Page 41 of Autumn Tides

“So you rushed off to Tides in the hopes of catching her?” Maxi asked.

“Yes. Jane said they were leaving last night, so we were hoping to catch them before they left,” Andie said.

“And did you?” Maxi asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

“Yes. They were practically on their way out the door!” Andie said.

“Did you give her the gift?” Claire cut a carrot muffin in half and put one side on her plate.

“I did.” Andie smiled. “It was a sterling silver urchin charm. You should have seen her face when she opened it. Turns out, the charm was from her late sister, Heidi.”

Jane nodded, “Ah, yes, Betty had mentioned her sister to me and how she’d been looking for some sort of connection, a sign, maybe.”

“Then I bet the charm was the connection she was looking for,” Andie mused.

Jane nodded. “I’m happy for her. They were nice ladies. They even left a wonderful note at the reception desk. Looks like we’ll be seeing them next year!”

“That’s great to hear,” Claire chimed in. “Sounds like everything worked out nearly perfectly.”

Andie grinned. “It did. Although Bunny was a bit disappointed that we didn’t actually solve the mystery through hard-boiled detective work, both she and Sam were thrilled to have played a part in reuniting Betty with such a sentimental treasure.”

Jane, shifting her attention from Andie’s delightful tale, turned to Claire. “So, spill the beans! I saw Sandee leaving Sandcastles as I walked in. What happened?”

Claire took a deep breath, her face glowing with an air of hope and new beginnings. “Well, Sandee and I are going to work on a project together. We’re considering a partnership for Beach Bones!”

The table went silent for a moment, a mixture of surprise and curiosity painted on everyone’s faces. Maxi broke the silence first. “A partnership? With Sandee? Wow, that’s unexpected!”

Claire nodded. “It is. But you know, I think we may have misjudged her. She’s changed, really changed. Did you know she drove all the way down to New York to rescue dogs affected by the flooding? Risked her own safety for it.”

Jane looked impressed. “That does sound like the action of a changed person.”

Claire continued, “She was fooled by Peter, just like I was. I think it’s high time we gave her another chance, and honestly, I’m looking forward to working with her.”

Andie raised her coffee mug in the air. “Well, here’s to new beginnings!”

Everyone clinked their mugs together, the sound echoing the harmony and unity that filled the room.

Claire looked around the table at her friends, grateful for the love and community that seemed to wrap itself around every corner of their small town. “You know, it really does seem like everything always works out in the end.”