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There was still one fire truck on the scene. She assumed it was likely making sure nothing would reignite. A number of people from the nearby cottages were milling around, no doubt discussing the situation.
Barb, Caitlin, and May Ellen were all outside and underneath their cottage when Jenni pulled in. She immediately jumped outand ran up to them asking, “What in the world happened? Is everyone OK?”
Barb shook her head disconsolately. “Yes and no, Jenni. That house belongs to good friends of Scott’s and mine. It’s a second home, just like ours,” she said, and seemed to be at a loss for words.
May Ellen continued, “Thankfully no one was injured. They had gone up the beach for the day for doctor appointments and errands and such. We’d been in the house all morning consoling Caitlin, so we didn’t realize anything was going on until we heard the sirens. Someone on the street had seen the smoke.”
Jenni was trying to process everything at once, but something didn’t make sense.
“Consoling Caitlin?” she asked, looking closely now at her friend. “I’m not sure I understand.”
Barb pulled Caitlin close to her and gave her a hug. “Well, it seems she and Andrew have had a bit of a hiccup. We’ve tried to tell her that sometimes these things happen, and it’s going to be OK. However, we’re not making much progress in that regard. We’re hoping you can try. May Ellen and I want to spend some time with our neighbors right now to see what they need and what if anything we can do.”
May Ellen added, “Thank goodness this village has such a great volunteer fire department. All the villages on this island do, from what I hear. I don’t know much about these things, but I think they can salvage most of what they have. The smoke made it look a whole lot worse, not that it wasn’t bad enough.”
Jenni only half heard what May Ellen was saying. She had walked over to Caitlin and put her arms around her. “Come on, CayCay, let’s go upstairs and have some wine, and you can tell me what’s going on. I’m here for you.”
Caitlin had obviously been crying. Her eyes were red and puffy. Her shoulders drooped with sadness. But she straightenedup and managed to say, “I’m so glad you’re here, Jenni. First my news, then this awful fire, and of course, you telling us about Dee’s mom passing away. Selfish I know, but I was really afraid you weren’t going to make it.”
“Hey, I didn’t want to let y’all down, but I had no idea about you and Andrew. When did this happen?” Jenni asked as they walked into the living room.
She dumped her bags on the floor and immediately went into the kitchen, grabbed two wine glasses, and found some wine already opened on the counter.
“Right before I left to come here,” Caitlin began.
Jenni handed her a glass of wine and she continued, “It started out as just some bickering about the guest list for the wedding. I’m sure we’re not the first couple that’s had that as an issue. I thought we’d figure it out when I got back, but Andrew wouldn’t let it drop.”
Jenni knew where this was headed. She and Compy had had similar disagreements, but then she let his mother handle everything and acquiesced to what he wanted. It was easier that way.
Easier then, but looking back, not the best idea. It created a pattern where she gave into everything.
“Look, sweetie,” she said, taking a long drink of wine and then placing the glass on a coaster. “I know you’re going to think I’m crazy, especially since I’m not the poster child for successful relationships. But it’s OK for you to fight a little and hold your ground. It’s probably healthy. A strong love like the two of you have can handle this.”
Chapter Thirty
Jenni paused before she spoke.
She found herself in a startling position, giving advice to her best friend and wishing that she’d been open to the same thing months ago. Not that Caitlin hadn’t tried in her own way, but Jenni hadn’t been open to listening.
She felt she had grown tremendously through her counseling sessions. She could see her actions and reactions more clearlynow, and she wanted Caitlin to be spared the same mistakes she’d made.
“You mean to tell me you’ve never really argued before?” she asked.
“Not like this,” Caitlin sobbed. “He said maybe we should postpone the wedding, and I was so angry I agreed. But I didn’t mean it.”
“I doubt if he meant it either,” Jenni consoled her friend. “How did you leave things?”
“I guess we didn’t,” Caitlin replied. “I had already packed, so I just grabbed my things and left. We didn’t say ‘bye’ or ‘love you’ or anything.”
This time, she began almost wailing, and Jenni was at a bit of a loss, but she thought back to her own sessions. Thinking it was better to let her cry, she sat with Caitlin saying nothing.
Eventually, it was Caitlin who spoke.
“I think this wedding stuff has us both on edge,” she admitted. “Maybe a few days apart will help us think things through?” She posed it as a question, so Jenni answered.
“I think that’s a good way to look at it,” she said. “You know my Uncle Ron recently told me that we have to grow from every experience. That’s why we have them. I can’t imagine a better time to process all of your thoughts than at the tournament. I’ve come to believe the beach is a cure-all for most everything.” Then changing the subject, she looked into the kitchen.
“With all the commotion with the fire and your problems, I’m guessing your mom won’t feel like cooking. Why don’t we call into Marcie’s for take-out and just eat here tonight? I could kill for a shrimp basket.”
