“And the second one,” she says as we walk into a much lighter, albeit smaller room. A queen-size bed, a bay window overlooking the beach, light blue drapes, and off-white curtains.

Two of the walls are covered in shelves and crammed with books. The room is painted a light shade of blue. If I had my own beach house, this is precisely what you’d see in it. Except for the books, they’d be organized by color or by genre, depending on my mood.

“I love this room,” I say, and judging by Celine’s smile, she’s not surprised.

“It’s settled then,” she says. “I’ll finish the paperwork tonight, both for the job and the room. Weekly rental, right?” she asks.

“Yes, please. Because I don’t know—”

“How long you’ll be in town. I know. I remember what you said.” She rubs her hands together. “Tomorrow morning, you should be all set. What’s that saying? Killing two birds with one stone?”

I laugh. “I got lucky today.”

“The stars aligned,” she says, smiling.

Although today didn’t go as expected, I feel strangely at peace. This small town, this kind woman, the cozy café, this charming cottage, the sound of the waves crashing on the rocks below, make me feel inexplicably at home. As if I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. I don’t know what it means, and I don’t know what tomorrow will bring or how or when I will meet Ethan Delphy and how that meeting will go, but for now, today, tonight, I smile. The world is still full of possibilities. No doors have been closed for me today. On the contrary, they opened.

Thirty

I return to the inn before midnight and Susan, who’s still awake, greets me at the door.

I nod and cover my mouth as I yawn. I’m exhausted.

“I’m sorry to bother you at this hour with this, but I just wanted to remind you that check-out is tomorrow before eleven,” she says.

“Yes. No bother. I’ll be ready before eight.”

“Sad to see you go,” she says, sounding sincere. “Did you find another place to stay?”

“I did, yes, close by.”

“That’s wonderful. I’m so glad.”

I smile, thank her, say good night and head straight for my room.

Before falling asleep, I remember I didn’t tell Alisa what happened so I call her and we talk for a few minutes. As in, I talk and she listens.

“I told you to talk to the woman, not get her to hire you.”

“I didn’t know how else to get close to her. I couldn’t just come out and ask. Plus, I need the money and a reason to stay.”

“You have a talent for complicating things. Was it worth it? Did you learn where he is?”

“Yes. In Florida.”

“In Florida?” She sounds shocked. “What are you still doing there then?”

“Well, Max is here somewhere, and Celine said her brother is coming soon. Oh, and she had rooms to rent, so I’m moving in with her. I’m still in shock at how kind she is.”