Second Chance Summer (Blue Harbor Book 2)

by Olivia Miles

  Amelia wondered what had ever happened to that big, floppy hat. If it was tucked away, in the attic, along with the rest of their mother’s clothes. The only thing they’d kept in place was their mother’s apron, until Britt gave it to Maddie, where it belonged. Maddie kept their mother alive.

  Just like Amelia had tried to do. For as long as she could.

  “Sometimes I wonder what Mom would have said,” Maddie said, staring at the same photo wistfully.

  “Mom wouldn’t have sat back and let someone take away something important to her,” Amelia said. That much was for sure. She could still remember the time that Callie Lynch, one of the meaner girls in school, kept stealing the desserts from Amelia’s lunch. The homemade ones that her mother lovingly tucked in their lunch bags every Friday, as a treat.

  When Amelia had finally admitted to her mother what was happening, her mother ordered her to walk over to that girl and snatch it right back. Amelia had been startled. She’d just assumed she should tell her mother to stop making the effort for her. But her mother had insisted she would never stop making the effort for someone she cared about.

  The next Friday, the girl had once again snatched Amelia’s brownie. And that day, she was surprised to see Amelia stride over her to her table and take it right back.

  She never stole another dessert. And Amelia learned a valuable lesson that day.

  Her mother would always have her back. Even when she wasn’t physically present to help her.

  Amelia stood up, her decision made. “Do you think you can open the café today?”

  Maddie looked startled, but nodded quickly. “Of course. Is everything okay?”

  “No,” Amelia said, as she moved toward the bedroom, her mind racing. “But it will be. It has to be.”

  She had only a few hours to convince Matt to change his mind about his resort. She didn’t know how she would do it, exactly, but she had to try.

  She owed her mother that much.

  *

  Jackson’s house was on the edge of town, but Amelia took the car, getting her there in record time since the roads were still empty, most houses still dark through the windows.

  It was probably too early to knock on someone’s door, but she couldn’t think about being polite just now. She hurried up the steps to Jackson’s front porch and gave the door three hard taps. Then she waited. She checked her watch. By the time she’d changed, brushed her teeth and hair and—at Maddie’s insistence—put on a smidge of makeup so she didn’t look like she’d just rolled out of bed, time had passed quickly.

  She was just about to knock again when she heard the turning of the lock. Her heart sped up as the door opened, to reveal Jackson standing barefoot in faded jeans and a white tee shirt. His hair was tousled, but he didn’t look too annoyed to see her.

  “I hope I didn’t wake you,” she said by way of apology.

  He brushed a hand through the air. “I’ve been up for a bit. I was just making eggs, if you’d like some? Though they’re probably not as good as the ones you make at the café.”

  She swallowed hard. “The café is actually why I’m here. Is…Matt here?” She searched the space behind him, but it appeared empty and quiet.

  Jackson sighed heavily. “I heard about the plan for the resort. I’m sorry, Amelia. If it makes you feel any better, I made it clear to him how I felt about things.”

  It did make her feel better, even though she knew it hadn’t made a difference. “Thanks, Jackson.” Her eyes drifted into the living room behind him expectantly, hoping that Matt might appear.

  “But if you’re looking for Matt, he already left,” Jackson said, frowning at her. “He was gone before I woke up. His car is gone, too.”

  She felt the panic rise up. The meeting wasn’t supposed to start until nine—what could he be doing now, at this hour? It wasn’t even seven!

  “Did he say where he was going?” Not many places in Blue Harbor were open for breakfast, other than the inns, and those were usually just for patrons, and often, only offered on weekends.

  Jackson’s eyes filled with regret when he met her gaze, and he didn’t need to speak for her to know what he was going to say. He rubbed a hand over his jaw, frowning.

  “I’m sorry, Amelia, but I think he went to meet with the mayor. He mentioned something about it last night, but to be honest, I didn’t really want to hear about it so I didn’t ask him to elaborate. It’s…a tough situation. A part of me is happy he’s back, but the other part of me wishes the circumstances were different.”

  Amelia nodded, because she couldn’t speak. He was with the mayor. They were cementing their plans before the town council meeting.

  Her heart was pounding and her mind was spinning, and she could feel the hope slipping away. Still, if Matt was going to fight for what he wanted, then she was going to do the same.

  “Thanks, Jackson,” she managed.

  He nodded. “Good luck, Amelia.”

  She managed not to snort. She’d need more than luck to turn this day around.

  She got back into her car and drove off, feeling the gravel kick up as she took off down the driveway. Britt always teased her about her driving. Said she was too impatient. But today she was impatient. Time wasn’t on her side. Not if she wanted to get to Matt before he got to the mayor.

  The parking lot at Town Hall was empty, but she ran up the steps anyway, just to try the doors.

  Locked. She dropped her hand, trying to think, but she was coming up blank. Defeat settled over her, and she willed herself not to cry, to tell herself that she’d done all she could. She’d run a good business. She’d won the contest! She’d done everything she could to keep that business steady. And now, it was time to let it go. At least, as it was.

