I liked him that way. Not sick like he was, but real.
Archie and I are supposed to be taking his remains back to Brisbane for a memorial service there next week. Sybil’s planned it. Some of Malcolm’s business associates and friends will speak. I told her I didn’t have anything to say that I hadn’t already said to Malcolm.
Now that I’m back in Serenity, though, I’ve changed my mind about leaving again. “I’ve said my goodbyes. I think I need to be here now,” I say to Archie.
He’s silent on the other end.
“Arch? You there?”
“I reckon that’s alright,” he says, finally. “I’ll check in with the solicitors to see where we are with BIG buying Sanctuary.”
“Cheers, Arch.”
“It’s going to cost a pretty penny.”
Archie took some convincing to agree with my idea. He sounded a bit like Dad, actually, when I told him about it. He kept talking about going into business to make money, not lose it.
“I know.” I’m already preparing myself to possibly lose the money I worked hard to earn then fought hard to get back from Dad.
“No clue how we’ll make that place profitable,” Archie mutters as much to himself as to me.
“An eco-friendly surf wear company shouldn’t be profitable either but look what you’ve done with Bombora.”
“Text me later,” he growls, which I take as his wholehearted agreement and support, before I end the call.
Driving the roads around Serenity already has me feeling more hopeful than I did when I arrived, even with the fields dry and brown at the end of summer. It’s still beautiful. It won’t be long until everything is green and growing again.
My enthusiasm falters when I turn into the Holloways’ drive and stop at the gate. I take my time pressing the buzzer to be let through. I want to see everyone—okay, maybe not Cassidy—but what if they don’t want to see me? What if my being here causes more problems? What if I turn their lives upside down all over again? Especially Junie’s?
I don’t know if there’s any way to avoidstirring up trouble.
But if everyone at Flamingo’s can forgive me, maybe the Holloways will be willing to also.
And if I leave now, there’s no coming back. No matter what I do to save Sanctuary, Cal won’t forgive me. And he’ll have every right not to. I can’t pop in and out of his life when it’s convenient for me or when I need his support.
So, I drive the long, dry driveway up to the house. Jo walks out of the house as I pull up and waits for me on the front step. She smiles when I step out of my car, but there’s no welcome in it. It’s polite. Taut.
“Hi, Jo.” I wave.
When I reach the top step, I offer her a hug, which she returns out of obligation, not with the same warmth the first time she met me.
I’ve got my work cut out for me here, yeah.
“Come in and get settled. How long are you planning onstaying?” She looks toward my car. “Do you need help with bags?”
“I don’t have any…I hadn’t really planned on coming. Suddenly, I was just…here.” I hold back addingagain.
Jo doesn’t need a reminder that I’ve already shown up once with nothing, then left with a piece of Cal’s heart. Junie’s too. None of it was fair after how they’d welcomed me into their family without any reservation.
“So, I’m not sure how long I’ll stay.” I don’t miss the worry on her face. “But I don’t want to be a burden.”
“You won’t be a burden,” she says lightly before guiding me inside.
Somehow, I don’t believe her.
“Don’t forget to say goodbye before you leave this time. Okay?”
I wait for her to say more. She presses her lips together, and I understand her message.Don’t break my babies’ hearts again.
