Chapter 1
Elyse Miller bounded into Just Jewelry at 4:00 on a Friday afternoon in late March. Upon seeing that Connie Petretta was still in her shop, she breathed a loud sigh of relief. “I just came from a closing that took longer than I expected. Thank goodness I’m not too late.”
Elyse was a realtor and had become one of Connie’s best friends. Connie had relocated to Sapphire Beach in southwest Florida two years ago to open a jewelry shop, where she sold her own handmade creations, along with a growing inventory of Fair Trade product.
“Too late for what?” Abby, a part-time employee, asked.
“To see Connie before her big date with Zach tonight,” Elyse said, looking at Abby as if that should have been the foremost event on everyone’s mind.
Kelly, another of Connie’s employees, who had been assisting a customer, joined the women, who were standing next to the circular checkout counter that sat in the center of the store. “You didn’t tell us you had a special date with Zach.”
“That’s because I don’t.” Connie playfully punched Elyse in the shoulder. “Don’t mind Elyse. Every single time I’ve had a date scheduled with Zach lately, she thinks he’s going to propose.”
“That’s not true,” Elyse said, putting her hands on her hips. A grin replaced the indignant expression she had been wearing. “Well, there might be a little truth to that. But think about it. Zach’s been dropping hints about your future together for months now. And this weekend is the second anniversary of your first date.”
“That’s true,” Connie said. “It’s a big milestone. But think about your track record in predicting our engagement.”
Elyse frowned. “I haven’t been wrong that many times.”
“Let’s review,” Connie said. “First, back in October when Zach’s parents were visiting, you saw Zach leaving a jewelry store with a small bag and were convinced that it was an engagement ring when, in fact, it was a birthday gift for his mother.”
“In all fairness, it was a logical assumption,” Elyse said.
Connie held up her hand, with her palm facing Elyse. “Then you were convinced that Zach was going to propose on Christmas Eve. Then Valentine’s Day.”
“Yes,” Elyse said. “That’s all true. Maybe in the past it was wishful thinking, but this time I really feel it in my bones. You have to admit, it’s a special weekend, and the two of you have a date.”
“Elyse, we go out pretty much every weekend.”
“Yes, but tonight Zach made 7:00 reservations at the White Sands Grill.”
“Ooh, I know that place,” Kelly said. “It’s an expensive gourmet restaurant with tables practically on the beach. It’s nearly impossible to get reservations at 7:00, since that’s shortly before the sun sets. It’s going to be so romantic.”
“Elyse does have a point,” Abby said. “You don’t go to such fancy restaurants every weekend. Your dates are usually more low-key. You’d better wear something extra special, just in case. If he does propose, you’ll have those pictures forever.”
Elyse took Connie’s hand and examined her nails. “And maybe think about getting a manicure. You’ll want to take a picture of the ring on your finger.”
“I think you guys are reading too much into this,” Connie said.
“Did you do anything special for your first anniversary?” Elyse asked.
Connie thought back. “Zach bought me roses. But I guess we didn’t do anything this special. He was knee deep in work that week.”
“I didn’t tell you this before, Connie,” Elyse said. “But Zach came over my house last Saturday to hang out with Josh, and he asked me a ton of questions about the resale value of his bungalow.” Zach had purchased a small home situated on a canal last year. It had been in rough shape, so he got it cheap and gutted the whole thing. Connie helped him choose the finishes.
“It’s perfectly logical that Zach would want to see how his investment is doing a year after he completed the renovation,” Connie pointed out. “After all, he poured his entire savings, as well as his heart and soul, into renovating that house.
“Just the same,” Kelly said, “I agree with Elyse. You should be ready.”
Connie’s mouth suddenly went dry. It was one thing to laugh off Elyse’s predictions, but now both Abby and Kelly agreed with her.
“You think so?” Connie asked, suddenly taking the prospect seriously.
All three women nodded.
“Well, I guess I could leave a little early, so I have plenty of time to get ready and decide what to wear.” She examined her fingernails. They were a little overdue for some attention. “I don’t have time for a professional manicure, so I’ll have to do it myself.” Then she shook her head. “Why do I let you do this to me, Elyse? If I got a manicure every time you thought Zach was going to propose, I would be broke.”
“Would it be rude if the three of us had a side bet on when Zach will propose?” Elyse asked, flashing Connie a mischievous smile.
“Um, yes,” Connie said. “It would totally be rude.”
Elyse chuckled. “Okay, we’ll be good. Just promise you’ll call me after your date if anything interesting happens.” Elyse glanced at her watch. “I need to get home so I can let the sitter go.”
“Give the girls a hug from me,” Connie said, as Elyse was leaving.
“Will do.”
Connie did her best to focus her attention on the steady stream of customers flowing in and out of the store, and not on her date later that evening. Finally, a little while after Kelly had left, there was a lull in customers, so Connie and Abby sat at the long oak table, which Connie used to create jewelry and teach her jewelry-making classes.
“Isn’t Zach good friends with Elyse’s husband, Josh?” Abby asked.
Connie nodded.
“Maybe she really does know something you don’t know about tonight.”
“Nah, Josh wouldn’t tell Elyse, even if he knew Zach was up to something. He wouldn’t want to put her in the position of giving her such juicy information when she couldn’t tell me. Besides, if Elyse really did have that kind of news, she wouldn’t be carrying on like that. She’d be avoiding me.”
Abby laughed. “Well, I hope he does propose. I like Zach for you.”
Connie felt a flash of warmth in her cheeks. So did she.
“Why don’t you leave now to get ready for your date?” Abby suggested. “You know, just in case.”
