Fish Perfume (Cozy Harbor Marina Series) Read online

  As we pulled into the marina, we saw Ian on The Stalwart getting fuel. He looked over at us and waved. Mac and I waved back. I glanced at Mac who had a big smile on his face, and I could feel the blood rush up to mine. It doesn’t take much to make me blush. I hate that about myself.

  He nodded his head and with a twinkle in his eyes said, “I have a good feeling about you two.”

  I blushed again and changed the subject. “Mac, you know I still haven’t heard from my Gram. I know my mother will call again this weekend, and she’ll have a fit if I don’t have some news.”

  “I’m sure your Gram will call soon, honey. Try not to worry.”

  “Thanks for a great afternoon. It helped take my mind off Gram. I hope you’ll ask me again.”

  “I’d cook the clams for you tonight, but it’s my poker night with the guys. You take some, though.”

  I took some clams to steam for dinner, and Mac took the rest.

  “Meggie, how about we go again next Tuesday afternoon?”

  “I’d love to. You know people will begin to talk Mac,” I said jokingly.

  “Maybe it will make the young fellas jealous,” he said.

  We both laughed, and I took the clams up to the cottage to put in the fridge for later.

  I then made my way over to the store to check on things, do some paperwork, and call some suppliers. I caught onto things faster and more easily than I thought. Maybe I inherited some marina gene. After all, I’m the fourth generation in my family to work at the marina. After I closed up shop, I decided to go for a walk down to the beach. I needed to start getting more exercise. I’ve been eating all of Mo’s good food for breakfast and lunch. I didn’t want to gain a lot of weight this summer. My mom always said, “A moment on the lips, ten years on the hips.”

  This is one of my favorite times of day, especially at the beach. All the daytime beachgoers were gone, and there were just a few people walking their dogs or just taking a stroll. I walked to the left and continued all the way to the rocks. This side of the channel was called Jerusalem, and the other side was Galilee. Galilee was a fishing village and home to not only large fishing vessels, but to the Block Island ferries. It was a popular spot for tourists. People stop and buy fried clams or chowder from the restaurants, then sit on the rocks and watch the boats come in and out of the channel. I sat on the rocks for a while enjoying the passing boats and the view, which included the Point Judith lighthouse. The sun was getting ready to set, so I headed back home.

  The phone was ringing when I opened the door. I ran to answer it, dreading the likelihood that it was my mother.

  “Meggie, it’s Gram. How are you? How are things going?”

  Thank God. Just in the nick of time.

  “Oh, Gram, I’ve been so worried about you. Where are you?”

  “Oh honey, I’m fine. I’m in San Diego visiting an old friend of mine. I haven’t called because we took a cruise to the Channel Islands and I just got back today.”

  “Mom’s really worried. I thought it would be her calling from New Zealand. She threatened to come home and track you down.”

  “Well, I’m sorry to have caused such a fuss.”

  “You were just so sketchy about your plans, and it was so unlike you to take off like that.”

  “I didn’t want to say too much about the trip and make a big deal about it, just in case I changed my mind and came home early. But, that isn’t going to happen; I’m having the time of my life.”

  I asked her, “Who’s this friend you’re visiting?”

  “Well, it’s a very old friend of mine I knew before I got married. We ran into each other in Newport last winter and got reacquainted. My friend lives in San Diego and invited me for a visit. I needed a change, and here I am having more fun than I’ve had in years. So, you can tell your mother not to worry. I promise I’ll call more often. How are things at the marina?”

  “Going surprisingly well, to my amazement. There were a few problems among the customers, but I sorted them out. Greg is pretty busy in the shop, and Journey and I are handling the store and office. She’s a nice girl. I love her outfits.”

  “She’s definitely an original. She’s a good kid. Have you been having any fun? I don’t want you to work too hard. Go out sometime. Go down to Kelly’s Bar on Friday or Saturday night. They have good music, and people of all ages go there. I even go once in a while when they have a good Irish band.”

