Chapter 1
Annabel McBride swooned a little as the jaw-droppingly handsome Marcus Grady strode into her ice cream shop, with his black guitar bag swung over his broad shoulders.
Anna wasn’t the type to become starstruck, but this man was a sight to behold. His light brown hair fell in layers above his ears, and his short, manicured beard gave him an irresistibly rugged look. Not to mention those smiling green eyes.
After a sharp elbow in the ribs from one of her employees, Velma Bryant, Anna managed to speak. “You must be Marcus. Welcome. It’s an honor to have you perform at my grand opening.”
Marcus flashed Anna a half smile. “It’s my pleasure, ma’am.” His voice was reminiscent of honey. For a moment, Anna forgot that she was about to open the doors to her ice cream shop, Bella’s Dream, for the first time. She wasn’t sure if the fluttering in her stomach was nerves, or if it was the result of meeting Seagull Cove’s favorite son, who also happened to be a pop music star.
Who knew the ice cream business could be so interesting? If Anna had, perhaps she would have retired from her psychological counseling practice in Boston years ago. Of course, if she had done it years ago, it would have been with her sister, Bella, by her side.
Marcus winked at Anna. “I’m always happy to support a new business in my hometown. Besides, I’m on a break from touring, so I’m in town, anyway.”
Anna had a feeling that, in addition to Marcus’s generosity, she also had Velma to thank for Marcus’s appearance. Velma had lived her whole life in Seagull Cove, and she couldn’t have been more well-connected if she were the town’s mayor.
A man with stringy grey hair that fell just below his shoulders impatiently cleared his throat. Then he gave Anna a curt wave. “I’m Ted, Marcus’s sound guy. Where should I set up?”
Ted was probably used to women losing their power of speech in front of Marcus. Not that Anna had any real interest in Marcus Grady, even if he had been anywhere near her league. Besides the fact that Marcus was in his late twenties and Anna was forty-four, she was not interested in a romantic relationship with anyone. All Anna wanted was to build her business and settle into her new life.
With her head down so that nobody would see her blushing like a teenager, Anna guided the two men through the large rectangular opening that led from the room that housed her ice cream counter to a larger dining room and gathering space. The far wall was lined with booths, and square wooden tables were scattered throughout the rest of the room. Anna imagined musicians, comedians, and open mic nights bringing the room alive. She smiled as she envisioned book clubs and other gatherings drawing the community into her shop.
Just like Bella had dreamed of.
Anna accompanied Marcus and Ted to a vacant area against the back wall. “You can set up there.”
Ted disappeared, presumably to fetch the sound equipment, while Marcus pulled out a mahogany guitar.
“That’s a beautiful instrument,” Anna said.
Marcus rested against a stool and strummed a few chords. “This hunk of wood is more than a musical instrument. She’s more like a faithful old friend.”
When Ted returned, a man who appeared to be in his early forties was with him. “I’m Donny Donaldson, Marcus’s manager. We spoke on the phone.”
“Yes,” Anna said, shaking Donny’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you in person. If there’s anything else you need, just let me know.”
“Thanks. I think we’ve got it from here.”
Anna glanced at the strawberry ice cream cone clock on the wall next to the counter. It was nearly time to open the doors. She wiped her palms on her black pants and took a deep breath. Anna had been anticipating this day ever since she made the decision to close her counseling practice and open Bella’s Dream while visiting her cousin, Connie, in Florida.
When Anna turned around to scoot behind the counter, Velma, along with two of her other employees, Jack and Olivia, stood watching her. Anna’s cheeks once again grew warm. “I’m sorry, I should have introduced you to Marcus. I guess I got a little tongue-tied.” Velma was her most experienced employee by far. She had worked for the former owners of the ice cream shop, which had previously been called Seagull Cove Creamery. Jack and Olivia were finishing up their junior year at the local high school and needed summer work.
Anna and her team were as ready as they would ever be for the steady stream of customers that she prayed would come throughout the day.
It had to if Bella’s Dream was going to succeed.
“No worries,” Jack said. “We see Marcus around all the time. It’s not a big deal for those of us who grew up in Seagull Cove.”
Within a half hour, the sound check was complete, and Anna was opening the doors to Bella’s Dream.
She kicked down the doorstop, allowing the cool, salty air to drift into the shop. The temperatures had climbed to the low seventies, which was unusually high for late-May. As far as Anna was concerned, it was nothing short of a miracle. Between it being Memorial Day weekend, the sunshine, and Marcus’s music – not to mention Anna’s amazing half-price banana splits – there should be no shortage of customers. She also hoped her free scoops for kids would draw families to her grand opening.
Anna looked expectantly through the front window. Her storefront was mostly glass. It consisted of two large windows, each with one cafe-style table looking onto Main Street, with a glass door in the middle.
A young boy with red hair and freckles was Anna’s first customer. He sprinted toward the shop, sounding like a stampede of wild horses. He was a few yards ahead of a man, a woman, and a young girl, who Anna presumed were his parents and little sister. Anna hopped behind the counter to greet her first official customer. “Hello, there!”
