Page 109 of Second Chance at Sunshine Inn

“Yeah,” Cade whispered. He didn’t want to think about someone hurting his mother. “If she told us, we could help her cope with it, and then maybe Declan could be a part of our lives.” He ripped the label completely off the bottle and then dropped it onto the island. “I’ve texted Declan a few times since he was here. We’ve made small talk, but he hasn’t mentioned Mom, and I haven’t either. I’d love to find a way to help her deal with whatever is holding her back.”

“There’s one thing I’ve learned about your mother, Cade. You can’t force her into anything.” Dad pointed his bottle toward Cade. “And, like I said earlier, you’re just like her.”

Cade sighed. “I know.”

“Let me give you a little piece of advice, son.”

“Go ahead.”

“Don’t let your stubbornness stand between you and your happiness.”

The front door opened with a squeak, and Roger came into the kitchen. “Ready to hang some blinds?”

“Let’s do it.” Cade gave his dad’s shoulder a squeeze and tossed the two empty bottles into the recycle bin under the sink. Then he followed Roger out to the truck, his father’s advice echoing in his mind.

Chapter 26

Quinn pointed to a white wicker patio set, including a love seat, two matching chairs, and a coffee table. “How about this?”

Everleigh examined the price tag. “It’s within our budget.” She ran her hand over the cushion. “I like the bright blue.” She shrugged. “Honestly, anything is okay with me.”

Her phone buzzed with a phone call, and she found the number for one of her recruiters on the screen. She clicked the button to silence the call and returned the phone to the back pocket of her jeans.

Quinn lifted her eyebrows. “Who was that?”

“Recruiter.” She sighed.

Quinn touched her shoulder. “Is everything all right?”

She managed a smile. “Of course.” She dropped onto the wicker love seat. “I reposted the inn on the websites last night since all we have left to do is hang the blinds and put new furniture in the sunroom.” She moved her fingers over the wicker arm. “Cade and Roger really did a great job with it. And they even painted it Lemonade, the color I had painted the walls just before the storm. Alana wouldlove how it turned out.” A bubble of sadness expanded inside her, and she tried to wish it away.

“Hey.” Quinn sat beside her. “I can tell when you’re trying to convince everyone else that you’re happy, but something is really bothering you. You can talk to me, Everleigh.” Her expression held concern. “What’s going on?”

“I’m fine.” She pinned a smile on her face. “I told Cade I’d be gone after Thanksgiving, and Thanksgiving is next Thursday—only eight days away.”

Quinn was quiet for a moment. “You’re really not going to stay?”

Everleigh could feel her heart breaking as she shook her head. “I need to go.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s always been my plan.” She studied her hand as if her short fingernails were the most fascinating things on the planet. “It’s best if Cade and I part ways, whether the inn sells or not.”

Quinn remained silent, but Everleigh could almost feel her friend analyzing her words. She turned toward her. “Go on and say it, Quinn.”

“What?” Quinn gave her a feigned shocked expression. “I didn’t say anything.”

“But you’re thinking it.”

Quinn angled her body toward Everleigh and rested her back against the arm of the love seat. “I take it that you and Cade still aren’t speaking.”

“That’s true.” Everleigh folded her legs under her. “He’s been trying to get me to talk, but he really hurt me, and there’s nothing left to say.”

Quinn’s smile was glum. “Roger and I have noticed that there’s something between you and Cade, and I was hoping maybe you’d stay because of it.”

Everleigh’s heart skipped a beat.I was hoping so too...

“You two seem to really care about each other.”

---