Something about that knowledge burned in my chest. How isolated Shay was. The way she looked at me when she found out that people would be invading her island. It was almost as if I’d betrayed her. And why did I care so much that she’d looked at me with those wounded eyes?

I hoped it was merely because I was intrigued. People were always intricate, interesting puzzles to me. The kind of projects I created required that I study humans and all the things they hid beneath their carefully crafted exteriors. Shay was simply more compelling than most. But if I dug deep, I knew that was a lie.

5

Shay

I focused on my breathing as I headed down the path and onto the dock. I matched my breaths to the gentle ebb and flow of the water as I readied the boat. I kept the count as I started the engine and headed for Anchor. I let the spray of the water around me soothe my frayed edges.

Everything was changing. My quiet haven had been invaded. And the handsome man now in my space had thrown me off-kilter. I eased back on the throttle, guiding the boat into one of the spots along the dock. Everything would be fine. So a construction crew would be around all winter. I could handle that. I simply had to continue being forgettable. That was easy enough.

But I couldn’t deny the longing I felt pulling at my chest. For friendship. Community. I missed it. The simple ease of grabbing dinner or coffee with someone who knew you. Not even necessarily on a deep level. Just someone you could chat about your day with. The book you were reading, the movie you watched the night before. Someone who made you feel not quite so alone.

I considered taking a detour into The General Store to see if Caelyn was there. Talking with her always eased a bit of that ache for me. I forced myself to head for the main street through town instead.

The buildings that dotted the thoroughfare were a mix of Craftsmen, Victorian, and aged brick. They breathed character into the community and housed just about everything I might need. I passed The Catch bar and restaurant, The Mad Baker, and a home furnishings store called Second Chances that always made me drool when I stepped inside.

I continued on until I reached my destination. The Exchange had mailboxes and a small shop for copies and shipping supplies, plus plenty of postcards for tourists. I kept two boxes here. One for Harbor, and one for myself. My personal box was at the end of a chain of similar mailboxes. I had my mail sent to St. Louis and then Charlotte before it ultimately landed on Anchor.