  “I’ll do that, Gram. I hope you don’t mind, but my friend Helen is coming to visit for a week in July?”

  “Not at all. I’m glad she’s coming. You girls have fun.”

  “Thanks, and I can’t tell you how relieved I am to finally hear from you. Keep me posted on your vacation. Can you give me a number where I can reach you?”

  She rattled off some numbers and said, “If I don’t get right back to you, it means we’ve gone off to Palm Springs or Santa Barbara for a few days. We may even hit the Napa wine country at some point.”

  “You really should think about getting a cell phone.”

  She chuckled. “Maybe one of these days. Well, take care, honey, and thank you so much for taking over for me. I love you.”

  “Love you too, Gram, bye.”

  “Bye, sweetie,” she said.

  I knew worrying about Gram was probably ruining my parents’ trip, so I wanted them to know as soon as possible that I’d heard from her. I called my brother Charlie’s cell and left a message saying Gram called and she was in San Diego with an old friend having a blast.

  I was so relieved, I felt like celebrating. I opened a bottle of Chardonnay and poured myself a glass. I cooked my clams, tossed them over some pasta with a little garlic and olive oil, and made a salad. A girl has to be good to herself, right?

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Days fly by here because there’s so much to do. Orders need to be placed, shelves stocked, and bills paid. So many people stop by to chat and though I enjoy talking to them, then I have to hustle to get all my other work done. Talking to them is always a riot because they’re a cast of characters. My favorite part of the day is when I pop into the Snack Shack.

  As soon as Journey showed up on Friday morning, I went over to the Shack to grab a cup of coffee. There was a woman sitting at the counter. Mo introduced us. Her name was Deb. She had short brown hair and a friendly smile. She had on gray shorts, a yellow T-shirt and a baseball cap that proclaimed “I’d rather be sailing.” Mo had told me about Deb and her partner, Terry. They have the sailboat You Go Girl over on C dock. Known to locals as “the girls,” they’ve been a couple for about fifteen years. Deb is a retired police officer, and Terry is a successful divorce lawyer. They’d bought their boat last year and it was their second season at the marina.

  I asked Mo for a cup of coffee and sat down at the counter.

  Deb asked, “How’s it going, Meggie?”

  “It’s going great. I finally heard from my grandmother. She’s in San Diego having a wonderful time with an old friend.”

  “I’m so glad she’s enjoying herself. Your grandmother is one of my favorite people. When Terry and I came here to talk to her about getting a slip, she was so nice. She made us feel really welcome,” Deb said.

  “My grandmother has the knack of making everyone feel at home.”

  “She’s a sweetheart all right,” Mo said.

  Big Howard walked into the Shack.

  He looked around and zeroed in on Deb. “I’m glad I found you here. I’ve been looking for you.”

  Deb asked, “What’s up?”

  “Well, I need to get Terry’s number at work. I want her to represent my sister in her divorce,” he said.

  Mo looked shocked. She said, “Oh no. Tell me you’re not talkin’ about Sue?”

  “Oh yes, I’m talking about
Sue. That no-good Dave decided to trade her in after twenty years of marriage and two kids,” he said in disgust.

  Mo asked, “Why? Sue is the sweetest girl I’ve ever met.”

  “Well, he traded her in for some twenty-four-year-old salesgirl he picked up at a mall in Georgia. He was on a business trip.”

  Mo shook her head and said, “That dirty dog. You let a man out of eyeball range, forget it.”

  Big H said, “Deb, Sue needs a good lawyer. I want Terry to rip Dave to shreds and bleed him dry. When that girl realizes he’s an asshole and broke, she’ll leave old Dave high and dry. Let him see how it feels.”

  Deb got a pen and piece of paper from Mo and wrote down Terry’s number and handed it to Big H.

  “Terry’s at the office today, so you should have no trouble reaching her. I’m sure she would be happy to take Sue’s case. Terry isn’t a good sailor, but she’s a dynamite lawyer. She always goes out of her way for her clients. Sue and the kids will be in good hands,” Deb assured him.

