Page 38 of Sunrise

Good point, and I'm glad she's thinking ahead.

"Let's get going." She turns and heads toward the front door.

We take her car this time, and it's nice to drive some of the residential streets and see a side of the island I haven't seen yet. It's very reminiscent of the Mayberry days with white picket fences, brick sidewalks, and large shade trees in every yard. You almost don't feel like you're at the beach or will be at the beach a few blocks down the road.

Lin pulls into the driveway of one of these coastal-style two-story cottages that looks like it could be on the front of a postcard. One of the “wish you were here" ones you send on vacation, but you don't wish they were here because they are who you are getting away from. That's not just me, right?

"You grew up here?" I ask her.

"Yep, and Lin grew up just next door there." She points to the right.

"You rent these out?" I ask as we make our way to the door.

"Yeah, in season. Larger families like to stay in houses instead of renting several rooms at the inn. Lots of family reunions too." She unlocks the door, and we step inside.

"I don't smell any mildew or mold," I tell her, and her eyes shoot to me. I shrug. "What my dad always told me to smell for when walking into a room or building we were checking out."

"My dad taught me that too," she says with a small smile.

As we walk through the rooms, I can't help but think of Lin growing up here. Dinners at the dining room table, her mom cooking in the kitchen with sports on in the living room with her dad. Summers in the backyard running through sprinklers. All the stuff I watched on the ‘90s family sitcoms.

"Which one was your room?" I ask. She points at the one overlooking the backyard.

"It looked nothing like this. When I was little, it was a pink nursery that transformed into a pink princess room. From there, it moved from a light purple tween room to a more natural green and covered with boy band posters. When I decided to rent it out, I repainted it all and went with blues and greens for the subtle beach theme people would be looking for."

"Think you will ever live here one day?" I ask, leaning against the doorframe. She makes her way to the window to look out over the backyard.

"I always thought so. After I get married and have kids. It's only a few blocks from the inn, and losing the income on this place won't be such a huge hit to the pocketbook when I get married since I'll be bringing in my husband's income. On the flip side, it will be paid off next year so no mortgage payments."

"What was it like growing up on the island?"

A huge smile takes over her face. "I loved it. Each summer, a lot of the same families came back to the inn, so I had many friends I saw every year. I loved having the beach at the end of the road. Brynn and I would spend our days there, and by the end of the summer, we'd be so tan we'd look nothing like our parents who were stuck inside running the inns. When school started, the island would clear out, and the locals would relax, and life would just slow down. I can't describe the change from season to off-season. You have to be here to experience it." She shakes her head, lost in thought.

Suddenly, I want to be here to experience it. I want to see the inn filled with guests and summers on the beach. The thought of leaving the island fills me with dread. This whole life she has here feels just out of my grasp.

She doesn't notice the shift in me as we make our way downstairs and out of the house.

"I was wondering when you would show up there, dear," a little old lady says from her front porch next door. "Ahhh and your handsome young man came with you."

"Hello, Mrs. Keller! I need to check on Brynn's house, then I'll be over," Lin says and waves.

"Take your time, dear. The cookies just came out of the oven. They need to cool a bit. I'll go make some iced tea." She waves and heads back inside.

We cut across the small side yard between the two driveways and over to Brynn's house.

"Ah, you will need that tree trimmed." I point at the tree on the side of the house with some broken branches.

"Yes. Will probably have the trees on both properties trimmed up," she agrees.

"Let me guess, you know a guy?" I joke.

"I know a guy who could use some extra money because his wife is sick, and he's done tree work for us before, so yes." She smiles, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes.

"His wife going to be okay?" I ask.

"I'm not sure. She has cancer, the bills are piling up, and they have two small kids, but he's been amazing at her side. Every girl's dream. He's at every doctor appointment and still picks up side jobs. So, the town helps out when we can."

I nod because I don't have the words. My throat is tight as I think of finding the love of your life and facing the real possibility of losing them so young. Of kids growing up without a mom, and it's a reality I don't want to picture.

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