Chapter 24
CHAPTER 24
C helsea followed the enticing aroma wafting from the kitchen at the Key Lime Garden Inn. Since Oliver Laurier started working there, every day had become an exciting epicurean adventure.
As she entered the kitchen, she found Oliver in the midst of preparing what could only be described as a breakfast masterpiece.
“Good morning, Chelsea,” Maggie said with an almost sing-song voice. “What brings you here this morning, as if I didn’t already know?”
“Very funny, so I like food, is that a crime?”
Oliver carefully ladled a golden waffle batter into an old-fashioned waffle iron that he had brought with him to Captiva. The batter was flecked with bits of vanilla bean and hints of citrus zest, filling the air with a sweet and tangy aroma.
Maggie stood nearby, watching with wide eyes as Oliver began to prepare the toppings. He carefully sliced ripe strawberries and bananas, arranging them in a vibrant, swirling pattern on a large platter. Beside them, he had whipped up a rich, velvety coconut cream, flavored with just a hint of rum, which he spooned into a small bowl.
“Today’s special,” Oliver announced with a grin, “is tropical citrus waffles with fresh fruit and coconut-rum cream. The waffle batter is infused with orange and lime zest, giving it a bright, refreshing flavor. The coconut cream adds a touch of indulgence without being too heavy.”
Iris, Chelsea and Maggie stood around the kitchen island, their mouths watering in anticipation of a breakfast they’d never had before.
Oliver drizzled a bit of dark, amber-hued syrup over the fruit. “And to finish, a drizzle of aged maple syrup for that perfect balance of sweetness.”
The women exchanged impressed looks. It was another morning at the Key Lime Garden Inn, and once again Oliver had turned it into a culinary experience they wouldn’t soon forget.
“I hate to say this to you, Maggie, but this puts your scones to shame,” Chelsea teased.
Everyone laughed.
“I can’t disagree with you, Chelsea,” she responded.
Oliver plated enough for the three women, and they carried their plates to the dining room table. Oliver had already set up the carafes of coffee, as well as pitchers of orange and peach juice.
“How is it with Oliver cooking for you all, that you don’t gain weight?” Chelsea asked, digging into her waffle.
“I certainly do gain weight, I just hide it well under my clothes,” Maggie said.
“Where’s Paolo this morning? I didn’t see him in the garden,” Chelsea asked.
“He and Chris went to Sanibellia together. Paolo wanted to show him some of the new displays and updates to the garden nursery. After the hurricane, he made a few design changes and secured many of the wooden platforms that were ripped apart in the storm,” Maggie answered.
“I saw Becca walk down to the beach earlier. She’s doing exactly what she wanted to do on this vacation,” Iris added. “I think she’s starting to feel better.”
“I’m happy about that. This pregnancy has been tough on her, and her schedule doesn’t make it any easier,” Maggie said.
They continued to enjoy their breakfast, and when they were finished, Chelsea got up from the table.
“I hope you all don’t think I’m impolite, but I’ve got so much to do today. Steven is coming over tonight for dinner, and I still have some grocery shopping to do.”
Maggie smiled. “Go on, we don’t think you’re rude…much.”
Iris giggled, and Chelsea ignored her, carrying her plate to the sink.
“See you all later, and thank you, Oliver. That was amazing.”
“You’re very welcome, Chelsea. Have a great day,” he responded.
Chelsea’s list of things to do was long, but she decided to add one more important stop before driving to Jerry’s Market.
She went out through the back door and down into the garden. The beach, just beyond the inn’s path, brought her to the spot where Becca’s chair sat. Becca, however, stood at the edge of the water, dipping her toes in but not showing any signs of going for a swim.
“Hey, Becca!” Cheslea yelled.
Becca turned, waved, and walked back toward her chair.
“Good morning, Chelsea, what a beautiful Captiva day,” she said. “I never tire of it.”
Chelsea nodded, “I agree. I’m jealous I didn’t grow up here like you did.”
“Well, at least you’re here now, enjoying this little piece of Paradise.”
“I thought maybe you and I could have a talk,” Chelsea said.
Becca’s brow furrowed slightly, curiosity piqued.
“Of course. Is everything all right?”
Chelsea smiled warmly, motioning toward the chair beside Becca’s towel.
