Page 82 of Meet Me at the Grand

“You don’t sound too excited about it.”

There her aunt went, being perceptive as usual. “Of course I’m excited. This is everything I’ve worked for.” And it was hard to believe the groundbreaking would happen so soon. Dani and Uncle Seb had meetings scheduled next week to discuss the process going forward, as well as the next steps in finding business owners willing to move to Jonathon Island—and fast. Ideally, they’d be opening a handful of new businesses this summer. “But it’ll be a lot of work. I’m a bit overwhelmed, I guess.”

She just couldn’t take her eyes off the prize. Her family. All together again.

Though if Liam’s leaving had taught her anything, it was that people didn’t always do what they said. Or, at the very least, they changed their minds.

“I’m confident in your abilities. But heartbreak does have a way of being overwhelming.”

“What?” A breeze kicked up, and Dani used the elastic band around her wrist to tie back her hair—an action she hoped her aunt would find nonchalant, casual. As if what she’d said hadn’t shaken Dani to the core. “That’s not what’s overwhelming. There’s just a lot to do.”

“And you’ll have to do it all without him, when you’d planned to have him by your side.”

“He’ll send someone new to take over. Nothing’s changed in that regard.”

“Don’t you think that everything’s changed?” Aunt Elise pinned her with a look. “Dani, you don’t have to pretend with me.”

“I’m not pretending.” At her aunt’s arched eyebrow, Dani sighed. “Fine, maybe I’m pretending. But it’s only because if I don’t…”

“You might fall apart?”

Dani scoffed. “I’ve been falling apart for years, Aunt Elise. And just when I thought I was finally being put back together…”

“He left.”

As they walked along the road, Dani couldn’t help but turn her head, craning her neck for sight of the ferry. But the harbor was now as empty as her heart. “Yes. He left. And he’s not willing to try long distance, so we’re done.”

Her aunt touched her arm, and they stopped right where the land curved, lending a view of the Grand in the distance. Once the hotel was rebuilt—once the island had been revived—things had a shot at going back to normal.

And yet.

Her family really still might not come back. Just like Liam had said.

“He was right.”

“Who was right about what, dear?” Elise grabbed her hand.

“Liam. He said I was banking on my family coming back, on us all being together again if I could just get everything to fall into place. But life isn’t like that. Things don’t always work out, no matter how hard you try. And I can’t keep living my life hoping that someday I’ll finally feel happy and whole again.”

“Ah.” Her aunt nodded. “Yes, if I’ve learned anything in my life, it’s that we cannot count on people and circumstances to make us happy.”

“So is happiness just a myth then? Are dreams meaningless?”

“Of course not. But happinessisfleeting, especially if we are relying on anything or anyone but God to give it to us. He never changes, and that’s why instead of happiness, we can find joy in this life no matter what storms swirl around us.” She squeezed Dani’s hand again. “No matter who leaves us. Because the truth of the matter is, God’s love for us is the anchor in the storm. And He will never abandon us.”

Oh, sweet truth. Her aunt’s words reverberated in her soul. “I’ve been thinking that my heart will never heal. Then with Liam, I felt hope for the first time that it could. But now it feels shattered again, and I’m trying to be brave, to move on, but this time, I don’t know how to fix it. To fix everything that’s been broken.” She hated how her throat filled. So much for not crying over the man. “I love him, Aunt Elise.”

“Oh, my dear. I know.” Her aunt pulled Dani into her arms, tucking her into the safety that had always been available to Dani. “I don’t know if things will work out with Liam, but I do know this. God is the fixer of broken things.”

“Then why has everything stayed broken all of these years? Why did He leave me all alone?”

“You’ve never been alone.” Aunt Elise squeezed.

“I know. I didn’t mean that. You and Uncle Seb have been wonderful. But…”

“Your heart still aches for your family. And now for Liam. I understand.” Her aunt pressed a kiss against Dani’s hair, and her arms sheltered her from the blowing wind. “But even if your uncle and I weren’t here, you wouldn’t be alone. God has never walked away from you. People are sinners, and God lets them walk their path. But He does promise to stay with us, even when we feel alone. The Bible says God is close to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. He’s been waiting for you all this time, Dani, aching to heal you. You’ve just been turning to other places for that healing instead.”

Quiet tears finally fell from Dani’s eyes, and she pressed her face into the soft material of her aunt’s sweatshirt. But tears weren’t always sad, and these mingled grief over the loss of Liam with hope—hope that her aunt was right. That God could mend what had been broken in her. “I want healing. I just don’t know where to start.”

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