Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Other news from the docks suggests that Mrs. Pritcher has also found love! I’ll keep my ear to the sand for more information. It appears that love is in the air here in Seaside and it’s not even spring yet!
Fair winds and following seas!
Ms. Seaside
* * *
I placed the newspaper down on the table and looked up at my two sisters. We had started meeting at the grill every Thursday for lunch, along with Harlee. We told ourselves it wasn’t because the gossip column came out on Thursdays; we pretended it was a good day to get together.
I drew in a breath, then said, “I think it’s Mrs. Pritcher.”
Addie shook her head. “No way is it Mrs. Pritcher.”
The bell above the door rang, and Harlee came rushing in. “Sorry I’m late. I had a meeting at the newspaper, and it ran over.”
“Did you read it yet?” Sutton asked.
Harlee looked at Ruby as she came over to our table and smiled. “I’ll have the usual, please.”
Ruby winked. “You girls are becoming too predictable; you need to shake things up a bit.”
Harlee laughed and then looked around at each of us. “Did I read what yet?”
We all stared at her like she’d lost her mind.
“Hello?” Sutton said. “The column?”
Harlee rolled her eyes. “Oh yeah, I read it.”
“And?” I asked.
Giving me a blank stare, Harlee asked, “And what?”
Sighing in frustration, I dropped back against the booth. “And do you think it’s Mrs. Pritcher?”
Crinkling her nose, Harlee shook her head. “I don’t see it being her. She’s locked away in the library most of the time. One has to wonder why she doesn’t get out more. Isn’t she only like forty?”
I shook my head. “If Ms. Seaside is to be believed, she has a secret life, and I’m not sure how old she is. For sure close to forty, I would say.”
Addie and Harlee both giggled.
“For the love of God, you three, be serious,” I said. “Mrs. Pritcher was there. She saw and heard the whole thing.”
“And so was Kelsey. And how many other people were in the store that day, Palmer?” Sutton asked.
I cursed under my breath.
She smirked at me. “I guess that answers my question.”
Harlee thanked Ruby for the cup of coffee and the water she’d brought over to the table. “What I really want to talk about is whatever’s going on with you and Mason.”
I felt myself blush.
Addie looked at me and said, “All I know is, I’ve been working with Mason for how many months now…almost four? And I’ve never seen him so happy. He even whistles now.”
Sutton laughed. “What does whistling have to do with being happy?”
Harlee pointed at Addie. “Okay, I can always tell when my parents have…” She shuddered, then went on. “When they’ve been intimate. My dad walks around whistling.”
All of their wide eyes swung to me.
“You little brat! Why haven’t you told us?” Sutton demanded.
Addie leaned in closer and said, “Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it. Mason changed the schedule, and now we have two hours for lunch.”
Harlee gasped. “Oh my God, are you having nooners while Charlie’s in school?”
I slapped Harlee’s arm. “Shut up!”
“I didn’t need that visual,” Addie mumbled.
“I think I’m going to talk to Brody about longer lunch periods. Harlee, I may need you to cover for me at the store,” Sutton said, looking totally serious.
Harlee laughed. “I’m here for you, girl.”
“Will you all stop it?” I said. “There is no afternoon delight happening.”
Sutton slowly shook her head. “You are so lying. You’re totally having afternoon delight! It’s written all over your face.”
“I’m with Sutton on this one,” Addie said. “Mason leaves for lunch every day, and he never did that before Christmas. Just saying.”
I rolled my eyes. “Well, it’s all fine and dandy to talk about my sex life with Mason, but can we get back to the article?”
Harlee sighed. “You’re no fun. If I’m not having sex, I want to at least talk about it.”
“You and Thomas are still broken up?” Sutton asked before she took a bite of her club sandwich.
“We’re still friends, and I have no doubt in my mind that if I gave him a call, he’d come over. But I don’t want that type of relationship anymore. I need to move on.”
Addie, Sutton, and I all exchanged a look.
I reached for Harlee’s hand. “Move on from what? I didn’t think you were all that into Thomas, but you sounded utterly heartbroken right then.”
Harlee’s eyes jerked up to meet mine and she attempted to play off my concern. “Don’t be silly. I’m not the least bit heartbroken over Thomas or anyone else.”
I smiled slightly. “Harlee, it’s okay. You know you can trust us. We won’t judge or say a word if you want to tell us something.”
Her eyes bounced around to all three of us and for a moment, I thought she was going to open up. Then she smiled. “There isn’t anything to tell you guys. Honestly.”