he next day, a soothing breeze ruffled Tempest’s skirt as she sat on the porch swing out front of her humble little home. Her family often referred to it as a shack, on account of its being rather run-down and in disrepair.
Sure, it could use a fresh coat of paint,she thought with a chuckle. Maybe some improvements and a little extra love. To her, this dilapidated old beach cottage felt like heaven on earth.
The soft cornflower blue paint might be peeling in places, but it boasted this breathtaking view of the sea from her front porch and the sound of waves to lull her to sleep at night. Often, she fell asleep to the sound of rain on the roof like a lullaby.
It had been built before the town had grown to its current size, on a private little stretch of beach Tempest had all to herself. Half finished paintings sat on easels scattered around the house; projects she pursued only when the mood struck.
In this moment, though, Tempest did what she loved most —she simply watched the waves lap at the shore, listening to the call of gulls in the distance.
“If only my family could appreciate the sea the way I do,”
19
she whispered to the blue sky. “Or this strange gene didn’t skip a generation or two.”
The setting sun disappeared behind the horizon incrementally, bathing the sky and sea in shades of cotton candy pink and pastel orange that she itched to paint. Tempest had never been able to truly capture the beauty, the wonder, of the sunset over the ocean, no matter how many times she tried. Yet that would not deter her.
For now, she should grab a basket and head across the beach to the Boardwalk. The first Moonlight Market of the summer would begin just as night set in and Tempest had supplies to gather. Perks of living in a magical town hidden from regular humans included the ability to easily acquire healing charms and magical items that would be nearly impossible to find elsewhere.
Waves lapped at her feet as Tempest walked the length of the beach just at the water’s edge, her sandals in her hand as she soaked up the ocean spray. Chatter grew louder up ahead of her, the Boardwalk coming into view after a few minutes. Many of the town’s regulars and business owners would be out tonight.
While she wouldn’t exactly call most of them friends, perhaps it would be nice to socialize a bit. The sound of Selena Torres shouting across the beach at full volume dragged her attention to the waterfront. A game of beach volleyball had been started at the nets that stayed up nearly year-round in Crescent Cove.
“I’m going to crush you!” Selena called out to some blondehaired man who only laughed in response.
Tempest chuckled. That girl always seemed to be getting into fights. Her opponents underestimated her entirely too often and lived to regret it. A half dozen others in swimsuits and shortsmade up the rest of the teams and many townies sat on the nearby benches to watch. She spotted Elliot beside two pretty women she vaguely recognized.
The first had pale skin and long brown hair, her companion a voluptuous woman with platinum blonde hair who spoke with her hands. She struggled to recall either of their names and frowned when she came up blank. As much as Tempest wanted to say hi to Elliot, she didn’t particularly want to go through introductions and be expected to make polite small talk.
“It’s never too early for some delicious libations at Toast and Tide,” a young woman called from the cafe in the middle of the Boardwalk. “I make a killer Irish Coffee!”
Her head perked up at that. While Tempest rarely drank more than a single glass of wine by herself on the weekends, it had been longer than she could recall since she had stopped in for a mixed drink at Rick’s place. His enchanted coffees were divine.
That really ought to hit the spot tonight; maybe it would keep her from getting too melancholy and bringing down the mood at the market. Perhaps it might even help her sleep better
- alcohol tended to have that affect on her after a few hours. She could certainly use a good night’s sleep after the last few restless nights.
The cheerful young bartender waved her over, a bright smile on her face. Tempest did her best to return the gesture, feeling awkward and out of place amongst the townsfolk that she hardly knew.
“What can I get you?” asked the pretty bartender.
“Do you have Moonlight Market specials for tonight?”
“We sure do!” the girl grinned, showing off white teeth. “Espresso martini with a dash of concentration and our usual local grounds. Great if you want to get tasks done!”
Tempest hummed softly. “What else do you have tonight?”
“The Irish Coffee, with your choice of Bailey’s or Kahlua, and asplash of happiness. For a wonderful Friday night!” chirped the bartender with a winning smile.
“Oh…that one, please,” Tempest nodded to herself.
“Any preference on the alcohol?” asked the bartender.
“Kahlua,” she replied instantly.
The smooth coffee and chocolate flavors would go well together. It was easily one of her favorite flavor combinations. She found espresso martinis were usually a bit too strong for her liking, with the sharp bite of vodka or whiskey instead of the softer Kahlua. Tempest settled in at a small table on the boardwalk in front of Toast and Tide, watching the last streaks of color fade from the sky as she waited for her drink.
When the pretty young woman returned and handed her the drink, Tempest thanked her with a genuine smile. She took a sip and sighed happily, causing the bartender to grin. Her shopping could wait half an hour while she allowed herself to absorb the happy, electric energy of the Crescent Cove Boardwalk at its best.
