Page 39 of Captiva Café

"Brought pastries!" she beamed. "Thought we'd have coffee, just the two of us."

Maggie didn't move. "Lauren. What are you doing here?"

Lauren blinked. "What do you mean? It's Wednesday. Jeff's got the girls so I figured I'd come down, see how things were going. You said last week you missed me."

"Yes," Maggie said slowly. "I did. But that doesn't mean I'm available for drop-in chats whenever you feel like driving down."

Lauren's face fell, the box of pastries suddenly heavy in her hand. "I just thought?—"

"I don't have time to think today," Maggie cut in, gentler now but firm. "Every room is full. The café construction is finally resuming and guests are asking questions I don't have answers for. You should've called first."

Daniel let out a small wail, as if echoing the tension in the room.

Maggie sighed and reached for her apron. "I'm not trying to be rude. But I can't sit down for coffee right now."

Lauren stared at her for a long beat. Then, without a word, she set the box of pastries on the reception counter and adjusted Daniel on her hip.

"Got it," she said tightly. "Won't bother you again."

And with that, she turned and walked out the door, the bell jingling behind her.

Maggie watched the door close, her mouth suddenly dry. A wave of guilt washed over her, but before she could process it, Millie appeared at her elbow, holding a notepad of messages.

"Mrs. Chen in Room 4 says the air conditioning isn't working properly, and the Galanis party wants to know if we can arrange a sunset cruise for tonight."

Maggie nodded mechanically, taking the notepad. "I'll call maintenance about Room 4. Please call Crawford Powell and see if you can book the cruise, then give the Galanis couple the details. I think they sail at 7:30 but confirm that with Crawford.”

But even as she spoke, her gaze kept drifting to the box of pastries Lauren had left behind. The cream-colored box with its simple gold sticker sat accusingly on the counter, a visual reminder of her harshness.

"Oh, Lauren left that," Millie added, following Maggie's gaze. "Want me to put it in the break room?"

"No," Maggie said opening the box to peek inside. "Give this to Oliver and then go ahead and make your calls."

When Millie disappeared to the kitchen, Maggie suddenly realized the pastries were her favorite Portuguese pastel de nada, and that Lauren’s visit wasn’t a casual drop-by. Her daughter had gone out of her way to make it special.

"I need to make a call," she announced to no one in particular as she headed toward her office.

Lauren gripped the steering wheel tighter than necessary, her jaw clenched as she turned off Captiva Drive and followed the narrow bridge across to Sanibel. Daniel had fallen asleep in his car seat, his soft breathing the only thing calming her frayed nerves. She wasn't even sure why she was so upset—her mother had always been direct. But this felt different. Sharper.

She hadn't expected a parade. Just a hug, maybe a cup of tea, a little porch time like they used to. A moment of connection. Instead, she'd been dismissed like a solicitor at the door.

When she pulled into Sarah's driveway, she didn't bother turning off the engine right away. She sat in the car, staring atthe neat row of potted herbs on the front steps, the wind gently swaying the lemon tree near the porch. Then Daniel let out a little sigh in his sleep, and she exhaled too, popping the door open and grabbing his bag from the passenger seat.

Sarah opened the front door before Lauren had even knocked.

"Well, this is unexpected," she said with a warm smile, stepping out barefoot to help lift Daniel from the car seat. "What are you doing here?"

"I needed a sister," Lauren muttered, dragging the diaper bag over her shoulder and following Sarah into the house.

"Uh-oh," Sarah said, glancing sideways at her. "What happened?"

"Mom." That was all Lauren could manage at first. She dropped onto the oversized couch in Sarah's sunroom, as her sister settled Daniel gently in the portable bassinet Sarah kept stashed in the corner.

"I surprised her with pastries and her adorable grandson, and she acted like I was a Girl Scout trying to sell her cookies at 6 a.m."

Sarah raised a brow. "That bad?" she said as she handed Lauren a tall glass of iced tea.

"She told me I should have called first. That she doesn't have time for me right now. Said the inn was full and things were too busy."

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