Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“What’s this thing that you have with sea animals? It’s dead and has no teeth, Sarah.”
“I don’t know, they just freak me out. They’re delicious, but I don’t want my hands on them.”
“I guess it’s a good thing that I never got that saltwater aquarium that I always wanted as a kid.”
I wrinkle my nose, and Tanner busts out laughing, then leans in and plants a quick kiss on my lips. “Okay, I’ll touch it, but you pay close attention.”
“Deal.”
“You weren’t lying,” June says in surprise when I hop into her truck, sandwiching Luna between June and me. “You seriously wore your pajamas.”
“It’s practically the middle of the night.” I close the door and fasten my seatbelt. “Besides, if you can’t handle me in my jammies, you don’t deserve me in, well, anything else.”
“I should have worn jammies,” Luna mutters, which earns a scolding look from June. “But I’m dying to know what you want to show us.”
“Me, too.”
“It’s something I’ve thought about for a long time,” she begins as she pulls away from Tanner’s house and drives through town, then turns away from the beach and drives inland. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love living with Grandma, but there comes a time when a girl needs to move the hell out, and that time is coming. I can’t move back into the shithole I escaped from, even if they say they cleared out the mold. I just don’t trust it.”
“No way,” I agree.
“So, where are you going to move to?” Luna asks as June parks in front of the white chapel in the heart of the residential area of Huckleberry Bay.
Luna and I both scan our eyes over the houses across from the church. “I don’t see any for rent signs.”
“Not over there,” June says, and when we turn our gazes to her, she points at the chapel. “There.”
“You’re going to live in a church?”
“Are you changing careers?” I ask, my words measured.
“No.” June snorts and then gets out of the truck, and Luna and I follow her. “I bought the chapel, you guys.”
Luna and I share a glance as we follow June through the gate of the old picket fence that surrounds the property, up the cracked sidewalk to the dilapidated porch that leads to the arched double doors.
June unlocks them, and we step inside.
“It’s cold in here,” I say, shivering.
June flips on the lights, and I’m surprised to see that it’s mostly empty, except for two lone pews in the front of the big room. There’s no altar left. The hardwood is scuffed, but still beautiful, and I know that June can sand it and make it shine.
“It’s bigger than I was expecting,” Luna says, her gaze thoughtful as she looks up at the stained glass windows.
“That’s what she said,” I reply, and we all laugh in hilarity.
“There’s a basement,” June says when we’ve quieted down. “And I could probably add on to the side here.”
“June, there’s a cemetery out back.” I stare at her, blinking. “Like, your backyard is a freaking graveyard.”
“I know. Look, the cemetery is closed to any new internments, and I have no plans to disturb the people at rest back there. I don’t mind having a cemetery in my yard, if I’m being honest. I’ll keep it tidy, and people can come pay their respects when they want to. I’ll put up a fence between the cemetery and the chapel building, with a lock, so those who want to access the graves don’t also have access to my house.”
Her voice echoes in the empty room as we walk around in a circle, taking it all in.
“I do love all of the old stained glass,” Luna murmurs. “Will it be, what, a studio?”
“No.” June shakes her head, and a dreamy smile spreads over her face. “Haven’t you seen all of the old churches that have been turned into private homes? They’re so cool. I already know where I’ll put the bedrooms, the living space, and the kitchen. I’ll even have one and a half bathrooms.”
“What if you want kids?” I blurt out and prop my hands on my hips. “June, this is really cool, but it’s so small for a house.”
“I don’t have kids,” she points out, not mad at all. “And no boyfriend. I’m not going to pause my life just because of what could happen. If I get married and have a half-dozen kids, I’ll buy a different house. But this is a project that I’m just itching to get my hands on. I know I have a lot on my plate right now, work-wise, but I’ll be wrapped up with most of it before the end of the year, and then I can shift gears a bit.”
We’re all quiet as we continue to take it in.
“I need this,” June says quietly. “I need something for me. Please don’t take this wrong, Luna. You know I love building the inn. It’s a blast. But between that and my other jobs, not to mention all the work I do for Grandma at her place, I really need something that’s all mine.”