Jo Ellen threw her head back with a hoot and gave Maggie a soft push, jumping with her.
For one split second, the world blurred, the air rushed, then the water covered her like she was falling into black space—the brackish liquid washing away all the things that had plagued her heart for so many years.
She didn’t, couldn’t, and wouldn’t hate Roger Lawson ever again.
They pushed to the surface at the same second, the sound of a noisy cheer from the sand filling her ears. Immediately, Eli and Jonah waded in, arms out to help them from the water.
Overwhelmed, she hugged her son when they landed on solid ground and he lifted her an inch into the air.
They were wrapped in towels and love and cheers in no time, and someone who needed to die actually flashed a picture.
“Delete that immediately,” she ordered, still smiling.
“No chance,” Jonah called from several feet away. “That one’s going in the Lawson archives.”
“Proof that Magnolia Lawson is officially living her best life.” Jo Ellen declared proudly, wrapping an arm around Maggie and steering her toward their chairs again.
Jo Ellen plopped down beside her and lifted her drink in a triumphant toast.
“Look around, Mags,” she said, gesturing toward the sand where everyone was still laughing and talking and reliving their jumps. “Your kids are happy. Your grandkids are happy. My Tessa has aweddingcoming up! Crista and Anthony have a place here and a healthy little one on the way. Meredith’s a huge success, Jonah’s a wonderful father, there are babies and new romances and parties and sunshine and all kinds of adventures ahead of us.”
Maggie watched the group for a moment—Vivien laughing with Peter near the waterline, Eli helping Jonah with Atlas, little Nolie still dancing around in the sand with Olive.
Jo Ellen leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with that familiar reckless optimism. “I’m telling you, Maggie. The future looks amazing.”
She couldn’t deny, it was amazing.
Maggie lifted her glass and clinked it gently against Jo Ellen’s. “You never really know what’s around the corner, Jo,” she said, her voice softer, more thoughtful.
Jo Ellen gave her a sideways look. “Always the cautious one.”
“Someone has to be,” Maggie replied.
But as she leaned back in her chair and let the evening breeze dry the last drops of water from her skin, she felt comfort settle warmly in her chest.
Whatever came next—storms, surprises, troubles she couldn’t yet imagine—she wouldn’t face anything alone.
Don’t missthe next book in the Destin Diaries series, The Summer We Celebrated,carrying the families of the Summer House into a month marked by unexpected new beginnings and life changes. Kate and Eli face the tender, complicated work of aligning not just their lives, but their hearts and their beliefs—and their new love faces the most difficult challenge yet. Meredith makes a surprising connection at her dream job that stirs emotions—and possibilities—she never saw coming.
And Jonah discovers that chasing the career of a lifetime while raising a baby alone may be the hardest recipe he's ever attempted—until an unlikely encounter changes everything.
As the families gather to celebrate Tessa's breathtaking beach wedding, they'll discover that the biggest risks aren't the ones behind them—they're the ones that require trust, friendship, and a leap of faith.
