Page 39 of Captiva Book Club

“Well, get in here and let’s have a visit. I want to hear everything. Have a seat in the living room. Would you like some lemonade?”

“That sounds heavenly. It’s already hot outside and I’m thirsty.”

Sarah ushered her inside, the cool air conditioning a welcome relief from the heat outside. They made their way to the living room, where Sophia played in the corner of the room.

“Hey Sophia, remember your Aunt Emma?” Sarah asked.

“Hi Sophia,” Emma said as the little girl looked up and smiled.

“Oh. Sarah, she’s beautiful. I can’t believe how much she’s grown. Are Noah and little Maggie around?”

Sarah shook her head. “No, Trevor took them to his parents’ for a visit. Now that you’re home for good, you’ll have plenty of chances to see them.”

Sarah went to the refrigerator and reached for the pitcher of lemonade.

While she poured it into two glasses, Emma sat on the living room sofa.

“About that…” Emma made a face. “Well…”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell me, you’re not staying?”

“It’s not that bad, I’m staying for another four months. That’s longer than I usually stay.”

Clearly disappointed, Sarah said, “Em…come on, I thought you were moving to Florida.”

“Don’t be mad,” she pleaded. “You wouldn’t believe it if I told you why.”

“Well, tell me, for heaven’s sake, and you better have a good reason.”

“Gareth and I found this old ruin in Tuscany, a beautiful, crumbling villa that’s been abandoned for years. We’re planning to renovate it and turn it into our home.”

Sarah’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “A ruin in Tuscany? That sounds like something out of a romance novel.”

“It does, doesn’t it?” Emma agreed, her smile widening. “But it’s real, and it’s ours. We’ve been going back and forth on plans, talking with architects, and figuring out how to make it livable. It’s a huge project, but we’re both excited about it. It feels like the perfect place to raise our child.”

Sarah shook her head. “Emma, you amaze me, you never take the easy path.”

Emma shrugged. “I guess not. Anyway, I wanted to have my baby near my parents, so I'm here until after the baby comes, and then off to Tuscany.”

“We’re going to have to cram in as much time together as possible while you’re here.”

Sarah joined Emma on the sofa and put the tray of lemonade on the coffee table.

Emma put her hand on Sarah’s arm. “There’s another reason I wanted to see you today. Gareth and I would like you to be our baby’s Godmother.”

“Oh Emma, what a gift. Of course, I’d be honored.”

“I would have asked my sister Jillian but I decided to wait and ask her when we have our second baby.”

Sarah laughed. “Really? This is the funniest situation. You and I were so against having children and getting married, and now look at us. It’s crazy.”

Emma nodded. “I was always focused on my career, and…then, there was Timothy. When I lost him, I think I lost myself a bit. All I wanted to do was escape in my work.”

Emma’s eyes softened, memories of the past flooding her mind. “It’s been a long journey to get here,” she admitted. “There were times when I didn’t think I’d ever find peace again. After losing Timothy…and then, walking the Camino, I thought becoming a nun might be my only path to healing.”

Sarah nodded. “I understand how the weight of those memories made life unbearable. But you found another path.”

“Yes,” Emma said. “Meeting Gareth changed everything. He understood the pain I carried because he had his own. We helped each other heal, and in doing so, we found love. I never expected to find it again. I’m so grateful.”

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