Chapter 3
F elicity woke early the next morning to the gentle sound of waves on the shore. Despite Gran’s insistence that she take it easy, she quickly got dressed, eager to help with breakfast preparations.
“I told you to rest,” Gran said, shaking her head as Felicity entered the kitchen.
“I am rested,” she insisted, tying an apron around her waist. “Besides, I promised I’d help with breakfast, remember?”
Gran sighed but relented, handing her a bowl of muffin batter. “All right, I guess There’s no use standing here arguing with you.”
They worked side by side, the familiar routine of preparing breakfast for the guests bringing her a feeling of purpose. As she stirred the batter and poured it into the muffin tins, she found her mind drifting away from the stress and uncertainty that had plagued her in recent months.
The guests trickled in, filling the dining room with quiet chatter and the clinking of dishes. She moved between the kitchen and dining room, refilling coffee cups and ensuring everyone had what they needed, a routine she easily fell into after years of helping Gran when she came to visit.
As the morning wore on, the guests gradually departed until only Brent remained, nursing a cup of coffee and poring over some papers spread out on the table.
He looked up from his papers when she came in with the coffeepot to refill his mug. “Would you like to take a break and join me?”
She glanced back toward the kitchen. “I guess I could for a few minutes. Then I want to help Gran finish cleaning up the kitchen.”
She grabbed a cup of coffee and sank into the chair. “How’s the research coming along?”
“Fascinating, actually,” he replied, his eyes lighting up. “I’ve uncovered some intriguing details about the early settlers of Magnolia Key. Did you know that?—”
“Now, now,” Gran interrupted, bustling into the room with a plate of muffins. “Don’t go spoiling all your stories before your talk, Mr. Dunn. We want to leave some surprises for the audience.”
Brent laughed. “You’re right, of course. My apologies.”
Gran set the plate down on the table. “Fresh from the oven. Help yourselves.”
Brent reached for one. “I thought I was full after that delicious quiche, but I can’t pass up these muffins.”
“Gran, sit and join us. Then I’ll help you clean up.”
“I could do that.” Gran got a cup of coffee, sat down, and looked over at Brent, nodding toward the papers spread beside him. “So, what made you decide to come to Magnolia Key for your research?”
“The island has a rich history. All the areas around here do. I want to go over to Belle Island for some research and also to the Moonbeam Bay area.”
“All lovely places.” Gran nodded.
“I’m looking forward to exploring all of them.”
“Well, obviously, Magnolia Key is my favorite,” Gran said. “And you know, Magnolia Key is special. It has a way of revealing what people are searching for, even if they don’t know they’re looking.”
“What do you mean, Gran?”
Gran smiled cryptically. “Oh, just that this island has a bit of magic to it. People come here for all sorts of reasons, but they often leave with something they didn’t expect to find.”
“Like what?” Brent asked, leaning forward with interest.
“Could be anything,” Gran replied. “A new perspective, a forgotten passion, maybe even…” She trailed off, her eyes twinkling. “Well, who knows? That’s the beauty of it. You never know what you might discover about yourself here on Magnolia Key.”
Felicity helped Gran clean up the kitchen, then offered to help with more work that needed to be done. “Don’t argue with me, Gran. I’m here to help. I like helping. What can I do?”
“I’ve been meaning to hang up some white twinkle lights on the porch railing. Don’t you think that would look nice? Just add a nice ambiance in the evenings for guests who like to sit out on the porch and look out over the bay.”
“I think that’s a great idea.”
“I’m pretty sure I have some in the storage shed, but I haven’t had time to go look and check.”
“I can look for them.”
“Great, then I’ll get started on some dough for cinnamon rolls for tomorrow.”
Felicity walked outside and cut across the yard to the shed. Gran called it a shed, but it was actually a cute little structure with a gabled roof, white shutters, and a small porch of its own. As a young girl, she’d made herself a small area inside with a little table and chair and called it her very own house. She smiled at the thought.
She opened the door and stepped inside. Shelves lined both sides of the small space, filled with Christmas decorations, old board games, painting supplies, extra linens, and everything else that didn’t fit inside the bed and breakfast. She scanned the shelves, looking for the lights. When she spotted a box labeled “twinkle lights” on a high shelf, she pulled over a step stool and climbed up to reach it.
After pulling it off the shelf, she balanced it on her hip as she climbed down again. There was still a stack of books on the table in the special area she’d had as a young girl. Not much changed around here.
She set the box of twinkle lights on the table beside the books and turned back to the shelves. She’d loved looking through the boxes when she was younger, and it appeared that she hadn’t changed much. She popped open the lid of a box near her and peered inside. A stack of leather books rested inside. She pulled the top one out and opened it. It was an old guest register.
She frowned. Gran had owned the bed and breakfast for years. Felicity hadn’t realized it had been one even before that. She remembered Gran had done some renovations on the building to make it so each room had its own bathroom and create a couple of suites in the building. She must have been something like seven or eight when Gran made those improvements.
She walked outside with the box and sat down, slowly looking through the guest book. So many names over so many years. She dug down into the box and pulled out the bottom book. Surprise crept through her when she realized how old it was. Some of the entries were dated back to the early 1900s.
She jumped as a shadow fell across the book in her hands. She looked up, meeting Brent’s curious gaze. How long had he been standing there?
