Summer of Dreams Read online

  SUMMER OF DREAMS

  By

  Lydia Rose

  Edited by

  Holly Schneider

  FOR LINDA ALWAYS

  THIS BOOK IS A WORK OF FICTION AND DOES NOT REPRESENT ANY TOWN OR PEOPLE

  COPYRIGHT BY LYDIA ROSE BOOKS 2016

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty One

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Epilogue

  Author’s Other Books

  CHAPTER ONE

  Riley Anderson was doing her daily routine of making sure the marina was in order for the new guests that would be arriving for the Memorial Day weekend. Some of the guests would arrive and stay the summer. Others would only visit on the weekends and others would visit sparingly. The smile on her face showed how happy this place made her feel.

  The land was purchased by her great grandfather when there was nothing here on the west coast of Florida. It wasn’t until her grandfather inherited the property that the land took shape. Her grandfather Jake turned the barren land into one of the most beautiful marinas in the area. Over the years, a pool, a restaurant and houses had been added to the property. Now Riley, her mother Ava and her aunt Olivia inherited the property when Jake passed on. They all loved this place and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. The only one who hated living here was her father Charlie. When Riley was ten years old, her dad left. Grandpa Jake became her surrogate father once her father disappeared from her life. Jake taught her to fish, how to operate both a motor boat and a sailboat. The most important lesson he taught her was to respect the land. Her job as a child was keeping the marina clean. She even had to clean bathrooms. They weren’t her favorite jobs, but she did them anyway. As she got older, Jake taught her everything else that went into running a profitable marina. Her mother handled the office, her aunt and uncle operated the successful restaurant on the property. Riley’s job was to make sure the guests were happy and that they would return each year with their boats and yachts.

  Riley walked into the restaurant and walked toward the kitchen. “Hello, everyone,” she called out to the kitchen staff. “Are we set with the food for the barbecue for this weekend?”

  Her uncle Ryan appeared wiping his hands on a towel. “Don’t worry, Riley. Everything is ready for the barbecue on Sunday.”

  “Thanks, Uncle Ryan. I knew you wouldn’t let me down,” Riley said with a grin.

  “Have I ever let you down?” he asked, looking at his niece with not only a smirk, but love.

  Riley put her finger to her chin as if she were in deep thought until her uncle threw the towel at her. “Thanks again,” she said laughing her way out of the restaurant. Her next stop was to check in with her mother to see if she needed anything. “Hey, Mom.”

  “Riley,” Ava said holding up a letter in her hand. “I just got a letter from Dot Turner. She said they won’t be using the boat this year, but instead a friend of theirs will be here for the summer.”

  “As long as their boat stays in the slip, I don’t care who uses the boat,” Riley said chuckling.

  “Dot kind of hinted that Shelby needed a place to stay and they offered the boat. I wonder what her story is.”

  Riley was already sitting at her desk reading the local newspaper and no longer paying attention to her mother.

  “Did you hear me, Riley?” Ava asked loudly.

  Riley’s head shot up. “Uh, no.”

  “I said Shelby needed a place to stay.”

  Riley scratched her head wondering where she heard that name before. Not having any recollection, she asked, “Who is Shelby?”

  “The woman who is staying on the Turner’s boat.”

  “Oh, okay.” Riley went back to her newspaper.

  “Aren’t you even a little bit curious?” Ava asked moving over to Riley’s desk.

  “Why should I be? It’s the Turner’s business who they let use their boat. I don’t care.”

  “But why would this woman need a place to stay? Could it be a relationship gone sour or a divorce?” Ava looked at the blank stare of her daughter. “Never mind. I can see I’m wasting my breath on you.” Ava went back to her own desk.

  “I’m sorry, Mom. It is none of our business anyway.”

  “I wonder how old she is. The Turners are only in their forties.”

  Her words now caught Riley’s attention. “Oh, no. I can see those wheels in your head turning.” She pointed her finger. “No, Mom. Do you hear me?”

  Ava mumbled under breath. “I’m just thinking that it’s been so long since you went out with anyone. How long are you going to play the field?”

  “Play the field?” Riley asked laughing, but her mother was right. Her relationships consisted of one or two night stands. Sometimes they would last a couple of weeks, but Riley knew they were going nowhere.

  “Yes. Haven’t you had enough one night stands?”

  “No,” Riley said barely audibly.

  Ava looked at the couch in the office. “That sofa has seen more action than a bed in a brothel.”

  Riley’s jaw dropped. How does she know that? It’s not like she could bring them back to the house she shared with her mother. Her mind began to wander to the last time she entertained a woman here. Her name was Candy and she tasted as sweet as her name. She was vacationing here with her parents and boyfriend. When her boyfriend went off for some night fishing with the girl’s father, Riley and Candy ended up together. The woman was on fire and that tryst kept her going for a long time. But as with all of her other entanglements, she only had the one night.

  “Are you listening to me?” Ava asked sternly, which snapped Riley back to the present. ”You think you’re so slick. That you could keep a secret from me.” Ava’s words were sputtering out of her mouth now. “You are thirty-five years old.” Her hand flicked toward her. “You aren’t a teenager any longer.”

