The cracked door invited him in, the scents of shepherd’s pie and pastries escaping. Inside, rafter beams slanted up to a point in the roof and floating tea lights glowed on every white-clothed table. Mismatched china and teacups dressed the place settings, adding to the antique ambience his mom had appreciated. Fresh summer roses soaked up drinks in vases across the cozy room that wouldn’t seat more than a couple dozen people at most.
When he entered, a friendly looking woman with a pink apron and cheeks to match greeted him. “You look like the sort of young man who belongs next to a lovely young lady.” She winked at Merrick, then gestured toward the window booth.
His knees grew weak and he had to brace himself against a chair.
Coral hadn’t noticed him yet. She sat there, her blue dress only drawing more notice to her brilliant eyes. Her attention rested on the menu before her. The sunlight streaming through the window behind the booth lit her sandy hair that had been pulled off her face and braided to one side.
Amaya was right. He was falling for this girl.
“Go on, young man,” the woman who greeted him urged. “She won’t bite.”
Merrick checked his reflection in the window to his left and walked to the table. “Hi,” he said, sliding into the booth beside her. The word got stuck in his throat and he had to cough to remove it.
She glanced up from her menu, laying those dazzling eyes on him again.
Yep. He was a goner. Denial was pointless.
He turned his eyes to his own menu and tried to focus. “Did you order yet?”
“I was waiting for you.”
The tea selection printed before him suddenly became more amusing. She was nice. She’d waited for him. It didn’t mean anything.
Did it?
He was way overthinking this. What was wrong with him? He’d never been so self-conscious with Nikki.
Because Nikki was not Coral.
Merrick cleared his throat. Focus. You’re here for business. A favor for a favor. Promise for promise.
He browsed the assortment of teas, sandwiches, salads, and a schedule of daily specials. Chicken potpie. His mouth watered.
“What are you getting?” Was that his voice sounding like a twelve-year-old boy’s?
The waitress—Elizabeth—returned before Coral could answer. “What’ll it be, dears?”
“Scones for the table,” Merrick said, finding his confidence again. “Lots of marmalade and butter, please. And a chicken potpie.”
“I’ll have the same.” Coral folded her menu. “And hot tea.”
“Excellent choices.” Elizabeth took their menus, writing nothing down. “Would you like a pot for the table?”
Coral glanced at Merrick.
His smile widened. “Absolutely.”
“What tea do you fancy?” Elizabeth glanced between Coral and Merrick, a gleam lighting her eyes.
Coral hesitated.
“What do you recommend?” Merrick asked for her.
“They’re all fine choices,” Elizabeth said. “Twinings. Harney & Sons. Tazo. I’m partial to the Savoy blends myself. Miracle Mermaid Tea is a tourist favorite.”
“Sounds good.” Coral nodded and placed her hands in her lap, fidgeting with her napkin.
Was she nervous? Did she think this was a date?
Merrick cleared his throat again.
Did he want this to be a date?
Elizabeth shuffled away, leaving them alone.
They had been alone before. But not like this. With her wearing that dress and Merrick unable to stop staring.
“My mom used to bring me and Amaya here.” Merrick jumped into conversation, hoping it would rid the air of the awkwardness he was creating with all his staring. “It’s been years since we’ve been back. This is nice. Thanks for meeting me.”
Ease washed Coral’s expression. “I’m out of school now, so I can help you more during the week if you want. I actually questioned a few people on my way over this morning.”
His heart raced. She’d done that for him? On her own? “Wow. Thanks.” He ran a shaky hand through his hair. Tried to look anywhere but directly at her. “Anything good?”
She pulled out her notebook and flipped it open. “You said your friend’s mom grew up with Lyn?”
The way Coral said his mom’s name, with so much care and tenderness, made Merrick’s heart skip three beats. “Yes. Yeah, she did. I talked to Grim’s mom a bit before she left for Denmark last week. She said the one thing she remembered about Mom was how much she loved this town. She loved being close to the water.”
“Vague,” Coral said, jotting down some notes.
Merrick laughed. She never failed to say exactly what she thought. “Right?”
“Anything else?”
“That having a daughter was my mom’s dream.”
“How is your sister, by the way?”
“She’s okay, I think.” He shrugged. “I’d love for you to meet her sometime.”
“I’d like that.” She rested her pen on the table. Her eyes crinkled and he could sense the change that had been taking place in her. She trusted him. Or she was starting to.
Please don’t let me blow this.
“Did you . . . ?” He couldn’t find the words. “What was your sister like? Before . . .” His voice trailed. He didn’t want to venture where he wasn’t welcome, but he also wanted more.
Coral looked up from her page and met his eyes. “Honestly?”
“Honestly.”
“Some days she was fine—seemed fine.”
Merrick nodded, relating to every word.
“The thing is, I knew she wasn’t fine,” Coral went on. “But by the time I actually did something about it, it was too late. She was gone.”
“It wasn’t your fault.” He’d carried that blame with Amaya. It broke his heart to think of Coral taking responsibility for her sister’s death.
“I don’t know.” She looked out the window. “It’s not all my fault, I know that. I feel like there’s more I could have done. Or said. She felt so unloved, Merrick.”
And there it was. She’d said his name and his heart soared.
He had it bad. If Amaya were here, she’d say his blush was showing. Merrick only hoped Coral didn’t notice.
“It’s not your fault.” He set his hand on the seat between them. It lingered an inch from hers. “With Amaya . . . I keep reminding myself that I’m doing everything possible to save her. To let her see how much she’s loved. That’s why I’m trying to find our mom. She’ll know what to do. She and Amaya were close. My dad wants to send her away, but I have to believe there’s a better alternative.”
Coral stayed quiet for a bit. Through the tea Elizabeth brought and the three new customers who walked past them. Finally she sighed. “Did your sister start cutting before or after your mom left?”
“Before.” Merrick passed her the sugar and cream, studying how she prepared her tea. Her hands were so delicate. They made him think of her name and the fragility of ocean coral. The rarity of something so beautiful and breakable.
“But that’s because of our dad,” he continued. “He puts so much pressure on Amaya to be this perfect daughter. If she and my mom could start over, away from him, I know things would be easier.”
Coral stirred two sugar cubes and an inch of cream into her tea. “It sounds like you are putting as much pressure on your mom as your dad does on your sister.”