“He always did have a good heart, beneath all that stubbornness,” Miss Eleanor remarked, surprising Beverly with the almost complimentary assessment of her son.
Not knowing how to respond, she simply nodded and excused herself to help other customers. The cafe had grown busy again with the lunch crowd—if a person could call cold sandwiches and pastries lunch. Still, no one complained. They were just grateful to have somewhere to gather.
As she worked, her thoughts returned to Cliff and his unexpected helpfulness after the storm. It didn’t align with her image of the man who’d proposed a development that would forever change Magnolia Key’s skyline. The man who’d abandoned her years ago without a word.
She’d told Maxine that people are complicated, and now she found herself considering the truth of those words. Could Cliff be both the developer determined to build his high-rise and the man currently helping his neighbors without being asked? Could he be both the boy who’d broken her heart and the man who remembered how to be part of this community when it needed him most?
She wasn’t ready to forgive him. Not for the past, and not for his present plans for the island. But as she watched him through the window, helping and sweating alongside everyone else, she had to admit there might be more to Cliff Griffin than she’d allowed herself to see.
Chapter 15
Beverly had gotten Coastal Coffee back up and running, but a week after returning, she was still facing challenges. At least the electricity was back on. That was a blessing. But the roof leak had gotten worse because the tarp covering it came loose in a storm a few days ago. Every time it rained—which seemed to be daily lately—she had to place buckets strategically around the cafe.
“I swear the insurance company is trying to wait me out,” she said to Maxine, who was sitting at the counter nursing her second cup of coffee after the morning rush. “They came out to assess the damage, but then crickets. Nothing about the amount they’ll pay toward the claim.”
Her friend nodded sympathetically. “I get it. Dale’s dealing with the same thing at Second Finds. The adjusters are swamped with claims all over the island.”
She sighed, swiping a cloth across the counter. “That’s just part of it. I’ve called every contractor on my list, and they’re all booked solid for the next month. At this rate, I’ll be serving coffee with umbrellas inside the shop by next week.”
“That could be a catchy new theme,” Maxine quipped. “Coastal Coffee: Where It Rains Indoors!”
Despite her frustration, she smiled. “Very funny. I just need to get it fixed before the next big storm hits. If the roof doesn’t get repaired soon, I’ll have to have the tarp redone.”
She glanced out the window, her attention caught by a red pickup truck that slowed as it passed Coastal Coffee. Was that Cliff driving a truck? Her stomach did an unwelcome flip.
“Speaking of repairs,” Maxine said, following her gaze, “isn’t that Cliff in that truck? I heard he’s been helping out all over town.”
She pressed her lips together. “Yes. Unfortunately, I was raised too well to dislike anyone completely. He’s been fixing roofs, clearing debris, and even helped Tori get her generator running.” She shook her head slightly. “It’s… confusing.”
“What has ever not been confusing between you and Cliff?”
“I know, I know.” She paused and shrugged. “He’s the same man who wants to build that monstrosity on the boardwalk, but then he turns around and helps neighbors fix their hurricane damage. I don’t know how to reconcile those two sides of the man.”
The bell over the door jingled, and she looked up to see the very subject of their conversation walk in. Cliff wore a simple gray T-shirt with work pants, and his hands showed evidence of manual labor. He hesitated just inside the door, as if uncertain of his welcome.
She felt several emotions wash through her at once—annoyance, confusion, and something else. After all she’d seen him do for the town over the past week, she couldn’t just throw him out, no matter how much a part of her wanted to.
“Take a seat anywhere,” she said, gesturing to the empty tables.
He looked genuinely surprised, his eyebrows rising slightly before he nodded. But instead of sitting at a table, he walked over and took a seat at the counter, a couple of stools away from Maxine.
“Morning, Maxine,” he said with a polite nod.
“Cliff.” Maxine gave Beverly a meaningful look before picking up her coffee mug. “I should get going. Dale needs help inventorying what survived the storm at the shop.” She slid off her stool and leaned closer to her. “Call me later.”
Beverly turned to Cliff, who sat quietly waiting. “What can I get you?” she asked, keeping her tone professional.
“Just coffee. And maybe one of those blueberry muffins, if you have any left.”
She nodded, pouring him a cup and placing a muffin on a plate. Setting both in front of him, she noticed the bandage wrapped around his left hand.
“What happened there?” she asked before she could stop herself.
He glanced at his hand. “Cut myself helping replace some siding at the library yesterday. Nothing serious.”
She nodded, then found herself saying, “I’ve heard you’ve been helping out all over town.”
He shrugged, taking a sip of his coffee. “Seems like the right thing to do. I’ve got the skills, and there’s plenty of work to go around.”
