Instead of taking the beach road, they walked to Tug’s by way of the shoreline. Hailey and Jesse didn’t seem to mind the long walk, only stopping to add treasures to Hailey’s bag. A wave washed in, sending a fine mist into the air. Amanda pushed her bangs from her face. The salty spray had left her ponytail sticky and stiff. Who cares about bad hair when you feel good all the way to your soul?
“Almost there. See it?” Amanda pointed to the building that hung over the dune. It was strange how the shore eroded a teensy bit each year from both sides. The Atlantic and Pacific. It seemed if it was pulling California into the water the way people talked, they’d be getting more and more coastline here on the East Coast. But Maeve said the shore was shrinking here, too, and if anyone knew, it would be Maeve.
By the time they reached the steps, Hailey was dragging her bag of shells.
“Oh goodness. I think you may have to leave those out here, Hailey-bug. They are so sandy.” Amanda picked up the bag and shook it. A cloud of sand rained down in front of them.
“They got heavy.”
“That’s okay. They’ll be safe out by the birdcage.”
They traversed the steep wooden stairs up to the gazebo, where The Wife called out a greeting.
“Hello.”
“Pretty bird,” Hailey sang. “You’re going to have to take care of my shells while we eat, okay?”
The Wife made a series of clicks and clucks followed by, “I’m okay. You okay, my pretty?”
Amanda set Hailey’s bag on the railing next to the birdcage. “I’ll go in and order while you two visit the bird.”
“I love that bird.” Jesse marched straight over, calling her name the whole way.
When Amanda pushed the back door open, balloons ricocheted precariously against it. Please don’t pop. The whole place was filled with pink helium balloons in pairs. She scanned the room for a table.
“Kimmy had her babies. We’re celebrating. Are you alone today?” Tug lumbered over, almost a wobble the way he shifted his weight from leg to leg as he moved.
“The kids are outside talking to The Wife.”
“She’s a talker.” Tug grabbed menus and motioned for her to follow him.
“Amanda?” Maeve waved from the corner booth. “Come sit with me.”
“Hey there! Tug, we’ll join Maeve if that’s okay.”
“Okay by me.” He handed Amanda the menus, and she slid into the booth across from Maeve.
“Bring more coffee, Tug, would you, please?” Maeve moved her mug to the edge of the table, then caught Amanda’s eye. “How are you doing?”
“Great. Look at all the pink!”
“There are so many wonderful things happening. They won’t be home from the hospital for a few days, but we’ll have to go visit as soon as they are.”
“I’d love to join you. Two babies at once. Wow. I could barely keep up with one at a time.”
“It won’t be easy, but we’ll offer a hand. That’s how the locals are around here. Like one big family.” Maeve smiled. “Speaking of one big family, I can’t quit thinking about the odds of Paul jogging up on the beach. You two being old friends and all that. Isn’t it wonderful how the world reconnects people?”
“I still can’t believe it. I thought I’d never see him again. But it was good to reconnect.” Heat flooded her cheeks. She hoped Maeve didn’t notice. “He came over yesterday and flew a kite on the beach with the kids. They loved it!”
“I saw that big kite from my porch. I’m sure the kids did love it. How about you?”
It was like Maeve could see right into her heart. “I liked it too. It was a lot of fun.”
Maeve’s eyes narrowed. “He seems like a really good man.”
“He is.” The words had come out so breezy. Just thinking about him left her pulse racing. She put her hand on the bench, steadying herself.
“What’s wrong, dear?”
“I don’t know. Nothing.” In an attempt to change the subject, she quickly added, “Just a lot going on. Must be all the excitement.”
“Is Paul meeting y’all here for breakfast?” Maeve’s head popped up, scanning the restaurant like a meerkat on alert.
“No. I’m sure he’s working. It’s a long ride to the base, but I guess it’s worth the drive to live here. I wouldn’t have understood that before. But now, after living here, I get it.”
“I agree. Whelk’s Island is a very special place.” Maeve nodded slowly.
“Oh, I wanted to tell you. I found a shell this morning.” Amanda took it from her pocket and placed it on the table. “This one has a message.” She looked into Maeve’s eyes. “It’s not the first one I’ve found.”
Maeve thrummed her fingers on the table. “I suppose it means you’re extra special.” She ran her thumb across the shell, then turned it over in her hand before looking back up at Amanda. “Interrupt worry with gratitude,” she read. “Are you worried about something?”
“My future, I guess. How I’m going to take care of my children on my own. If I’ll be a good teacher. If moving here was smart.” She’d danced around the most important thing worrying her at the moment. “Paul showing up like he did. What will people think?”
“About the two of you spending time together?” She shrugged. “You’re old friends.”
“We were best friends. Are, I guess.” She pressed her fingers to her temples. “Is it weird that it seems like time just rolled back? When Jack died, that whole situation tugged us apart, but it wasn’t like Paul had done anything. It was the grief. I was angry and hurt. It was just too hard to be around Paul. He and Jack were inseparable.”
“I can understand that. So then why would people think anything of it?”
“You know how people talk. It’s been barely over two years.”
“No one is counting anymore but you.” Maeve set the shell back down in front of Amanda. “It’s self-explanatory. Don’t worry about any of that. Just
