Willamena

Willamina and Margaret grew up in Blackberry Cove together and were two peas in a pod. They did everything together… rode their bikes to Ben’s Ice Cream Parlor every summer afternoon to get ice cream sandwich (for Willa) and firecracker popsicle (for Maggie). As they got older, they would cruise to school in the ancient Jetta Willa was able to get with the money she saved from her summer job. They didn’t need too many other friends; they had each other. But then Willa got the acceptance letter from Emerson College to pursue her dreams of getting a degree in publishing.

They spent every day together that last summer together. Maggie would be a junior in high school that upcoming year and was already chomping at the bit to begin her own adventure and conquer the world.

The day finally came, and Willa left home. Because Boston was so far from their coastal Northern Maine home, she wouldn’t be able to come home too often. She was already receiving several scholarships, grants, and plenty of loans to make her dream happen.

Willamina felt exhilarated leaving home and adventuring on her own. Pursuing her dreams in the publishing world was a dream she has had since she could remember. But, oh, it was so hard leaving her sister and parents. And it was going to be hard to make it back home due to the cost of plane tickets.

She was only able to make it back once… for her mom’s last days and funeral. The cancer took her so fast. She was glad to be there for his dad and Maggie, and it broke her heart to leave them and go back to campus. She knew Maggie was having a hard time with dad, but she never saw it herself.

And how fortunate she was to get to move back home after college. She had secured a job with an established publishing company who is willing to let her work remotely.

Fast forward 10 years…

Willamina begins each day with her morning meditation and gratitude journal. Her husband, Josh, has her coffee (1/2 decaf ½ regular because really how is anyone supposed to give it up entirely?) ready for her and gives her a kiss on his way out the door. How did she get this lucky? She has a stellar job as a literary agent, works from her home office she designed in a mix of midcentury modern and French country farmhouse. And she is 8 1/2 months pregnant with her first child. She knows she’s having a girl, and will name her after her lovely mama; Charlotte Anne, and they will call her Char.

She wrote in her journal this morning, she was sad that her parents wouldn’t be here to see their granddaughter. Mom has been gone for so long, and dad passed away a handful of years ago. Maggie didn’t make it back for the funeral as she was in Europe for work. And really, she and dad pretty much stopped talking after Maggie left home after high school. Willa never understood their relationship after she left home as she had such fond memories of her dad. But it was, after all, before mom died.

But today was the day. Today is the day Maggie is coming back. She’s going to be here to help with Char, but Willa is hopeful they have a couple of weeks with just the two of them. They could go to Ben’s for ice cream, take walks after dinner, and have time to really talk. It’s been so long.

Maggie is determined to convince Willa to stay in Blackberry Cove. Josh tends to roll his eyes at her scheming, but Maggie finally got him on board with her plan. Josh found the cutest cottage right on the water that just hit the market and isn’t too far from their home. She just knows that Maggie will lovebeing back if she gives it a chance. The house they grew up in has long ago been sold to a young family with three kids. They did a complete remodel on it, and you wouldn’t even recognize it now.

The apple blossoms are in perfect bloom right now. It is truly the best time of year for rebirth, refresh, renewal. Willa is bringing new life into the world, and Maggie can recapture her jest for life in the enchanting world of Blackberry Cove. It is a perfect time for a change!