Sunset on Moonlight Beach - Sheila Roberts Page 0,102

felt old and tired.

She thanked the mayor for her concern and promised to do her best to serve her constituents.

“You could start by presenting your research on that convention center you’ve been so fired up about,” Parker suggested.

“I’m not ready,” Jenna said, then added, “Maybe someone else could look into that.”

“Jenna, this was your idea.”

“Frankly, I can’t get fired up about it right now. I can’t get fired up about much of anything these days. I’m sorry.”

“I understand,” said Parker. “But life goes on.”

Yes, it did. Jenna just had to figure out a way to get it to go smoothly again.

She finished up with the mayor, then walked over to the motel office, entertaining thoughts of resigning her position on the council.

That wouldn’t be right. She’d signed on to do a job. Campaigned for it, even. Hopefully, at some point, she could regenerate her enthusiasm for it.

She’d finished checking in two women who’d come down to the beach for a girls’ getaway when Seth stopped by the office.

“Wanted to let you know I’m moving,” he said.

Her heart went cold. “Moving?” she repeated. “Where?” Not away from Moonlight Harbor, please.

Although maybe it was for the best if he was. Nothing had happened between them and nothing ever would. First Brody, now Seth. This confirmed it. She was meant to be alone.

“Up the beach a mile. I’m buying the Morgans’ old place. Not from the house peddler,” he hurried to add. “It’s a private deal. They don’t want to come down here anymore and their kids don’t want it.”

She knew the house. It was a two-story fixer-upper in need of a new roof, a new deck and a fresh paint job at the very least. But, like Aunt Edie’s house, it had a great view.

“It needs a lot of work,” he said, “but the price is right, and they’ll carry a contract.”

“A good deal for you,” she said. “When?”

“End of October.”

“We’ll miss you around here.”

“Looks like Pete’s stepping up to the plate finally. You’ll be fine. If you need something major done you’ll know where to find me.”

“I’m happy for you. It will sure beat living in a room in an old motel,” she said.

“Not necessarily, but it’s time to move on.”

Time to move on. What was he trying to tell her?

She nodded. He nodded. There really wasn’t anything left to say.

She watched him walk off across the parking lot. “Life goes on,” she told herself. Ugh.

Ugh was how she felt about going to the September city council meeting, but she went (after asking the mayor not to bring up the subject of the convention center). She had done some research before her life got turned upside down, but she was in no mental state to do more at the moment.

“Very well, it can wait,” Parker had assured her. “But I do want you at this meeting, Jenna. I have a special piece of new business to introduce.”

Jenna had been afraid to ask. With Parker, one thing was for sure. It would be self-serving. Parker loved taking credit for things and she adored the limelight.

As it turned out, the mayor’s new business item was only mildly self-serving in that Parker made it clear the suggestion was her idea. And what an idea it was. Jenna blinked in surprise when she saw it listed on the agenda. Seriously?

“Under new business, we have my proposal that we honor one of our influential and beloved citizens who has gone to her great reward,” Parker said. “I hope the council will vote unanimously to name our new dog park after Edie Patterson, calling it the Edie Patterson Memorial Park.”

A dog park. Aunt Edie was not a dog lover. She’d barely tolerated Nemo. And now they wanted to name a dog park after her? If she was up in heaven looking down, her eyes were rolling.

Jenna couldn’t help it. She laughed. Parker glared at her and that made her laugh even harder.

Meanwhile, all the Moonlight Harbor residents who regularly came to watch the council in action gave the idea a standing O.

Everyone settled down and Jenna turned off the laugh machine and wiped her eyes. As Aunt Edie’s relative she was obliged to say something properly grateful.

“I’m overcome with joy,” she said, and coughed down a giggle. “I know my great-aunt would appreciate the honor our mayor is proposing we bestow on her.” Snort.

Really, having a park named after you was an honor, right? And since there was no such thing as a parrot park, this would