The next morning, I wake up to the sound of gulls crying and the soft thrum of the ocean outside my window. Neptune is lying on the loveseat, his head resting on his front paws, eyes open and alert.
“Good morning, Neps,” I say, stretching. “We’re gonna go look for a bed for you today, but first, we gotta get you out to pee. And I need some coffee.”
He perks up at the sound ofpee, his tail thumping lightly against the cushions.
I shuffle into the bathroom, splash water on my face, brush my teeth, and throw on the same hoodie I wore last night. My hair is a messy bun on top of my head—practically a lighthouse warning to the world that I’m not awake yet.
I clip Neptune’s leash on, and we head out.
Downstairs, the morning air is cool and smells of sea spray and pine. The vegetation around the hotel is lush, with ivy climbing up the railings.
We pass a small pond where a pair of geese and their babies waddle around like they own the place. Neptune watches them intently but doesn’t bark, just sniffs the air and moves on, marking a couple of spots along the way as his own personal territory.
We make it to the office, and I step inside, the bell above the door jingling. A small setup of coffee is tucked into the corner, and I head straight for it like a moth to a flame, or some other expression that doesn’t make me sound like a very old person.
“Good morning,” I greet the woman at the counter, who’s busy shuffling through papers.
She looks up and smiles. “Good morning.”
I start preparing my coffee—black with a splash of cream—when the front desk clerk steps up beside me. “Can I give the dog a treat?” she asks, her eyes twinkling with the unmistakable fondness of a dog person.
“Sure.”
She bends down and holds the treat out to Neptune. He takes it gently in his mouth, places it on the ground, and looks up at me, waiting for permission.
“You may have it,” I tell him.
He picks it up and eats it in two bites, tail wagging.
“Wow, he’s so well-trained,” the woman says.
I laugh. “He must be.” I shake my head. “I got lucky.”
She smiles and extends her hand. “I’m Marion. It’s nice to meet you.”
I take her hand. “Nice to meet you too. I’m May, and this is Neptune.”
“Oh, what a wonderful name.” She looks down at Neptune before glancing back at me. “Oh, May—Ms. Moreira?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I smile.
Marion’s face lights up. “Oh, May, Mark left a note for you. Let me find it.”
She hurries behind the desk, rummaging through a stack of papers before pulling one free and handing it to me.
“Here—it says you’re looking for a rental, and someone he knows said to call. This place isn’t even on the market yet.”
“That’s amazing.” My smile stretches from ear to ear. “Thank you, Marion. I’m going to call them immediately.”
“Of course.” She gives me a warm smile. “Good luck!”
I take the note, my coffee, and Neptune’s leash, and we walk out of the office. The sun is climbing higher in the sky, and I can’t help but feel like today’s going to be a good day.
I make my way back to the room, and once inside, I grab my phone from my back pocket and dial the number on the note. Someone picks up after just two rings.
“Thank you for calling Ocean Sky’s Realty. How may I assist you?”
“Hello.” I try my best to keep my voice steady. “My name is May Moreira. I’m staying at the Otter Rock Hotel, and Mark referred me to this number about a rental opportunity you may have for me.”
