Chapter 2
Tori spent the night at a modest hotel in Sarasota. No penthouse suite for her this time. Not even a waterfront room. Just a standard room, hoping to avoid anyone even noticing her. She headed out early the next morning for Magnolia Key in a nondescript gray rental car. How many years had it been since she’d driven a car? Not much need to have one in New York City. She kept her driver’s license current though, for the occasional times she rented a car on a trip. But she couldn’t remember the last time she’d actually driven.
At the ferry dock, she sat tapping her fingers on the steering wheel while a long line of cars offloaded. Soon the cars in front of her moved, and she followed them onto the ferry.
She parked, locked her car, and then found her way to the stairs. The spiral staircase led her to the top level of the boat where there was a sitting area on the bow. She adjusted her sunglasses carefully. The sunglasses that once had been just a fashion statement but now were a shield from prying eyes.
Soon Magnolia Key became visible in the distance, and excitement fluttered through her. The island grew larger as the ferry chugged through the green-blue water. As they got closer to the island, the water cleared into the brilliant turquoise color she remembered so well. The sun danced off the tops of the waves, sparkling like diamonds. Like the diamonds safely locked in her safe back home, no longer worn to fancy play openings or charity galas.
She pulled in a deep breath of the salty air, letting it wash through her. The vast openness of it all welcomed her, so different from the stifling high-rise buildings surrounding her back home in New York City.
As they approached the landing, she went back down to her car. Rolling off the ferry as her turn came up, she pulled the car onto solid ground. Magnolia Key.
She wasn’t sure what she’d expected when she arrived. No one to greet her. She didn’t know a soul on the island. And yet, she was sure this island was just what she needed.
Brightly painted homes lined the street like candy in the sweet shop that had been around the corner from her childhood home. She drove down sun-dappled Main Street, and it mostly looked like what she remembered. Some freshly painted storefronts here, a missing sign there. The same cobblestone sidewalk she remembered was lining the road.
Her stomach growled as she pulled into a parking space on a side street. She looked in the rearview mirror, once again surprised by the gray hair. How long would it take her to get used to it? She had no reason to create an illusion of herself anymore. She was simply… Tori.
She resolutely slipped out and walked down the street, spying a coffee shop near the boardwalk. How she’d loved that boardwalk. The memories brought a smile to her lips. Long walks along it with her grandmother to indulge in a daily ice cream cone. Fried funnel cakes sprinkled with powdered sugar. And eating at Sharky’s with delicious fried everything.
She headed over to Coastal Coffee and went inside. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the low hum of conversation welcomed her.
A friendly woman bustled up to her, balancing a tray on one hip. “Welcome to Coastal Coffee. Be with you in a sec. Take any table you’d like.”
She took a table near the back and settled onto a worn wooden chair.
The woman approached again. “Hi, I’m Beverly. Coffee?”
She nodded, and Beverly poured her a cup.
“Cream or sugar?”
“Just black.”
Beverly motioned to the chalkboard across the room. “That’s what we’ve got today. We’re out of the blueberry muffins, but we’ve got the rest. Or you can get lunch. The chicken salad is good.”
“I think I’ll just have a chef’s salad.”
“Coming right up.” Beverly hurried away and Tori leaned back in her chair, glancing around the cafe. Only a few other customers were here mid-morning, which suited her just fine.
Beverly returned with her salad and set it in front of her. “First trip to the island?”
“Ah, no. I came here in the summers when I was a young girl. Haven’t been back in… well, a lot of years.” She gave a wry smile. “Been quite a few years since I was a young girl.”
“Oh, family vacations here?”
“Just my grandmother and me.” Her grandmother had been gone more than thirty years, but she still missed her. The one person she could always depend on.
“Well, we’re glad to have you back.” Beverly’s welcome was genuine and warm. “Staying long?”
“I’m not exactly sure. Just taking a much-needed break.”
“Where are you staying?”
“I’m staying at Bayside BB for now. Then I want to find a longer-term rental.”
“Darlene’s place. You’ll love it there.” Beverly waved to a couple coming into the cafe, then turned back to her. “Let me know if you want anything else.”
She slowly picked at her salad. Her hunger had vanished when she realized the enormity of her decision. Coming to a place where she knew no one. Doing everything for herself instead of the constant help of her assistant. Though her assistant had booked the BB and made the flight reservation and the car reservation. Loneliness swirled around her even though she was sitting in the middle of the coffee shop. Though, as far as she could tell, it was her, four other customers, and Beverly. The coffee shops near her apartment in New York City were crammed full of customers at all hours of the day and night. This was a welcome change. Okay, it probably was. It would take a bit of time to adjust to this new lifestyle.
She squared her shoulders and took another bite of the salad. She’d faced a lot in the last few months. She could certainly learn to handle this change.
She finished her meal, paid her bill, and headed toward the door. It burst open, and she ran smack into a man’s broad, hard chest. The unexpected collision caused a jolt of surprise to ricochet through her.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” he said gruffly.
“It’s okay.” She stepped back. Ma’am. She was getting so many ma’ams since she allowed herself to go gray. She self-consciously tucked her hair behind her ear.
He looked closely at her, frowned slightly, then nodded. He slipped past and headed toward an empty table. She stared at him for a moment, wondering if he’d recognized her. Shaking her head, she headed outside. No one would recognize her like this, would they? Gray hair. Casual clothes—and she needed to get more suitable clothes for here—and far away from the spotlights in New York. A safe place to… to hide.