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Just talking about this made her stomach flutter as much as she tried to ignore it. Just being in his presence threw her off in a way that she hadn’t experienced before. Being with him while she worked on the boat was going to be a challenge.
“A business arrangement. Right.” Alissa held back a smile and Caitlin gave her an annoyed look. “Anyway, want some coffee?”
“Sure.”
They went into Alissa’s small kitchen and Alissa started a pot. Caitlin pulled out the mugs and creamer.
“How are things at work?” Caitlin asked.
“Good! They’re going really smoothly and the publications are growing.” Alissa poured a little bit of creamer into her mug. “It’s been so nice working with Dane. Alongside someone I just happened to fall in love with. I feel so much closer to him in every way.”
Caitlin read Alissa’s hint loud and clear. She was insinuating that she and Michael could be the same way. Right? Maybe Caitlin was reading into it more than she should have. Instead of bringing it up, Caitlin just nodded.
Alissa poured them each a mug of coffee. Caitlin took a sip of it. Alissa was great at a lot of things, but her coffee making skills left a lot to be desired. Alissa laughed.
“What?” Caitlin asked.
“My coffee’s not great, I know. I grabbed the cheap beans since the really good ones were sold out at Sandy’s. I should have gone to Tidal Wave Coffee instead.”
“Okay, it’s not great.” Caitlin laughed too. “But I just need the boost. Caffeine is caffeine.”
“True.” Alissa raised her mug and tapped it against Caitlin’s.
“Do you want me to go by Sandy’s to see if the good beans are back in stock?” Caitlin asked. She checked the time. "I have to drop Pearl off at Little Clams in a bit and I can pop into Sandy’s.”
“That would be perfect,” Alissa said. “Thank you.”
“I’ll grab a few other things too.” Caitlin peered into the fridge.
The sisters put together a quick list of things for Caitlin to pick up at the store as they finished their coffee. Then, Caitlin helped Pearl get ready to go and they left to head to Little Clams.
“Bye, sweetheart,” Caitlin said to Pearl once they arrived.
“Bye, Mommy!” Pearl gave Caitlin one look over her shoulder before greeting her friends.
Caitlin was glad to see that Pearl had already started to make friends and become less shy. She was already making her way in Blueberry Bay. It was time for Caitlin to do the same.
* * *
"Okay!” Alissa hiked her canvas tote bag up on her shoulders. “Ready for our adventure?”
“Yes!” Pearl pushed her bright purple sunglasses up on her nose. They took over most of her small face, but she loved them.
“Me too.” Alissa peeked over her shoulder, where Caitlin was filling up a tote bag for their day. “You ready, Caitlin?”
“Just let me find the sunscreen…” Caitlin rummaged around one of her other bags and found what she was looking for. “Okay, ready!”
“Let’s go!”
They hadn’t had a day to explore Blueberry Bay together yet, so Alissa had planned out a day full of things that she hoped Caitlin and Pearl would love. Dane was going to meet them once they got into town and Alissa could hardly wait. Caitlin had loved Blueberry Bay when she first visited, but she hadn’t gotten to see everything.
They walked into town, taking the small side roads that Alissa liked to take when she wanted the scenic route.
“Oh, this house is for sale?” Caitlin asked, slowing to a stop in front of a cute bungalow with light blue siding. Flowers lined the front of the house, and when Caitlin looked around the side, there was a fenced-in backyard.
“It must have just come on the market,” Alissa said, stopping next to her. “It’s cute.”
“It is.” Caitlin pulled out her phone and took a picture of the ‘for sale’ sign. “And it’s so close to you.”