  “Thanks, Deb, I’ll go give her a call. Mornin’, ladies,” he said and left the Shack.

  Mo shook her head and said, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Big H so worked up. I guess this business with Sue is bringing back memories of his girlfriend Ginger.”

  Deb asked, “What happened with Ginger?”

  Mo said, “Big H and Ginger lived together for fifteen years. About five years ago, Ginger started foolin’ around with a much younger guy she was workin’ with. Big H found out about it and tossed her out on her rump. I haven’t seen him with anyone since. Of course, that doesn’t mean he isn’t seein’ someone, maybe he just hasn’t brought her down the marina.”

  “I guess under those circumstances it can be a big blow to a person’s ego, whether you’re male or female,” Deb said.

  I asked Mo, “Have you ever thought about dating Big H? He seems like a good guy and you would look cute together.”

  Mo arched her brow and said, “Believe me, that thought has crossed my mind a thousand times. I’d go out with that big hunk of love in a New York minute, but I think,” she raised her hands and made quotation marks, “he’s just not that into me. He’s certainly had plenty of opportunities to ask me on a date. He’ll come and sit at the counter and talk to me for hours. Sometimes I pick up a lusty vibe from him, but nothin’ ever happens. Sometimes it’s hard to control myself. I just want to leap over the counter, grab him by his fish-blood-stained T-shirt, push him against the wall, and… Oh, sorry, girls, I got carried away.”

  Deb and I looked at each other and laughed. “That’s okay,” I reassured her.

  Mo said, “I got so much passion stored up in my body, sometimes I feel like my head’s gonna blow off. I’ve gotta get me a man soon. This isn’t good for my blood pressure.”

  Deb asked, “Does Big H know you’re dating online?”

  Mo threw up her hands and said, “You’d have to be deaf, dumb, and blind not to know that around here. One time I was tellin’ Dancing Kathy and Marion about a guy I just met. Big H was sittin’ at the counter and got a real grouchy look on his face, slammed a dollar down on the counter for his coffee, and stormed out. Marion and Kathy think he has the hots for me and got jealous. He could very well like me, but what’s a girl to do?”

  I said, “I feel sorry for his sister.”

  Mo agreed. “Yeah, it’s a shame about Sue. Why can’t people just stick with their own age group? You got old geezers takin’ Viagra wantin’ young girls. You got middle-aged women wantin’ boy toys. If someone really wants to get laid, it isn’t that hard to find someone your own age to do it with. I bet I could get laid five times on the way home if I wanted to. Okay, I would probably have to stop off at the VFW and the American Legion Hall, but I could find willin’ partners my own age.”

  Deb and I started laughing.

  “Mo, you’re a riot,” Deb said.

  “Well, I’d better get back to work. I’ll see you later,” I said. I went back to the office and settled down to do the payroll.

  Just as I was finishing up, Journey popped her head in my office.

  “Meggie, I’m leaving now. Just thought I’d let you know,” she said.

  “Thanks. I guess I’ll close up and call it a day, too.”

  “Hey, Dash and I are going to Kelly’s tonight if you’d like to join us.”

  I thought about it for a few seconds and answered, “You know, I think I’ll take you up on that. I haven’t been out since I got here, and I could use a night out.”

  “Dash and I like to go a little early before it gets too crowded. How about we swing by and pick you up around eight?”

  “That would be great. Thanks for asking me.”

  “No problem. See you later.”

  After she left, I closed up the store and went to the cottage to hunt through my closet. I was hoping I would run into Ian around the marina, but I haven’t seen him since Tuesday when Mac and I came back from clamming. I can’t seem to stop thinking about him. Maybe a night out will get him out of my head.

