Chapter 24
A week later, Beverly cleared a table at Coastal Coffee as the breakfast crowd was winding down. Business had picked back up since the hurricane, and she was grateful for it. The town was healing, rebuilding, and moving forward.
The bell over the door jingled, and she looked up to see Cliff entering. He wore a casual button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His hair was slightly tousled, likely from the ocean breeze that had picked up this morning.
“Morning,” he called out as he approached the counter.
“Morning.” Ignoring what just the glimpse of him did to her heart, she grabbed a coffee mug and poured him his usual. “Just missed the rush.”
“That was deliberate.” His mouth quirked into a half-smile. “Hoping you’d have time to take a break with me.”
She handed him the steaming mug. “And your timing is impeccable. I was hoping to take a break.”
They headed over to a quiet corner and sat at a table. She leaned forward on the table, watching him. “So, I heard the big news.”
“About my mother and Jonah? Hard to miss it.” He chuckled. “I think Mrs. Henderson stopped me in the street just mere moments after my mother told me.”
She smiled. “News travels fast on Magnolia Key.”
“You don’t say.” The dry humor in his voice made her laugh.
“How do you feel about it?” she asked, genuinely curious. He had a such a complicated relationship with his mother and father.
He ran his finger around the rim of his coffee cup, considering his answer. “I’m happy for her. Jonah is a great guy, and I hope they’ll be very happy together.” He looked up, meeting her eyes directly. “Everyone deserves a second chance.”
The pointed look he gave her wasn’t subtle. A warm flush crept up her neck, and she busied herself straightening the salt and pepper shaker on the table.
“I suppose they do,” she finally said, not quite meeting his gaze.
“The town’s certainly buzzing about it,” he continued. “I’ve never seen my mother the subject of so much speculation and attention. She’s actually enjoying it, though she’d never admit it.”
She smiled, thinking of how Eleanor had come in yesterday, pretending to be annoyed by all the well-wishers but practically glowing with happiness.
“She seems different. Softer somehow.”
“Love will do that to a person.” He took another sip of his coffee. “Even to someone as formidable as Eleanor Griffin.”
“I never thought I’d see the day when Eleanor would be beaming like a schoolgirl in love,” she said, remembering how Eleanor and Jonah had sat at their usual table yesterday morning, heads bent together, whispering and laughing. “I think… well, I think I heard your mother… giggle.”
“Giggle? My mother?” His eyebrows shot up. “Now that I would pay good money to see.”
“Well, as close to giggling as Eleanor gets,” she amended with a smile. “It was more like… restrained amusement with the occasional uncharacteristic laugh.”
“Still sounds like a miracle to me.” He took a sip of his coffee and set the mug down. “And you know what? She made a point to tell me first, before anyone else found out.”
She could see how that moved him. She reached over and placed her hand over his. “I’m glad. It really seems like you and your mother are working things out.”
“I think so.” He shrugged. “At least we’re trying.”
“When’s the wedding?”
“Next month, from what I hear. Small ceremony at the gazebo on the beach and a reception at Mother’s house. Nothing fancy, believe it or not. Doesn’t sound like a wedding I’d ever imagined for my mother.”
“Good for her for doing exactly what she wants.”
“She said she didn’t want to wait—at their age, they don’t have time to waste.” He shook his head. “Never thought I’d hear my mother talk like that.”
“She’s embracing life. It’s nice to see.”
The cafe was empty now except for the two of them.
Through the front windows, she could see people walking along the street, stopping to chat with neighbors.
Life on Magnolia Key was returning to normal, or as normal as it could be with half the bridge still out and repairs ongoing throughout the island.
“Any word on when they’ll start rebuilding the bridge?” she asked, changing the subject.
“County is looking into it, but you know how these things go. Could be six months… could be never. There’s talk of permanently adding a second ferry.”
“A second ferry would be nice.”
“That’s what Magnolia Key does,” he said. “Adapts and survives.”
She nodded. They sat in comfortable silence for a moment. She realized how strange it was that she could now be comfortable in silence with Cliff when just a few weeks ago she’d wanted nothing more than for him to leave town and never come back.
“Beverly,” he said suddenly, “I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner with me tonight? To discuss another fundraiser,” he added quickly.
Another fundraiser. The first one last weekend had been a great success, and she mentioned in passing about organizing another one for the hurricane relief fund, but they hadn’t made any concrete plans yet.
