Page 1 of Peyton

CHAPTER1

Chloe

“Chloe, hurry up! I’m going to be late,” Amanda shrieked as she banged on the bathroom door. Why had I agreed to share my two-bedroom cottage with Melanie’s little sister? She arrived yesterday, and I was ready to evict her over-dramatic ass. Melanie was my bestie from college. She begged me to let her baby sister stay with me this summer. Otherwise, Melanie would have to cancel her vacation in Spain.

So I did what any best friend would do and agreed to spend my summer babysitting. Okay, so I didn’t have to babysit. Amanda was entering her first year of college. Her parents wanted Amanda to enjoy her last summer as a carefree kid. As long as it didn’t interfere with their plans to cruise the Mediterranean.

I yanked the bathroom door open, and the hot steam from the shower escaped. It left the room chilly. Did I feel bad about that? Meh.

“How do you figure you’re going to be late, Amanda?” I drew my brows together, showing my displeasure. “I’m your ride. Furthermore, you can’t be late when you’re unemployed and are spending the summer bumming it on the beach.”

“You’ve spent your summers on the boardwalk, Chloe,” Amanda huffed. “If I want to bag a hottie, I have to get there early.” She rolled her eyes, scowling as if I was the one putting her out. She pushed past me and slammed the bathroom door.

I closed my eyes and asked Jesus to give me the strength to not put Amanda out on her ass. Why hadn’t I enforced ground rules the minute I agreed to let the teenager stay with me? When Melanie approached the subject, I thought Amanda would have argued to stay with one of her friends in Boston, not willingly accept living in a small provincial town on the Atlantic.

However, Tranquility’s location between Boston and New York made it a prime tourist destination. The navel maritime museum was one of the country’s largest. A small private airport catered to the rich who had cottages along the ocean. All this, combined with a major highway, made Tranquility a prime location for international companies. My ancestors had settled here when Tranquility was merely a strip of land surrounded by trees.

My parents are anthropologists. Their careers have them living out of suitcases. My aunt loved the quiet that came with living in a small town. She never married or had children; therefore, she showered me with the love and attention only a favorite aunt could. My Aunt Catherine ran an ice cream hut on the boardwalk near the beach. She’d sold her homemade treats for as long as I could remember.

I preferred the stability of living with Aunt Catherine rather than following my parents around the globe. When I was nine, my parents let me remain with my aunt to attend public school at the end of the summer. I had been homeschooled, and I feared I would not fit in. I had a rough start. But as the first day progressed, I made friends with kids I remembered coming into Catherine’s.

The opportunity later arose for my parents to spend six months in the African jungle. I again opted to spend my first year of junior high attending Tranquility Public School. I’d stayed in contact with those friends over the years. I looked forward to my summers when I spent time with them.

Tranquility was the closest thing I had to a home. When Aunt Catherine passed two years ago, she left me her small cottage and substantial inheritance. The dwelling wasn’t fancy like other homes along the coastline in Tranquility. However, it did have a state-of-the-art industrial kitchen. It was where my aunt concocted her unique blend of flavors that made people flock to her ice cream hut. Aunt Catherine also willed me her secret recipes. It was my dream to continue Aunt Catherine’s legacy.

Tranquility had become the new Hamptons. As the town expanded, many bought the shanties along the shoreline, tore them down, and built multi-million dollar homes. A reputable builder approached me, inquiring if I would be interested in selling. At the time, I declined his offer. This place held too many happy memories.

I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Library Science at Boston University. The next step was to procure an internship. I applied at the Boston Public Library, where I interned during college and the library in Tranquility.

I’d hoped to make Tranquility my home, therefore I also inquired about volunteering merely to gain experience. I was shocked to find that there was a waiting list of volunteers. If I received an offer from Boston, I’d have to consider selling the cottage. It didn’t seem practical to let it sit empty.

But at least for this summer, Catherine’s Sweet Treats will be open to tourists from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day. I paid my permit fee online. As soon as I arrived I picked up the keys, health and safety binder, fire extinguisher, and first aid kit.

The town took pride in its tourist attractions. Regular maintenance and cleaning of the huts were a priority. The town council would have a coronary should the huts fail the health inspection. And no one wanted to work out of a building infested with mice or creepy crawlers. The high-end tourist who frequented this spot would not tolerate the scent of mold or mildew.

There were twenty huts on the boardwalk, and if you did not confirm your intent to reopen by the deadline, someone else could purchase the permit. The boardwalk would not be the same without Aunt Catherine’s hut. The name on the sign still says Catherine’s Sweet Treats. It would be a shame to let it go.

The first order of business was hanging the sign. The harsh winter elements could be cruel. Leaving the wooden sign to its mercy was not wise. Today I would also complete the final touch-ups. I had until the weekend to get everything ready for the grand opening of the summer season. I checked my list. At the top was a reminder to pick up the generator I would rent for the summer. I had to have a backup if a summer storm took out the electricity. Keeping the freezers cleaned and sanitized was tedious. The last thing I needed was melted ice cream stuck to the bottom.

Tomorrow would be an appointment with the rental agency to acquire a temperature-controlled minivan. It would prevent the ice cream from deconstructing from point A to B.

I looked forward to seeing the entrepreneurs that returned each season. Many of the permit holders ran established businesses in Tranquility. The huts were an extension of their shops. It was a great way to advertise and send customers to their flagship location.

My favorites were Athena’s Coffee, Mary-Anne’s Bakery, and Hank’s Hoagies. Having them close saved me from driving across town for my morning fix and lunch. Although until the grand opening this Saturday, that was what I would have to do.

As I hauled the cleaning supplies out the front door, I noticed Amanda sitting in the passenger’s side of my Jeep Gladiator. “You know, Amanda, if you helped me, we could leave much sooner,” I scoffed. She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. If Amanda thought her attitude would make me move faster, she was sorely mistaken.

The Jeep was my high school graduation present from my parents. More of a guilt gift for not attending. Not that I’d expected them. I spent my final year of high school in Tranquility with Aunt Catherine. Working at the ice cream hut during the summers, I’d hung out with the locals. I wanted to experience my final year as a typical teenager. Traveling around the globe with my parents was not my idea of going out with a bang.

I never regretted the decision, especially after losing Aunt Catherine. I would always cherish those fond memories of our time together.

I finished loading my supplies and sat behind the wheel. Before going any further, I looked over at Amanda.

“I am not your maid, chauffeur, or nanny,” I addressed her. “You’re eighteen and old enough to take care of yourself. Today, you may accompany me since we are heading in the same direction.”

She opened her mouth to protest. I held my hand in front of her face, indicating she was to keep quiet and let me finish.

“I hope to be done cleaning by six o’clock, and you are welcome to get a ride back with me. However,” I added with a smirk, “you will find your own transportation starting tomorrow. Furthermore,” I continued before Amanda could interrupt, “I expect you to pull your weight around the cottage. I am doing your sister a favor by allowing you to stay with me. But I will not be taken advantage of,” I clearly stated. Melanie warned me that Amanda was spoiled and might treat me like hired help.

I turned the keys in the ignition and waited for the ranting to begin.

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