Page 76 of Captiva Café

Maggie bent to hug her granddaughter properly, inhaling the scent of strawberry shampoo and childhood. "Hello, sweetheart. You've grown at least an inch since I saw you last time."

"I know," Lily said with great seriousness. "Dad marked it on my growth chart. Come see my room! I have a new poster of sea turtles. They can hold their breath for five hours underwater! Did you know that?"

Before Maggie could respond, Lauren appeared in the hallway behind Lily, a dish towel in her hands and an expression of utter surprise on her face.

"Mom?" Her voice held a note of confusion, maybe even alarm. "What are you doing here? Is everything okay?"

The question—the same one Maggie had come to ask her—hung in the air between them. Now that they were face-to-face, Maggie could see what her mother had been talking about. Lauren did look thinner, the bones in her wrists more prominent, shadows beneath her eyes despite her careful makeup. She wore a stylish but loose-fitting blouse that wouldhide weight loss, her hair pulled back in a ponytail that seemed more about convenience than style.

"Everything's fine at the inn," Maggie assured her, stepping inside as Lily tugged her hand. "I just thought I'd come see your new house."

Lauren's expression relaxed slightly, but a wariness remained in her eyes. "You should have called first. The place is a mess, and I wasn't planning to?—"

"I tried calling," Maggie pointed out, keeping her tone light. "Several times. You've been hard to reach lately."

A flicker of guilt crossed Lauren's face. "I've been meaning to call you back. Things have been...hectic. Getting everyone settled, unpacking. You know how it is."

"I do." Maggie nodded. "That's why I thought I'd come to help for the day. Where's Daniel?"

"Napping," Lauren replied, gesturing vaguely toward the back of the house. "He should be up soon."

"And Olivia?"

"Tennis practice. Jeff took her. They won't be back until dinner." Lauren fidgeted with the dish towel in her hands. "I was just making lunch. Are you hungry?"

"I could eat," Maggie said, though her stomach was too knotted with concern to feel hungry. "Why don't you show me around first? This place looks amazing from the outside."

Lauren seemed to relax slightly at the change of subject. "Sure. Lily, why don't you go finish your lunch while I show Grandma the house?"

"But I want to show her my room!" Lily protested.

"We'll get to your room," Lauren promised. "Go finish your sandwich first."

As Lily reluctantly headed back toward what Maggie assumed was the kitchen, Lauren led the way deeper into the house. The foyer opened into a spacious living room withvaulted ceilings and large windows that flooded the space with natural light. Boxes still sat in corners, and the furniture arrangement had a temporary feel, but the potential was obvious.

"The previous owners renovated just before selling," Lauren explained, slipping into her realtor voice—professional, informative, slightly detached. "Updated kitchen, new bathrooms, smart home features throughout. The backyard has a pool with a safety fence, which was a major selling point with three kids."

Maggie followed her through the living room into a chef's kitchen with gleaming stainless steel appliances and marble countertops. More boxes lined one wall, labeled in Lauren's neat handwriting: "Kitchen—Specialty Items" and "Kitchen—Holiday."

"It's beautiful," Maggie said sincerely. "You've always had such a good eye for properties."

Lauren smiled faintly at the compliment, but the expression didn't reach her eyes. "We're in a good school district, and it's only thirty minutes from Olivia's tennis academy. The commute to my office might be longer once I start working again, but it will be worth it."

They continued through the dining room, a home office that was clearly Jeff's domain judging by the sports memorabilia and business books, and then down a hallway lined with family photos—many still leaning against the wall waiting to be hung.

Lauren paused outside a partially open door, checking her watch. "Daniel's still asleep. He usually naps for another half hour."

They moved on to the children's rooms—Olivia's meticulously organized space with tennis trophies already arranged on shelves, Lily's explosion of colors and marine lifeposters, a guest room that was currently serving as a storage space for more unpacked boxes.

Throughout the tour, Lauren maintained her realtor persona, pointing out features and upgrades with professional detachment. But Maggie could see the tension in her shoulders, the way she kept glancing at Maggie as if trying to figure out the real reason for this unexpected visit.

Finally, they circled back to the kitchen where Lily was finishing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, her legs swinging beneath the counter stool.

"All done!" she announced proudly, holding up her empty plate. "Can I show Grandma my room now?"

"In a little bit, sweetheart," Lauren said. "Why don't you go play in your new art corner for a while? Mommy needs to talk to Grandma."

Lily looked momentarily disappointed but brightened at the mention of her art supplies. "Okay! I'm making an underwater mural. It has sharks AND dolphins, even though they don't usually live in the same places."

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