Second Chances by the Sea

Two women. One island. A lifetime of secrets—and the chance to begin again.

Nelly Collins has spent decades haunted by the boy who never came home from war—and the life she built in his absence. When her estranged daughter Kathy returns home, buried wounds rise to the surface, just as a familiar face from Nelly’s past reappears, stirring up emotions she thought long forgotten.

Meanwhile, Amy—on the verge of graduating culinary school—is torn between her long-distance love affair with a celebrity chef and an unexpected connection with a local firefighter. As she contemplates reaching out to a family she’s never known, Amy finds herself at a crossroads between the past she's never understood and the future she could finally claim.

Poignant and heartwarming, this is a story of two women finding their way—back to each other, back to love, and back to themselves. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Camano Island, this emotionally story explores the power of love, loss, and second chances.

55 years ago

She stood on the bustling dock in Whidbey Island with her palms pressed firmly against her pounding heart. The air was thick with the scent of salt and the clamor of activity all around her. Men dressed in crisp olive-green uniforms were surrounded by their families, hugging and laughing in an attempt to diminish the gravity of why they were all there.

The salty sea breeze tousled her blond curls as she watched the young man she’d come to see. He was wrapped in the tight, sobbing embrace of his mother, his lips moving with what looked like words of assurance as his chin rested atop her head. When they finally separated, he turned to his father. No words were spoken as they shared a firm handshake, but it did not lessen their affection, especially when the man pulled his son into a bear hug and whispered something against his ear, which caused him to hug him just as fiercely.

Finally, he turned in her direction as his parents stepped to the side. Her heart beat erratically inside her rib cage as she watched him take slow, measured steps toward her. She could see the tension in his shoulders, and his jaw clenched tightly as he tried to muster a bright smile for her.

“Hey, Nell,” he greeted her affectionately, the nickname he had for her rolling off his tongue.

Nelly stood there frozen. She couldn’t speak over the lump that had formed in her throat. She had promised herself she would be strong for him, but a sudden heaviness overcame her, and without warning, a tear slipped down her cheek, then another, and another…

“Shoot. Nell, please don’t cry.” He sighed as he gathered her in his arms. His words only seemed to encourage her to cry harder. “Everything will be okay,” he said encouragingly from above, rubbing her back soothingly.

“I’m scared, Steve,” she whimpered against his chest a few minutes later.

“I know,” Steve returned after a beat. “I’ll come back to you. I promise.” Her cheek rubbed against the cool material of his shirt as she nodded.

“You’ll write me every day… won’t you?” Nelly asked, lifting her head to look up at him.

“Every day without pause,” Steve declared, his steely gray eyes glinting with an unwavering vow. Cupping her cheek, he looked deeply into her eyes and continued, “There won’t be a day I won’t miss you, and I’ll be counting down the days until I get to hold you like this again… forever.”

Nelly’s smile came instantly. “I’ll be counting down the days as well.” She placed her head back against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

“Do you remember that night I promised to marry you one day?”

“How could I forget? We were stuck at the top of the Ferris wheel overlooking the fairgrounds. I was scared out of my mind, but you wrapped your arm around me and assured me everything would be okay.” She looked up into his eyes, her own glossed over with affection. “That’s the first time you told me you loved me, and then you said you were going to marry me one day,” she repeated his words.

“I remember,” he responded, his lips curving into an affectionate smile.

“I’m holding you to that promise, so you better come back to me.” She playfully jabbed her index finger into his chest.

“Yes, ma’am.” Steve saluted with a playful smile, which caused Nelly to giggle. “And to prove to you how serious I am, I want to do this now…”

Nelly’s eyes became saucers as she watched Steve drop to one knee and reach into the breast pocket of his uniform. Her hands flew to her mouth next as he produced a single gold band with a simple round-cut diamond in the center. “Steve…”

Steve smiled up at her. “Cornelia Christine Collins, will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?”

“Steve Jacobs, you know I love you with all my heart…”

Onlookers had drawn closer. The noise on the dock subsided as everyone waited for her answer.

“Of course I’ll marry you.” She laughed excitedly.

Loud cheers erupted as Steve slipped the ring on her finger. Rising to his feet, he gathered her in his arms and spun her around as she squealed with pleasure.

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