“I want to. I want to make sure you’re okay.”
Beverly paused under the lamppost. “I’m okay. I promise. Or I will be. I just need some time to adjust to seeing him again. You go on home. I’ll be fine. I need some time alone.”
“Okay, if you’re sure.” Maxine frowned as Beverly headed down the sidewalk. Beverly had a lot to think about tonight. To process. But then, she herself had a lot to think about. Like trying to talk to Dale again.
CHAPTER28
Beverly walked slowly back to her cottage trying to process the fact that she’d seen Cliff again. After all these years. He was still devilishly handsome, and it irked her that she’d noticed it.
She’d spent so many years pushing him out of her mind, giving her heart time to heal. And now with one look at him, her heart exploded with the same exact pain she’d felt all those years ago.
She turned at the sound of someone walking up behind her.
Cliff.
“Hey.”
Hey? That’s all he had to say? Hey?
“I… uh… I guess I should have let you know I was coming to town.” He shifted from foot to foot. “But I didn’t want people to know I was behind this development until I had a chance to show my presentation. Get more people to support it.”
“Always doing what’s best for you, aren’t you?” The words just slipped out as anger tromped through her.
“No, I just… I need this to work out. This development, I mean. Not that Dad is around anymore to see my success… or failure.”
She ignored the flash of pain in his eyes. The same longing she used to see when he was desperately trying to please his father.
“I hope it doesn’t work out. That you leave. And leave our island alone. Of all the places in the world, why did you choose this one to develop?”
“Because… it was a good opportunity with the bridge being built.”
“And you don’t care that it will ruin the atmosphere of the island? Once one high-rise gets approved, it will pave the way for others.”
“It’s time Magnolia moved into this century, don’t you think?”
She clenched her jaw. “I’m fairly certain you don’t care what I think or what I need. You’ve proven that.”
“Don’t be like that. We were just kids back then. And I had a chance to show my dad what I could do. I couldn’t pass it up.”
“But you could leave me behind. Standing at the ferry. Alone. For hours.”
He gave her a sheepish look. “Yeah, that was wrong. But I left you a letter.”
“Because you were too chicken to talk to me face to face. I deserved better.”
He sighed. “You did. I was young then. I handled it poorly.”
Poorly? How about heartlessly?
“I was kind of hoping to get your support. If you support this development, I know a lot of other townspeople will follow your lead.”
“I’ll tell you one thing, Cliff Griffin.” She poked her finger at his chest. “I’ll fight you with everything I have to make sure this development never happens. Never.”
She whirled around and hurried off, leaving him behind her. Leaving her memories of what they’d once had behind her. The only thing in front of her was her immense desire that he didn’t get his way. She’d make sure to ruin all his plans for his stupid development. Every last little plan. Then maybe, maybe, she’d feel like they were even. And she’d put him behind her once and for all.
CHAPTER29
Maxine went out early the next morning with her coffee. She was working the later shift today so had lots of time. Though she did want to get to Coastal Coffee and see how Beverly was doing. It must have been a shock to see Cliff after all these years. And painful. Why were relationships always so hard? And complicated?
