Page 15 of Always in Watch Hill
“Great.” She sighed, and I heard the click of the turn signal on her car. When she picked up the phone, she’d announced she was in the car on the way to pick up two new camera lenses. “Maybe I’ll follow your lead and go on a solo trip soon. It might help me clear my head about some projects I have coming up.”
“I recommend it and recommend Watch Hill.”
“Looking forward to your full write-up about it.”
“Oh, trust me, one is coming.” I took the phone and the bag into the living room, then set the bag on the bench next to the front door. “I emailed my boss and told him I wanted to write something up when I got back, and he said it would be great for next month’s magazine.”
“And I’m sure you’re going to include a full description of the mysterious man you rented that place from.” I hear a smile in my friend’s voice. “Did you see him at all after you sent me those texts about your dinner at the brewery.”
“No, I didn’t,” I said as I crossed the room to the open kitchen. A fresh pot of coffee awaited me on the counter near the refrigerator. “It seems like he pretty much stayed in his house the last couple of days. If he left, I didn’t see him.”
“Probably for the better. You didn’t need the distraction.”
“Nope, I didn’t, even if he is a nice guy.” I took a coffee cup from the cabinet above the coffee maker and poured a fresh cup as I talked to my friend. “That is not why I came here.”
“But you’ll see him when you check out, right?”
“I hope so.” I sighed. “I mean, if nothing else just because I want to thank him for the hospitality he showed me.”
“Yep.” She turned off the engine to her car. “Okay, I’m here at the store now, so I need to get this stuff. Text me when you get home so we can figure out when we want to have dinner.”
“Are you coming to my talk next week?”
“Oh, yes.” Emily snapped her fingers. “I meant to tell you—I am totally going to the Midwestern Club. The organizer contacted me about taking the photos too.”
“That’s great.” My mood brightened a bit. I hated giving public talks, but it was part of the job. However, if my friend was in the audience, that would make it a lot easier, go far in helping me calm my nerves. “Okay, I’ll text you when I’m back in the city.”
We ended the conversation and I took my coffee to the cottage’s screened-in back porch. During my week there, I’d taken to having a cup outside as I relaxed and took in the view of the other buildings on the property, the small sunflower garden, the vegetable patch, the small woods, and the rolling in hills in the distance. The relaxing quiet made it easy to see why Justin seemed so enchanted with the place.
I sipped my drink for about twenty minutes before reality became glaringly obvious—it was time to leave, time to drive back to Chicago. I guessed Justin had another renter booked after me, and I wanted to respect his policies. With a reluctant sigh, I walked back in the house, and gave the place a remaining once-over. No matter how much I wanted to stay, I couldn’t.
Once I loaded my belongings into the rental, I shuffled to the front door of Justin’s house and pressed the doorbell. He answered almost as soon as I removed my finger.
“Hi,” I said. “I guess you were expecting me this time.”
“Fifteen minutes to the checkout deadline. I figured you’d be over here soon.” He stepped through the threshold and pulled the door shut behind him, a vision in a pair of ripped blue jeans and navy-blue T-shirt that showed off his trim waist and sculpted biceps. “How did you find the rest of your stay?”
“Perfect. I loved it here.” I started to hand him the key but hesitated.If only I can drag this out a little more, stay in this place a bit longer...“Thank you for giving me the perfect spot to finish my book.”
“And thank you for... for being a good renter.”
“I appreciate that,” I replied, but I couldn’t stop my shoulders from slumping a bit. A good renter. Yes, that’s what I was. I wasn’t his friend, or even his acquaintance, I was just... someone who came to stay for a short time. “Listen, if you are ever in the Chicago area... or you just want travel tips... you know where to find me.”
He smiled. “I do.”
“And I’ll send you a signed copy when the book comes out. You deserve that since your place was where I finished it. It will be out in the fall.”
“I’d love that.”
“I guess you have someone coming here after me.”
“I do. In fact, I’m booked for most of the summer.”
“Well,” I replied, realizing I wouldn’t be able to delay my departure any longer. “Have a nice life, Justin.”
“Have a nice a life, Lynne,” he said.
And just like that, my time in Watch Hill was over.
