Page 34 of Our Bay Will Come

"Cilla!" I hiss, glancing around to make sure no one heard. "Can you not announce my sex life to the entire café?"

"Oh, hush up." She rolls her eyes. "You’re two consenting adults. Besides, everyone in this town knows your business sooner or later."

"Just lower your voice." I can't even pretend to be mad. "Speaking of sex, how are things going with you and Rowan?"

Her entire face transforms, lighting up from within. "Prue, I think I'm in love with him. Like, seriously, in love."

"Wow." I reach across the table to squeeze her hand. "That's... big."

"I know it's fast, but it feels right?" She fiddles with her straw wrapper. "And it's not just him. It's this whole place. I was thinking... maybe after I finish my dissertation, I might stay in Cedar Bay."

"Stay? As in, live here permanently?" I try to keep the surprise from my voice.

"I know it sounds crazy. I mean, I'm a city girl through and through. But there's something about this town..." She gestures vaguely toward the window, where we can see the harbor in the distance. "It gets under your skin."

"What about your job offers in San Francisco? The research position at Berkeley?"

She shrugs. "I can do research anywhere. Rowan's business is here, and his whole life is rooted in this community. I don't want to ask him to leave that."

I take a sip of my water, digesting this. "You've fallen for this place, huh?"

"Don't look so shocked, " she laughs. "You, of all people, should understand the appeal." A tight-knit community, knowing your neighbors, raising kids somewhere they can play outside without constant supervision..."

"Kids?" My eyebrows shoot up. "Are you...?"

"No!" She laughs again. "God, no. I'm thinking about the future, I guess."

"I'm happy for you, Cil. Really." And I am, even if I'm still processing the idea of my cosmopolitan sister settling down in small-town Oregon. "I have to admit, Cedar Bay does have a certain charm."

"See? Even you feel it." She leans forward eagerly. "Imagine raising a family here, Prue. There is no traffic, great schools, and community events where everyone knows your name. It's like something out of a movie but real."

"I love Seattle," I say automatically, but even as the words leave my mouth, I picture little dark-haired children with Fox's eyes running along the shore, building sandcastles while we watch from a blanket. The image comes so easily that it startles me.

"But?" Cilla prompts, always able to read between my lines.

"But I can see the appeal," I admit. "Of Cedar Bay. Of putting down roots somewhere like this."

"Oh my God." Her eyes widen. "Fox has gotten to you, too."

"It's not—we're just—" I stammer, then sigh. "It's early days, Cil. We're taking baby steps."

"Baby steps toward babies?" she teases.

"Stop." I throw a napkin at her. "One day at a time, remember? That's my motto now."

"Fine, fine." She holds up her hands in surrender. "But just so you know, if you did decide to relocate, I wouldn't hate having my big sister nearby."

The thought warms me more than I expected. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I have clients, a business, a life in Seattle."

"And Fox has a life here," she points out gently. "Sooner or later, one of you will have to compromise."

She's right, of course. The geographical issue looms large, a conversation Fox and I have carefully avoided. But sitting here, watching boats bob in the harbor, breathing in the salt-tinged air, I can't help but wonder if compromise might be easier than I thought.

"One day at a time," I repeat, more to myself than to Cilla. "For now, I'm just enjoying the ride."

"Well, from the glow on your face, I'd say it's quite a ride," she says with a wink.

I feel my cheeks heat up again. "Can we please talk about something else? Anything else?"

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