“We’re really at the ocean. Look at this view!” Matt opened the sliding glass door. She could hear the sound of the waves crashing against the beach. Jorden noted that the motel was austere but looked clean. She picked up her tote bag and carried it further into the room. There were two beds. Her nerves settled down with a rush of relief. She knew Matt wouldn’t push her, but still—she didn’t completely trust herself.

“Let’s go for a walk. Dress warmly,” Matt suggested.

“Where are you going?” Jorden watched him open the door to the parking area.

“To get our yellow slickers. They’re in the trunk.”

She slid open the glass door and looked at the rolling waves while watching seagulls overhead. “What am I doing here?” Jorden shouted at the foreboding sky. If only she could fly off with the seagulls. Instead, she made a pact with herself. Don’t spoil what little time you have left with Matt. Let go and enjoy these last moments. With her mind made up, she joined Matt.

“Are we nuts?” Jorden laughed. They trudged over the sand wearing the yellow slickers, boots, and rain hats with warm clothing underneath it all. No one was on the beach except for a few seagulls. The sea pounded heavily against the white sand. Up ahead, another quarter of a mile, they spotted a large sand dune.

“Let’s go for the dune. Maybe it’ll offer some relief from this wind and rain,” Matt called out.

With her head down Jorden tried to avoid the sting of the blowing sand, putting one foot in front of the other, determined to get to the dune. They sat on the leeward side, partially sheltered from the elements. Huddled together, they held onto each other to keep warm. Their rain hats covered their faces.

The sound of the surf hammered into the beach in a continuous pattern. The scenery was bleak but the chemistry between them was anything but dreary as Jorden watched Matt pull up the yellow flap of her rain hat, lift her chin, and gently kiss her. Raindrops splattered off their faces but she didn’t feel them. A seagull squalled overhead while she let her head rest on his chest. They sat still until she started shivering.

“Let’s get your blood moving. Come on, I’ll race you back.”

“You’re on!” Jorden jumped up but quickly lost her footing. Matt caught her and pressed her against the sand dune to steady her. Suddenly a gust of wind caught the edge of her hat, sending it down the beach. Jorden scrambled to catch it but the wind and rain were too strong. The yellow hat landed in the surf. A large wave surged forward then rushed backward, taking the hat further out to sea.