Page 50 of Captiva Book Club

“We’re going to have to have a private, and quiet, discussion while I’m home…deal?”

He smiled. “Deal.”

Crawford interrupted them. “Let’s get your stuff inside, and we can sit down and have a nice visit.”

Becca touched her father’s arm.

“Can we do that a little later? I just wanted to stop and let you know that we’re here, but Chris needs to see his mother. Can we do that later? I promise, we’ll have a nice long talk. Do you mind?”

Crawford looked a little disappointed, but he agreed.

“Okay, honey. Luke, Joshua and I will bring your stuff upstairs. Ciara is over at the inn waiting with Maggie and Paolo. We’ll catch up with you later.”

Becca hugged her father again. “Thanks, Dad.”

They got inside their car and drove to the Key Lime Garden Inn.

CHAPTER 17

Ciara was excited to see her stepdaughter again. It had been a while since Becca was home on Captiva Island, and at that time, she wasn’t married to her father.

Although she attended their wedding in Italy, Becca never seemed completely on board with the union.

Ciara mentioned it to Crawford, but he dismissed it as Becca being shy around her. But Ciara knew the truth. Becca missed her mother so terribly, that although she wanted her father happy, she couldn’t accept him marrying again. It was Ciara’s opinion that Becca’s opinion was that her father could date, but marriage was with one person forever, even after they die.

Even now, as Ciara waited for Becca to arrive, she felt a slight nervousness over her return. She hoped things would be different this visit.

Only time will tell.

Since Sarah had lots of Christmas wrapping to do, she stayed back at the inn and decided to walk across the driveway to the carriage house where she’d have the most privacy.

As she was leaving the inn, Christopher’s car pulled up in front of her.

She ran up the back steps and called out.

“They’re here!”

Maggie ran outside to greet them, and everyone followed behind.

She opened her arms and laughed.

“Chris!”

Christopher squeezed his mother and then kissed her on the cheek.

“Hey, Mom. We’re finally here.”

Paolo, Ciara, Sarah and Chelsea joined them in the driveway, but it was Grandma Sarah who pushed everyone out of the way to get to Christopher.

“Come over here and give your grandmother a big hug.”

“Hey, Grandma,” he said as he wrapped his arms around her. “I’ve missed you.”

“Then why don’t you come visit more?” she teased.

“Hi Grandma,” Becca said.

Grandma Sarah hugged Becca and then kept holding her hand.

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