Sapphire Beach Paperback Bundle (Books 9-12), Paperbacks

Friends, Foes and Felonies: Chapter 1

Connie clutched Zach’s hand and practically pulled him through the parking garage, across the street, and into Concourse D at Southwest Florida International Airport. 

They climbed the staircase and made their way toward a wooden bench. Connie anxiously glanced at the corridor that Sam O’Neil, her longtime friend and mentor, would be required to pass through upon arriving. On one side was a large window and on the other was the security checkpoint for departing passengers.

“Let’s wait here,” Connie said, plopping herself down on the empty bench.

Zach pulled his phone from his pocket and glanced at the time. “We’re early. It will be at least ten more minutes before Sam arrives. His plane is probably just touching ground now.”

Connie let out a sharp breath. “I know. I just wanted to be sure we were here to greet him the second he arrived. I can’t believe it’s been nearly two years since I last saw him. For eleven years, Sam and I worked side-by-side in the office. And that doesn’t even include the countless weekend fundraisers and business trips.”

Connie’s eleven years working for Sam at Feeding the Hungry, a non-profit agency that served the poor in various developing countries, as well as her post-graduate term of volunteer service in Kenya, gave her the confidence and experience to open Just Jewelry, the shop where she sold Fair Trade jewelry and her own handmade pieces. 

Zach rested his arm on Connie’s shoulders. “I’m looking forward to meeting someone who has been such an important part of your life.”

Connie leaned against Zach. “It was actually my parents who introduced us. Did I ever tell you the story?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Sam was one of my father’s clients. My dad was his personal accountant. When Sam would go to my dad’s office every year to get his taxes done, my father would keep him posted on my adventures in Kenya. Shortly after I returned, Sam called my dad to tell him that he decided to close his lucrative consulting business to start a non-profit organization after participating in a humanitarian trip to South America with his parish. He wanted to hire my father to take care of the organization’s accounting needs. My dad thought Sam and I would enjoy meeting each other, so my parents invited Sam and his wife, Janet, to Sunday dinner one afternoon. By the end of the meal, Sam had offered me a job and I had accepted.”

“And the rest is history?”

“Exactly. I’m looking forward to spending the next two weeks with him. Sam is a combination of an older brother and a second father to me. I have a feeling something meaningful will happen while he’s in Sapphire Beach.”

“What do you mean by that?” Zach asked. 

Connie shrugged her shoulders. “It’s hard to explain, exactly, but it’s always a blessing when Sam and I get together. We’re like kindred spirits, even though he is twenty years older than me. There’s usually some sort of strange parallel with what’s going on in each of our lives, ever since he opened Feeding the Hungry. At that time, I was trying to figure out a path for my life that would somehow be a continuation of my work in Africa, and Sam was wondering how’d he grow a non-profit with no help.”

Zach kissed the top of Connie’s head. “It sounds like you two have a special bond.” 

“I couldn’t believe it when he told me he was coming for two weeks. As long as I’ve known Sam, he’s never taken that much time off from work. I also can’t wait to run by him the plans I’ve made for the expansion of my Fair Trade section. I’m sure he’ll have some great ideas.”

Connie couldn’t sit still, so she walked to the airport monitors and checked on the latest flight information, then eagerly returned to Zach. “His flight landed ten minutes ago. It shouldn’t be long now.”

A minute later, Connie jumped up and pointed toward the corridor. “There he is!”

Before Zach could say a word, Connie darted toward a man with salt and pepper hair, a medium build, and kind blue eyes. She threw her arms around his neck. Until that moment, Connie hadn’t realized just how much she had missed her old friend and mentor.

Zach caught up with Connie and Sam. 

“Let me guess,” Zach said. “This is Sam.”

A smile was plastered on Connie’s face. “Nah, I just like to give perfect strangers a warm welcome to Florida,” she joked.

Zach extended his hand. “Hi Sam, I’m Zach. I feel like I know you already from everything Connie has told me about you.”

Sam pushed away Zach’s hand and pulled him into a warm hug. “And I, you. It’s a pleasure to finally meet the man who captured Connie’s heart.”

Zach glanced at Connie and smiled broadly. Then he took the backpack Sam had been carrying. 

“Thank you, Zach,” Sam said. 

“It’s the least I can do for a weary traveler. I’ll bet you’re exhausted.”

Connie had been so excited to see Sam that she hadn’t noticed how tired he looked until Zach mentioned it. Dark circles had formed beneath his eyes, and his skin tone was paler than normal, even for a long New England winter. Sam had only taken a quick three-and-a-half-hour direct flight from Boston, so he shouldn’t have been nearly as tired as he appeared. 

Connie placed her hand on Sam’s forearm. “Come to think of it, you do look weary. Let’s pick up your luggage and get you settled in at home so you can rest. Dinner is ready to be put in the oven.”

After retrieving Sam’s suitcase at Carousel 10, they walked back to the parking garage and loaded Sam’s suitcase into Zach’s grey Jeep. Within forty minutes, they had pulled into the underground garage at Palm Paradise, which was the condo building where Connie lived. They ascended the elevator to the seventh floor and entered Connie’s condo. 

