Captiva Ever After (Captiva Island Series #7)

Beth thanked the owner of the shop and joined Lauren on the steps outside.

“It’s only a couple of blocks. We can walk it. Anyway, what other errands did you have to do this morning?”

Lauren rolled her eyes. “You won’t believe it, but I had to track down our grandmother. Did you know that she’s on a cruise in the Caribbean and didn’t think to tell anyone in the family? Jeff and I were worried sick when she didn’t answer the phone.”

Beth laughed. “Oh, I’m not surprised at all.”

“Why not? Did she tell you she was going?”

“No, but she did tell me about Mr. Peabody dying and how she planned to live it up with the time she’s got left.”

“Yes! That’s exactly what she said to me when I talked to her on the phone this morning. I think she’s really grieving the loss of that man. I didn’t think they were romantic, but now I’m wondering.”

Beth shook her head. “No, I don’t think that’s it. Did you know her friend Louise died last month?”

“Louise? Oh, is that one of the women she plays cards with on Thursday nights?”

“Yup. It was sudden. She died in her sleep and I think they said it was a heart attack. I think Grandma is grieving more than Mr. Peabody. I think she’s dealing with her mortality and it’s scaring her.”

They arrived at The Parish Café and the hostess seated them inside.

“Gabriel and I came here a lot during the warmer weather. We usually sit under a large umbrella. The temperature is getting colder by the day. More and more I’m grateful that I agreed to have this wedding on Captiva. I love Christmas and all, but I also love turquoise water and the sun on my face,” Beth said.

“Well, I’m guessing that’s part of why Grandma decided to take this cruise. Getting out of the cold of Boston and into the hot Caribbean sun will probably do her good.”

Beth laughed as she opened her menu. “Don’t be too surprised if Grandma comes back with more than a tan.”

“What do you mean by that?” Lauren asked.

With a twinkle in her eye, Beth answered her, “Let’s just say that the cruise is filled with a lot of single and eligible senior men. If I know Grandma, she’s noticing that very thing.”

CHAPTER 3

Maggie waited for Linda St. James to finish her phone call. As Editor of the Captiva Chronicle, Linda used her job as a way to gossip legitimately. If Byron Jameson was the town’s big mouth, Linda was his megaphone.

Convinced Byron and Linda collaborated on all things hearsay, standing at the Captiva Chronicle’s front desk was the last place Maggie wanted to be first thing this morning. However, it was necessary if she wanted to boast about Beth’s wedding.

Linda hung up the phone and then, smiling, joined Maggie.

“Good morning, Maggie. What can I do for you?”

“Hey, Linda. I wanted to get something in the next edition.”

“Oh? Is the inn having a party or something?”

“I guess you could say that. It’s my daughter, Beth. The inn is hosting her wedding on December 14th so I thought it would be nice to have the announcement in the paper. I should have done it sooner but…”

“Oh, my. I’m afraid there isn’t any room in the next edition.”

Maggie didn’t believe her. “No? Nothing?”

“Let me take a look.” Linda said as she walked to her desk and pretended to look at the newspaper. “Well, there is something, but it’s rather small and it’s on the second to last page.”

“Let me see that,” Maggie said.

Linda carried the paper to the front counter and pointed to the spot. “See, I can put the announcement there if you’d like.”

Maggie suspected there were better sections of the paper available to her, but Linda was intentionally pushing Beth’s announcement to the back.