Page 47 of Center Sneak

I sigh as I lean back into my chair. It’s probably time to head back and pick up my car for the ride back home.

Cal grabs the wrappers on the table and shoves them into his bag, gets up, and throws everything in the trash.

“Do you want to get going, or stay here for a bit?”

“We should probably get going.” Although I don’t want to.

“Want to walk the beach for a minute? Probably the last time for a while.”

I agree with a smile, and we turn around the corner to the sandy beach.

We’ve only been here for a few days, and I already know my way around this quaint seaside town. It would be a great place to raise a family, and my heart tugs at the thought.

A perfect spot for the women at the shelter, not for me.

Raising a family in a cute town isn’t in the cards for me, especially at thirty-five, since I’m perpetually single.

But it would be a phenomenal place for single moms to raise children, especially in a tight community with affordable housing.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Calvin finally asks as we stroll along the ocean, our bare feet tickling the sand.

“Oh.” My cheeks heat up. “Work,” I finally admit. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry.” He bumps his shoulders against mine. “I love that you love what you do.”

“I do.” I smile again, meaning what I say. I love what I do, and I’m quite glad that I found my purpose in life, although it took quite a while for me. I love that I can make a difference for other women and offer them the fresh start they deserve.

We stroll along the ocean with the waves crashing to shore and the seagulls chirping above us, both lost in our own thoughts again; at least I am.

At some point, we find an ice cream stand near a rock-formed jetty. With our cones in hand, we walk along the smooth edges. We sit down on the gray stone, letting our legs hang off the edge and dip in the cold ocean as the waves serve as our melody.

“Wow,” I overhear Cal say beside me a little later. His phone is in his hand.

“What?”

“It’s almost four.”

What. Really?

“That guy still hasn’t called.” He taps his phone a few times and then brings it to his ear.

“Yeah. Is Moe there?” He pauses. “Yeah. Yeah. Okay.” The corner of his lips tilts down, a sight I don’t often see from him.

“Everything okay?” I ask as he hangs up his phone.

“It’s going to be ready first thing tomorrow morning.” He pauses and then adds, “Apparently.”

“Apparently,” I repeat, with a slight chuckle.

“I feel bad for his partner if he has one. He’s always almost ready but never delivers,” Calvin says with a chuckle, and I can’t help but laugh with him.

It’s been my general experience with men. Oftentimes it’s worse, but I don’t share that.

“Want to check in at the inn again?”

I agree easily, and stroll back, but our pace is still slow.

When we finally arrive, a new front desk clerk greets us with an oversized grin. “Can I help you?”