Page 53 of Barefoot Dreams
13
Not Dear Diary
They say time heals all…I guess time will tell.
14
Julie
“There is no remedy for love but to love more.” – Henry David Thoreau
Three months later…
Three months and a million changes later, I’m walking toward the three cottages on the beach that sat untouched and uninhabited for at least a decade before three new residents showed up in Loverly Cave.
Joy, Grace, and Hope Levine—who is my best friend now—are those three new residents. Three sisters who were forced into our town by their mom, Jenny Levine and of course, the rest of the scheming committee.
I’ll admit, it was one of the most elaborate, wacky plans they’ve ever come up with and I still can’t believe it worked.
Jenny used some very, um…creativetechniques to get her daughters to come visit Loverly after being estranged for ten long years. What was supposed to be a quick visit ended up with all three making up, falling in love, and staying here forever.
Because if there’s one thing Love Hive doesn’t mess around with, it’s love. And once again, what Love Hive wants Love Hive gets.
That same night Jacob found me in the garden, he also found his future wife at Love and Peace bar. Joy Levine was the feeling he had to follow, and I couldn’t be happier for them. Those two are as different as night and day and yet a perfect match. She’s also in the process of having her own monument here in LC for putting up with him.
Hope is happily engaged to none other than local town flirt, Alec Colson. But the biggest surprise comes in the form of my brother’s other best friend, Luke Colson, who, by either a lucky coincidence or more scheming, arrived in Loverly Cave that very same day as well and the local grump is now happily dating the sweetest and youngest of the sisters.
It may seem like too much has happened, but I welcome the chaos. It’s a lot better than weeding my garden until midnight, plus I got three new friends out of it.
I take a step out of my shop when I nearly collide with someone. “Oomph, I’m so sorry, honey. I didn’t see you come out,” Isabella, Griffin’s mom, says.
“That’s all right. I wasn’t paying attention either.” I smile. “How are you?”
“I’d be better if my only son wasn’t hiding from me.” She purses her lips. “You don’t happen to know where he is?”
“No, sorry, I can’t say that I do.” A distant, almost dull stab screeches against my chest.
I haven’t been aware of where Griffin has been for three months since he cut off nearly all contact with me as if I have the bubonic plague.
He’s still in LC, I catch glimpses of him here and there since we have so many friends in common but that’s all I’ve got. Just glimpses.
Izzy’s face twists as she murmurs something underneath her breath, but it sounds awfully a lot like “I knew we should’ve intervened sooner.”
I’m almost tempted to ask what she means by that, but Izzy beats me with a question of her own.
“Well, if you see my stubborn son, could you tell him I’m looking for him, please?”
“Of course, no problem.” I can make as many promises as possible to Izzy, the problem is I won’t fulfill them. Not because I don’t want to, but because Griffin is that good at avoiding me.
She brings me into a hug before heading into Fifi’s store next door, still mumbling about stubborn mules and all that fun stuff.
Chuckling noiselessly, I resume my walk.
The weather is slightly overcast but warm, perfect for surfing, that the girls and I are planning to watch from Grace’s front porch. None of those men might be mine but no one said I can’t appreciate the fine male anatomy alongside their girlfriends. Plus, I won’t be the only ogler today.
Joy’s friend, Zoe, from Chicago has come for a visit so I’ll have some company. But I have a feeling there is more to her visit than mere curiosity. If I’m right, then Zoe has found herself in the best place to heal. Loverly Cave could mend even the hardest of heartbreaks.
I’d know, I’ve done it twice already.
