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Clara nodded and said, “It’s okay if we can’t go see her. Lena wanted to bring her something for the baby is all.”
“You have to see the baby,” Alice said. “He’s the cutest little thing in the whole world.”
“He’s got Laurel’s cute face,” Mom said. “With Paul’s darker hair.”
Clara had seen pictures of him, but she could admit there wasn’t anything as special as a holding a newborn baby. Her heartstrings hummed, and she smiled around at everyone. “I’d love to see him.” She met Robin’s eye, and once again the woman wasn’t smiling.
Clara hadn’t seen her in person for a few weeks, as making yet another crazy ninety-degree turn had been happening in her, Scott’s, and Lena’s life.
She now got up at three o’clock in the morning and got on the first ferry—at five a.m.—to go to Sanctuary Island so she could be there to run the Cliffside Inn for breakfast and check-out.
Scott took Lena to Jean’s only a couple of hours later, because he actually drove the ferry to and from Sanctuary Island, starting at seven a.m. Jean then took Lena to the supermarket by ten. They were all home by three or four at the latest, and Clara couldn’t complain about this turn.
She couldn’t believe she was happy here in Five Island Cove, but she was. Happier than she’d been in a while. Scott was happier. Lena was thriving.
The things that had been rebuilt in Clara’s life surprised her, as she hadn’t thought her friendships needed work. She hadn’t thought she’d be able to accept that Lena needed other influences besides her and Scott. She hadn’t ever thought that she could come back to this place which she’d disliked so much growing up.
All of those were true, though, and Clara knew she still had walls to break down, and new rooms to build. She had plenty to work on, but the real joy came from the fact that shewasworking on it.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” Robin stood in front of her now, and Clara blinked.
“Sure,” she said.
Robin moved several steps away, and Clara followed her. The tension between them rose to a level Clara could feel in her stomach, and she wasn’t sure what would come out of Robin’s mouth.
“Is everything okay?” Clara asked, for Robin just stood there, silent.
“I know my mother came to you with an investment…option,” she said. “I want to know what it was.”
Clara’s first instinct was to shut down. Deny everything. Tell Robin she didn’t know what she was talking about. She’d told no one but Scott about Jennifer’s offer, and only Scott and Tessa knew the money had been turned down.
Clara needed more time to figure out what to say, and she opened her mouth and then closed it again.
Robin folded her arms and cocked her head. “Clara,” she challenged.
“Nothing came of it,” Clara said.
“I still want to know what it was,” Robin said.
Alice drifted closer, and she stood next to Robin. “Everything okay?”
“She won’t tell me either.” She glared at Clara, and the “either” made Clara want to clam up even more.
She swallowed and searched for the right thing to do. “Your mother didn’t want me to tell anyone.” She glanced over to her mother, who stood watching. Everyone was watching.
The world narrowed to her looking at all of them, and she knew whatever she said or did next would determine if she could still be part of them or not.
She wanted to be part of them.
She needed to keep her home as well, and she rented from Jennifer.
She wished Scott stood at her side and could help her know what to say or do.
“Guys,” Eloise said. “I have an announcement while we’re all here.”
Clara’s eyes widened as she looked Eloise. “El,” she said.
“Clara is my new morning manager.” She took a few steps toward the trio Clara was a part of and bridged the gap to the others near the waiting area. “She has been for a few weeks now, and she’s amazing at it.”
