Callie had been with Olivia when she’d bought the dress. They’d shared a bottle of champagne, had their nails done, and spent all day shopping—an indulgent girls’ day. Olivia hadn’t been on a date since she and Wyatt’s father had split up. She’d finally agreed to go out with someone, but as she prepared—bought a new dress, got her hair cut and her nails done—she’d chickened out and cancelled. Wyatt’s father had let them down, and she didn’t want it to happen again. Not now that Wyatt’s heart could be broken too.
“Are you sure you want me to wear that one?” Callie had loved that dress, and when Olivia bought it, she’d been so glad that her friend had found something so lovely. It tied behind the neck, and flowed down very casually just above the knees. With some strappy sandals and big hoop earrings, it was adorable.
“Yes. I’m more than sure. It’s still in the garment bag with the tags on it. I was going to return it, but I just never did.”
“You’re a life saver,” Callie said, not wanting to dwell on the subject. It would only bring them around to Wyatt’s father, the whole reason dating was so hard for Olivia. She’d spent so many nights helping Olivia through the tears and the hurt during that time, and she knew her friend didn’t want to relive any part of it. They didn’t talk about him anymore, never mentioning his name unless he was coming to pick up Wyatt on the odd holiday.
She knew too well what a gaping hole a break up could cause. Callie had experienced it herself: Things had been going so well. She had bought a loft apartment in Richmond; she’d been promoted to senior manager of accounts at the marketing firm where she worked, and she’d started in a new department. It was there that Callie had met a guy—his name was Kyle; he was a graphic designer. He’d been considerate, mannerly, all the things she might look for, and she’d let herself fall for him.
There was one particular moment when she knew that she’d fallen hard. He’d made her laugh—he always did—but that time as she giggled, she could see a look in his eyes that she thought meant something. They’d dated just long enough for her to start to rethink her future, considering him in her life’s choices, when suddenly and completely unexpectedly, he’d broken it off.
He’d said he wasn’t ready for a long-term relationship. She thought back to the way he’d kept an extra blanket folded next to the pillow where she slept in his room because she always got cold and how he’d bought a coffee mug to keep in the cabinet just for her—he didn’t drink coffee. Callie had pored over every conversation, everything they’d done together, never once feeling that she’d put any pressure on him. They’d just progressed from one stage to another. But the day after he’d ended things, she saw him kissing their co-worker Sheila in the office parking lot, that same look on his face that she’d thought had been only for her. Sick with the weight of betrayal, unable to show up in the office and look them both in the eye, Callie had quit her job that day. She’d just called her boss and resigned.
So when Olivia told her their dream of owning the cottage could actually be a reality, Callie jumped at the chance, leaving her office career behind and investing her time and all her savings in The Beachcomber, where they could meet people from all over, sit out on the back porch with their coffees, and watch the sun rise over the Atlantic.
The Beachcomber was the fresh start she needed.
Four
Callie woke to the sound of a buzz saw. She checked the clock again—seven o’clock. She’d been tossing and turning for about an hour, the heat and noise creeping in from the construction downstairs. She couldn’t wait to get out on the beach and feel the refreshing chill of the sea spray as it caught in the wind and sprinkled her skin.
The saw squealed again, and she was acutely aware of her need for coffee. Delighted that although the kitchen was probably covered in dust from all the work downstairs, it had—as of this week—a working coffee maker, she threw on her clothes and went downstairs. The saw was competing with a loud banging and she covered her ears.
“Sorry!” Olivia said, following her into the kitchen. “The crew for the porches got here early and had to start.”
With a groggy nod, Callie took the cream out of the fridge while Olivia retrieved the sugar, setting it beside her with a smile. She was always the early bird. Callie yawned as she filled the coffee maker and got herself a mug. After what seemed like years rather than minutes due to the noise, the coffee finally percolated and she poured herself a cup, offering one to Olivia.
When the sawing tapered off, Callie sent a quiet “thank you” to God as she sat down in silence at the new kitchen table, delivered yesterday evening. The table was a creamy whitewashed color, with the wood grains peeking through in places. It was big enough to fill the large breakfast area that was being widened further to accommodate additional smaller tables and chairs for guests.
The saws started back up and Callie winced. “I think I’m going to take my coffee outside to wake up a little before I start renovations for the day. Want to come?”
“I woke up really early and just jumped right into it! I’m going to finish the trim in the hallway with Wyatt before I take a break. I’m feeling motivated!” Olivia pumped her fists in the air, making Callie laugh.
“I’ll be in to help shortly,” Callie said, taking her coffee to the back door and grabbing a magazine from the stack on the way. She needed to buy a book for times like these, but she just hadn’t settled in to a routine yet, the house still taking nearly every single minute of her time.
While Olivia went back into the hallway Callie let herself out onto the old porch that was being redone. She waved to the crew. They were suspended around the house like a swarm of giant spiders, hammering, sawing, lining up the timber. Next to a giant water cooler, a small radio played Top 40 hits.
She and Olivia had put up a ton of their own money, hiring an architect friend of Olivia’s from college, Aiden Parker, to help with renovations. He’d put his crew on it immediately. He was very well known for his work, and because Olivia was an old friend, he’d given them a good deal, but it was still quite a high price. He was extending the entire back of the old shingled house, giving its three stories their own covered porches facing the coast. The house itself sat right on the shore, but it was back just far enough to be safe at high tide when the waves would eat up the beach, gurgling their way toward them. Once Aiden had the porches built, Callie imagined rows of wicker chairs and hanging flowers dotting the electric blue view of the ocean. It was going to be magnificent.