Chapter 35
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
C laire was cleaning off the table when Jane walked into Sandcastles, her eyes scanning the bakery before landing on Claire. “Was that Sandee I saw leaving?” Jane inquired, setting her purse down on the counter.
Claire’s smile widened. “Yep, that was her.”
Jane glanced back out the window toward the sunlit street Sandee had just walked down. “She looked… happy.”
“You know,” Claire began, pausing to tuck a stray hair behind her ear, “I think she was.”
Jane raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “So what happened?”
Claire chuckled. “I’ll spill all the tea once everyone gets here. But since you’re early, you’re on table-setting duty.”
Jane laughed and nodded, accepting her assignment as Claire moved to the display case. She selected an assortment of freshly baked pastries, including a chocolate cruller that Jane requested. Claire arranged the pastries on a serving tray while Jane made the coffees just the way everyone liked them.
They had just set everything on the table when Maxi and Andie arrived.
“What perfect timing we have,” Andie said as she sat down in front of the black coffee and slid a danish onto her plate.
Everyone else settled into their seats and grabbed a pastry. The conversation naturally turned to Maxi’s gallery show.
“I think it was a smashing success, even if I do say so myself.” Maxi beamed. “We had record attendance, and Olga sold several pieces.”
Claire clapped her hands, delighted. “Oh, that’s wonderful! And what did Chandler think?”
“I sent him a video, and let’s just say he was more than impressed.” Maxi grinned. “But the real win was Olga’s kids finally coming around, realizing she’s perfectly capable of living in her own home. That alone made the night for me.”
Everyone nodded, sharing in Maxi’s joy.
“But enough about me.” Maxi then turned her attention to Andie. “What was that big emergency last night? You, Bunny, and Sam rushed out of here like the place was on fire!”
Andie leaned back, her face glowing with the satisfaction of a mystery solved. “Well, it turns out that the gift was meant for Betty, who was staying at Tides. You won’t believe how it all came together. Even after Bunny and Sam put in hours of research, all it took was Sally recognizing the name on the gift as Betty’s nickname.”
“So you rushed off to Tides in the hopes of catching her?” Maxi asked.
“Yes. Jane said they were leaving last night, so we were hoping to catch them before they left,” Andie said.
“And did you?” Maxi asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
“Yes. They were practically on their way out the door!” Andie said.
“Did you give her the gift?” Claire cut a carrot muffin in half and put one side on her plate.
“I did.” Andie smiled. “It was a sterling silver urchin charm. You should have seen her face when she opened it. Turns out, the charm was from her late sister, Heidi.”
Jane nodded, “Ah, yes, Betty had mentioned her sister to me and how she’d been looking for some sort of connection, a sign, maybe.”
“Then I bet the charm was the connection she was looking for,” Andie mused.
Jane nodded. “I’m happy for her. They were nice ladies. They even left a wonderful note at the reception desk. Looks like we’ll be seeing them next year!”
“That’s great to hear,” Claire chimed in. “Sounds like everything worked out nearly perfectly.”
Andie grinned. “It did. Although Bunny was a bit disappointed that we didn’t actually solve the mystery through hard-boiled detective work, both she and Sam were thrilled to have played a part in reuniting Betty with such a sentimental treasure.”
Jane, shifting her attention from Andie’s delightful tale, turned to Claire. “So, spill the beans! I saw Sandee leaving Sandcastles as I walked in. What happened?”
Claire took a deep breath, her face glowing with an air of hope and new beginnings. “Well, Sandee and I are going to work on a project together. We’re considering a partnership for Beach Bones!”
The table went silent for a moment, a mixture of surprise and curiosity painted on everyone’s faces. Maxi broke the silence first. “A partnership? With Sandee? Wow, that’s unexpected!”
Claire nodded. “It is. But you know, I think we may have misjudged her. She’s changed, really changed. Did you know she drove all the way down to New York to rescue dogs affected by the flooding? Risked her own safety for it.”
Jane looked impressed. “That does sound like the action of a changed person.”
Claire continued, “She was fooled by Peter, just like I was. I think it’s high time we gave her another chance, and honestly, I’m looking forward to working with her.”
Andie raised her coffee mug in the air. “Well, here’s to new beginnings!”
Everyone clinked their mugs together, the sound echoing the harmony and unity that filled the room.
Claire looked around the table at her friends, grateful for the love and community that seemed to wrap itself around every corner of their small town. “You know, it really does seem like everything always works out in the end.”