Connie’s chestnut and white Cavalier King Charles Spaniel eagerly trotted over to greet them.

“This must be Ginger,” Sam said, bending over to return the dog’s affection. He reached into the front pocket of his suitcase and pulled out a rawhide bone with a red ribbon tied around it. He took off the ribbon and gave the bone to the dog.

“A belated Christmas gift,” Sam said.

Zach smiled. “I think you just made a friend for life. That is so thoughtful of you.”

Connie and Sam both chuckled at Zach’s comment.

“What’s so funny?” 

“Sam is a generous guy, but the gift for Ginger was undoubtedly courtesy of his wife, Janet,” Connie clarified. 

“Don’t get me wrong,” Sam said, scratching the top of Ginger’s head. “I was looking forward to meeting this little girl. But I wouldn’t have thought of bringing her a Christmas gift.” 

“I guess running a growing non-profit wouldn’t leave you much time for buying presents for your four-legged friends,” Zach said. 

When Sam stood and looked up, the sight of the Gulf of Mexico through the double sliding doors in Connie’s living room stopped him in his tracks. “Wow, kiddo, what a view!” He slowly walked over to the sliders, while Ginger sat in the corner and went to town on her new chew toy.

“I can see why you moved here. This view is exquisite.” 

“The view is the same from the guest room,” Connie said. “Why don’t you settle in and relax? I’ll put dinner in the oven.”

Sam tugged at his fleece sweatshirt. “I need to get out of these winter clothes and put on something more appropriate for Florida weather.”

Zach showed Sam to Connie’s guest suite, where she had already pulled down the Murphy bed and put fresh sheets on it. All there was for Sam to do was unpack.

While Sam settled in, Connie put some breaded chicken breasts into the oven and heated up some mashed potatoes, which she had also prepared earlier. Then she sauteed some string beans in olive oil, garlic, and spices while Zach set the table. 

About fifteen minutes later, Sam emerged from his room wearing summer khakis and a short-sleeved blue and white button-down shirt. “This is much better,” he said with a satisfied smile.

Before they sat down to eat, Connie made a quick phone call to check in with Abby, her employee who was covering the store so Connie could take the evening off. It was a late Friday afternoon in early January, which was one of the busiest months since the snowbirds and tourists were returning in full force, so Connie wanted to make sure Abby wasn’t too overwhelmed. 

“Everything is okay at the store,” Connie said when she hung up with Abby. “But I don’t like that Abby or Grace has to cover for me every time I want to take some time off. Although Abby insists she doesn’t mind, because she is still on winter break and could use the extra money, it still feels like an imposition.” 

“Can you afford to hire another employee?” Sam asked, after they said the blessing together.

Connie put two cutlets on her plate. “I probably should. I’ve thought about it, but I just bought the building where my store is housed and took on a mortgage that was higher than my rent had been, so expenses have gone up. I’m afraid of taking on too much overhead. Besides, I want to expand the Fair Trade section of the store, and as I take on more vendors, that means more upfront costs.”

“It sounds like you’re a busy lady,” Sam said. “Of course, that doesn’t surprise me. Old habits die hard.”

“Speaking of old habits, you must be slowing down a little bit,” Connie said. “I can’t believe you took off two entire weeks.”

Sam let out a sigh. 

“You don’t seem very excited about it,” Connie said. “Is everything okay?”

Sam shook his head, as if trying to shake off his thoughts. “Don’t mind me. This vacation is just what the doctor ordered. I’ve been looking forward to it for months. I’m just tired.”

“From work?” Connie asked.

“Probably from the last thirteen years in general. The truth is, initially I was only planning to come for a week, but Janet insisted that I extend my vacation. I’ve been tired for a long time.”

Connie’s eyes flew open. “Sam, you’re not sick, are you?”

He shook his head. “No, it’s nothing like that. I just had a physical, and my doctor said that everything looks great. I guess I’ve just been working too hard. Perhaps my age is catching up with me. Janet’s probably right. I just need some time off.”

“It sounds like you’re burning out,” Zach said. “We’ve all been there. An extended vacation could be just what you need.”

“Thanks, Zach. I hope you’re right.”

After dinner, Sam offered to take Ginger for her nightly walk while Connie and Zach cleaned up. 

“I think I’ll turn in early and do some reading,” Sam said when he returned and saw that the kitchen had been cleaned.

Sam retired to his room, and Connie accompanied Zach to the elevator.

“Something is different about Sam,” Connie said after Zach pressed the elevator call button. “The Sam I know and love was a big ball of energy.”

“I’m sure he’ll be back to his old self after a few days of rest and relaxation – not to mention the warm Florida sunshine.”

“I hope you’re right. But I know Sam, and it looks to me like it will take more than a few days in the sun. I really wanted to hit the ground running and pick his brain about expanding my Fair Trade section while he was here, but now I’m afraid to bring up anything work-related. He looks so fragile.”

“Maybe focusing on your work will help him to get his mind off his own. I’m sure he’d be happy to be your sounding board.”

“You could be right. I guess I’ll play it by ear.”

When the elevator arrived, Zach kissed Connie and left.