He pushed back from the desk and walked to the window. The late afternoon sun danced across the waves in the bay. Two years had passed since Sarah’s death, yet some days the loss felt as fresh as yesterday. He’d found peace here on Magnolia Key and rediscovered his voice as a writer. But at what cost?
The festival keynote speech hung over his head like a pending storm cloud. How could he stand at that podium, in the space Sarah had made her own, and pretend he was ready to move forward? Each time he saw Darlene in passing, their eyes would meet briefly before one of them looked away. The easy friendship they’d built had crumbled into awkward silences.
He returned to his laptop, but the words refused to come. The mystery he’d been crafting felt hollow now, missing the spark that had ignited when he first arrived. He’d found inspiration in Darlene’s quiet strength, her dedication to the B&B, and the way she nurtured not just the building but everyone who passed through its doors. She was always taking care of others, but who took care of her?
But he wasn’t ready. The ring on his finger still felt right, even after all this time. His love for Sarah was woven into every story he’d written, every character he’d created. Opening his heart to Darlene meant accepting that Sarah was truly gone, and he wasn’t sure he could do that yet.
The ringing of his phone caught his attention, and he glanced at it as Savannah’s name flashed on the screen. He let it ring twice more before reluctantly answering. “Hi, Savannah.”
“Hey. How are you doing?”
“I bet you didn’t call just to chat about how I’m doing.”
She laughed. “No, not really, but I do care how you’re doing. And I know you said you needed time to think about the keynote, but we really need an answer. And, you know, giving this speech might bring a boost to your career too. Get your name out there again.” Her voice carried that familiar tone—the same one Sarah had used when she wouldn’t take no for an answer.
He stood and walked to the window, watching a pair of seagulls circle over the water. “I don’t know if I can do it justice, Savannah. Sarah always made it special.”
“That’s exactly why it needs to be you. No one understood her vision better.” Savannah paused. “She would have wanted you there.”
Mark pressed his forehead against the cool glass. The weight of Sarah’s absence pressed against his chest. But maybe Savannah was right. Maybe it was time to honor Sarah’s memory instead of hiding from it.
“Okay,” he said quietly. “I’ll do it.”
“Really?” The relief in her voice was unmistakable. “Oh, Mark, thank you. This means so much.”
“Just…” He swallowed hard. “Send me the details. I’ll need time to prepare something worthy of her memory.”
After saying goodbye, he set the phone down on the desk. The cursor on his laptop screen still blinked accusingly at him, but now his mind was filled with memories of Sarah at the podium, her face glowing as she introduced each year’s keynote speaker. She wouldn’t be there to introduce him.
He scrubbed his hand over his face. What had he gotten himself into?
Chapter21
Mark lingered by the window in his room, tracking Darlene’s path to the storage shed. She disappeared inside, then emerged moments later, arms laden with a box. His stomach knotted. He’d spent days finding reasons to stay in his room, postponing the inevitable conversation. But he couldn’t put off telling her about his decision any longer.
Taking a deep breath, he made his way downstairs and pushed through the screen door onto the porch. A slight breeze coming off the bay stirred the humid air.
He caught her as she was coming up the porch steps. “Need any help?”
Darlene paused and shifted the box she was carrying to her other hip, her eyes meeting his briefly. “I’ve got it.”
“Could we talk for a minute?”
She set the box down on the porch and turned to face him, her expression carefully neutral. “Of course.”
“I spoke with Savannah again.” He shifted his weight, searching for the right words. “She convinced me to give the keynote speech at the literary festival. Says it might give a boost to my career too. Get my name out there again since I haven’t published a new book in a few years.”
“Oh.” A flash of disappointment crossed her features before she smoothed it away with a small smile. “That’s wonderful. Sarah would be proud.”
“And my agent set up some interviews for me. Trying to stir up some excitement for the new book.”
“That’s probably a good idea.” She glanced away from him, suddenly interested in the flowers lining the porch railing.
“I’ll be heading back home next week.” His words scraped against his throat, dry as beach sand. The familiar view of the bay blurred at the edges as he studied a point past her shoulder. “I just wanted you to know.”
“Of course, you need to go.” She turned and picked up the box again and squared her shoulders, her expression giving not even the tiniest hint of what she was feeling. “It’s a big opportunity.”
“Darlene—” He wanted to say more but knew there was really nothing else to say. He’d made his choice. His wedding ring pressed cold against his finger as he curled his hand into a fist, Sarah’s memory drawing him back like the tide. He’d chosen the familiar weight of his grief over the uncertain promise of something new.
