“So I have a bit of news I’ve been meaning to tell you,” Mark began, his voice low and thoughtful. “I think I finally have the bones of a new book.”
Her eyebrows rose in pleasant surprise. “That’s wonderful. I know how much your writing means to you.”
He nodded, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “It’s still in the early stages, but I’ve got a lot of it planned out. Characters, plot, setting… It’s all starting to come together.”
“I’m so glad to hear that.” She set her knitting aside, giving him her full attention. “How many chapters have you written?”
He shrugged. “That’s the problem. I haven’t written any words. Just worked on planning out the book.”
“What’s holding you back from starting the actual writing process?”
His gaze dropped to his wineglass, his fingers tightening around the stem. “It’s just… I feel a bit disloyal to Sarah, starting a book without her.”
Her heart ached for him. She reached out, placing a comforting hand on his knee. “I understand how you must feel, but I don’t think Sarah would want you to put your life on hold forever. She loved you and your writing. I’m sure she’d be thrilled to see you finding your passion again.”
He met her gaze, his eyes filled with pain and a bit of hope. “You really think so?”
“I do.” She gave his knee a gentle squeeze before withdrawing her hand. “Sarah will always be a part of you, and I believe she’d want you to embrace this new chapter in your life. Writing this book doesn’t lessen what you had with her. It’s a tribute to the love and support she always gave you.”
He took a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing as he exhaled. “You’re right. I know you’re right. It’s just hard sometimes, moving forward without her.”
“Of course it is. Grief is a process, and everyone moves through it at their own pace. But I have faith in you. You have a gift, and I truly believe Sarah would want you to share it with the world.” She grinned at him guiltily. “I have to admit, I downloaded a few of your books and I’ve been reading them at night. You’re keeping me up way too late. They’re very good. You keep me guessing until the very end.”
A wide smile spread across his face. “Thank you. I love to hear when readers enjoy my books.” He paused, looked directly into her eyes, and continued. “And… you’ve been a big help. Just spending time with me. Letting me work through all this. Your encouragement.”
“Anytime.” She picked up her knitting again, the familiar motion soothing her. “If you ever need a sounding board or a friendly ear, I’m always here.”
He raised his glass in a toast. “To new beginnings and cherished memories.”
She retrieved her glass and clinked it against his, the soft chime echoing in the cozy room. As they sipped their wine, a comfortable silence settled over them once more, broken only by the gentle rhythm of her knitting needles. She was getting quite used to spending time with him. And she wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not…
Later that night, Darlene moved through her nightly ritual, counting place settings and coffee cups for tomorrow’s breakfast crowd. Four rooms occupied—Mrs. Clifton and Mark among them—barely warranted the term crowd.
Two couples had canceled their reservation, and she had a sneaking suspicion they’d gotten rooms at the new Sea View Inn. She pictured them sipping wine at the new, trendy wine bar or enjoying their luxurious whirlpool tubs.
The kitchen clock’s soft tick punctuated her steps as she turned off the overhead light. A single lamp cast a warm glow across the worn floor tiles as she retreated to her suite. After changing into her favorite nightgown, she nestled into her bed and rested against the down pillows. Her e-reader cast a gentle blue light across her face as she found her place in Mark’s novel, eager to lose herself in his words.
Before long, she set her e-reader on the nightstand, Mark’s words swimming before her eyes. She’d read the same paragraph three times without absorbing a single detail. Her thoughts kept drifting to the time she spent with him and the easy conversation between them. How much he seemed to enjoy just sitting on the porch with her, chatting away, or the way his eyes had brightened when he spotted that eagle soaring overhead, or his appreciation of a simple picnic at the cove.
“Stop it,” she whispered to herself in the quiet bedroom.
She’d lived on Magnolia Key long enough to know how these things played out. The summer visitors came and went. The winter guests drifted through like the tide. Even the most charming ones packed their bags, eventually.
Mark belonged to a different world. A world of book tours and publishing deadlines, of city lights and literary circles. He’d come here searching for his words, and once he found them, he’d return to that life.
The way he’d opened up about Sarah today, the raw grief still evident in his voice, made it clear his heart remained with his wife. That kind of love didn’t fade quickly, if ever.
No, it was better to keep things simple. They could share morning coffee and pleasant conversation. She could recommend more walking trails and maybe show him a few more of the island’s hidden spots. Just two people enjoying each other’s company until his inevitable departure.
She reached for the lamp switch. She really should go to sleep. Tomorrow would bring its familiar rhythm of breakfast preparations, checking in with guests, and managing the countless details that kept the B&B running smoothly. That was her world, and it had served her well all these years.
She should concentrate on the B&B, especially with that new inn opening up. She needed to focus on what mattered. Keeping her business thriving and supporting Felicity. Those were the constants in her life, not temporary connections with passing guests, no matter how engaging they might be.
Chapter11
Darlene 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.
