Sandee craned her neck slightly for a second look and nodded. “She does, the poor thing.”
Claire leaned in across the table, looking Sandee directly in the eyes. “Should we warn her?”
“Do you think she’d listen?” Sandee questioned, her brows furrowing slightly.
Claire shook her head. “Probably not.”
With a knowing look, Sandee raised her coffee mug. “Let’s just be glad that neither one of us is that poor girl.”
Claire clinked her mug against Sandee’s and grinned. “I couldn’t agree with you more.”
Sandee stepped out of Sandcastles,the bakery's doorbell chiming softly behind her. The air was crisp but not too cold, the sky was a vivid blue, and the last of the autumn leaves were making their graceful descent from the trees, carpeting the sidewalk in a kaleidoscope of colors. She inhaled deeply, savoring the sweet scent of baked goods still lingering in the air.
As she walked down the bustling street, Sandee's boots crunched on the fallen leaves as her thoughts replayed the meeting she'd just had with Claire. She was amazed at how well it had gone and had been pleasantly surprised by the warm atmosphere between them. The proposal of a partnership had been the furthest thing from her mind when she’d entered the bakery, but now, it felt like the beginning of something wonderful.
Claire had even extended an invitation to join her, Maxi, Jane, and Andie for coffee, but Sandee had declined, excusing herself politely. One change at a time, she thought. One relationship mended, one step forward. There was a slightpang of regret, but she assured herself that there'd be other opportunities.
As she approached the storefront of a quirky little antiques shop, she spotted a dog tethered to a lamppost. She couldn't resist. Bending down, she petted the dog's soft fur. Its tail wagged in response, and for a brief moment, she felt a simple, unconditional love that only animals seemed to offer.
Standing, she continued her walk toward the animal rescue shelter, at which she was volunteering. Cleaning out litter boxes wasn't glamorous work, but it was honest and it was needed. And strangely enough, she found satisfaction in it. Gone were the days when her self-worth was measured by the number of social events she attended or the brands she wore. Now, she found meaning in contributing to a cause greater than herself—in providing comfort to animals who had none.
As she neared the shelter, Sandee couldn't help but feel proud of the person she was becoming. The old Sandee, the insecure mean girl who'd trample over anyone to get what she wanted, was becoming a distant memory. Every step she took felt like a step away from that past and toward a future that held so much promise, so much more substance.
After entering the shelter, she took off her coat and rolled up her sleeves. There was work to be done, but for the first time in a long time, Sandee was genuinely excited about doing it. And as she set about her tasks, each small action felt like a piece of a new identity falling into place—one built on empathy, compassion, and authentic connections.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Claire was cleaning off the table when Jane walked into Sandcastles, her eyes scanning the bakery before landing on Claire. “Was that Sandee I saw leaving?” Jane inquired, setting her purse down on the counter.
Claire’s smile widened. “Yep, that was her.”
Jane glanced back out the window toward the sunlit street Sandee had just walked down. “She looked… happy.”
“You know,” Claire began, pausing to tuck a stray hair behind her ear, “I think she was.”
Jane raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “So what happened?”
Claire chuckled. “I’ll spill all the tea once everyone gets here. But since you’re early, you’re on table-setting duty.”
Jane laughed and nodded, accepting her assignment as Claire moved to the display case. She selected an assortment of freshly baked pastries, including a chocolate cruller that Jane requested. Claire arranged the pastries on a serving tray while Jane made the coffees just the way everyone liked them.
They had just set everything on the table when Maxi and Andie arrived.
“What perfect timing we have,” Andie said as she sat down in front of the black coffee and slid a danish onto her plate.
Everyone else settled into their seats and grabbed a pastry. The conversation naturally turned to Maxi’s gallery show.
“I think it was a smashing success, even if I do say so myself.” Maxi beamed. “We had record attendance, and Olga sold several pieces.”
Claire clapped her hands, delighted. “Oh, that’s wonderful! And what did Chandler think?”
“I sent him a video, and let’s just say he was more than impressed.” Maxi grinned. “But the real win was Olga’s kids finally coming around, realizing she’s perfectly capable of living in her own home. That alone made the night for me.”
Everyone nodded, sharing in Maxi’s joy.
“But enough about me.” Maxi then turned her attention to Andie. “What was that big emergency last night? You, Bunny, and Sam rushed out of here like the place was on fire!”
Andie leaned back, her face glowing with the satisfaction of a mystery solved. “Well, it turns out that the gift was meant for Betty, who was staying at Tides. You won’t believe how it all came together. Even after Bunny and Sam put in hours of research, all it took was Sally recognizing the name on the gift as Betty’s nickname.”
