Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
T he next morning, Claire stood behind the counter at Sandcastles, ringing up a customer.
“Do you think she’ll show?” Hailey asked. Claire had filled her in about inviting Sandee for a chat.
Claire shrugged. “I have no idea.” Then, spotting a figure at the entrance, she added, “Oh, there she is.”
Sandee walked in, a far cry from her usual immaculate appearance. She wore jeans and a sweatshirt, a few stray dog hairs clinging to the fabric. Her hair, normally perfectly styled, was pulled back into a simple ponytail. Yet her expression was one of a soft half smile, and her eyes held a light Claire had never seen before.
“Hi,” Sandee said softly, her voice tinged with vulnerability. In that moment, Claire knew she had made the right decision in inviting her.
“What would you like to eat or drink?” Claire asked as she led Sandee to a secluded table in the corner.
“Just coffee for me, thanks,” Sandee replied.
They settled into their seats, the tension in the air palpable. Both women looked nervous, but as they made eye contact, it was as if an unspoken agreement passed between them.
Sandee took a deep breath, her eyes meeting Claire’s. “Look, I want to clear the air right off the bat about Peter. I never stole him from you. He told me you two were separated and getting a divorce.”
Claire felt as if the ground had shifted beneath her. “What? That wasn’t the case at all. I had no idea he was cheating.”
“Yeah, well, it turns out he’s a good liar,” Sandee said, a hint of bitterness touching her voice. “So, anyway, I apologize for my part in all that—and for the way I’ve treated you in the past.”
Claire was taken aback by Sandee’s candor. The tension that had been building up over the years seemed to deflate in an instant. “Thank you, Sandee. I appreciate that. I should apologize too. Tammi has always encouraged me to think more graciously of you.”
At the mention of Tammi, Sandee’s eyes softened, and her lips curved into a genuine smile. “Tammi’s a good kid, a really nice person. You should be proud.”
Claire’s heart swelled, and her eyes sparkled. “I am, very proud.”
For the first time, the two women felt a connection, a shared sense of understanding.
Claire took a sip of her coffee, her fingers gripping the mug a bit more tightly than usual. She still felt a tad nervous about what she was about to propose, but something about this newfound understanding with Sandee made it seem like the right time. “So, about the Beach Bones thing?—”
Sandee cut her off, her expression softening. “You can use the name, Claire. I apologize for being so difficult about it earlier. It’s just that I’m starting fresh, and it felt like the first thing I was truly successful at on my own.”
Claire nodded, her heart buoyed by Sandee’s sincerity. “Actually, that’s sort of what I wanted to talk to you about. I was thinking... what about a partnership?”
“A partnership?” Sandee looked genuinely surprised, her eyes widening. “How would that work?”
Claire began outlining her vision. “We could divide up the work, collaborate on some new recipes, and sell the treats here at the bakery as well as other locations. You have a knack for sales; you could be the one to pitch our products to other shops.” Claire paused and chuckled. “And, I have to ask—what on earth do you put in those red dog biscuits? Dogs seem to really love them.”
Sandee laughed, her eyes twinkling. “Well, it’s a secret recipe. But if we’re going to be partners, I suppose I can let you in on it.”
Claire felt a mixture of relief and excitement. “So you’ll consider it?”
Sandee nodded, her gaze locking onto Claire’s. “I’ll look forward to it.”
Claire’s eyes met Sandee’s once again, and the newfound camaraderie between them felt like a warm glow.
“So, how’s Spot doing?” Sandee inquired, her tone gentle.
“Spot’s doing great. Rob is getting really attached to him,” Claire replied.
Sandee nodded. “We still haven’t found the owners. Of course, we’re doing our best to give them every chance to claim him.”
“Well, if they don’t, I think Spot has a home,” Claire said, her eyes shining with a mix of happiness and slight concern.
Sandee’s smile echoed Claire’s sentiment, but her expression quickly shifted to a frown as she looked over Claire’s shoulder. Claire turned around to see what caught her eye, and there was Peter, arm in arm with a young blond woman.
“Is that Peter with a new girlfriend?” Claire asked, a touch of disbelief in her voice.
“Yep,” Sandee confirmed, her gaze still fixed on them.
Claire squinted for a better look and then turned back to Sandee. “She looks even younger than you.”
Sandee craned her neck slightly for a second look and nodded. “She does, the poor thing.”
Claire leaned in across the table, looking Sandee directly in the eyes. “Should we warn her?”
“Do you think she’d listen?” Sandee questioned, her brows furrowing slightly.
Claire shook her head. “Probably not.”
With a knowing look, Sandee raised her coffee mug. “Let’s just be glad that neither one of us is that poor girl.”
Claire clinked her mug against Sandee’s and grinned. “I couldn’t agree with you more.”
Sandee stepped out of Sandcastles, the bakery's doorbell chiming softly behind her. The air was crisp but not too cold, the sky was a vivid blue, and the last of the autumn leaves were making their graceful descent from the trees, carpeting the sidewalk in a kaleidoscope of colors. She inhaled deeply, savoring the sweet scent of baked goods still lingering in the air.
As she walked down the bustling street, Sandee's boots crunched on the fallen leaves as her thoughts replayed the meeting she'd just had with Claire. She was amazed at how well it had gone and had been pleasantly surprised by the warm atmosphere between them. The proposal of a partnership had been the furthest thing from her mind when she’d entered the bakery, but now, it felt like the beginning of something wonderful.
Claire had even extended an invitation to join her, Maxi, Jane, and Andie for coffee, but Sandee had declined, excusing herself politely. One change at a time, she thought. One relationship mended, one step forward. There was a slight pang of regret, but she assured herself that there'd be other opportunities.
As she approached the storefront of a quirky little antiques shop, she spotted a dog tethered to a lamppost. She couldn't resist. Bending down, she petted the dog's soft fur. Its tail wagged in response, and for a brief moment, she felt a simple, unconditional love that only animals seemed to offer.
Standing, she continued her walk toward the animal rescue shelter, at which she was volunteering. Cleaning out litter boxes wasn't glamorous work, but it was honest and it was needed. And strangely enough, she found satisfaction in it. Gone were the days when her self-worth was measured by the number of social events she attended or the brands she wore. Now, she found meaning in contributing to a cause greater than herself—in providing comfort to animals who had none.
As she neared the shelter, Sandee couldn't help but feel proud of the person she was becoming. The old Sandee, the insecure mean girl who'd trample over anyone to get what she wanted, was becoming a distant memory. Every step she took felt like a step away from that past and toward a future that held so much promise, so much more substance.
After entering the shelter, she took off her coat and rolled up her sleeves. There was work to be done, but for the first time in a long time, Sandee was genuinely excited about doing it. And as she set about her tasks, each small action felt like a piece of a new identity falling into place—one built on empathy, compassion, and authentic connections.