Page 3 of Sweet Summertide

“Sorry, I’m not following,” she said and shook her head trying to place the acronym.

“National Geographic Kids. My Granny bought me a subscription when I was little. I suppose I can blame her for my adventurous side. I remember opening that first issue and seeing a world that was so unlike the concrete playground of Manhattan, I knew I needed to get out eventually and explore it all.”

His reasons for leaving the city might be different than hers, but it seemed like they were both running away from the versions of themselves that everyone else wanted them to be. She knew that her life would never feel like her own unless she blazed her own path. She wasn’t stupid though; she wanted her father’s blessing—and money—to do it with.

“So, you had the world at your fingertips, and you chose to go to Christmas Cove?” she asked, wondering why a man as good looking as Theodor would want to live somewhere so obscure.

“Yep.”

Holly appreciated how sure of himself he was. “It’s a pretty great place. I won’t lie. But small. Like it’s absolutely tiny compared to Manhattan. And I don’t think you’re ready for it. Everyone will know your business before you do,” she said with a giggle.

“That shouldn’t prove to be an issue. Apparently, I’m totally fine spilling my guts to strangers.”

“We’re not strangers, are we? I’m Holly. You’re Teddy. We’ve shared more looks during this train ride that I think I have in my past three relationships combined, and we both think puffins are weird little clowns. I’d say that’s a good start to a wonderful friendship.”

The train brakes let out a sharp cry as they engaged with the steel tracks. Elizabethtown Station was announced over the loudspeaker. The dense green trees outside the window ceased being a blur to the point that now she could make out individual branches and leaves. “How long will you be in town for? Maybe we can bump into each other sometime.”

“I’ll be staying for a while. And I think I can find time to bump into you again soon.”

The train came to an unceremonious stop and the doors slid open up ahead of their seats. The cabin hadn’t been full and emptied quickly. Holly took her brown-leather Louis Vuittontravel bag from the overhead and threw it across her shoulder. Behind her, Theodor waited patiently for her to move up the aisle.

“You want help with that?” he asked.

Holly suspected his offer was out of politeness and not because she looked incapable. “That’s okay. Thank you though.”

As she walked towards the door ahead of him, her energy stretched out from her body in hopes of touching his a little longer. Their conversation had been brief, but full of life. Consumed by attraction, she wanted to know more about this man from Manhattan and was desperate to run into him while he was in town. She gave him a final glance over her shoulder before jumping down to the concrete platform, just beyond the painted yellow line, and turned around. “Do you want to?—”

Theodor mimicked her jump and landed with his toes only inches from hers. “Come to the Chocolate festival with me tonight?”

“Yes,” she said without delay.

“It’s at the Foundry. Do you know it?” he asked and walked backwards towards a man waving him over from the front seat of an old red pickup truck.

She nodded, of course she knew the Foundry. It was the hottest new place in the area. Joining in on the Cove’s revitalization was one of the reasons she was moving back home in the first place.

“Eight-thirty.” Theodor smiled and switched his focus to the man in the truck. Teddy hopped into the front passenger seat and greeted the driver with a spirited embrace.

Beyond the red pickup, Holly spotted a sight for sore eyes. Holly waved at Millie, her childhood best friend, who was walking up to the station from the parking lot. With her other hand, Holly caught the ruffled hem of her skirt just as a breeze attempted to expose her.

CHAPTER 2

Theodor buckledhis seatbelt across his lap as Alfonso drove away from the station. He twisted in his seat and peered through the dirty rear window of the cab at the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her long, robin’s egg-blue dress seemed to float on the breeze as she perked up on her toes, waving to another woman walking from the parking lot. Even from this distance, Holly’s smile was wide enough to shine in the morning sun.

“Alfonso, I think I’m in love,” Theodor said and let the sight of her diminish as they traveled around the street corner. Returning forward, Theodor patted his hands on his knees and let out a shallow breath knowing there was much to do before seeing Holly again later. “How are you?”

“Buono. Good. But bro,” Alfonso said in his Italian accent and tsked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “The ride was short, no? And you’re in love?”

“I don’t know, there’s something about her. We spent most of the trip trading smiles. I was sitting there hoping for a reason to talk to her, and when I finally did, I made an absolute fool out of myself. I word-vomited and told her things I never say to anyone.”

“What is this word, word-vomit?”

“It’s like when you tell someone way more than you should. Once you start talking, you can’t stop.”

“Ah,si.chiaccchierone.”

Theodor would look that one up later. He knew enough of Alfonso’s native language to make it by in conversation, but not much more. French, on the other hand, was something they both knew equally poorly, with the majority of their common words being culinary related. Broken English or not, it was still the best way for them to communicate.

“I can’t wait to get back into a kitchen. You’ll need to get me up to speed for the festival events tonight because …” he looked out the front windshield. “I invited the woman.”

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