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“You think?” she asked her sister, who nodded.
“I do. Adorable. Now, go. I’ll keep an eye on the place—and Katie.”
Ariel gave Charlie another long hug. One of the benefits of having landed back in Endless Harbor after her last breakup was her sister—Ariel felt their relationship, which had been growing distant before Ariel’s return—was so much stronger now than before.
“Thanks.”
And with that, she grabbed her keys and headed out, trying not to imagine Katie watching her go from her window.
***
Ariel checked the time on her phone as she stepped out of her car and made her way towards the entrance of the fancy Italian restaurant. It was almost noon, and Miles was supposed to meet her outside. The sun was shining, and there was still that beautiful, light breeze in the air, making the perfect weather for a lunch date.
As she walked, she couldn't help but take in the surroundings. The area was bustling with people, and the restaurant itself was beautifully decorated with a European flair. There were potted plants and flowers lining the entrance, and she could see the servers moving back and forth inside, waiting on customers, setting tables with white tablecloths and silver cutlery.
She spotted Miles leaning against the wall outside, his hands in his pockets, looking as dapper as ever in a dark short-sleeved shirt and khaki shorts. As she approached, he stood up straight and smiled at her, making her heart skip a beat.
“You look great,” he said, brushing a kiss over her lips as she reached him. “As always.”
She blushed, but Ariel was secretly pleased at his assessment. And he was dressed casually, too, so her doubts about her clothing choice melted away.
Together, they walked into the restaurant, and the atmosphere was immediately warm and inviting. The walls were painted a rich, deep red, and there were dimly lit chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, casting a soft, warm glow over everything. Soft music was playing in the background, and the aroma of garlic, herbs, and tomato sauce filled the air.
They were seated at a cozy table for two near a window, and the waiter came over with the menu. Ariel took her time looking through the options, taking in the descriptions and imagining the flavors. There were so many to choose from, and she couldn't decide between the seafood pasta or the grilled chicken with pesto.
“Get both,” he said, leaning forward to brush a strand of her hair from her face. “We can share. I’m going to pick out a few other things, too, if that’s okay.”
Miles ordered a bottle of red wine to share as well, and they toasted to a perfect lunch date. The wine was smooth and full-bodied, and it would complement the food perfectly. When their appetizers arrived, they dug in eagerly, savoring the flavors of the bruschetta and the caprese salad.
As their main courses were served, the restaurant was filled with the sound of chatter and clinking glasses. Ariel and Miles enjoyed the first few bites of their meals in silence, each lost in their own thoughts and enjoying the food. Ariel was blown away by how beautiful it looked. The pasta was perfectly al dente, coated in a rich tomato sauce with chunks of tender meat. The lobster ravioli looked amazing, with plump, juicy pieces of lobster nestled in between the delicate pasta sheets. They also had a platter of antipasti, a plate of calamari with fresh tomato sauce and basil, and a side of roasted vegetables. It was all so delicious that Ariel couldn't help but close her eyes and savor each bite.
As they ate, they talked about the flavors and textures of each dish, enjoying the experience together. Ariel felt grateful to be able to share such a special moment with Miles—he was as interested in talking food with her as he was his own hobbies, and it made their connection feel so much deeper that he cared about what she was passionate about. It was the kind of moment that made her feel alive, that made her feel like life was worth living.
After they finished eating, they lingered over coffee and dessert, not wanting the experience to end. As Ariel took the last bite of her cannoli and people-watched the room, Miles suddenly leaned over and whispered something in her ear.
"What did you say?" Ariel asked, turning to him with a confused expression. She couldn’t have heard him right.
"I put in an offer to buy the sailboat," Miles repeated, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. “The one I was commissioned to restore. The owner said he wasn’t sure what he would do with it once it was refinished, and I got to thinking—I could never afford to buy or even build something like the old girl myself, and certainly not in the shape she’ll be in once I get her all spiffed back up.”
Ariel's heart skipped a beat as she processed his words. "Are you serious?" she asked, excitement for him building in her. "That boat is your dream project."
But there was a frisson of worry in her for him—Miles had a past in which his passion tangled with some painful memories. He’d told Ariel that, years back, his life had taken an unexpected turn. He’d been a successful speed boat manufacturer, running a business that provided him with a good income and a sense of pride. The waters had always been smooth, with profits flowing in and customers happy with their purchases. However, that all had changed when the economy had crashed.
Ariel remembered his despairing expression as he’d told her how he had believed that his business had enough capital to stay afloat during the rough patch, but then he’d discovered the bitter truth. His business partner, who he had trusted for years, had made some very questionable decisions with the company's money. It turned out that his partner had been embezzling funds, spending them in the most unsavory of ways. His partner's actions had not only been illegal, but they had also destroyed the business that Miles had worked so hard to build.
His former partner had eventually been caught and sent to prison for his crimes, but the damage had already been done. Miles had been left with nothing, his life's work had crumbled, and his dreams had shattered. To make matters worse, his wife had left him, unable to handle the stress of the situation—or maybe, Ariel thought, the change of lifestyle that would be inevitable in a fall of that depth.
Ariel thought about Emily. She didn’t seem like the type to care all that much about money. Her luggage hadn’t been designer, nor her clothes all that fancy. And finding out that the woman who had left the wonderful man sitting in front of her worked with plants for a living? It threw things off in Ariel’s head. There was nothing that was making sense lately.
Except Miles. He’d been forced to start over from scratch. But he refused to give up. He’d spent years trying to pick up the pieces of his life. He had to learn to live a more modest lifestyle, but he worked hard and made the most of what he had here in Endless Harbor, managing the marina.
As she looked back on how Miles’s life journey paralleled her own, Ariel realized that he had gained more than he had lost—and so had she. In fact, she had so much to be grateful for, even when times were trying. He had gained a new perspective on life, an appreciation for the little things, and a renewed sense of purpose. He had learned to never give up, no matter how tough the going got. His story was a testament to the human spirit, the power of perseverance, and the importance of having good people by your side when you need them the most—just the way that Ariel had with her own family, and Katie, and all the folks who had supported both Leeside as a B and B and the Seaside Café.
“I cannot believe you’re going to do it,” she said. “I’m just—wow. You’re not nervous?”
Miles nodded, grinning from ear to ear. "Yeah, I finally did it. I think I should be nervous, but I’m not at all. The owner accepted my offer this morning."
Ariel felt a rush of emotions fill her. She knew how happy Miles had seemed when he’d talked about that boat, how much time he had planned to spend working on it. Ariel smiled, feeling a surge of happiness for Miles. "That's amazing. I'm so happy for you," she said, scooting over and giving him a quick hug.
