Chapter 28

twenty-eight

I sabelle fell asleep while looking at her family's photo albums and dreamed of happier days before she sabotaged her son's elopement with his pregnant girlfriend. Even though she never cared much for Savannah, she was willing to try to make their relationship work for the sake of her family. Truth be told, she thought her granddaughter, Harper, was an intriguing young woman—poised and striking, the apple of her father's eye. But Harper would be a difficult sell. Although she was never rude to Isabelle's face—she possessed better manners than that— Harper wore her heart on her sleeve, and her contempt for Isabelle was obvious.

Isabelle threw back the covers. She had her work cut out for her, and she might as well get started. She dressed in navy slacks and a crisp white blouse and left the cottage for the main house. She was crossing the courtyard when a small black sedan nearly ran her over. She stepped out of the way, her hand pressed against her pounding heart. Was it her imagination? Or was that Luke behind the wheel?

She found Shelby in the kitchen, her back to the room as she counted coffee grounds into the coffee maker. "My eyesight isn't what it used to be, but I'm pretty sure I just saw Luke speeding away in a black sedan."

Shelby, her eyes swollen and bloodshot from crying, was filling the coffee maker. Turning to face Isabelle, she said, "Your vision is fine, Izzy. Luke came for a visit, and I thought he was here to win me back. It turns out he hadn't broken up with his fiancée like I had hoped. He merely wanted some action on the side."

Isabelle stiffened. "I never liked that boy."

Shelby's lips parted in a sad smile. "You're lying. You loved him when we were dating. But he's changed. He's not the same person I fell in love with."

Sensing her granddaughter needed to talk, Isabelle gestured at the table. "Sit down and tell me about it."

Fresh tears filled Shelby's eyes. "I can't. It hurts too much," she sobbed and burst out the back door.

Izzy's chest tightened. Was she having a heart attack? Or was she experiencing her granddaughter's pain? She stared at the door, wondering if she should go after Shelby, then decided to let her calm down before trying again later.

She was filling a mug with coffee when Blossom bustled in with Jolene on her heels. "Good morning! You're looking awfully perky this morning."

"I feel much better after my confession last night. I'm ready to start making amends." She lifted her mug. "As soon as I finish my coffee, I'm going to see my son."

"Pritchard may have saved you a trip," Blossom said with a playful smirk.

"What do you mean?"

"I heard his car pull up out front."

Footfalls in the hallway preceded Pritchard's appearance in the kitchen. He gave Isabelle a perfunctory peck on the cheek. "Morning, ladies. Things are looking good around here. Will says we'll be ready to open midweek as planned."

Isabelle uttered an unenthusiastic "Woo-hoo."

Pritchard helped himself to some coffee. "Mother, if you have a minute, I need to talk to you about something important."

Isabelle glanced uncertainly at Blossom, who mouthed, "You can do this."

She got up from the table. "Your timing is excellent, son. There's an urgent matter I'd like to discuss with you as well."

Pritchard motioned Isabelle to the back door. "Shall we? I want to show you something outside."

The air was fresh and clear after yesterday's rain, and Isabelle filled her lungs with deep breaths as they headed toward the main road. "Where are we going?" she asked.

"You'll see." About a hundred yards from the house, Pritchard stopped walking and faced the ocean. Reaching behind him, he tugged Edward's journal from his back waistband. "I've given Dad's expansion plan considerable thought, and I believe we should move forward."

Isabelle's spirits deflated. She had hoped he'd forgotten about the journal. "That's the most ridiculous thing that's ever come out of your mouth, Pritchard."

He handed Isabelle the journal. "Dad didn't think it was so ridiculous. Did you even read this? He describes in great detail his vision for Magnolia Shores."

"Yes, I read it, and I'm adamantly opposed. I can't manage a simple B&B, let alone a full-size resort. How can you even consider such a thing after those crazed women destroyed our home?"

"And that would never have happened if we'd had proper security. We'll always be treading water as a bed and breakfast. Expanding will enable us to hire a full staff and better cater to our guests' needs."

"You don't have the authority to make this decision, Pritchard."

"Which is why I'm talking to you, Mother."

Isabelle recognized her son's determination in his set jaw. He'd already made his decision and would find a way to make it happen, with or without her approval. She stared down at the leather journal in her hands. She made a mistake in giving him the journal. "Where would I live?"

"You would continue living in the cottage until after the new building is complete. Then you can move back into the house. We'll use some of the bedrooms for overflow, but you'll have your suite all to yourself."

Isabelle tossed up her hands. "Great! So I can encounter strangers in the hallway when I go to the kitchen for milk in my pajamas."

"It won't be all the time, Mother, only when the other buildings are filled. I like the name Dad chose, The Sanctuary at Magnolia Shores, don't you?"

She glared at him. "Not particularly. I don't have a problem with just plain Magnolia Shores. Who's going to oversee this venture? I'm seventy-five years old, too old for a construction project of that magnitude."

Pritchard hesitated as though preparing himself to deliver news she wouldn't like. "Savannah and I will take over managing the business."

