Surf, Sand and Skeletons Page 5

  After putting her new toy and its accessories in the storage closet behind her parking space, she went back upstairs, where she received an enthusiastic greeting from Ginger. She fixed herself a homemade pizza with some fresh dough and veggies she had brought earlier and put it in the oven to cook while she fed Ginger and showered off the sand and salt. Then she took Ginger for a walk while the pizza cooled on top of the stove.

  When she returned, she poured herself a generous glass of Merlot, took her pizza onto the balcony, and ate while overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.

  Connie had never dreamed she would be living this type of lifestyle at thirty-four: a condo on the beach, her own shop, and not stressing over money. Working for a non-profit her whole life, she had always lived frugally. It was still a new experience to be able to afford luxuries, such as her stand-up paddleboard.

  After dinner, Connie texted Elyse a selfie she had taken with her new board in the background with the message, Thanks for all your help today. You're the best!

  A few minutes later, Elyse responded, My pleasure, with a smiley face emoji.

  With the evening in front of her and nothing on the agenda, Connie decided to reread Natasha's diary to study it more closely. Maybe a second read-through would provide some fresh insight. She pulled the printouts from the drawer of one of her side tables and settled onto the couch with Ginger on her lap.

  Reading Natasha's diary was like looking through a window into her life, but one with an obstructed view. Some things about her were evident, while she seemed to talk about others in a veiled manner. She felt as if Natasha were reaching out to her from wherever she was, but in code rather than in plain English.

  However, one thing was consistently clear - the love she had for Victoria. Once again, it didn't seem possible that Natasha would have abandoned her daughter. Of course, if she did struggle with addiction, that could be a powerful force that caused people to do things outside their normal character. So, it was impossible to be certain.

  As Connie continued to study the diary, she noticed that several times Natasha referred to a close friend and confidant called Mac.

  I remember when I told Mac that I named my daughter Victoria to symbolize that my child would be victorious over the past, Natasha had written. He was so inspired by my reason for choosing that name that, once our nightmare was finally over, he got a tattoo of a majestic eagle. He said it would remind him of how we soared above so many challenges.

  As she came to the end of the last entry, a yawn stretched open her mouth, and she decided to call it a night. It must be the paddleboarding, she thought. I guess I'm not as fit as I thought.

  She returned the journal to the drawer and dropped into bed with the image of an eagle swirling around in her mind.

  Chapter 8

  The next few days flew by, as Connie, with Grace's faithful assistance, devoted her time to arranging product displays and merchandise throughout the shop. She gave the Fair Trade section a prime spot between the larger of the two front display windows and the red sofa. With a little over a week until the grand opening, there was still a lot of work left to do, but Connie was confident that it would get done in plenty of time.

  Despite her insistence that Grace take the day off, on Thursday morning they were back in the shop working side by side.

  Towards the end of the morning, Grace took a walk to get some fresh air, while Connie snapped pictures of the store's progress, along with some close-ups of an array of jewelry to post on social media. She was perusing the photos on her phone when a young woman with blond hair that reached halfway down the length of her back stepped inside and looked around the store.

  Grace was just returning from her walk when the woman entered the shop.

  "Hi," Connie said, with a friendly smile. "We haven't opened yet, but I'd be happy to tell you about Just Jewelry."

  "I know you don't open until next Saturday, but I've seen the contractors and moving van, and I've been dying to see what you're doing in here. My name is Penelope," she said, extending her hand. "I work for Gallagher now, but I used to work for Natasha back when this was Natasha's Boutique."

  "In that case, welcome back," Connie said, introducing herself and Grace. "I'm so sorry for your loss."

  Tears filled Penelope's eyes, and she looked away.

  Connie led the young woman over to the sofa, then took a seat in the armchair facing her, while Grace brought over three bottles of water and pulled out a package of tissue from her purse.

  "Thank you," she said, accepting a water from Grace and taking a tissue from the package. "I'm sorry. It's just that the last time I was in here, I was with Natasha." She dabbed her eyes.

  "So, you knew her well?" Grace asked.

  "She was my best friend. I miss her and Victoria so much."

  Grace sat next to Penelope and squeezed her arm. "I'm so sorry, honey."

  "Victoria's father won't even let me visit, not that I'd want to go to that place. But Jordan thought it was better for her to make a clean break from her life in Sapphire Beach."

  "Where are Victoria and Jordan now?" Connie asked.

  Penelope’s thoughts seemed far away. "They're living in the Panhandle."

  "I don't understand," Grace interjected. "Why wouldn't you want to go there?"

  Fear flashed in Penelope's eyes, and her hands began to tremble. "He’s just a horrible person. Natasha didn’t want Victoria raised by him, but Jordan's her father, so he automatically got custody. There was nothing I could do."

  Connie and Grace exchanged a confused glance.

  Penelope wasn’t making a lot of sense, but Connie didn’t want to press it. The young woman seemed to be on the verge of breaking down.

  "When was the last time you saw Victoria?" Connie asked.

