Page 35 of Captiva Café

Franny approached their table, coffee pot in hand. "Which is currently behind schedule," she said with an exaggerated sigh. "Contractor says the custom windows are delayed. Then there was an issue with permits."

"Island bureaucracy," Cassy called from behind the counter. "Everything moves at the speed of a sunbathing iguana."

"When do you think it'll be finished?" Merritt asked, taking a sip of her coffee.

"Probably not until after you've left the island. Shame, too. We were hoping to convince you to christen the stage."

"Too bad you'll only be here a couple of weeks," Cassy added, coming over to join them.

Merritt's gaze lingered on the half-built structure. "It sounds wonderful."

"Maybe you'll have to come back for the grand opening," Franny suggested.

Maggie watched something flicker across Merritt's face—a brief consideration that hadn't been there before. "You ladies might have to fight for her. Let’s not forget Isabelle and Gretchen’s new café near the beach. They’ll be opening soon too.”

“She can play both places, Maggie. Isabelle’s place is going to be some Parisian Café thing. We’ll be serving alcohol and evening music. If she’s as good as you say, she’ll be so popular and known as Captiva’s best musician that people will come to the island just to hear her.”

Merritt had to stop the planning going on around her. The conversation was getting out of control. She turned her attention back to her Danish, carefully breaking off a piece. "I haven't really thought beyond these two weeks. There are some things I need to figure out."

"No pressure," Maggie assured her. "The island has a way of helping people make decisions when they're ready." She stood up. "Now, let's continue our tour. There's a lot more to see."

As they left the café, Merritt glanced back once more at the construction site, her expression thoughtful. For the first time since her arrival, she seemed to be considering a future that extended beyond her planned departure date.

Maggie could see Merritt’s discomfort.

“I’m sorry about that. I guess I’ve been bragging about your voice to a few people, and…well, you know how small town islands can be. Word travels quickly around here.”

Merritt shrugged. “It’s okay. People are always curious about someone new.”

Maggie stopped and turned toward Merritt. “I’m not sure how to say this without it sounding awkward, but I hope before you leave Captiva, you’ll feel comfortable enough to share whatever is on your mind. I can sense there is something and as a mother and grandmother, I can recognize when my children are hurting. Whenever they talk it through, usually they feel better. That might be the case for you as well.”

Merritt looked past Maggie and tried not to cry. “I tell you what. When I’m ready, you’ll be the first one I look for to unload. How’s that?”

Maggie smiled and slipped her arm through Merritt’s. “That sounds good to me. How about we keep going? There’s still lots to see and a beach walk back to the inn. You haven’t seen The Mucky Duck yet.”

Merritt laughed. “I’m not sure what a Mucky Duck looks like, but I’d love to see one. Lead on.”

CHAPTER 12

Sarah stirred the sugar in her glass and then took another sip of her lemonade. Sitting on the porch swing at the Key Lime Garden Inn, her mother joined her as they waited for Emma to arrive.

“You must be over the moon excited to see Emma again,” Maggie said.

Sarah smiled. “I really am. She and I took different paths in our lives, but here we are, having another chance to live and share our lives in the same state for a change.”

Maggie chuckled. “I know what you mean. Being a National Geographic photographer and reporter kept her away for years, and now that she’s about to have a baby, I wonder how that works with her love of travel.”

A silver SUV pulled up, crunching on the shell gravel. Before the engine had even stopped, the passenger door flew open and a woman with auburn hair jumped out, waving enthusiastically at the porch.

"Sarah!" she called, her voice carrying across the garden.

Sarah bolted down the steps, breaking into a run. "Emma! You made it!"

The two women embraced, laughing and talking over each other in the way of friends who had years of shared history.

"Look at you!" Sarah exclaimed, stepping back to take in Emma's appearance. Her friend's flowing sundress did little to disguise her very pregnant belly. "You're absolutely glowing."

"I'm absolutely enormous," Emma corrected with a laugh, resting her hands on her rounded stomach. "The doctor says any day now, though we're officially still two weeks out."

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