Page 74 of Captiva Book Club

The tree was a masterpiece of holiday cheer, adorned with twinkling lights, delicate ornaments, and carefully wrapped presents underneath.

As they stood together, a small, excitable ball of fur darted between their legs. Lexi was making her rounds, sniffing out every corner of the room, her nose particularly interested in the presents under the tree.

“Lexie behave.” Paolo chuckled, watching as the pup attempted to paw at one of the presents, her curiosity getting the better of her. “Those aren’t for you.”

Lexi looked up at Paolo, her tail wagging furiously, but she wasn’t deterred. Instead, she trotted over to the door, where a small stocking hung from the doorknob, just within her reach. The stocking was filled with treats and toys that Maggie had carefully selected for Lexi, but the little dog wasn’t content to wait for them to be handed out. She tugged at the stocking with her teeth, determined to pull it down.

Maggie laughed, nudging Paolo gently. “It looks like someone is as eager for Christmas as the rest of us.”

“I think she knows there’s something in there for her,” Paolo said, grinning as he watched Lexi’s determined attempts to liberate the stocking from the doorknob.

“Not yet, Lexi,” Paolo said, as he retrieved the stocking and put it high up on the mantel where she couldn’t get to it.

“So, are we ready?” Maggie asked.

Paolo nodded. “I’ll call them in.”

Iris, Millie and Oliver were in the kitchen talking when Paolo went looking for them.

“Can you all come into the front room for a minute?”

“Sure,” Iris said, the three of them following behind Paolo.

Lexi, distracted from her stocking mission, bounded over to greet them, her tail wagging like a metronome.

“What’s going on?” Millie asked.

“Maggie and I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for everything you’ve done this year. The inn wouldn’t be the special place it is without each of you,” Paolo said.

Maggie stepped forward, her eyes sparkling as she picked up a brightly wrapped gift from under the tree. “Iris, this one’s for you,” she said, handing over the gift. Paolo followed with a small envelope, slipping it into Iris’s hand with a knowing wink. “And this too—just a little something extra to show our appreciation.”

As Iris began unwrapping her gift, Lexi sat at her feet, interested in the wrapping paper.

Iris’s eyes widened with excitement as she carefully untied the ribbon and opened the box. Her face lit up when she saw the silver charm bracelet inside, each tiny charm reflecting her love for cooking—a miniature whisk, a tiny oven, a small loaf of bread, and a slice of pie. The charms jingled softly as she held the bracelet up to the light, the delicate details catching the glow from the Christmas tree.

“Oh, Maggie, Paolo, this is amazing!” Iris exclaimed, fastening the bracelet around her wrist. “And the bonus…you two are the best. Thank you so much!”

“You deserve it, Iris. We couldn’t imagine the kitchen without you. You bring so much passion and creativity to everything you do,” Maggie responded.

Paolo then handed a gift to Millie, wrapped in soft green paper with a silver ribbon. “Millie, this is for you,” he said. He placed another envelope in her hand. “And here’s something extra for the holidays.”

Millie took the gift with a grateful smile, unwrapping it slowly. When she opened the box, her breath caught in her throat. Inside was a beautifully handcrafted handbag, made by a local artist on Captiva Island. The bag was a work of art, with intricate stitching and vibrant colors that reflected the island’s natural beauty. The design was both elegant and unique.

“Maggie, Paolo, this is absolutely gorgeous,” Millie said. She traced her fingers over the detailed embroidery, clearly moved by the thoughtful gift. “I’ve seen these bags in the gallery, but I never thought I’d own one. And the bonus…this means so much to me.”

Maggie smiled gently. “I knew you’d appreciate something made by a local artist. You’ve always been so supportive of the community, and I thought this would be a lovely way to carry a piece of Captiva with you wherever you go.”

Paolo nodded in agreement. “You’ve been with us through thick and thin, Millie. We’re so grateful for everything you do. And, you make us laugh all the time. The inn wouldn’t be as much fun without you.”

Millie laughed, her eyes shining with emotion. “Thank you both. We’ve been through a lot, and I’ve never felt more appreciated.”

Lexi, meanwhile, jumped into the ripped wrapping paper on the floor. The little dog pounced on it, her nose burrowing into the paper. Paolo shook his head, laughing. “We bought her tons of toys and treats for Christmas, but I think all we really needed to do was give her a bunch of wrapping paper…could have saved us money.”

Maggie chuckled. “We should give her some treats before she tears the whole place apart.”

Finally, Maggie and Paolo turned to Oliver. Maggie handed him a deep, blue-wrapped gift, while Paolo gave him an envelope. “Oliver, we hope this brings back some good memories,” Maggie said softly, her voice laced with understanding.

Oliver hesitated for a moment before unwrapping the gift. When he opened the box and saw the gift card inside, his breath caught. It was a gift card to a local pizza shop—a reminder of his family’s last joyful moments together before tragedy struck. The memories flooded back, bittersweet but comforting.

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