Page 28 of Captiva Book Club

“Yes, well, not completely. I wondered if you’d like to take a few hours to join me on the beach today. We can talk about the book club, but I wanted to talk to you about something else, and figured, why not enjoy some downtime before my family descends upon Captiva?”

“I’d love to. If you can believe it, ever since I took a break from work, I haven’t had a minute to enjoy the beach. What time and what can I bring to eat or drink?”

“You don’t have to bring anything. We’ve got plenty here at the inn. I’ll invite Chelsea and Ciara to join us if that’s all right with you?”

“Of course. How does ten o’clock sound?”

“That works for me,” Maggie answered. “Come to the inn and we’ll walk down together.”

It was a last minute decision to spend the day enjoying the sun and sand, but it was also a chance for her and Ciara to set things in motion for Katie and Luke. In Maggie’s mind, there was nothing more joyful than match-making—that was, when it worked out.

As soon as she hung up the phone, she was about to call Chelsea when she suddenly appeared at the foot of the stairs.

“How is it that you always know when I need to talk to you?”

Chelsea laughed and climbed up the stairs to join her on the porch. “It means we’re spending too much time together. We can read each other’s minds.”

“Either that, or you’re here for your morning coffee and scone, which is somewhat of a problem because I didn’t make any.”

Chelsea put her hands on her hips. “You mean you didn’t have time between running to the hospital, coordinating a book club Christmas gathering, and planning for the arrival of the largest group of family members ever to hit the island of Captiva? Maggie, I’m shocked! Tell me you at least have coffee?”

Maggie laughed. “I do, and Oliver made delicious French toast for us this morning.”

Chelsea shook her head. “Too much for me. I’ll just get a coffee. Speaking of which, I still haven’t met the new chef. Don’t you think it’s time you introduced us?”

“Oh, my heavens, I can’t believe I didn’t warn…I mean, tell Oliver about you,” Maggie teased.

“Very funny,” Chelsea said as she made way for Maggie to walk in front of her.

“Oliver! I have to introduce you to my best friend, Chelsea Marsden. Chelsea, meet our new chef, Oliver Laurier.”

Oliver wiped his hands on the dish towel and extended one to Chelsea. “Very glad to meet you, Chelsea. I feel like we’ve already met with how much I’ve already heard about you.”

Chelsea glared at Maggie. “I have no doubt all of it was horrible. Don’t believe a word they tell you around here, Oliver. If you want the truth, I’ll give you my cellphone and we can talk later.”

Iris and Oliver laughed.

“Can I get you something to eat or drink?” Oliver asked Chelsea.

“No, thanks. I’ll help myself to a coffee. You’ll have to get used to that. I pretty much make myself at home when I’m here.”

Oliver raced to the cabinet to get Chelsea a coffee mug and handed it to her. “Here you go,” he said.

Chelsea turned to Maggie and smiled. “I like him.”

Maggie rolled her eyes and started back to the porch. “I’m calling Ciara, come back outside when you’re ready, because I’ve got to bring you up to speed on Luke Powell’s love life.”

“This I’ve got to hear,” Chelsea said as she poured her coffee.

Maggie dialed Ciara’s number and reached Ciara.

“Hey Maggie, do you have news about Katie?”

“Not yet, but I’ve invited Claire and I’m about to invite Chelsea to join me at the beach. I thought it would be great if you were there too. If Katie has a boyfriend or her mother thinks it’s a bad idea, we need to know that before you approach Luke.”

“Sounds like a good idea to me. You won’t believe what I did.”

“What?”

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