“That’s to be determined, but I’m sure someone would want to fill it. Commercial spaces are few and far between.”
“What are we talking about?” Edie came over to the group, her own trash bag in tow. “Did I fail to receive a memo that we were convening for some secret huddle?”
“The gals are just discussing an opportunity Morgan might have to relocate her business.”
Edie shoved a damp section of hair from her forehead. Temperatures were on the rise, and the cleanup work was more strenuous than anyone had anticipated. “Really? But she just moved in.”
“And she’s bursting at the seams. You’ve been in there. Lines out the door.”
“I should mention it to Josh,” Edie said. “He was just saying this town needs a wine tasting room. Maybe it’s an endeavor he’d like to take on.”
That was a brilliant idea, one Camille was shocked hadn’t already existed. She’d have to pick her brother’s brain about it later, even if she’d only heard about it through the grapevine. She was allowed to be nosy when it came to family, wasn’t she?
“What do you say we take these bags to the dumpster? We’re starting to get quite the pile.” Foster hoisted an overfilled bag over his shoulder like Santa with his big sack of presents. “Ben, you want to give me a hand?”
“Happy to.”
While the men hauled the trash bags to the large container up the hill, Edie, Camille, and Tabitha each took their grabbers by the handles and moseyed their way back down the beach.
It already looked a thousand times better.
Sure, the storm had brought with it its own junk in the form of unnecessary worry, missing vessels, and literal debris, but it inadvertently created an opportunity to rally together to restore it to its original beauty. There was something cathartic about the whole process, even in something as simple as tidying up a beloved coastline.
“I know it hasn’t been long,” Tabitha said, turning to Edie. “But have you given more thought to the whole Italy thing?”
“I have. I looked online, and Camille’s right.”
“Of course, I am.”
Edie just snorted. “There’s a four-week photography course in Tuscany that would be the perfect fit. It’s a drive from Florence, so I could still spend time with Cal, if that’s something I even want to do. I don’t know. As weird as it sounds, I’m actually more excited about spending time withmyself. Getting to explore my creativity on my own in a country I’ve always dreamed of visiting. And if a date or two with Cal works its way in there, then that’s just icing on the cake.”
“I love that.” The heartfelt smile Tabitha gave her friend was truly beautiful. “It sounds like a win-win.”
“There’s another win, too,” Edie continued. “Cal mentioned that he would need someone to look after The Dock when he’s gone, so I offered. And that’s when he said that I could use the gallery there to display my own artwork for sale. My plan is to spend my month in Tuscany building a portfolio so I’m ready to go with new photography pieces when I get back. So, it’s really a win-win-win scenario for me.”
“I can’t say we won’t miss you when you’re gone, but I’m really glad you’re doing this, Edie. Your true happiness has been a long time coming.”
“I still have to talk to Hannah to make sure she’s okay with me being gone during her pregnancy, but with the dates I’m looking at, she’ll just be entering her fifth month.”
“We’ll be on duty, Edie,” Tabitha assured. “Don’t you worry about that one bit.”
“I know.” Edie’s feet rooted beneath her, and her gaze moved toward the ocean on their left, hanging on the waves that crashed and then retreated. She inhaled deeply. “This isn’t how I envisioned this year going, but I can’t say I’m not thrilled about it. An overseas adventure, an upcoming grandson. And the sustaining comfort of two dear friendships that only get better with time.”
“Like a fine wine,” Camille chimed in. “Speaking of, how are things with Josh?”
“Fine,” Edie answered. “Good, actually. You both know how fond I am of him, but since I’ve stopped thinking about him as a potential romantic partner, I’ve had a lot of peace about our relationship.”
“Then I think you have your answer.”
“I do. I don’t want things to be awkward since he’s your brother, but I think the time away will be good.”
“Give him a chance to get over you,” Camille said. “Out of sight, out of mind.”
“I hope it’s not that dramatic!” Edie swatted Camille’s arm. “But it’s always good to step back from your life every once in a while, to really get a scope of the bigger picture. The forest for the trees and all of that. Going to Italy gives me that big picture opportunity.” She kicked at a clump of sand. “Anyway. Enough about me. How are things with the Inn? And with Foster and James?”
“Well, ironically, things are good with Foster and Jamesandthe Inn, as in James is going to do his post-op recovery at The Getaway, and Foster is going to be one of his main caretakers.”
Both Tabitha and Edie’s eyes went silver dollar wide. “That’s something,” Edie said incredulously. “Wow. And how do you feel about that?”
