“Or we’ll kick his butt,” Sky said happily, helping herself to more food.
“I have some news, too.” Emily handed out drinks. “I went to talk to Doug Mitchell about renting the empty store near the end of Main Street.”
Brittany opened the drink. “Is this for you or for someone else?”
“For me. I’ve been playing with the numbers. I want to open a store that sells a variety of things with a seaside theme. Despite the obvious market, there’s nothing like that on the island. The artists who work here take their stuff to the mainland. There’s a woman who lives over near Puffin Point who makes beautiful mirrors out of driftwood. And John Harris makes those awesome wooden boats like the one he made for Lizzy. I’ve already talked to him, and he’d be interested in making more.”
“Paintings? Jewelry? I can
see that working. I think it’s a great idea. I can make you a few pieces to sell.” They finished eating and Skylar wiped her fingers on a napkin while Brittany started tidying up.
“It sounds exciting.”
She tried to ignore the little pang inside her.
Both her friends knew what they wanted to do. They both had a clear vision of the future, whereas hers was murky and opaque.
For the first time in her life, she had no idea what she wanted to do.
All she knew was that she wanted to stay here, living close to her friends, breathing in the salty air when she woke up every morning. She wanted to walk in the forest, watch the sun go down over the ocean from the terrace of the Ocean Club.
Most of all she wanted to be with Zach.
After a decade of traveling, she was ready to settle down in some form, although she was flexible about how that looked. All she knew was that she was tired of carrying her life in a backpack.
Should she tell him?
Yes. She’d tell him how she felt and ask him to be honest with her.
Hope lifting her mood, she scrambled to her feet and turned her attention back to her friends. “So what are you going to call your gift store?”
“I don’t know, but I want something with ‘seashore’ in the title.”
“Something Seashore.” Skylar grinned. “Perfect. I’ll design you a logo.” She sighed as her phone rang. She delved into the bag and the smile faded from her face as she saw the caller ID. “Excuse me. I have to take this.” She scrambled to her feet and walked away from them across the sand, her voice carrying in the wind. “Richard? I wasn’t expecting—well, I know that, but I thought you were—”
Feeling as if she was eavesdropping, Brittany caught Emily’s eye. “I don’t like what being with him does to her.”
“Me neither. It reminds me of college.”
“When she was trying to escape from the pressure her parents put on her? I was thinking the same thing.”
They couldn’t hear the rest of the conversation, but when Sky finally walked back to them her smile was forced.
“Sorry. I’m going to have to leave.”
“Now?” Emily’s tone was gentle as she scrambled to her feet. “We were going to spend a little more time on the beach and then I was going to run you up to the airfield in time for your late-afternoon flight.”
“Something unexpected has come up. Richard has booked Zach to fly me.”
“Without asking if it suited you?”
“He knows how much I hate planning. And spontaneity isn’t practical when it comes to air travel.” Without looking at them, Skylar slid her feet into her shoes. “I have to pack. My things are strewn all over the cottage, it’s going to take me a while. Stay there. Pete can give me a ride.”
“No way.” Brittany gathered up their things. “If you’re really leaving, then Em can drop you at the airfield on her way home. I’ll come, too. I need to pick up some things from the store and I’ll walk back across the fields.”
Barely responding, Skylar hurried off towards Castaway Cottage, all long legs and graceful lines.
Brittany watched her go, her own problems temporarily forgotten in her concern for her friend. “He calls and she drops everything. What is that about?”