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“I need someone I can trust to help me with managing the inn. While I love Jeanne, she just isn’t family, and I need someone who is business-savvy around here. Besides, you make better chocolate-chip pancakes than I do. What do you think? Could I entice you to move to Seaview and accept partial ownership of the Harbor Inn?”
Callie heard a tiny yip! as Peanut Butter scurried around a corner. She began laughing and crying at the same time as she reached down to scoop up the little ball of fur. Hugging him in one arm, she threw the other around her aunt.
“I think that’s a yes,” laughed Fran as they both reached out at the same time to grab tissues for the tears streaming down both faces.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy,” said Callie.
“Oh honey, just you wait,” replied her aunt.
˜*˜
Later that morning, Callie sat in the church pew with Jackson on one side and her aunt sitting on the other. The pastor had selected the book of Philippians for the sermon that morning. She opened her Bible and followed along with the Scripture: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Phil. 4: 4-9.
Callie felt Jackson squeeze her right hand and Aunt Fran squeeze her left and knew that she was finally home.
Epilogue
CALLIE
Callie studied her reflection in the bathroom mirror as she placed a pastel pink headband into her hair, complimenting the new dress she had picked out for Easter. She considered all the changes that had taken place in the last year and felt an overwhelming surge of gratitude for the blessings the Lord had bestowed. After relocating to Seaview, she had been working steadily with Aunt Fran to computerize the inn’s scheduling and bookkeeping systems and launch new advertising. The upgraded marketing strategies had proven effective, and there was now a waitlist of several months to schedule a reservation.
Jackson had moved his home base to Seaview, and he and Callie were dating and becoming more serious by the day about spending their future together. They had heard from Amberley Drake, who had called excitedly from her car phone after she and Ben Green eloped over Christmas. She had found a position as a local reporter for one of the Atlanta tv news stations, and she and Ben were house hunting. They had also received a text from Tony Rizzoli, who proposed to Margaret on New Year’s Eve. He was moving to Ohio, and they were planning a gigantic wedding with a guest list of five hundred.
Callie uncapped her lip gloss and gave her lips a quick swipe. She, Jackson, and Aunt Fran were picking up her father from the airport on their way to the Easter church service. Arthur Winthrop had been tight-lipped when Callie informed him that she was changing her career direction and moving to Florida. But she was encouraged by the fact that he wanted to make the trip that spring to visit her and meet Jackson. She prayed that things would go smoothly and their time together wouldn’t be as awkward as she currently felt. Grabbing her clutch and her keys, she headed downstairs.
˜*˜
The church had been packed that morning, the pews filled with a sea of bright colors, fancy hats, tulle, and patent leather. Callie, Jackson, Arthur, and Aunt Fran had headed back to the inn for a catered mid-day meal, a gift from Arthur. The four of them sat at the mahogany dining table, finishing roast lamb, honey glazed carrots, scalloped potatoes, and hot cross buns.
Sipping a cup of decaf, Arthur suggested they head into the sitting room. Callie felt apprehensive, sure that a lecture of some sort was about to take place. She plumped the pillows on the sofa before taking a seat next to Jackson, who immediately reached for her hand. Arthur sat in the wingback chair facing them, while Fran perched on the edge of the opposite chair, looking slightly nervous as she fingered the strand of pearls around her neck.
Arthur cleared his throat. “Callie, I owe you an apology,” he said, leaning forward to place his cup on the coffee table. Callie tried not to let her mouth fall open. She searched for something appropriate to say, but she decided just to keep listening as no words came out. After a brief pause, her father continued.
“After losing my beloved Molly…your mother, my grief was almost unbearable. I understand now that I’ve buried myself in work all these years to avoid feeling the pain, or feeling much of anything, for that matter. I haven’t been there for you as I should have been. When you decided to leave the company and move here, it was an eye-opener, quite frankly. Frances, I’m sorry I haven’t been better at keeping in touch with you, either. It’s just been too hard since you remind me so much of my wife.”
Fran’s eyes filled with tears. “Arthur, please don’t apologize. I completely understand, and it’s never too late. Molly would want you to be happy, you know.”
Arthur passed a hand over his face. “Yes, I know she would,” he said. “Jackson, I understand that you love my daughter, and from what I hear, she loves you, too.”
Jackson looked into Callie’s eyes before responding. “Yes, sir, I love her, and I intend to spend my life with her, with your permission, that is.”
“I understand that you are a Christian?” Arthur continued. “I mean, not just in name but in practice—you read and study the Bible, correct?”
“Yes, sir, that’s correct,” Jackson replied.
“Hmm,” Arthur said thoughtfully. “I’ve avoided church since Molly died because I was so angry. However, now I think maybe that wasn’t such a good idea. I probably could have used the help making sense of it all, but I was just too stubborn at the time to ask for it, much less accept it.”
“We’d love to welcome you to church with us whenever you are in town,” Jackson said. “All I know is that God is always available, even when we don’t understand why things happen the way they do.”
Arthur nodded. “I’d like to find a church back home, and maybe I’ll even pick up a Bible in the airport on my way back to Chicago.”
Callie got up and went to embrace her father. “Dad,” she said as the tears ran down her cheeks, “I love you.”
Arthur hugged her back. “I love you too, honey. Guess it’s never too late for an old dog like me to learn some new tricks.” He looked at her as a sly smile spread across his face. “Maybe I’ll even sign up for a matchmaking service. What do you kids think?” Callie was sure their laughter could be heard all the way up to heaven.
