Page 16 of Happy Harbor
“About twenty minutes, maybe less,” Josie said, before looking back at Joe. “And what was that part about it being hard to keep her workers? Are they terrible people or something?”
Joe chuckled. “No, not at all.”
“What if I don’t want these things?”
“Mom, why wouldn’t you want them? It’s a free house and a free restaurant near the beach!” Kendra said, grinning from ear to ear.
“Because we live in Atlanta, Kendra. You go to school there, and I?—”
“You what? Have an ex-fiancé and no job?”
She glared at her. “Not nice,” she said under her breath.
“I hate going to school there. Maybe we could come here and get a fresh start.”
Josie sighed and leaned against the chair. “There are no fresh starts for me in Happy Harbor.”
“Why is this a shock? Who did you think Nana was going to leave these things to?”
Josie shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. I guess I thought she’d eventually sell the restaurant to someone and retire. And she talked about donating the house to the historical society.”
“Look, Josie, she was very clear to me in our conversations. She wanted you to run the restaurant and carry on the family tradition. She wanted you to live in her home and continue working with the historical society,” Joe said.
“So she wanted me to step into her shoes and be the next Adeline Campbell? I’m sorry, Joe, but that’s not who I am. I can’t come back to this ghost town after I’ve lived in the bustling city for years.”
“You know, we have almost nine thousand residents now, Josie.”
She wanted to laugh but held it in. She passed nine thousand people a day just walking to lunch in Atlanta. Well, maybe that was an exaggeration.
“Can I just sell the restaurant and house?” A part of her cringed even as she asked the question. Those two places had been so important to her grandmother, and the thought of selling them made her feel physically ill. But she couldn’t move back to Happy Harbor. She had a life in Atlanta. Or at least she was trying to rebuild one.
“She actually had something to say about that. Can I carry on?”
“Of course.”
“‘I know my sweet Josie better than anyone, so right about now, I’m sure you’re asking if you can sell these things. I don’t want to hold you hostage if you don’t want to be here, but I would ask that you stay at least six months. If after that time you want out, you can sell. Just give it six months, Josie. Then you’re free to leave, and I promise not to haunt you.’”
Josie giggled. She could hear Nana saying these things with her thick, old Southern accent and sassy personality.
“‘I love you, dear. I want you to live the best life possible. I think it’s time to face your demons in Happy Harbor. Maybe they won’t be as scary as you’ve always feared. Maybe there are blessings to be had in your old hometown, darlin’. Look for them.’”
She reached for a tissue in a box on Joe’s desk and dabbed at her eyes. “I’m going to miss her.”
“We all are. Truly a great lady. So, what do you think?”
She sighed. “I don’t know. This is all so much to take in, Joe. Can I have some time?”
“Absolutely. Why don’t you go on over to the house and get settled? We can talk after the funeral.”
“We’re staying at a hotel...”
“Don’t be silly! Adeline would want you to stay at her house.Yourhouse.”
She smiled. “It’s not my house yet. Besides, we’ve already paid for the room. We’re fine there tonight.” Josie just wasn’t ready to go back to her nana’s house yet. So many memories—good and bad—were there, lurking and waiting for her to cross the threshold of that place.
“I’ve already made a copy of Adeline’s letter. I thought you might want it as a keepsake.”
She reached out and took the envelope, slipping it into her purse. “Thank you.”
