Summer on Highland Beach

Chapter Twenty-Seven Decisions

July 2022

After Ama left for her hotel, Olivia returned to her mother and father, who were sitting in the backyard whispering to each other. She left them alone. They needed space to process all that had happened.

When she woke up the following morning, her father and mother were both seated at the table. CJ was typing on his phone, likely fielding messages from concerned Highland Beach residents.

“Good morning.” Olivia stretched her arms.

“Morning. Did you sleep well?”

Olivia shook her head. “Not at all.” It hadn’t been entirely because of the stress of yesterday’s events. She missed Garrett fiercely. She wanted to call him, get his advice, tell him all that had transpired with her family.

And soon she would return home to Sag Harbor. Potentially as just a neighbor he used to date. But she had another idea. Like Ama had said, she would show him her heart and properly apologize for her actions.

“CJ, you need to put that phone down,” her mother admonished.

CJ shook his head. “Last night was a circus. I need to address what happened. It’s the least I can do after what happened between me, Mom, and Lauren.”

“Why don’t I take a crack at it?” Olivia offered. “You can edit it later.”

“Alan usually takes care of that as my campaign and communications manager, but I think he has his hands full.”

“Yes. He didn’t seem surprised by anything last night,” Cindy agreed.

“Yeah, well, Alan knows everything. Though I can’t see my mother ever telling him about the shock therapy.”

Olivia nodded. She didn’t know her grandmother as well, but her guess was that Alan had probably put two and two together. It was hard to hide depression from someone you lived with. Not only that, but as Olivia now also recalled, he’d come in with a small paper bag holding Christine’s medicine when they had lunch the other day.

“Still, I think I’ll draft something up. The town is probably out of sorts, and no matter what, it’s my job to ensure everyone is okay.” CJ placed his hands on his knees and pushed. He never looked a day over fifty, but in that moment he’d aged a decade.

“But, Dad, you should—”

“It won’t take long.” He leaned over and kissed Cindy’s cheek. “I’ll be back soon. And we’ll talk.”

“Aren’t you talked out?” Cindy huffed.

CJ shook his head. “Not when it comes to you and me.”

Cindy stared at Olivia, looking like the picture of confusion with her raised eyebrows and mouth slightly ajar. She snapped her mouth shut before responding. “Okay, if you’re up for it.”

“Sure am. I’ll be back soon.”

An hour later, her father returned downstairs.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like for you to review my statement.”

Serving the residents of Highland Beach has been one of the greatest honors of my life. However, I’ve come to the difficult decision to finish my term this year and not run for reelection.

I want to thank my staff and volunteers for supporting me and the town’s initiatives. But now I want to be with my new family. I will remain a citizen of this beautiful place, and after some time I will find other ways to support Highland Beach.

I wish everyone the best of luck, and I hope you will do the same for me.

Sincerely,

Mayor Charles Jones

“CJ!” Cindy gasped. “Are you sure? I thought... I thought you really wanted another term?”

“Come here.” He opened his arms, and Cindy stepped into his embrace.

“Yes, and no. This entire time I’ve been in agony, trying to figure out a way for us to be together. I know you have a life back in New Jersey, and I respect that. I can’t make you give up your life to stay here. So this time, I want to chase you. I want to visit your home, stay a while if you don’t mind, and figure out our future... together. Is that okay?”

“It’s... it’s very okay.” Cindy sniffed into his chest. CJ smiled over her head.

“Come here, daughter of mine. I’ve got more than enough for you, too.” He opened his other arm for her.

“I’d love to visit you at your home, too. I want you to show me all your favorite spots. We can visit New York together, too. I just want to create memories with my daughter. I’m unable to do that in my capacity as the mayor.”

“I’m glad you made the right decision, Dad.” Olivia joined her parents in a hug. This was always what she’d wanted—a relationship with her father. Three men in her life had loved her unconditionally—her godfather Omar, Chris, and now CJ.

“I struck gold when you two came back into my life. I won’t ever let you go again... well, that is, until you get married. Even then, Garrett’s going to make some room for me.”

Olivia’s heartbeat skipped for a moment. “Oh, well, Garrett and I aren’t together, so you’ve got me for some time yet.”

“I don’t know about that, daughter of mine.” She couldn’t see his face, but she heard the humor in his voice.

A knock on the door grabbed their attention.

Olivia sighed. “I hope the good people of Highland Beach won’t storm the house.”

