them. “Are you two going to—?” She cut herself off, because it wasn’t any of her business if they got married or not. Not everyone wanted to be legally bound to their partner, and she wished she could take the words back.
“She’s going to have to fight me for Robin,” Maddy said. “If someone would ever ask me to marry him.” She gave Ben a pointed look, and he simply smiled at her.
“Hey, I’m not engaged either,” Tessa said. Julia met Eloise’s eyes, and she’d heard her lament her fifth-wheel status plenty over the past few months since they’d started working together.
She’d had a boyfriend for Maddy’s son’s wedding, but once she’d moved to the cove, they’d split up. Eloise liked Julia a lot, and she’d invited her to the luncheons and events over the months that she did with her friends.
Julia had attended here and there, but nothing consistent. Eloise hadn’t asked her why she hadn’t come; she simply kept inviting.
Alice’s house groaned with the addition of Laurel and Paul, but they came in with a couple of bags of groceries that Paul unloaded loudly as he explained that James was “being a beast” and refusing to eat, then screaming loudly that he was hungry.
He laughed about it, but Laurel looked a little worn around the edges. She’d already given her baby to Alice, and Eloise would be able to get him from her. If Robin got that baby, El would have to beg to be able to hold him.
She met Aaron’s eyes, and he looked over to the beautiful, dark-haired boy in Alice’s arms. Eloise couldn’t help the pinch of want in her belly, and she simply smiled at Aaron when he looked at her again.
She migrated over to his side, taking Julia with her.
They’d been trying for a baby for a couple of months now, which Eloise knew was no time at all. She wasn’t even sure she could have a baby. Her doctor had said there wasn’t a reason other than age, and Eloise had told Aaron she wanted to try.
They both knew how and when babies were made, and she hooked her arm through his. He leaned his head down, and she swept her lips across his cheek, and whispered, “I’m going to be stress-free all day.”
He grinned at the code between them, and then nodded to Julia. “Hey, there, Jules,” he said to her. Then he nodded over to someone Eloise hadn’t seen come in. “Look who Paul brought.”
Beside her, Julia pulled in a breath. Probably silent to Aaron, but Eloise stood closer and had excellent hearing.
Eloise brightened and switched her arm from Aaron’s to Julia’s. “Oh, Liam, I’m so glad you’re here.”
“El,” Julia hissed, but El moved by her and then took her with her.
“I wanted you to meet a good friend of mine. I think Paul’s mentioned her.” She realized she’d drawn the attention of Alice and Robin, as well as AJ, Kelli, and Kristen. She met Billie’s eyes too, and the girl looked absolutely horrified. She got to her feet and everything.
All of it screamed at her tostop, and yet she was already in motion. Couldn’t be stopped.
Liam’s smiled slipped as Eloise rounded the table. He looked from her to Julia, and then to a teenage boy who came to his side.
Eloise did stop there, her mind short-circuiting. “Liam, this is Julia. Julia, this is one of Aaron’s cops.”
Liam Coldwater grinned at her, that lopsided grin that probably drove women like Julia crazy. “Oh, come on, El. You usually say I’m one of hisbettercops.”
Eloise smiled too, recovering quickly. “You’re right.” She looped her arm through Julia’s and brought her to her side, ignoring Billie as she waved one hand above her head. Aaron saw that, his frown catching in El’s peripheral vision.
“This is Julia Harper, one of mybettermanagers at the inn.”
Liam had slid a mask into place, and he shook Julia’s hand. Eloise could see the spark of interest in his eyes, but Julia looked one breath away from passing out.
“This is my son,” Liam said. He clapped the teen on the back, grinning and obviously proud of his boy. “Ian.”
El knew that name, and she cocked her head at the handsome blonde boy. She couldn’t quite place it, and she looked past the pair of them to Billie again.
