“I just don’t want to tell Miss Eleanor anything until I’m certain,” Dale said. “She seems quite protective of her family’s history. I want to respect that by getting my facts straight first.”
“That’s probably wise. Eleanor has strong feelings about her family’s legacy.”
“Speaking of Miss Eleanor,” Maxine said, “how is she doing with the repairs to her house? Is she still staying at Jonah’s?”
She nodded, grateful for the change in subject. As fascinating as Vera and Lawrence’s story was, it brought up thoughts of lost love and missed opportunities—star-crossed lovers—and that hit a little too close to home these days with Cliff back in her life.
“The repairs are coming along,” she said. “I think she’s enjoying staying with Jonah more than she lets on. Though she checks on the progress at her house every day.”
“Those two are good for each other,” Dale observed.
She agreed. Finding a second chance at love later in life had given Eleanor a softer edge. Even Cliff and his mother seemed to be growing closer.
“Well, I should get back to work,” Beverly said, glancing at her watch. The lunch crowd would be arriving soon, and there was still prep to do. “Let me know if you find out anything more about Vera and Lawrence.”
Dale nodded. “You’ll be the first to know—after the proper fact-checking, of course.”
Chapter 21
Beverly watched the hands of the clock tick past four. The closed sign was in the window, and she mentally ticked through her closing checklist, perfected over the years.
The bell over the door jingled, and she looked up to see Cliff walk in. Her heart did that ridiculous little flutter that it had started doing whenever he appeared. Ever since they’d cleared the air about his letter, things had been different between them—not quite what they’d had as teenagers, but something new, something better in many ways.
“Hey,” he said, approaching the counter with that easy smile of his.
“Hey, yourself.” She set aside her cleaning cloth. “Coffee?”
“No, I’m good, thanks.” He glanced around the empty shop. “I was actually wondering if I could walk you home when you’re done here.”
The request was simple enough, but it felt significant somehow. They’d been rebuilding their friendship carefully, step by step, over coffee conversations and casual run-ins around town. This felt deliberate.
“Sure,” she said, trying to sound casual herself. “I’m almost finished closing up, if you don’t mind waiting.”
“Not at all.” He settled at the counter, watching as she finished her closing routine.
Beverly moved efficiently through her tasks, all too aware of Cliff’s presence. She prepped the coffee makers for tomorrow morning and straightened the chairs at the tables. All the while, she felt Cliff’s eyes on her, observing her in her element. It wasn’t uncomfortable—rather, the opposite. There was something comforting about his quiet presence.
She came back to the counter and took off her apron.
“Ready?” he asked.
She nodded, and they stepped outside into the late afternoon sunshine. A magical light had that golden quality that made everything on Magnolia Key look like it belonged in a painting.
They walked in companionable silence for a few minutes, their footsteps falling into an easy rhythm on the sidewalk. The storm had left its mark on the town—there were still tarps on some roofs and construction debris in piles waiting to be hauled away—but recovery was happening all around them.
“How’s the theater coming along?” she asked, breaking the silence.
“Good. We got the roof finished yesterday. The water damage inside is going to take longer, but at least it’s dry now.”
“That’s wonderful. Tori must be relieved.”
“She is. She’s already talking about what shows she wants to put on once it’s all fixed up.”
She smiled. “That sounds like Tori.”
They turned onto her street, and she found herself walking a little slower, not quite ready for their time together to end.
“How about you come in for a little while?” The words were out before she’d fully thought them through. “I’ve got a bottle of wine I’ve been saving for a special occasion.”
