Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
A lex
Mara, Lucy, and I sat in the chairs as my mother’s casket was lowered into the ground. Residents of Harbor Falls gathered to pay their respects to the woman who ran the town after my father passed away but then went into seclusion after her cancer diagnosis. Even though she was my mother, it was hard to feel anything about her passing.
I couldn’t help but steal small glances at Hannah as she stood with Katherine, her husband, Colin, and the woman I presumed was his girlfriend.
“This concludes our service. May you all go in peace and enjoy the luncheon over at the Seaside Bar and Grille,” the minister said.
Everyone began to disperse. Walking over to Colin, we lightly hugged.
“Thank you for coming,” I said.
“Alex, this is my girlfriend, Adalyn. Adalyn, Alex Harbor.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Adalyn. I hear you own the art gallery.”
“I do. You must stop in sometime.”
“I definitely will.” I smiled. “Hello, Hannah.”
“Hello, Alex.” A beautiful smile crossed her lips.
“Mr. Harbor, I’m Luis, and this is my husband, Alfred. We’re Adalyn and Colin’s besties. We’re so sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you, Luis. Please, call me Alex.”
“And who is this gorgeous young lady?” Luis asked.
“I’m Lucy.”
“I love that name, sweet child.” Luis winked at her.
“Alex.” Ralph walked over and placed his hand on my back. “We need to meet after the luncheon.”
“Sure thing, Ralph.”
“Alex.” Annie walked over and hugged me. “Look at you. All grown up.” She smiled.
“Hello, Annie. It’s been a long time. Jerry.” I extended my hand. “It’s good to see you again.”
“Good to see you too, Alex.”
“And who is this little guy?” I asked as she held a baby in her arms.
“This is our son, Noah.”
“He’s adorable.”
“We should start heading over to the Seaside,” Colin said, patting my back.
Lucy and I climbed into the back of the limo.
“You sure know a lot of people here,” she said.
“That’s because I grew up here.”
“Only for the first sixteen years of your life,” she said.
“True, but in a small town like Harbor Falls, you get to know everyone.”
We stepped inside the Seaside Bar I didn’t realize Mrs. Philbert had passed away, and her son had closed it down.”
“You didn’t visit your mother when she was ill?” she asked.
“No. It’s complicated.” I shut that subject down quickly. “So, do you have a name for your flower shop?”
“I do.” She smiled. “Blooming Beauty.”
“I like it. Here’s to Blooming Beauty.” I held up my glass.
“To Blooming Beauty.” She tipped her wine glass to mine. “How old is your daughter?”
“Lucy is eleven.”
“Ah, she’s a tween. Happy times.” She grinned.
“Very challenging times.” I smirked.
“I see they’re bringing the food out,” Hannah said.
“Yeah. I better go fetch Lucy and make sure she eats. Maybe we can talk later?”
“I’d like that.” A bright smile crossed her lips.
After the luncheon was over and I thanked everyone for coming, Mara took Lucy home while I met with Ralph at his office.
“Why would my mother leave me everything?” I asked. “The woman hated me.”
“That’s not true, Alex. She was mentally unstable after?—”
“It still doesn’t explain why, Ralph.”
“You’re the last Harbor. This town is your legacy, and she knew that.”
“Well, I can’t stick around. I have a company to run in Chicago.”
“Are you actually going to sell the house?”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“That house has been Harbor Estates, your family’s home since your great great grandfather built it. It would be a shame to see someone other than a Harbor owning it.”
Sighing, I ran my hand down my face. “I have a lot of thinking to do, Ralph.”
“I understand, Alex. The entire estate and your mother’s accounts have been put in your name. All I need is your signature here, and you become the official owner of the estate and town of Harbor Falls.”
I picked up the pen and signed on the dotted line. Throwing the pen down, I stood up from my seat.
“I have to get home to my daughter. Thank you, Ralph.” I walked out of his office.
Walking down the sidewalk in town, I stopped in front of the art gallery. Opening the door, I stepped inside and tucked my hands into my pants pockets.
“Alex.” Luis smiled. “Welcome to our humble little gallery.”
“Hi, Luis. This is nice. It’s a great addition to the town. I see Annie has a shop across the street. I’m not surprised. Her baking is to die for.”
“Oh, don’t I know. I spend a fortune on desserts there for Alfred and me.” He smirked. “You should pop over and check it out.”
“I might do that. Tell me something. Is she still the town gossip? Because back in the day?—”
Luis held his hand up. “Let’s just say that nothing gets past her, and before you know it, the entire town knows your business.”
“Some things never changed.” I breathed out a laugh.
The gallery door opened, and Adalyn and her sister walked in.
“Alex, hi.” Adalyn smiled.
“Hello, Adalyn. Hello, Hannah.”
“Hi, Alex.” Hannah brightly smiled.
“Did you come to check out some of our art?” Adalyn asked, setting her purse behind the counter.
“I was walking by and thought I’d stop in. This is a lovely gallery. You should be proud.”
“Thank you. I am. Luis, I need help with something upstairs.”
“Of course, darling. Right behind you.”
The two of them went up the stairs as I stood and took note of how beautiful Hannah looked.
“Would you like to have dinner with me one night?” I asked.
“Uh, sure.” She smiled. “That would be nice.”
“Great.” I pulled out my phone. “Would you be willing to give me your phone number?”
“I think I can do that.”
She rattled it off as I entered it into my phone. I sent her a text.
“Now, you have my number as well. I’m unsure how long I will be in Harbor Falls, so I’ll be in touch.”
“Looking forward to it.” A smile crossed her lips.
“Me too.” I left the art gallery.
I went home, and when I walked into the house, I saw it was quiet.
“Mara? Lucy?” I shouted.
The front door opened, and the two of them walked in.
“There you are,” I said.
“Sorry, Alex. Lucy wanted to go to the park.”
“That’s okay. How was it?” I asked Lucy.
“It was fun. I met a friend there. Her name is Isabelle. We hung out for a while and talked. I got her phone number.” She held up her phone.
“That’s great, kiddo.” I smiled, glancing over at Mara.
“I’m going swimming in the pool.” Lucy flew up the stairs.
“Who is Isabelle?” I asked Mara.
“She’s Jacob Planter’s daughter.”
“Ah, Jacob. I didn’t realize he still lived here.”
“Almost everyone you were friends with is still here, Alex,” she said. “Isabelle is a very nice girl. How did your meeting with Ralph go?”
“My mother left everything to me—her money, the estate, the town. Did you know?”
“No. I didn’t. Your mother never told me things. You know how she was.”
“I know.” I sighed. “I appreciate you sticking by her all these years and caring for her when she became ill. Follow me,” I said, walking to the office that was once my father’s. Pulling my checkbook from the drawer, I wrote a check for a large sum of money and handed it to her.
“Alex, I cannot accept this.”
“You can and you will. It wasn’t right for her not to leave you anything after she passed. You deserve that money. But you have to promise you’ll still take care of the house until I decide what I’m going to do.”
“You have my word. Thank you.” She smiled, kissing my cheek. “If it’s okay, I’m going to head home.”
“It’s fine. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
She began to walk away and then stopped and turned to me. “I really hope you decide to stay in Harbor Falls. I know you have a business back in Chicago, but Harbor Falls is a better place to raise your daughter.”
A small smile crossed my lips as she walked out of the room.