“No.” Mel hugged her back. “No apologies and no blaming. That’s behind us.”

“I love you, Mom.”

I love you, Mom.

Mel felt her eyes fill. Damn it. Now? Here? On the beach in public? “I love you, too. Always.”

Eden sniffed and pulled away. “I must look like crap.”

“Don’t say ‘crap.’”

“I thought I was allowed to make my own choices?”

“Not when it comes to language on a public beach with small children around.”

“But—”

“We may have a new relationship, but I’m still your mother.”

Eden grinned. “Are you sure you meant all those things you just said?”

“Absolutely. Try me.”

“All right. There’s something I want to do right now. I want to jump in the waves, like we used to.”

Mel started to laugh. “Now? Aren’t you too old to jump in the waves with your mother?”

“I don’t know.” Eden grabbed her hand and tugged her into the water. “Let’s find out.”

They plunged together, gasping as the cold water splashed at their legs and soaked their shorts, and as Mel laughed with her daughter she caught sight of the Surf Café in the distance and she thought, I didn’t settle, I made a choice. And it was a good choice.

23

Joanna

Joanna pushed open the door of the Beach Bookstore. The sun shone, her head ached slightly from lack of sleep and she couldn’t remember when she last felt this happy.

Mary-Lou was handing a book to a customer. “You come back and let me know what you think. I have my own opinion about the ending, but no spoilers. You have a great day now.”

Joanna smiled at her and headed straight for the children’s section.

Mary-Lou waited for the door to close behind the customer and then wandered over to join her. “I’m waiting for the day someone comes in and demands a refund because they didn’t enjoy the ending. You’re smiling. You look different. Has something happened?”

Nate, she thought. Nate had happened.

A wonderful evening had turned into a wonderful night.

“I’m enjoying being back in Silver Point, that’s all.”

“Mmm.” Mary-Lou’s expression suggested she didn’t believe her. “Does this enjoyment have anything to do with the fact that Nate Monroe bought a bunch of daisies from Glenda’s Flower Shop yesterday afternoon?”

“You saw that?”

“Carly saw it, and she told Letitia in the bakery, and Letitia told me when I picked up some of those delicious warm French pastries this morning. We all remembered you used to be partial to them.”

Joanna laughed. “This place never changes.”

“Thank the Lord, no, it doesn’t. But I won’t be the only one pleased to see the two of you together again.” Mary-Lou eyed her. “Some things are meant to be.”