Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
A t the far end of the Key Lime Garden Inn’s property sat a lovely cottage surrounded by blue plumbago and pink bougainvillea. Maggie’s husband, Paolo, spent hours ensuring the right plants and colors looked perfect against the tan color of the building.
Across from the cottage was the koi pond which had several koi swimming and playing in the water. The housekeeper, Millicent (Millie) Brenner, never passed the pond without bringing food for the fish even though Maggie insisted they be fed only once a day.
Paolo suggested that Kat stay with them in their carriage house. Maggie had a better plan.
“I can’t live under the same roof as my sister,” she complained. “The cottage isn’t rented, so she can stay there. It’s the best room that we’ve got. Even Kat can’t find fault with it.”
Maggie carried a vase of flowers to the cottage and Millie finished adding freshly laundered towels and new soap for the ensuite.
“Oh, Maggie, those flowers are beautiful. They’re perfect for this room,” Millie said.
“I think so, too.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting your sister. Does she look like you?”
Maggie laughed. “Not at all. She looks more like our father. Darker hair, brown eyes…you’d never know we’re sisters.”
“Oh. Maybe you two are alike in other ways?”
Maggie had to think about Millie’s question. It never occurred to her that she and Kat had much in common. The truth was that Maggie liked and promoted the idea that they were complete opposites.
She shook her head in answer to Millie’s question. “Not so much. We weren’t very close growing up.”
Maggie knew she wasn’t being completely honest, but she didn’t want to have this conversation with Millie, and it was the fastest way to change the subject.
“I think we’re good here, right?” Maggie asked.
“Yup. I’ve got to get to the bookkeeping now. Let me know when your sister arrives. I’d love to say hello and introduce myself.”
Maggie nodded and watched as Millie left the cottage and headed back to the main house. As usual, when she was anxious, her stomach bothered her. Her nerves were a predictable sign that she wasn’t in control of her environment, and she hated that.
Having received good news about her cancer, she thought the next six months would be relaxing and filled with happiness. Soon, she’d be a grandmother again with Lauren’s baby due to arrive any day.
Kat dropped this latest bomb in Maggie’s lap, and there was no avoiding the drama that would follow. Her only choice was to be supportive and look forward to the day her sister returned home for good.
Nolan Chandler held the note in his hand and gripped the edge of the kitchen table. His legs barely keeping him standing, he slowly descended to the chair. His wife’s words struck him as almost sarcastic, which seemed odd considering she didn’t have a sense of humor.
“ You probably won’t even notice that I’ve gone. I’ve left several dinners in the freezer for you. I won’t be there to remind you, but you really shouldn’t use so much salt.”
He didn’t understand why Kat would leave him without saying a word. Leaving a note upset him, but at least she did it on the weekend. If she’d gone during a work day, he’d have to call in sick.
He read the note again, looking for any sign his wife might return in time. Knowing how unhappy she was, he’d often advised her to visit her sister Maggie in Florida. Now that her mother had moved to the island, Nolan liked the idea that soon, his wife would be get a steady dose of her advice. That, coupled with Maggie’s encouragement, made him hopeful that his wife would eventually return.
I’ll call Maggie later today to get more information. Heaven knows, Kat probably won’t answer her cellphone.
He got up from the table and opened the refrigerator. Now that his wife wasn’t around to do grocery shopping, he’d need to stop at the liquor store to get more beer. Feeling hungry, he rubbed his belly and opened the freezer door. Stacked inside were several, clearly marked trays of meals.
That will do for dinners, but what can I eat now?
Since he had to go to the liquor store anyway, Nolan decided a stop at the market to pick up a few chicken wings at the food-to-go bar was a good idea.
Maybe I’ll get a few onion rings to go with the wings.
Licking his lips, he closed the freezer and grabbed his wallet and keys. Glad to see their car still in the driveway, Nolan pumped his fist in the air, and smiled.
With a slight delay, Kat’s plane landed at the Southwest Florida International Airport at five o’clock in the afternoon. She’d hoped to be at the Key Lime Garden Inn by three o’clock but bad weather kept her flight from leaving on time.
She walked across the road to the car rental counter and waited in line for someone to assist her. The decision to rent a car was to keep her sister from having to drive her everywhere.
If I’m going to live on Captiva Island, I better become familiar with the area.
“Enjoy your time in Florida, Mrs. Chandler,” the young woman behind the counter said.
“Oh, I intend to,” Kat responded, practically skipping toward her car rental.
She smiled at her luck. Her favorite color was yellow, and she was able to rent a yellow Mustang convertible. Throwing her luggage in the trunk, she got behind the wheel of the Mustang, turned the handles overhead, and then pressed the button to lower the top.
Giddy was the only way to describe Kat’s excitement over her new life, which had begun the moment she boarded the JetBlue flight. She didn’t want anything to get in the way of her happiness, so she ignored the last two phone calls from her daughter, Amanda. Kat figured there would be plenty of time to deal with the fallout and would return her daughter’s calls as soon as she was settled at the Key Lime Garden Inn.
For years Kat had heard about Captiva Island and how much fun her sister’s family had visiting there during summers. When their children were young, Maggie would send Kat photos of the island, as well as Sanibel locations. Here and there pictures of Fort Myers were added.
