He knew how much the cottage meant to her, how it was tied to the memories of her grandmother. Miss G had been a constant in both their lives, someone who had welcomed them both into her heart. He could only imagine how difficult it must be for Evie to face the prospect of losing that connection.
But still, he couldn’t help but feel like she was giving up too easily. Miss G had always been a fighter, a woman who faced challenges head-on. He was certain that she would have wanted Evie to do the same, to explore every possible angle before admitting defeat.
All the moments they’d shared together ran through his mind again. Decorating the cottage, baking Miss G’s cookies, and the Christmas Festival. Not to mention opening all those items from the Christmas box and trying to figure out why they were special to Miss G. In those moments, he’d truly come to believe that Evie belonged on Belle Island, that this was where she was meant to be.
He looked out at the water, unable to shake the feeling that he needed to go to Evie, to try and convince her to stay and fight for the cottage. Nana would have wanted that, and deep down, he knew he wanted it too.
But what if she rejected his plea? What if his attempts to change her mind only drove her further away? He’d seen the determination in her eyes. She’d made up her mind. No, he couldn’t do it. Couldn’t risk rejection all over again.
He leaned against the railing, staring out at the ocean. The waves rolled to the shore, a constant rhythm that usually soothed him. But today, it only seemed to mock him, reminding him of the emptiness that awaited him.
He closed his eyes, trying to push away the memories of Evie, of the laughter and warmth they’d shared. But they clung to him, refusing to let go. Just like the hope he’d foolishly allowed himself to feel, the belief that maybe, just maybe, he’d found someone who would stay.
CHAPTER 17
Evie woke up the next morning and a sadness settled over her as soon as she remembered she was leaving. Leaving the island and Randy. She climbed out of bed and slowly pulled on her outfit, not really caring what she chose. After grabbing a cup of coffee, she headed out to the main room and settled on the couch.
Bad decision.
The Christmas box sat there on the coffee table, mocking her. She ran her finger over the carved design but couldn’t bring herself to open it. There were still a few items left in the box, she knew that, but she couldn’t find joy in opening them alone.
She glanced at her phone. No messages from Randy, not that she was really expecting to hear from him. As she swept her gaze around the room, seeing the empty boxes needing to be packed, she suddenly couldn’t face the task. Maybe after a good breakfast, she’d feel more like it.
But she doubted it…
She headed to Magic Cafe—anywhere to get away from the silence of the cottage and the looming boxes.
The tinkling bell above the entrance announced her arrival when she pushed open the door. The warm aroma of freshlybrewed coffee and baked goods provided a momentary respite from her troubles. She scanned the cozy interior, her gaze settling on Tally, who was busy waiting on some customers.
Tally looked up, her eyes meeting hers, and a welcoming smile spread across her face. She motioned for her to take a table. She took one at the edge of the beach and stared out at the sunlight dancing on top of the waves. A sight that normally would have enchanted her, but today it was a bleak reminder of all that she was getting ready to lose.
Tally came up to the table and immediately a frown crept over her features. “What’s wrong, hon? I can see something is bothering you.”
“I—” Tears threatened to spill. Again.
“I’ll be right back.” Tally disappeared, then returned with two steaming mugs of coffee, plunking them down on the table before sitting down across from her. “Okay, tell me what’s wrong,” Tally prodded, her voice laced with concern.
She took a deep breath, hoping to steady her voice. She wrapped her hands around the comforting warmth of the coffee mug. “It’s the cottage,” she began, her words coming out in a rush. “A man—Mr. Barlowe—showed up yesterday, claiming my grandfather had taken out a loan from his grandfather and used the cottage as collateral. He had a loan agreement and everything.”
Tally leaned forward and frowned. “There were some Barlowes who lived on the island. They’ve been gone a long time though.”
“He gave me two weeks to repay the full amount, or he’ll take possession of the cottage.”
“Are you sure the loan is real? It’s valid?”
“It is. I found a copy in my grandfather’s things. And I know that Nana would want me to pay back the loan. I don’t have that kind of money… so… I’m going to lose the cottage.”
Tally reached across the table and gently squeezed her hand, offering a silent gesture of support and understanding. “I’m so sorry you’re going through this,” she said, her voice filled with sympathy. “It must be incredibly overwhelming.”
She nodded, feeling a wave of gratitude for Tally’s presence and the comfort she provided. “I’ve been trying to find a way to stay here on Belle Island, to make the cottage my home,” she confessed. “And I told Randy I was staying, and I thought we were going to have a chance to see… to see if things might work out between us. But then all this happened.”
“Are you sure you can’t figure something out?”
“It’s hopeless. And I got a tentative job offer back in Baltimore. It’s like I wasn’t really meant to stay here.”
“Or maybe you are. Do you have feelings for Randy?” Tally asked.
“I… I might. But even if I do, what good does that do me? I’m leaving. We’ll be miles and miles apart.”
