Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Dune parked the cart and went into the stationary store. The overhead chime sounded, and a voice called out from somewhere inside.
“What are we doing here?” Wilson asked.
“I don’t know.” Dune inhaled deeply. “I’m going with the assumption Caroline’s still here, and if she is, I want to give her something Seaport related—something to remember all of us by—because regardless, until now she had a really great time.”
“And then Bryant ruined it.”
“Typical,” Dune said gruffly.
Dune went to the right, while Wilson went left. Being that Dune had no idea what he was looking for, the two of them played a lot of “what do you think of this?” while they shopped around. The clerk approached Dune and smiled brightly with realization.
“Oh, my goodness. How are you, Dune?” Amina Ferguson asked. She had been Dune’s fifth grade teacher, as well as Wilson and Speed’s, and Dune’s brothers.
“Mrs. Ferguson, what are you doing here? I thought you retired?”
“Oh, I did,” she said sounding tired. “But you know . . .” She trailed off, leaving Dune to speculate. His guess would be finances, or she was bored. Amina’s husband had passed away last winter.
“If you need anything, you know where to find me,” Dune told her.
The older woman smiled kindly at Dune. “Now, what brings you boys in?”
“Hey, Mrs. Ferguson,” Wilson yelled and waved from across the way.
“Hello, Wilson.” She returned the wave and then looked at Dune.
“I’m looking for a gift for a friend. Something that says Seaport but isn’t touristy.”
“Is it for the young woman I’ve seen you canoodling with?”
Dune’s cheeks heated from embarrassment. It took him a minute to regain his composure. “I’m not so far removed from school that I don’t know what canoodling means, Mrs. Ferguson. I don’t believe you caught me making out with Caroline.”
His former teacher laughed. “True but seeing you blush was well worth saying it.”
Dune ran his hand through his hair. “You got me, and yes, it’s for her.”
“Follow me. I know just the thing.”
Dune motioned for Wilson to follow, and they fell in line behind their teacher.
“We have a local craftsman on the island who started making sea glass jewelry. It’s all authentic, collected right here on our beaches.”
Amina showed them the Seaport Collection display of necklaces, some with matching earrings, and bracelets. “I love it because each piece is unique. Nothing is the same. They’re also not polished stones or gems. It’s direct from the shores in Seaport. I don’t think you can get anything more Seaport than this.”
Dune and Wilson looked at the pieces, and then Wilson set a bracelet on the counter. “For my mom,” he told Amina.
“She’ll love it. I saw her the other day at the bank, looking as lovely as ever.”
“I’ll tell her you said so.”
Amina rang Wilson’s purchase up, put the bracelet in a box, and then a bag before handing him the receipt.
“Do you see something you like?” Amina asked Dune. He held out a necklace, with an almost purple piece of glass. Although, when he turned it slightly the coloring seemed to fade into white or a light pink. “Oh, this is beautiful. We just got it in today. This color, or anything close to purple, is one of his most requested colors.”
“It’s beautiful. I never thought to do anything with the sea glass I have at home.”
“Me neither,” she said as she completed the transaction. “I gave him what I had so he could make more jewelry. And I’ve asked him to make me a wind chime.”
“My mom would love one,” Dune said instantly. “Please put me down for one as well.”
“Of course.”
Dune and Wilson stayed for a bit longer and then finally said goodbye. Back on the boat, they stowed the items that would stay on board, and then set the rest on the floor, near the helm. Wilson drove them back to the dock Blue Lobster Adventures owned. Along the way, they passed one of their ships and heard Randy tell the guests to wave. They did even though they had no idea who they were waving to.
Back at the dock, Wilson maneuvered the bigger boat into the slip and Dune tied them to the cleat. They kept themselves busy, getting the barge ready for an evening sail. Dune checked all the lighting and stocked the cooler and mini fridge. He sliced meats and cheeses, laid out crackers, and washed the grapes before setting them on the new and fully washed charcuterie board.
He then set out the candles. Buying battery operated candles had been Wilson’s idea. Dune hated to admit it, but it was genius. Candles gave off a romantic glow and could easily change the ambience around them. Having an open flame on a boat was not a good idea and would be somewhat impossible if the vessel was in motion.