  "I haven't seen her since the night Natasha disappeared. Natasha had seemed preoccupied that week, and I wasn't surprised when she called me to see if I could watch the baby for a little while, so she could get away and think. It was a slow June day, and another employee was working at the store, so we both had the evening off. I always loved spending time with Victoria, so I was happy to do it. When Natasha hadn’t returned by Victoria's bedtime, I started to get nervous. I put the baby down in my bed, and a few hours later, when she still didn't come back, I called the police."

  "Do you have any idea what had been on her mind?" Connie asked.

  Grace shot her a look, indicating she was being rude with so many questions, but Penelope didn't seem to mind. It looked like it was doing her good to talk about it, so Connie tried to pretend she didn't see Grace's hint.

  "I know that she came to Sapphire Beach for a fresh start away from the baby's father. She definitely didn't want him in her life." Penelope, whose gaze had settled on a palm tree across the street, suddenly looked back at Connie. "Why are you so interested?"

  Connie thought about mentioning the diary but didn't want to upset Penelope unnecessarily. She leaned back on the couch and thought about it. "I guess it's because I, too, came to Sapphire Beach to fulfill a dream, and I kind of feel we were kindred spirits in that sense. I admire that she wanted a new life, whatever past she was looking to escape, and she seemed like a good mother. Since we share the same shop, I guess we have a built-in connection."

  Penelope smiled. "She was a great mom and a special person. She was a free spirit, although I get the sense she settled down when her daughter was born. I don't know a lot of the details about her life before Sapphire Beach, but I don’t believe that she skipped town without Victoria. Some have mentioned a drug history, but I never saw any signs of that, and between working together and being friends, I was with her almost every day."

  Connie smiled warmly. "Hopefully the police can solve the mystery. And if I figure anything out, I will let you know."

  Penelope thanked her. "By the way, I love what you're doing here. I think handmade jewelry will do well in this town, and I love the Fair Trade angle. I will be sure to stop by the grand opening and
tell my friends about it."

  After she and Grace walked Penelope to the door, Connie took a seat at the large wooden table to work on advertising and her online presence but was distracted by Grace, who had followed her to the table and stood with her hands on her hips, glaring down at Connie.

  "Can I help you?" Connie said, trying to suppress her laughter.

  "Why all the questions about Natasha's disappearance? You just promise me you'll stay out of it and let the police handle it. Remember how you almost got killed in January when you investigated those murders at Palm Paradise?"

  "There's nothing to worry about. I was just asking a few questions, and besides, it seemed to do Penelope some good to talk about it."

  "Okay," Grace said, giving Connie a kiss on the top of her head. "I'm just watching out for you."

  "I know," Connie said, "and I love you for it."

  Since Connie planned to do computer work for the rest of the afternoon, she convinced Grace take the rest of the day off. She spent the next couple of hours at the table uploading photos onto her social media accounts and the website.

  One of the advantages to having worked at a small non-profit was that Connie had a lot of practice with various facets of running a business, so knew how to design a website and maximize her exposure on social media. Now that she was starting her own business, she was grateful for the experience. It now seemed providential that, a few years ago, Sam sent her to take some classes on marketing and web design.

  Before logging out, she spent some time searching out other local businesses and following their social media pages and feeds. This would help her to stay in the loop and increase her shop’s visibility. Then she began inviting others to like her pages, as well, scrolling through her connections and searching for people who lived in the area. Connie was starting small, but at least it was a start.

  Shortly after Connie closed her computer, a woman with short, bleach-blond hair and looked to be in her late fifties peeked into the store, carrying a Bromeliad plant. She scanned the shop, and when she spotted Connie at the table, her tired expression gave way to a bright smile.

  "Hi, I'm Ruby. I've been meaning to stop by to introduce myself, but I just haven't had a spare minute all week. I own the souvenir shop next door. I just saw your social media post and thought I'd come by while we have a bit of a lull."

  Connie was pleased that her networking was already bearing fruit.

  Ruby offered the Bromeliad to Connie, who accepted it gratefully and placed it on the coffee table in front of the couch, while Ginger welcomed Ruby in her own sweet way. The red plant added some additional color to store's seating area.

  "Can I get you a glass of iced tea?" Connie offered. "I brewed some fresh this morning."

  "I would love one, but I'll have to make it a quick visit," she said, looking at her watch. "My sales associate will only be there a little while longer."

  Connie poured tea into two ice-filled glasses, added a few leaves from one of her mint plants, and brought them to her guest. She put them on a white tray with painted hydrangeas next to a glass bowl filled with sugar packets and placed it on the coffee table in front of Ruby. She was glad to have already brought in the mint plants. They lent a homey feel to her drinks, and it was important to Connie that her store be a place where people felt welcome and enjoyed spending time, especially once she started her jewelry-making classes. She wanted her students to feel at home, as if they could stop by at any time with the questions they would undoubtedly have.

  "Thank you for coming by, Ruby. It's wonderful to know I have such friendly neighbors," Connie said, handing Ruby a glass.

  "Oh, it's a great little community here. We support one another," Ruby said, taking two packets of sugar from the bowl and emptying them into her iced tea. "I was glad Mickey finally got this place rented. It's a great little spot," she said, motioning to the people passing by the front window. "Despite his problems with the previous renter."

