Isabel thought about Frank. He was handsome and thoughtful. He had kind blue eyes that crinkled at the corners when he smiled, and a quiet charm that drew her in. But there was no way in the world she’d ever be anything other than his friend.
Susan paddled a little ahead of them and turned around. “What I want to know is what’s happening with the cottage you saw, Izzy. Did the owner accept your offer?”
Isabel shook her head. “They turned it down. We’re still negotiating, but I don’t want to spend too much money. Not after buying the bookstore.”
“You can stay with me for as long as you want to,” Kathleen reminded her. “It’ll take me most of the year to finish remodeling the house on the point, but once I have, you can rent the house we’re living in now.”
Lynda tilted her head to the side. “That sounds like the perfect solution. Is there room for another person in your cottage?”
Isabel’s eyes widened. “Are you staying in Sapphire Bay?”
“It’s not one hundred percent guaranteed,” Lynda said quickly. “For starters, I have to find someone to take my place at the clinic. Then there’s the decision about what to do with my house and all the foster animals I’m looking after.”
Kathleen placed her paddle in the water, bringing her back in line with her friends. “You could always bring them with you. I have a big backyard and plenty of room inside.”
Lynda leaned back in her kayak. “That’s a generous offer, but I’ll do my best to find forever homes for them.”
Isabel studied the pensive expression on Lynda’s face. Something had happened that made her want to move to Sapphire Bay. Each month, when they called each other, she’d never mentioned wanting to make such a big change. But then, neither had Isabel.
“Okay, I’ll be the one to ask,” Susan said bluntly. “We all know this place is special, but why on earth do you want to move here? You’ve worked hard to create your dream job in Denver.”
Lynda sighed. “My house feels so empty. The kids are gone, and I’ve been so busy at work that I’ve lost touch with most of my friends. After work, it’s just me and my foster animals.”
Isabel understood completely. After James died, the silence in their home had been deafening. Every creak and settling noise had only emphasized his absence.
“You know,” Isabel said. “There’s no rule that says you have to cut all ties with Denver. You could take a leave of absence from work and rent your house like I am. If neither of us have found somewhere to stay in a few months, we could rent a house together or rent Kathleen’s house after she moves.”
Kathleen balanced her paddle across her lap. “I love having you guys around. It’s a hundred percent better than being on my own.”
Isabel nodded. “And if you’re looking for a job, I’ll need help running the bookstore.”
Lynda grinned. “Are you offering me a job?”
“More like proposing a new adventure,” Isabel clarified. “We spent summers here as girls, discovering who we were. Maybe we could spend this part of our lives rediscovering ourselves again. You could join my midlife rebellion.”
“I prefer to call it a renaissance,” Lynda said, her eyes suddenly bright with possibility.
Susan tilted her face to the sun. “A Sapphire Bay renaissance. I like the sound of that.”
“So do I,” Kathleen agreed. “And I like anything that keeps you all here.”
Isabel dipped her paddle into the crystal clear water and splashed Kathleen. She shrieked with laughter, then skimmed her paddle through the water, soaking Isabel to the skin.
As their voices echoed across the lake, Isabel felt a lightness she hadn’t experienced in years. The bookstore was only the beginning of the changes she wanted to make in her life. Changes that were only possible because of the three women who meant the world to her.
CHAPTER 13
Frank pressed his coffee cup so hard against his lips that he could feel the ceramic edge digging into his skin. It didn’t help. Nothing seemed capable of steadying his hands after seeing Dave Winters stroll into Bernie’s Diner like he owned the place.
“It’s been a long time, Frank,” Dave said, sliding uninvited into the booth across from him. His expensive suit looked out of place among the casual lunch crowd.
Frank set his coffee down, careful not to let it clatter against the saucer. The day he’d walked away from his job was seared into his memory. Dave had made sure he’d only taken his briefcase and a box of personal effects from his desk. It was unfortunate for Dave that he hadn’t checked Frank’s briefcase the previous week.
A waitress approached their table and Dave ordered black coffee without looking at her. Frank noticed Isabel at a table across the diner with her friends, glancing curiously in their direction. She was the last person he wanted to witness what could happen.
“What are you doing in Sapphire Bay?” Frank asked, keeping his voice even. “It’s a long way from your usual stomping grounds.”
Dave leaned back, his posture casual but his eyes calculating. “Retirement’s treating you well. Small town, beautiful lake, friendly locals.” He glanced around the diner. “You’re living the perfect life.”
