Lib Novel Page 36
Maggie clapped her hands.
“That would be perfect. If you want to go back to work, then that’s what you should do. I know it might be a struggle, but most things that are worth anything require a bit of extra effort. I’d tell you that Paolo and I could watch the kids but I’m not sure I can commit to that.”
Chelsea laughed. “What your mother is trying to say is that she doesn’t have the stamina. She’s hardly old, but I can admit to feeling the same way. I’m afraid you’re going to have to get someone younger and with more energy to handle three children all under seven years old.”
Sarah smiled. “Thank you guys. I completely understand. Some days I feel like I don’t have the energy either.”
“Well, why don’t we see if we can get you to work part time starting in the new year? I think you’ll be happy if you get out of the house a bit every week.”
“I’d love that. With all that’s going on with the weddings and whatever repairs that need doing before that, I don’t feel I can focus on one more thing until after the holidays anyway.”
* * *
In the days that followed the storm, residents slowly returned to the island. There was minimal serious damage to properties and businesses, but a few, including the Captiva Chronicle building, needed roof repairs. The Key Lime Garden Inn’s damage was limited to the vegetation and outdoor structures. The sand bagging around the koi pond, as well as the submergence of several plants, kept the fish and water from escaping the pond.
The garden was destroyed and, as Jefferson had earlier mentioned to Paolo, would need a major overhaul of debris removal and replanting to bring it back to its beauty. Maggie was heartsick at the loss of several varieties of flowers as she remembered how much her friend Rose loved them. Rose had a vision for the garden, and Paolo loved tending to that vision. Now, they’d have to start all over again.
“What about the wedding? I was hoping that we’d have lots of beautiful plants to showcase on that day. Where’s all the color going to come from?” Maggie asked Paolo.
He shook his head. “No idea, but didn’t Beth wish for snow? Maybe we wait to replant until after the wedding. That way you can haul a whole bunch of white stuff and we’ll lay it out where the garden used to be.”
Maggie looked at Paolo as if he’d grown a second head. “Are you out of your mind? There is zero chance that Beth will get her wish for snow. If she wants snow, then she’s going to have to have her wedding up north instead of Captiva Island.”
Paolo shook his head. On the one hand, his wife’s comment made perfect sense, but on the other, the reality was that Maggie refused to accept a wedding anywhere else but on Captiva Island. It was possible that she was softening a bit considering what the hurricane had done to the property.
Walking up the driveway was Crawford Powell and Linda St. James.
“Hey, Linda. How is your place?” Maggie asked.
“Well, it looks like I’m going to need a new roof. Other than that, I’d say I made out okay. It could have been worse.”
“I hear The Mucky Duck and The Bubble Room are fine,” Paolo added.
Crawford nodded. “The Mucky Duck has a bit of flood damage, but otherwise, yeah, they’re going to be okay. I know the garden looks bad, Maggie, but you need to put it in perspective. There are several properties that have had extensive water damage. It doesn’t appear that the Key Lime Garden Inn is one of them.”
Maggie nodded. “We have to be grateful for these blessings for sure.”
Crawford looked at Maggie and smiled. “So, what do you think about the weddings?”
Maggie shrugged. “We don’t have any damage to the building or the Carriage House. It’s just the garden and gazebo and the plants, shrubs and trees around the property. I have to be honest, those things made this property so beautiful. The butterfly bush is gone, all the plants are gone. Yes, we’re lucky there were no deaths associated with this storm, but it’s bad timing as far as the weddings go. I’m not sure we can make the place look beautiful enough for a wedding.”
Maggie tried to compose herself and speak of the practicality of their situation, but inside, she wanted to cry. Nothing about the dreams she’d imagined all these months leading to the weddings would be realized.
In four weeks, her daughter and son would come to Captiva to have their dream weddings. Now, she worried not only about fulfilling those dreams, but accepted a fact no one had addressed.
It was more than possible that the guests from Massachusetts and beyond would most likely not attend even if the weddings weren’t canceled.
Newspapers, television and travel agencies touted the hurricane as a devastation for both Captiva and Sanibel. It would take a lot of convincing to disagree with that assessment and encourage their guests to join them in what Maggie still considered, Paradise.
CHAPTER 13
The thought of sitting in front of a therapist, discussing her feelings in front of her husband, excited Brea. It was the first time in a while that she felt allowed to speak her mind.
Brea never complained about Michael’s ability to understand her. Indeed, she prided herself on having a husband who intuitively and instinctually got her. That was, until the shooting six months ago.
Post-traumatic stress was front and center in their relationship and she felt that any focus on her needs could be considered selfish.
Brea didn’t want to upset Michael or cause him to worry about their marriage, but unless they communicated, she was certain that issues would fester and larger troubles between them would suddenly threaten their marriage.