“Oh, you startled me,” she said, hoping her voice didn’t betray the sudden rapid beating of her heart. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, buying herself a moment to regain composure.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” He gestured toward the book. “What have you got there? It looks pretty old.”
She held up the leather-bound volume, angling it so he could see the faded lettering on the spine. “It’s an old guest book. From before Gran owned Bayside. I found it when I was looking for twinkle lights.”
He came closer and peered at the book with interest. “Fascinating. May I?”
She handed it to him. “Some of the entries are very old. I had no idea this building was an inn that far back.”
Brent carefully flipped through the brittle pages, his brow creasing in concentration. “Do you mind if I take a closer look at this?” he asked, his gaze still fixed on the faded script.
“I’m sure Gran wouldn’t mind.” She stood, tucking the other guest books back into the box. “Let’s go ask her.”
They found Gran was in the kitchen, her hands covered in flour as she kneaded dough.
“Gran, we found some old guest books in the shed,” she said. “Brent was hoping to take a closer look at them. Would that be all right?”
“Guest books?” Gran wiped her hands on her apron. “Now, wouldn’t that be a peek into the past?” She turned to Brent. “Of course, you’re welcome to have a look. They’re probably more interesting to you than to anyone else.”
“Do you know much about the building’s history?” he asked. “Did your family own it before it was a bed and breakfast?”
Gran shook her head. “Goodness, no. This place sat empty for a good while before I bought it. I believe it was a rooming house way back when, but that’s all I know.”
Brent’s eyes lit up with excitement. “A rooming house? That could explain the early entries.” He turned to Felicity. “This could be an incredible resource for my research.”
Gran looked at her. “Did you find the lights for the porch?”
She laughed. “In all the excitement of finding the guest books, I forgot them. I’ll go get them and hang them now.”
“I could help,” Brent offered. “I was just taking a bit of a break when I found you sitting out on the porch of that cute outbuilding.”
She smiled. “Yes, Gran insists on calling it the shed, but it’s adorable, isn’t it? Just like a tiny little house.”
She led Brent back to the shed. His eyes sparkled with genuine interest as he spoke about the potential historical significance of the guest books. It was refreshing to see someone so passionate about their work. Had she ever been that passionate about teaching? Surely she had when she first started. If only she could find that passion again, instead of the burnout she’d felt the last few years with each day dragging on and on. Dealing with the students, the parents, the administration, and the ever-changing rules.
Pushing her thoughts away as they entered the shed, she located the box of twinkle lights and some hooks and extension cords. She picked up the boxes, and he reached for them.
“Here, let me take that.” He took the boxes from her and they headed back to the B&B.
“Gran’s going to be thrilled to have these up. She thinks it will make it a welcoming atmosphere out on the porch.”
He chuckled. “As if it wasn’t already with the rockers, and flower planters, and the great view of the bay. Your Gran really rolls out the welcome mat to her guests.”
“That she does.” They climbed the stairs to the porch. “I appreciate the help with these.”
“I’m happy to help,” he said, flashing her a warm smile that made her heart skip a beat.
What was that all about?
She quickly looked away, focusing on gathering the extension cords and hooks they’d need.
As they set to work hanging the lights along the porch railing, she found herself stealing glances at Brent. He was handsome, with a neatly trimmed haircut and kind eyes. She mentally chided herself for noticing, reminding herself that he was a guest and she was here to work, not to get distracted by a charming historian.
As they continued to string the lights, the conversation flowed easily between them. “So, how long have you worked here at the B&B?” he asked.
“Oh, I’m just here for the summer. Visiting Gran and helping out.”
“So what do you do when you’re not here?” He paused from untangling a strand of lights.
“I’m… a teacher.”
“That’s a rewarding career.”
“It is… but I’m suffering a bit of burnout.” She didn’t know why she was telling him this. It was her burden to bear.
“It’s hard when something you once loved starts to feel like a burden,” he said, his tone understanding. “Sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what you need to gain a fresh perspective.”
She nodded, surprised at how easily he seemed to grasp her situation. “That’s what I’m hoping for. I just need to figure out what comes next.”
“Well, if you ever want to talk about it, I’m a pretty good listener,” he offered, his smile genuine.
She returned the smile, feeling a warmth spread through her. “I might just take you up on that.”
As they finished hanging the last of the lights, she stepped back to admire their work. The soft glow added a magical touch to the already charming porch. She glanced at Brent, who was also surveying the results with a satisfied expression.
“It looks perfect,” he said, turning to face her. “Your grandmother is going to love it.”
“Thanks for your help,” she replied, suddenly aware of how close they were standing. She felt a flutter as their eyes met.
The spell was broken by the sound of Gran calling her from inside. She took a step back, her cheeks warming. “We should probably head in.”
He nodded, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “After you,” he said, gesturing toward the door.
She slipped past him and went inside. He headed up to his room to work, and she headed to the kitchen.
“You okay?” Gran asked.
“What? Sure. I’m fine.”
“You look a little flushed.”
“It’s getting warm out there.” And that wasn’t a lie. It had been warm out there. Especially next to Brent. “But we got the lights all hung. You’re right, they do look great.”
“Thanks for doing that. Oh, I made some cookies. Want some?”
“Sure do.” She poured herself a glass of cool water and grabbed a cookie. Gran looked at her for a long moment before turning back to washing the cookie sheet.
She never could hide anything from Gran. Not that there was really anything to hide…