Page 21 of Second Chance at Sunshine Inn

He lifted the hefty suitcase and carried it up the porch steps. Behind him, she closed the trunk and then followed with a couple of tote bags and a backpack. He sure hoped she wasn’t planning to stay through the winter with all the stuff she was bringing.

He dragged the suitcase into the foyer, and she examined the ladder. “What are you doing here?” she asked.

“Changing light bulbs.” He didn’t bother to wait—just pulled the suitcase toward the hallway. Then he opened the door leading to Alana’s suite and set the suitcase inside the den area, leaving Everleigh standing in the suite while he walked back to the foyer.

He moved the ladder to the dining room and began replacing the dead bulbs in the chandelier over the long table. His mouth sagged downward as he imagined how irritating it would be to have to see Everleigh every day, continually arguing with her about selling the place. There had to be a way to change her mind and end this debate.

He turned toward the row of windows overlooking the back of the inn’s property and the beautiful bay. How could anyone want to sell this place? Once Everleigh dropped her ridiculous idea about a sale, she’d go back to working as a traveling nurse. Then his life could go back to some sense of normalcy—as normal as it could now be without Alana.

***

Everleigh spent the next couple of hours going through Alana’s clothes and making piles of items to donate and a few to keep for herself and her mother. Once the closet was nearly empty, she stowed her clothes inside. Needing a break, she retrieved a bottle of water from therefrigerator in the kitchen and then padded out to the large sunroom Alana had added onto the inn when Everleigh was around ten.

The room sat on the other side of the wall from Alana’s suite, and the same wicker patio furniture she remembered was scattered throughout the room, the chairs waiting for someone to sit and enjoy the hot summer day. The humidity closed in on her, and her T-shirt began to stick to her back. She flipped the switch for the ceiling fans, and the four of them began to hum and swish and spin. She opened the bottle of water and stood by the wall screens, taking in the large oak tree reaching its branches over the room.

She surveyed the porch and the light-gray walls, and was almost certain it was the same shade of gray for every room downstairs. Why would Alana have ever chosen that? She tried to imagine brighter walls—maybe rubber duck yellow or lemonade. Excitement surged through her at the idea.

“Meow!”

Everleigh pivoted toward the door and found Bryant on the steps. “Hey, Bryant.”

The cat meowed again and rubbed his big, fluffy gray face on the screen.

“Wanna come in?” She pushed open the creaky door, but instead of walking inside, the cat just waited. “Okay then. I’ll join you instead.”

She knelt down and rubbed the cat’s head while he purred. At the other end of the driveway, the detached garage door was open, revealing Cade walking back and forth. Maybe he was working on his motorcycle or the old pickup truck parked beside it. Or maybe he was creating something with the woodworking tools she had spotted on his bench.

Everleigh basked in the view of the glorious bay. She’d spent many holidays at the inn, and especially had loved coming to seeAlana on the Fourth of July. They’d cook out, and her father would set off fireworks over the water. Life had been so simple back then. She thought fondly of all the hours she’d enjoyed, laughing and chasing her brother and sister.

Her thoughts turned to Harlowe. Everleigh had always been envious of friends who were close to their sisters, and she longed to open up to Harlowe and share her secrets, hopes, and dreams with her—like she had with Alana.

Grief packed around her heart, and she studied the cat. “Should I call my sister, Bryant?”

The cat yawned and hopped down the steps before flopping onto the concrete and stretching out his long body.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” She pulled her phone from her pocket. It was midmorning on a Tuesday, which meant Harlowe would be at work in the human resources office for the City of Coral Cove. She unlocked her phone, found her sister’s number, and poised her thumb over it.

And then she stopped.

Why was she hesitating? Harlowe was her sister. A simple phone call shouldn’t be so stressful. Maybe her sister would be happy to hear from her. What if this was the phone call that could change their relationship for the better? Hope swelled within her as she hit the button.

While the line rang, her attention moved back to the garage, where Cade stood in the doorway. He took a long drink from a bottle of water, then pushed his hand through his thick golden hair. When his eyes found hers, she waved. Instead of waving he walked back into the garage.So that must be his “I’m really busy right now” frown.

Harlowe’s voicemail picked up, and Everleigh’s hope dissolved. Maybe she was busy with an employee or in a meeting.

Or maybe she was avoiding Everleigh.

Stay positive!Everleigh told herself.Harlowe and I will work this out!

After the beep sounded, Everleigh began speaking. “Hey, Harlowe. This is your sister,” she said, her voice sounding chipper. “I’ve been thinking of you and wanted to chat. Give me a call sometime, okay? Bye.” Then she disconnected the call and pushed the phone into her pocket.

When she looked up again, she found Cade sauntering toward her. The cat jumped up and trotted toward him, meeting him by the driveway.

“Hey, bud.” He leaned down and stroked the cat’s ear.

Everleigh drank from her bottle of water and took in the sight of him in his athletic shorts and white T-shirt. The unremarkable clothing somehow did wonders for his muscular legs, arms, and chest. He was gorgeous.

She pulled herself away from the thought. She wasn’t interested in a relationship anyhow. And if she were, starting one with Cade Witherspoon would make things even more complicated...

---