  Her sisters were right. As opposed as she was to change, she had changed, hadn’t she? She’d been forced to, from a young age. She’d adapted. Kept moving forward. Even if it was with a broken heart.

  She let out a breath, steadying herself, and turned to go back to the café. And that was when she saw him. Standing at the bottom of the stairs. A briefcase in his hand. A coffee cup in the other.

  From the bagel place in Pine Falls.

  So he had met the mayor, already. Off site. Out of town.

  “Door’s locked,” she said, walking down the stairs slowly, eager to get away from him. He’d hurt her, in a way that she thought he never could, because even when he’d left town all those years ago, she’d known it wasn’t his choice. But this? This was his choice. More than that, it was his doing.

  “Amelia,” Matt said, as she brushed past him. “Wait.”

  “To say what? To hear what? To hear you say that you’re sorry? That you don’t want it to be this way?” Tears burned the backs of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. This was no different than Callie and her special homemade treat, only this time, she couldn’t just snatch back what was hers. Even if he could never understand the value. It wasn’t just a café. It was…a part of her life. Just like he had once been.

  And now he’d gone and taken that too.

  “I don’t want it to be this way,” he pleaded, and something in his eyes, something in the agony of his expression made her stop walking, even though she knew that she should really keep moving.

  Moving forward.

  Because hope flickered, and despite all evidence to the contrary, she dared to think that maybe, maybe she could hold out for it. For a little while longer.

  “Then don’t do it, Matt. Don’t try to push this through. It’s one thing to build your resort, but to take down my café? And all the other businesses back there? It doesn’t have to be this way!”

  “It was never my idea to target that location,” he said calmly. “You have to believe me.”

  She thought of the drawings, the way he described the project, the way his eyes came alive when he did. But she didn’t need those facts to back up what she saw in his face. He was telling her the truth.

  “Then why go along
with it?” She stared at him, willing him to change his mind. “You know what that café means to me, Matt. And I’m not saying that your dream should matter less than mine, but…this is my town.”

  “It’s my town, too,” he said, his voice gruff. “At least, it was once. And I always wanted for it to be again.”

  She nodded slowly. And this was his way back, she supposed. As horrible and unfair as it was.

  “It won’t really be the town you loved so much once you make all those changes to it,” she said, daring to look him hard in the eye.

  He surprised her by saying, “That’s right.”

  She blinked, unsure of what he meant by that statement. “And you’re okay with that?”

  “No,” he said, as a little smile curved at his mouth. “I’m not.”

  Now Amelia’s heart was pounding, but not with fear. She swallowed hard. Checked herself. She needed to think.

  “I know you met with the mayor this morning, Matt. Jackson told me.” She didn’t mention the part about her going to the house, looking for him, hoping to change his mind or at least know that she had tried.

  Matt set his bag down on the step and turned to her, huffing out a breath as he took a step in her direction. This time, there was nowhere for her to go. No stairs to flee. Just the wide-open lakefront at her back.

  “I did meet with the mayor,” he said.

  And there it was. Suspicion confirmed. He’d had breakfast with the mayor. This entire conversation was pointless.

  Only it didn’t feel pointless. Not when he was looking at her like that. His eyes were soft, and a little sad. And his gaze was intent. She wanted to look away, and she did, only to find him still watching her.

  “I pulled the project from the table,” he said.

  She stared at him, the shock no doubt obvious on her face. “Matt. I…You didn’t.” She blinked hard. He’d worked hard for that design. He’d been so excited about it. And now he was giving it all up.

  And giving up Blue Harbor, too.

  “No, Matt.” She shook her head, setting her jaw. “You worked hard on that design. And it was a good idea. And that green space would be perfect for it!”

  Matt shook his head. “The mayor is not willing to let anyone build on that land. He made that very clear. About as clear as he was about suggesting the land where your café is. It wasn’t my idea, Amelia. You have to believe me. I never, ever would have initiated that.”

  Amelia shook her head. “Maybe I need to cut my losses. Like you said, it’s the mayor who suggested the space. If it isn’t you, it will be someone else. Build your resort, Matt.”

  “That resort doesn’t belong there,” Matt said, softly. “You do. And…I do, too.”

  She looked up at him sharply. “What do you mean?”

  “I met with the mayor today, and I talked him into giving me a job as the town’s zoning official. I can still use my architecture background, only this time I’d like to think I’m using it to protect all these wonderful, charming buildings that I loved so much growing up. Just like you reminded me.”

  Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes filled with tears. She fought off a smile, but it still managed to poke through. “I just showed you what you already knew, Matt.”

  “You reminded me who I was. Why I loved this town. Why I loved you,” he said softly.

  She blinked up at him. “Matt…But…your plans.”

  “Forget those plans. I was stubborn. Just like my dad. He might have lost his business and his home and his family, but I almost lost you. And I wasn’t going to let that happen twice.”

  He reached down and took her hands, squeezing them tight.

  “So you’re staying?”

