The Path to Sunshine Cove (Cape Sanctuary #2) - RaeAnne Thayne Page 0,34

with a message inside from some school in Japan studying ocean currents. They asked anybody finding one to email back. I can’t wait to see if I get an answer.”

“That’s great! My kids are always looking for them!”

“We found it last night after dinner when we all went down to Sunshine Cove. So after Gram and I came back and left Jess and Dad down there, I sent the email to Japan and then sent the pic of the dress to McKenna, who showed it to her mom, who said she had the perfect necklace and earrings to go with it.”

“It’s nice,” Jess said, apparently following that long-winded explanation. “I like the way the colors complement each other.”

Somehow Rachel managed to keep her jaw from sagging. Was this really her former military truck–driving, no-nonsense sister talking about fashion?

“I can’t believe you found such a great dress in a closet,” Rachel said.

“Jess found a bunch of cool clothes. Lots of them fit me, too. Gram says I can keep whatever I want.”

“Which seems to me just a way of moving Gram’s clutter from Whitaker House to our place,” Nate pointed out. “That hardly seems fair.”

Jess shrugged. “My job is to help your mom clean out her place. You can’t hold me responsible for the amount of clutter that migrates from her house to yours.”

Nate laughed and Rachel could swear she saw Jess give a smile in return before her mouth straightened up again.

What in the world? Something was definitely up between the two of them.

“We were just about to grab dinner with my mom. You’re both welcome to join us.”

Rachel was almost tempted to call The Fishwife and cancel their reservations just so she could see if her initial instincts were right.

“Thanks, but we have reservations,” Jess said. “And we should probably get going so we’re not late.”

“Too bad,” Sophie said with a little pout.

“But totally understandable,” Nate said. “Have a good evening.”

“You, as well,” Rachel said. “Give my love to your mom.”

“I will.”

They waved and headed on their way toward the house, and Rachel and Jess both climbed into her van.

“Nate is such a great guy,” Rachel said as she started driving the short distance to downtown. “Half the women in town are in love with him and the other half are in lust.”

“Including you?” Jess asked.

“No!” Rachel exclaimed. “I have Cody.”

For now, anyway. Until he decided not to put up with his bitchy wife anymore. She felt that familiar tremor of fear, the helpless feeling that washed over her whenever she worried she wasn’t doing enough to keep her marriage together.

She pushed it away for now, determined to try harder.

The Fishwife was busy, as always.

“Good thing I made a reservation,” she said as she and Jess walked through the crowd of waiting people.

Inside, she greeted the hostess, Maria Sanchez, a college student whose mom went to spin class with Rachel.

“Your table isn’t quite ready. I’m sorry. It’s being bused now so should be soon. Would you like to wait in the bar?”

“The bar is great,” she answered, though she was tired enough after her hard day to wish she could stretch out on the long bench out front and take a nap.

“You wanted the patio, right?”

“Sure. The weather is nice. That’s good.”

“It shouldn’t be long now,” the hostess said.

“Thank you,” she said.

She and Jess both ordered the same drink, a classic mint mojito, which surprised her. That had been their mother’s drink, she remembered. Veronica Clayton hadn’t been a big drinker but when she did imbibe, she favored mojitos. She ached for her mother suddenly, for warm cookies after school and the smell of her vanilla musk perfume and a soft hand on her forehead when she didn’t feel good.

“So. How are you, anyway?” Jess said, taking a sip of her drink.

“Fine.” Rachel forced a smile. She didn’t want to be here suddenly. She wanted to flee the restaurant, climb in her car and drive down the coast. Away. Just away.

Away from her failures and her fears and all the things she couldn’t fix.

“Is everything okay?” Jess gave her a careful look.

No. Not really. My life is falling apart. But thanks for asking.

She couldn’t say that, of course. She forced a smile, though she felt as if her face would crack with the effort. “Great. Just great. Couldn’t be better.”

10

Jess

She knew damn well her sister was lying.

Rachel wasn’t great. For one thing, Jess could see the shadows under her eyes that concealer couldn’t hide. For another, though her words