  I ate some leftover stir-fry I had made last night, took a shower, and got dressed. I decided to wear my favorite white skirt with a pink tank top and my shell belt. I put on some white sandals and finished my outfit off with a silver necklace, earrings, and bracelet. Since it wasn’t that humid today and my hair looked great after I dried it, I decided to wear it down. I put on a little blush, some mascara and lipstick, and I was ready to go.

  I’m looking forward to tonight. Maybe I’ll meet some cute guy and tomorrow I won’t remember who Ian is or why I thought he was so great. I can’t imagine that happening, but I’ll try my best. No sense torturing myself about something that will never happen. Time to move on.

  Journey and Dash picked me up in Dash’s old Ford Explorer, and we headed to Kelly’s Pub. I’d been to Kelly’s with my parents a couple of times for dinner years ago when we were up here on vacation. Kelly’s is your typical local tavern. It’s nothing fancy, but they have good pub food and great music. It’s right on the beach, and it’s frequented mostly by locals, although in the summer it gets its share of tourists as well.

  When we got out of the car, I had a good look at Journey’s outfit for the evening. Her hair was spiked out and she sported the usual variety of jewelry. She was in total black tonight with a T-shirt that said “Why Not?” in big white letters, and big baggy black pants that hung low on her waist, exposing yet another piercing on her belly button, where a silver peace sign dangled. I couldn’t even make out what was on her feet, her pants were so long. Dash had on a pair of baggy jeans also, and an army green T-shirt. Dash was a cute guy, but he also was into the piercing thing. He had them in his ears, eyebrows, and nose. Next to them, I looked like Sandy in the movie Grease before the Pink Ladies did her makeover.

  As soon as we opened the door, the smell of beer-battered onion rings, chicken wings, fried shrimp, burgers, and fries hit me. Even though it was early, the pub was pretty full. All the tables were taken, but we did manage to get the last three stools at the bar. I was on the end, then Journey, then Dash. I bought the first round, since they were nice enough to invite me. I got my usual Coors Light, Journey had a Newport Storm, and Dash ordered a Bud.

  I turned to Journey and asked, “Do you know who’s playing tonight?”

  She pointed to the flyer on the bar and said, “It’s a local band called Midnight Express. They’re really good. They play a combination of things. A little reggae, some top forties stuff, and some classic rock and roll for the older crowd.”

  “Sounds great. Do you guys come here often?” I asked.

  “Every now and then, not too often. Dash’s cousin actually plays in the band. He’s the drummer, so we usually show up when they do a gig here.”

  Just then Dash turned around and with genuine dismay, an
d said, “I was going to introduce you to my cousin Tommy, but I found out today he got back with his old girlfriend.”

  I rolled my eyes. “That’s the story of my life, Dash, but I appreciate the thought. Do you go to the University of Rhode Island, too?”

  “No, New England Tech. I’m a media major. I hope to eventually get into documentary film making,” he said in a surprisingly serious tone.

  Curious, I asked, “What kind of films do you want to make?”

  “Well, I’m an environmentalist, so I think that will be my focus,” he said.

  Just then we heard two loud blasts of a horn and half the guys in the bar ran outside.

  I jumped halfway off my stool. I turned to Journey and asked, “What’s going on?”

  She answered, “There must be a fire somewhere. Most of the local volunteer firemen hang out here.”

  A minute later, they all came back in the bar and one of them shouted, “False alarm.”

  Just after that, the band started. For only three musicians, they had a great sound. We listened to the first set and when they took a break, Journey turned to me and asked, “Would you mind if Dash and I left for a little while? We want to take a little walk on the beach.”

  I said, “Sure, go right ahead. I’ll try and save your seats.”

  I ordered myself another beer and as I was doing so, I felt a large presence behind me. I turned around and saw two huge guys. They were both about six-four and looked as if they could’ve been linebackers. I blinked my eyes; I thought I was seeing double until I realized they were identical twins. They ordered a couple of beers. They were cute guys with dirty blond hair, baby faces, and they looked to be about my age. They were wearing shorts; one had on a black T-shirt, while the other one had on a yellow Hawaiian shirt.