Chapter 34
Kathleen pulled her jacket closer as a gentle breeze swept through town. Having Susan back in Sapphire Bay felt like a missing piece of her world had finally clicked into place. For the past three days, they’d fallen into an easy rhythm—sharing a late afternoon coffee on the veranda, making dinner together, and staying up too late talking about everything and nothing like teenagers at summer camp.
“Are you sure Chloe didn’t want to come for a walk?” Susan asked as they waited on Main Street for Lynda and Isabel to join them.
“She has to take Oscar to a friend’s house,” Kathleen replied, adjusting the lightweight scarf around her neck. “I don’t know what I would have done without her over the last few months. She knows straightaway who’s only interested in talking about what we found in the basement. Patrick thinks she’s got some kind of sixth sense when it comes to Florence and Miriam.”
Susan’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Speaking of Patrick, he’s been very attentive since I arrived. Last night, when he brought those pastries from the bakery, I caught him watching you arrange flowers with the most besotted expression.”
Heat crept up Kathleen’s neck, but this time it was accompanied by a soft smile. The truth was, what she felt for Patrick went far beyond friendship. It was the kind of deep, lasting love she’d never experienced before. When he looked at her, and when he kissed her goodnight, she felt like the woman she was always meant to be. At sixty-six, she’d finally found her person, and the joy of it still took her breath away.
“Patrick and I are in love,” Kathleen said simply, the words feeling natural and right. “He’s an amazing person.”
“Of course he is,” Susan said with a sigh. “I wouldn’t expect you to share your heart with anyone who wasn’t incredible.”
Lynda appeared around the corner, her silver hair escaping from its messy bun as usual. She wore her favorite hiking boots and a lightweight jacket that had seen better days, but her face radiated the kind of contentment that came from doing the work she loved.
“Sorry, I’m late,” Lynda called as she approached. “Mrs. Dickson’s cat decided today was the perfect day for an unscheduled adventure up a tree. It took three of us and a very patient firefighter to coax Whiskers down.”
Isabel emerged from the bookstore just as Lynda reached them, locking the door behind her with a flourish. Even in well-fitted jeans and a soft blue sweater, she carried herself with the quiet confidence that marriage to Frank had given her.
“Frank insisted I close early,” Isabel said, slipping her keys into her purse. “He said the only way four women can properly catch up is with an uninterrupted afternoon and no distractions.”
“Smart man,” Susan laughed. “No wonder you married him.”
They set off toward the trail around the lake, their footsteps finding a comfortable rhythm on the path. Kathleen felt a deep sense of gratitude wash over her as she looked at her three dearest friends walking beside her.
“So,” Lynda said, linking her arm through Susan’s, “tell us everything. How does it feel to be a woman of leisure?”
Susan snorted. “I’ve spent the last fortnight fielding phone calls from my former clients, teaching the new owners how to make my signature dishes, and trying to figure out what to do with twenty years’ worth of catering equipment. I wish I’d been lounging by a pool with a cocktail.”
“But you’re free,” Isabel pointed out gently. “For the first time in decades, your time is your own.”
They passed a weathered bench that faced the lake. Kathleen had sat on that bench countless times over the years, but today she was content to keep walking with her friends.
“That’s what terrifies me,” Susan admitted, her voice carrying on the gentle breeze. “I built my entire identity around my business. I was Susan-the-successful-caterer, Susan-who-could-make-any-event-perfect, Susan-who-had-it-all-figured-out. Now I’m just... Susan.”
Lynda reached over and squeezed Susan’s shoulder. “You’re Susan-our-friend, Susan-who-remembers-everyone’s-birthday, Susan-who-makes-the-world-a-little-brighter. The business was something you did, not who you are.”
Kathleen watched her friend’s face soften at Lynda’s words. “When I organized that first reunion,” she said quietly, “I thought I was just planning a weekend with old friends. I had no idea it would change all our lives.”
“Change can be terrifying,” Isabel said, her voice carrying the wisdom of someone who’d navigated through many ups and downs. “When James died, I thought my life was over. Without him, I didn’t know who I was supposed to be. Starting over felt impossible.”
Susan turned her head to study Isabel’s profile as they walked. “What changed?”
“Frank helped.” Isabel smiled. “But mostly, I realized that our stories don’t end just because one chapter closes. We get to write new chapters, even when we think we’re too old or too set in our ways.”
A comfortable silence settled over them as they watched a family of ducks glide across the water. In the distance, children’s laughter carried on the breeze from the playground.
Kathleen felt the familiar peace that came from being with her friends. It was a sense of belonging that had nothing to do with romance or career success, but everything to do with a friendship that had strengthened over time.
“Speaking of new chapters,” Lynda said to Susan. “What have you decided to do? Are you staying in Sapphire Bay permanently, or is this an extended vacation?”
Susan shrugged. “Honestly? I don’t know. For the first time in my adult life, I don’t have a five-year plan or even a five-month plan. It’s liberating and absolutely terrifying.”
“Maybe that’s exactly what you need,” Kathleen suggested as they paused to watch a hawk circling overhead. “Permission to not have it all figured out.”
“Says the woman who’s been in Sapphire Bay for years, owns a successful café, and has a handsome contractor bringing her flowers,” Susan teased, but her tone was affectionate rather than sharp.
