Chapter 11
D arlene knew exactly where to find Eleanor.
This was Eleanor’s regular morning to go to Coastal Coffee.
Her own guests had eaten early, and she’d cleared the dishes and left them for later.
She wanted a chat with her friend. The rumors had been flying that Eleanor and Jonah had often been seen about town.
She was certain her friend wouldn’t be pleased about the gossip, but she hoped Eleanor and Jonah were working things out.
They’d spent a lot of years apart after Eleanor had married Theodore…
and what a mistake that had been. Just like Darlene marrying Dean had been.
He’d left her in a hot minute when she got pregnant, never interested in knowing anything about their child.
Both she and Eleanor had made poor choices in their youth. Hopefully, they were wiser now.
Darlene stepped into Coastal Coffee, the bell above the door announcing her arrival. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries welcomed her as she scanned the room. She spotted Eleanor at her usual table, engaged in conversation with Beverly.
She made her way over to join them, weaving between the tables and offering friendly smiles to the other patrons. As she approached, Beverly looked up and grinned.
“Well, look who’s here! Good morning, Darlene. Care to join us?”
She nodded, pulling out a chair and sitting down across from Eleanor. “I’d love to, thanks.”
Eleanor turned to her, a slight frown creasing her forehead. “It’s good to see you, Darlene. How are things at the B&B? A bit worried about all the hoopla about the new Sea View Inn.”
“I’ve had some cancellations, but I’m doing okay.” She didn’t want anyone worrying about her. She’d figure things out. She always did.
Beverly reached for a clean mug and held it up. “Coffee, Darlene?”
“Please,” she replied, grateful for the offer.
As Beverly poured the steaming coffee, Darlene noticed the way Eleanor’s fingers tapped lightly on the table, a habit she’d had for as long as Darlene could remember. It usually meant her friend had something on her mind.
“So, Eleanor,” she began, accepting the mug from Beverly with a nod of thanks, “I’ve been hearing some interesting rumors around town lately.”
Eleanor arched an eyebrow, her fingers stilling. “Oh? And what might those be?”
Darlene took a sip of her coffee, savoring the rich flavor before continuing. “Word has it that you and Jonah have been spending quite a bit of time together.”
Eleanor scowled and glanced down at her mug. “Well, I suppose there’s no hiding anything in this town, is there?”
Beverly chuckled, slipping into the chair beside Darlene. “You know how it is. Magnolia Key thrives on gossip.”
She reached out and patted Eleanor’s hand. “I know you value your privacy, but I hope you know that I’m here if you ever want to talk about it.”
Eleanor met her gaze with a mixture of gratitude and hesitation in her eyes. “Thank you. It’s just… It’s been so long, and we’ve both changed so much. I’m not sure what to make of it all.”
“Take your time,” she advised, her voice gentle. “There’s no need to rush into anything. Just enjoy getting to know each other again.”
Beverly nodded in agreement. “Darlene’s right. You and Jonah have a lot of history, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start fresh.”
Eleanor sighed, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
“I suppose you’re both right. It’s just strange, navigating this at our age.
” Then Eleanor turned to her and pinned her with a gaze.
“And how about you? I hear you’ve been seen about town with one of your guests.
Frequently. A famous author, if I heard correctly. ”
“I’m just showing him around town a bit. He’s had a bit of a rough go of things. Lost his wife a few years back.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.” Beverly’s eyes filled with sympathy.
“I think he’s finally finding a way to deal with it.” She shrugged.
Eleanor’s eyes narrowed, and she tilted her head. “So… you like him?”
“What? No. It’s not like that.”
“Isn’t it?” Eleanor raised an eyebrow.
She didn’t answer her friend because she really had no idea what it was. Didn’t know what was going on between her and Mark. Maybe it was just all in her mind. But it didn’t really matter, she reminded herself. He was a famous author and soon he’d be off to bigger and better things.
“You’re always taking care of everyone,” Eleanor interrupted her thoughts. “You know, maybe it’s time you did something for yourself. Go out with the man. Have some fun. Get to know him.”
She looked over the rim of her mug at Eleanor. “I could say the same about you and Jonah.”
Eleanor’s lips tilted into the tiniest smile as if saying, touché.
