Chapter 25
T he next morning after breakfast, Felicity went for a walk on the beach with Brent. Gran had practically thrown them out of the house and insisted they go off alone. Which was fine with Felicity, because she couldn’t wait to have a chance to talk with Brent again. Something or someone kept interrupting them.
Her bare feet sank into the warm sand as she strolled along the beach with Brent, his hand strong and reassuring in hers. She found herself stealing glances at him as they walked. The morning sun sparkled across the water, and a gentle breeze carried the salty scent of the ocean.
“I can’t believe how much has changed in just a few weeks,” she said, breaking the comfortable silence between them.
He squeezed her hand. “Good changes, I hope?”
She stopped and nodded. “Definitely good. I feel like I’m rediscovering myself here on Magnolia Key. I have no desire to leave. Ever.”
“Ever?”
“There is just something that Magnolia brings to me. A part of me that’s been missing. I’ll sort out what I’m going to do here, but in the meantime, Gran can use my help at the B&B.” She turned to him. “And what are your plans? I mean, after you finish your research.”
“Well, for now, I can find no definitive proof about anything actually going on between Vera and Lawrence. We know he had feelings for her, but since the letter was still in the wall at the B&B, Vera never got it. I guess he never acted on his feelings. And even with my research—and I swear I really did research diligently—Vera just disappeared sometime in the late 1920s or early 1930s. I can’t find a trace of her in any records.”
“So you’re not going to publish anything about them?”
“Not without concrete proof. I don’t publish things I can’t prove.”
“And if someone else discovers these rumors about Vera and Lawrence?” She looked up at him.
“They’re rumors, that’s all.”
“So it looks like Miss Eleanor gets a reprieve from people gossiping about her family.”
“It does. Except for… well, there is Jonah. Now that he’s back.” Brent grinned. “Last I saw him this morning, he was headed back to her house. Said he had something important to discuss with her.”
“More important than yesterday when he told her he was alive?” A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
“I’m not sure. He didn’t say what he wanted to talk about. But I’m fairly certain he still has feelings for her.” Brent winked at her. “So, we might have some fresh gossip about Miss Eleanor and Uncle Jonah.”
He took her hand again, and as they continued their leisurely pace, the lighthouse came into view in the distance, rising up against the clear blue sky, a symbol of stability amid the ever-changing tides. Just like Magnolia Key was her anchor during the changes in her life.
“Want to head over there?” He gestured toward the lighthouse.
“Sure,” They veered away from the water’s edge, their joined hands swinging gently between them.
As they approached the base of the lighthouse, Brent slowed his steps. He turned to her.
“This is it,” he said softly. “This is where my mother was standing in that old photograph.”
She watched as his gaze swept over the scene, taking in every detail. She could almost see him superimposing the image of his young mother onto the view before them.
“It’s strange,” he continued, his voice filled with wonder. “Standing here, seeing what she saw… It makes her feel closer somehow.”
She gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “And now you’ve found your uncle. Things have really changed for you too.”
They stood in silence for a moment, the rhythmic sound of the waves providing a soothing backdrop to their thoughts.
“You know,” she said, turning to face him, “I’m glad you came to Magnolia Key. Not just because you’ve uncovered so much about your family, but because…” She paused, feeling a blush creep up her cheeks.
His eyes met hers, warm and encouraging. “Because?”
“Because I met you,” she finished softly.
A smile spread across his face, crinkling the corners of his eyes. He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. Her heart raced as she tilted her face up toward his, holding her breath, waiting…
The kiss was soft and gentle at first, a tentative exploration of the feelings that had been building between them. But as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer, the kiss deepened, becoming something more.
When they finally broke apart, she rested her forehead against his. “That was…”
“Amazing,” he finished for her, a grin spreading across his face.
She laughed, feeling lighter and happier than she had in years. “It really was.” She grinned up at him. “Can I have another one?”
And he willingly obliged.