Chapter 27
B everly stood outside the town hall, taking a moment to gather her thoughts as people milled around her.
The evening breeze carried the scent of salt air, a familiar comfort that had always grounded her.
She watched as Cliff shook hands with the last few council members, his smile genuine as they clapped him on the back.
When he finally turned and walked toward her, she was struck by how different he looked from the boy who had left Magnolia Key decades ago. His shoulders were broader, his stride more confident, but his eyes held the same intensity they always had when he looked at her.
“That was quite a surprise in there,” she said as he approached.
“A good one, I hope.” He stopped in front of her, hands in his pockets.
“A very good one. Why didn’t you tell me about all these changes to your development plans? You never mentioned a word.”
He glanced down at his shoes for a moment before meeting her eyes again. “I’ve been working on it since our conversation at dinner. I wanted to be sure I could pull it off before I said anything. The additional property only became available last week, and the redesigns had to be rushed through.”
“But still, you could have mentioned it.”
He shook his head slowly. “I didn’t want to disappoint you if it fell through. These past few weeks, getting to know you again… it matters to me, Beverly. Your opinion of me matters.”
The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard. She’d spent so many years holding onto her anger, and now it seemed to be slipping away like sand between her fingers.
“Well, I’m impressed,” she admitted. “It’s a beautiful design. The way you incorporated elements from the historical buildings, the environmental considerations—it’s like you listened to everything everyone was concerned about.”
“I did listen.” He took a step closer. “Especially to you.”
Warmth climbed through her. “Me?”
“When you talked about what makes Magnolia Key special, how the island has a certain magic about it, well, I realized I was thinking about the development all wrong. It shouldn’t change the character of the place. It should enhance it.”
Looking at him now, she saw a vulnerability behind his confidence. This wasn’t just about a building project for him, it was about belonging.
“I’m proud of you, Cliff. But more importantly, you should be proud of yourself.” She reached out and touched his arm lightly. “Your project is going to be a wonderful addition to the town.”
“That means a lot coming from you. I know I’ve made mistakes—plenty of them. Running away from here was just one of many.”
“We all make mistakes.”
“True, but I’m hoping I can make up for some of mine.” He took her hand in his, his thumb gently stroking her palm. “Starting with this project. I’d like your input as we finalize things—the landscaping, the historical exhibit, even some of the interior details.”
She raised an eyebrow. “My input? I don’t know anything about real estate development.”
“No, but you know Magnolia Key better than anyone. You understand what makes this place special.” He squeezed her hand. “We could work on it together. What do you say?”
The idea of collaborating with Cliff, of helping shape something that would become part of Magnolia’s future, appealed to her more than she would have thought possible a few weeks ago.
“I’d like that,” she said finally.
The smile that spread across his face made her heart flutter the way it had started fluttering every time she saw him now. He took another step closer, close enough that she could smell his cologne mingling with the sea air.
“Beverly,” he said softly, “I’ve been wanting to?—”
Before he could finish, she rose up on her toes and pressed her lips to his. For a moment, he seemed surprised, but then his arms were around her, pulling her close as he returned the kiss with a tenderness that made her knees weak.
When they finally drew apart, she could hear her heart pounding in her ears. He looked down at her with wonder in his eyes, as if he couldn’t quite believe what had just happened.
“I just wanted to surprise you tonight,” she grinned at him.
“You can surprise me like that anytime you want.”
Beverly thought about how much had changed since Cliff had returned to Magnolia Key. The hurricane, the rebuilding, and Eleanor’s discovery of the letter he’d written all those years ago—all of it had somehow led them back to each other.
“This feels right, doesn’t it?” She motioned between them.
“It does.” He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. “Like coming home after being away too long.”
Beverly knew exactly what he meant. For years, she’d kept her heart carefully guarded, afraid to risk the pain of loss again. But standing here with Cliff, she felt something she hadn’t experienced in a very long time—a sense of possibility and new beginnings.
“So,” he said, taking her hand again, “partners?”
“Partners,” she agreed, her fingers interlacing with his.
He smiled down at her, his eyes reflecting the same mix of hope and apprehension she felt. “Should we seal our partnership with another kiss?”
She laughed, feeling lighthearted and hopeful. “I think that would be appropriate.”
As his lips met hers again, she thought about how life could surprise you when you least expected it. She’d spent decades believing that her chance at love had sailed away on that ferry with Cliff all those years ago. Now, somehow, they had found their way back to each other.
When they broke apart, he kept his arms around her, as if reluctant to let her go.
“What now?” She looked up into his eyes.
“Now,” he said, “we build something beautiful together.”
“Your development?”
“No… Us.”