The three women fell into a comfortable silence, sipping their coffee and lost in their own thoughts. Darlene felt a warm sense of camaraderie with her two friends, knowing that they’d all faced their share of challenges and heartaches over the years, but they’d found a way through them.
Darlene walked up the driveway of the B&B, still mulling over Eleanor’s words at the cafe. She glanced at the wraparound porch and spotted Felicity chatting with Mark. Her granddaughter’s animated gestures made her pause. She knew that look.
Felicity was up to something.
“Gran!” Felicity called out as Darlene walked up. “Perfect timing. I was just telling Mark about the theater opening their new show this weekend.”
Mark turned in his chair, offering a warm smile that made her heart skip.
No. No, it didn’t. She was just a bit out of breath from her quick walk back from the cafe.
“Your granddaughter speaks highly of their productions.”
“Oh, they do wonderful work,” Darlene said, climbing the porch steps. She noticed the manuscript pages spread across the small table beside Mark’s chair. “I see you’ve been writing.”
“Finally making progress,” he admitted. “The words are coming easier now.”
Felicity nodded her head emphatically. “Which is exactly why you should celebrate by going to opening night. Both of you.”
Darlene shot her granddaughter a warning look that clearly said stop meddling, but Felicity just grinned, completely undeterred.
“They’re doing that new comedy,” Felicity continued. “What was it called? ‘The Late Bloomer’ or something like that? I heard it’s supposed to be hilarious.”
“Felicity.” Darlene’s tone carried a warning.
“What? The theater needs support, and you both could use a night out.” Felicity smiled innocently. “Besides, I already mentioned to Mark how much you love live theater, Gran.”
She felt her cheeks warm as she gave Felicity another pointed look. Her granddaughter simply smiled, completely immune to the silent reprimand.
Mark cleared his throat. “It does sound interesting.”
“See? I told you it was a good idea. Anyway, I should head out. Brent’s waiting.
” Felicity moved toward the steps, then paused.
“Oh, and the show starts at eight on Friday. Just in case anyone’s interested.
” She practically skipped down the stairs, leaving Darlene shaking her head at her granddaughter’s less-than-subtle matchmaking attempt.
Darlene turned to Mark, an apologetic smile on her face. “You’ll have to excuse my granddaughter. She… ah… meddles. We don’t have to go.”
He paused, his expression thoughtful. “Actually, I think it sounds like a nice idea. Would you like to accompany me?”
She blinked, surprised by his invitation. “Oh, well, I suppose it could be fun.” She hesitated, searching his face. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to feel pressured into it.”
He chuckled softly. “Not at all. I think a night out would be good for both of us. Unless you’d rather not?”
“No, no, I’d love to go,” she assured him, feeling a flutter of excitement in her chest. “It’s been a while since I’ve been to the theater.”
He smiled, his brown eyes warming. “Then it’s settled. We’ll go together.”
She nodded, returning his smile. “All right then. I’ll let you get back to your writing. Just let me know if you need anything.”
“I will. Thank you.”
She turned and headed inside, her mind racing. As she stepped into the foyer, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. It’s not a date, she told herself firmly. He just asked her to accompany him, that was all.
But as she walked into the kitchen, she felt a spark of anticipation. It had been so long since she’d gone out with anyone, let alone a man as charming and handsome as Mark. She shook her head, chiding herself for getting carried away.
“Get a hold of yourself, Darlene,” she muttered, busying herself with the dishes in the sink. “You’re just two friends going to see a play. Nothing more.”
Yet even as she said the words, she wondered if there was something more between them.
The way he looked at her, the easy conversation they shared—it felt different from just a friendship.
But she couldn’t let herself get swept up in romantic notions.
He was still grieving, and she had her own baggage to deal with.
No, it was better to keep things simple. They would go to the theater, enjoy the show, and come back to the B&B as friends. That was all it could be.
She sighed, drying her hands on a dish towel.
She glanced out the window, catching a glimpse of Mark on the porch, his head bent over his manuscript, jotting notes with a red pen.
A small smile tugged at her lips. Even if they were just friends, she was grateful for his presence in her life.
He brought a sense of warmth and companionship.
Something she hadn’t realized she was missing.