Pieces of Us - Carrie Elks Page 0,9
I sold that company.” It wasn’t a complete lie. She really didn’t want to talk about her divorce. “And I bought the pier with the proceeds.”
Ember’s face was a picture.
“You think I’m crazy, don’t you?” Autumn asked her.
“I’ve done some crazy things myself.” Ember shrugged. “And it’s really none of my business. You have the experience to make things work, which is more than most people around here. The pier’s been neglected for too long. I’m glad somebody’s finally going to do something with it.” She grabbed her notepad from her bag. “I’ll get a contract written up this evening when I get home from work. What’s your last name?”
“It’s Paxton.”
Ember’s head shot up. “Really? Are you any relation to the original Paxtons?”
“I don’t think so. It’s just a coincidence.” A flash of humor crossed her face. “Or maybe it was meant to be.”
“You know that Captain Paxton founded this town? That’s who the pier is named after. The story goes that he was sailing past the coast, saw an angel descend, and it pointed at the bay. So he moored his ship up, rowed his crew over to the sands, and that’s how the town got it’s name.”
“An angel?” Autumn lifted an eyebrow.
“Rumor has it he was drinking a lot of rum in those days.”
Autumn couldn’t help but laugh. Maybe she and Captain Paxton had more in common than just a name. They both made strange decisions while under the influence of alcohol. “As far as I know my family’s lived on the east coast for generations.”
“I like the idea of it being fate,” Ember said warmly. “And by the way, most people I know who come here never want to leave.”
“I can see why.” Autumn looked at that view again. Clear blue skies, golden sand, and a horizon that seemed to stretch on forever.
“How about you? Are you planning on staying long?” Ember grimaced. “I should have asked you that right away, shouldn’t I? I’m a terrible landlord.”
“I get the feeling you’re going to be a great landlord. And if possible, I’d like a six month lease with the option of extending. It’ll take at least that long to get everything straight with the pier, and even if I’m back in New York for some of the time, I’ll need to travel here.”
“Six months it is.” Ember passed her the keys. “Feel free to move in whenever you’re ready. And welcome to Angel Sands, I hope you’ll be happy here.”
Autumn hoped she would, too. For the last year, happiness had been a very rare thing.
She could taste the worried atmosphere as soon as she walked onto the pier. Autumn had arranged for three rows of seats to be set up there, and they were already full of people, which was crazy considering there were only a few businesses operating along Paxton’s Pier.
Every one of them looked up as she walked to the front, her heels clacking loudly against the wooden planks. After she left Ember’s beach cottage, she had her hair done at the hotel’s salon then put on a designer skirt suit and ‘don’t mess with me’ heels. She felt like a warrior going into battle.
Although, she wasn’t sure who she was fighting. Her dad’s opinions? Herself? Or the rows of people eyeing her suspiciously as she smiled with confidence.
“Good evening, everybody. I’m Autumn Paxton, the new owner of the pier.”
“Paxton?” one of the women in the seats called out. “Any relation to Captain Paxton?”
“No. It’s just a coincidence.” She was going to have to get used to that question. “Maybe we can start by all of you introducing yourselves so I know your names and where you work here on the pier.” She looked at the man at the end of the front row. “How about you start?”
“I’m Pietro Delmonico. Owner of Delmonico’s. And this is my family.” He gestured at the women next to him.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Pietro. Who else do we have here?” She looked along the seats.
“I’m a Delmonico,” the woman halfway along the seats said, as she gestured to the rest of her companions. “We all are.” She gestured at the rest of the people in the chairs. “Apart from Ricky at the back who owns the watersports rental company.”
He lifted up a hand, looking distinctly uninterested.
“And me,” a deep voice called out.
Autumn looked up to see the man from last night ambling down the pier, his hands pushed into the pockets of his jeans, the ocean breeze lifting