Darlene stepped into Coastal Coffee, the bell above the door announcing her arrival. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries welcomed her as she scanned the room. She spotted Eleanor at her usual table, engaged in conversation with Beverly.
She made her way over to join them, weaving between the tables and offering friendly smiles to the other patrons. As she approached, Beverly looked up and grinned.
“Well, look who’s here! Good morning, Darlene. Care to join us?”
She nodded, pulling out a chair and sitting down across from Eleanor. “I’d love to, thanks.”
Eleanor turned to her, a slight frown creasing her forehead. “It’s good to see you, Darlene. How are things at the B&B? A bit worried about all the hoopla about the new Sea View Inn.”
“I’ve had some cancellations, but I’m doing okay.” She didn’t want anyone worrying about her. She’d figure things out. She always did.
Beverly reached for a clean mug and held it up. “Coffee, Darlene?”
“Please,” she replied, grateful for the offer.
As Beverly poured the steaming coffee, Darlene noticed the way Eleanor’s fingers tapped lightly on the table, a habit she’d had for as long as Darlene could remember. It usually meant her friend had something on her mind.
“So, Eleanor,” she began, accepting the mug from Beverly with a nod of thanks, “I’ve been hearing some interesting rumors around town lately.”
Eleanor arched an eyebrow, her fingers stilling. “Oh? And what might those be?”
Darlene took a sip of her coffee, savoring the rich flavor before continuing. “Word has it that you and Jonah have been spending quite a bit of time together.”
Eleanor scowled and glanced down at her mug. “Well, I suppose there’s no hiding anything in this town, is there?”
Beverly chuckled, slipping into the chair beside Darlene. “You know how it is. Magnolia Key thrives on gossip.”
She reached out and patted Eleanor’s hand. “I know you value your privacy, but I hope you know that I’m here if you ever want to talk about it.”
Eleanor met her gaze with a mixture of gratitude and hesitation in her eyes. “Thank you. It’s just… It’s been so long, and we’ve both changed so much. I’m not sure what to make of it all.”
“Take your time,” she advised, her voice gentle. “There’s no need to rush into anything. Just enjoy getting to know each other again.”
Beverly nodded in agreement. “Darlene’s right. You and Jonah have a lot of history, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start fresh.”
Eleanor sighed, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “I suppose you’re both right. It’s just strange, navigating this at our age.” Then Eleanor turned to her and pinned her with a gaze. “And how about you? I hear you’ve been seen about town with one of your guests. Frequently. A famous author, if I heard correctly.”
“I’m just showing him around town a bit. He’s had a bit of a rough go of things. Lost his wife a few years back.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.” Beverly’s eyes filled with sympathy.
“I think he’s finally finding a way to deal with it.” She shrugged.
Eleanor’s eyes narrowed, and she tilted her head. “So… you like him?”
“What? No. It’s not like that.”
“Isn’t it?” Eleanor raised an eyebrow.
She didn’t answer her friend because she really had no idea what it was. Didn’t know what was going on between her and Mark. Maybe it was just all in her mind. But it didn’t really matter, she reminded herself. He was a famous author and soon he’d be off to bigger and better things.
“You’re always taking care of everyone,” Eleanor interrupted her thoughts. “You know, maybe it’s time you did something for yourself. Go out with the man. Have some fun. Get to know him.”
She looked over the rim of her mug at Eleanor. “I could say the same about you and Jonah.”
Eleanor’s lips tilted into the tiniest smile as if saying, touché.
The three women fell into a comfortable silence, sipping their coffee and lost in their own thoughts. Darlene felt a warm sense of camaraderie with her two friends, knowing that they’d all faced their share of challenges and heartaches over the years, but they’d found a way through them.
