Bella patted her on the arm. “Oh, honey, we know. You’ve spent years wanting that particular piece of hotness. It’s time to move on, don’t you think?”
Amy sighed. “Let’s focus on your love life, not mine.”
“How about we focus on my life aside from men. It’s much more interesting than my nonexistent love life.” She spotted Leanna and Pepper crossing the quad and decided it was time to bite the bullet and tell them about the changes she was making in her life. “Besides, I have to tell you guys something.”
Pepper bounded onto the deck and went directly to Amy, who lowered her face so the puppy could lavish her with kisses.
“How’s my big boy?” Amy crooned.
Leanna stepped onto the deck in cutoffs and a white tank top. Her dark hair cascaded in gentle waves over her shoulders.
“Good morning, girlies. I’m late for the flea market, as always.” The previous summer Leanna had begun a jam-making business, Luscious Leanna’s Sweet Treats, and now she ran the business out of the renovated guest cottage on Kurt’s beachfront property. During the summer she also sold her products at the Wellfleet Flea Market and at other flea markets in the area. “I’m sorry about the window, and I promise to remember next time.” Leanna took a sip of Jenna’s coffee.
“Sure, you’ll remember to close the window,” Jenna said. “Now I’m definitely going to install that window lock on the outside.”
“I really do try to remember. It’s just…” Leanna held her palm up.
“Things come up and you don’t think about it?” Jenna threw her head back and laughed.
“Ha-ha. Who was the hot cop?” Leanna asked.
“Caden Grant. He’s Bella’s,” Amy said.
“He is not mine.” The memory of his big hands on her waist, and the heat of their bodies so close, sent a shudder through her.
“Then why did the air sizzle and pop when you were in his arms?” Amy lifted her brows.
“You guys noticed that too, huh?” Bella covered her face with her hands, then met their curious stares with a serious one. “I’m ignoring that particular, incredible connection for now. No men, no commitments, remember? Besides…” She sat up straighter, steeling herself for the gasps and worry that were sure to follow her admission. “I have bigger things to focus on, like the fact that I quit my job.”
As if on cue, Jenna and Amy gasped.
“You what?” Leanna asked.
“Because of Jay? You two weren’t even serious, and you’ve worked there for five years,” Jenna added.
Bella shook her head. “No, not because of Jay. I mean, that factored into it in a very minor way. It was annoying finishing out the school year and having to see him every day, but my decision about moving is based on more than Jay. My decision about taking a break from men is sort of based on him, though. I don’t need to be lied to again, and I’m beginning to think that men and lying go hand in hand.”
Leanna reached across the table and held her hand. “Oh, Bella, I’m so sorry. What can we do to help?”
“Nothing. I’m good, actually. Leanna, you’re the big reason I decided to throw caution to the wind and quit. You have made such a great life between your jam business and your relationship with Kurt that I thought…” She shrugged. “I’m almost thirty. Why not try to do what I really want to do?”
“I would never base your life on mine, Bella.” Leanna’s voice became serious. “Do you remember how I used to jump from job to job?”
“Yes, but that was you finding your path. This is me finding mine. My new life plan is pretty simple. I’ve lined up a summer job with the Barnstable County School District to develop a work-study program for high school seniors, and if I’m successful, then I’ll get a one-year contract for full-time employment. I know I can make this work, and you know I love the Cape.” Bella was still pissed at herself for dating someone she worked with and jeopardizing her reputation at work, but in the end, Jay’s lying was the perfect impetus for her to start fresh. She had interviewed for a few other teaching positions since the spring, but she hadn’t been interested in any of them, and she hadn’t sent out any applications since the summer began. She was excited about her decision, and every day at the Cape solidified her choice. “I can see by your slack jaws that you’re worried. I promise, Jay was just the straw that broke the camel’s back. I want this change for me.”
“What about your house in Connecticut? Your friends? Come on, Bella. Don’t you think this is a little bit of a knee-jerk reaction?” Jenna asked.
“Maybe in the first second it was, but now it feels like the right decision. My boss did say she’s holding the job in case I change my mind, but the summer project is really exciting. I brought the concept of putting together a work-study to the school board. It’s my baby, my project, and they’re as excited about it as I am. Did you know that the unemployment rate among people under thirty on Cape Cod is pretty high in some areas? It’s only about seven percent around here, but in P-town it’s almost thirty percent. Thirty.”
“That’s crazy high.” Jenna’s eyes widened.
“Yeah, tell me about it. I know it’s probably skewed somehow because it’s a resort town or something, but still. If I can secure a dozen businesses that will commit to hiring twenty-five kids for minimum wage during the school year, with on-the-job training, in positions that can lead to full-time employment after graduation, then the school board will give me a one-year contract. And I know that I can convert that one year into a permanent position once they see how motivated these kids become and how their self-esteem grows, not to mention how their post-graduation opportunities will expand.”
“If anyone can do it, you can,” Amy said. “But what if it doesn’t work?”
Leanna glared at Amy. “If I can make Sweet Treats a successful business, then Bella can create a work-study program. I’m the most disorganized person I know, and Bella is not only organized, but she’s smart and incredibly creative.” She rose to her feet. “I’m proud of you, Bella. No man is worth feeling uncomfortable every day when you go to work.”
“It’s really not because of him, although I did use that as my excuse to my boss because she would try to talk me out of the real reason I want to leave. She’d have wanted me to start a new project there, but you guys, I really want to be here. You know how much I love it here, and now that I’ve taken the plunge and put my plan into action, I don’t want to turn back. All I have to do now is focus on work, which should be easy if I’m not dating.”
“I was just being practical,” Amy explained. “I know Bella is capable of doing it, but you know, anything can happen. What if in two months she’s stuck without a job? I didn’t mean anything bad.”
“I know you didn’t, Ames,” Bella said. “So, now that you know my big news, I have two days of fun before I dive into full-on program development on Monday. Are we still having a bonfire on the beach later?”