1
HOLLY
The morning air was crisp and cool as Holly jogged alongside Jack on the familiar beach path. The sun was just beginning to rise over the Atlantic, painting the sky in shades of pink and gold. Duke bounded ahead of them, his tail wagging enthusiastically as he chased seagulls along the water’s edge.
It felt good to be back in their routine. After days of rain, stress, and missed opportunities to talk, Holly had missed this. The quiet companionship of their morning runs, the rhythmic sound of their feet hitting the sand, the peaceful solitude before the inn woke up and the day’s chaos began.
“We never got a chance to talk last night,” Holly said, her breath coming easily despite the pace. “About everything.”
Jack glanced over at her, his expression troubled. “So much happened over the previous few days. It’s hard to know where to start.”
“Jane’s scare with the hereditary disease,” Holly said, grateful that at least one crisis had been resolved. “I’m so relieved that turned out to be nothing. I can’t get over Pamela manipulating her like that...”
“I still can’t believe it,” Jack said, anger threading through his voice. “Using a fake disease to scare my daughter. What kind of person does that?” His brow creased tighter. “What was she trying to accomplish because with Pamela, there is always a reason… Some scheme.”
Holly knew exactly what kind of person Pamela was. Someone desperate and calculating. But she kept that thought to herself. Instead, she said, “At least Jane’s okay. That’s what matters.”
“It is,” Jack agreed. Then his expression softened. “And Gabe and Jane. I did see that developing, and watching them together last night...” He smiled slightly. “They’re good for each other.”
“They are,” Holly said warmly. Then her smile faded. “I’m just worried about Gabe. The shrapnel, his career ending...”
“How are you holding up with all that?” Jack asked gently.
Holly felt tears prick her eyes. “I feel terrible,” she admitted. “I’m trying not to smother him with motherly worry about the shrapnel near his artery. But Jack, I hate myself for being relieved. Relieved that he can’t go into combat anymore. What kind of mother is relieved that her son’s career is over?”
Jack reached over and squeezed her hand. “The kind of mother who loves her son and has spent years terrified every time hedeployed. Holly, that doesn’t make you a bad mother. It makes you human.”
“But he’s devastated,” Holly said, her voice catching. “His entire identity was wrapped up in being a SEAL. And I’m secretly grateful he won’t be putting himself in danger anymore. That feels wrong.”
“It’s not wrong,” Jack said firmly. “You can be sad for him about losing his career and still be grateful he’ll be safe. Those two things can exist at the same time.”
Holly nodded, wiping at her eyes. Jack’s understanding meant more than he probably knew.
They jogged in silence for a few moments, the only sounds the crash of waves and Duke’s joyful barking as he discovered something interesting in the surf.
“And then there’s Victor,” Holly said finally, bringing up the elephant neither of them had fully addressed yet.
Jack’s jaw clenched. “Victor Martin. My old nemesis, who is still trying to ruin my life because he’s hanging onto old grudges.”
“Why?” Holly asked. “I mean, I know you’ve told me bits and pieces about what happened with your business in Charleston. But why is he still coming after you? Why does he hate you so much?”
Jack ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every line of his body. “Honestly? I think it goes back to high school. We were competitors even then. Sports, grades,and girls. But I never thought it was serious. I thought it was just teenage rivalry.”
“But it wasn’t?” Holly prompted.
“Apparently not,” Jack said bitterly. “When we both ended up in the construction and restoration business, the competition continued. But I never sabotaged him. Never tried to destroy him. I just did good work and built a reputation. To be honest, I had forgotten about Victor.”
“And he couldn’t stand that you were successful,” Holly guessed. “Or that you’d forgotten about him.”
“More than that,” Jack said. “He couldn’t stand that I was happy. That I had Pamela, had Jane, and had a business I loved. So he set out to take it all away.”
Holly felt a surge of anger on Jack’s behalf. “And Pamela helped him do it.”
“She did,” Jack confirmed. “She left me, married him, and together they destroyed my business. I lost everything. My reputation, my contracts, and my livelihood. I was forced to take a job at an architecture firm until I quit and came back home a year ago.”
Holly said softly. “Yes, and you came back here, helped your family, rebuilt your life.” Her brow furrowed. “That must’ve made him really angry that you managed to find purpose again.”
“Apparently furious enough to try and take the inn,” Jack said. “Because even after destroying my business and my marriage,even after I lost everything, he still can’t let it go. He still hates me for the silly high school feud he started against me when I got a position he wanted in football.”
