Page 44 of Captiva Book Club

Oliver smiled and nodded.

“Oliver, thank you for sharing your story with me. Let’s keep talking about your wife and children. Let’s remember funny stories about them and laugh, just like you did that day in the pizza restaurant. Because you shared this with me, I know I’ll never eat pizza the same way, ever again.

Oliver laughed. “It’s funny you say that, because I haven’t had a slice since that day.”

Maggie put her hand on his shoulder.

“In that case, one of these days, we’re going out for a slice or two, and we’ll talk about your family, and how blessed you were…and are now.”

Oliver had gained so much since taking the chef position at the Key Lime Garden Inn, but until this moment, he hadn’t realized how much.

He nodded and smiled. “I’d like that very much.”

CHAPTER 15

When Sunday arrived, there was a flurry of activity in the kitchen at the Key Lime Garden Inn. Maggie’s usual early morning baking didn’t happen, as she let Oliver and Iris handle everything. The term “too many cooks spoil the soup” kept running through her mind, and she felt her time was better spent looking over her notes for the book club.

Her talk with Oliver the day before continued to affect her mood and threatened to ruin the day. She couldn’t let that happen, and so, the first thing she did when Oliver arrived at work was to see how he was doing and give him a hug.

She couldn’t imagine him living with this trauma for the last year. Guilt, pain, anger, and an all-consuming grief all played a part in keeping him from moving forward in his life.

Whatever struggles along his journey, Maggie was convinced that the day he came for his interview was the beginning of a new chapter in his life. One that Maggie hoped would continue to heal his heart and mind.

The early afternoon weather was another perfect day on Captiva Island—sunny and bright, but with a slight chill in the air, which was not unusual for December.

Maggie opened the windows, letting the fresh ocean breeze drift through the house, gently stirring the lace curtains in the front living room. She stood for a moment, watching them sway back and forth. She was nervous, but also excited.

She asked Paolo to keep Lexi out of the way. The pup, who had fallen in love with Oliver, was known to follow him everywhere, sometimes even with Paolo in the room. A fact that upset Paolo, even though he wouldn’t admit it to anyone.

Ciara and Luke Powell came in through the back door, both carrying containers of brownies and cookies. Maggie knew what her role was and hoped she’d be a convincing actress.

“Ciara, you didn’t have to make these. We’ve got plenty of food.”

“Hi Maggie, you know me. I can’t come empty-handed. That’s how I was raised, and it’s how I’ll be until I die.”

“Hello, Luke,” Maggie said.

“Nice to see you again, Mrs. Moretti.”

Kristin, Claire and her daughter Katie were already in the living room, as was Maggie’s mother and Chelsea.

“Come on in the living room,” Maggie announced. “Luke, I don’t think you’ve met Kristin, Claire and Katie Wright.”

“Hello, Luke, is it?” Claire asked.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, extending his hand out for each to shake, Kristin and Claire first, and then Katie.

“It’s very nice to meet you,” Claire said.

Katie looked at Luke and smiled. “Hi, I’m Katie. Didn’t I see you at the Christmas Parade? You were the one driving Santa’s boat, right?”

Luke laughed. “Yup, that was me. Santa never goes anywhere without my driving him.”

Although a mostly serious young man, Maggie smiled, recognizing his effort to impress Katie with humor, and gave Ciara a knowing glance.

“These shrimp are delicious, Maggie!” her mother called out, as she plucked another coconut shrimp from the platter.

Maggie rolled her eyes and walked over to the doorway. “Mom, you’re supposed to wait for everyone else to arrive,” she whispered.

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