Page 70 of Captiva Book Club

“Positive.”

Chelsea sat and Becca slowly moved down onto the towel.

“Everything’s fine. I just thought it might be nice for us to have a little chat, away from the hustle and bustle.”

“I wanted to talk to you about Ciara,” Chelsea began, glancing at Becca to gauge her reaction.

Becca’s expression softened at the mention of her stepmother, but there was also a hint of apprehension. “Ciara? What about her?”

Chelsea chose her words carefully.

“I’ve noticed how close you are to Maggie, especially since you’ve been back. And that’s perfectly understandable—Maggie’s been a mother figure to you, especially after your mom passed away. But I couldn’t help but notice that Ciara… well, she seems a bit on the outside looking in.”

Becca looked down at the sand, her toes idly digging into it.

“I know. I’ve felt that too, but I guess I just… I don’t know. I’ve always felt closer to Maggie. It’s not that I don’t care about Ciara, I just never really thought about it. I’m really glad she’s with my dad. He’s very happy.”

Chelsea nodded, understanding. “I get it, Becca. It’s hard, especially when you’re trying to hold on to the memory of your mom. But I think Ciara feels like she’s missing out on something special with you. She never had children of her own, and I believe she would love to be more involved in your life, especially with the baby on the way.”

Becca’s eyes widened slightly, the realization dawning on her. “I didn’t know she felt that way.”

“I don’t think she’d ever say it outright,” Chelsea continued gently. “Ciara’s not the type to impose herself. But I’ve seen how she looks at you, how she holds back, not wanting to overstep. I think she’s just trying to figure out where she fits in your life, especially now with the baby coming.”

Becca was quiet for a moment, her thoughts clearly churning. She wrapped her arms around her knees, pulling them close as she stared out at the water.

“I’ve been so focused on not forgetting my mom, on keeping her memory alive, that I didn’t realize I might be pushing Ciara away in the process.”

“It’s understandable,” Chelsea said softly. “But I think there’s room in your life for both of them. Your mom will always be a part of you, and no one can ever replace her. But Ciara can be there for you in ways that your mom can’t anymore. She can be a friend, a support system, and she’d probably love to be involved with the baby.”

Becca nodded slowly, the weight of Chelsea’s words sinking in. “I never meant to make her feel left out. I just… I didn’t want to lose that connection to my mom, you know?”

“I know,” Chelsea said, reaching out to place a comforting hand on Becca’s arm.

“And you haven’t. But maybe now’s the time to build a new connection with Ciara. I think it would mean the world to her if you reached out.”

Becca looked up, meeting Chelsea’s gaze with a newfound determination.

“You’re right. I’ve been so caught up in my own grief that I didn’t see how it was affecting the people around me. I need to do better, for Ciara, and for the baby.”

Chelsea smiled, a warm glow of pride and affection filling her.

“I think that’s a wonderful idea, Becca. It’s never too late to start building those relationships. And with Christmas coming, it’s the perfect time to bring everyone closer together. I think it’s the kind of thing that would make your mother happy.”

Becca took a deep breath, her resolve strengthening. “I’m going to talk to Ciara today. I want her to know that I appreciate everything she’s done for me and that I want her to be a part of the baby’s life.”

“I’m sure she’ll be overjoyed to hear that,” Chelsea said, squeezing Becca’s arm gently. “You’ve got a lot of love to give, Becca. Sharing it with Ciara won’t take anything away from your mom’s memory. If anything, it’ll honor it.”

Becca smiled, a mix of relief and hope in her expression. “Thank you, Chelsea. I needed to hear that. Sometimes it’s easy to get lost in your own head, and you forget that the people around you have feelings too.”

“That’s what friends are for,” Chelsea said with a wink. “To remind us of what’s important.”

Becca smiled. “I can see why Maggie considers you her best friend. You look out for people.”

“We all look out for each other. I can’t wait to see how much love you’ll give this little baby. Well, I best be off. I’ve got a million things to do. You enjoy this beautiful day. There’s nothing that soothes the soul like a day on a Captiva Island beach.”

After her conversation with Chelsea, Becca felt a renewed sense of purpose. She needed to talk to Ciara, and she needed to do it now. The idea of reaching out to her stepmother had never seemed more urgent. She stood up from her chair on the beach and brushed the sand off her legs, determination setting in.

As she walked up Andy Rosse Lane, her mind raced with what she would say to Ciara. When she reached the familiar path leading to Powell Water Sports she veered toward the staircase that led up to her father and Ciara’s apartment.

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