She nodded, feeling trapped. “I keep thinking about what Eleanor said about her great-aunt Vera and how she chose love over what was expected of her. But this isn’t just about Cliff and me. It’s about the future of our whole community.”
Dale approached the counter, having successfully calmed Sarah and Greg. “If those two are any indication, tonight’s meeting is going to be a doozy.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” she said.
Dale’s eyes were twinkling, though, as he draped an arm around Maxine’s shoulders. “Did you tell her?”
“Not yet. I was waiting for you.”
“Tell me what?” She eyed them suspiciously.
“This.” Maxine held her hand up with a flourish. “We’re engaged! Dale asked me to marry him.”
She hurried around the counter and threw her arms around her friend. “Oh, Maxine, I’m so happy for you.” She pulled back and grinned at Dale. “You got yourself a good one.”
“Don’t I know it.” Dale beamed.
Her heart was happy for her friend. Maxine deserved this and so much more. At least there was one bright spot in this turbulent day.
Chapter 26
Beverly walked into the town hall with her stomach in knots. The space was already packed with agitated locals, their voices a mix of heated debate and terse whispers. She squeezed past several neighbors, nodding politely but avoiding getting pulled into any discussions. Not yet. Not until she’d sorted out her own tangled thoughts.
She spotted Maxine and Dale across the room, saving her a seat. But before she could reach them, Cliff appeared at her side, his face tight with tension despite his attempt at an easy smile. There was no fancy suit this time. He was dressed in jeans and a button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up slightly.
“Hey,” he said softly, taking her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. “It will be okay.”
She looked up into his eyes, searching for certainty she couldn’t find in herself. “Will it?”
“Trust me,” he replied, his voice low and intimate despite the crowd surrounding them.
She wanted to believe him. Over the past weeks, she’d come to understand why this project mattered so much to Cliff. It wasn’t just business. It was personal validation. A chance to prove to everyone in Magnolia Key, especially his mother, that he wasn’t the failure Theodore had labeled him. That he could be successful on his own terms. That he belonged.
But understanding his motivation didn’t change her conviction that his high-rise would forever alter the character of their island. The very essence of what made Magnolia Key special would be compromised.
“I should find my seat,” she said, reluctantly pulling her hand from his. “They’re about to start.”
He nodded, disappointment flickering across his features. “We’ll talk after?”
“Of course,” she promised, though she wondered if they’d have anything left to say when this was over.
She made her way to Maxine, who immediately sensed her distress.
“You okay?” Maxine whispered as Beverly slid into the wooden chair beside her.
“Not really,” she admitted, taking in the room. The town had physically divided itself—those supporting the development clustered on the right side of the hall, those opposing it gathered on the left. A vivid visual of the rift in their community.
The mayor called the meeting to order, his gavel barely audible over the murmurs of the crowd. “Folks, as you know, we’re here tonight to discuss the proposed development at the end of the boardwalk. The planning commission wants to hear more comments from the community before making their decision. They realize this is an important decision to make.”
She spotted Eleanor and Jonah sitting near the front, Eleanor’s back ramrod straight. At least Eleanor and Cliff were speaking now, though she suspected tonight might test their fragile reconciliation.
Cliff rose from his seat on the stage, but the mayor held up his hand. “We’ve all heard Mr. Griffin’s plans, so we’ll start with comments from the audience.”
The mayor’s gaze swept across the packed town hall as he motioned toward the microphone up front. Her heart hammered against her ribs. She’d spent the entire day rehearsing what she would say, knowing her words could drive a permanent wedge between her and Cliff. But she couldn’t stay silent, not when the future of Magnolia Key hung in the balance.
Before anyone else could move, she rose to her feet. Maxine reached up and squeezed her hand.
“You sure?” Maxine whispered.
