Chapter 20
M axine came behind the counter where Beverly was rolling silverware into napkin rolls. She playfully bumped Beverly’s shoulder. “Just saw Cliff leave. Looks like it’s becoming a daily habit for him to come in for breakfast. He’s been in every single day this week.”
“Oh, has he? I hadn’t noticed.” She tried to look innocent. Or believable. But her friend was having none of it.
Maxine rolled her eyes. “And he comes at the end of the breakfast rush so you’ll have time to sit and have a cup of coffee with him.”
“Okay, yes, he does.”
She watched Maxine’s knowing smile with a mixture of amusement and mild embarrassment.
She couldn’t deny it anymore—she and Cliff had fallen into a comfortable routine over the past week.
Every morning after the breakfast rush, he’d come in, they’d share coffee, and talk about everything from town gossip to their shared memories.
“And because I know you’ll find out anyway, we had dinner at Sharky’s last night. But we’re just friends.”
Maxine had begun to warm up to Cliff now, ever since Beverly told her all about what had happened the night Cliff left and the letter she’d never received.
That conversation had been emotional—Maxine listening with wide eyes as she explained about Theodore’s interference and how Eleanor had found the letter.
“I’m just glad you two are talking,” Maxine said, grabbing a stack of napkins to help. “The way you used to glare at him when he walked in here, I thought the coffee might curdle.”
She laughed. “I wasn’t that bad.”
“You absolutely were. But I get it now. Finding out the truth changes things.”
She nodded, feeling a wave of gratitude for her friend’s understanding. Unlike Eleanor, who seemed to have done a complete turnaround on Cliff, suggesting they pick up right where they left off decades ago, Maxine understood Beverly needed time.
“I’m still getting used to the idea of having Cliff as a friend. For so many years, I either missed him terribly or was furious with him. Now I don’t know exactly what to feel.”
“I bet. It’s been a roller coaster, hasn’t it?”
She set down the silverware roll she’d just finished and looked up at Maxine. “It’s strange how quickly things can change. A month ago, I couldn’t stand the sight of him. Now we’re having dinner and talking about old times like the last thirty years never happened.”
“But they did happen,” Maxine pointed out. “You both lived whole lives apart. That doesn’t just disappear because you found out he didn’t actually stand you up.”
“I know. Sometimes when we’re talking, it’s like we’re those teenagers again. Then he’ll mention something about his time in Chicago or one of his development projects, and suddenly I remember we’re practically strangers now.”
Maxine arranged the silverware rolls in the container on the counter. “So what do you talk about at these daily coffee meetings?”
She smiled. “Everything. Nothing. He tells me about the repairs he’s helping with around town. I tell him about the cafe. We talk about the bridge construction—or lack thereof. Sometimes we just sit in comfortable silence.”
“And the development project? You two discuss that?”
“Not really,” she admitted. “We’ve agreed to disagree on that for now.”
“Just be careful, okay? Friend or not, he’s still Cliff Griffin. Don’t rush into anything.”
She nodded, appreciating her friend’s concern. “I’m taking it one coffee at a time.”
The bell over the door jingled as a customer entered, and Beverly straightened up, automatically reaching for her order pad. But it was just Dale, coming to meet Maxine for an early lunch.
“Ladies,” Dale said with a smile. “Hope I’m not interrupting.”
“Not at all,” she said. “Your timing is perfect. I was just about to kick this one out from behind my counter. Employees only back here. And Maxine was supposed to be off the clock fifteen minutes ago.”
Maxine made a face at Beverly before coming around the counter and kissing Dale on the cheek. “I was helping, thank you very much.”
“And gossiping,” she added with a grin.
“That’s a bonus service I provide.” Maxine hung up her apron. “Free of charge.”
“Oh, Dale,” Beverly said, suddenly remembering. “Before we were all running around preparing for the hurricane, you were telling us something about Vera and Lawrence. Something you’d discovered?”
Dale’s eyes lit up the way they always did when someone mentioned Magnolia Key’s history. He settled on a stool at the counter, leaning forward with enthusiasm.
“That’s right! I’d almost forgotten with all the storm chaos.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve been looking through some old correspondence that mentioned Eleanor’s great-aunt, Vera Whitmore.”
“And?”
“Well, I’ve been trying to confirm the connection between Vera and Lawrence—you know, the prince.” Dale’s eyes shone with excitement. “I believe there is more to the story than we realized.”
She placed the last of the silverware rolls in the container and came around the counter to join them. “Really? What makes you think that?”
“Several things. The timing of her trips abroad, references in other letters I’ve found at the historical society, and some old newspaper clippings that mention a foreign visitor to Magnolia Key around that time.” Dale shrugged. “But I need more concrete evidence before I bring it to Miss Eleanor.”
“Have you made any progress?” She had to admit, the mystery of Vera and her prince had fascinated her ever since they’d started finding out information about them.
“I’ve sent off some emails now that things have settled down after the hurricane,” Dale explained.
“There’s an archive that might have Lawrence’s personal papers.
And I’ve requested access to some shipping manifests from that era to verify travel dates.
Oh, I’ve emailed a few newspapers in Europe for some information from their database of past articles. ”
Maxine grinned and patted Dale’s hand affectionately. “You know how Dale likes to cross his T’s and dot his I’s when he’s doing historical research on Magnolia Key.”
She smiled, remembering how Dale’s passion for history had helped them uncover so many stories about their town. “Well, if anyone can piece together more of Vera and Prince Lawrence’s story, it’s you.”
“I just don’t want to tell Miss Eleanor anything until I’m certain,” Dale said. “She seems quite protective of her family’s history. I want to respect that by getting my facts straight first.”
“That’s probably wise. Eleanor has strong feelings about her family’s legacy.”
“Speaking of Miss Eleanor,” Maxine said, “how is she doing with the repairs to her house? Is she still staying at Jonah’s?”
She nodded, grateful for the change in subject. As fascinating as Vera and Lawrence’s story was, it brought up thoughts of lost love and missed opportunities—star-crossed lovers—and that hit a little too close to home these days with Cliff back in her life.
“The repairs are coming along,” she said. “I think she’s enjoying staying with Jonah more than she lets on. Though she checks on the progress at her house every day.”
“Those two are good for each other,” Dale observed.
She agreed. Finding a second chance at love later in life had given Eleanor a softer edge. Even Cliff and his mother seemed to be growing closer.
“Well, I should get back to work,” Beverly said, glancing at her watch. The lunch crowd would be arriving soon, and there was still prep to do. “Let me know if you find out anything more about Vera and Lawrence.”
Dale nodded. “You’ll be the first to know—after the proper fact-checking, of course.”