  Riley’s shoulders slumped. “Mom, I’d love to meet someone who would take me seriously, but all I meet are women that are only here temporarily. Where am I supposed to meet someone that wants to live at a marina?”

  “It’s not like we live on a deserted island. We are fifteen minutes from a city. A large city, Riley.”

  “Mom, I don’t have time to go into the city.”

  “Why? No one is forcing you to stay here seven days a week. Before you know it, you will be looking at more days behind you than forward.”

  “What about you, Mom? You’ve been divorced for twenty-five years. Don’t you want to find someone?”

  “When I was your age, I looked, Riley. I really did, but I couldn’t find anyone who filled my heart with love.” Ava let out a groan. “Oh, yeah there were men who loved the fact that I owned a marina. Their eyes were filled with dollar signs. If the right man came along, I would gladly welcome him.”

  “Okay, Mom. I’ll try to find you a nice man and maybe I’ll let you try and find me a nice girl,” she said grinning from ear to ear. Like I’d really let her do that.

  “No you won’t. I don’t need you to find me a man.”

  “But, Mom, you are always trying to
fix me up.” Riley knew that would do it.

  “You little shit,” her mother growled out. “You knew exactly what you were doing.”

  “Mom, the last woman you tried to fix me up with was straight and engaged.”

  Ava shrugged. “So I made a little mistake.”

  “She didn’t think so when I tried to kiss her.” Riley could still remember the sting on her face from the woman’s slap.

  Ava laughed. “Okay, truce. I won’t fix you up with any straight women again.”

  “Mom.”

  Ava waved her hand. “Go check on our visitors and see if anyone needs any help.” Again the hand waved. “Shoo.”

  Riley walked out to the parking lot and saw a woman unpacking her trunk. She walked the wagon over to her. “Hi, I’m Riley. Can I help you with your things?” she asked in a voice that felt like butter on the air.

  The woman emptying her trunk raised her shoulders at the voice behind her. The voice was low and husky. Turning she looked at Riley with complete disdain for her. Surprised that the voice belonged to a woman, but her face did not change as she stared at Riley.

  Riley was wearing a pair of dark blue cargo shorts, a light blue golf tee with the name of the marina across the left side and her ever-present boat shoes. Riley looked down at herself wondering if she was dirty because of the way the woman was looking at her. “I’m one of the owners here,” Riley said as if that would explain everything.

  The woman stopped staring. “Shelby,” the woman said softly. “I appreciate the wagon, but I don’t need your help. I’m very capable of doing things on my own.”

  Riley shrugged at the tone in Shelby’s voice. “Suit yourself.” She now noticed a couple getting out their car and walked over to them. “Alice,” she called out as the woman got out of the car.

  “Riley. It’s so good to see you again.” The woman pulled her in for a hug.

  Randy now greeted her the same way. “Barbecue this weekend?” he asked.

  “You know it, Randy. Let me get another wagon for you.” Riley walked off and returned with a wagon as promised. They unloaded the Bridges’ trunk and Riley walked with them to help them load the boat.

  As Shelby made several trips from the car to the boat, she noticed Riley helping a couple with their things. You idiot. Obviously, her job is to help people. She wasn’t coming on to you. Did Todd really screw up your head so much that now you think a woman is flirting with you?

  Riley saw Shelby loading the boat as she helped the other couple with their belongings. She had to admit the woman was a knockout. Her dark shoulder length hair was pulled into a ponytail and she had a figure that could get Riley’s libido up and running again. The only problem she could see was the woman’s snooty attitude. She looked at her as if she had cooties. If the woman wasn’t wearing sunglasses, she was sure her eyes would have showed her fury. I wonder what color they are.

  Riley went back to the office. “Is it safe to come in now?” she asked, smiling at her mother.

  “Get in here, you big goof,” her mother answered. “Is everyone getting settled in all right?”

  “Yes.”

  “I saw you helping that woman.”

  “She didn’t want or need my help as she made very clear to me.” Ava laughed at her comment. “It’s not funny. She looked at me as if I were a gnat.”

  Ava continued to laugh. “Your natural charm didn’t work on her, huh?”

  “I wasn’t trying to charm her. I just offered to help,” she shrugged.

  “Do you know her name?” Ava asked glancing out the window.

  “Shelby.”

  “Oh, that’s the woman who is staying on the Turner’s boat.”

  “Figures. She is probably some rich bitch looking for a place to hide out while her divorce comes through.”

  “I’m not so sure, Riley. The letter said she needed a place to stay.” Ava lifted the blinds and looked toward the boat she was staying on. “There is a story there, I’m sure of it.”

  “Well, it’s none of our business, Mom. Leave it alone.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Riley was up early the next morning and began checking the property before she went back to have breakfast with her mother. She met Eve, the cleaning woman, coming out of the women’s bathroom. “Good morning, Eve. How are you?”

  “Hi, Riley. I’m good. Looks like all the slips are taken again this year,” she said, carrying her things over to the men’s bathroom.

