Page 4 of The Cottage on Plum Island
CHAPTER 2
Harley glanced at his alarm clock—5:02 am.He pulled a pillow over his head and tried to force himself to get back to sleep, but he’d not slept well for the past two nights. As he thought of his uncle in the hospital with a back injury, he was overcome with guilt and anger.
Harley pulled the pillow off his face and slapped it on the bed beside him. Uncle Sam wouldn’t be in the hospital right now if it weren’t for Jennifer Gains and her control freak ways. The woman was a menace and determined to sabotage the Beach Plum Cottage job for Harley and his uncle. She’d only been back in town for seven days, and they’d already had more than a dozen run-ins.
When Jennifer saw Harley’s assessment and suggestion for the roof tiles, she insisted she wanted another opinion. While Harley and Jennifer were locked in a heated debate about his work’s accuracy, Uncle Sam climbed onto the roof to check Harley’s work. The tiles Harleyhad correctly assessedhad given way, and Uncle Sam had crash-landed in the same hedge that Betty had landed in a week earlier.
Betty and Uncle Sam werenothappy with either of them, which Harley didn’t think was fair as it wasn’t him being antagonistic—it was Jennifer Gains. Harley was sure she went out of her way to make him uncomfortable and rile him whenever he went to Beach Plum Cottage.
“And I have to keep going back there for the next six months or so!” Harley grumbled to his room. “I wish Miss Jennifer Gains had found another contractor to do the work. Then my uncle wouldn’t be in the hospital.”
Deciding to go for a run, Harley swung his legs over the bed and got up. After changing into his running clothes, he set off toward Cobble Beach. Harley lived in the guest cottage attached to Sam’s house, and Cobble Beach was only a mile down the road from his uncle’s house.
Harley found that going for an early morning run always helped to clear his mind. The beach was deserted as he set out at his usual pace, lulled by the gentle sound of waves crashing against the shore. As thesun slowly rose over the horizon, it stretched out its golden rays that reflected in the sky and over the land in hues of pink and orange.
As he ran, the steady rhythm of his footfalls echoed the cadence of his thoughts. The cool sea breeze tousled his hair, and the salty scent filled his lungs, gradually easing the tension that had built up in him. The steady motion of his body helped him find a semblance of peace amidst the chaos in his mind.
Reaching the end of the beach, Harley slowed to a walk, taking a moment to savor the tranquility. The horizon stretched before him, a vast expanse of possibilities and uncertainties. The sun was inching its way up, and its shadow looked like a golden globe floating over the sea. Harley took a deep breath, allowing the sea air to fill his lungs.
Deciding to head back, he retraced his steps along the shoreline. As he approached Cobble Beach, the familiar sight of the Beach Hut came into view. The quaint cafe, with its vibrant blue and yellow decor, sat overlooking the water. It was a popular spot for early-morning enthusiasts, offering a variety of refreshing drinks.
Harley’s throat was parched, and the thought of an organic smoothie from the Beach Hut appealed to him. He picked up his pace, anticipating the hydrating and energizing blend. The Beach Hut was known for opening early to cater to joggers, surfers, and sea lovers who frequented the beach at the break of dawn.
As Harley neared the cafe, he spotted Finn emerging from the waves, surfboard in hand. Finn, the owner of the Beach Hut, was a friend who shared Harley’s love for the sea. Harley waved at Finn, and the two exchanged nods of acknowledgment as Harley neared the cafe entrance.
As he turned to walk inside, he collided with a patron walking out of the Beach Hut. Harley’s breath caught in his throat as the shock of the freezing liquid sent a shiver down his spine, and he stood staring at his soaking shirt.
“What the—?” Harley exclaimed.
At the same time, they said, “Oh, I’m so—“ pausing and sucking in a breath. “Youagain!”
Harley’s head shot up, and his gaze locked onto Jennifer, her expression a mix of surprise and annoyance sparking his ire as his eyes traveled to her now empty cup and the phone in her hands.
“I see your walking skills are on par with your flagging a person down on the road skills!” Jennifer sneered, shaking smoothie goop from her hand and phone. “Luckily, I had a wetsuit on!”
His eyes immediately glanced over her attire. Jennifer was in a salmon and black wetsuit. Her hair was scraped back into a pigtail and wet. A brightly colored beach towel was hooked around her neck.
“You surf?” Harley asked her in amazement.
“No!” Jennifer’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “I wander around in a wetsuit to blend in and look cool.” Her eyes flashed with disdain before she ducked to the side and dumped the smoothie cup in a trash can.
“No need to be rude!” Harley glared at her. “You caught me by surprise. You just don’t seem to be the surfing type.”
“Oh!” Jennifer wiped her phone and hands on the towel. “And just whattypedo you think I am?“ Her eyes narrowed dangerously.
Uh-oh!Harley was not going to answer that question. It was a trap masking a bottomless hole.
“Of course you’d surf!” Harley tried to skirt around the slippery edges of the trap. “Your brother and his best friend are legendary surfers. I apologize for the comment.”
Jennifer’s eyebrows shot up as she looked at him in shock. “Are you apologizing?” She placed the back of her hand dramatically against her forehead at his nod. “I think I’m going to swoon!” She fanned her face and batted her eyelids. “So, pigs really do fly!”
Harley’s anger stirred once again as she threw the words he’d used the other day when Uncle Sam and Betty tried to get him to apologize for his cutting remark to Jennifer about her being a snooty New Yorker who knew as much about carpentry as he did ballet.
The conversation flashed through his mind.
“Harley, that’s not a nice thing to say. Jennifer has been studying what needs to be done with the cabinets. Apologize to her,” Uncle Sam ordered.
Harley raised an eyebrow and turned his gaze to Jennifer as he replied,“Sure.”Asmug smile curled his lips as he finished,“When pigs fly!”
