Escape to Misty Harbor: Book III

By Betty Owens Cory

The town of Misty Harbor keeps on giving to the new residents and the old and keeps on providing a welcome place for everyone. The matriarch is present as an inspiration who still sends out her "blow" and continues to play a major role in many lives in her hollowed town.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 19, 2024
• ISBN: 9798889608530

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Escape to Misty Harbor

Book III

Betty Owens Cory

Copyright © 2024 Betty Owens Cory

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2024

The copyrights of this work, including but not limited to the accuracy of events, people, and places depicted, opinions expressed, permission to use previously published materials included, or any advice given or action advocated are solely the responsibility of the author, who assumes all liability for said work and indemnifies the publisher against any claims stemming from publication of the work.

ISBN 979-8-88960-840-0 (pbk)

ISBN 979-8-88960-853-0 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

About the Author

Chapter 1

Lula Mae's life wasn't an open book. Much like most folks in Misty Harbor, she came to this town down a strange and winding road. She had been a waitress in a small southern town that didn't have much to offer, so she took the first job she could find and made sure she learned her trade well. She had a room in the back of the restaurant that the owners offered her, which met her immediate needs: a roof over her head and a potbellied stove to cook on and to warm her two rooms at night. She made herself a promise to save all her tips and live on her pay which, over the years, allowed her to save quite enough to eventually strike out on her own. She had always loved coastal towns and watching the shrimp boats come in to unload their fresh catch of the day.

The only thing she didn't like about life in a small southern town was the heat and the humidity, so she made a promise to herself to head north to the coastal villages along Maine. She scoured the newspapers before she headed north to see if there might be a good restaurant that some owner had listed for sale, and she found a shabby but clean wooden restaurant right on the dock where the lobster boats tied up to sell their days catch. She felt that she had done her homework and worked hard until she had enough saved to make an offer on this restaurant before someone else snapped it up.

Lula Mae didn't know diddly-squat about the local produce that the seas provided in Maine, and she definitely needed to know what the tourists liked best and how to prepare it. She soon learned that lobsters not only taste fabulous but have less calories, less total fat, and less cholesterol than lean beef, whole poached eggs, and even roasted skinless chicken breast. She also learned that lobster is also high in amino acids; potassium and magnesium; vitamins A, B12, B6, B3 (niacin), and B2 (riboflavin); calcium and phosphorus; and iron—all very good statistics for lobster lovers.

Lula Mae knew how to cook and how to keep her customers happy, and she had a love for the sea—she hoped that she would be welcomed by the locals when she arrived in Misty Harbor. That was twenty years ago, and since then, Lula Mae had married her cook, Charlie. Together, they know every lobster boat and its captain in Misty Harbor. She was fair, and they loved her. Those assets stood her well over the years that she lived and worked in this northeastern town. She now employed Ben's young son, Mark, to help her package and ship the town's lobsters, and by all accounts, he was doing a bang-up job. He built himself a little shanty on the dock so when the rains and wind came, he had someplace dry to wait for the boats to come in to the docks. When he spotted a lobsterman returning from his morning run, he helped them tie up their boat, took a count of how many lobsters they had caught, and wrote down their name and the boat's name in his log. All the lobstermen knew Mark and were comfortable with the service he was undertaking for a kid so young. His job was also to keep the lobsters alive and at the appropriate temperature until they were shipped out so they would all be alive and kicking when they got to the buyer.

*****

Shanna happily agreed to meet Brandon for lunch. Brandon spotted her as she approached his table. She looked amazing and happy. The change from Georgia to Maine sure seemed to agree with her, and he was thrilled to be here with her. It didn't take long for the two young lovers to rekindle their love, and they spent every moment that they could easing into a close relationship. The years that Brandon were away at college faded away as they came as close as two peas in a pod. Shanna spent most evenings at Brandon's home, and there they were free to explore their feelings fully.

As Shanna neared his table, Brandon rose to take her hand as he pulled out her chair. After only a few weeks back in town, Brandon wasn't going to waste any time and asked her if she would marry him and pulled out a gorgeous diamond ring.

Shanna couldn't believe this was happening. She moved back here for good, and now Brandon was back, and it all seemed like destiny. She was stunned at the size and brilliance of this antique ring.

"Yes, it was Maggie's, and she left me a note with this too to give it to the woman of my dreams with her blessing."

It turned out that Maggie's uncle was once a diamond merchant in Russia, which was where the ring was created. It had a cushion-cut diamond in the center and was probably circa 1930s.

Brandon, it's stunning, and I'd be honored to wear it.

Brandon leaned in and tipped her face toward him, and their lips met in a prolonged and beautiful kiss.

I guess this means we're engaged. Have you planned the wedding too?

No, we will do that together, of course, but I had thought August 23, if that's alright with you?

It's perfect. May I tell Beth, or just keep this in the box until a bit later?

Yes, of course, you can tell Beth. I know you two are both hometown friends and have reunited here in Misty Harbor and work closely at Beth's art gallery.

Shanna couldn't wait to get back to the gallery and share her good news.

We are completely forgetting about lunch. What would you like? Brandon asked.

