Page 110 of Second Chance at Sunshine Inn

Everleigh remained quiet. She did care for him—deeply—and she couldn’t deny it even to herself. But that didn’t mean they could have a future.

“Don’t you care for him?” Quinn asked.

Everleigh nodded. “I do, and at one point I thought maybe we could be more than friends.” She played with the zipper on her jacket while her mind replayed the night of the storm. “I was convinced he cared about me the night the tree fell through the sunroom. He actually said he couldn’t imagine something happening to me. And the way he carried me out of the rain, then held me close while I cried...” A quiver rushed over her, but she renounced it. “But we argueall the time. If Cade cared so much, he wouldn’t have treated me like an annoyance or a fool.” An ache radiated in her chest. She couldn’t lose it here in the middle of the busy home improvement store. She’d melt from embarrassment if she allowed herself to give in to grief so publicly.

“I need to get back on the road. It’s where I belong.” That’s what she needed to focus on instead of her broken heart.

Quinn rested her hand on Everleigh’s shoulder. “I don’t want you to go.” She sniffed. “I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too.” She squeezed her friend’s hand. “But I promise I’ll stay in touch and visit when I can.”

“I’m going to hold you to that.”

Everleigh smiled and then pushed up from the love seat. “I’m going to find a salesperson and see when I can get this set delivered.” She zigzagged through the store, trying to shove away the sadness that burrowed deep in her soul.

***

Everleigh loaded her groceries into the back of her Trailblazer Monday morning. She hugged her jacket closer against her body as a chilly late November breeze brought with it the aroma of salt water and moist sand. She climbed into the driver’s seat and rubbed her cool hands together for warmth. She started her SUV, and a pop song serenaded her through her speakers.

She’d spent the last couple of days considering offers for hospitals all around the United States. Her top choices were Houston and Atlanta, but she hadn’t narrowed them down further yet. She’d almost signed a contract to go back to Texas but then convinced herself to wait until after Thanksgiving. Not that anything crucial was going to change.

Steering out of the parking lot, she turned onto Main Street and stopped at the red light. The small Coral Cove government center came into view, and she gripped the steering wheel tighter. Her sister’s office was located on the second floor. She hadn’t heard from Harlowe in weeks, but a pit still expanded in her stomach every time she thought of her.

Everleigh sat up taller in the seat, and she slapped on her blinker. She was going to find her sister and insist they work out whatever issue Harlowe had with her. She couldn’t leave Coral Cove without resolving it once and for all. Maybe today would be the day their relationship changed. Perhaps they could forge a renewed sisterhood. Everleigh smiled as she imagined how the talk would go.

After parking in the municipal lot, Everleigh hastened through the cold and into the government center before taking the elevator up to the human resources office. She was grateful for the warm air pumping through the heating vents as she pulled open the door to Suite 201.

“Everleigh!” Betty Jean Gorman exclaimed. She rushed aroundthe desk and pulled Everleigh in for a tight hug. The older woman barely came up to Everleigh’s chest. “You’re a sight for sore eyes. It’s been so long, honey!”

Everleigh smiled down at her. “It has been.” She jammed her thumb toward her sister’s closed office door and the nameplate that read Harlowe Kessler. “Is she in?”

“Oh, no.” Betty Jean shook her head. “She’s in a meeting downstairs.”

“For how long?”

Betty Jean’s little nose crinkled. “At least another hour.”

“Oh.” Everleigh’s spirit deflated like a balloon. So much for working things out with her sister before Thanksgiving.

Betty Jean pushed a notepad and pen toward her. “You can leave her a note.” Then she waved her off. “Silly me! I’m so old-fashioned. You’d probably rather text her, right?”

But texting hadn’t worked. Maybe an old-fashioned method was a better course of action. “Actually, I’d love to write her a note.” She took the pen and began to write:

Harlowe,

I was in the area and thought I’d stop by and see how you are. Sorry I missed you.

Looking forward to seeing you and Branson Thursday.

Love,

Everleigh

She handed the notepad back to Betty Jean. “Have a nice Thanksgiving with your family.”

“You too, honey.” Betty Jean’s eyes twinkled behind her glasses.

Everleigh’s phone chimed with a text just as she climbed backinto her SUV, and she found Trevor’s name on her screen. She hadn’t heard from him since she’d told him to keep his distance more than two weeks ago. What could he possibly want now?

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