Chapter 27
twenty-seven
E lisa pressed the doorbell on August Bowman’s ranch-style brick house and stepped back. The morning breeze tickled her hair, and she wished she’d brought the denim jacket still tucked under the counter at the Blossom. It’d only been a little over an hour since she left the diner to meet Noah at Chug a Mug, and she felt like she’d lived two lifetimes since then.
Noah shifted his weight on the step beside her. “Remind me again why we’re bothering this man so early in the morning?”
“Because you said the banks open at nine. We need to make sure that we didn’t miss something.” Elisa leaned sideways to look inside the front window. “After what you told me on the way here about Russell’s plans, I’m not letting the Blue Pirogue go down without a fight.”
He dipped his head toward her. “Or the Magnolia Blossom.”
Elisa’s stomach twisted. “I think that ship has already sunk. Delia’s pretty set on selling, and now there’s no money for me to convince her otherwise.” She drew a deep breath. “But August is a lawyer. Maybe he’ll know something we can do to stop Russell from moving forward. There has to be another loophole.”
The door opened, revealing a slightly disheveled August wearing a bathrobe and slippers. He peered at them before pulling his glasses from his robe pocket. “Noah? Elisa? What are you two doing here?” He checked his wrist, then must have realized he wasn’t wearing a watch. “Did I miss an appointment?”
“No, sir.” Noah stepped forward. “We came to tell you we finished the hunt—and to discuss a bit of an emergency.”
“Oh, dear. Come in, come in.” August ushered them inside the wood-paneled front room. “Have a seat, anywhere. I’ll let my wife know you’re here and put on the coffee.”
Several minutes later, Noah and Elisa sat on the floral-printed sofa while August, now changed into his typical work attire of a dress shirt and suit jacket, perched on the armchair near the fireplace. A thick folder lay in his lap. “So…you read the letter.”
Noah leaned forward. “Yes, sir. And we realize there’s not a monetary treasure like we’d expected. Which would be fine, except I was counting on having money for the inn. The mold mitigation that’s underway is potentially going to put me under before I can even open for tourist season. And now, I don’t know if you’ve heard…my father came back to town.”
August peered at them over the top of his glasses. “Oh, I heard.” He sniffed in disapproval. “And I’m terribly sorry.”
Elisa always knew she liked August. She started to touch Noah reassuringly on the back, then remembered their fragile status. She kept her hands in her lap, twisting the ring on her finger. “Tell him the rest.”
“Russell is trying to take over the Blue Pirogue while laying low from some guy in California.” A muscle in Noah’s jaw flexed. “That’s his problem. But I can’t let him take the inn.” He quickly explained the situation with the mortgage and how Russell was going to be at the bank to pay off the loan and claim the deed as soon as they opened. “We have less than an hour.”
“Well, we’ll just see about that.” August flipped through the large folder. “Lucky for you, I keep duplicates of client paperwork in my home office. You finished the hunt, so, first of all—congratulations! I was instructed to give you a copy of the letter you’ve already read, just in case, but you didn’t need the cheat. I applaud your efforts.” His gaze drifted to Elisa. “Both of you. Well done.”
“It was harder than I anticipated.” Noah’s jaw tensed again. “The hunt, and reaching the end. Knowing it’s all over now.”
“Losing a loved one is hard.” August’s voice gentled as he leaned forward, his arms braced against the open folder. “I know.” He included Elisa once more in his steady gaze. “Your mother was quite the magnolia blossom, herself, if I do recall.”
Fondness, tinged with grief, rose in Elisa’s chest. She nodded, searching for words. “She was.” Maybe Elisa was going to lose the diner, but that wasn’t the only place her mother’s memory lived on. Her warmth and light and influence lingered right here in Magnolia Bay—in the hearts of the people she’d loved.
Maybe she and her mother never got to open their own restaurant or take culinary classes abroad. But the memories they had shared were ones that would never be sold or demolished. And Elisa could carry them into whatever she did next.
It could be more exciting than sad, if she let it be.
“She would be proud of you, I’m quite sure.” August sat up straight and shuffled through the pages before him. “Now, where were we? Ah, yes.” He held up another sheet of paper. “You were saying it’s all over now. But I’m afraid that’s the one part you got wrong.”
