It actually hurts when she pulls away only a few seconds after she claims my lips. “I feel like I need to clarify.”
I groan. “I got the gist.”
But she shakes her head and gets a determined look in her eyes. “I made the mistake of not communicating last time, and I’m not going to do that again. You deserve more.”
“More kissing? Yes.”
She laughs but doesn’t kiss me. Instead, she puts her hands on either side of my face so I can’t look away. “I still want the bakery in my name.”
Some of the lightness in my chest dissipates. “Okay.”
“And it’s not because I don’t want to be married to you. I do. If you’re okay with that.”
I take hold of her left hand and kiss the sea glass ring on her finger. “I am.”
“Good. Because divorce sounds messy and I’m pretty fond of you, Kingston.”
Fond of me. Divorce sounds messy. I’m really trying to see the positives in what she’s saying, but it’s getting harder every minute. “Okay,” I say again.
“I’m going to make changes to the bakery,” she continues. I can only nod now. “It has good bones, but I need to make it my own if I’m going to thrive within it. And we’re going to have to do something about Prince Harry’s pen because he terrifies me every time I go out into the yard.”
None of this sounds anything like the vulnerable soul-baring I did a moment ago, and while I don’t think honesty is transactional, I can’t deny I was hoping for more “I love you” and less “that llama is trouble.”
Georgie’s smile grows, but it’s not something I can match right now. “I’m going to miss the city, King. I know I am.”
Which means she’s going to leave. I take a step back, but she grips both my hands and stops the movement.
“So I think we should take a vacation now and then, when we’re not in the middle of our busy summers.”
I swallow as I process her words. “Summers. Plural. Do you mean…”
“I love you, Royal Kingston. And there’s a whole world out there for us to see. Probably some great places for you to surf that aren’t in South Carolina.” Her smile is a wide grin now. “But even if you want to spend the rest of your days in Willow Cove, I want to share those days with you. You’ll just have to be prepared for Cecily to whisk me away now and then because she may be this marriage’s biggest supporter, but she’s still my best friend and won’t like that I’m choosing to make Willow Cove my permanent home.”
I think I’m crying now, which is ridiculous, but I can’t help it. “You love me,” I repeat. “You want to stay.”
“I want to be in your orbit for a change. You—”
I cut her off with a kiss, but I don’t have the same restraint she did. I’m greedy. I wrap my arms around her back and tug her against me because that roller coaster of emotions broke down what little inhibitions I had, and I need her body next to mine.
But something crinkles between us, reminding me of the letter Vanderman handed me outside the bakery. Though I’m tempted to ignore it and continue with what I was doing, that feels a bit like dishonoring the dead, so I pull the envelope out of my pocket and hold it out to show Georgie.
Her eyes go wide as she looks at the names on the front. “That’s Bill’s handwriting!”
“Vanderman gave this to me after I showed Lane to the parking lot.”
“What does it say?”
“No idea.”
Since I’m just standing here, staring at the letter, Georgie takes it out of my hand and breaks the seal, pulling the folded piece of paper out of the envelope. She leans against me so we both can see, and then we read it together.
Royal, if you’re reading this, it means I’m gone. I know that’s what they always say in the movies, and I hate being a cliche, but there’s really no other way to put it, is there? If this letter is in your hands, it means I’m not around to tell you this in person, and I can’t say that I’m not surprised. It seems to be the Kingston way, going too early, and I can only hope you’ll be the one to break the pattern because you deserve a long and happy life with Georgie.
Georgie, I know you’re reading this too because that was the point. This letter was only supposed to be passed on if the two of you have finally made your peace and accepted that you are meant to go through life together. I’m not a fortune teller or psychic, but I have known you both for a long time. I know you were and always will be better together, which is why I made sure the bakery would stay within the family. I hoped it would be a push in the right direction, and it must have worked because here we are.
It’s yours, Georgie, and I know you’ll make something great of it. I started Kingston’s because I wanted to share a bit of happiness with the world, and when I met you, I could see the same passion in your eyes. You reminded me a lot of me. Sometimes, that made me sad.
I made a lot of mistakes in my life, and one of them was thinking a bakery could be more important than a family of my own. I had you, Royal, and while the circumstances were heartbreaking, I’m so glad I got to watch you grow into the man you are now. Raising you, or at least pretending to, softened my regrets. But if I could go back and do it all over again, I would take every chance I got to find a partner. Someone to share in the trials and triumphs that come with every life.
Georgie, when you left Willow Cove, you were ready to take on the world, and I couldn’t have been prouder. But I was also worried. I worried you would forget what truly made your summers so happy. It wasn’t about the pastries or perfect recipes. It was about living your life to the fullest and doing the things you enjoyed. Every time we talked after you left, you seemed to forget more and more how much you used to light up when you saw Royal. Our conversations in the kitchen were always about the things you did the night before. The trouble you inevitably got into. The laughter you enjoyed.
I wish I had tried harder to help you remember what really mattered, but we both know how stubborn you are. You had to learn for yourself.
You both had to learn on your own, no matter how much it hurt to stand back.
Royal, you were so afraid of dreaming bigger. I don’t know if it was because you figured it wouldn’t matter in the end because you’re a Kingston or if you were simply heartbroken. I’m glad you finally found your way, and I hope you know by now there is more to this life than what Willow Cove can offer.
I hope you both stay, but if you don’t, I hope you make a home somewhere that feels right.
As long as you stay together, I know the two of you can live the life of your dreams. I wish I could be there to see those dreams come true, but apparently my time on this earth is done. Take it from a sort-of-old man: don’t waste any more time.
I love you both.
Bill Kingston
I’m speechless. I can barely breathe. I didn’t know what to expect, but it wasn’t any of this, and I can do nothing but shake my head as I stare at the words written in my uncle’s bold hand.
Georgie isn’t so tongue-tied. “Not a fortune teller?” She lets out a single, disbelieving laugh. “Are you sure this isn’t some weird prank? Coop trying to get back at me for blackmailing him?”