“Sure,” she said before she could overthink it. “That would be nice.”
“Great.” His smile was warm. “I’ll pick you up at six?”
“Six works.” She tried to ignore the flutter in her stomach. This wasn’t a date. It was a planning meeting for a community fundraiser. That’s all.
“Looking forward to it.” He placed a few bills on the table, more than enough for the coffee. “Keep the change.”
“You don’t have to?—”
“I want to,” he insisted. “Every little bit helps, right?”
She nodded, unable to argue with that logic. “See you tonight.”
As he headed for the door, the bell jingled again, and Maxine walked in.
“Morning,” Maxine called out cheerfully, then noticed Cliff. “Oh, hello, Cliff.”
“Maxine,” he nodded. “Good to see you. I was just heading out.”
After he left, Maxine raised an eyebrow. “Just another late breakfast together?”
“It was nothing,” she said too quickly, and Maxine stared at her for a moment. “We were just talking about Eleanor and Jonah’s engagement.”
“Uh-huh.” Her friend didn’t look convinced. “And that’s why your cheeks are pink?”
“My cheeks are not pink.” She touched her face self-consciously.
“If you say so.” Maxine grinned. “So, what’s the latest on the engagement? I heard Miss Eleanor actually let Darlene take her shopping for a dress in Sarasota yesterday.”
“Really?” She couldn’t imagine Eleanor being willing to make a fuss over a wedding dress, although she was always impeccably dressed.
“Told Darlene she didn’t want anything fancy, but you know Darlene.” Maxine chuckled. “I’m betting Eleanor comes back with something a lot fancier than she intended.”
“Good for her. She deserves to feel special.”
“Speaking of special.” Maxine gave her a hard look. “What’s going on with you and Cliff? And don’t say nothing because I’ve known you too long to fall for that.”
She sighed, knowing Maxine wouldn’t let it go. “We’re having dinner tonight.”
“A date?” Maxine’s eyes gleamed.
“No, not a date. We’re planning another fundraiser for the hurricane relief fund.”
“Sure, a ‘fundraiser.’” Maxine made air quotes. “Just the two of you, having dinner, planning a ‘fundraiser.’”
“It’s not like that.” But even as she said it, she wasn’t entirely sure that was the truth.
“Keep telling yourself that,” Maxine said with a knowing smile. “You know, it’s okay to admit you still have feelings for him.”
“I don’t…” She stopped. What was the point in denying it? “I don’t know what I feel, Maxine. Some days, I still remember how hurt I was when he left. Other days…”
“Other days, you see the man he’s become,” Maxine finished for her. “And now you know the truth about why he left.”
She nodded. “It’s complicated.”
“Life usually is.” Maxine squeezed her hand. “Just be open to possibilities, okay? Like you said, Eleanor is embracing life. Maybe you should too.”
Beverly stood in front of her closet, examining the contents with a critical eye.
What did one wear to a dinner that wasn’t a date but somehow felt like one?
She pushed hangers aside, rejecting outfit after outfit.
The blue sundress was too casual. The black dress too formal.
The white blouse with slacks too businesslike.
“This is ridiculous,” she muttered to herself. “It’s just dinner to discuss a fundraiser.”
She glanced at the clock. Five-thirty already.
Cliff would be here in half an hour, and she was still in her bathrobe with wet hair from her shower.
She pulled out a simple teal dress she hadn’t worn in ages.
It had short sleeves and a modest V-neck that highlighted her collarbone without being too revealing.
The fabric fell just below her knees, flattering her figure without clinging too tightly.
“This will do,” she decided, laying it on the bed. She quickly blow-dried her hair, letting it fall in loose waves around her shoulders instead of pulling it back as usual.
As she applied a subtle layer of makeup—more than her usual workday routine but not too much—she questioned her own motives. Why was she putting in this extra effort? This wasn’t a date. It was two community-minded people discussing a fundraiser.
Yet her hands trembled slightly as she fastened small silver earrings and spritzed on a light perfume she rarely wore.
“Get a grip, Beverly,” she told her reflection. “You’re acting like a teenager.”
The dress slipped on easily, and she paired it with comfortable but nice sandals. No point in torturing herself with heels on Magnolia Key’s cobblestone streets. She was just fastening her favorite silver bracelet around her wrist when a knock sounded at the door.
Her heart jumped. She glanced at the clock—five minutes to six. Cliff was early. She took a deep breath, smoothed her dress, and made her way to the door.