“Chelsea, you take the chair. I love sitting on the sand.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
Chelsea sat and Becca slowly moved down onto the towel.
“Everything’s fine. I just thought it might be nice for us to have a little chat, away from the hustle and bustle.”
“I wanted to talk to you about Ciara,” Chelsea began, glancing at Becca to gauge her reaction.
Becca’s expression softened at the mention of her stepmother, but there was also a hint of apprehension. “Ciara? What about her?”
Chelsea chose her words carefully.
“I’ve noticed how close you are to Maggie, especially since you’ve been back. And that’s perfectly understandable—Maggie’s been a mother figure to you, especially after your mom passed away. But I couldn’t help but notice that Ciara… well, she seems a bit on the outside looking in.”
Becca looked down at the sand, her toes idly digging into it.
“I know. I’ve felt that too, but I guess I just… I don’t know. I’ve always felt closer to Maggie. It’s not that I don’t care about Ciara, I just never really thought about it. I’m really glad she’s with my dad. He’s very happy.”
Chelsea nodded, understanding. “I get it, Becca. It’s hard, especially when you’re trying to hold on to the memory of your mom. But I think Ciara feels like she’s missing out on something special with you. She never had children of her own, and I believe she would love to be more involved in your life, especially with the baby on the way.”
Becca’s eyes widened slightly, the realization dawning on her. “I didn’t know she felt that way.”
“I don’t think she’d ever say it outright,” Chelsea continued gently. “Ciara’s not the type to impose herself. But I’ve seen how she looks at you, how she holds back, not wanting to overstep. I think she’s just trying to figure out where she fits in your life, especially now with the baby coming.”
Becca was quiet for a moment, her thoughts clearly churning. She wrapped her arms around her knees, pulling them close as she stared out at the water.
“I’ve been so focused on not forgetting my mom, on keeping her memory alive, that I didn’t realize I might be pushing Ciara away in the process.”
“It’s understandable,” Chelsea said softly. “But I think there’s room in your life for both of them. Your mom will always be a part of you, and no one can ever replace her. But Ciara can be there for you in ways that your mom can’t anymore. She can be a friend, a support system, and she’d probably love to be involved with the baby.”
Becca nodded slowly, the weight of Chelsea’s words sinking in. “I never meant to make her feel left out. I just… I didn’t want to lose that connection to my mom, you know?”
“I know,” Chelsea said, reaching out to place a comforting hand on Becca’s arm.
“And you haven’t. But maybe now’s the time to build a new connection with Ciara. I think it would mean the world to her if you reached out.”
Becca looked up, meeting Chelsea’s gaze with a newfound determination.
“You’re right. I’ve been so caught up in my own grief that I didn’t see how it was affecting the people around me. I need to do better, for Ciara, and for the baby.”
Chelsea smiled, a warm glow of pride and affection filling her.
“I think that’s a wonderful idea, Becca. It’s never too late to start building those relationships. And with Christmas coming, it’s the perfect time to bring everyone closer together. I think it’s the kind of thing that would make your mother happy.”
Becca took a deep breath, her resolve strengthening. “I’m going to talk to Ciara today. I want her to know that I appreciate everything she’s done for me and that I want her to be a part of the baby’s life.”
“I’m sure she’ll be overjoyed to hear that,” Chelsea said, squeezing Becca’s arm gently. “You’ve got a lot of love to give, Becca. Sharing it with Ciara won’t take anything away from your mom’s memory. If anything, it’ll honor it.”
Becca smiled, a mix of relief and hope in her expression. “Thank you, Chelsea. I needed to hear that. Sometimes it’s easy to get lost in your own head, and you forget that the people around you have feelings too.”
“That’s what friends are for,” Chelsea said with a wink. “To remind us of what’s important.”
Becca smiled. “I can see why Maggie considers you her best friend. You look out for people.”
“We all look out for each other. I can’t wait to see how much love you’ll give this little baby. Well, I best be off. I’ve got a million things to do. You enjoy this beautiful day. There’s nothing that soothes the soul like a day on a Captiva Island beach.”
After her conversation with Chelsea, Becca felt a renewed sense of purpose. She needed to talk to Ciara, and she needed to do it now. The idea of reaching out to her stepmother had never seemed more urgent. She stood up from her chair on the beach and brushed the sand off her legs, determination setting in.
