Page 35 of Between Two Shores

Cassie tugged at her necklace. “Is it only me that’s concerned? What about your sisters?”

Timothy entered the kitchen. “Hi, ladies.” He looked between them, raised a brow, darted his gaze elsewhere, took a soda from the fridge, and fled.

The ceiling’s fluorescent globe irritated Beth’s eyes. Cassie had her under the spotlight. Should she take the warning as seriously as Cassie’s expression—pretty scary.

“And your brothers? Has your family met Nick?” She leaned forward.

“All my family love him.” She gave a small smile. “Dad especially.”

Cassie lifted her hands. “Okay. I gave my opinion. I don’t know Nick. Haven’t met him. I could be blowing this out of proportion.” She lowered her voice and connected her gaze with Beth. “But I encourage you to slow down. Listen to your inner self. The answer won’t be clear if every spare moment you’re with Nick or on the phone to him. You need time alone to process everything. Quiet your mind and hear from the very depths of your soul.”

Beth nodded. “I will do that. You’re right. It’s hard to think clearly when my emotions want this so much.”

Beth’s phone buzzed with her English class reminder. “Gotta go.” She placed her hand on Cassie’s. “Thanks for the motherly chat.”

Cassie grinned. “Anytime. And sorry for freaking out so much.”

Beth pinched her forefinger to her thumb. “Just a little.”

They both laughed, and the tension eased.

Beth poured her leftover tea into the sink, rinsed her cup, and headed down the echoey hallway. How would she concentrate in class?

She’d registered for the marriage license that morning with Nick. Plans were underway. Nick had booked the park home in Exmouth, and he left with the ship an hour ago. At least she had a few more weeks to get to know him better. He should understand her wanting details about his family background and past relationships. And if he was the offensive type, she better find that out now, so she knew what she was getting into.

Beth swung the door open to the studio room, where four students sat around an oval table. She pasted on a fake smile, which these teens would probably see through. Beth needed to focus on these precious people before her. Chelsea, with her piercings and humble heart. Luke, with his gothic style and goofy laugh. Ruth and her big mouth that always interrupted the lesson. And Nigel from Singapore who’d bring her sushi nearly every week. Her smile became genuine from the love she had for each, but a pang of sadness took residence in her heart. She’d miss them when she was gone. And how would she announce that she was leaving so soon—suddenly? Following Nick across the globe would cost the people dear to her. But she must dream of the bigger picture as Nick explained last night on the phone. The possibilities—endless.

Chapter Fourteen

BETH

After three hectic days of organizing, Beth had broken free from most of her commitments to leave for Exmouth. A long thirteen-hour drive north. She’d stayed overnight in Geraldton to break up the trip. Maybe she should’ve taken up Nick’s offer to fly. But the price was three hundred one-way. He’d already paid for her accommodation. How much money did he have, anyway?

As her tires crunched over the red gravel driveway, she sighed in relief at the sight of the corrugated blue cottages. A bed awaited her inside, where she could stretch out her tired body.

She scanned the unit numbers as her faithful Toyota Yaris rolled past. Unit eight. That was her. The caretaker said the key would be in the door. Off-peak season ensured there weren’t many guests.

When the car door swung open, a flood of humidity assaulted her skin. Whoa. No wonder the tourists had left. It’d take some time to get used to this climate. Was that a kookaburra she could hear laughing nearby? As if on cue at her arrival? A lovely song of a magpie joined in, and soon peace filled her, content to be close to nature. The beach, only a walk away, and several bush trails were some of the features listed on the RAC Holiday website.

Beth ascended the mini two-level steps and unlocked the front door. Terracotta tiles, pine furniture, and a compact blue kitchen came into view. Thank goodness—an AC unit on the wall. She headed back to her car and used her remote to pop the trunk. She tried to pack light but still ended up with three luggage bags and her laptop pouch.

Her boss wanted her to continue editing work online as he preferred two weeks' notice. Fair enough. But he did cut her hours to fifteen, so she’d have plenty of free time to see Nick when he was available. She promised Cassie she’d do a zoom meeting for an hour on Fridays until they found another volunteer. Hopefully, they wouldn’t need to cancel the English class altogether. That’d be a real shame.

A cramp in her calf muscle made her wince. She leaned down and rubbed her fist into the strained spot. After some relief, she hoisted her bags onto the paved driveway, stacked them together, and rolled the matching green set inside.

She fussed around, making herself at home, washed her face, and ate some of the complimentary fruit from the fridge. She headed to the bedroom and flopped onto the bed. Nick wanted to meet her in two hours. Enough time for a quick nap.

NICK

Nick steadied the Standup Paddle Board as Beth gingerly climbed on the deck pad. The gentle waves lapped around his knees, doing little to cool him as the water was still warm.

“That a girl. Crawl to the middle.” Maybe she wasn’t cut out for water sports. He hoped she enjoyed it once they got going. Turquoise Bay would have to be the most stunning beach he’d seen in his life. The pristine beach bare of seaweed or pollution and the crystal-clear waters made it a spectacular experience. Farther down the beach, a small number of his Navy buddies fished off the beach. The sun dipped toward the horizon. Sunset, not far away.

He laid the paddle adjacent to the board. “Now grip onto this.”

Uncertainty filled her eyes as she searched his. He smiled and nodded. Then she wobbled as she let go of the sides and gripped the paddle with fierce determination.

“Great. Now, I’ll hold the board steady while you stand up with the paddle.”

---