"Savannah?" Isabelle's anger surged at the mention of her daughter-in-law. "But you both have full-time jobs, and you love your music career."

"I've decided to take an early retirement. Now that I have a wife and daughter, I resent the time I'm away from them when I'm in Nashville." His unspoken words hung in the air between them—the years he missed being with Savannah and Harper because of Isabelle.

"I'm tired of everyone controlling my life. First your father and now you." Isabelle realized her mistake too late. She had controlled Pritchard's life by interfering with his elopement.

"I'm not trying to control your life, Mother. I'm trying to make it better. You have pushed back on this since the beginning. You even contested Dad's will, for crying out loud. I thought you'd be happy to turn the business over to someone else to run. You're off the hook. You can go back to living your life as normal."

Off the hook means he no longer needs me, Isabelle thought. I'm now worthless to my family. She thrust the journal at him. "Do whatever you want with the place. Just leave me in peace to live out my last days." Spinning on her heels, she stormed off across the courtyard to her cottage.

He called after her. "Wait, Mother! Did you have something you wanted to talk to me about?"

"It can wait," she said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

* * *

Pritchard considered going after his mother but decided they both needed to cool off. Speeding home, he found Savannah returning from her morning run on the beach.

She followed him into the home office they shared. "How'd it go with Isabelle?"

"As I expected. She's being completely unreasonable," Pritchard said as he searched his desk drawer for his copy of his father's will. Thumbing through the pages, he continued, "Dad's will says I can take over if Mother opts out of running the bed and breakfast. There are no stipulations if she fails at her job or refuses to expand."

"What're you saying?" Savannah asked, mopping sweat from her face with a hand towel.

Pritchard dropped the sheaf of papers on his desk and leaned back in his chair. "Dad was extremely thorough. I'd be willing to bet he left out these provisions on purpose. I either convince my mother to go along with the expansion or take her to court, which Dad knows I would never do."

"Are you sure about that, Pritch? You're being presumptuous where your father is concerned."

"Because I knew my dad. He thought of everything, and he was a brilliant negotiator. He predicted this might happen. He put us in this situation so we have to work together. This is his way of getting our family to settle our differences."

Savannah's olive eyes grew wide. "That's a tall order."

Pritchard tugged his phone out of his pocket. "I need to call my sister."

"I'll give you some privacy." Savannah kissed the top of his head. "Good luck. Let me know what Kate says. I'm going to shower and head off to work."

Pritchard got up from the desk and walked with her out of the office. "Have a good day, sweetheart."

He grabbed coffee from the kitchen and went outside to the screen porch. Before making his call, he paused to breathe in the salty air and look out over the ocean, sparkling blue under a periwinkle sky and bright sunshine.

His sister answered on the first ring in an alarmed tone, "Pritchard! What's wrong? Is Shelby okay?"

"Yes, of course, Kate. Calm down."

She let out an audible sigh. "I'm sorry. You never call, and I haven't heard from Shelby since she arrived. Even Mom has been avoiding me. I've been terrified something bad had happened."

"You have nothing to worry about. Shelby is a hard worker, and she's doing an excellent job."

Kate let out an audible gasp. "Are we talking about the same Shelby? My daughter, strawberry-blonde with a face full of freckles?"

"Ha ha. Yes. She's doing great. Although we had a bit of a mishap last weekend."

Pritchard settled back on the bench swing as he filled his sister in on the weekend with the bachelorettes, the discovery of his father's journal with his expansion plans, and Pritchard's argument with Isabelle that morning.

Kate let out a low whistle. "Whoa, Pritch. That's a lot to take in. Sounds like Mom may be in over her head."

"I don't blame Izzy for being upset. Dad upended her life. But the more I think about it, the more I'm certain he did this on purpose, to bring our family back together. I realize you have a busy life in Texas, and you're planning Grace's wedding, but I would love for you to help manage the resort. Is there any chance Randall would consider an early retirement?"

Silence filled the line.

"Kate? Hello. Are you still there?"

"I'm here. Things haven't been great between Randall and me for a long time. With Shelby out of the house, we no longer have a reason to pretend. I've been homesick for the Lowcountry for years. Admittedly, I was jealous when I sent Shelby down there to work. Maybe a midlife change is just what I need."

"I'm sorry about your marital problems, kiddo, but I'm thrilled about the possibility of you moving back. We could rock this venture, Kate."

"Slow down, bro. You're getting way ahead of yourself. I have a lot to consider. Grace's wedding is at the top of the list. Let me look at my schedule. Maybe I can get away for a short visit sometime soon. I want to set my eyes on my daughter anyway, to see for myself that she's okay."

"That would be great. We can talk more about the expansion."

Kate chuckled. "And maybe I can talk some sense into Mom for you."

"You were always better at that than me." Pritchard put the call on speaker while he looked at his calendar. "I'm back and forth to Nashville during the next month. Text me some dates. I want to make certain I'm here when you come."

"Will do," Kate said. "Give my daughter a hug for me."

Pritchard remained on the porch long after he'd ended the call with his sister. He hadn't realized until now how much he relished the idea of running a resort with his family.