Page 119 of Second Chance at Sunshine Inn

The walls of Everleigh’s chest closed in, and her eyes felt wet. Leaving her family this time was going to be so much more difficult than it had ever been.

“You know, your dad and I will support whatever you choose to do. But we’ll also always miss you because we love you.”

Everleigh reached across the table and covered her parents’ hands with hers. “I’ll miss you too, but I promise I’ll visit. I’ll also call at least once a week.”

Dad gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Honey, we’re proud of you.”

After finishing dessert and helping clean up, Everleigh took the long way home. She parked her SUV by the boardwalk and sat on a bench while looking out over the ocean. She hugged her coat against her body, pushed her hair behind her ears, and glimpsed the stars twinkling in the sky. The crisp, salty air filled her lungs while the waves’ cadence serenaded her. She tried to commit the sights, sounds, and scents of her hometown to memory. More than ever, she was going to miss Coral Cove.

When the cold air seemed to seep into her skin, she returned to her car and made the short drive to the inn. She sat in the drivewayand stared up at the dark colonial. She had expected Cade’s parents to still be visiting.

Everleigh drove around back and parked outside of the detached garage, where lights glowed in Cade’s apartment. She knocked on his door and shifted her weight while trembling in the cold. After a few moments, his footfalls sounded from inside.

He pushed the door open, and his normally bright eyes were dull. “Hi.”

Bryant sat on the stairs behind him and yawned.

“Hi.” She smiled despite the worrying look on his face. He seemed exhausted and so sad. “You okay?”

He rested his forearm on the open door. “Great as always.”

Something was off, but she couldn’t put her finger on what. “How was dinner?”

He examined his shoes for a moment. “Perfect.” Then he moved his hand over his chest. “Yours?”

She tried to detect signs of a lie, but she couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or not. His handsome face was a mask of indifference, reminding her of when she’d first met him. What had caused him to change? “Same.”

An awkward silence grew between them, and a pang of grief radiated through her.

Talk to me, Cade!

“What’s up?” he asked.

“I have news.” She took a deep breath. “We sold the inn for full price.”

His eyes flashed with something unreadable, and he stood up straight.

“You’ll be shocked at who made the offer,” she said.

“You got me,” he replied.

“The Newtons.” She hid her quaking hands in her pockets andstopped speaking for a moment, waiting for him to respond. But he continued to watch her with a blank expression.

“Mrs. Newton called me while I was at my parents’ house,” she explained. “They want to retire here and run the inn. They’re anxious to make this happen, so they plan to email me an offer soon.”

He folded his arms over his chest. She tried to decipher the emotion on his face, but she couldn’t. And his silence was tearing her apart inside.

“That means we got an offer we can both agree on just within the deadline.” She paused and waited for him to speak. When he didn’t, she added, “What do you think, Cade?”

More silence. Had it been summertime, they would have heard crickets. Instead, a car passed in the distance, and a dog barked. Everleigh held her breath, waiting for his reaction, but he only stared at her in silence.

“Cade, please talk to me.” Desperation echoed in her words.

“That’s great,” he finally said, but his face and his voice were void of emotion.

“You think so?”

“Sure.” He shrugged.

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