Chapter 5
E leanor and Jonah stood on her front porch.
Jonah had already hauled her hurricane shutters to the porch, leaning them against the railings.
She usually hired out any hurricane preparations, but her usual handyman was swamped this time now that the hurricane had changed its course and was headed their direction.
Jonah had insisted on putting up the shutters for her.
“I’m glad I got the top floors outfitted with hurricane windows.
At least you won’t have to climb up high to hang the shutters up there.
I’m scheduled to have the rest of the windows replaced, but they won’t be in for another month or so.
” Eleanor scowled. “Should have gotten them all done at the same time.”
“It’s no problem, Ellie. I already have the shutters up at my place. Helps that my place is just one story, and one of the previous owners put up accordion hurricane blinds.”
“I just have these horrible shutters that need to be screwed into place. It’s a lot of work.”
Jonah picked up the drill. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll have them up in no time.”
She glanced over at her dog, Winston, who was pacing the porch. “Winston is always a bit nervous when a hurricane is coming. He senses them.”
Jonah reached down and petted Winston’s head. “It’s okay, buddy.”
Eleanor looked up, surprised to see Cliff pull his fancy car up to the curb. Her fingers gripped the porch railing. Winston stopped his pacing and sat beside her, his tail thumping against the wooden boards.
“Mother.” Her son strode up the walkway, his expensive shoes clicking against the pavement. His suit looked out of place on Magnolia Key. Always had to dress to impress. Even in a hurricane.
She tapped her fingers on the railing. “Cliff.”
“Mr. Burton.” Cliff nodded to Jonah, who had paused in his work on the shutters.
“Cliff.” Jonah’s response was polite but cool.
Cliff started to speak again, but she held up her hand. “If you’ve come to give me your unwelcomed opinion again about me dating Jonah, you can just turn around and leave.”
“No, Mother. You’ve made it perfectly clear you don’t want my opinion.” He looked over at Jonah. “I just want you to… be careful.”
“Cliff…” she warned.
He held up his hands. “Anyway, that’s not why I’m here. I came to check if you needed help preparing for the hurricane.”
“As you can see, Jonah is helping me. I don’t need your help.”
Winston stood and walked over to Cliff, tail wagging. Traitor.
Cliff bent down to pet Winston. “Hey, old boy. How are you doing?”
“He’s fine. Though the hurricane makes him nervous.”
“Just like Murphy, remember him?”
Of course, she remembered Murphy, her very first cavalier.
“I remember how he used to hide under my bed during storms when he was a puppy.”
She did remember that. Murphy would scratch at Cliff’s door until he let him in. Her son had been so patient with Murphy. One of the few things he’d done right in her opinion.
“Well, since you can see I’m taken care of, you can go now.” She waved her hand in dismissal.
“But I was hoping to talk to you about the development project?—”
“No.” Winston looked up at her, surprised at her sharp tone, and hurried over to her side.
Cliff straightened, his jaw clenched. “Fine. But I’m not giving up on the project.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less from you. You never did listen to anyone else’s opinions.”
Cliff stalked down the walkway and slid into his car. Its engine sprang to life smoothly, unlike her old car that always had to protest a bit before starting for her.
As Cliff’s car disappeared down the street, her fingers still gripped the porch railing. Winston pressed against her leg, offering his silent support, his brown eyes looking up at her with what seemed like an apology for letting Cliff pet him.
Jonah set down the drill and walked over to her. “Are you all right?”
“Yes.” She paused, releasing her grip on the railing. “No.” She turned to face him. “I’m just so disappointed in my son. In what he’s become. I keep thinking that someday he’ll be… different.”
She sank into one of the white rocking chairs on her porch. Winston settled at her feet and rested his head on her shoes.
“He’s still your son,” Jonah said, taking the chair beside her. “Maybe he really believes this project will help Magnolia Key grow.”
She shook her head. “No. This is about money. Or showing off to the town how successful he’s become.
” She gazed down the street where his car had disappeared.
“Did you see that suit? Those shoes? That ridiculous car? Everything about him screams that he needs everyone to know how well he’s done for himself. ”
“Could be. Or maybe he’s looking for acceptance from the town.”
“Acceptance?” She let out a dry laugh. “By destroying what makes this place special? By trying to turn us into every other overdeveloped beach town?” Her fingers found their way to the arm of the rocker, tapping out her frustration.
“I’m just saying, sometimes people go about things the wrong way when they’re trying to prove themselves.”
“Well, this certainly isn’t the way to get acceptance. Not from me. Not from anyone who truly loves this town.” She looked over at Jonah. “You’ve only been back her a short while, but you understand what makes Magnolia Key special. The sense of community. The way we look out for each other.”
“I do. But I also understand wanting to make your mark. To show people you’ve changed.”
“Changed?” She snorted. “Cliff hasn’t changed at all. He’s still that same selfish boy who only thinks about what he wants.”
Winston lifted his head at her sharp tone, and she reached down to scratch behind his ears.
“I’m sorry,” she said, softening her voice.
“I know you’re trying to help. To see both sides.
But I’ve had years of watching Cliff do whatever suited him best. Years of hoping he’d grow into the kind of man who would make me proud.
Instead, he comes back here with his fancy car and his big plans, ready to tear down everything we’ve built. ”
Jonah reached over and placed his hand over hers, stilling her tapping fingers. “You’re allowed to be angry with him. To disagree with his choices. But don’t let it eat you up inside.”
She turned her hand over to squeeze his briefly before standing up. “I suppose we should finish with these shutters before the weather turns.”
Jonah stood up beside her. “Okay, but one more thing, Ellie.”
She paused and looked at him. “What?”
“You don’t have to protect me from what Cliff thinks or says about me. I’m sure other people in town are wondering the same thing he is.”
She looked up at Jonah’s weathered face, seeing the genuine concern in his eyes. “What do they wonder?”
“What you see in me.” His voice was soft, gentle.
She reached up and touched his face, her fingers tracing the lines etched around his eyes, signs of shared laughter from decades past. “I see a very kind man. A man who I was a fool to walk away from all those years ago, before I understood what truly mattered.”