Their tea came and when Callan took a sip, he made such a face that she stopped, the glass halfway to her mouth.
“What’s wrong?”
He swallowed. “’Tis the sweetest drink I have ever tasted. Makes my teeth ache.”
But it couldn’t have been too bad, because he took another sip, then another.
“Aye, I find I like this sweet tea.”
Warned, Daisy took a sip, letting the syrupy tea fill her mouth. It was icy cold with a hint of lemon as she swallowed.
“You’re not kidding. It’s so sweet, but you’re right, I like it.”
The server brought the hamburgers for Frankie and then their meals. Callan ordered the shrimp plate with hush puppies while she’d decided on the oyster po’boy with fries, knowing he’d finish off whatever she couldn’t eat.
They had peach ice cream for dessert, along with a glass of sparkling wine for her and a beer for him.
While she was looking to see what there was to do, Daisy showed him her phone.
“Look. Because Holden Beach is a south-facing island, we’ll be able to see the sunrise and the sunset. I’m so excited we’re here. I can’t wait to lie on the beach all day long and soak up the sun.”
They paid their bill, then went for a walk on the beach, keeping Frankie on his leash. He loved jumping in and out of the waves as they crashed onto the shore.
As they walked, they talked about everything and nothing, enjoying the pleasure of each other’s company.
“Do you want to go find this Mildred?”
With a shake of his head, Callan looked out at the ocean. “Nay, lass. Let’s set up our camp and look at the stars tonight. Tomorrow we will find her.”
That night, after walking on the beach and watching the stars come out, Daisy decided she would search to see what jobs might be available here.
In the high season, she knew it would be chaos, but she was guessing in the off season the town would practically be deserted and perfect in winter. No more snow. She could get used to walking on the beach every day. Would Callan want to stay here with her?
She’d already had an inquiry from Mrs. Henderson, asking if Daisy was interested in making the sublet permanent. Her granddaughter had found a job and would be happy to take the studio apartment furnished if Daisy was willing.
As she made sure the door was locked and the windows were cranked open, she laid in bed, listening to the sound of the waves, thanking those fates that sent Callan here. To her.
CHAPTER 22
America was a verra large country. During their road trip, they had visited five states along with Washington, DC, but the words on the tablet told Callan that there were fifty states to see. Daisy told him there was much to see in each state, so much that they could take a year and not see everything.
When they stopped to see something, he made sure to find time to slip away and buy a charm to commemorate the trip with Daisy. He’d purchased a bracelet in Boston along with the first charm, a pretty porcelain blue and white teacup.
The van and campsite were too small to give Daisy privacy while she talked to her parents, so he gathered up the laundry in a basket, and took it to the campground facilities, making sure he had a handful of quarters in his pocket.
Many loads of laundry later, Callan no longer turned white clothes pink or red, nor did he put too much soap in the machine.
When he told Daisy he found it soothing to listen to the machines as they washed and dried clothes, she’d laughed, saying she would download the sounds to help him sleep.
Aye, he knew laundry was women’s work in his own time, but in this time, it did not matter. His manly pride was strong enough to withstand any odd looks.
The lass would take a while to talk to her parents and then brood afterwards, which would give him plenty of time for his journey.
In exchange for a ride across the bridge to a shop he had spotted when they first drove into Holden Beach, Callan showed two of the local police officers how to handle a dagger. He now had several thanks to the merchants at the Faire.
One of the men purchased food to bring back for his comrades, while the other followed Callan into the shop, saying he wanted to purchase a birthday gift for his wife.
The store owner, an elderly man with kind eyes and a warm smile, approached them. “Good afternoon. How can I assist you today?”
