She knew he wouldn’t stop her if she truly insisted, but she had to admit there was a flicker of excitement as she nodded. He took her hand, and together, they quietly slipped out of the hotel and onto the street.
Throughout the walk, she felt lightheaded and giggly—almost like they were skipping school and dodging the principalas they snuck out the front gates. The street around them was loud, bustling with people laughing and having a great time. The air was electric, the music vibrant and unfamiliar.
Even though the restaurant was only a short walk away, it took longer than expected, given how packed the street had become.
“What’s going on?” she asked Luke as they arrived at the restaurant.
“Carnival is starting. Apparently, the streets will be so packed with celebrations that you won’t be able to move in a few days.” His eyes widened as he stared toward the back of the restaurant and pointed. “There! We can grab that table!”
A single table with two chairs sat next to the balcony railing overlooking the sea.
Perfect, she thought as she took her seat.It’s beautiful.
An older woman with purple decorations woven through her long locs, which hung well past the waistband of her jeans, approached and handed her a menu. “Enjoy it, darling. There is nothing like Carnival in the world, and it hasn’t even gotten started yet!”
Laughing, Sylvie found herself thinking about how much her mom would have loved the experience. This time, though, thinking of her mom didn’t make her cry. Sad, sure. But no rolling tears of grief.
In her mind, she ran through all the Sweet Somedays she could remember.
Visiting the island fromFemme de Forcehad seemed impossible.
It had nearly been a disaster.
It was probably the hardest one on the whole list.
And yet, here she was, sitting on a Caribbean beach with a party all around her, and Luke Preston walking toward her holding a bottle of champagne.
Maybe the Sweet Somedays weren’t as impossible as they felt.
Chapter 21
The pocket notebook proved too small halfway through the flight home, so Sylvie upgraded to a full-sized legal pad during her layover—and she was full of plans. She knew she wanted to start on them right away, but first, they had to go through the process the lawyers described, making sure nothing on the list was impossible or illegal. Most importantly, she needed to talk to Lilly.
Sylvie, motivated by the energy she gained at Carnival, was determined to finish the list and keep the Sweet Stays Inn, but she had to ensure Lilly remained an important part of the upcoming year. The teenager had told her she was most excited about being where her dad grew up and spending time with her aunt, but Sylvie didn’t want that to cloud her judgment. Lilly deserved the mentorship she was promised, and making sure she received it was the right choice.
Nothing was ever simple, though, and for some reason, her cell phone had refused to come back online after she turned it on post-landing in Charleston. Luckily for her, Gina was an excellent travel agent and had booked an airport transfer in advance, so she didn’t have to worry about hailing a cab.
The entire ride back from the airport was filled with a mix of emotions—excitement for the upcoming adventure, immediately followed by dread about the conversation she was probably about to have with Fiona.
Pulling up to the inn, her heart swelled with pride. She knew she had made the right decision in fighting for her inheritance. The driver opened her door, handed her the small suitcase she had brought with her—heavier now than when she left—and bid her farewell. She paused to watch the silver sedan drive away.
Why don’t I want to go in?Sylvie thought, discomfort pooling in her stomach.
She didn’t usually buy into that “gut feeling” thing, but there was something off. It was similar to the unease she’d felt the morning her mom had told her everything.
Her attention snapped to the three sleek, unfamiliar cars parked along the fence. They weren’t supposed to have any guests for another week—who was visiting while she was away?
The front door was unlocked—a good thing, since her keys were buried deep in her purse—but as it swung open, she heard voices coming from the kitchen. Male voices.
There was no reason Fionacouldn’thave guests over, though it irked her that her sister-in-law invited strangers to the house while she was away. Still, Sylvie felt a deep unease as she crossed the lobby and opened the kitchen door.
Fiona startled, and Sylvie’s suspicions were instantly confirmed. Her sister-in-law looked guilty as sin.
“Hello,” Sylvie said. “What’s all this?”
A man in a suit—one he’d probably paid more for than Sylvie had spent on her entire trip—stood and smiled at her charmingly. “Hello, you must be Mrs. Sweet—”
“Ms. Sweet,” she corrected. “Who are you?”
