Page 32 of Captiva Café

“Yeah, well if anyone can make it work, it would be Beth,” Sarah added.

The afternoon stretched on, conversation flowing as easily as the tea being poured. They talked about Sarah's family and Trevor’s new job, Maggie updated Lauren on the latest news of the Captiva Café and the found treasures within. Stories wove between them, threads of a shared tapestry that had never truly unraveled, despite distance and time.

Lauren watched her mother and sister talking animatedly about the inn's upcoming events, about her grandmother’s YouTube influencer hobby, and everything in between.

As the sunlight began to soften, casting a golden haze over the courtyard, the children returned from their adventures. Lexie plopped down in the shade, thoroughly exhausted, as the kids grabbed juice boxes and settled in with their coloring books and sidewalk chalk.

Sophia climbed up beside Maggie and whispered, "Grandma, do you think we could make a video like Great-Grandma Sarah? But with fairies?"

Maggie laughed. "If we do, I'm making the rule that there will be no glitter in my kitchen."

Little Maggie leaned into Lauren's lap, drowsy and warm. "Aunt Lauren, next time can you bring more books? The ones with the animals that talk."

"You got it, kiddo," Lauren said, brushing a strand of hair from her niece’s forehead.

Daniel babbled from his stroller, and Noah darted in to tell everyone about a lizard he saw with a blue tail. For a few perfect minutes, it was all laughter and lazy chatter and the comfort of being together.

Before she realized it, hours had passed and it was time to go.

"Remember, we're going to make this a regular thing," Lauren said as she walked to her car.

"Absolutely," Maggie responded.

"I'd love that, Lauren. I've missed my big sister."

They hugged and squeezed Daniel before Lauren put him in the car seat.

As she drove down the driveway and out onto the main road leading off-island, Lauren wiped a happy tear from her cheek. She’d accomplished something that had once been only a dream. Visits with her mother and sister would be a new tradition going forward. Lauren made a silent promise to herself: she wouldn't let the busy current of life pull her away from these shores again. Some journeys were worth making, no matter how many times you had to navigate the same causeway to find your way back home.

CHAPTER 11

Maggie stood on the back porch of the Key Lime Garden Inn, watching as Paolo made his way up from the garden. Her husband balanced a wicker basket overflowing with ripe tomatoes, their skin stretched taut and gleaming in the afternoon sun. The scent of tomato vines still clung to him, earthy and green.

"The heirlooms did well this year," Paolo called up to her, pride evident in his voice. "We'll have enough for gazpacho all weekend."

Chelsea appeared beside him at the foot of the stairs, helping to sort through the harvest. Her attention suddenly shifted to the driveway, where the sound of crunching gravel announced an arrival. Her shoulders tensed visibly.

"Oh no," Chelsea muttered, nudging Paolo. "Linda St. James is headed this way."

Maggie followed Chelsea's gaze to see Linda storming up the driveway, her designer handbag swinging wildly with each determined step, face set in what Maggie had come to recognize as her "complaint expression."

Chelsea let out a low sigh. "Every time I see Linda approaching like that, I swear I hear that ominous music thatplays when Miss Gulch cycles up in The Wizard of Oz to take Toto away." She wiggled her fingers dramatically. "All dark and foreboding."

Paolo stifled a laugh, nearly dropping a tomato. "What do you think it is this time? The breakfast scones too crumbly? Someone parked two inches over the line?"

"Don't joke," Maggie whispered, smoothing down her apron. "Last time she almost convinced a guest to leave a one-star review because a bird chirped too loudly outside her window. Is she wearing makeup"

Chelsea shook her head. “Nope.”

They all straightened as Linda reached the bottom of the garden path, her expression thunderous.

"Maggie!" Linda called out, not bothering with pleasantries. "I need to speak with you about the book club."

Maggie exchanged a quick glance with Paolo, who gave her a subtle, sympathetic nod before busying himself with the tomatoes. Chelsea suddenly found great interest in a nearby flowering bush.

"Of course, Linda," Maggie said, maintaining her innkeeper's smile. "Would you like some iced tea while we chat?"

Linda climbed the stairs with deliberate steps, each one punctuating her irritation. "This isn't a social call. For the past two months, hardly anyone has shown up for the book club meetings. The one I took the initiative to establish at the beginning of the year, if you recall."

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