Page 96 of The Cottage on Blueberry Bay

Quinn didn’t answer at first. Unable to slow down. The stress of everything had piled up as much as it could, and even though his problem with her seemed to have taken a pause and wasn’t as dire as before, it still hadn’t been solved. She was still probably going to sell the cottage. The Queens were hitting ages where many of them were no longer able to keep up with the property. Meredith couldn’t keep up the work of the fields alone. The town hadn’t done their share at recruiting new volunteers to take over.

They could raise taxes on some of the things, ask people to donate more. There had to be other ways Blueberry Bay could earn the money.

If Meredith decided to sell, maybe the town would benefit by having a new hotel or places for tourists who like to spend their money in Blueberry Bay. Take advantage of the vacation state and play in the ocean.

“How can I help you?” he asked.

She looked behind him from where he had come from. “Do you mind talking somewhere private?”

He nodded. “Of course. Let’s go back to my office.”

“Somewhere your mom might not be?” She looked a bit embarrassed by the request.

“Sure, no problem.” He gestured toward the gardens by the pier. “Let’s go for a walk.”

As they walked down the road, she looked at him and smiled, making his heart skip a beat.

Her hair fell softly below her shoulders, tinted with the sun’s highlights. She wore a sundress that showed off her tanned shoulders, and he couldn’t help but notice her pink cheeks.

When they stopped at the crosswalk to wait for the traffic to clear, he asked, “Did you go to the beach today?”

She smiled wider, brighter. She looked lighter, freer. “Yes. Remy and I spent the whole afternoon there.”

“Is she still there?” he asked.

She shook her head. “No, she’s making dinner.” She held her hands out before him. They looked cut up, almost like paper cuts. “We found clams! Some men came to the beach and pulled all these clams for us! They’re sharper than I thought.”

He couldn’t help but laugh at her obvious excitement.

She laughed as well. “Ugh, I must look dreadful.” She patted down her hair.

“You look incredible.” He caught her eye and kept her stare. It would be so much easier to look away. Not put himself out there. What kind of regret would he feel if he didn’t even try? So what if he hadn’t felt this way about another woman since Lisa?

Maybe there would be another woman that would make his heart skip a beat seven years from now. Or maybe not.

“Should we cross?” she asked, gesturing toward the street. Her smile wider than before, like she knew what he thought about her.

Quinn smiled back at her, holding onto her eyes. “Let’s go.”

They walked in sync, crossing the main street that cuts through town. The brick sidewalk brought them through the public garden. A water fountain sat in the center, but it was dry. On the other side of the street, stores with gray clapboard storefronts showcased their goods in their windows. Some of the restaurants had outdoor seating. Antique stores were sprinkled among gift shops that displayed surf boards and T-shirts in the windows. A classic-style diner sat at the end of the road. On the pier, there was a candy shop and arcade.

He loved growing up here and was even glad that when he had needed a refuge after losing Lisa, he could come back to this beautiful spot.

“I want to hire a lawyer,” she said, getting right to business.

“Ah,” he said, slightly disappointed this wasn’t a social visit. “I see. What kind of lawyer are you looking for?”

“I’m looking for a good family lawyer,” she said. “One who would be able to help me sell a house.”

“You’re selling?” What did that mean?

“Well, it’s too big for little old me,” she said. “And my ex will expect half of the sale of the house.”

A melancholy grin graced her face, and she looked exactly like the mermaid statue behind her. The mythical goddess who had saved the sailor and got banished to the depths of the sea seemed to be watching over her.

“It’s still in my husband’s name, but he promised to split it fifty-fifty.”

Now Quinn understood the situation. This was good news. She was selling her house in Massachusetts. “I’m happy to help, but you’ll need an attorney who is licensed in Massachusetts.”

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