Chapter Thirty
ELI
I unclippedmy helmet and set it on the handlebars of my bike. The afternoon was hot and still today, with little breeze to soften the punishing sun. The little bell above the door of Bookshop in Paradise jingled as I stepped inside, the familiar scent of old paper and fresh coffee wrapping around me like a warm hug. And I needed a hug after a nearly sleepless night followed by a challenging morning with students.
Hours of tossing and turning hadn’t made me any surer of how to approach Mom, but Jules’s trusting face when I’d left her place only made me more determined. So here I was now, seeking Brenna’s advice. And hoping her insight could help me navigate the minefield of convincing Mom that Jules and I weren’t going to be neatly swept away just because she wanted it.
And who better to give me advice than Brenna? After all, she got this whole thing rolling in the first place by helping me figure out what Jules’s nickname meant.
But the sight that greeted me stopped me in my tracks. Brenna, Hunter, andMomwere huddled together by the checkout counter, their laughter floating through the air like music. Mom held a Nora Roberts novel in one hand.
“I swear, Helen, if you keep buying every book that comes out, we’ll have to expand the shop just for you,” Hunter teased, his arm draped casually around Brenna’s shoulders. Dressed in black jeans and a gray shirt, he towered over her. His smile and relaxed posture couldn’t hide those muscles. I still wasn’t sure whether to believe the stories that he’d been a covert assassin in his former career.
Mom grinned as she patted his giant arm, tattoos and all. “Well, someone has to keep this place prosperous, right?”
My gut tightened with an uneasy mix of hope and fear. The easy camaraderie between them, the warmth, was a far cry from the tension that used to crackle whenever the Coleridges and Markhams crossed paths. If Mom could let go of decades of rivalry with the Markhams, maybe there was hope for me and Jules. There had to be. But my idea of discussing the subject with Brenna just went out the window. So what now?
My sister spotted me first, her face lighting up. “Eli! What brings you to my humble abode of literary wonders? Did you actually interrupt your siesta for this?”
Nerves or not, my smile naturally appeared as I approached the trio. “I get plenty of beauty sleep at night, drama queen.” Hopefully, the bags under my eyes didn’t give the lie to that statement.
Mom turned to give me a side hug. “Sweetheart. What’s up?”
The words stuck in my throat. After hours of agonizing over how to approach her, she was right in front of me. SoI did what I always did—deflected. “Oh, you know. Just… browsing for a new read.”
Brenna’s gaze sharpened, and I knew she’d seen right through me. Sometimes having a perceptive sister was a real pain.
“Well, don’t let us keep you,” Mom said, nodding to her book with a smile. “Although if you’re looking for recommendations, I hear this new Nora Roberts is quite good.”
A laugh tumbled out of my mouth. “Thanks, Mom, but I think I’ll stick to my adventure stories.” I couldn’t help but grin as I took in Mom with my brother-in-law, her hand still on his arm. “Well, well, well,” I drawled, leaning against the counter. “If someone had told me a year ago that I’d see Helen Coleridge giggling with a Markham in a bookstore, I’d have told them to lay off the rum punch.”
Mom huffed, but there was no heat in it. “Very funny, Elias.”
“No, seriously,” I continued, warming to my theme. “Next thing you know, we’ll be serving craft beer at the resort and hosting underwater weddings. Oh, wait…”
Hunter grinned. “He’s got a point, Helen. Times are changing around here.”
I watched Mom’s face carefully, searching for any sign of disapproval. But instead of the frown I half-expected, a softness filled her eyes that made my heart skip a beat.
“You’re right,” she said quietly. “Things are changing. And maybe… maybe that’s not such a bad thing.”
Brenna, bless her, seized the moment. “Not a bad thing at all. And that’s what I love about us Coleridges. We’re stubborn as hell, but when it comes down to it, we’re all about family. We adapt, we grow. Just look at how we’re turning the resort around.”
Pride mixed with a hint of wistfulness in Mom’s eyes. “You’re right. I’m proud of all of you. The way you’ve stepped up, the fresh ideas you’ve brought… it’s exactly what we needed. It’s made me realize that my kids are more than ready to take the reins of the resort. I only get in the way.”
We all spoke all over each other to argue about that, but Mom held a hand up, laughing. “I’m not going out to pasture just yet, but I’ve been saying for a few years now that I wanted to step back. All this change is a sign that it’s the right time. And I’m happy about that.”
“Change can be beautiful,” Brenna said, squeezing Hunter’s hand. “Look at us. Who would have thought a Coleridge and a Markham could find happiness together?”
“Certainly not me,” Hunter admitted with a half smile. “But I’ve never been so glad to be wrong.”
Mom’s gaze flickered between them, and something shifted in her expression. “You two have shown me that sometimes, the most unexpected pairings can bring out the best in each other.”
My throat tightened. Was she talking about just Brenna and Hunter, or…?
Hunter’s phone pinged with a text, and he lifted it. “It’s from Ben. I’m supposed to be helping him with a case, so I’d better head out. Good seeing you guys. Love you, sweetness.” After giving Brenna a quick kiss, he moved toward the back door with nearly silent strides.
Still smiling, Brenna swept her eyes over Mom and me. “That’s what love does. It breaks down walls and bridges divides. It makes us stronger, as individuals and as a family.”
