Page 48 of The Lighthouse on Plum Island
Brad quickly lost eye contact and stepped onto the deck before he roped into another dance as he’d hit his dance quota for the night. A fresh breeze swept in from the sea, carrying the scent ofsalt and wet sand. The moon glowed silver over the beach, and the rhythmic waves provided a soothing backdrop to the vibrant scene.
Finn joined him first, a knowing look passing between them. “Quite a night, isn’t it?”
Brad nodded, his eyes fixed on the illuminated beach stretching out to meet the dark expanse of the ocean. “I could get used to this.”
Soon the others joined them on the deck, and Brad, seizing the moment, turned to Finn. “Ever surfed around New York?”
Finn’s eyes lit up, memories of the waves intertwining with the sparkle of curiosity. “Sure have. There’s Long Beach and Rockaway. You get some great breaks, especially during storms.”
The conversation flowed, with each group member sharing stories of their favorite surfing spots around New York. With his gentle demeanor, Tanner reminisced about hidden gems known only to the locals around New England. Tanith contributed tales of Plum Cove, capturing the group’s imagination with the simplicity and serenity of the spot.
As the group delved into wave-riding nuances, Brad interjected with a touch of pride. “Connor and I just returned from a surfing competition in California.”
Danniella’s emergency phone disrupted Brad’s sentence, and she excused herself, leaving the group to continue their discussion.
“Was that the West Coast Classic Surfing Competition?” Finn asked.
“Yes. Connor surfed in it and did pretty well.” Brad’s sense of pride grew. It was the first time he’d told people who he felt were genuinely interested and impressed.
“Wow, I haven’t been to that competition in a good few years,” Liam told him.
“Liam and I used to go nearly every year in our teens,” Finn explained. “It was the highlight of our year.”
“And where these two rose to fame!” Tanith added, rolling her eyes. “My granddad was always regaling us with stories of how Finn and Liam were doing in whatever competition they were surfing.”
“I recall surfing changed your life!” Liam reminded her.
“Oh?” Harriet looked at Tanith inquiringly. “How so?”
“I was a bit of a juvenile delinquent!” Tanith admitted. “After my parents split and left me with my grandparents, I got a little rebellious.”
“She smashed the windshield of the cop’s car that arrested her for shoplifting,” Finn told her, laughing when Tanith punched him on the arm.
“I’ve always wanted to do that.” Harriet stared at Tanith in admiration. “Take a baseball bat to a cop’s windshield.”
“I’ve told you a million times that parking meters need to be fed every hour!” Brad rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Harriet has this little green Mini Cooper S that she thinks the cops won’t notice if she doesn’t feed the meter.”
“I have a bunch of parking tickets,” Harriet confessed. “But recently, after a fight with a policeman, I’ve started parking in my allocated bay in the office building.”
“Harriet was taken to court for ripping up the parking tickets a cop wrote her.” Brad grinned at the black look Harriet shot him.
“You don’t usually go to court for that!” Liam noted.
“You do if you rip up their ticket pad.” Brad oomphed when Harriet elbowed him in the solar plexus.
“The woman was being abusive and very offensive,” Harriet defended her actions.
Before anyone could comment on Harriet’s parking indiscretion, Danniella rushed back, her urgency visibly noticeable on her face.
“Tanner, we need to go. We’ve been called out on an emergency,” Danniell’s voice was soft but commanding as she took control of the situation.
“What’s going on?” Finn asked Daniella. “Where’s the emergency? Do you need help?”
She hesitated momentarily, and Brad noticed her eyes darken with emotion as she reluctantly answered, “The call came from the lighthouse.”
“Cobble Cove Lighthouse?” Finn’s face fell, his eyes shadowed with disbelief, and his voice dropped.
The news sent shockwaves through Brad, and he held his breath, waiting for Daniella’s answer.
