Page 16 of When Grump Met Sunshine

“Good.” Claire nudged him playfully. “Because you owe me a rain check for that pottery class.”

Jack chuckled. “I walked right into that one, didn’t I?”

“Yep.” She grinned. “And I’m not letting you back out this time.”

The tension between them eased, replaced by something lighter—something that felt dangerously close to hope, a feeling Claire had come to associate with vulnerability. Hope meant letting her guard down, daring to believe Jack might stay, even when every past experience warned her not to. But hope was a fickle thing, and Claire wasn’t sure whether to embrace it or guard herself against disappointment.

The idea of Jack lowering his walls, even just a little, felt like unfamiliar ground—hopeful, but uncertain. She watched him carefully, searching for any sign that he regretted their conversation, but instead, she saw something else—contemplation, maybe even relief. Whatever it was, she could feel the shift between them, delicate but real, and she wasn’t ready to let go of it just yet.

As they walked back toward their houses, Claire felt the warmth of their conversation linger, like the last rays of sunlight stretching across the sand. The cool evening air carried the faint scent of salt and driftwood, mingling with the distant crash of waves. A breeze swept in from the shoreline, sending a soft shiver down her spine, but it wasn’t just the chill that made her feel unsettled. The hum of cicadas in the nearby dunes filled the silence between them, underscoring the fragile shift in their connection.

She brushed her fingers absently over her arm, the spot where Jack’s touch had lingered for just a second longer than necessary. The air between them still carried the weight of unsaid things, yet for the first time, it didn’t feel like something to fear. Instead, it felt like possibility.

A flicker of relief settled in her chest, but uncertainty wove itself through it. Was this really the beginning of something new, or just another fleeting moment Jack would second-guess later? She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, watching the quiet thoughtfulness on his face. Whatever it was, she knew one thing—she wanted to see where it led.

Maybe Jack wasn’t ready for more. Maybe she wasn’t either. But in that moment, they had found something worth holding onto—common ground.

As the wind tangled softly through her hair and the rhythm of their footsteps fell into sync, Claire let herself imagine the sound of Jack’s laugh echoing beside her again. It played like a memory just out of reach, both comforting and fragile.

And for now, that was enough.

Chapter Eleven

Jack

Jackdidn’texpecttobe here, standing in the heart of Seaview’s bustling town square on a sunlit Saturday afternoon. The late summer sun hung high, casting golden light over the red-bricked streets, warming his skin despite the faint sea breeze that carried the scent of salt and fresh bread. The air buzzed with chatter and laughter, the kind of easy energy he had almost forgotten existed. It was overwhelming yet oddly grounding, a stark contrast to the sterile, muted world of hospital corridors he had known for so long.

Children darted between vendor booths, their laughter mixing with the melody of a local band playing on the makeshift stage. Jack stepped aside as a boy dashed past, nearly knocking over a basket of ripe peaches at a nearby fruit stand. The vendor, an older woman with a sunhat perched atop her graying curls, chuckled as she caught the basket just in time.

“Busy day,” she mused, giving Jack a knowing smile. “You must be Chloe’s dad. She’s got the energy of three kids combined.”

Jack let out a short laugh. “That she does.”

She handed him a peach, the skin warm from the sun. “First one’s free. Welcome to Seaview.”

Jack hesitated before taking it, something about the simple act of kindness settling deep in his chest. He wasn’t used to this—people noticing him, welcoming him just because. It stirred something tender and unfamiliar, as if each kind gesture chipped away at a wall he hadn’t realized he’d built so high.

A warmth spread low in his chest, unsettling and comforting all at once. He nodded his thanks, taking a bite of the sweet fruit as he watched Chloe in the distance, her laughter blending into the rhythm of the town. The scent of fresh-baked bread and grilled seafood drifted through the air, mingling with the sweetness of caramel popcorn and the faint smoky char of a nearby barbecue stand.

“Dad, look! They have face painting!” Chloe tugged at his hand as she ran up to him, eyes wide with excitement.

Jack followed her gaze to a small booth where a teenage girl was expertly painting a butterfly onto a little girl’s cheek. The sight was so ordinary, so normal, yet it struck something deep within him. How long had it been since he had let Chloe be part of something like this—carefree, surrounded by community?

“Go ahead, kiddo,” he said, forcing a smile as she squealed and ran off.

He exhaled, shifting his stance as he took in the scene around him. Everywhere he looked, people greeted him with friendly nods, some even stopping to introduce themselves. Seaview wasn’t just a town—it was a family. And whether he was ready or not, he was being pulled into its embrace.

“Jack Montgomery, right?”

Jack turned to find a stocky man in a Hawaiian shirt extending a hand. “Dale Hastings,” the man continued. “My wife and I run the bakery on Main. Claire mentioned you might come today.”

At the mention of Claire’s name, Jack’s pulse kicked up. He shook Dale’s hand, nodding. “Nice to meet you. And yeah, Chloe was excited about it.”

Dale chuckled. “Kids have a way of dragging us out of our comfort zones, don’t they?”

Jack smirked, glancing over to where Chloe sat wiggling excitedly, barely able to sit still as the artist painted a dolphin on her cheek. She kept twisting her head to admire the progress, grinning each time the teenager added a new stroke of color. "Is it done yet?" she asked for the third time, her voice bubbling with anticipation. The artist chuckled. "Almost! Hold still just a little longer."

Jack shook his head, amused at how effortlessly Chloe fit into the moment, completely immersed in the simple joy of the experience. “Yeah, they do.”

---