Her phone buzzed in the cup holder beside her. It was Marie, and she clicked on the speakerphone option, careful to keep her eyes on the road.
“Sandee, are you okay? This storm is crazy!”
“I’m fine, Marie,” Sandee assured her, her voice tinged with a steely determination. “Someone had to go down to rescue those dogs, so it might as well be me. I’ll take as many as can fit in the car.”
“Please be careful,” Marie urged. “The roads are treacherous.”
“I will,” Sandee assured her. “Look, with this weather, I think it might be best if I stay the night here. I’ll try to make it back in time to man the charity tent tomorrow.”
“All right,” Marie agreed, her voice tinged with relief. “Just make sure you’re safe, okay? Those dogs need you, but we do too.”
“I will, don’t worry.” She hung up, her heart swelling at Marie’s concern. At least someone needed her.
Her car hit a puddle, causing her to hydroplane. Her heart leapt into her throat as she lost control, the car spinning briefly before landing in a ditch beside the road. The jolt from the impact cut her conversation short, her phone falling from the cup holder and onto the car floor.
For a moment, Sandee sat there, stunned. The rain continued its relentless drumming against the roof, a stark contrast to the silence that enveloped her in the aftermath of the crash. She took a deep breath, feeling her heartbeat gradually return to normal.
Still gripping the steering wheel, Sandee stared at the rain-soaked road ahead, her thoughts swirling like the storm outside. She took a deep, shaky breath, gathering her composure.
“All right, Sandee, it’s just a bump in the road. You’ve navigated through worse,” she muttered to herself, her voice barely audible over the rain’s relentless patter.
She glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror. The woman staring back hadn’t been brave enough to face a challenge like this in the past. The old Sandee would have given up at the slightest hint of trouble. She’d floated through life sheltered and pampered. But she was a different person now. The mess with Peter, the tension with Claire over Beach Bones, and now this ditch on a stormy night; they were all hurdles, but none was insurmountable.
Sandee’s eyes narrowed as she surveyed the ditch her car was stuck in. Maybe, just maybe, she could get herself out of this jam without waiting for the tow truck. She gripped the steering wheel, took a deep breath, and gently pressed on the gas. The car’s wheels spun in the slick mud, throwing muck and water into the air.
For a moment, it felt hopeless—the wheels just couldn’t gain traction. But the new Sandee wasn’t about to give up that easily.She eased off the gas, rocked back a little, and then pressed down again, giving it another go.
The car lurched, rocked back, and—yes!—slowly started to crawl its way up and out of the ditch. Sandee felt a surge of triumph as her tires hit the pavement. With one last spin, she straightened the car out onto the roadway.
“Ha! Take that!” she exclaimed, her face lighting up with a grin of pure satisfaction.
She took a second to catch her breath, her heart still racing from the adrenaline. Then, with renewed determination, she carefully navigated back onto the road, determined more than ever to help save those dogs.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The next morning, the dining room at the Inn at Tides was bustling with life. Betty, Susan, Carol, and Margie were seated at a round table draped in white linen, bathed in the morning sunlight that streamed through the large bay windows. Brenda, the inn’s talented chef, walked in with a steaming plate of fluffy pancakes and set it down in front of them with a proud smile.
“Here you go, ladies, fresh off the griddle!”
Jane followed her, coffee pot in hand. “Would anyone like some more coffee?”
The four women erupted in compliments for Brenda. “These pancakes look amazing!” Susan said, the smell of maple syrup filling the air.
“Oh, Brenda, you’ve outdone yourself,” Margie added, eagerly taking a pancake off the stack.
Brenda beamed. “Well, I’m glad you ladies are pleased. Anything to make your stay special.”
After topping off everyone’s coffee cups, Jane joined the conversation. “So, what’s on the agenda for today? The town is buzzing with excitement for the first day of Winter Prelude.”
“First things first: we’re going to Spoiled Rotten,” Carol declared. “I heard they’re having a sale on their Lobster Bay candles. We absolutely have to get one each.”
“That’s definitely first,” Betty agreed, sipping her coffee. “The fragrance is just so reminiscent of here. It’s like taking a piece of Lobster Bay back home.”
“And you’re going to love the little gift bags they’re giving away,” Jane added, a gleam in her eyes. “Filled with local goodies.”
“Of course we want to hit all the shops. I know there are such good deals during Prelude.” Betty poured maple syrup on her pancake.
“Have you all noticed the lights and luminaries along Main Street?” Margie asked, taking a sip of her coffee. “The town looks so magical.”
