Page 9 of Island Girl

The drive to Captiva took less than fifteen minutes. She crossed the small bridge between the islands, and something shifted in her chest. The last time she'd made this drive, she'd been a different person. Broken and lost, running from a life that had fallen apart. Her mother had still been alive then, though barely. Merritt had come to the islands looking for something she couldn't name, and she'd found Maggie.

Now she was back. Not running this time. Returning.

The Key Lime Garden Inn appeared around a bend in the road, tucked among palm trees and bougainvillea. It looked exactly the way she remembered. The pale yellow building with white trim. The wraparound porch with rocking chairs. The sign out front, hand-painted with a key lime tree and the words “Welcome Home.”

Merritt pulled into the small parking area and turned off the engine. She sat for a moment, her hands on the steering wheel, her heart beating faster than it should.

This was silly. Maggie would be happy to see her. There was nothing to be nervous about.

She got out of the car and walked up the crushed shell path to the porch. The screen door was propped open, the way it always was in the mornings. She could smell coffee brewing and something sweet baking. Muffins, maybe. Or scones.

She stepped inside and stood in the entryway, taking it all in. The sitting room to her right with its comfortable furniture and shelves full of books. Maggie's office across from it, the door open but the room empty. Fresh flowers on the side table. Thewindows open to let in the breeze. Everything exactly as she remembered.

She walked toward the kitchen, following the smell of baking. A woman stood at the counter, her back to the door, arranging scones on a plate. Her dark hair was pulled up in a messy bun.

“Iris?”

The woman turned, and her face lit up. “Merritt! Oh my goodness, look at you!”

She wiped her hands on her apron and came around the counter, pulling Merritt into a warm hug.

“When did you get here? Does Maggie know? She's going to lose her mind.”

“I got here a couple days ago. I wanted to surprise her.”

“Well, you're going to. She and Paolo are out in the garden. He's been obsessing over his tomatoes, and she's out there pretending to help but really just keeping him company.” Iris grinned. “Go on out. I'll bring some iced tea in a few minutes.”

“That sounds perfect. Thank you.”

“Of course.” Iris squeezed her arm. “It's so good to see you. You look wonderful.”

Merritt smiled. “It's good to be back.”

She pushed through the screen door and stepped out onto the back porch. The garden stretched before her, raised beds lining the edges, filled with herbs and vegetables. A lime tree stood in one corner, heavy with fruit. And in the middle of it all, kneeling in the dirt, was Paolo Moretti. Maggie sat on a small bench nearby, a wide-brimmed hat shading her face.

Paolo saw her first. He squinted against the sun, then his face broke into a wide smile.

“Maggie. Look.”

Maggie turned. For a moment, she didn't move. Then she was on her feet, crossing the garden in quick steps, her eyes already shining.

“Merritt?”

“Hi, Maggie.”

Maggie pulled her into her arms and held on tight. She smelled like lavender and sunshine, exactly the way Merritt remembered.

“You're here,” Maggie whispered. “You're really here.”

“I'm here.”

Maggie pulled back and held Merritt's face in her hands, studying her the way only Maggie could. Looking for the truth beneath the surface.

“You look different,” she said.

“Good different or bad different?”

“Good. Lighter.” Maggie smiled, her eyes crinkling. “The islands are already working on you.”