Something quick, I suppose, since we've talked through my lunch hour. I would like the lobster bisque soup as a starter and a dozen oysters on the half shell that we can share.

Sounds great to me. I'll have soup too.

With perfect timing, Lula Mae showed up to take their order. Well, hello, young man. Haven't seen you in a while. Are you all finished with law school?

Yes, ma'am, and I'm here to stay.

Well, that's the best news I've heard all day. Welcome home, Brandon.

Brandon ordered a beer, and Shanna ordered a glass of Malbec wine. They sat back, basking in each other, and were so glad their lives were coming together here. After their short summers and college years apart, it didn't seem at all that they were different people now. They were a lucky couple indeed to be able to pick up where they left off, and it felt right—it was right.

Brandon walked Shanna back to the art gallery after lunch and gave her a quick kiss as patrons were streaming in and out of the gallery. Shanna was glad for the private moments with Brandon but sorry she was a bit late returning from lunch. She entered the gallery and took her usual place behind the cash register to ring up new orders and wrap them as well. It seemed like no time at all when it was 5:00 p.m. and the doors finally closed for the day. Shanna explained that her lunch with Brandon was great but that she was sorry it pushed the envelope a bit on time.

Beth said, It was absolutely no problem, but do tell what that glow on your face means.

Shanna held out her left hand, and the bling nearly blinded Beth. Good Lord, does this mean what I think it does?

Yes, it does, Shanna said as they hugged each other and danced around the room. He wants to get married in August, so we'll have our wedding, then you and Lee will have yours. Who knew?

I knew you two had summers of history and closeness, but I didn't know it would happen this quickly. I'm thrilled for you.

Maggie left this ring for him and told him to put in on the finger of the girl of his dreams with her blessing.

Isn't that just like our Maggie? Beth replied with a tear sliding down her cheek.

You bet, she has a habit of looking after those that she loves. I hope when I leave this earth that I can be as gracious as she has been to all of us.

I don't know what your afternoon was like, but I'm bushed. Can we go upstairs to the porch and share a glass of wine?

You bet, sounds heavenly.

The two of them locked the front door and made their way upstairs. Beth got the glasses down and poured each of them a healthy glass of wine as they almost fell into the rocking chairs on the screened-in porch overlooking the bay. They clinked their glasses and leaned back to set the rockers in motion, enjoying the beauty of the sun beginning to lower itself into the bay.

I'll never get over the blessings I've received from Maggie since I headed my car in this direction all due to you, my friend. The summers you spent here with your family every year were so magical that you passed the knowledge of Maggie on to me, and she did not disappoint. In fact, she gave me a new life, and now she's doing the same thing for you and Brandon. Wow, what a legacy she left us all.

Shanna immediately said, While I agree with you 100 percent, who is going to run this gallery when you move in to your new home with Lee and I do the same with Brandon?

Well, we will, silly. I don't intend to quit working just because I'm married, but we do need to think about someone who knows how to teach knitting and can oversee the gallery when we're away, and might I add, who also wishes to rent our rooms upstairs. Anyone comes to mind?

Not a clue, but in time, we need to quietly speak to the downtown shop owners, plus the librarian, and any others you can think of to see who out there needs a hand like I did when I came here.

Oh, Shanna, we're going to become Maggie in our own right. Meaning, we have the opportunity now to help someone else. Isn't this exciting?

Yes, pay it forward, I think, they call it.

Beth continued, stating, Everyone has been asking when I am going to change the gallery name to mine, and I've given that some thought. I don't want it to be in just my name as the work ongoing has been accomplished by many people. Maggie, for starters, in bequeathing it to me and for moving here and working side by side with her, and now we need to find someone who will offer knitting classes. So I've come up with the following name: The Best Little Art Gallery on the Bay. I've made a new sign which will go up today. We have to install some safeguards like hidden cameras for our own safety, and both of us have to take turns collecting the receipts and the funds matching those receipts every day.

How about we meet with Hiram to see if we need to copyright the new name and also Brandon to talk it over to make sure we're going about hiring future employees correctly?

Now that I think about it, Maggie didn't ask me to sign anything. She just trusted your recommendation since she knew you and your family from all the summers spent here. I wish we could find someone like us, known to the community in some way, and also someone who needs a helping hand. After marriage, I certainly don't intend to abandon my participation or ownership of this gallery. What about you?

No, I can't imagine not painting or meeting the ladies that depend on us for a nice place to get together.

Perhaps when either of us becomes pregnant, we both will want time off or to lessen our hours in the gallery, that's only natural. Let's hope we both don't get pregnant at the same time!

I'm glad we had this talk. Things will change, but we need to put plans in place to address the type of changes we're both about to enter, and as long as we have a plan, we'll be alright.

Chapter 2

Beth came to Misty Harbor trying to escape an alcoholic husband. Her husband, Josh, was also jealous of how much money Beth was bringing in from the sale of her paintings. Next, Josh was laid off, which only increased his drinking and abuse.

Shanna told Beth about all her family summers spent in Misty Harbor and meeting Maggie who suggested that Beth should send her a package of her best paintings to see if there may be work for her up there. Beth included in the package a note telling her that she had