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And I was going to do it right this time.
I dressed warmly, knowing we’d probably eat outside. With dark jeans and a thick sweater, I pulled my boots on and stepped out into autumn weather. The early morning rain had cleared, and now, the clouds lingered, and there was a distinct chill in the air.
I took my time walking to the marina, stopping to pet a sweet dog and chat with a neighbor. I passed the coffee shop and the little bench, and as I crossed the street to the marina, it dawned on me how much Ocracoke felt like home.
There were times when I’d once felt alone here, but the island itself always felt safe. Like visiting an old friend rather than meeting a new acquaintance.
By the time I got to Billy’s, my muscles were achingly warm, and I’d managed to work up quite an appetite. The scent of french fries and seafood hit my nose the moment I stepped on the patio. My mouth watered instantly. Billy should bottle that smell and sell it.
I noticed Molly right away. Her blonde hair blew in the breeze as she rested a hand on her little baby bump. She smiled and waved, having claimed a table near the water.
I waved back and headed her way. That was when I noticed she wasn’t alone.
“Hey,” I greeted Molly as I approached.
I’d met her sister only briefly, but even then, I had been struck by their similarities. Both blonde and beautiful, but where Molly’s style was simple and understated, Millie was anything but.
She looked like she should be sitting at a coffee shop in Paris or walking in a runway show.
“Hi!” Molly replied, turning to her. “This is my sister, Millie. I hope you don’t mind if she joins us. I know you said you wanted to meet more people on the island.”
“No,” I answered. “Of course I don’t mind. That’s sweet of you.”
“We met briefly at the ticket event, right? You came to my table,” Millie said.
“Yes.” I nodded. “You have a lot of great stuff. That candle saved my life. I did not know how funky a house could smell after five years of being closed up.”
She laughed, and even that was beautiful. “You should stop by. That was just the tip of the iceberg. I have a ton of stuff.”
“She’s even working on her own line of clothing,” Molly bragged, giving her sister a proud grin.
“It’s far from complete, but someday. Eventually.” She looked wistfully toward the street, in the direction I assumed her shop was in.
“Do you sell any art? Like by local artists?” I asked, feeling my anxiety kick up a notch.
She shook her head, and my heart plummeted.
“No, it’s not really in line with my brand. But my husband does.”
“Oh?” I tried not to seem too excited. I didn’t want to come off too eager.
Because I definitely was.
“He used to just sell his own work in his gallery, but the demand has gotten out of control, so he’s scaling back and opening the space up to other artists.”
The puzzle pieces started to fit together.
“Your husband created the memorial,” I said, my throat feeling suddenly thick.
She nodded with a sort of reverence in her tone as she said, “He did.”
“I was asked to come to the installation, but…” I paused, and both women looked at me with compassionate stares. “I couldn’t make it.”
“Have you seen it? Since you came back?”
I nodded my head. “Just from afar.”
“You should go,” Millie encouraged. “It has a calming sort of feel to it. Peaceful, you know?”
