Chapter11
The next morning, the storm had passed, leaving everything washed clean and bright.Cassidy sat up in bed and stretched carefully, testing her sore muscles.Still tender, but better than yesterday.
She dressed in shorts and a lightweight sweater, then grabbed her laptop bag.The urge to check her work email had faded to a dull background hum instead of the screaming urgency she’d felt a week ago.Progress, maybe.Or just distraction.
Either way, she was heading to Harbor Brew.
To her surprise, she decided to take the long way into town along the waterfront path.It took twenty-five minutes, and she didn’t even think about hurrying.The Gulf sparkled under the morning sun, all traces of yesterday’s violence erased.Pelicans dove for fish.A couple walked their dog along the waterfront.Everything looked peaceful and timeless, like the storm had never happened.
Harbor Brew was busy.The line stretched to the door, and every table was occupied.Cassidy joined the queue and scanned the room.The four elderly women she’d seen the other day occupied their same corner table, heads bent together in serious conversation.Marty Fuller browsed the community bulletin board, adding a flyer for some upcoming bookstore event.
“Cassidy!”Jan waved from behind the counter.“Your usual?”
She had a usual now.When had that happened?
“Please,” she said, then added, “and one of those lemon scones.”
“Coming right up.”Jan started preparing her coffee.“Heard you saved the day.Whole town’s talking about you and Bryan wrestling that tent in the storm.”
“News travels fast.”
“Honey, this is Starlight Shores.News travels before it happens.”Jan set the coffee and scone on the counter.“Those hands healing okay?”
She held up her bandaged palms.“Getting there.”
“You need anything, you let me know.We take care of our own around here.”Jan turned to the next customer, leaving Cassidy to process that statement.
Our own.Like she belonged here.Like two weeks and one dramatic tent rescue had somehow earned her a place in this community.
She found a small table near the window and settled in with her coffee.The scone was perfect, tart, sweet, and buttery.She broke off a piece and watched the room.
The four elderly women were still deep in conversation.One of them, the sharp-eyed woman, gestured emphatically.The others nodded in agreement.
Jan appeared with a coffee pot, refilling cups at nearby tables.When she reached Cassidy’s, she topped it off despite it being nearly full.
“Those ladies over there,” Cassidy said, nodding toward the corner table.“They come here often?”
“Three or four times a week.The Harbor Ladies Club.”Jan grinned.“At least, that’s what they call themselves.Rest of us have other names for them, but those aren’t polite enough to repeat before noon.”
“They seem very...involved.”
“That’s one word for it.They know everything that happens in this town before it happens.Got their fingers in every pie, their opinions on every topic, and their judgment on every newcomer.”Jan lowered her voice.“But between you and me?They volunteer more hours than anyone else combined.Food drives, beach cleanups, school fundraisers, you name it.They complain the whole time, but they show up.”
She looked at the women with newfound appreciation.“Think they’d help with the festival?”
Jan’s expression turned doubtful.“Maybe.If you can convince them you’re not going to ruin everything they love about it.”
“Bryan said the same thing.”
“Bryan’s not wrong.”Jan moved to the next table, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
She ate her scone and tried to strategize.In her corporate world, she’d approach this like any stakeholder management challenge.She’d identify key influencers, understand their concerns, and address objections with data and logic.
But that was exactly the wrong approach here.She’d learned that lesson the hard way at the committee meeting.
She was still debating her next move when Sally Morris walked in.She grabbed coffee, spotted Cassidy, and headed straight for her table.
“Mind if I join you?”Sally asked.
