Ellie set her satchel over her shoulder and hummed a lively tune as she walked down Gull Lane toward town. The sea breeze drifted through the trees, carrying the distant cry of gulls and the scent of saltwater. She could’ve ridden the bike but today was a beautiful day for walking and absorbing all the sights and sounds that could be missed riding a bike.
She realized how much Blue Harbor was growing on her the few days she’d been in town. Or maybe it was a certain harbor master with warm brown eyes and a smile that seemed to catch her off guard every time. Her cheeks warmed.
When she’d arrived in Blue Harbor, she’d planned to stay a week. Seven days to sketch, to breathe, to slip away from a life that had begun to feel automated—the same thing every day.
In Blue Harbor, nobody seemed to be in a hurry. She could linger over coffee at The Harbor Bean, browse the bookstore without watching the clock, and spend hours sketching along the harbor. Best of all were the people. The shop owners greeted her by name, and familiar faces seemed to appear wherever she went. Somewhere over the past few days, Blue Harbor had stopped feeling like a vacation destination and started feeling like a place she belonged.
“Morning, Ellie.”
She glanced up to find Mrs. Donnelly sweeping the sidewalk outside the bookstore. “Good morning!”
The older woman smiled. “You’re becoming a regular.”
She laughed. “Is that a bad thing?”
“Of course not.” Mrs. Donnelly chuckled. “Tourists are what keep me in business, but you’re one of the few I really look forward to seeing.”
“Well, thank you. I enjoy seeing you, too.” The door of the shop opened behind Mrs. Donnelly, the bell jingling.
Jake stepped onto the sidewalk, sunlight catching the dark strands of his hair. His eyebrows lifted when he spotted her, and then he smiled.
Her heart gave an unexpected little thump. He looked genuinely happy to see her.
“Hey,” he said, stopping beside her.
“Hey yourself.”
Mrs. Donnelly glanced between them and grinned. “I suddenly remembered I have books to shelve.”
Before either of them could respond, she headed back inside.
Jake shook his head. “She’s subtle.”
She laughed. “Like a foghorn.”
The corners of his eyes crinkled. And somehow that made her smile even more.
“Coffee?” he asked.
She lifted her travel mug. “Already have some.”
“Want to walk with me?” He nodded toward the harbor.
She had planned to spend the morning sketching at the cove, but suddenly the idea didn’t seem nearly as appealing as spending time with Jake. “I’d love to.”
They headed toward the waterfront while Murphy trotted several feet ahead, stopping every now and then to investigate something only a dog would find interesting. Occasionally their shoulders and arms brushed and she was more aware of him with each step.
Fishing boats bobbed gently in their slips. A lobster boat eased away from the dock, leaving a trail of ripples behind it. They stopped beside a weathered wooden railing overlooking the water.
“So,” Jake said, resting his forearms on the railing, “how many sketches have you completed?”
She grinned. “Ten.”
His head turned. “Ten?”
“I’m working on number eleven.”
“Glad to see that Blue Harbor offers some great inspiration.”
Heat climbed into her cheeks. “You could say that.”
A grin tugged at his mouth as though he knew what she was thinking. The flutter in her stomach returned. She looked out to the ocean, glimmering in the sunlight. “I really like it here.”
He nodded and looked out across the water. “Blue Harbor has a way of doing that.” He sighed. “Draws people in. Makes them want to stay. Sometimes it—” He shrugged, still staring at the blue expanse.
She looked back at him. Something changed in his voice. His smile faded. His gaze drifted beyond the boats, beyond the harbor, to something she couldn’t see. There it was again. The sadness. The same shadow she’d caught glimpses of before. It never stayed long. Just long enough for her to notice. Long enough to wonder.
She wanted to ask him what he was thinking, but decided against it.
Jake wasn’t the type to share personal things easily. She’d figured that out much the first day they’d met. Besides, he barely knew her, and she’d be leaving in four days. Why would he confide in someone who was only passing through?
No, if Jake had something he wanted to tell her, he’d do it when he was ready. And when he trusted her enough to do so.
Instead, she slipped a hand into her pocket and pulled out the sea glass heart she’d found the day before. “I found this yesterday.”
Jake looked over. “Oh?”
She opened her palm. The pale blue-green shard rested against her palm, smooth from years of tumbling through the ocean.
For a moment he didn’t say anything. His gaze settled on the tiny piece of glass. “It’s beautiful.”
“It is.”
He continued looking at it, and once again she saw something flicker across his face. A memory?
The silence stretched between them.
“Jake?”
His eyes met hers. “Yeah?”
“You okay?”
He lifted a shoulder. “Yeah.”
Still, she couldn’t quite let it go. “Sometimes,” she said softly, “you look like you’re far away.”
For a second he simply stared at her. No anger, no confusion or surprise. Just a look of wonder. As though no one had thought to ask him. A faint smile touched his mouth.
“I’ll tell you, someday.” The words were soft. “Soon.”
A simple answer. Yet, important. She held it close, like a promise.
Jake pushed away from the railing. “Come on.”
She blinked. “Where are we going?”
A hint of mischief appeared in his eyes, chasing away some of the sadness she’d seen only moments earlier. “I want to show you something.”
Murphy barked as if he already knew where they were headed. She laughed and fell into step beside Jake.
Whatever he was about to show her, she found herself looking forward to it. Far more than sketch number eleven.
End of Episode 5
Sneak Peak of Episode 6:
A windswept bluff. A distant lighthouse. And an afternoon that changes everything.
As Jake begins to lower the walls around his heart, Ellie finds herself wondering if Blue Harbor is becoming more than a place she’s visiting.
Maybe it’s becoming home.