The bar was nautically themed, a kind of cross between a saloon and a beach hut. Drooping sheets of drift net covered the ceiling, surfboards and canoes adorned the walls, and two giant ships’ wheels, upcycled into chandeliers, hung from above. In one corner was a small stage with a lone microphone stand, but tonight music was coming from a retro jukebox sitting pride of place beneath a framed photograph of a man holding an impressively large fish. The place was busy too, every stool and chair occupied.

Setting the bags at his feet, Amy’s dad leaned across the bar countertop and made eye contact with a burly lady pouring a pint.

“Evenin’,” she said in a deep Southern accent as she sidled toward them, locks of wavy hair billowing behind her. “What’ll it be?”

“We’re checking in. We have a room booked.”

“Right you are.” The bartender squatted and pulled out a hefty tome from somewhere down below. She cleared her throat, licked her thumb, and flipped through the pages. “Last name?”

“Tucker.”

Her roving finger found the booking with minimal effort. “There, got ya.” She grabbed a pen from her pocket and scribbled something down. “Now I just need to take a peep at your credit card and identification, if you don’t mind.”

“Yes, of course.”

While Amy’s dad reached for his wallet, the bartender tossed a glance at Amy and cheerfully asked if it was their first time in Seabrook. Amy forced a smile and nodded.

“Wow, you folks sure have picked a fine time to visit! Tomorrow we’ve got a big festival that’ll be running all day long, right outside in the square, so you needn’t go far if you’re short of something to do. And if that’s not in your wheelhouse then make sure you check out the brochure rack by the stairs, right where you came in. There’s plenty”—she paused to take Kevin’s credit card, which she inserted into a machine—“to do,” she continued, punching in a series of numbers into a keypad. “Fishing charters, guided walks, great trails up in the woods, easy hikes, if that’s your sort of thing. Otherwise, closer to town, we’ve got the beach just a hop, skip, and a jump down the street.”

“We’ll be sure to keep that in mind,” Kevin said.