Page 39 of Tell It To The Waves

Hi. I was looking for more information about the storefront that’s for sale. How much is the asking price and the square footage? Do you have a website I can look at pictures of it on? Thank you.

I don’t add my name because it’s not needed right now.

I let my phone fall to the cushion, not believing I had just texted about the store. My stomach feels upset, but I know that’s just my nerves. But I go back to the picture and look at it. Letting myself imagine, just for a second. Imagine finally having a bakery, doing what I love the most. Then the realization hits me: to have that, I’d have to move back to Driftwood Bay, and is that even something I could do? Mentally, could I do that? Financially, I can. I don’t have to sell August Cove; my dad left me plenty of money to do what I need to do. So that’s a burden I don’t have to worry about. The only worry I have is me and my past colliding with being back in Driftwood Bay…and by past, I mean Bohdi.

As I’m laying on the sofa, my phone goes off, alerting me to a text message. My hope springs to life but then fades when I see it’s Baylee letting me know she made it home safely. Sending her a quick text, I decide it’s time for bed. My nerves are shot from everything today.

It’s been two days and I still haven’t heard back about the store. I know Baylee said they were weird about who they would let buy and had constantly turned down offers, so it makes me wonder.

Chopping my hopes up, I continue with my plan of finding something new. Scouring the internet, I look up houses for sale, but nothing catches my eye.

So, deciding to find a claw-foot tub for the cottage and the new owners, I turn my attention to it. All the ones that keep popping up are rusted or just janky, but I continue my search, finally finding pay dirt. An older home two towns over is getting demolished, so everything is for sale. Looking at the tub, I see nothing wrong with it from the pictures. It’s perfect. Squealing, I scare Luna. “Sorry.”

Punching in the phone number, I call the listing and they actually answer. All they want is fifty bucks for it, which is a steal, but I don’t know how I’m going to get it.

Calling them back quickly, I negotiate a delivery to Driftwood Bay. It’ll cost me ten times as much as the tub, but I can’t let it go; it’s perfect.

Planning on meeting them tomorrow to bring them their money and see if there is anything else I want, I hang up.

Excitement. I feel like I’m actually getting somewhere, even if it’s just a bathtub.

Turning onto a dirt road, and all I can think about is this is how I’m going to be killed. My eyes bounce from side to side, trying to find anything out of the norm, but nothing. Finally, coming up over a hill, I see the huge Victorian house that Baylee woulddrool over, and I’m met with a few cars parked out front with people walking in and out, which helps ease my nerves a bit.

Entering the house is beautiful even under the graffiti and the time that has taken on it.

After introducing myself, a stalky man reaches his hand out. “Hi, I’m Mark. We spoke on the phone. Let me show you to the tub. It’s already taken out of the bathroom, of course.”

Mark leads me to what looks like it was a sitting room, and there she sits, beautiful.

My hand glides over the cast iron that’s lined with porcelain. It just needs a superb cleaning. “It’s beautiful.”

“We have doors, fixtures, and everything set up from here to the kitchen. Take a walk through, and if you see anything else, come find me or one of my guys. They’ll be wearing red T-shirts.”

I take my time walking from the sitting room, giving the house the acknowledgment it deserves. Knowing I’ll be one of the last handful of people to walk through her.

I stop in my tracks when I come to an old, vintage wooden door. The stained glass within it reminds me of the window in the cottage hallway. I know nothing about door measurements, but I decided to get it too. And worst-case scenario, if it doesn’t fit, I’ll let Bay have it.

By the time I’m done, I have the tub, a front door, a chandelier, and an old iron porch set.

I make plans for them to deliver the items to the cottage tomorrow afternoon, which I need to get with Kai and let him know…also that I want him to add them. He’s going to hate me. I can’t help the laugh I let out on my way to the car.

Stopping for fast food, I FaceTime Bay on my drive back home, knowing it’s after five and Kai is most likely home.

Her smiling face pops up on the screen, filling the whole thing.

Laughing, “Can you scoot back? All I see is your colossal head.” I tell her jokingly.

“Rude,” she mumbles but scoots back.

“I’m driving back home, but wanted to see if Kai happens to be there?”

“Hey, August,” comes from behind the phone; Bay's eyes track him, showing nothing but love in them. Kai comes into view behind Bay. “What’s up?”

“Okay, don’t hate me, but I have a delivery coming tomorrow afternoon, maybe around three. I found a clawfoot tub.” I smile and Baylee claps in excitement at my find. “Also,” I pause, taking a quick glance at my phone screen and back to the road, “I have a door and a chandelier coming. Could you install them as well? Of course, I'll pay extra for the labor." It’s quiet, and I hear him cough loudly, and I know Baylee just elbowed him. I don’t laugh, though. I need his help, so I pretend I didn’t hear it, pursing my lips so they can’t see my smile.

“Okay. Yes, I will,” he begrudgingly replies.

“Thank you!”