Page 50 of One Sweet Day I Found You

Thirteen

“What is this place?” Courtney slung her turquoise duffel bag over one shoulder and climbed out of the Jeep. Nick’s black Jeep had a roof so she tucked her purse and a bag containing a change of clothes and a pair of wedge sandals into the shaded area behind the seat.

Sliding her phone into the back pocket of her khaki short shorts, she scanned the area as Nick got out and shut his door.

Nick wouldn’t even give her a hint on the drive over. The parking lot seemed far from any town, by Door County standards at least. They’d driven for twenty minutes through fields and clusters of trees until they’d reached the eastern edge of the peninsula.

Maybe they were going hiking? Courtney glanced around, trying to figure out where he was taking her. Spiky lemon and yellow blossoms sprouted on tall leafy stems at the edge of the trees that surrounded the parking lot. It was a warm day, and the humidity made the air heavier than usual. But she saw few markers and only parking signs.

Nick rounded the Jeep, grinning. “Patience, my dear. You’ll see.”

Nick grabbed her hand.

They walked for a minute or two and came out of the forested lot upon the gentle shores of Lake Michigan. Courtney gasped when she saw a small section of land, separated by a short causeway, standing a few hundred yards in front of them. It had the appearance of an island. She looked at Nick, her hand over her open mouth.

Leafy trees blocked the view of most of the island, but Courtney spotted it right away—black and white, majestic, towering above the trees in the distance. “A lighthouse.” She sighed. “Wow.”

“Yes, but not just any lighthouse. Door County’s most iconic.”

“Really? Beecham did mention that I needed to do a post on some of the popular lighthouses on the peninsula this summer. You saved me from coming here alone, too! Nick, you’re the best.” She grabbed his arm with both of hers. That was why he’d said to bring her notebook.

He pulled her in tight and put his arm around her. They walked closer until they reached the edge of the water.

A few other tourists had parked in the lot and were showing up behind them. Everyone seemed to be standing around soaking up the beautiful scenery.

Courtney pulled her sunglasses down her nose then looked up at Nick, whispering. “Are we waiting for something?”

The shimmering, translucent causeway was only about two feet deep in the middle, but there was no getting around it—the entire extent of it was entirely underwater. Still, Courtney saw nothing around to indicate how to cross.

“Do we have to walk across?” Courtney studied the quiet surf lapping against the shore.

“We can, if you want to. But there’s another option, too.”

Just then the unmistakable sound of a noisy engine filtered across from the island, and a tractor, pulling an open-air wagon full of people, rolled out from between the trees.

Nick smiled at Courtney. “The shuttle.”

Courtney’s mouth flew open and she gasped again as the tractor left the island and began to rattle across the shallow causeway toward them, partly submerged. “Okay, this is one of the coolest things I have ever seen.”

The tractor reached their side of the water and the visitors exited the wagon. The newcomers lined up for their turn to board, with Courtney and Nick at the back.

* * *

Once across,they climbed off the large wagon shuttle and bought tickets to see the lighthouse. The foot of the tower, which had once been the home of the lighthouse keeper and his family, had been restored as part of a local maritime history museum. Courtney was excited to see the inside.

Only a set number of people were allowed to go in and visit the keeper’s quarters and the tower at one time so the facility wouldn’t become overcrowded. Courtney and Nick waited their turn outside, mulling about the manicured grounds, reading the stone monuments and the educational displays.

Courtney jotted a few notes in her notebook so she could remember her impressions of the place later when it was time to write the post.

“Hey, it’s our turn,” Nick said. He pulled out the tickets, which contained a timed entry, and they headed for the entrance. Inside, after they checked out the keeper’s residence, Nick started up the long expanse of spiral stairs. Courtney followed, and he turned around, grinning.

“Ninety-seven of these suckers. Think you can make it?”

Courtney laughed. “You’d be surprised, Bingham. I can walk circles around you.”

At the top, Nick took Courtney’s hand and they walked outside onto the gallery deck. The wind was blowing hard at the top and Nick took off his baseball cap so it wouldn’t blow away.

Courtney pulled the windswept hair from her face and marveled at the sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the surrounding landscape.

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