“Thanks,” he managed. “That… means a lot.”
“Perhaps we could have dinner together tonight? You, me, and Jonah? To celebrate.”
He nodded. “I’d like that.”
As he headed out the door a few minutes later, he found himself smiling. His mother was getting married. And she was proud of him. Two things he never thought he’d see happen.
The morning sun felt warm on his face as he walked toward Coastal Coffee. He considered skipping breakfast and heading right to the theater since it was later than he’d hoped to start this morning. And truly, he needed time to process this conversation with his mother—the most honest one they’d had in years.
But then, he couldn’t bear not seeing Beverly.
So many changes in his life.
But maybe things really were changing in Magnolia Key. And maybe, just maybe, those changes would be for the better.
Chapter 24
A week later, Beverly cleared a table at Coastal Coffee as the breakfast crowd was winding down. Business had picked back up since the hurricane, and she was grateful for it. The town was healing, rebuilding, and moving forward.
The bell over the door jingled, and she looked up to see Cliff entering. He wore a casual button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His hair was slightly tousled, likely from the ocean breeze that had picked up this morning.
“Morning,” he called out as he approached the counter.
“Morning.” Ignoring what just the glimpse of him did to her heart, she grabbed a coffee mug and poured him his usual. “Just missed the rush.”
“That was deliberate.” His mouth quirked into a half-smile. “Hoping you’d have time to take a break with me.”
She handed him the steaming mug. “And your timing is impeccable. I was hoping to take a break.”
They headed over to a quiet corner and sat at a table. She leaned forward on the table, watching him. “So, I heard the big news.”
“About my mother and Jonah? Hard to miss it.” He chuckled. “I think Mrs. Henderson stopped me in the street just mere moments after my mother told me.”
She smiled. “News travels fast on Magnolia Key.”
“You don’t say.” The dry humor in his voice made her laugh.
“How do you feel about it?” she asked, genuinely curious. He had a such a complicated relationship with his mother and father.
He ran his finger around the rim of his coffee cup, considering his answer. “I’m happy for her. Jonah is a great guy, and I hope they’ll be very happy together.” He looked up, meeting her eyes directly. “Everyone deserves a second chance.”
The pointed look he gave her wasn’t subtle. A warm flush crept up her neck, and she busied herself straightening the salt and pepper shaker on the table.
“I suppose they do,” she finally said, not quite meeting his gaze.
“The town’s certainly buzzing about it,” he continued. “I’ve never seen my mother the subject of so much speculation and attention. She’s actually enjoying it, though she’d never admit it.”
She smiled, thinking of how Eleanor had come in yesterday, pretending to be annoyed by all the well-wishers but practically glowing with happiness.
“She seems different. Softer somehow.”
“Love will do that to a person.” He took another sip of his coffee. “Even to someone as formidable as Eleanor Griffin.”
“I never thought I’d see the day when Eleanor would be beaming like a schoolgirl in love,” she said, remembering how Eleanor and Jonah had sat at their usual table yesterday morning, heads bent together, whispering and laughing. “I think… well, I think I heard your mother… giggle.”
“Giggle? My mother?” His eyebrows shot up. “Now that I would pay good money to see.”
“Well, as close to giggling as Eleanor gets,” she amended with a smile. “It was more like… restrained amusement with the occasional uncharacteristic laugh.”
