61
THEY DROVE DOWN TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AFTER THE
wedding, making a honeymoon out of the road trip. They followed the
old route, Highway 101, hugging the spectacular coastline. Hector
rode in the backseat, his nose stuck out the window as much as
possible. At night they stayed at charming windswept inns,
including one aptly named Dreamscape in a little town called
Eclipse Bay.
They arrived in Scargill Cove in the early evening.
The lights still burned in the offices of Jones & Jones. Chloe
and Jack climbed the stairs to the second floor, bags of groceries
in their arms, Hector at their heels. On the landing Jack raised
his hand, but the door opened before he could knock.
Fallon stood in the opening, looking out at them
with a bewildered expression.
“Jack,” he said. He looked at Chloe. “You’re
Chloe.”
“And you’re Fallon Jones.” She smiled. “Nice to
meet you in person after all we’ve been through together.”
“What are you two doing here?” Fallon asked.
“Honeymoon,” Chloe explained. “We’ve got a room at
the inn down the street.” She indicated the bags of groceries. “We
heard there’s no decent restaurant open after five thirty, so we
picked up a few things. I’m going to cook dinner for all of
us.”
Fallon was beyond bewildered now. He looked
poleaxed.
“Dinner?” He repeated, as if the word and the
concept were new to him. “As in home cooking?”
“Right,” Chloe said. “Do you mind?”
“Uh, no.” Fallon frowned. “No, I don’t mind.”
“Where’s the kitchen?” she prompted.
“It’s sort of attached to my office.” He glanced
over his shoulder as though searching for the kitchen.
Jack held up the six-pack in his hand. “Figured you
and I could have a couple of beers while Chloe’s fixing
dinner.”
Fallon’s expression cleared. He stood back, holding
the door open.
“I’d like that,” he said. “I’d like that a
lot.”