She nodded, continuing to fold napkins for tomorrow’s breakfast. “He’s pushing himself too hard, trying to make up for lost time.”
“I thought I’d hate him.” Felicity leaned against the counter. “But he’s different than I imagined. More… human, I guess.”
“Time has a way of changing people. Sometimes it takes facing the end to realize what matters.” She set down the napkins and turned to her granddaughter. “What happened between Dean and me—that’s our past. It shaped us, but it doesn’t have to define us. I know that now.”
Through the window, she could see the empty porch chairs where Dean had spent the morning sharing stories about his travels. His laughter had carried through the screen door, mingling with the sound of waves in the distance. It wasn’t forgiveness exactly, but something closer to acceptance had settled over her during these past few days. The bitterness she’d carried for over forty years had begun to feel like an old sweater that no longer fit—still familiar, but unnecessary to hold on to.
The next morning, the air held a gentle, warm caress as Darlene stood on the lawn with Dean and Felicity.
Felicity shifted beside her, twisting her hands together the way she had since childhood when emotions ran high. In the past few days, something had changed between them all. The weight of decades of hurt had lifted, leaving room for something new to grow in its place.
“I’ll miss our talks, Dean… Granddad,” Felicity said, her voice catching slightly.
Dean’s eyes filled with tears, his weathered face softening at the word he’d never expected to hear. He opened his arms, and Felicity stepped into them, holding him close.
“Thank you,” he whispered into her hair. “That means more than you know.”
When they separated, he turned to her. She studied his face—the deep lines around his eyes, the gray at his temples, the gentle slope of his shoulders. Somewhere beneath the changes time had carved into him, she could still see traces of the young man who’d captured her heart so long ago. The same man who’d broken it just as thoroughly.
But now, looking at him, she felt the last remnants of her anger dissolve. Without a word, she reached out and took his hand in hers.
“I forgive you, Dean,” she said softly.
His shoulders sagged with visible relief, and a tear tracked down his cheek. Before she could think too hard about it, Darlene stepped forward and hugged him. His arms came around her, tentatively at first, then holding on as if to anchor himself against the tide of emotion.
She stepped back. “Goodbye, Dean.” She paused and smiled at him. “I’m really glad you came. That we?—”
“Me, too.” He smiled sadly. “Me, too.”
He turned and walked away and she had to fight to keep back her tears.
Felicity’s eyes filled with tears as she slipped her arm around Darlene’s waist. “Are you okay?”
“I am. I think I’m better than I’ve been in a long time. I’m at peace with Dean.” She let out a little sigh. “I’m just sorry that finding that peace came with such a price for him.”
Chapter24
Darlene stepped onto the front porch the next morning. Her heart squeezed at the sight of Felicity’s and Brent’s luggage lined up near the top of the steps, each bag a reminder of the imminent goodbye.
Felicity turned to her, eyes bright with unshed tears. “Are you sure you’ll be all right, Gran?”
She pulled her granddaughter into a fierce hug, breathing in the familiar scent of her shampoo. “Of course I will.” She smoothed Felicity’s hair, just as she had done when her granddaughter was small. “This is your adventure. Your chance to spread your wings.”
“But with everything that’s happened—Dean, and now Mark leaving soon…” Her voice wavered.
“Life keeps moving forward, sweetheart.” She pulled back to look at her granddaughter’s face. “These past weeks have taught me that change isn’t always bad. Sometimes it’s exactly what we need.”
Brent picked up their bags and took them out to his car. The sound of the trunk closing echoed across the quiet morning.
“The B&B—” Felicity started.
“Has survived plenty of seasons, and will survive plenty more.” She squeezed her granddaughter’s hands. “You’ve given so much of yourself to this place. Now it’s time for you to chase your own dreams.”
Felicity’s eyes welled up. “I love you, Gran.”
“I love you too, sweet girl.” Her voice grew thick with emotion. She looked at Brent, who stood respectfully to the side. “Take care of each other out there in California.”
“We will. And we’ll be back soon to visit. I promise,” Brent assured her.
