Page 24 of Captiva Book Club

Maggie’s mother chuckled, wiping her hands on a dish towel.

“Your father and I were just starting out, and money was tight. That old house might’ve been small, but it was full of love, maybe not much laughter, but there was love.”

Her mother looked down at her hands and Maggie could tell her mother missed her father.

“We didn’t have much, but we made do with what we had. I suppose it did feel like a bit of an adventure, looking back. Your father was a serious man, but there were moments when he allowed himself to feel the humor in things.”

Maggie leaned against the counter, lost in thought. “I wonder what it would be like now, going back to basics like that. It’s easy to romanticize, but I imagine it would be really challenging. The idea of disconnecting, though, does sound tempting sometimes.”

“Oh, I don’t know. Life has a way of teaching you that you don’t need much to be happy, but you also learn to appreciate the comforts you have now. Anyway, I have a question for you on this book club. Why do we have to wait until the end of January to have a meeting? Call it a get-together, maybe a Christmas book club introduction. Just so we can all say hello and get on the same page about the group.”

Maggie shrugged. “I hadn’t thought about it like that. I’m sure Claire just assumed that it’s too close to Christmas and everyone is busy. I can ask her if you’d like? We can all meet at the inn. I’ll have eggnog and festive holiday goodies to eat. We have a new chef now, and I’m sure he’ll put together something for a luncheon.”

Her mother carried the tray with tea into the living room.

“I thought we’d have our tea in here. That way, we can enjoy relaxing on the sofa and you can explain to me why you’re here, because I know there is something bothering you.”

Maggie chuckled and walked to the sofa. Taking her teacup in her hand, she turned to her mother.

“How do you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Get inside my head like that. I never said anything was wrong.”

Her mother smiled. “And yet?”

Forgetting the lessons of her childhood, Maggie ignored the stiff upper lip directive from her parents, and suddenly needed her mother.

“Oh, Mom. I’m going in for another biopsy tomorrow and I’m terrified. I found a lump and so we have to check it out.”

Her mother put down her teacup and took Maggie’s hands in hers.

“Sweet girl, you’ve always taken after me. Please don’t worry. I had a lump many years ago. All I needed was a lumpectomy and some radiation and then I was good as new. You’ll see, everything will work out.”

“Why didn’t you tell me when I went through this the first time?”

“Because dear, it wasn’t about me, it was about you.”

Maggie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Do me a favor?”

“What is it?”

“Will you please promise me not to keep anything from me ever again…especially something as important as this?”

Her mother sighed. “Fine, fine, whatever you want. It was really no big deal, and neither is this time for you. You’re strong, Maggie. You’re stronger than I am and that’s saying something.”

Maggie held back a giggle and smiled. It was the best compliment her mother had ever given her. More than that, they were typical words from a woman who valued strength above all else.

What her mother still hadn’t realized was that sometimes it was okay to feel weak and vulnerable, and needing a mother’s love.

Her mother reached for her and pulled her into a hug.

“You’ll always be my baby,” her mother said. It was music to Maggie’s ears.

CHAPTER 8

Although late in the evening, Sarah parked her car in front of the carriage house and went inside. It was dark and the Key Lime Garden Inn was quiet except for the wind chimes blowing in the breeze.

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