Captiva Ever After (Captiva Island Series #7)

“Not living by the ocean, I haven’t,” Maggie answered.

“Well, let me tell you that it isn’t anything to mess around with. Carl and I lived through Hurricane Charlie. We left the island and when we returned, we were shocked at the damage.”

Riley and Iris stopped cooking and joined in the conversation.

“Chelsea is right, Maggie. You don’t want to be here during the storm. Property damage is one thing, but people have died riding out hurricanes,” Riley said.

“Well, then it’s settled. Let me call the other guests and cancel their reservations. We’ll go to that meeting tomorrow and see what everyone thinks. In the meantime, I need to call Sarah and Trevor. I’m concerned about them as well. They’re a bit more inland but certainly not out of the path of this thing,” Maggie said.

“I’m going over to Powell Water Sports and speak to Crawford and my sister. I don’t know what Ciara wants to do but I’ll feel much better having her leave the island with us.”

Paolo walked outside and Riley and Iris got back to their cooking. Maggie grabbed Chelsea’s arm and pulled her into the other room.

“Well?” she asked.

“Well, what?”

“Are you going to tell me about the dating app or not?”

“I would have told you eventually. Isabella Barlowe talked me into signing up for it.”

“Sebastian’s wife talked you into signing up for a dating app? How did she do that?”

Chelsea shrugged. “I don’t know how it happened. One minute we were having French wine and the next she was downloading this thing on my cell phone. I told her that I didn’t want to do it, but she insisted I find a man. Can you imagine that?”

Maggie nodded. “I can, actually. I can see the two of you downing a bottle or two. Have you had any luck?”

Chelsea seemed embarrassed by the whole thing and Maggie couldn’t understand why. “Chelsea, there isn’t anything to be ashamed of. Lots of people get together through these things.”

“I know that, but I specifically told her that I wasn’t interested in dating anyone. Somehow she doesn’t think a woman can be perfectly happy without being in a relationship.”

“Are you?”

“Am I, what?”

“Are you happy not being in a relationship?”

Chelsea didn’t answer right away and Maggie could tell that for some reason, Chelsea seemed hesitant to admit she missed having a man in her life.

“Why is this so difficult? For heaven’s sake, no one is telling you to get married. You can control exactly how you want to live your life. You shouldn’t listen to Isabella or even me for that matter. Do what you want and stop apologizing for it.”

“It’s not difficult. At first, I thought it was a stupid idea, but then I started looking at some of the men on the website, some were awful, but some seemed nice enough. Oh, I don’t know whether it’s a good idea or not. All I know is that I’ve got a date tomorrow night. That is until I hear what they have to say at the meeting tomorrow morning.”

“What does the meeting have to do with your date?” Maggie asked.

“I’d rather not start something until after the hurricane. I’m not sure I can handle two disasters at the same time.”

* * *

“Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” Beth asked Gabriel.

“If you mean the fact that a hurricane looks to be barreling toward the west coast of Florida?”

“I’ve got to call Mom. She and Sarah have to come up here.”

“Beth, hang on. There’s no need to panic just yet. They’re saying it can go more to the west and if it does then Captiva won’t get a direct hit.”

“I know but I want them to get ahead of this thing and that means getting out of there before it’s too late to go anywhere.”