Page 8 of Second Chance at Sunshine Inn

She finally came to what was now the guest room at the end of the hallway. It seemed like only yesterday that she and her older sister, Harlowe, had shared this bedroom, until Harlowe also wentto college. Their single beds positioned on either side of the room had been replaced with a double bed set in the center. Nine years ago, when Everleigh was eighteen, she had finally moved out herself.

She sighed and plopped down onto the edge of the bed. She scanned the room, taking in the clusters of family photos on the walls, along with the tall dresser and matching triple dresser. Exhaustion weighed heavily on her shoulders.

After reaching into her backpack, she pulled out her latest coloring book and a box of colored pencils. Then she kicked off her Converse high tops and scooted down the bed until her back hit the headboard. She turned to the next page and smiled—a sunset over a beach. Perfect. She’d found that enjoying a soothing coloring book was the best way to decompress after a long shift in the NICU.

Tomorrow she would help her mother finish planning Alana’s memorial service. Then Saturday, she’d have to formally say goodbye to her godmother. She didn’t know how she’d get through it all. She wanted so badly to be strong for Alana.

But right now, she’d lose herself in a colorful sunset—and hopefully get a break from her grief.

Chapter 3

Everleigh smoothed her hands down her plain black dress and pushed her long, thick red braid over her shoulder. As her parents made their way up the cobblestone path to the chapel Saturday morning, she trailed behind. She felt ridiculous sporting more makeup than usual and wearing black high heels, adding at least two inches to her height and making her almost the same height as her father. Although she was much more comfortable in jeans, a T-shirt, a hoodie, and her sneakers, or even scrubs, she felt she needed to dress up today for Alana.

The sky above them was Carolina blue, and the sun was bright. The late-August air was hot and humid, and the seagulls called to each other. A murmur of conversation and the sweet smell of flowers greeted Everleigh when she entered the chapel. Her eyes quickly adjusted to the low light, and she smiled as she took in the spray of flowers on the altar that included hyacinth, bluebells, and carnations, along with Alana’s favorite, gerbera daisies.

“Evie!”

She spun at the sound of her nickname, the one her family members insisted on calling her, just as her brother pulled her in for a tight hug. “Landon!” she exclaimed.

“It’s been forever, baby sis.” When he gave her a glum smile, he reminded her so much of Dad with his medium-brown hair, bright hazel eyes, and fit stature. His hair was high and tight, typical for a police officer. He had followed in Dad’s footsteps and joined the Coral Cove Police Department right after college. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

She turned to Amber, his long-term girlfriend who stood beside him, and hugged her too.

Amber sniffed and pushed her short blond hair behind her ears. “It’s such a shock that Alana is gone.”

Everleigh nodded, and Landon looped his arm around his girlfriend’s shoulder.

A moment later, Mom joined them. “Let’s get a seat up front before the service begins.”

Everleigh sat between Landon and Dad at the front of the chapel as the pews behind them began to fill up. When Everleigh’s older sister and brother-in-law appeared at the back of the sanctuary, Mom stood and waved them to the front. Then she guided Harlowe and Branson to sit beside her, and Dad, Everleigh, Landon, and Amber scooted down to make room.

Mom whispered something to Harlowe, who gave Everleigh a half wave before returning her attention to Mom.

Everleigh smiled and waved back vigorously.

Although Harlowe rarely responded to her texts, Everleigh still reached out periodically, hoping her sister would reply. Harlowe looked just as she remembered, with her light-brown hair parted on the side and perfectly straightened. Everleigh had always longed tohave beautiful light-brown hair like Harlowe and Mom, but she’d somehow managed to inherit Dad’s great-aunt Margaret’s red mane. But Harlowe’s beauty didn’t end there. She also resembled Mom with her high cheekbones, thin nose, and tiny chin, while Everleigh resembled Dad’s sister, Gina.

Branson, Harlowe’s husband of six years, greeted Amber and shook Landon’s hand before addressing Everleigh. Then he nodded to Dad and turned back toward Harlowe.

“Is Harlowe okay?” Everleigh whispered to her brother.

He lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “You know how moody she is.”

She wanted to ask if something was wrong, but she was cut off when the organ rang out the first chords of the opening hymn.

She turned to the corresponding page in her hymnal and tried to concentrate on the words to “Beautiful Savior,” Alana’s favorite hymn, but her mind continued to wander from her grief for Alana to her disappointment with Harlowe. Her older sister always seemed annoyed with her about something, no matter how hard Everleigh tried to have a relationship with her. Still, she was determined to be close to her older sister someday. She’d never give up on her.

She felt someone watching her, and she turned to her left and scanned the second pew. There, her eyes found Cade sitting with a middle-aged couple and another man who appeared to be around his age. Cade was handsome in a dark-blue suit with a light-blue shirt and tie, his face clean-shaven, boasting a strong jaw that could have been molded from fine granite. He looked completely different from when he’d attended the reading of the will clad in jeans and a plain T-shirt, and Everleigh couldn’t help but think that, while attractive and properly somber for the occasion, he seemed less comfortable and less himself right now. Even if his facial features were the same.

Maybe she was starting to get a feel for Cade Witherspoon, and it’d only taken two meetings to get there.

Or maybe not.

Their eyes met, and he studied her with a grim expression. Her brow crinkled, and she tried to imagine what he would look like if he smiled. She tipped her lips up and nodded, but instead of responding, he studied his hymnal.

Huh. Maybe he’d never learned how to smile. Did he miss that day in kindergarten? She almost laughed at the thought.

Although she tried to focus on the pastor’s words during the memorial service, her mind kept replaying her best memories of Alana. The sanctuary was packed, and the crowded room filled with Alana’s friends and loved ones warmed Everleigh’s heart. Alana had always participated in community events—sponsoring school functions and contributing to the local charities. She’d been loved by the Coral Cove community.

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