  “Yeah. Just a few slips open in case someone comes in later for a rental.” Riley picked up some papers that were lying on the ground. “I’ll see you later.” She waved as she walked away. Riley now made her way over to Pete Quinn. “Hey, Pete.”

  “Good morning,” he answered. “I worked on the Nelson’s boat yesterday. Here is the repair order so your mom can make up a bill.”

  “Thanks, Pete.” Riley stuck the repair order in her pocket. “No other problems?” she asked as he began to tinker with a motor.

  “The place looks good, Riley. No worries.”

  “Great. See you later,” she said and he waved her out of the repair shed. Riley now walked back to the house to have breakfast.

  “Morning, Riley,” her mother called as the back door opened.

  “Morning, Mom.”

  “Sit down and eat your breakfast,” she said taking the seat next to her. “Everything okay out there?”

  “No problems, but it is early in the season.”

  Before they finished their breakfast, Riley’s cellphone rang. “Riley,” she said into the phone.

  “Hi, Riley. This is Janet.”

  “Hey, Janet. What can I do for you?”

  “One of the toilets in the ladies’ room is clogged,” she answered softly.

  “I’ll take care of it. Thanks for letting me know.” She disconnected the call. “Duty calls,” she said standing up and heading to the back door.

  Riley collected the things she needed to take care of the problem and walked toward the ladies’ bathroom.

  Ava was walking toward the office when she saw Shelby Klein. “Hello,” she said with a smile. “I’m Ava. Riley’s mom,” she added with her hand extended.

  “Shelby,” she said looking over Ava’s shoulder. “I was looking for Riley,” she said shyly.

  “She’s taking care of a problem right now. Is there something I can help you with?”

  “Uh, no. I just wanted to know if she could help me store some of my suitcases.”

  Ava patted her hand. “When she’s done, I’ll have her come over to your boat.”

  “Thank you and it was nice to meet you,” Shelby said before turning toward the docks.

  “You too, dear.”

  Riley had the clogged toilet open in a few minutes, but her clothes now wore some of the clog. She removed her gloves and washed her hands in the sink. She watched as a woman walked over to the sink and wrinkled her nose. “I know, I stink. Had to take care of a problem,” she said pointing her thumb over her shoulder. The woman just nodded and left the bathroom. Riley put away her things and walked toward the office. Once she stepped into the room, her mother looked at her with a stunned look. “I know, I stink.”

  “Yes you do,” Ava said holding her nose and laughing. “Go get changed and go over to Shelby’s boat. She needs help storing some things.”

  “I’ll go take care of her problem, then I’ll go get changed.”

  “No, Riley. You smell. Don’t go over there like that.” Her mother was holding her nose as she reprimanded Riley.

  “Why? She already thinks I’m a piece of shit so why not smell like one,” Riley said arguing.

  Ava threw her hands up in the defeat. “Do what you want.”

  Riley walked onto dock three and walked toward slip ten. “Permission to come aboard?” she asked standing on the dock.

  “Oh, Riley. Sure come on,” she said waving her hand. “I was wondering if you could help me put my suitcases away in the overhead storage area.” The mome
nt Riley got near her, Shelby stepped away.

  “I was taking care of a problem in the ladies bathroom,” she said with a shrug.

  Shelby stepped further away from her. “Ah, maybe this can wait. I know you have other things that are more important.” Besides, maybe you will smell better later. “I’m in no hurry.”

  Riley shrugged again. “Suit yourself.” She got to the end of the boat and hoped onto the dock. I don’t smell that bad. Riley thought to herself as she walked away, but headed toward the house. Once she had showered and changed, she approached the pool area and saw some guests had left debris behind. She grabbed a bag from one of the many pockets in her cargo shorts and began picking up the cups and napkins. She was straightening the lounge chairs when a voice called over her shoulder.

  “Don’t you have someone to do those menial tasks?”

  Riley spun around and came face to face with Shelby. “No. This is my job.” She didn’t care that her voice was harsh. Riley was tired of this woman thinking she was better than her. “My job may not look like much to you, but to me it’s important.” Riley brushed past her and walked away.

  “You smell much better,” Ava said when Riley entered. “Did you take care of Shelby’s problem?”

  “No,” Riley answered taking a seat.

  “Why not?”

  “Obviously, she didn’t like the way I smelled and wouldn’t let me help her.”

  Ava chuckled. “I told you to go shower first.” She looked at Riley who now had her eyes on the computer screen. “So go there and help her now.”

  “No.”

  “Riley,” her mother scolded. “What is it with the woman? You’ve always been so nice to the guests. Even when they didn’t deserve your kindness.”

  “I don’t know, Mom. She looks at me like I don’t matter and the things she says…” Riley let out a frustrated growl, “she drives me crazy.” She also does other things to me, but I can’t tell my mother that.

  “Oh, so you like her?” Ava asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “Like her?” Riley’s head shook side to side. “I can’t stand her.” She tried to argue with her mother, but the truth was she did like Shelby.