“Stop it.” Her words rang through the room as they both turned to stare at her.
“Go home. Figure out your lives. And while you’re doing that, I’m going to live my own life.”
She turned and strode out of the room, across the hall, and out the door. The sunshine and fresh air wrapped around her like a welcoming hug. A hug from Magnolia Key. Like the island agreed with her decision.
CHAPTER24
Beverly looked up as Maxine rushed into the Coastal Coffee and grabbed her hand. “Beverly, come into the kitchen for a moment.”
“Janine, hold down the fort. We’ll be back out in a few minutes.” Beverly let Maxine lead her to the kitchen.
“I’m staying.” Maxine whirled around to face her.
A smile spread across her face. “You are? What made you change your mind?”
“Something Miss Eleanor said about doing what other people want you to do instead of what you need to do.”
“Miss Eleanor made you change your mind?”
“Well, that and I overheard my kids talking. They just wanted me back to take care of the details of their lives. Tiffany expected me to watch her baby full time. Without even asking me. And I heard her tell David I would be doing the middle-of-the-night feedings too. And David wants me to run some big charity thing to impress his boss. I just…” She held up her hands. “I can’t go back to living like that. Doing what other people want me to do. Being under other people’s control. I can’t.”
“So you told them all that?”
Maxine grinned. “All that and a lot more. I told them to grow up.”
Well, that was a long time coming and much needed.“Good for you. I’m thrilled to have you staying here.” She pulled her friend into a long hug. “I’ve gotten so used to you being here. Talking to you. And I think you did the right thing.”
“I know I did. I looked at my kids, and I don’t even know them. Not really. I love them, but I don’t really like the people they’ve become.” Maxine frowned. “I don’t know if that’s something I should admit.”
“Hey, if it’s the truth. And really, it was time to shove them out of the nest. Maybe they’ll surprise you. Rise to the occasion.”
“I hope so. For that baby’s sake, if no one else’s.”
Janine poked her head in the door. “Dale’s out here looking for you.”
“Me?” Maxine said.
“Nope, Beverly.”
“Let’s go see what he wants.” They walked back out into the shop. “Hi, Dale. What’s up?”
He looked a bit taken aback to see Maxine standing here with her. “Oh, hi.” He nodded at Maxine.
The three of them just stood there as she waited for Dale to explain why he wanted to see her.
“Oh, right. Why I came in.” Dale pulled out a folder. “I did some digging and found out something interesting about the painting you found.”
“What did you find out?”
“I found this old photo and I’m pretty sure it’s the same location as in the painting.” He pulled out a photo, and they peered at it.
“It sure looks like it.” Beverly frowned. “It even has the walkway on top, like ours did. The widow’s walk. Ours had been closed off for years before the building was even destroyed.”
“And if you look closely, you can see this carving over the door. Here, use this magnifying glass.”
Beverly took the glass and looked closely at the photo. “It has the same carving that ours had. With the intertwined M and B.”
“It does. And then I found out that Magnolia Key used to have a sister island. A small island off the country of Bardonzia. In the Pacific Ocean. About halfway between the United States and Australia. That was kind of a thing back then to have sister islands.”