  He nodded. “I finally made it back. Just not exactly the way I thought,” he said, laughing softly. “I thought what I needed to make a success of this town was to change it. To undo what makes it so wonderful in the first place. But I realized that this town already has everything it needs. And I’m hoping…that so do I.”

  She sighed, wanting to open her heart just as much as she wasn’t so sure she could dare to expose it again.

  “I never meant to hurt you,” he said softly. “I just…needed to find my way back. And you showed me the way.”

  She licked her lip, fighting off the tears, knowing that this was the moment she could open herself up to more than hope. To possibility.

  And she knew that it was what her mother would want her to do. It was why, every Friday, starting the week that she had snatched her brownie back from Callie, her mother had added a second brownie to her lunch bag…to give to Callie.

  Callie was now one of her friends. She didn’t have a mother who baked. Her mother held down two jobs to make ends meet and was barely home to even cook dinner.

  Amelia had been fortunate. Maybe even lucky. And when the bumps came along, she still had the joy of looking back on what she’d had once…and what she could still have again, she thought, looking up at Matt.

  “This is where you were meant to be,” she said. “Right here. Right now.”

  He leaned down and kissed her, and just like the other night, on the rock at the lake, it didn’t feel like any time had passed at all. It felt as if she had found something that was hers all along.

  When they broke apart, she looked up at him, needing to clear up one last thing. “But the resort…”

  “Who knows? Maybe one day they will let that space open up for development.” He grinned. “I’ll be the first to know, won’t I?”

  “And the first in line?”

  He considered this for a moment. “I have a different vision for that project now. Something that speaks from the past. Something that evokes the memories of everything that makes Blue Harbor so special.”

  “I like that,” she said.

  “I had a feeling you would,” he said, leaning down to kiss her once more.

  epilogue

  It was a busy morning at the café, as it had been every day since the article had run featuring her café as the best in the state. Now it wasn’t just the locals and tourists who came to try her seasonal fare, now she also saw repeat customers from neighboring towns, or people stopping over before taking the ferry to Evening Island.

  And it was just going to get busier, Amelia knew, once Maddie left her to start her own bakery.

  “I’m wondering if I should stay on to help a little longer.” Maddie looked worried as she glanced through the window pass into the crowded dining room.

  “Nonsense,” Amelia said as she sliced a goat cheese and tomato quiche. “Matt made sure that you got the permit for the space next door and there is absolutely no reason for you to delay your plans any longer. Besides, I have already found your replacement.”

  “So soon?” Maddie looked just as surprised as she did disappointed, and Amelia had to turn her back to hide her smile.

  “Sure did. Just to get me through the next month or so,” Amelia said matter-of-factly, hoping that for once Maddie wouldn’t be able to read the unspoken look in her eyes.

  Maddie seemed to process this for a moment, as if it were suddenly clear that this was really happening, and that, to ensure it did, Amelia had all but ended her job here.

  Maddie had needed a nudge, and now, Amelia was giving her a push.

  She’d miss having her by her side each day, but having her next door was almost better. Maddie expressed the desire to just “look” at the empty storefront after the plans for the resort were dropped, and Amelia again insisted she have her half of the prize money from the contest, and Matt had jumped on the chance to approve a new business going into the space, and spent every spare second he wasn’t holding down his new job, moving into his old house, and stopping by the café to visit, to draw up some blueprints for Maddie’s new bakery. It all came together very quickly.

  “You’ll be so busy fixing that place up that you won’t even miss me,” Amelia said.

  Maddie took a pan of her cinnamon rolls from the oven. Am
elia knew she’d lose some business once those were sold next door instead of offered here at the café, but they’d already agreed to help each other, rather than compete. And considering that the blueprints Matt had drawn up included an internal opening that would allow patrons to come and go from the café to the bakery, Amelia knew she wouldn’t have to worry about anything.

  Well, maybe one thing.

  “So, who did you manage to hire at the end of the season and on such short notice?” Maddie asked.

  Before Amelia could reply, the kitchen door swung open, and Candy appeared, already wearing one of the blue and white striped aprons given to café staff.

  “Yoohoo! I’m all ready for my first day!”

  Maddie’s eyes went large and Amelia just grinned back with a sigh. She set her hands on her hips and motioned to the station near the window. Candy’s “famous” cheese biscuits were debuting on the menu today, and she’d made sure to stock all the ingredients ahead of time.

  Maddie turned to her, her cheeks pink, as Candy filled the usually quiet space with her chatter. And all Amelia could do was shrug.

  Things were going to be different from now on. But she’d come to realize that a little bit of change could be a very good thing, after all.

  COMING SOON

  Because of You

  Maddie Conway has always dreamed of opening her own bakery, but following in the footsteps of her three successful sisters is turning out to be a lot of pressure. Overwhelmed and behind schedule, Maddie agrees to let her father’s girlfriend lend a hand, until she realizes that help has come in the form of shameless matchmaking. Now Maddie is stuck with Blue Harbor’s resident bad boy as her contractor, and before long he’s putting more questions into her mind than whether the walls should be blue or yellow…