“I trust you completely.” She placed her hand on his cheek. “I can’t thank you enough for doing this for me. I know it’s a big favor to ask.”
“It’s not. I’m happy to do it. Now, you better get going.” Paul stopped next to her car. “I’m not going to bother you, so you call if and when you need to, okay?”
She nodded and started to open the car door, then turned back and ran into Paul’s arms. He held her tight. “You girls make these days the best possible, and then you and I are going to make memories here. I love you, Amanda. I always will. I’ve got this.”
He kissed her, on the mouth this time.
“Thank you. I’ll see y’all soon.” Amanda let go of Paul and got in her car, throwing it in reverse and heading home before she changed her mind.
He loves me.
She drove to her house with those words teasing her brain. Like love love? I can’t process this right now. Focus on Maeve.
The driver would be picking them up at Maeve’s at ten o’clock.
Amanda had made some cookies and a casserole for Paul and the kids, but if she had to guess, they’d eat at Tug’s the whole time she was gone. She wrote a good-night note for each of them and laid them on their pillows. A big heart on the front of each note. Paul’s too.
She grabbed her luggage, then closed the door behind her, feeling blessed for the path she was on. She loved this little house and all the special moments Whelk’s Island had given her so far.
She drove over to Maeve’s house. She left her overnight bag in the car and climbed the stairs.
Maeve met her at the door. “Are you as excited as I am?”
“Yes. I couldn’t sleep all night!”
“Come on in. I feel like ten o’clock will never get here.” Maeve hurried her inside. It was a beautiful day. The Carolina blue sky was as clear as could be. There wasn’t one cloud overhead, and the ocean was as calm as bathwater.
The nurse had finished up her short term last night, so Maeve and Amanda were alone.
“It was nice to have the place to myself this morning,” Maeve said. “One last time.”
“Are you sure about all this? You can change your mind. We can make it work. Me. Tug. Paul. We’ll all do whatever you need us to.”
“No. I’m sure of my plan.”
“Do you have everything you want to take?”
“Yes.”
The doorbell rang. “That’s probably our driver.” Amanda grabbed Maeve’s hands, unable to hold in the little squeal of anticipation. “I’ll let him in.”
But it wasn’t the driver. It was Tug. “Look what the cat dragged in, Maeve.”
Maeve turned from where she stood at the deck’s railing. “I thought we said our goodbyes.”
“You said I could pack you some stuff for the trip.”
“You’re right, I did. Thank you.” Maeve gave him an obvious look up and down that made Amanda laugh. “I don’t see anything. What’d you bring me? A jelly bean?”
He lifted his empty hands. “Ha! No. It’s downstairs. I put everything in two small coolers. One for hot stuff, and one for cold. Figured I’d load it in the limo for you.”
“A limousine. Can you believe it? I’ve never ridden in a limo before,” Maeve said. “Not even on prom or when we buried Mom and Daddy. They just had a Lincoln Town Car for the family, and that was expensive enough.”
“We’ll be traveling in style.” Amanda struck a playful pose, one she thought would give her that socialite appearance, flinging an imaginary scarf over her shoulder.
A double honk came from outside.
“I bet that’s him this time.” Amanda left Tug and Maeve and went to the front porch to check.
“Holy cow!” Amanda shouted. The limousine looked like it stretched clear across the driveway. She waved to the driver. He stepped out of the car, wearing a blue suit and a hat. “We’ll be right down.”
He waved, then got back in the car.
“Oh. My. Goodness. Gracious. Wait until you see our ride!” Amanda called Maeve and Tug over. “Come on. You have to see it. And, Maeve, he’s even wearing a hat!”
Maeve stepped onto the porch. “What in the world was Judy thinking?”
“I don’t know, but you are in for a treat,” Tug said. “You deserve it. Enjoy every moment of it.”
“Oh, Tug. Goodbye, my dear, dear friend.”
Amanda watched Tug hug Maeve gently, as if he thought she might break, and then he kissed her on the neck. Tug, having known Maeve his whole life, would surely feel an enormous loss when she was gone. Amanda’s heart ached for him. Heaviness weighted her own heart, and she hadn’t even known Maeve that long.
Amanda ran down to her car and grabbed her bag while the driver went upstairs to get Maeve’s things. When she looked up, she saw the driver carrying two small suitcases, and Tug was escorting Maeve down the stairs.
How does someone reduce a whole lifetime of belongings and memories down to two suitcases?
She watched Maeve stop and turn back, taking a last look at her home of so many years.
I still can’t believe you’ve entrusted me with your home. I promise I will take care of your priceless treasures and love this place, this town, and its people as much as you have.
“Are you ready?” Amanda asked.
Maeve turned and kissed Tug. “Now I’m ready.” She ducked her head and inched her way inside. “My. Would you look at this?” Her head swiveled, seeming to take in the rows of LED lighting, the beautiful accents, and the fine-crystal glasses next to the ice bucket.
“Let’s do this.” Amanda slid into the back of the limo. “Oh wow. The leather is like butter, Maeve. We are really in for a treat.”
Blue bottles of water lined the shelf, almost too pretty to drink. Amanda opened one and poured them each a glass. Then she discovered
