The Inn at Walker Beach by Lindsay Harrel

Author:Lindsay Harrel [Harrel, Lindsay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blue Aster Press

Chapter Thirteen

Elise

Elise was the last person who should be giving advice.

But Jenna had looked so sad, so in need of encouragement—and Elise knew how that felt. It was a gift to be able to unburden oneself to another, and she had only wanted to help.

Yet even now, an hour later, Elise chided herself as she walked up the pathway to Jules’s house with a jar full of homemade chicken soup. She’d left the Sisterhood meeting early under the guise of delivering this to their absentee leader. In reality, she’d probably have removed herself anyway. Those women were all so young, so beautiful, so strong, and Elise was wholly underqualified to serve as a mentor.

Now, silent chef and baker for the group? That, she could be. But a mentor? No.

Elise climbed the steps of Jules’s porch, where a wooden swing hung to one side of the door. Several potted plants—flowers in various stages of bloom—adorned the deck, and the vibrant yellow of the door was muted in the moonlight. It was only eight-something, so hopefully she wouldn’t wake the woman up.

She knocked. If Jules didn’t answer, Elise would just leave the soup on the doorstep and text her, or try to bring it by tomorrow after church since Jules lived right down the street.

Just as Elise had given up, the door opened. Jules’s hair sat on the top of her head in a bun held together with two pens, and she wore an off-the-shoulder thin sweatshirt and sweatpants. Her nose was a bit red and her eyes puffy behind thick black frames. “Hi, Elise.”

Poor woman. Her voice sounded like she’d screamed for a few hours straight. “Sorry to bother you.” Elise held up the container of soup. “Just wanted to drop this by and say I hope you feel better.”

“You’re so thoughtful.” Jules leaned against the doorway and offered a sleepy smile. “I’d invite you inside but don’t want you to get my germs.”

“I’m not afraid of germs. My husband is a doctor, remember?” He’d probably exposed them all to countless illnesses over the years. “But I don’t want to keep you up. You should be resting.”

Jules took the soup from Elise’s hands. “I should be, but I keep almost falling asleep and then thinking of a new idea for the Refuge. The curse of a passion project, I suppose.”

A breeze rippled through the trees and Elise pulled her sweater tight across her chest. “The blessing, you mean. I’m finding so much purpose in everything, even the tiniest of details. By the way, I’ve decided to hire Jenna to do the interior decorating. I hope that’s all right. I probably should have run the decision by you first.”

Turning to place the soup just inside the house, Jules took a tissue from her pocket and swiped at her nose. “No, no, that’s perfect. I had actually thought about it, but didn’t know if she’d be too busy or overwhelmed.”

Relief twined through Elise’s whole body, releasing the tension she didn’t know she’d been holding in her shoulders.

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