Page 4 of Beaches, Bagels & Babes
For an instant, the man regarded Daisy. His eyes were impossible to see behind his aviator Ray Bans. Even so, his disdain was plain as day. A smirk cocked the corner of his mouth as he joked to his friends.
“Huh, child labor is alive after all. I told you these SouthJersey towns are hick country.”
Heat radiated from Daisy’s face as she bit her tongue. There was nothing she could say that wouldn’t get her in trouble. Candace, however, went on excitedly.
“It’s cool! She bakes some herself, and she gets to keep tips. Look—” Candace showed him the PB&J bagel bomb, “—she gave me a free sample.”
It was unbelievable. Faster than either girl could process, Perry snatched the bagel bomb and tossed it to some seagulls. The scavengers greedily gorged it in milliseconds.
He chided, “Don’t spoil your appetite with trash food. If you’re hungry, I’ll buy you a salad. Or not, if you keep acting out.”
He laughed, and his friends went along with him like starving a child was some hilarious joke. In an instant, the happy, giggling girl was gone. Candace wilted as she trained her gaze on the splintery boards under her shoes.
“Sorry...”
“Good girl. Now, c’mon. We’ve got better places to be.”
With the hand still clenched over Candace’s shoulder, Perry steered her around. She cast one last backward glance at Daisy. Her eyes were watery with disappointment.
It was wrong.
Daisy couldn’t leave things like this. She spotted Candace’s forgotten purse on the countertop. Her hands moved on their own, bagging up and shoving the second PB&J bagel bomb inside. She banged on the wall that separated Bagel Bombs! from the caramel popcorn stand next door. In a single breath, she bellowed, “John! Watch my stuff!”
Then, she bolted.
It was almost impossible to catch up with them. Dodging and weaving around the ceaseless flow of foot traffic was like an extreme game ofFroggerwith more cursing. However, just as they were about to take the street ramp, Daisy managed to close the distance. She hooked a hand around Candace’s arm, stopping her and Perry in their tracks.
“How dare—”
Daisy ignored Perry, telling Candace, “I thought you might want this back.”
It was like the tissue all over again. This time, though, it was Candace who stared in awe at Daisy. And was thatblushon her cheeks? It could be the heat, but the idea that it was thanks to Daisy made her own skin feel like magma.
Eventually, Perry tore the bag away himself.
“What’re you waiting for? A tip? Here.”
Peter Perry slapped a piece of paper into Daisy’s palm. It was a single-ride ticket from the man who owned them all. As he cracked more rude jokes to his chortling posse, he once again forced his niece to walk.
This time, when Candace looked back at Daisy, her eyes were harder to read. The sadness lingered, yet there was something else, too. Defiance sparkled in those seafoam depths, powerful like the waves crashing on the shore. She would be okay because she was stronger than she looked.
Daisy watched until the girl was gone from view. Candace Perry, her first crush and future heartbreak.
Chapter 1
Wonderwood, New Jersey — 2025
Candace
The summer season was right about to kick into high gear at the Wonderwood Boardwalk. It was a jewel of a May day that promised record profits for the businesses situated along the coastal strip. Perry’s Pier was especially packed, which was sure to make Candace’s uncle happy. She, meanwhile, was having a terrible time.
It was nostalgic to be back in Wonderwood, but not in a mushy, nice way. The beach town was a salt taffy promise—a pretty but fake place filled with uncomfortable memories and a bitter present. The minute Candace drove over the old island drawbridge, she wanted to turn back, to go somewhere, anywhere, else.
But this was it.
At thirty-three, an age where she should be in theprime of her career, Candace was unemployable. After a key client of the consultancy firm that Candace worked for complained about her for reasons that were still unknown, no one would give her a chance. She tried everywhere: other big competing firms, small firms, private business accounting, and mom-and-pop operations. She even put in applications outside of her field, but nothing panned out. Word of her supposed transgressions followed wherever she went. She was out of money, and her credit cards were maxed. So, she had to stoop to begging her uncle for help.
Candace replayed their phone conversation in her head and cringed.
