Page 80 of The Wish List
“It’s legit cold for us locals.” She grinned at him.
They held hands as they walked down the empty boardwalk. It was approaching low tide, so a wide swath of pristine sand greeted them along with the waves crashing against the shore.
Beth had never been much of a swimmer, but she liked the beach, although not in the same way summer tourists appreciated it.
For her, the crowded beach was a reminder of family vacations that she’d never gone on. Moms with coolers packed full of sandwiches and sodas while the dads situated the umbrellas and gaggles of kids ran into the waves or built sandcastles.
Plenty of locals spent time at the beach. The popular kids in high school had hung out near the pier on summer nights after slathering themselves with coconut-scented lotion all day.
Beth had never joined them. She hadn’t hung out with cool kids, or really any kids. She’d been too busy keeping her sisters in line.
Stepping onto the soft sand with Declan’s steady presence next to her, she wished she’d allowed herself to cut loose on occasion when she was younger. So many wishes never brought to fruition.
Heck, she wished she could find a way to relax more now.
“Bare feet,” he said, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind one ear when it blew into her face. “It’s the only way to experience it.”
She didn’t argue, although that was her first inclination. Instead she toed off her clogs, embarrassingly utilitarian for long days on her feet at the hospital, and then peeled off her socks.
When she looked up, Declan, who’d divested himself of boots and socks far more efficiently than she had, was grinning broadly. “Are your feet shy?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye.
“You’re a regular comedian,” she told him, rolling her eyes toward the pale blue sky. The sun was already beginning its slow descent to the horizon, and she sucked in a breath as a gust of wind swept up, making her breath catch. “Are you sure distracting me with your naked body wouldn’t have been a better idea?”
“Later,” he promised and took her hand. “I want to show you something.”
They started down the beach, and Beth had to admit the cool, soft sand felt good on her bare feet. The air smelled briny and crisp, the ocean relatively calm for this time of year. The gray-blue water reminded her of the changing color of Declan’s eyes, not that she was going to mention that to him.
But she matched the cadence of her breath to the roll of the waves, feeling her tension recede as if sucked away by the turbulent water. Her problems didn’t exactly disappear, but there was something about the ocean that reminded her—in a good way—that she was nothing more than a pinprick in the greater spinning of the world.
Yes, her world might be turned on its side at the moment, but she would right it again one way or the other, even if that meant releasing her dreams or finding new ones to go after.
Declan’s legs were longer than hers, but he shortened his stride so that their steps seemed to rhyme like the stanzas of a poem.
“It gives you perspective,” he said as if reading her thoughts.
“I’ve heard that bartenders are like psychologists without the degree,” she answered. “It’s true in your case.”
He laughed. “I don’t pretend to know more than I do, but I’m glad this works for you.”
It was working. All of it. The vast expanse of water, the solitary shore and the man holding her hand. His arm brushed hers with every step.
“Look at that.” He pointed to a spot near the seagrass where someone had erected an artificial Christmas tree, complete with bright ornaments, garland and a sea star on top.
“I can’t believe it doesn’t blow away.” A grin split Beth’s face.
“Whoever put it up has taken great care to make sure it’s secure.”
“Do you come here a lot?”
He shrugged. “Sometimes when I need a break from life. My brother and I always said we were going to swim in the ocean together. We never got the chance as kids, and who knows what he’s doing now.”
Beth could hear the tension in his voice and automatically moved closer to wrap her arms around his middle. They were in front of the tree, and she turned her head to gaze at the colorful ornaments. “It probably makes me a horrible person, but I like hearing about your imperfect relationship with your brother. I feel not so alone.”
“You aren’t alone, Beth.” He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “I believe you’ll find a way to work things out with your mom. She’ll understand that you have reasons that prevent you from going with her on tour.”
Should she explain about Nashville? Somehow she knew this moment wasn’t the right time to mention leaving, not when being with Declan made her want to find a way to convince him to stay.
She held on and wished for a solution for her problems. If this little tree could hold up against the whipping wind and pounding surf, maybe Beth could find a way to remain steadfast in her dreams as well.