A wave of hope crested over Elisa. “What do you mean?” She looked at Noah, who had grown still.
August pushed his glasses up on his nose. “There’s a check to be written.”
Noah waxed pale. “A check?”
It wasn’t over. Forgetting their unresolved status, Elisa grabbed Noah’s hand and squeezed.
“Absolutely.” August offered a brisk nod. “Quite a substantial one, at that. The check will be written to Noah, but you two are free to split it however you choose. Gilbert didn’t specify who got what—I believe at this stage in the hunt, he trusted you both to do the right thing.”
Tears shone in Noah’s eyes. “I guess there was still a surprise left, after all.” He shook his head. “Well played, Grandpa.”
“He did write in the letter that he never wanted to be predictable.” Elisa tried not to notice how Noah’s fingers threaded through hers and held on. Tried not to let it matter. But oh, it did.
August patted his pocket and retrieved a pen. “Here we are.” He meticulously filled in the check’s various fields. “And here you are.” He handed the check to Noah.
Whose face immediately fell.
* * *
The morning had held so many highs and lows, Noah was starting to feel seasick. He looked down at the slip of paper in his hands, the one that was supposed to fix everything, and fought back the sigh threatening escape.
The amount wasn’t enough for both he and Elisa to have what they needed. In fact, it would barely cover the amount still due on the mortgage. It definitely wouldn’t cover the mold mitigation on top of that.
Or leave anything for Delia.
Noah closed his eyes, his heart hammering in his chest. He had to give the money to Elisa. Delia’s health, the diner…those were valuable to not only Elisa, but the entire town. This money would surely cover Delia’s medical bills and let her keep her livelihood. Let Elisa keep her dream. Her connection to her mother.
It was the right thing to do.
He opened his eyes, folded the check in half, and held out Elisa’s hand. “Here.” He closed her fingers around it. “Do what you need to do.”
“Noah!” She gasped, then immediately started shaking her head. “No. You can’t.”
“I can, and I will. You heard him.” Noah gestured toward August, who watched them quietly with hands folded on the file. “Grandpa trusted us to do the right thing. That’s what this is.”
“I can’t let you lose the Blue Pirogue.” She shoved the check toward him. “This is your grandfather’s money.”
Noah dodged her attempt. “That he chose to do with as he pleased. And now so am I.”
“Noah, you don’t understand. I’ll be fine.” Her gaze turned pleading. She scooted closer to him on the couch and pressed the paper against his chest, holding it there against his heart. “I’ve come to terms with this. Delia is going to be okay—she’s got several potential buyers interested in the Blossom. If this hunt has taught me anything, it’s about what’s most valuable in life.”
August leaned forward in his chair, eyes attentive.
Elisa’s hand slipped on Noah’s chest, and the check drifted to his lap. “I can’t let you lose your grandfather’s legacy because of me.” She swallowed, pressing her now-empty hands to her cheeks. “You’re more important than my memories.” She let loose a little half laugh, half cry. “You’re some of my best ones.”
Noah picked up the check, his chest burning from the lingering imprint of her touch. He stared at her in awe. This was the woman he’d been afraid to trust? The one insisting she kill her own dream so his could live? The one sacrificing herself and her desires for him—because she genuinely believed that was the right thing to do?
He’d assumed the worst again, like his family had always done. But he could break that curse, right here and now. By trusting Elisa.
He searched her eyes, all his feelings for her rising to a crescendo in his chest. How had he been so scared before? He’d do a dozen more hunts with her and for her. He’d climb a dozen more lighthouses. Heck, he’d go to the moon if she wanted, heights and all.
“I mean it.” She whispered now, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. “This check is yours. I’ve gotten what I needed.”
“Elisa…” He couldn’t stand it anymore. He reached out and touched her cheek. The tears slipped over, dripping down her chin. If August hadn’t been sitting mere feet away, he’d have kissed it away. “I don’t deserve you.”
“Finally something you and my father agree on.” She grinned through the tears, reaching up and taking his hand in hers as they laughed. She threaded their fingers together, then tucked their joined hands against her cheek.
Emotion clogged the words he wanted so badly to say. He loved this woman. He’d loved her every day since he was eighteen. It was true then, and it was true now—only deeper. Wider. All-encompassing. He stared into her blue eyes, memorizing their depths.