“I think I will. It looks like the streets are emptying out.” Connie went out back to get her purse, her laptop, and Ginger’s leash. Ginger was the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, which Connie unofficially inherited from her aunt, along with her aunt’s gulf-front condo. After fastening the leash on the dog, who had been chilling on her doggie bed out back, she returned to the front of the store.
As Connie was heading toward the door, she remembered that she had been meaning to ask Abby how she thought Kelly was working out. Although Connie was pleased with her, Kelly was a new employee and she valued Abby’s opinion.
Just before she reached the door, Connie turned around abruptly. “Abby.”
Abby gasped and jumped back.
“Are you okay, Abby? I didn’t mean to scare you.” Connie studied her young employee for a moment. “I hope you don’t mind my saying this, but you’ve been jumpy for the past week or so. Is everything okay?”
Abby let out a breath, which she had been holding. “I know. I guess it’s just the stress of midterms.”
“But Abby, midterms were over two weeks ago.”
Abby shrugged. “Maybe it’s the residual effect of all those late nights and tight deadlines.”
Connie put her hand on Abby’s shoulder. “I’m afraid you might be putting too much pressure on yourself. Promise me that you’ll take some time to relax. You’re incredibly bright, and you’re going to make a fantastic professor and writer one day. Try to enjoy life in the process.”
“Thanks, Connie. I promise I’ll try.”
Connie looked at Abby with skepticism. She wished she was more convinced that Abby would take her advice.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
This time, both Connie and Abby were startled.
“What on earth is that?” Abby asked.
Connie peered out through the display window and glanced up and down the street. “I have no idea, but it’s definitely coming from outside.”
“Maybe it’s a car alarm,” Abby said, as she followed Connie to the door.
Connie pointed across the street. “No, it’s coming from Gallagher’s.”
They both watched as a stream of Gallagher’s customers filed down the wooden staircase leading from Gallagher’s Tropical Shack to the sidewalk.
“Oh, no! Poor Gallagher. It’s dinnertime on a Friday during one of our busiest months of the year, and his smoke detector is chasing patrons from his restaurant. That can’t be good for business.”
Connie stepped outside and watched as a few people headed in the direction of the parking lot down the street. “I hope those people paid their tab and aren’t taking advantage of a fire alarm to skip out on paying.”
“I guess there’s nothing Gallagher can do about that,” Abby said. “He’s going to have his hands full trying to reassure his remaining customers.”
“Hopefully, it was just caused by too much smoke in the kitchen and he can reopen right away. I know Gallagher hired a new head cook a few months ago,” Connie said.
Gallagher exited his restaurant after the last customer. “I’m sorry that your meal was interrupted, folks. I’m sure this will be resolved in no time. To make up for it, I’ll give you a free drink or dessert on the house.”
A mini-cheer erupted from the small crowd. Most people seemed to be handling the situation in stride. That is, everyone except one man who was complaining rather loudly. “This is ridiculous,” he said, getting into Gallagher’s space. “So much for a relaxing meal.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but better safe than sorry.”
Another man put his hand on the first man’s shoulder. “Come on, Arnold. It’s not his fault.”
Connie didn’t envy Gallagher’s predicament.
Within a couple of minutes, sirens sounded in the distance, followed soon after by a Sapphire Beach Fire Rescue truck, which parked in front of Gallagher’s Tropical Shack.
Two uniformed men rushed in, and within a few minutes, the smoke detector was silenced.
“It’s okay, folks,” one of the first responders said. “It was just a false alarm. It’s all clear to go back inside.”
Gallagher shook the men’s hands and Connie could hear him thanking them for resolving the situation so quickly. Then Gallagher stood at the entrance and ushered the customers back inside.
Before long, it appeared that things were back to normal.
Gallagher glanced over and noticed Connie standing there watching, so she gave him a reassuring wave.
He pretended to wipe the sweat from his forehead in an exaggerated motion and Connie laughed. She was glad to see that he was taking the potential fiasco with good humor.
Abby had been assisting customers while Connie was watching the drama unfold across the street, so she went back inside to update Abby.
“Everything seems to be okay,” Connie said to Abby and the customers. “Something in the kitchen must have set off the smoke detector, but everyone’s going back inside.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Abby said, walking a woman to the checkout counter and ringing up her purchase. “Poor Gallagher. A Friday afternoon in March is not a good time to have lost business.”
Connie nodded her agreement.
“Now go get ready for your big date with Zach,” Abby said. “I’ve got things under control here.”
“Ooh, a big date,” the customer said, slipping her purchase into her purse. “It’s been ages since I’ve had a big date. Have fun.”
Connie grinned at the woman. “Thank you.”
As Connie and Ginger began walking down the sidewalk toward Connie’s car, she was startled by the sound of a shrill scream coming from inside Gallagher’s restaurant. She quickly switched directions and picked up her pace. As she passed by Just Jewelry, Connie opened the door to let Ginger inside, shrugged at Abby, and jogged across the street to Gallagher’s.
She mounted the stairs, two steps at a time, and stopped at the hostess desk, where she had a full view of the restaurant. Everybody’s eyes were fixed on a table at the back of the dining room.
At first, Connie couldn’t see what the problem was. Until she looked down at the floor and noticed a man lying motionless on his side.
It was Arnold, the same man who was giving Gallagher a hard time earlier about his meal being interrupted because of the alarm.
Gallagher was kneeling next to Arnold with his hand on the man’s neck.
“I can’t find a pulse,” he yelled. “Hurry! Somebody, call 9-1-1.”
