Page 28 of The Shell Collector
“Oh, I think about her. She made it clear I wasn’t to ever contact her again. I’ll tell you this, though. If I saw her today, I’d hand you the keys to the building and the codes to the banking accounts for a second chance with her.”
“See. I knew it.”
“But that won’t happen. So let’s all just be happy with what we’ve got.”
“Were you serious about finding one of those shells?” Tug asked. “You never told me about that.”
“Guess I never gave it much thought. The shell served its purpose and it was over, but that woman’s attitude kind of struck me wrong. I had to say something. I found the shell when I was on my way into the zoning meeting. Things weren’t going well. It was an important meeting, and I was nervous about the outcome. A wrong decision could’ve set me back months or even disabled the whole project. I’ve kept that shell in my glove compartment ever since.”
Tug didn’t look surprised. “Those messages are always so spot-on. I’m Tug, by the way,” he said to Chase.
“Sorry. Where are my manners? Tug, this is Chase. He’s the one who is transforming Paws Town Square into a tropical and lush getaway. I’m lucky to have him on the team.”
“Good to meet you. Hope to see you in here more often.” Tug wiped his hand on his towel and shook Chase’s hand. “I’ve got to check on my other customers.” He moved across the room.
Chase sat back. “So, Paul. What’s the whole story? With the girl? You don’t think about looking her up?” He shrugged. “Things change. People change.”
“There’s no hope for that situation. The promise I broke stole her joy. Stole mine too. It’s why I left the Marines and how I found my commitment to serve this cause. It’s all working the way it’s supposed to.”
Chase’s lips twisted into a cynical smile. “I don’t know about that. Nothing is as good as when it’s shared with someone you love. Even the bad times. I thought my wife had written me off for forever, but after I got in this program with you, everything changed. I’m just saying not to shut that down completely. If not her, maybe another.”
“You talk too much,” Paul said. “Have I told you that before?”
“Yeah. Plenty of times. Probably won’t be the last either.”
“Why do I know you’re right about that? Come on. Let’s get back to work.”
Paul paid the bill, and when they got back in his truck, the first thing Chase did was drop open the glove box and rummage around. “Hey, you really do still have it.” He held up the calico scallop shell. “You weren’t lying.”
He wasn’t even sure why he’d kept the creamy-white shell with the maroon blotches. It wasn’t all that pretty. The inscription read,
If you don’t give up, you still have a chance.
—Jack Ma
“I never lie.”
“But you broke a promise.”
“That was totally different.” Paul revved the engine and pulled away from the curb. “I never lied about anything. I promised something that was out of my control.”I didn’t have a choice.But the words from inside that shell tumbled through his mind, hitting him as strong today as it had the day of that meeting. Was there always a chance? “You can put that back where you found it, man.”
Chase tossed the shell back into the glove box.
Paul turned up the radio, trying to drown out the feeling that the real purpose behind that shell hadn’t been fulfilled.I’ll just hang on to the keepsake awhile longer.
9
Maeve was up to herankles in ocean water when she spotted something in the sand that looked extra special.
Could it really be light-pink sea glass? Most sea-glass charts placed pink at the rare end of the spectrum. Her own experience had been the same. She bent down and plucked the glass from the rushing water. The smooth piece was slippery between her fingers. She held it up, admiring the pink hue. Very subtle against the sky, but in the sand it appeared even more pink. The tide slurped the water back out. Just beyond her foot, she spotted another one.
What were the odds of finding two pink pieces of sea glass at the same time in the same place? She’d been doing this a lot of years, and this had never happened before. She rushed to pick it up before the ocean could reclaim it. She snagged it right as the water rushed back, then she looked at them both, holding one in each hand.
A roll of laughter came from deep within her.Twins!She shuffled the sea glass in her palms.Twins, indeed. Together and strong.That had to be it. She could picture two matching baby girls sitting in the sandy water in ruffled-bottom bathing suits under Kimmy’s watchful eye, coordinating frilled hats protecting their delicate skin from the sun’s rays.
Excited by her find, she forged on. By the time she got back home, the rest of the town was finally beginning to awaken.
Inside, she placed the two pieces of sea glass on a coaster on the living room table for safekeeping. She wasn’t quite sure what she’d do with them, but she’d give them to Kimmy at some point.
