Chapter 13
CHAPTER 13
E vie felt a twinge of disappointment that she tried to ignore when Randy didn’t show up the next morning. She’d gotten used to him coming over early each day to share breakfast and open a new item from the Christmas box.
To fill the void, she meandered through the cottage, sorting through belongings—some destined for packing, others for discarding. The silence hovering in every nook and cranny eventually became too much for her, and she decided to go to Magic Cafe and grab breakfast.
As she entered the cafe, Tally gave her a big hug. “There you are. Did you have a good time last night at the tree-lighting ceremony?”
“I did. It was as wonderful as I remembered from when I used to spend Christmas here. I hadn’t realized how much I missed the island.”
Tally’s eyes twinkled knowingly. “The island has a way of doing that. It wraps you in its charm, tugging back old memories. Welcoming you back, reminding you just how magical it is.”
“I’m beginning to believe that. I’m finding it harder and harder to imagine leaving here again.” There, she finally voiced the thought that had been twirling in her mind. Staying here on Belle Island.
“Well, that’s simple enough,” Tally said with a grin. “You should stay. You certainly have a lovely place to live.”
She hesitated. “But I work in tech. There aren’t many high-tech jobs here on the island. So I’m not sure how it would work.”
“Bet you could find a way to make it work.” Tally nodded encouragingly as she led her to a table and handed her a menu. “We always do if it’s something we really want.”
She sipped her coffee as she thought about what Tally said. Was Tally right? Could she make it work to stay here on the island?
And then there was Randy. If she stayed here, she would have the chance to figure out just what her feelings were for him.
But still, was it a smart decision?
Evie stirred her coffee absently, her mind churning with possibilities. The idea of staying on Belle Island tugged at her heart, but practicality warred with emotion. She’d built a life in the city with a good career—albeit without a job in hand right now. Could she really walk away from all that?
She glanced around the cafe, taking in the now familiar faces of locals starting their day. It struck her how quickly she’d fallen into the rhythm of island life. The thought both comforted and unsettled her.
Her fingers traced the worn edge of the table, a remnant of countless conversations and shared meals. The decision before her felt monumental.
As she debated the pros and cons of a major life change, she caught sight of a familiar figure entering the cafe. Julie walked up to her table with Tally at her side.
“Hi, Julie. Hope you don’t mind. I’m cheating on you and having breakfast at Tally’s today.” She smiled up at Julie.
Julie’s eyes widened in mock offense. “Tally, I hope you’re not trying to steal my new favorite customer.”
“Hey, you’re coming for breakfast here today too.” Tally shook her head.
“Right, there is that.” Julie grinned.
Evie smiled, feeling a surge of affection for both women. It amazed her how quickly she’d come to care for these island residents, how easily they’d welcomed her into their circle. A sense of belonging tugged at her, making her impending decision feel even more weighty.
“Evie is thinking about staying on the island,” Tally said.
“Really?” Julie turned to her.
“I’m thinking about it. I’m finding it hard to imagine leaving.”
“That’s how I felt when I came here as a young girl. Tally helped me out. Gave me a job. I saved and eventually opened The Sweet Shoppe. I never would have made it without Tally’s help.” Julie shrugged. “And a bit of the island’s magic, I guess. I made a wish at Lighthouse Point and it came true.”
“They do that.” Tally laughed.
“I’m just not sure I can make it work…” She frowned.
“You can make it work if you want it enough,” Julie said.
She smiled softly. “That’s just what Tally said to me.”
Tally and Julie left, and she sat eating her breakfast. She looked out at the water with the waves rolling to shore, the birds soaring overhead, and the sun sparkling on the water.
How could she leave here? And leave all her memories of spending time here with Nana? She’d still have to figure it all out. See if it was even possible. And then… there was the problem of finding a job. She’d certainly need to find work.
But she knew she wanted to try to make it happen. She wanted to stay. Deep inside her, she knew she’d never be completely happy if she left. The island was a part of her.
Evie opened the door later that morning to find Randy standing there. “Did you already open the next item from the box?”
“Of course not. Not without you. Come in.” She tugged on his hand, leading him inside and into the kitchen.
“Sorry, I got tied up with a call this morning.”
“That’s okay. I decided to go to Magic Cafe for breakfast and… I had an interesting discussion with Tally and Julie.”
“Really? What about?” He settled onto a kitchen chair.
She sat across from him and hesitated.
“Are you going to tell me?” He tilted his head.