  "Were there problems between Mickey and Natasha?" Connie asked.

  "Well, I can't say for sure, but I did see Mickey and Natasha in a heated argument last June. I tried to keep walking and pretend I didn't hear anything, but Mickey was steaming. Something about her being late with her rent again, even though business seemed good."

  "Do you remember if there was a lot of traffic in her store during that time?"

  "My souvenir shop did have a very profitable season last spring. And judging from the number of customers leaving her store with bags filled to the brim, it looked like Natasha was having a good spring, as well."

  That was interesting. It was looking more and more as if business had indeed been good for Natasha, yet she was struggling to pay her rent.

  When the women finished their iced tea, Ruby had to get back to the shop. Before leaving, she perused the Fair Trade section of the store, which was pretty much set up and ready to go.

  "I love the jewelry you have. Selling Fair Trade is such a fabulous idea. Let me know how it goes. I was thinking maybe I could carry a few Fair Trade handbags in my store."

  "I certainly will," Connie said, ecstatic at the possibility. "In fact, some of my artisans also make handbags, so if you are seriously interested, I could contact them about it."

  "I am, but I'll let you get through your grand opening first. Then we can talk."

  "Sounds like a plan. I'm so glad you stopped by. I've been meaning to visit other stores on the beach to introduce myself, but just haven't had the time. Now I'm putting it at the top of my list of priorities."

  "I'd be happy to take you around some time if you'd like. Stop by when you have a chance, and we can make arrangements."

  Chapter 9

  On Friday morning, Connie awoke before her alarm went off. After breakfast and Ginger's morning walk, she decided to take advantage of the beautiful morning and go for a short paddle along the shore before work. The salty air in her lungs and the sound of birds calling to one another as they glided through the air above the water was like a reboot for her anxious mind.

  Refreshed, she stopped in the lobby for the mail on her way back upstairs and ran into Gertrude relaxing in a wingback chair and chatting with another resident. Gertrude introduced Connie to her friend, Margaret, and proceeded to tell her all about Just Jewelry. "I'll be at the grand opening next Saturday," Gertrude said. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

  As Connie waited at the elevator, she couldn't help but smile when she heard Gertrude strongly encouraging Margaret to come and bring friends. With friends like Gertrude spreading the word, the grand opening was sure to be a success.

  After a quick shower, Connie and Ginger headed into the store to continue getting it ready for the big day, which was quickly approaching. She went out back to put away the juicer and fresh fruit she had purchased to provide those much-needed afternoon energy boosts. She had set up a cart in the storage room next to the refrigerator, along with her electric kettle and an assortment of tea. There was a back door next to the storage room, so she kept her mint plants on a shelf out back, where they would get plenty of sunshine. She also had a separate tiny cart for Ginger's food and treats. The shop was really starting to feel like home away from home.

  Connie couldn't resist snapping a photo of her fruit and juicer and texting it to Gallagher, along with the message: Your healthy lifestyle is inspiring me. I even got a paddleboard last weekend.

  Gallagher responded within a few seconds. You do me proud.

  Throughout the rest of the morning, Connie settled into a rhythm of cleaning and stocking, and at 2:00, Grace arrived unexpectedly with a picnic basket in hand.

  "What are you doing here?” Connie asked. “It's your day off."

  "I know, but I was finishing up some housework and figured you would be ready to stop for lunch about now, so I packed some sandwiches. I thought we could both take a break and have lunch together."

  Connie gave Grace a one-armed hug, then brought the basket over to the table. "What would I do wit
hout you?"

  She unpacked two turkey and swiss sandwiches with lettuce and tomato on wheat bread, some carrot sticks, two small bags of popcorn, and two cans of cranberry-lime seltzer water.

  "It looks fabulous in here," Grace said, admiring the newly-stocked shelves. "You will easily be ready by next week."

  "I hope so. All that's really left is to price the merchandise and continue to get the word out. I've been doing everything I can to spread the word through social media and advertising. I even took out an ad in the church bulletin."

  While they were eating, Connie told Grace about meeting Ruby the previous day and her offer to take them around and introduce them to some other shop owners. At Grace's insistence, they took a walk next door after lunch to see if by Ruby happened to be free.

  "Your timing is perfect. My ace employee is working today, and she can handle the store alone for a little while," Ruby said, flashing a smile to a young woman behind the counter who was ringing up a customer.

  Grace and Ruby hit it off like old friends, and Connie could barely get a word in edgewise as the two of them got acquainted. It warmed her heart to see Grace making a new friend, especially one who worked so close.

  They made their way through the downtown streets, most of which ran perpendicular to the beach, following Ruby into many of the shops. There were several souvenir shops, clothing boutiques, and restaurants. If the owners were present, Ruby introduced them, and if not, Connie and Grace talked with the employees. Connie handed out the cards she had printed with information about the grand opening, and many promised to stop by before or after their shifts that day.

  "We try to support one another around here, like good neighbors," Ruby said. "I think you'll find it's a nice business community to be a part of."

  Ruby had strategically planned their last stop at an ice cream shop.

  "I like your style," Connie said, eyeing the endless flavors of ice cream through the glass counter.