“They had better not. I’ll handle it.” Cindy walked briskly to the door and opened it wide. “We aren’t receiving any guests...” She exhaled. “Oh, hello.”

“Hi, Mrs. Jones. Is Olivia here?”

When Olivia heard the familiar voice, she rushed from the kitchen to the living room.

“What are you doing here, Garrett?” Olivia’s heart clamored in her chest.

He waved a crumpled paper in his hand. “I got your letter. And then Ama called.”

“Ama?” Olivia’s confusion cleared once she remembered Ama’s warning about settling unfinished business.

“Yes. She told me I was being a fool, but I’d already realized that when I read your note.”

Olivia shook her head. “I didn’t give you a letter.”

Garrett cocked his head back. “Really? Because this is a dead ringer for your handwriting and you... what’s on here are things that only you and I know.” He glanced at Cindy, who made no pretense she wasn’t eavesdropping.

“Oh... oh no,” Olivia groaned after she remembered telling Addy that she threw the letter in the trash can. She was going to skewer Addy and then barbecue her friend. Slowly.

“Let’s step outside.” Olivia grabbed his arm and dragged him.

“Listen, Garrett, that letter—”

“Changed everything,” he finished.

“W-what do you mean?” It took everything in Olivia to not look away. But she had to know. She was desperate to understand.

“You were right about what you said. I never felt like I was a priority, and after talking to Anderson, I let him get into my head. I leaned into my fears instead of remembering what you’ve been showing me all along.”

“What did I show you?” she whispered.

“Your heart.” He grabbed her hand. “And it’s so big, Olivia. Big enough to love my little girl. Big enough to love Mr. Whittingham, and Kara and Addy and Whitney and your godsisters and Ama and your parents. Big enough to love me. I’m sorry I didn’t realize it. I was so focused on my feelings... my fear of losing you.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Garrett.” She lowered her head into her hands.

“Don’t cry.” Garrett pulled her close into a hug. “I’m sorry I made you cry. I... I caused us both a lot of pain, and I hope you can forgive me.”

Olivia’s throat became itchy and tight. She couldn’t open her mouth. Everything felt like a dream, and she was afraid that, if she spoke, she’d wake up and realize she was all alone.

He tilted her chin. “Look, I know you didn’t want me to see that letter. Mr. Whittingham told me he found it in the trash.”

Mr. Whittingham! She couldn’t believe her sly neighbor. Thank God she didn’t go off on Addy like she’d planned to.

“But... do you still feel the same way? Do you still mean what you wrote in that letter?”

Olivia clutched at his hands cupping her face. “These past few months, I’ve been watching my mother and father. Judging them. Telling myself that I wouldn’t let the past stop me from being with the one I love. But Garrett... I’m so scared.”

“Why?”

“Because I love you!” She turned away from his heated gaze. “I’ve seen what love can do. And if you aren’t careful, it has the power to destroy you.” She’d witnessed it firsthand with not only Cindy and CJ but Christine. Her grandmother’s motherly love destroyed her relationship with her children.

“No.” Garrett shook his head. “Then that’s not love. It’s the absence of love. True love doesn’t harm you, it lifts you up. I love you, too, Olivia, and I want it all with you. I hope I’m not asking for too much, too soon.”

Olivia lifted her eyes to see him—to see his soul.

He loves me. I know he does.

She didn’t even have to take one step. He came all the way to Highland Beach to confess his love and build a lifetime with her. Just like Ama and Omar. And Billie and Dulce, and Perry and Damon, and Cindy and CJ.

“No, it’s not too much. I love you, too, and I want everything.”

“More kids?” he asked, his voice hopeful.

Someone cleared their throat behind them.

Olivia turned to face her father. “Hi, Dad. Everything okay?”

“Why don’t you both come inside?”

“Hi, sir. I’m Garrett Brooks.” He offered his hand to CJ.

CJ took his hand, though his eyes narrowed. “Let’s have a conversation, since you intend on doing ‘everything’ with my daughter.”

When Garrett’s eyes widened, CJ broke into a smile. He released it after a few extended seconds and stepped out of the entryway, where he walked over to stand by Cindy.

“He’s intense,” Garrett whispered in her ear.

“Relax. We’ll be back home before you know it,” Olivia replied in a low voice.

Garrett chuckled. “Speaking of which, where will that be? Your place or mine?”

Olivia, for once, didn’t have a plan. She didn’t care, either. “Wherever you are.”

“That sounds like a brilliant plan, Olivia Jones.”