AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I think you're right, Dad. I might go out later.” By later, Kiel meant now. Each time he had run into Eloise, she was packing up for the day. He wanted to see her before she disappeared for the day.
They drove along the narrow, one-way streets that were lined with houses built too close to the roads. A few were for sale and Kiel wondered if what Ciara told him earlier was true—were his parents looking to buy a second home? Part of him hoped so. He liked the idea of having a place to vacation. But that niggling thought in the back of his mind told him otherwise.
Their mom commented on almost every house and how quaint and historic they were. Except when they drove a few blocks away and the houses changed, her tone did as well. “See, these houses look too modern,” Mom said. “I think I'd want one of the historical homes. Something with history that we can talk about when people come over.”
“They're probably haunted,” Ciara said. “Think of all the soldiers and pirates that have come through here.”
Skyla elbowed Ciara. “Hush.”
“She's not wrong,” Kiel mumbled and leaned forward. “There's a ghost tour in Seaport. Do you want to do it?” he asked Ciara, who nodded. Skyla either didn't believe in the supernatural or was terrified of things that go bump in the night.
“I can’t imagine the cost to fix a house that old up,” Emmett said.
“Your hands would be tied as to what you could do,” Kiel said. “The preservation society probably has strict rules on what you can and cannot change.”
“Like this one,” Ciara read off the listing for one of the homes for sale via her phone. The cost was well over a million and the inside needed to be torn up and replaced.
“I don’t even know how something like that is even up to housing codes,” Kiel said as he looked at his sister’s phone over her shoulder.
“Those homes are what people call a money pit,” Emmett said.
“Well, I want one,” Leona said.
“Maybe one day, dear,” Emmett said. Everyone in the back laughed. Kiel knew his father would do what he could to make it happen for his mom.
When they arrived back at their rental, Kiel set off for the beach. He intended to find Eloise and talk to her longer than five minutes. And if he found her and she was packing up . . . well he’d figure that out when the time came. As he left, he laughed and told his family not to wait up. He didn't want his mom worrying or pacing the floor at one in the morning, wondering where her son was. Truth be told, he'd probably be back by ten, if not sooner.
Kiel’s first stop was the beach. Instead of walking through the parking lot to get to the boardwalk, he hopped over the concrete barrier meant to keep the water on one side and the cars on the other and jumped into the sand. He kicked his shoes off and sighed when his bare feet touched the warm sand. Kiel loved the smell of sand after the sun had baked it all day. He made his way to the wooden steps and climbed them, opting to keep his shoes off for the moment. At the railing, he stood there and looked out, taking in the remaining beach goers. He couldn’t blame them for staying as long as they could. The warm evening air made for a perfect night.
And it would be perfect if he found Eloise.
He walked the promenade and passed each shop, thinking he should definitely shop there for his mom and sisters’ birthdays. They were at the end of the summer, but taking a piece of Seaport back home with them would be a wonderful way to remember their trip.
In one window, he saw a necklace and a matching pair of earrings shaped like waves he thought his mom would like. If he had to guess, it was sterling silver. It didn’t stand out though and was something he could easily get at any store or offline. He wanted their gifts, especially for his mom, to be something unique and tied to their vacation.
Then he thought of Eloise and wondered if she did family portraits and if not, maybe she could recommend someone. His mother would love an updated family picture. The five of them could wear matching outfits or something. Whatever his mom wanted.
Every store he passed brought him closer to the spot where he first saw Eloise. His heart rate picked up with the anticipation of seeing her again. Tonight, he would talk to her for longer than five minutes. He would ask her to dinner or to go for a walk. Anything to spend more time with her.
At the last store, he paused and inhaled. “You got this.” It was the pep talk he needed. He turned the corner and froze.
She wasn’t there.
As defeated as he should’ve been, he knew it was a long shot. Yet, he was still determined to find her, and had at least one other place he knew to visit. Kiel left the beach and walked up the road, past the street where the family rental was and kept walking until he was in the area he explored with his sisters the day prior. They had a good time with their scoot coupes, and it was something they’d have to do again before the end of the summer. Before crossing the street, he looked down the cobblestone road and saw people lining up to go into the various restaurants. His stomach growled, and he set his hand over the top of it. If his plan worked, he’d be having dinner with Eloise shortly.
When he crossed the last street, he immediately felt like the vibe was different. There were more people his age, and fewer families. It was like someone flipped a switch and it was time for the twenty somethings to come out and have a good time. As much as he wanted to check out the outside bar, he wanted to find Eloise more.
Kiel hustled along the sidewalk, weaving in and out of the people walking on the sidewalk. He turned the corner and spotted Eloise right away. He sighed. It was a long, drawn-out exhale of relief. She sat there—on her stool with an easel and a canvas in front of her—facing the ocean. After taking two steps forward, he paused and looked to the left. Ida’s Frozen Lemonade stand—it was a converted van turned into a stand—didn’t have a line. Kiel rushed over.
“What can I get you?” the young teen boy asked.
“One of each, please.” According to everything Kiel read about Seaport, Ida’s was beyond famous for their lemonades. He didn’t have to wait long for his order. He paid cash and then grabbed both one original and one raspberry and made his way to where Eloise sat.
seven
Eloise spotted Kiel, the handsome, not so much of a stranger, as soon as he stepped onto the pier. She had finished the last scene on her painting and was about to pack up, but on a whim added him to the background. She often added people to her work, but they were imaginary and no one she knew. The woman staring off into the sunset or the little boy fishing with his dad were random subjects to her. They were non-descript figures in her landscapes. A smile formed as her eyes went from watching him to her brush strokes. He was easy to paint as his image played on repeat in her mind. Eloise liked Kiel and wanted to get to know him more, which was against her better judgment.
And he turned around and her smile fell. Maybe he hadn't seen her or come to look for her like in their past encounters. She watched him, as if she were afraid he’d disappear, and they'd continue this cat-and-mouse game they had going on.
