“Well, thanks for the picnic,” she said, forcing a smile.

“There was no picnic. Instead, there was a search for an idiot dog named Elvis who likes to eat marsh grass.”

She smiled. “It’s okay, William. We have plenty of time for picnics. At least we did a good deed today.”

“I guess so. Good luck with your class. I’ll see you tonight.”

She hopped out of the truck and watched him drive away wondering whether they would ever get married or if she was destined to just be his girlfriend for the rest of her life.

Emma locked the door to the lighthouse after the last guest left. Today had been a long one with two school groups, a church group and a screaming baby that seemed to echo through the entire building.

All she wanted to do was run herself a bubble bath in the old clawfoot tub that was in the cottage and soak until her skin turned into a prune-like texture.

This morning, she had gotten a call from Caroline who had, of course, talked to Steve. Again, she tried to talk some sense into Emma, but Emma couldn’t seem to make her understand that she wasn’t coming home. This was her new home, and she was starting to find some semblance of happiness here.

The ocean soothed her. The marshes still scared her a little bit, but she was starting to grow accustomed to the smells and the sounds that happened at night in the South Carolina lowcountry.

She was looking forward to manning her own table at the Spring Festival tomorrow. She had worked up the flyers which the city council had approved, and she was hoping to bring even more business to the lighthouse. As long as she did a good job with the tours, she got to keep her job. She got to keep her free housing. She got to continue living her new life.

“Hey!”

She turned around to see Janine standing near her front door. She wasn’t expecting company, and normally she wouldn’t have minded if she wasn’t so incredibly tired.

“Hey, Janine. I didn’t know you were coming by this evening.”

“I know, and it’s really rude of me to just show up here but I need to talk to you.”

“Did something else happen with William?”

“Well… Yes.”

“Then by all means, come on in. I was about to heat up some spaghetti I made last night. Hungry?”

“Actually, yes I am hungry. I didn’t exactly get to eat lunch today.”

“No? Why is that?”

She put the key in the door and allowed Janine inside. She pointed at the breakfast bar for Janine to sit down as she went to the refrigerator to retrieve the spaghetti and the now too soggy garlic bread. Maybe if she threw it in the toaster, she could get it to crisp up again.

“So, William took me for a romantic picnic by the ocean today.”