Page 10 of The House on Firefly Beach
“That sounds interesting.”
“People write in with things that are weighing on them and I answer.” She shrugged to convey that it wasn’t the most glamorous of writing jobs but it was a start. “But enough about me! Tell me what you’ve got going on—it sounds huge.”
Mary Alice beamed, pulling a glossy brochure from her bag. “I had these made this week,” she said, her eyes shining with excitement as she pushed it across the table. “It’s for my new wellness center.”
“Oh wow,” Sydney said, opening the brochure to view the services offered by the center. “This is great.”
“Thank you.” Mary Alice beamed. “It’s a big leap, but I’ve decided to start my own center here in Firefly Beach so I can give back to the community that I love.”
“That’s amazing,” Sydney told her, setting the brochure down. “I’m excited for you!”
“Thanks!” Mary Alice offered her a big smile. “I was wondering if I could ask a huge favor.”
“Of course,” Sydney said. “What is it?”
“I’m offering a free magazine for my patients… and I was wondering if I could ask for you to use your content editing skills? It needs a front cover, would you be able to help with the layout and photo shoot for that, and maybe offer me some quick ideas for the organization of the magazine? I can’t afford a full staff and I know how good your attention to detail is.”
It would be nice to be a part of something with such passion behind it, Sydney thought. She still had her inheritance and the money from the sale of her house back in Nashville, so didn’t mind taking this time to do a little something for herself. It had been a long time since she’d allowed herself to be solely in the creative field, and she still wasn’t sure she could do it, but she’d never know until she tried—it was where she was always the happiest.
Mary Alice ran her hand over the brochure that had a photo of a family gathered on a picnic blanket with the title in block font:
SEASIDE FAMILY CALM AND WELLNESS CENTER
A complete approach to a healthier you.
“Absolutely.” Sydney felt a thrill just looking at the pamphlet in front of her. This type of work was right up her alley. “I can see the titleA Better Youon the cover of the magazine. Just thinking out loud, you could have a range of sections that might go something like… ‘Find Yourself,’ covering organic and cruelty-free products, vitamins, local spots to get outdoor exercise… Maybe a section on the latest in psychology, for example, a spot on meditation or mindfulness… You could call it ‘Mind over Matter’?” She kept going, the ideas flooding her. “You could even do another piece with celebrity spotlights—people in the public eye who are making a difference in their environment and themselves, and then ways to help and get involved…”
When she looked up, Mary Alice had her hand over her mouth, covering a giddy smile, her eyes wide. “Iknewyou were the one to ask,” she said. “I already love it all. Would you be free to come in to the office when we open tomorrow at nine? I have counseling clients already lined up first thing, but I’ll show you some of the ideas I’ve got to get you started.”
“Of course I would!”
“That’s amazing. I’ll set up a table for us in one of the spare rooms at the center so you and I can have a quiet place to talk.”
“That sounds marvelous.”
Wes brought their drinks to the table—tall narrow glasses filled to the brim with dark pink liquid, a slice of pineapple on the rim, and his signature umbrella, speared through mixed fruit, floating on top.
“I suppose these drinks are celebratory,” Mary Alice said, her eyes dancing with enthusiasm for the project.
Sydney, nearly overflowing with hope, raised her glass. “Cheers to that.”
Chapter Four
Sydney clicked on the lamp as she sat at the desk in the small office she’d converted from Aunt Clara’s sewing room, leaning back in the chair she’d chosen during the renovation of the cottage because of the oatmeal color that matched so nicely with the linen drapes. She opened her computer to begin her first response for her column, under the banner of “Dear Ms. Flynn.” She opened the first letter:
Dear Ms. Flynn,
I’m writing you with a heavy heart. I’ve taken a new job and had to move away from my entire family. Now I’m all alone in a new city…
Best wishes,
Rebecca
Sydney copied and pasted the letter into a new document and began her response, addressing the sender:
Dear Rebecca,
It must be terribly difficult to be without your family.