As she walked up Andy Rosse Lane, her mind raced with what she would say to Ciara. When she reached the familiar path leading to Powell Water Sports she veered toward the staircase that led up to her father and Ciara’s apartment.
When she reached the top, Becca hesitated for just a moment before knocking lightly on the door. After a few seconds, Ciara’s voice called out, “Come in.”
Becca opened the door and stepped inside. The apartment was warm and inviting, filled with the soft afternoon light streaming through the windows. Ciara was sitting on the couch, a book in her lap, but she immediately put it aside when she saw Becca.
“Becca,” Ciara said, a hint of surprise in her voice. “Is everything all right?”
“Yeah,” Becca replied, feeling a little awkward now that she was here. “I just… I wanted to talk to you, if you have a minute.”
“Of course,” Ciara said, motioning for Becca to sit beside her on the couch. “What’s on your mind?”
Becca sat down, fidgeting with her hands in her lap. “I’ve been thinking a lot about us, about you and me, and I realized that I haven’t been fair to you. I’ve been so focused on keeping my mom’s memory alive, that I think I might have pushed you away in the process.”
Ciara’s expression softened, and she reached out to take Becca’s hand. “Becca, you’ve been through so much. It’s understandable that you would want hold on to your mom’s memory. I’ve never wanted to come between you and that.”
“But that’s just it,” Becca said, her voice tinged with regret. “You haven’t. I think I let my fear of forgetting her keep me from getting close to you. And now, with the baby on the way, I don’t want to keep behaving that way. I want you to be a part of this, Ciara. I want you to be a part of my life, and the baby’s life.”
Ciara’s eyes welled up with tears, and she squeezed Becca’s hand.
“Becca, I’ve always wanted that, but I didn’t want to push you. I know how much you miss your mom, and I didn’t want to step into a role that didn’t feel right for you. You are a beautiful, grown up woman, you don’t need me to be ‘Mommy’, but I can and will always be there for you.”
Becca shook her head, tears filling her own eyes now. “It’s not about replacing my mom. No one could ever do that. But you’re here, and you’ve been here for Dad, for me, for all of us. I’ve been so blind to that, and I’m sorry.”
Ciara smiled through her tears, her heart clearly touched by Becca’s words. “Thank you, honey. That means more to me than you know. You know, you and I have more in common than either of us realized. You’re about to become a first-time mother, and I’m a first-time stepmother. Maybe… maybe that’s something we can navigate together.”
Becca wiped the tears from her cheeks. “I’d love that.” She let out a small, relieved laugh. “I could definitely use the help. I’m terrified, to be honest. There’s so much I don’t know, and I feel like I’m going to be stumbling through it all.”
“You’re not alone in that,” Ciara said gently. “Every mother feels that way, especially the first time around. But you’re going to be a great mom, Becca. You’ve got a big heart, and you’re stronger than you realize.”
Becca leaned in to hug Ciara tightly.
“Thank you, Ciara. I’m really glad we had this talk.”
Ciara hugged her back, holding on for a moment longer. “Me too. And Becca, I want you to know, I’ve always admired how you’ve kept your mom’s memory alive. She was a wonderful woman, and I’m honored to be a part of your life, even if it’s in a different way. Julia Powell will always be with you, your brothers and your father. We’ll make sure of it.”
Becca pulled back slightly, looking into Ciara’s eyes. “She would have liked you, Ciara. She always wanted me to be happy, and I know she’d want us to be close.”
Ciara’s eyes shimmered with emotion. “That means a lot to me, Becca. I promise, I’ll do my best to be there for you and the baby. And I’m here for anything you need, whether it’s help, advice, a shoulder to cry on, or just someone to talk to.”
“Thank you,” Becca said softly, wiping away her tears. “I’d like that, a lot.”
The two women sat there for a moment, the bond between them growing stronger with each word spoken. It wasn’t a replacement for the bond Becca had with her mother, but it was something new, something just as valuable.
Becca gave Ciara one last hug before heading toward the door. As she walked downstairs to the store, she felt a sense of peace. The conversation hadn’t erased the past, but it had opened the door to a new future, one where she and Ciara could truly be a family.