Captiva Ever After (Captiva Island Series #7)

“So, Paolo, tell us about your work. You have a little flower shop on Sanibel, isn’t that right?”

“Sanibellia is a two and a half acre nursery,” he answered.

Devon nodded. “How nice.” He then turned his attention to Maggie. “I understand there’s to be two weddings taking place at the inn this Christmas.”

Maggie smiled. “Yes, we’re all looking forward to it. I’m certain it will be a wonderful event. The entire island is bustling with excitement.”

“Oh, I do hope the inn will still be standing when this awful storm is over,” Eliza said.

Maggie’s enthusiasm fading by the minute, all she could do was nod.

Defiantly, Chelsea announced, “The Key Lime Garden Inn has been through worse storms than this one. It will be there when we get back.”

Maggie smiled at her friend. Chelsea never failed to come through in times of distress and uncertainty. As if there hadn’t been enough tension, Ciara’s cell phone rang with a call from Jefferson.

“Excuse me,” Ciara said as she left the table and went into the living room.”

Maggie got up from her chair and looked at Devon. “Please excuse us, we’re waiting for word from Captiva.”

She could hear the concern in Ciara’s voice. “What do you mean? No sign of her at all? Did you look in the Captiva Chronicle’s office downstairs?”

“What did he say?” Maggie whispered.

“Thank you, Jefferson. Yes, please do.”

Ciara hung up the phone and shook her head. “He didn’t see Linda anywhere at her house or her office. He was headed over to the Southern Seas resort right now and said he’d go back in a while and look for her again.”

“Oh dear, this isn’t good,” Maggie said.

“Maybe she left the island after all,” Ciara said. “I’m going to try Crawford again.”

Ciara dialed Crawford’s cell phone and he finally answered.

“Why haven’t you answered your phone? I’ve been worried sick,” she asked.

“I’m sorry, honey. I had to check on Linda St. James. One of her neighbors stopped by on her way off the island and told me that Linda wasn’t leaving, so I went to check on her.”

“Is she all right?” Ciara asked.

“She’s better than all right. She’s fine, a little scared but she’ll be okay. It’s too late to get off the island so I brought her here to our place. At least this way she won’t be alone.”

“Oh, thank heaven,” she said. She gave Maggie a thumbs up while Crawford continued to talk.

“She packed up a bunch of food and brought it with her. She’s making dinner for the boys and me right now. You should hear the wind outside. It’s really howling. How is everything where you are?”

“Oh, everything is fine here. I feel guilty for leaving you all to go to a spa retreat though. Devon and Eliza are spoiling us.”

“That’s great. I feel better knowing that you’re safe. I better go. Linda says dinner is ready. I’ll talk to you later honey. Love you.”

Ciara hung up and looked at Maggie. “You won’t believe this but Linda is over at Crawford’s place making him dinner.”

“Dinner? How did that happen?” Maggie asked.

“Apparently, He didn’t want her to be alone so he brought her back to his place. I guess she emptied her pantry and refrigerator and hauled her stuff along with a suitcase over to Powell Water Sports.”

Maggie wasn’t sure what to make of Ciara’s concerns. At least Linda wasn’t alone, and Crawford and his sons would have someone to look after them. It seemed a good arrangement for everyone except Ciara.

“Let’s get back to the table. At least this is one thing we can stop worrying about.”