Page 32 of Always, Plus One

What in the world?

They had barely skidded to a top in front of her when Ariel heard Millie blurt, “This construction noise is ruining our honeymoon!”

Josh nodded. “It is. I’m sorry, Ariel, but we’re leaving.”

Ariel furrowed her brow, confused. “Leaving? What do you mean?”

Millie spoke up, her voice strained. “We can’t stay here with all this noise. It’s not what we signed up for. We want a refund.”

Ariel nodded, her ears feeling hot—she didn’t want them to leave, but she understood their frustration. “I see. I’m sorry that the noise has disrupted your stay. Let me see what I can do about a refund for you.”

They both looked surprised—had they been expecting her to argue with them? Ariel was weary of arguing, and she couldn’t argue at all that the hotel project was highly disruptive.

She walked back to the kitchen and quickly logged into her financial management app. With just a few clicks, she had arranged for a full refund of the couple’s stay. She added an official apology to the transaction notes, and knew that, after breakfast, they would likely be gathering their bags and heading out the door. She hoped that the couple would find a more peaceful place to enjoy their honeymoon.

“What’s wrong?” Darcy asked, looking up from his food.

Outside, the scrape of metal on metal screeched again. Ariel’s could feel her face cloud as her anger rose.

“Ah,” Darcy said. “Yep. I’m totally with you.” Then, he pointed to the clock above the fridge. “And didn’t you say they couldn’t do that before eight?”

Ariel looked at the clock—it was only seven.

***

Ariel's heart was pounding with anger as she stormed out of Leeside and headed towards the construction site next door. She couldn't believe how careless and inconsiderate the builders were being, disturbing the peace and ruining her guests’ stay. They had come to this little coastal town to relax and recharge, but instead were being bombarded with the loud and incessant noise of jackhammers and heavy machinery.

Her sneakers sank into the softness of the field that was between her property and that of her old neighbor, Doris. As she marched toward the construction site, Ariel lamented that the old woman had ever sold it to Stanton.

Why had she?

Even though she was headed for something possibly ugly, Ariel admired the beauty of the field around her. It stretched out before her, a vast expanse of green and gold that seemed to go on forever. The grasses swayed gently in the warm summer breeze, whispering secrets to each other as they danced. The sun beat down from above, casting a warm and golden glow over everything in sight. It was coming back to life, despite having been cut down quite severely by Stanton and his crew just weeks back.

As she walked through the field, Ariel felt the grass brushing against her ankles, tickling her skin with its softness. She could smell the sweet fragrance of wildflowers in the air, mixing with the scent of freshly cut grass. It was a heady perfume, intoxicating and refreshing all at once.

The sky above was a morning blue, with only a few wispy clouds drifting lazily across the horizon. The sunlight was soft and warm, casting a gilded hue over everything in sight.

There were wildflowers of every color scattered throughout the grasses, creating a vibrant tapestry of pinks, blues, yellows, and purples. Bees buzzed from flower to flower, gathering nectar for their hives. Butterflies flitted through the air, their delicate wings catching the light and shimmering like jewels.

Further on, behind Doris’s old place, there remained a small a stand of trees, their trunks thick and gnarled. The shade was cool and inviting, a welcome relief from the heat of the sun. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves, creating a rustling sound that was soothing and comforting. Ariel was saddened to think that they, too, might soon be cut down in the name of progress.

As she reached the edge of the field, Ariel felt a little calmer. The field had been a place of wonder and beauty, a respite from her swirling thoughts. It was a reminder of the beauty and magic that existed in the world around her—even if Mayor Stanton was trying to stamp it out.

As she approached the construction site, Ariel could see that the only other thing left of Doris’s old setup was her garden shed—and the door of that was open. Ariel made a beeline for it, ducking inside and getting some time-stamped pictures on her phone to prove her case against the construction site’s too-early noisemaking. She flipped back through the photos, and then took a video with audio on, the noise unmistakable in it.

She grinned. Now, she would find out if Richard Stanton was onsite, and wave the pictures right in his smug, holier-than-thou face.

And if the site got shut down, Connor could come back to Leeside, and Katie would be happy again.

Win-win.

Just as she started out of the shed, however, a thin, wrinkled arm shot out of nowhere and blocked her way. "You're not thinking of doing something rash, are you, young lady?" a voice asked sternly.

Ariel was taken aback by the abruptness of the block, but she managed to compose herself as she turned to face her previous neighbor. "I was just going to give them a piece of my mind, Doris," Ariel replied, still seething with anger.

Doris grabbed Ariel's arm and pulled her aside. "Don't do anything rash, child," she said firmly.

Ariel turned to face her, her anger still simmering. "But they're driving away my guests!" she exclaimed. "I cannot just sit back and let them do that."

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