They felt like home.
“Maybe I’ll pour another cup of coffee.” August lurched to his feet. “Take your time.”
Noah only noticed his exit through his peripheral because he couldn’t stop staring at Elisa. “Last chance on the money. Are you sure?”
“Positive.” She briefly pressed her lips against his knuckles on their joined hands. “I have full faith it’s the right thing to do.”
“I’m pretty sure something else is the right thing, too. Something I was too afraid to say earlier this morning.” Noah traced her cheekbone with one finger before letting his free hand settle into the ends of her hair. “Will you give me another chance? Officially?”
“I’ve heard about those Hebert men.” Elisa leaned in closer. “You know, about how persistent they are. Never quit, that bunch. I don’t think I have a choice.” She batted her lashes at him.
Her words, while playful, settled like a balm over his heart. “Very persistent, I think. Especially when we see something we want.” His gaze landed on her lips, which curved into an immediate smile.
Curse broken.
He leaned toward her just as his phone rang, startling them both. He reluctantly pulled away and checked the ID.
Sadie. He winced. “I should probably get this.” Sadie had agreed to keep the book in her store’s safe until he could come back for it later. He didn’t need to tote it to the bank unprotected.
Which reminded him…he checked his watch.
Thirty minutes ’til nine. “Do me a favor? Hold that thought you were just having”—he grinned at her—“and go let August know we’ve got to leave.”
“Hello?” He pocketed the check as he answered, unable to keep himself from watching Elisa as she headed for the kitchen.
“Noah.” Sadie’s voice sounded serious, snatching his full attention. “I’m so glad I caught you.”
He stood. “Is everything okay?”
At the question, Elisa paused by the kitchen door, eyes raised as she waited.
“After you left, something kept niggling at me.” Sadie’s words raced faster. “You called the book a collector’s edition.”
“Right.” Noah frowned. “Grandpa’s favorite.” He motioned for Elisa to continue on her quest. They had to get to the bank before Russell.
Sadie’s anxious tone pierced his ear. “Noah, it’s not a collector’s edition.”
He headed for the front door, patting his pocket for his keys. “What do you mean?”
“This copy is a first edition.”
What? He jerked to a stop as the potential implications raced through his head. “Does that change the value?”
“Oh yeah.” Sadie let out a laugh. “Adds a few zeroes.”
His mouth went dry. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I never joke about literature.”
He believed her.
“Listen, Noah. Your grandfather was like extended family. Let me keep the book in my safe and put out feelers at a few upcoming auctions for you. Free of charge.”
It was a generous offer. But…Noah rolled in his lip.
Sadie persisted. “I could probably make something happen in a few weeks, max.”
He hesitated. Could he really sell Grandpa’s favorite book? The one that had soaked up more of his grandfather’s time and memory than any other novel in that library? The one that had captured Grandpa’s attention and helped mold him into the man he’d become—the man he’d tried to teach Noah to become?
Then he took one look at Elisa, rushing from the kitchen in her icing-smeared jeans, and he knew he could. Knew that was exactly what Grandpa would have wanted—an end to the feud. A big gesture. Heberts helping Bergerons.
After what Elisa had just done for him, how could he not?
Elisa stopped in front of him, her mouth forming a silent is everything okay ?
Sadie cleared her throat. “Would that be okay?”
Noah cleared his throat, turning back toward the phone. “Absolutely not.”
Silence filled the line. Then—“I’d really like to do this for you. For your grandfather.”
“Oh, you can. But you’re not doing it for free.” Noah broke into a smile, which Elisa matched even though she had no idea what was going on yet. He couldn’t wait to see her smile once she did. “You’ll get a fair commission on whatever you bring in, and that’s a non-negotiable.”
Sadie’s delighted cry still echoed in his ear as he ended the call and shot Owen a text.
Noah
Headed your way.
Then he looped an arm around Elisa’s waist and pulled her in close. Her breath caught, and he knew the feeling. He pressed a quick kiss against her lips, then rested his forehead on hers as joy flooded his soul. Deep as the bay. Endless as the ocean. “Call Mama D. Tell her not to sell the diner.”