Page 39 of Finding Home at Hearts Hotel

“You mean you were there raiding the bakery kitchen for your sugar fix,” Linda scoffed.

“We asked her not to tell anyone until everything had settled down,” Lila admitted. “And we didn’t want to take the focus off Maggie’s wedding and George and Anna’s vow renewal.”

“Wow!” Linda looked shocked. “Well… congratulations.” She hugged Lila, as did the rest of the women. “I’m happy for you and Tom.”

“There really is a lot of love in the air this year,” Penny said, draining the last of her champagne. “Speaking of the bakery, aren’t we supposed to go and try some of the sweet treats for the wedding at Tom and Lila’s bakery?”

“Yes,” they said as they grabbed their purses.

Lila and Anna led the way.

As they walked toward the bakery, Maggie felt a single tear slip down her cheek, but this time, it was born of pure, unadulterated happiness. The long, difficult years of her past were finally behind her, and under the wide protective sky of Sweet Blossom Bay, she was ready to step into her beautiful future.

MAGGIE

The silk blindfold felt smooth and cool against her skin, but it did nothing to calm the steady, excited fluttering beneath her ribs. Maggie Sullivan sat in the passenger seat of the familiar vehicle, her fingers lightly tracing the hem of her linen trousers as she adjusted to the darkness. It was the night before her wedding. Her wedding. The mere thought of it made her breath catch, her pulse quickening with a disbelieving rhythm that had been her constant companion all week. After so many years of shared history, quiet longings, and heartbreaking detours, she was finally going to marry the only man she had ever truly loved.

To ensure they kept to the traditional pre-wedding separation, she had spent the early evening packing her garment bags and settling into her temporary quarters at Heart House. She’d anticipated a restful night of sipping chamomile tea and reviewing her vows with Linda. Instead, her best friend had marched into her room alongside Sophia, Lily, and Emma, holding the silk sash and announcing that they were officially kidnapping her for a mandatory pre-ceremony excursion.

"Can you at least tell me if I'm dressed appropriately for whatever mischief you have planned?" Maggie asked, her voice carrying a light, nervous chuckle as the vehicle navigated a slow turn. "Because if you're taking me to some fancy, upscale restaurant in Sanibel dressed in a plain cotton t-shirt and flat sandals, I'm never going to let you live it down."

"You look beautiful," Linda's voice answered from the driver's seat, steady, and filled with a secret amusement. "And your wardrobe is perfect for where we're going. Stop fussing."

"It's hard not to fuss when I'm fully in the dark," Maggie murmured, her lips curving into a smile. "And since I can hear the girls whispering in the back seat, I know I'm outnumbered. Can I please just have one tiny clue?"

Maggie leaned her head back against the headrest, listening closely to the sounds of the road. She was nervous, a pleasant, buzzing tension humming under her skin, but she wasn't truly worried. She knew her friends wouldn't plan anything wild or uncomfortable, especially since the younger girls were right there with them. Whatever they had planned, it was bound to be gentle, comfortable, and safe.

She focused on the physical sensations of the drive. The car didn't travel very far, making only a few deliberate turns along the asphalt before she felt the tires transition from the smooth main avenue onto a rougher, gravel-strewn surface. Maggie smiled to herself, her sharp local instincts instantly cataloging the change. They were definitely still within the boundaries of Sweet Blossom Bay, likely heading toward one of the secluded beaches bordering the southern cove.

"Linda," Maggie called out, turning her head slightly toward the driver's side. "We've been driving for less than ten minutes,which means we're still on our side of the key. Are we heading toward the old lighthouse cove?"

"I'm not confirming or denying any geographic coordinates," Linda replied playfully. "But I will give you one small clue, since you're being surprisingly well-behaved." She paused, and Maggie could hear the deep, genuine softening of her friend's voice. "You told me once, during a very quiet evening on the porch years ago, that this specific place was the setting for the most magical night of your life."

Maggie froze, her fingers tightening against her lap. The nostalgic memories of her youth came flooding back all at once, making her heart give a quick, hard lurch against her ribs. She remembered the long, gold-dusted evenings of their high school years, the shared secrets whispered under the stars, and the beautiful, bittersweet memories of their senior prom night.

"Are you taking me to prom?" Maggie asked, her voice dropping into an awed whisper.

A bright, collective burst of laughter erupted from the back seat, Sophia, Lily, and Emma giggling softly while Linda let out an easy chuckle beside her.

"Not exactly," Linda said. "But we wanted to make sure you had the perfect send-off before tomorrow morning."

The vehicle slowly came to a halt, the engine cutting out to leave only the rhythmic lap of the water drifting through the closed glass. A heavy, expectant silence settled over the cabin. No one spoke for a long moment, and Maggie could hear the faint, muffled sound of whispering outside her window, followed by the crunch of footsteps on the gravel.

A quick, double tap on the passenger window made her jump slightly in her seat.

"All good to go," Lily's bright voice called out from the other side of the glass.

Maggie let out an amused sigh, her shoulders relaxing. "Uh-oh," she murmured, a playful scowl touching her lips. "Don't tell me the kids planned this entire excursion? I know exactly how those little mischief-makers operate when they have a joint project."

"We had some excellent adult supervision, I promise," Linda laughed, the sound of her door opening letting in the cool, salt-rimed night breeze of the gulf. She stepped around the front bumper, opening the passenger side door and gently guiding Maggie out of her seat. "Okay, we're officially here. Watch your step on the gravel, and just trust us."

Maggie stepped down, her flat sandals sinking slightly into the shifting sand as Linda and Sophia took her by the elbows, guiding her forward. The air was cool and refreshing, carrying the thick, sweet scent of wild jasmine and the clean, briny fragrance of the sea. She could hear the steady murmur of the waves lapping against the shore, confirming they were indeed standing on the open beach.

They walked her forward for a few yards, her steps slow and hesitant as she trusted her friends to guide her. Finally, they stopped her, their hands gently releasing her arms.

"Just stay right there," Linda whispered close to her ear.

The silence around her was thick, filled only with the gentle rustle of the sea oats in the night wind. No one said another word. She expected them to pull the blindfold off immediately, but instead, she heard the sound of footsteps retreating acrossthe sand. Maggie stood motionless, her heart beginning to thud with a fast, heavy rhythm against her ribs.