Page 7 of Since the Day We Wished

Welcome to Hadley Cove. Population: 1883.

“Eighteen eighty-three?” Jeremiah said, yawning. “There were more people than that at my school.”

Luke let out a chuckle. “Things are going to be quite different here than they were in Chicago, but in a good way.”

Turning onto Main Street, they passed by a couple of small shops and businesses, including First Coastal Bank, the Hadley Cove Post Office, and Phil’s Diner.

“Look! It’s a palm tree!” Luke said, pointing to one next to Gary’s Garage. “Did you see it, Jer?”

“Yeah, I saw it. This place is lame. And people are looking at us.”

Sure enough, Luke noticed a few people walking down the street in front of Lindsey’s Beauty Shop gawking at their jet-black Range Rover, confirming they were outsiders in this small town.

As they turned down Ocean Drive, they passed by All Creatures Animal Hospital and Second Chance Rescue. Luke wondered for a moment if Jeremiah would be interested in adopting an animal. They had never had one in Chicago since Kate had been allergic to dogs.

“There’s sand on the road,” Jeremiah commented.

“Well, the beach is right over there, so that makes sense. Do you want to stop and check out the water?”

“No. I just wanna get my stuff unpacked.”

“Well, we’re almost there.”

As they drove down the street, the scene outside their car window transformed into a picturesque vision of Southern charm. The bungalow-style houses that lined the street were adorned with intricate details and had porches that extended out into the front yard. Trees on the sidewalk had Spanish moss draping down from their branches, giving the street an otherworldly feel.

The white picket fences that separated the front yards from the sidewalk, along with the well-manicured lawns, completed the idyllic scene. Luke pictured himself sitting on one of those porches, sipping iced tea and taking in the slow pace of life in Hadley Cove.

He noticed that some of the houses looked older than others, but that only added to the charm. It was as if the town had been frozen in time, preserving its history and old-fashioned way of life.

Luke drove for a few more minutes, turning onto a quiet, tree-lined street that was a welcome relief from the heat. The houses were more spacious here, with verdant foliage that lent a touch of privacy and seclusion. As they approached their new home, Luke pulled up next to the moving truck in the driveway.

“We’re here. This is it, fourteen twenty-two Muscadine Drive.” Luke stepped out of the car and gazed up at the large, two-story cape cod house. It was exactly as he remembered it from the pictures he had seen on Zillow and the virtual walkthrough with the realtor. The dark brown color of the house and its forest green shutters blended in with the surrounding trees.

As Luke walked up the driveway, the sound of someone clearing their throat caught his attention. Turning around, he saw an older woman across the street, watering her plants and smiling at him. Luke smiled back and gave a friendly wave. She took his gesture as an invitation to cross the street.

“Hey y’all! I’m Ada Harrison, your new neighbor.”

Luke shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, Ms. Harrison. I’m Luke Grayson, and this is my son, Jeremiah. We’re new here.”

“Oh, call me Ada. I already knew you weren’t from around here.”

Luke arched his brow. “You did?”

“Everyone knows everyone here in Hadley Cove. Other than the tourists that come every summer to the beach, we don’t get too many new residents around here, especially in this house. Where did you say you were from?”

“We’re from Chicago,” Luke said.

Ada eyed their Range Rover. “We don’t get many cars like that around here either.”

Luke smiled, trying to be polite. “Well, we’d better get inside. It was a long drive down and I know Jeremiah is probably ready for dinner.”

“I guess that’s my signal to get out of your hair for now. I’ve got to go and remind my husband Frank to take his meds, anyway. I’ll leave you boys to settle in and rest.”

“Thanks, Ada. I’m sure we’ll run into each other again.”

Jeremiah spoke up as she walked away. “She’s so annoying. Why doesshehave to be our neighbor?”

Luke shook his head and laughed. “Jer, be nice.”

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