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Connor nodded slowly. "I know. I just...I don't want to lose her. I've never felt this way about anyone before. I’ve never been jealous before, either. Ugh. It’s so weird anduncomfortable."
Ariel smiled kindly at him. He was a good kid. And she remembered the days of high school emotion and first love. "I understand. But you have to trust that she feels the same way about you—likes you, that is. Not that she’s uncomfortable.”
Connor laughed lightly, but Ariel could still see the worry in his eyes.
“And now, you should go home and cool off. Come back tonight for dinner, and we'll talk more then."
Connor nodded and left the room, leaving Ariel alone with her thoughts. Connor and Katie were both so young and still had so much to learn about love and trust—heck, Ariel herself still had a lot to learn about love and trust, and she was grown. Ariel hoped that they would be able to work through their problems and come out stronger on the other side. But for now, all she could do was support them and hope for the best.
As she walked into the front living room, headed to the west wing to prepare Emily’s room herself, she passed Darcy. She could see the concern etched on his face as well.
"What's going on?" he asked in a low voice, trying to be discreet. “I just saw Katie and Connor leave. Katie slammed the front door. Everything okay?”
Ariel nodded, feeling her face heat. No way was she going to tell Darcy that Katie and Connor were fighting because of him. "Can you help me turn over a room real quick?”
Darcy’s face registered surprise, but he nodded. “Sure. Anything I can do to help."
Ariel smiled gratefully, and they moved toward the room. Ariel was lost in thought as they stripped the bed and set about putting on fresh linens. She was worried about Katie.
In short order, she and Darcy had the bed remade, the bathroom spotless, the carpet vacuumed, and a fresh vanilla and spice candle burning on the dresser. Ariel thanked Darcy and went to show Emily to the room.
"I'm so sorry for the inconvenience," Ariel said as Emily looked around the suite. "Is there anything else I can do to make your stay more comfortable?"
Emily shook her head, looking grateful. "No, this is perfect. And that fruit salad was to die for! Thank you so much for your help."
Ariel left the room feeling relieved that she had been able to accommodate Emily’s stay. Leeside was going tostayfull for the holiday weekend.
As she made her way back to the main office, Ariel couldn't help but fret about Katie and Connor's argument. But she knew that she had to trust her daughter to handle her own problems, at least for the time being.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Seaside Café buzzed with activity. Opening night! Ariel was in her element. She had spent weeks preparing for this moment, and now, with the guests arriving and the kitchen in full swing, she felt alive. Ariel surveyed the dining room, expansive now that all the non-load-bearing walls had been taken out in the entire east wing, allowing for twenty tables to be placed around the space. She was in love with this part of the renovation, and she reveled in all the opulent details of the decor. Every corner of it was imbued with history and character.
The restaurant was a swanky affair, with a luxurious interior that exuded elegance and sophistication. The walls were adorned with richly colored tapestries and intricate artwork, while ornate chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the space. The high ceilings and large windows let in plenty of natural light—and at this time of day, the streaky kaleidoscope of the sunset could be seen from the same windows. Plush velvet chairs and linen tablecloths added a touch of refinement. The polished hardwood floors gleamed underfoot, and soft classical music played in the background, lending a soothing ambiance to the room. The overall effect was elegant and refined.
She walked past the bar, noting the shiny brass taps and the array of bottles lining the shelves. The bartender was busy polishing glasses, and Ariel nodded in greeting as she passed by. The bar area was separated from the dining room by a low wall, and the seating area out on the porch at this side of the house allowed guests to enjoy a drink before or after their meal in a more casual setting.
As she reached the back of the restaurant, Ariel bustled down the hallway and entered the kitchen area. It was a hive of activity. The air was filled with the savory scents of cooking food, and she felt her stomach grumble in response. But now was not the time. She had hired a couple extra sets of hands to help Darcy, since she wanted to be the face of the restaurant tonight, but Ariel couldn’t wait to be the one churning out dishes in the kitchen in the coming weeks.
Ariel made her way over to the prep area, where Darcy was working on a large cutting board. He looked up as she approached, wiping his hands on a towel.
"Hey there, boss lady," he said with a grin. "What brings you back here?"
"Just checking on things," she replied, glancing around the busy kitchen. "Everything looks good. How's the timing going for tonight?"
"We're on schedule," he assured her. "Appetizers have been going out like clockwork. In about ten minutes, we’ll start on entrée tickets."
"Great," she said with a nod. "I'm going to head back out there. Let me know if you need anything."
"Will do," Darcy said, turning back to his work. Then, he paused and looked back up. “Hey, Ariel?”
She paused herself. “Yes?”
“Who’s the brunette in the blue dress out there? You were talking with her earlier. I think she’s sitting at the table with Kurt.”
Charlie hadn’t come to the opening tonight because of a kid schedule conflict, but her husband, Kurt, had—and Ariel had settled him at a table with one of her closest friends in Endless Harbor. The woman dressed to the nines in the sparkly blue mermaid-hemmed dress was none other than Jill, diner diva extraordinaire.
“That’s Jill,” Ariel said, narrowing her eyes at Darcy. “Why do you ask?”
