“I didn’t know.” So many things they didn’t know about each other anymore.
“If you change your mind or get tired of the B&B, my door is always open.”
“Thanks.” At least she’d have a place to stay after she left the B&B. At least for a little while. She didn’t want to wear out her welcome. And she needed to find a job ASAP. Hopefully, one that she could succeed at this time and not get fired from like her last two jobs.
She had to admit, the first time she got fired she probably deserved it. It was so hard to adjust to going back to work full time after staying home and raising the kids and taking care of Victor’s whims for so many years. But she had to get a job. Bring in money. Support herself.
And she’d been silly to try to hang onto the house. She couldn’t afford the payments. Not on any job she’d been able to find. A degree in education didn’t mean much if you hadn’t used it in thirty years. Now that the house was sold—and she’d really had no choice—she had a small sum of money left from the sale. And her car. And that was about it. She’d sold most of the furniture and banked that money too.
She was ready for a new beginning.
Wasn’t she?
* * *
Darlene greeted Maxine as she entered the B&B. “Maxine, it’s so great to see you. How many years has it been?”
“About ten since I’ve been back.”
“Well, we’re glad to have you. I gave you the upper suite.”
“Oh, just a regular room is fine.” And all she could afford.
“Nonsense. The upgrade is on me. It’s just up the stairs and to the left. Last room. It’s a corner room with a great view.”
“Thank you. That’s so nice of you.” She took the key and went upstairs. She opened the door and sunlight spilled around her from the bank of windows on both corner walls. A large queen-sized bed sat against another wall, placed so that you could see the view from it. A fluffy white chenille bedspread covered the bed. An overstuffed chair and small table were placed beside the windows. A braided rug covered the worn floorboards. The inviting, welcoming atmosphere of the room surrounded her.
How could a room in a B&B make her feel more at home than the big old house she’d shared with Victor? Pride had made her struggle to keep that house, but once it was gone, she had to admit she felt a sense of relief. It was a house, not a home. Victor had chosen it and surprised her. She had no say in it. But then, a lot of their marriage had been like that.
She shoved all thoughts of Victor far, far away and set her suitcase on a wooden rack. She carefully hung her clothes in the closet and took her toiletries to the bathroom. It was large and painted a pale mint color, with thick, thirsty white towels hung on the racks.
This was so nice. Nicer than the apartment she’d had after selling the house. That apartment had been a dump. Worn carpeting. Frayed curtains in the two small windows. Walls as thin as paper. A shower that only had hot water on occasion so that she’d almost adjusted to freezing showers. A small kitchenette. It had been in a questionable part of town but had been all she could afford.
She’d finally decided enough was enough. Now she had most of her things stashed in the trunk of her car. They’d be fine there for now. She had one small storage unit back home that she needed to get rid of soon so she could quit paying rent on it. But she kept hoping she’d find a place to live and could arrange to bring her things here.
Ifshe decided to stay here in Magnolia Key.
And that was a big if at this point. But really, where else did she have to go?
CHAPTER2
Beverly walked through the shop, unlocked the front door to Coastal Coffee, and flipped the sign to open. She’d already been here for an hour after picking up the pastry order from the first ferry. Julie sent it over every morning.
She wondered how things would change with the new bridge going in. It most likely would be good for business. Though she was a little worried it would change the small-town feeling on Magnolia Key. They’d probably get more day tourists. People just wanting a quick break at the beach. There was talk of changing some zoning laws to allow taller buildings on the island. She wasn’t a fan of that. She wasn’t against progress, per se, but part of the appeal of Magnolia was its quaintness. They had some visitors who came back year after year, generation after generation. Would they still come if the island became more commercial?
The door opened, and Nash Carlisle stepped inside. “Morning, Beverly.”
“Morning, Nash.” Nash was her first customer Monday through Friday before he headed out to work at his construction job. The company that had been owned by his daddy before Nash took it over.
“Morning, Beverly.”
“I’ve got some of those strawberry muffins from Julie today.”
“Perfect. I’ll take one of those with my coffee.” He headed over to his table after stopping to pick up one of the copies of the newspaper she always had waiting for her customers—the papers also came over on the first early morning ferry. A lot of people got their news online now, but she still liked to provide her customers with a copy of the paper to peruse with their coffee if they preferred it.
More customers came in and she fell into her familiar routine. Getting them pastries and coffee. Chatting about this and that. And the weather. People were always commenting on the weather.
“Going to get some showers this afternoon.”
