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She couldn’t wait.
Her phone chimed with a recorded voice message from Gram. She tapped it, holding it close to her ear. “I’ll be at the ferry. Can’t wait to give you a big hug.” In the background, Lila recognized the sounds of Gram’s staff cleaning and prepping. “Callie and I have everything set for tomorrow, so I booked you a room at the Inn for a couple of nights. You deserve a few days to sleep in. Don’t want my rattling around before work to wake you up. Love you.”
Leave it to Gram.
Lila knew better than to text back anything other than complete agreement. And a room at the Inn was an absolute treat. After the yacht, she’d probably get lost in their famous posh suites.
At one time, the Inn on Brookwell Island had been a luxury destination for Charleston’s elite. Historically booked solid from Memorial Day to Labor Day to accommodate weekend sailors and beachgoers.
The town had grown up around the Inn and its clientele and now was a destination all on its own. In part because the Inn had fallen into disrepair through the course of various ownerswho didn’t understand the need or costs of proper upkeep. Eventually, the town government stepped in, with an assist from the state historical society. The Inn was now owned by the town and under the management of an expert team who truly cared about preservation and providing excellent hospitality.
And Lila would enjoy a few nights of absolute bliss.
It would also ease her transition into a more predictable routine. A mini-vacation between dream jobs. While she’d been out seeing the world and getting the life experiences Gram wanted her to have, she’d missed being home and the weird, demanding hours the Bread Basket required.
Leaving the restaurant behind, she moseyed through downtown Charleston toward the ferry dock at Waterfront Park. Several things had changed in her absence. Not a terrible thing, definitely not unexpected, but what did that mean for Brookwell?
Everyone had claimed going abroad after culinary school was the best option for her. But she’d missed Brookwell during her time away. The homesickness was a constant pinch in her heart. There had been amazing experiences and sights to see. Cities to explore and places to improve her skills. But there had also been many, many weeks of waking up without the sound of the Atlantic Ocean nearby. Without the warm sand under her feet as she walked the beach after work and watched the sun dance in a sparkle of light across the water.
She bought her ferry ticket and found one of the oversized porch swings to lounge in before it was time to board. Seagulls wheeled over the water and, as dusk fell early this time of year, the pelicans glided by on their way to roost.
It was good to be home. Or nearly so.
In her mind the minutes ticked down, growing louder until at last the ferry boarded. Lila moved to the bow, heedless of the cold wind. As if standing at the forward rail would get her therefaster. But she was nearly giddy, her anticipation increasing with every sea-blown minute. Surely, it was her imagination that the coastal air smelled better here than anywhere she’d been over the last few years.
True or not, it’s how she felt and she was going to embrace it. No, she was going to lean into her own feelings and her own goals and dreams. No more full menus, aside from meals she’d make for herself or for her and Gram. The first steps off the yacht had been a celebration of her new focus and her true passion.
Baking was life. And she had some great recipes she couldn’t wait to run by Gram and, hopefully, add to the Bread Basket menu. Although she’d initially resisted, her time away had broadened her horizons, allowing her to expand and test new flavor combinations. She’d always be grateful to her grandmother’s wisdom for pushing her out of her comfort zone.
She smiled to herself. No sense admitting that right away though.
The daily offerings at the Bread Basket were relatively predictable and based on hard sales data from years of serving the island residents and visitors. Those recipes were seared into Lila’s mind and hands but Gram was always curious and willing to innovate. That alone was the biggest reason their modest family bakery was still in business.
The arch of lights over the island dock came into view and Lila bounced on her toes at the railing. She couldn’t wait for that first big Gram hug. The woman had been her mother, her mentor, and her friend. This year was going to be a blast as they worked together again and began the first stages of transitioning ownership so Gram could retire.
“You seem excited,” said the woman standing next to her.
Lila grinned. “Oh, absolutely. I’ve been away a long time.”
“You’re from Brookwell Island? Wow, that must’ve been some serious small-town life.”
“I guess so.” Lila had found the smaller community a comfort and more of the stabilizing influence she needed. The engine throttled back in preparation for docking. It was maddening, if necessary. “Is this your first visit?”
“Guilty as charged.” The woman smiled, but it seemed brittle around the edges. Lila’s intuition reared up and she tried not to let it show. She didn’t know the woman or her reasons for hopping the last ferry to the island.
It wasn’t as if the sidewalks rolled up at dinner time. According to her grandmother’s updates, there were more and more evening attractions on the island, courtesy of the Inn’s programming as well as other community initiatives. Even a rideshare service that shuttled people back to Charleston after ferry hours ended.
Lila refused to let this weird moment dim her enthusiasm. Ever polite, she kept up a friendly conversation about the island until the ferry docked and the gate was lowered. She did her best not to race away, but she was relieved to make her escape.
Her suitcase wheels rattled beside her as she crossed the metal gangway, her eyes scanning the area for Gram. Lila probably should’ve come straight over from the yacht. She’d been more than willing to jump into the job. Except Gram wouldn’t have let her lift a finger to help. At least not for a few days.
She knew Gram wouldn’t want to discuss business this evening, but the ideas kept bubbling up. She had suggestions to boost the bakery’s bottom line and make the transition easier for her grandmother’s eventual retirement.
Lila wasn’t in a hurry to nudge her out the door. Gram was a legend and her leaving would mark the end of an incredible era. Lila just didn’t want her to feel as if she had to work to max effort every single day. The woman deserved all the time she wanted to relax and enjoy her golden years.
“Lila! There’s my girl!”
The small crowd parted for Connie Copeland as she rushed toward Lila. Lila, tears welling in her eyes, ran to meet her, releasing her suitcase to throw her arms around her grandmother.
