Chapter 1
Beverly paused as she wiped down the counter at Coastal Coffee, her movements slower than usual. The day’s rush had dwindled, leaving only the lingering scent of coffee and pastries in the air.
“You’ve been quiet today.” Maxine settled onto one of the barstools, chin propped in her hand.
“Just thinking about the town council meeting tomorrow.” She tossed the cleaning rag into a bucket beneath the counter. “Cliff’s project to build the high-rise at the end of the boardwalk is all anyone talks about anymore.”
“You’re right. I heard plenty of our customers talking about it today.” Her best friend’s eyes narrowed. “But that’s not what’s really bothering you, is it?”
She let out a long breath and leaned against the counter. “It’s part of it, but not all that’s bothering me.”
“It’s Cliff, isn’t it? The fact that it’s Cliff who wants to do this?”
“I thought he understood what makes this place special.” She motioned toward the window, where the boardwalk stretched toward the water. “Now he wants to change everything.”
“People change, Bev.”
“Do they? Because from where I’m standing, he’s the same selfish boy who left me waiting at the ferry all those years ago without a word.”
Maxine reached across the counter and squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry.”
“It doesn’t matter now.” She pulled away, busying herself with organizing the coffee cups. “What matters now is protecting our town from becoming another overdeveloped tourist trap.”
“Maybe. But fighting this project means dealing with Cliff, and I’m worried about what that’s doing to you.”
“I’m fine.”
Maxine looked at her skeptically. “You’re not fine. You’re reliving old hurts whenever his name comes up in conversation. And in this town, his name comes up a lot these days.”
“I thought I was over it. Thirty-seven years is a long time to hold onto teenage heartbreak.” And why did she know exactly how many years it had been? That annoyed her.
“Some wounds leave deeper scars than others.” Maxine got up, walked around the counter, and wrapped her arm around Beverly’s shoulders. “Especially when they never really healed in the first place.”
She smiled. “Have I told you lately how glad I am that you returned to Magnolia Key? And that you work here at the shop now?”
“I’m glad I moved home, too.”
She grabbed two coffee cups. “Let’s take a break before we finish up.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Beverly poured the coffee, and they headed over to a nearby table. She stretched out her legs, glad to be off her feet for a bit. “The council meeting tomorrow is going to be heated. I’ve heard both sides all day in here.”
“I did too.” Maxine nodded.
“This morning, I had Tim Marshall in here talking about how his son might be able to get a good job if the development goes through. Right now, most of the young people have to leave the island to find work.” She set her cup down. “Then an hour later, Sarah Smith was going on about how a high-rise would destroy the view from her shop.”
“Both make good points.”
“I know. That’s what makes this so difficult.” She glanced out the window at the street where locals and tourists strolled past the shops. “I remember when we were kids and how many of our friends had to move away after high school.”
“Like Danny. Remember him? He left town because there wasn’t enough work here.”
“Exactly.” She traced her finger around the rim of her coffee cup. “But then I think about what makes this place special. The way you can see the water from almost anywhere. How everyone knows each other. The peace and quiet.”
“A six-story building would change things.”
“More than just the building. It would bring more tourists and more traffic. Probably more shops catering to visitors rather than locals.” She shook her head. “I heard talk Jerry might have to close his grocery store if it goes through.”
