Page 72 of Tell It To The Waves

Do I know where this is all going? No, but that’s okay; I’m not supposed to. Life is worth the scary and unpredictable moments, because in the end, the happy and fulfilling ones outweigh them.

Watching a seagull fly, dive into the water, and come out with a fish, I smile out at the ocean and the calm waves. “I’m ready,” I tell them and myself.

Pushing myself up off the sand, I walk to the shore, letting the swash kiss my feet.

“August.”

Spinning around, Kai calls for me from the stairs. “Hey.” I turn and walk toward him.

“Good news, we’ll be done today. Tub is going in now, and the guys will paint, and tomorrow we’ll be gone for good,” Kai tells me, smiling.

“That is so exciting.” I close the gap between us, stepping up the first step. “And when will you start on the shop?”

I already have some guys there; he pulls a key from his pocket. “I created a new one, and I’ll give it back after we’re done there.” I tear up at the keychain now hanging from the key.

“Baylee,” Kai tells me before turning around and walking up the stairs.

Tears blur my vision as I bring the keychain to my lips, kissing it. It’s just a cheap tourist keychain, but she used a Sharpie and wrote ‘home’ on it.

Drying my face, I pour the bit of now-cold coffee into the dune grass that coddles each side of the stairs.

“Man,” I mutter to myself before placing my key and coffee cup on the deck table, forcing myself to the porta potty by my driveway. I can’t wait until I can actually use the bathroom. You don’t realize how much you take that stuff for granted until you don’t have it.

I now have two new stoves being delivered to the shop in about a week. I also ordered bulk ingredients and started searching fordécor. I can see the bakery in my mind, and I can’t wait to see it come to fruition.

Did I splurge and buy expensive commercial ovens? Yes. But they're also a light baby blue, which makes it even better.

By the time I’m done with everything I think I needed to order, it’s three in the afternoon, and I need to get out of the house.

Throwing on a pair of shorts and a tank top, I call it good before slipping on my sandals and grabbing my tote. I need more coffee, and the thrift store is calling my name.

“Wanna go shopping around town with me?” I ask Baylee on the other end of my phone.

“Umm, yeah. Plus, we have to talk. You’ll never believe who showed up at my house this morning and the freaking shit that’s going on. It’s crazy, August.” Baylee tells me.

My eyebrows draw together as I get into my car. “Meet me at Sippy’s.”

Driving into town, my mind racing. It has to be Bohdi. Right?

I’m not even fully out of my car yet when Baylee bounds up to me, coffees in hand, making me jump. “Holy hell, Bay.” I grab my chest with one hand and the coffee she’s offering with the other.

“Sorry.” She smiles, and her face definitely doesn’t convey the apology.

We head straight to the thrift store, and I’m on a mission.

Walking around, my head swivels from left to right, looking at all the antiques, eyes honing in on different things. “So, what did you want to tell me?”

“First, why didn’t you tell me about the Williams wanting to bulldoze August Cove?” She stops, and I freeze.

“Who told you?” I don’t know why I’m even asking. I know who told her, but why?

“Bohdi showed up this morning, and August- stuff isn’t as it seems. I’m still flabbergasted and in shock about everything he told us. Do you know they tried to take Driftwood Marina from the Westmores, pretty much tied Bohdi’s hand with marrying Molly just so he wouldn’t lose his family’s land and business.” Her eyes were wide as she quietly spoke so no one could hear her.

I stand there, mouth agape, my mind trying to connect to what she had just told me. “Hold on. Are you serious?”

“Like a heart attack.”

Finally getting my legs to work again, I walk forward. “What is Bohdi going to do?”