“Yes… it’s just all so new. But anyway…” She plunged on. “I’m thinking about staying here on the island. If I can work it out,” she quickly added.
His eyes lit up. “You’re staying?”
“Well, I’d have to figure out if I can. I’d have to find a job. And being in tech it’s not like there’s a lot of need for high-tech on the island.”
“But we could use a lot of low-tech. Or whatever you want to call it. The city hall system goes down at least once a month, taking down the town website. We keep trying to get funding for a better system. And you saw Etta fighting with her computer system at the historical society.”
“That’s not exactly the kind of tech that I do anymore.” She frowned.
“But you know how to do it?”
“Some. But it’s been a long time.”
“Or you could do something totally different. Look at Julie becoming a baker and opening The Sweet Shoppe. Or Tally with Magic Cafe. Oh, and Susan never ran an inn before she came back to the island to run Belle Island Inn. People seem to find the right career when they settle here.” He leaned across the table and took her hand. “And… I’d really like it if you stayed.”
She looked deep into his eyes, seeing the sincerity. “I could at least try, couldn’t I? It’s not like the city won’t be there if I can’t find something that works here. Tally said if I really want to stay, I’ll find a way.”
“That Tally is a wise woman.”
“And I admit, I’m just not ready to leave the island. I frankly can’t imagine leaving.”
“Good. I’m glad you find it hard to leave. That works in my favor.” He winked at her.
She laughed and stood up. “Let me get the box and we’ll open another item.” There was plenty enough time to figure out the logistics of staying here. For now, she’d just enjoy the holidays.
She brought the box to the table. “Whose turn is it to open one?”
“Yours.”
She reached into the box and grabbed the first item her hand found. She took it out and unwrapped it. “Look, it’s another ornament. A photo frame.” She looked carefully at the image. “It’s two little girls. And I’m pretty sure this one is Nana.” She pointed to one of the girls in the picture.
Randy peered at it. “They look to be about five or so, don’t they?”
“I guess so. I wonder who the other girl is?”
“I don’t know. I kind of remember seeing it on her tree though. She never said anything about it.” He frowned, staring hard at the photo.
“I don’t know how we’ll figure this one out.”
“Might be another unanswerable like Fred and Lula of the music box.”
“But I want to figure them all out.” She shook her head. “I guess I’m greedy. Or selfish. I should be happy we’ve discovered why she kept so many of the pieces.”
“It has been interesting to find out more about Miss G, but I guess we’ll have to be content with what we’ve found out so far.”
“I hope we have better luck tomorrow.” She chased away the sense of defeat of not knowing who the other girl was in the photo.
Randy stood. “Well, I’ve got to go. I’ve got a bunch of work to catch up on today that needs to be finished.”
“I won’t keep you then.” She rose and walked him to the door.
After he left, she stood alone in the cottage at loose ends. She could pack up more of Nana’s things. But now that she wasn’t going to sell it, there seemed to be no hurry.
Wait? What? Had she decided? Was she really staying? Her lips broke into a wide smile. Yes. The decision was made. She was staying. And just like Tally said, she’d find a way to make it work.
Late that afternoon, as the sun dipped lower in the sky, Evie found herself drawn to Lighthouse Point. It was Nana’s favorite place on the island.
As she approached the towering structure, memories flooded back of picnics on sunny days, stargazing on clear nights, and countless conversations that had shaped her life. How many times had she come here with Nana? Too many to count. Her heart and mind filled with the joy and warmth of those memories.
She stood on the beach beneath the lighthouse as her gaze swept across the horizon, where the sky met the sea in a hazy line. The rhythmic sound of waves against the shore matched the beating of her heart.
“Nana, I’m going to stay here on the island. I want to stay here.”
As a gentle breeze caressed her face, she could almost sense Nana’s presence. With a surge of certainty, she knew that Nana would have approved of her decision.
As she shifted her weight, something caught her eye. She bent down and plucked a perfectly formed white cat’s paw shell from the sand. Turning it over in her hand, she marveled at its delicate ridges and smooth interior. The shell felt cool against her skin as she closed her fingers around it.
“Make it possible for me to stay. To find a job. To live here on Belle Island. Make it all work out if it’s meant to be,” she said softly as the breeze carried her words, filled with hope, out over the sea.
Taking a deep breath, she drew back her arm and sent the shell soaring through the air. It arced gracefully before disappearing beneath the shimmering surface of the water with a soft splash, carrying her wishes out to sea.