“He loves you, Em.”
“If he loved me, he would stop trying to contact me. He needs to move on, Caroline. It’s what’s best. We’re never getting back together.”
Caroline cleared her throat. “Okay. I’ll try to talk to him.”
“Thanks. Listen, I’ve got some things to do. I’ll touch base soon, okay?”
“Okay. I love you, Em.” She could hear Caroline’s voice shaking a bit.
“I love you too.”
As she pressed end, she looked up at the bird that had been flying overhead. Now, a flock had joined it and they formed a V before flying off. It hadn’t been alone, after all. It had been looking for its flock, and they hadn’t let it down. She hoped to find her own flock one day. For now, she’d be that lone bird, aimlessly zipping around in the sky, waiting for some kind of direction.
Janine stood in the kitchen, looking out over the marsh behind the cabin. From the moment she’d moved in, this had felt like her happy place. She loved the abundant wildlife she saw each day, from birds to the occasional alligator. The smell of the marsh was hard to describe, and it had grown on her. Of course, mosquito repellant had become more required than fancy perfume, not that she normally wore that either.
She lifted her coffee cup to her lips, savoring the warmth as it passed from her throat to her stomach. Being petite meant always being cold, even in the often muggy lowcountry.
“I’m off to work! See you tonight!” Colleen called as she hurried toward the front door.
“Have a good day!” Janine yelled back, as she always did.
Having her niece as her roommate had been a godsend. Their relationship had grown, after years of not seeing each other when she and Julie had been estranged. Now, surrounded by more family than ever, Janine finally felt at home.
Of course, having a wonderful boyfriend like William helped too. Seagrove felt like the place she was always meant to be, and she didn’t see herself ever leaving. She finally understood what people meant when they said they had put down roots.
“Knock, knock,” Julie said, poking her head in the front door.
“Oh, hey, sis. What a surprise to see you so early this morning. Everything okay?” she asked as she walked into the living room.
“Yeah, everything is great. Just thought I’d stop by before work and see how you’ve been doing. I feel like I never get to talk to you anymore between work and planning the wedding.”
Janine sat on the sofa and patted the seat next to her. “Come sit.”
“Are you all right?” Julie asked as she put her purse on the back of the chair and sat on the sofa.
“Of course! Just enjoying some coffee before my first classes. You want a cup?”
“No thanks. I had some of Dawson’s coffee this morning.”
Janine chuckled. “That’ll put hair on your chest.”
“Definitely. I swear his coffee is thicker than tar!”
Janine had missed these times with her sister, especially mornings. When they were living together before Julie married Dawson, they were like teenagers again. Late night talks, early morning walks. Coffee, chips and the occasional cupcake. Now, it seemed like they were growing apart. Julie was a new mother again, and Janine had no kids. Julie had a business, a husband and a granddaughter. Her life was full, and Janine was starting to feel like hers wasn’t.
“How’s Dylan?”
Julie laughed. “He’s a handful, as usual. Dawson signed him up for karate to work off some of that excess energy and teach him discipline.”
“Oh, that’s great!”
“Yeah, he starts next week. But he’s a great kid.”
“He is. Y’all are really blessed,” Janine said, taking another sip of her coffee, trying not to make eye contact.
“Okay, what’s going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“Sis, I know when something’s bothering you, and something is definitely bothering you. What is it?”
Janine sighed and put her mug on the table in front of her. “It’s no big deal, really.”
“You look sad, and that’s a big deal to me.”
“I just feel a bit… empty lately.”
“Empty? But you have the yoga studio and William. Wait, is everything okay with William?”
She nodded her head. “Yes. Better than ever. And his charter business is going really well.”
“Then why do you feel empty?”
“I hate saying this because I don’t want to make you feel bad…”
“Did I do something wrong?”
Janine’s eyes widened. “Oh no! Not at all. It’s just me. I’m a little envious, that’s all.”
“Envious?”
“You have it all, Julie. A marriage, a new son, a granddaughter, a business. I guess I just wish my time would come to start my own family.”
Julie rubbed her arm. “Your time is coming, Janine. I just know it.”
“I mean, I’m too old to have a child biologically. That ship has sailed for me. But, I’d love to adopt like you did. I think I could provide a great home.”
“You absolutely could!”
“I just don’t want to do it alone.”
“You want to get married?”
She nodded. “I’d love to marry William, but he seems so hesitant. Maybe he’s not sure I’m the one for him. I just wish I knew for sure because I need to keep moving forward.”
Before they could continue their conversation, SuAnn opened the door holding a large covered cake plate. “Morning, girls!”
“Mom, you scared me to death!” Janine said, holding her hand over her heart.
“Get dressed, Janine. We’ve got an errand to run, the three of us.”
“I have work, Mom,” Julie said, standing up.
“Oh, poo! Dixie can handle it for another half hour or so.”
“Where are we going?” Janine asked.
“What kind of neighbors would we be if we didn’t welcome our newest resident over at the lighthouse?”
Janine looked at her sister, each giving a knowing glance at the other. They knew what their mother was up to. She wanted the gossip, and she was ready to go straight to the source. God help the new resident because SuAnn was going to find out her life story as soon as possible.
Chapter 3
Emma