Alternatively, Kat and her family’s vacations were far removed from the tropical oasis of Captiva Island and its nearby attractions. Instead, they chose to stay close to home, favoring weekend trips to nearby lakes or parks, staying in the same cabins or hotels each time.
At the time, these vacations, along with attending local festivals, visiting museums, zoos or amusement parks, seemed exciting, but now, Kat looked back at those excursions as predictable, boring and mundane. It was her opinion that before staycations were a thing, the Chandler clan had perfected the art of going nowhere.
The ultimate slap in the face came when Maggie moved to Captiva Island and opened a Bed & Breakfast. Worse was when she’d fallen in love and remarried.
Now, Kat would have a chance to have the ultimate adventure before she was too old to make a change. Convinced if Maggie could do it, so could she. Kat’s car climbed the Sanibel Bridge before her and she looked to the sky. Her life was finally beginning, and nothing and no one was ever going to hold her back again.
Although ready for her sister’s visit to Captiva Island, Maggie wasn’t prepared for the yellow Mustang convertible that pulled up in front of her. Lifting her hand high in the air, Kat waved.
“How do you like my car?” Kat yelled.
Maggie walked to the driver’s side and opened the door. Kat got out and hugged Maggie, then ran to the trunk to get her luggage.
“My goodness, Kat. This is quite the car. What made you decide to get a convertible?”
“The weather, of course. I saw lots of people driving convertibles on my way here.”
Maggie nodded. “I guess you have a point. How’s the weather in Boston?”
“Cold already. I mean, the leaves have changed color and are falling all over the place. Honestly, I’d say the leaves dropping are just about over, and you know what that means. Colder temps are just around the corner, but not for me. I’m already loving the warmth here.”
Paolo came running out to join them, and Kat whistled.
“Well, I certainly can see why you fell in love with this handsome man. Hello, Paolo. Your pictures don’t do you justice.”
She ran to him and wrapped her arms around him.
“Hello, Kat. It’s nice to finally meet you,” he said. “Maggie’s told me so much about you and your family, I feel as if I know you.”
Kat rolled her eyes. “I’m sure she made us all sound horribly boring.”
Maggie frowned. “Of course not. Why would you say that?”
Kat shrugged. “Oh, you know me, always teasing. So where is my niece, Sarah? Does she live nearby?”
“She and her family live on Sanibel Island. You drove right by their street. It’s about thirty minutes from here when the traffic isn’t so bad. She’s going to stop by tomorrow to see you. Let’s get you set up in the cottage and we can talk about your plans.”
“A cottage? Oh, that sounds lovely. I’ve always wanted to live in a cottage.”
Kat turned to Paolo. “It was so nice meeting you. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time to get to know one another.”
Maggie smiled. She couldn’t believe what she witnessed. Her sister flirted with Paolo. Maggie wasn’t upset about it but was taken aback by her sister’s behavior. From the yellow convertible to Kat’s animated body language, Maggie didn’t know what to make of the “new” Kat Chandler.
As they walked through the garden, Kat commented on everything she saw. “Listen to that waterfall. Oh, I love the bird feeders. I can’t believe how big your tomatoes are.”
What Maggie couldn’t understand was how her sister’s demeanor had changed. When Kat called her the day before, her voice was somber and urgent. Today, there didn’t seem to be any indication that Kat was upset about anything at all now.
When they reached the cottage, Kat clapped her hands. “Oh, Maggie, this is adorable. It looks like a picture right out of a magazine.”
Maggie was proud of the cottage Paolo had built only a few months earlier and said so. “It’s become my favorite spot on the property. Paolo built it.”
Kat’s mouth dropped open. “No way. That handsome man built this beautiful cottage? Is there anything Paolo can’t do?”
Maggie shook her head. “If there is, I haven’t found it. Come on, let’s get you inside.”
Walking through the rooms, Kat seemed pleased, but Maggie noticed her eyes darting around the room in an effort not to make eye contact.
“This certainly is a lovely spot. I can’t thank you and Paolo enough for letting me crash here for a bit. It will take me some time to find a place of my own…Maybe you could help me…I’m not exactly sure of my plans.”
Maggie reached for her sister, but Kat quickly walked to the far end of the room.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Maggie asked.
Kat shook her head. “Not right now. I…I think I’d like to freshen up a bit.”
“Of course. You must be hungry. Why don’t you take some time and when you’re ready, come up to the main house. We’ve saved dinner for you.”
Kat looked worried. “Oh dear. you probably haven’t eaten. I’m so sorry about getting here so late.”
“No, it’s fine. We usually eat after the guests have finished their dinner anyway. Paolo and I typically eat around seven-thirty. Would that be all right?”
Kat smiled. “Yes. I’ll be ready.”
Maggie started walking toward the door when Kat stopped her.
“Maybe you and I can have a talk after dinner…just the two of us?”
Maggie smiled. “I’d like that very much.”
Maggie pulled her sweater close as she walked toward the inn. The air had cooled and the sky turned dark. Whatever Kat’s struggles, Maggie prayed she’d be able to help her sister.
A familiar feeling struck Maggie as she remembered their childhood. Her little sister needed her, just as she had when they were children. It felt good to be needed again.
Whether Kat wanted advice or just an audience to agree with her, Maggie didn’t know. For now, she held close the memory of a kindred spirit, and a sisterly love that meant everything to her.