“I…” She set down her cup and sighed. “I kind of believed him. I think he was disappointed with my choice. But he said it would be fine. We can be friends. Research partners.”
“And that’s what you want?”
“I think so.” She shrugged. “Of course, I don’t really know what I want anymore.”
“Seems a shame to shut that door before you even know what might happen.”
“Maybe. But I think it’s the smart thing to do.”
“Sometimes the smart thing to do and what our heart wants are two different things.”
Gran always had wise words. She shook her head and changed the subject. “Oh, and we got sidetracked from researching the prince.” She guessed Gran would be glad about that, at least. “We discovered that a photo Brent found of his mother was of her standing here on Magnolia Key as a young girl. I didn’t recognize it because it had the old lighthouse in the background. You know, before it was rebuilt.”
“That was a long time ago when the storm damaged it. I think it’s been rebuilt once and remodeled once.” Gran paused and took a sip of her tea. “So Brent thinks his mother visited here?”
“Maybe. Or possibly even lived here. He’s going to research it.”
“I hope he can find out more about her.”
“I do too. I think it will help him feel closer to her. I think he had a pretty bleak childhood. Passed around from relative to relative. His dad worked overseas a lot.”
“That’s too bad. A child should always feel secure and know they have a home.”
“I think he’s hoping he’s connected to Magnolia Key. For his sake, I hope he is too.” She smiled. “It’s nice being connected to this island.”
“The island does something to you, doesn’t it? Claims a part of your heart.” Gran picked up her knitting. “Now, show me your scarf.”
She showed Gran her progress, and they chatted and knitted while they sipped their tea. She couldn’t ask for a better way to spend an evening. Well, maybe if she’d sort out what she was going to do with her life, it would be a bit more peaceful.
Gran looked up and smiled at her. “Don’t worry. You’ll figure things out.”
Her grandmother always did know what she was thinking.
Chapter15
Brent didn’t actually sneak out of the B&B the next morning, but he did stealthily go downstairs and slip out the door, careful not to catch the attention of anyone having—or serving—breakfast. He headed to Coastal Coffee for breakfast instead. He wasn’t quite up to friendly chatting with Felicity.
The morning sun was just beginning to warm the air, and sunbeams flickered through the palm fronds. Walking these streets had become a familiar routine to him, a comforting routine he enjoyed. He reached Coastal Coffee and slipped inside. Beverly waved to him and called out, “Sit anywhere you like. Be with you in a sec.”
He took a seat near the back of the cafe. No use sitting in the window where he could be seen if Felicity happened to walk by. Okay, now he was just being ridiculous.
Beverly came over and placed a mug on the table. “Coffee?”
“Please.”
“Darlene run out of breakfast this morning?” Beverly grinned.
He laughed. “I just had some work to do in town this morning and thought I’d stop by here and grab a quick breakfast for a change.” He figured that was a better answer than admitting he was hiding out.
Beverly nodded toward the chalkboard. “We have cinnamon rolls today. And Sal—that’s our cook—made some spinach quiche.”
“I’ll have the quiche with a side of hash browns.”
“Good choice. Won’t be long.” Beverly headed the kitchen, and he opened a folder he brought with him. He leafed through the printouts until he came to the photo of his mother.
He stared at it, tracing the outline of her with his finger. The lighthouse rose behind her, gleaming in the sunlight. His mother’s smile was soft, almost shy, as she gazed at the camera. She couldn’t have been more than a teenager in the picture.
He wondered what she had been like back then. Was she outgoing or reserved? Did she love the beach as much as he did? What dreams did she have for her future?
