The Inn At Seagrove - Rachel Hanna Page 0,42

so impressed with them. I thought I could do the same thing, and that they would be proud of me for opening this bakery. But instead, I seem to have made everyone angry."

"You know, I didn't speak to my son William for many years. We had a huge falling out with a lot of misunderstandings, and it stole so many years from our relationship. We’re closer now, but not nearly as close as we would've been had all of that not happened. Don't let that happen to you and your daughters. You can't ever get that time back."

“Dawson told me that I'm too critical, and that I need to apologize to my daughters for some of the things that I’ve said. I never mean any harm. Well, I guess if I'm being honest, some of the things I said to you were meant to be harmful."

Dixie laughed. "Thanks for the honesty."

"And I'm truly sorry. I've just been very jealous about your relationship with Julie, especially. But I can see why she likes you. You could've criticized me right now, but you haven’t. I appreciate that."

“SuAnn, your daughters love you. You're their mother, not me. But you have to be honest with them. You need to go tell them the truth. And tell them how proud and inspired you are because of them. I don’t think they know that.”

"They don't?"

“No. I believe they will forgive you, but you have to be sincere. And you have to stop putting your nose where it doesn't belong. I know it's hard, especially with our adult children, not to give advice. But you can't unless they ask for it."

"I'm starting to see that."

"And trust me, you can have a new beginning. I've fallen in love again, and I'm about to go traveling around the country after the first of the year. If I can do it, you can do it."

"I hope you're right. And I sure hope it's not too late with my daughters."

Julie sat at the little desk in her living room, overlooking the marsh out back, and continued writing in her favorite notebook. She was still working on writing her first book, something she only got to mess around with in her free time now. Life seemed so busy these days.

Sometimes, she found herself daydreaming, staring out over the marsh grass, thinking about all of the twists and turns in her life. She liked to weave some of those moments into her book, but she also didn't want it to become an autobiography.

As the days grew shorter, and sunset came more quickly, she appreciated those moments where she got to sit and watch the beauty that God created in the sky above the water. Shades of orange and pink and sometimes purple were painted across the clouds, and it always made her feel so thankful for this life she had built.

Just as she was about to close her notebook and start dinner, she heard someone knock on the front door. She certainly wasn't expecting anyone right now. Janine and Colleen were in their rooms taking naps before dinner. Normally, they had a family dinner on Sunday, but since Dawson was usually busy checking in and checking out guests, they had decided to do it tonight, right in the middle of the week. Dawson wouldn't be over until later, but he was bringing a deep-fried turkey that Lucy had made extra.

"Who in the world could this be?" Julie mumbled to herself as she walked over to the door. When she opened it, she never expected to see Buddy standing there.

"Buddy?"

He took off his beige tweed fedora and put it over his heart. "I'm sorry to bother you, Julie, but can we talk?"

She looked at him, confused. "Of course…" Stepping back, she opened the door and then slowly closed it behind her. He stood there, his hat in his hand, looking at his feet. At first, she had been shocked to even hear his voice because the man rarely spoke. It was low and gravelly, and a little more raspy than she had remembered the few times she’d heard it.

"Are you looking for my mother?"

"No. Not really, anyway. I wanted to talk to you."

"What about?"

"Well, if I know your mother, and I do, I don't believe she's probably told you the truth about what happened."

“She said she left you."

He chuckled and shook his head. "I knew she wouldn't tell you the truth. And I like you girls. I'm worried she might do the same thing