Page 10 of Finding Home

“It is.” Cole met her eyes directly. “Which is slightly terrifying. Most people in their sixties are thinking about retirement, not building a world-class resort.”

Julie smiled. “Try being fifty-nine and starting over from scratch. At least you chose your new beginning. Mine was chosen for me.”

Cole frowned. “What happened?”

“I was laid off from the newspaper I was working on. My entire career was gone in a fifteen-minute meeting.” She kept her tone light, but the regret leaked through anyway. “According to my boss, my skills were ‘valuable but not aligned with the organization’s digital-first direction.’”

Cole winced. “That’s a brutal way to end a career.”

“The worst part is wondering if they’re right. Maybe I am obsolete. Maybe I waited too long to adapt.” She paused, surprised at her own candor. “Sorry. You didn’t sign up for my mid-life crisis along with dinner.”

“I asked.” Cole’s voice held genuine sympathy. “And for what it’s worth, I understand the feeling. Every time someone on my team mentions TikTok or influencer marketing, I wonder if I’m building something the next generation will even want.”

Julie tilted her head to the side, surprised by Cole’s comment. “People will always want to feel connected, whether it’s to their family and friends or to their community. The projects you showed us at the meeting are incredible. They give people a sense of connection and permanence that no social media platform could ever do.”

Cole’s eyes crinkled at the corner as he smiled. “Thank you. I should have recorded what you said for the times when I second-guess myself.”

Julie matched his smile. “I’ll send you some positive affirmations tomorrow.” When she’d invited Cole to join her, she hadn’t expected to feel as though she was having dinner with an old friend. Or someone who could be more than a friend.

“How are the permit reviews progressing?” Julie asked, steering toward Cole’s work instead of anything more personal. “The timeline you presented didn’t leave a lot of time for last-minute hold-ups.”

Cole didn’t seem bothered by her question. “We’re working closely with the county planning department. But even with the fast-track program, it takes time to provide them with all the impact reports. Then there’s the Army Corps of Engineers for anything affecting the shoreline, a state review for water rights, and about fifteen other regulatory hoops we’ve almost finished.”

“That sounds like a nightmare of bureaucracy.”

“It’s necessary, though.” Cole’s conviction was clear. “Every one of those reviews exists because someone cut corners in the past and caused damage. I’d rather do this properly than rush and destroy what makes this place special.”

Julie studied him over her coffee cup. “That’s surprisingly patient for a developer. Most would be pushing to build the resort as quickly as possible.”

“Most developers aren’t planning to live in the community they’re building in.” Cole smiled slightly. “It’s hard to enjoy your retirement if your neighbors hate you.”

“Fair point.” Julie hesitated, then decided to tell him what she’d been thinking when he was talking about the resort. “You know, at the meeting, I noticed people responded more to your commitment to stay than to any of the technical details about the project.”

Cole’s attention sharpened. “Really?”

Julie nodded. “It shifted the whole tone. Before that, you were an outsider promising things that might never happen. But after you spoke about living here, you were a potential neighbor with shared stakes in getting things right. The people living in Sapphire Bay seem to care more about intentions than credentials.”

“That’s...” Cole paused, seeming to process the insight. “That’s helpful. I’ve been focused on addressing specific concerns, but maybe I should be emphasizing the resort’s long-term benefits to the community.”

Julie felt oddly pleased by his response. “It was only an observation. Take it for what it’s worth.”

They finished their meal trading stories about their respective industries. Cole described a disastrous project in Arizona where the client changed their mind three times about the building’s footprint. Julie shared the time she’d spent a week investigating a potential money laundering scheme. But it turned out to be a legitimate business transaction that her source had misunderstood.

When the server brought the check, Cole reached for it. “My treat. You saved me from eating takeout in my rental and staring at construction schedules.”

“Thank you.” Julie gathered her laptop and bag. “I didn’t have any construction schedules to worry about, but I did have some more employment sites to check. And believe me, having dinner with you was so much better.”

Cole stood and pulled on his jacket. “Good luck with the job search. For what it’s worth, any organization that doesn’t value your experience is making a mistake.”

Julie smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind when I apply for my next job.”

They walked out together, parting in the parking lot with a friendly wave.

As Julie drove toward her cottage, she thought about their conversation. About the way Cole had listened without offering empty platitudes. About his admission of fear at starting something new.

She’d expected a polished developer focused solely on profit margins. She’d found someone grappling with the same questions about purpose and belonging that kept her awake most nights.

It was an unsettling realization. And it was even more unsettling when she realized how much she’d enjoyed sharing a meal with someone who knew what it meant to rebuild your life.