The boy stood in front of the counter with his hands behind his back, looking up at Anna with a wide grin.
“Are you here for your free scoop?”
He nodded his head vigorously. “Chocolate, please.”
The boy’s family caught up to him while Anna fulfilled his request. The woman, who had the same red locks as the boy, ruffled his hair. “Frankie is here for the ice cream.” Then she lowered her voice. “As much as I love ice cream, I’m here more for Marcus.”
Anna handed Frankie his chocolaty cone. Then Jack and Olivia took over, serving the rest of the family. Then the next customers. And the next. Most people took their sweet concoctions into the adjacent room, where Marcus was strumming his guitar and singing his way through his many hit songs.
Anna’s heart swelled as she watched her sister’s dream spring to life before her eyes. After so much planning and second-guessing herself, it had all been worth it. Anna hadn’t felt happier since before…well, before her life changed forever just four years, eight months, and three days ago. But today, nothing could steal her happiness.
Anna stood by the entrance greeting her customers, while Velma took their orders and rang them up, and Jack and Olivia scooped the ice cream and made more banana splits than they probably ever imagined they would make in one day.
After a couple of hours, the foot traffic slowed down. Anna made herself a cone with a scoop of salted caramel ice cream and brought it into the dining room to socialize with her customers. Salted caramel was definitely her favorite. Or was it mint chocolate chip? Or rocky road? Or cookie dough? Or butter pecan? Or rum raisin? Or… There were so many. She would have to increase her workouts if she was ever going to keep her waistline in check. But that was a problem for another day.
While Marcus masterfully entertained the crowd, Anna made the rounds, chatting with her patrons, who she hoped would become regular customers. Then she took a break and stood at the back of the room facing Marcus.
A couple, who had been among the first few customers to arrive, sat at the table closest to Marcus. They looked to be in their late forties. The woman was wearing a Marcus Grady concert t-shirt and was staring at Marcus as if he were the only person in the world. Anna wondered if the man who was with her was her husband. He kept glancing at his watch and looking around the room, as if he were bored.
A few minutes later, Anna’s cousin, Gianna, along with her husband, Gary, and their five-year-old twins, arrived and sat with Anna’s parents, Judy and Al, and her brother, Albie. Albie’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Sophia, was unable to attend, because she had to work. Anna’s parents had recently retired to southern New Hampshire, which was about an hour away from Seagull Cove.
Gianna gave Anna two thumbs up as she made her way to her family’s table. Anna went over to greet them, and after a few words of support from her family, Albie pointed to a table near Marcus. Anna couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw who was sitting there. It was Marcus’s girlfriend, Jasmine Hall, wearing an elegant floral lavender blouse over faded blue jeans. And Marcus was inviting her up to sing. What a treat to have two stars in her shop!
The crowd encouraged Jasmine with ardent applause.
As Marcus sang his latest hit, “Jasmine’s Song,” he gazed into Jasmine’s eyes. A twinge of sadness crept over Anna as she remembered the only man whom she had ever felt that way about. She shook off her sorrow and reminded herself yet again that she was lucky to have ever loved anyone as much as she had loved Ian. Even if their time together had been short.
Marcus finished the song to a standing ovation, then Jasmine joined him in a duet. Judging from the smiles on her customers’ faces, and her weary employees, the day couldn’t have gone any better.
When Marcus’s performance neared its end, customers gradually filed out, and Ted packed up the sound equipment.
“I can’t thank the two of you enough for helping to make this day a success,” Anna said to Marcus and Jasmine. “I can’t believe you wouldn’t let me pay you for your time. At least take some ice cream home.”
“I’d better not if I want these jeans to fit,” Marcus said, patting his stomach. “And don’t mention it. I love performing for the people of my hometown. They always had faith in me, even when I was boy. But I am going to slip out as discreetly as possible, or I’ll be here all night.”
“Go ahead, honey,” Jasmine said. “I’ll stick around to sign a few autographs.”
Marcus managed to slip out the front door without attracting too much attention.
A few minutes later, Anna’s family stood to leave, so she went over to say a quick goodbye. “Bella would be so proud,” Judy said. She could tell by her mother’s quivering lip that she was fighting back tears. Al silently nodded his agreement. The only time Al McBride was ever quiet was when he was choked up, so Anna knew it had been an emotional day for him, as well.
Jasmine remained at her table for more than an hour signing autographs and posing for selfies, while Donny stuck around to monitor the never-ending line. It was obvious why Marcus had wanted to make a break for it.
Anna wiped down the front tables and the ice cream counter, saying a prayer that its round stools would always be full of happy customers enjoying her famous banana splits – at least they were famous in the McBride family.
Velma was speaking to two gentlemen whom Anna had seen in the dining room earlier. They were now seated at the counter, and Jack and Olivia were finally taking a break and enjoying a well-deserved scoop.
Velma motioned for Anna to join them.
