Sunset on Moonlight Beach - Sheila Roberts Page 0,112

red coats with faux-fur-trimmed hoods, and white mittens. She’d enjoyed throwing saltwater taffy to the kids in the crowd, and after the parade they’d gone to Mel’s house for chowder. A lovely day. See how good life could be without the man you’d planned to marry?

Christmas Eve was lovely, too, with the whole family attending service at church. You have so much to be thankful for, Jenna reminded herself as the musicians played “Silent Night.”

She told herself the same thing the next day when they were at her mother’s place, opening presents. Henry’s family came down to join them and Mel’s new house was filled with people and laughter. How Aunt Edie would have loved this, Jenna thought wistfully.

Mel gave Celeste a gift card to Beachcomber so she could buy some beachy decor for her new house. She thrilled Sabrina with a Beach Babes gift card, and also gave one to Jenna, saying, “I know you won’t splurge on clothes for yourself, and I think you deserve a little spoiling.”

Ellis West joined the crowd for Christmas dinner, bringing a gigantic box of chocolates for everyone to enjoy and a bottle of expensive perfume for Mel. Those two were great together and Jenna was glad to see her mother so happy. Mom deserved it.

So did she, she thought. She chased away the frown that was threatening to invade with the reminder that she was happy. Happy, darn it, happy!

Pete, who had also been invited, arrived bearing red velvet whoopie pies he’d picked up at the bakery. The only person missing was Seth, who’d gone to celebrate Christmas with his brother. Who cared that he wasn’t there? Not her.

As for Brody, she really didn’t care where he was or what he was doing. Except she couldn’t help wondering. They should have been together, celebrating, looking forward to a wedding in the new year.

Aunt Edie should have been there, too. Jenna had baked her famous sugar cookies and shed some tears in the process.

When they got to dessert, Pete took a bite of one, and said, “These are as good as Edie’s.”

A bittersweet moment, for sure. Aunt Edie would have been happy to see everyone still enjoying her cookies. How sad it was not to have her there with them. Oh, Aunt Edie, why did you have to die on me?

After Christmas dinner, Sabrina left to spend time with Scotty and his family, and Jenna returned home to Jolly Roger. She went to the fridge, dug out a fresh carton of eggnog and poured herself a ginormous glass. Calories be damned. It was Christmas. Ho, ho, ho.

Ho, ho, ho, changed into happy new year. For Celeste and Henry, who were going to be at the New Year’s Eve bash at Sandy’s. For Pete, who was off to ring in the new year at The Drunken Sailor. For Sabrina, who was partying with her friends. For Courtney and Jonas, who planned a candlelight dinner for two at his place. For Annie, who was catering a New Year’s Eve party. For Mom and Ellis, who were headed for a chamber of commerce party with all the rest of Jenna’s friends. And...him. For Seth...who knew what he was doing? She’d fished around subtly. (“What are you doing for New Year’s Eve?”) He’d been evasive. (“Nothing.” Ha! Like she believed that.)

So it was her and Jolly Roger and baby Edie, who was spending the night at Aunt Jenna’s house. “Happy new year, guys,” she said as she changed Edie’s diaper. “What do you want to do tonight?”

“Give me whiskey,” said Roger.

“We can’t drink. We’re babysitting,” she informed him. “I think I’ll have some sparkling cider. Milk for you,” she informed Edie, who laughed and kicked her legs.

“Yeah, enjoy that happiness while it lasts,” Jenna said to her, standing her up. “It gets harder as you get older. Oh, brother, listen to me. I’m like that old woman in the Dickens novel. Who was that, Roger? Miss...something. Miss... Hag. Miss Hammer... Miss...oh, who cares? At least I don’t have a bunch of cobwebs hanging around. And I’m not a total man hater. I’m selective.”

No, no. No hating Brody. That was wrong and she was so over that. Well, sort of. Almost. Sometimes.

It was New Year’s Eve, the perfect time to make a resolution. “Okay, everyone, I’m resolving to quit being mad at Brody.”

Edie blinked in surprise and Jolly Roger made another demand for whiskey.

“I know, it’s a big hurdle to get over but I can do it. I’m