She walked to the counter.A woman with a name tag that said “Jan” looked up from the coffee machine.
“Good morning!You must be new in town.”Jan’s smile was genuine.
“Just visiting.I need a large coffee.Dark roast.Black.”
“You got it.For here or to go?”
“Um...”
“No problem.I’ll pour a mug and give you a to-go cup if you decide to finish up later.”Jan reached for a large mug.“Staying long?”
The question was casual and friendly.It was the kind of small talk that she normally deflected with professional ease.“Not sure.”
“You staying at the lighthouse cottages?I heard Winnie rented out Heron Cottage.”
Small towns.Everyone knew everything.
“Yes.”
“Oh, you’ll love it there.Winnie’s the best, and the cottages are so cozy.My cousin got married in that courtyard last spring.”
Jan handed over a mug and a to-go cup.“Here you go.You need anything else?Recommendations?We’ve got the best sunsets on this coast.And if you like seafood, The Sandpiper is right on the water.Best grouper sandwich you’ll ever have.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
She took the coffee and went over to a table by the window.She sat alone and sipped her coffee.
A woman slid into the chair across from her without asking, and Cassidy looked up, startled.
“Sorry, hope you don’t mind,” the woman said, though she didn’t look sorry.She was older—seventy, maybe—with short gray hair.“Jan said you were Winnie’s new guest.Just wanted to say hi.”
Cassidy minded, but saying so felt unnecessarily rude.“It’s fine.”
“I’m Sally Morris.”She stuck out a hand.
She shook it briefly.“Cassidy.”
“You’re in Heron Cottage, right?Cute cottage.Cliff, have you met him?He’s Winnie’s nephew and does maintenance around the cottages.He keeps saying he’s going to paint it.Last I noticed, it was in need of a bit of a refresh.”
She reeled slightly from the deluge of words.“Does everyone in this town know everything immediately?”
Sally grinned.“Pretty much.Don’t worry, they’ll get bored of you in a week or two.”She pulled out her phone and checked a message.“You here for work, or...?”
“Not exactly.”
“Vacation?”
“Something like that.”
Sally glanced up, assessing, then shrugged.“It’s okay.Half the people who stay at the lighthouse are running from something.Winnie’s good at giving people space to figure things out.”
“I’m not running.”
Sally just nodded, stood, and grabbed her coffee.“Well, just wanted to welcome you.If you need a friendly face, I’m always at Bayview General Store.I own it.Feels like I rarely leave it.”
She left before Cassidy could respond.
She sat alone again, staring into her coffee.
