“You absolutely were. But I get it now. Finding out the truth changes things.”
She nodded, feeling a wave of gratitude for her friend’s understanding. Unlike Eleanor, who seemed to have done a complete turnaround on Cliff, suggesting they pick up right where they left off decades ago, Maxine understood Beverly needed time.
“I’m still getting used to the idea of having Cliff as a friend. For so many years, I either missed him terribly or was furious with him. Now I don’t know exactly what to feel.”
“I bet. It’s been a roller coaster, hasn’t it?”
She set down the silverware roll she’d just finished and looked up at Maxine. “It’s strange how quickly things can change. A month ago, I couldn’t stand the sight of him. Now we’re having dinner and talking about old times like the last thirty years never happened.”
“But they did happen,” Maxine pointed out. “You both lived whole lives apart. That doesn’t just disappear because you found out he didn’t actually stand you up.”
“I know. Sometimes when we’re talking, it’s like we’re those teenagers again. Then he’ll mention something about his time in Chicago or one of his development projects, and suddenly I remember we’re practically strangers now.”
Maxine arranged the silverware rolls in the container on the counter. “So what do you talk about at these daily coffee meetings?”
She smiled. “Everything. Nothing. He tells me about the repairs he’s helping with around town. I tell him about the cafe. We talk about the bridge construction—or lack thereof. Sometimes we just sit in comfortable silence.”
“And the development project? You two discuss that?”
“Not really,” she admitted. “We’ve agreed to disagree on that for now.”
“Just be careful, okay? Friend or not, he’s still Cliff Griffin. Don’t rush into anything.”
She nodded, appreciating her friend’s concern. “I’m taking it one coffee at a time.”
The bell over the door jingled as a customer entered, and Beverly straightened up, automatically reaching for her order pad. But it was just Dale, coming to meet Maxine for an early lunch.
“Ladies,” Dale said with a smile. “Hope I’m not interrupting.”
“Not at all,” she said. “Your timing is perfect. I was just about to kick this one out from behind my counter. Employees only back here. And Maxine was supposed to be off the clock fifteen minutes ago.”
Maxine made a face at Beverly before coming around the counter and kissing Dale on the cheek. “I was helping, thank you very much.”
“And gossiping,” she added with a grin.
“That’s a bonus service I provide.” Maxine hung up her apron. “Free of charge.”
“Oh, Dale,” Beverly said, suddenly remembering. “Before we were all running around preparing for the hurricane, you were telling us something about Vera and Lawrence. Something you’d discovered?”
Dale’s eyes lit up the way they always did when someone mentioned Magnolia Key’s history. He settled on a stool at the counter, leaning forward with enthusiasm.
“That’s right! I’d almost forgotten with all the storm chaos.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve been looking through some old correspondence that mentioned Eleanor’s great-aunt, Vera Whitmore.”
“And?”
“Well, I’ve been trying to confirm the connection between Vera and Lawrence—you know, the prince.” Dale’s eyes shone with excitement. “I believe there is more to the story than we realized.”
She placed the last of the silverware rolls in the container and came around the counter to join them. “Really? What makes you think that?”
“Several things. The timing of her trips abroad, references in other letters I’ve found at the historical society, and some old newspaper clippings that mention a foreign visitor to Magnolia Key around that time.” Dale shrugged. “But I need more concrete evidence before I bring it to Miss Eleanor.”
“Have you made any progress?” She had to admit, the mystery of Vera and her prince had fascinated her ever since they’d started finding out information about them.
“I’ve sent off some emails now that things have settled down after the hurricane,” Dale explained. “There’s an archive that might have Lawrence’s personal papers. And I’ve requested access to some shipping manifests from that era to verify travel dates. Oh, I’ve emailed a few newspapers in Europe for some information from their database of past articles.”
Maxine grinned and patted Dale’s hand affectionately. “You know how Dale likes to cross his T’s and dot his I’s when he’s doing historical research on Magnolia Key.”
She smiled, remembering how Dale’s passion for history had helped them uncover so many stories about their town. “Well, if anyone can piece together more of Vera and Prince Lawrence’s story, it’s you.”
