Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74467 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74467 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Eloise came to the corner, where the shops on Bellevue started, and cut across the street and headed down one of the side roads to walk among history. Homes and boutiques in structures from the sixteen hundreds lined the narrow road. She stopped and read the placards, most of which she had memorized back in middle school. It had been a school project—learn everything they could about one house. Eloise researched every house on the block and even drew what they would’ve looked like when they were first built. Her above and beyond approach to the assignment wasn’t well received by her teacher or classmates.
She passed the old church on the square, with its white picket fence, and continued until she came to the streetlight. Another turn and she found herself in front of the theater. It was haunted, despite some ghost adventurer stating otherwise. There wasn’t a resident on the island that believed any of the TV shows that came to town to film. They all knew the actress who had died there still sat in seat 3A for every show. Eloise scanned the marque and noted the upcoming shows. Maybe Margaux would go with her.
Downtown bustled with activity. Eloise laughed when the Buzz Bus drove by with its patrons hanging out of the windows, cheering, and chugging whatever they had in their hands. She waved, giggled, and saw the cases of beer and hard seltzer piled high behind the driver. Before she moved away, she and her friends had planned to hire the Buzz Bus for each of their twenty-first birthdays. The company gave people a safe way to drink, party, and bar hop.
When she passed the pier, she waved at Dune Carter as he closed up his adventure stand for the night. Being the older brother of her friends Tidal and Sail, he was rarely around or if he was, he wasn’t willing to hang out with teens. Growing up in Seaport, Blue Lobster Adventures was always a prominent business. Over the years, it had clearly flourished and had become the premier company for anything tour related.
She veered across the street when traffic cleared and walked into the arcade, another place she used to frequent when she lived here. At the counter, she asked for Claude, the owner.
“He’s in the office. Let me get him.”
Claude Stevenson was a pillar in the community. Any time a teen needed a job, he always offered one at the arcade. Every local flocked there on the weekends, returning the favor in kind. If it wasn’t for the way Claude treated the youth in the area, the place would probably shutter because of the changing times.
The young kid working the prize counter left Eloise there and returned a few minutes later with a senior man. Eloise’s smile beamed when Claude recognized her. The years had been kind to him. He still resembled Santa Claus in her mind.
“Eloise!” He held his arms out for a hug. “When did you get back?”
“A couple of days ago,” she told him. “I’m staying with my aunt.”
“I saw Margaux a few weeks back at the grocery store. She didn’t say anything.”
“Must’ve slipped her mind. How are you?” Eloise held his hands in hers. “How’s business?”
“I’m good. Business is . . .” He trailed off. “Virtual reality hurts. No one wants to play these old carnival games.”
“Well, I do,” she told him. “And I’ll make sure Tidal rounds up a few of us that are home this summer and we’ll come down.”
Claude let out a big belly laugh. “Oh, the ruckus.”
“It’ll be worth it. I promise.”
“You’re too kind.”
“You've always been good to me. It's the least I can do,” she said as she gave Claude's arm a gentle squeeze. Losing her grandfather reminded her of how precious life was and being back in town made her want to visit her old stomping grounds.
“Stop in anytime, kiddo. Games are on the house.” Eloise would never accept free games from Claude. Honestly, she didn't know anyone who would.
“I'll be back with my crew,” she told him. They hugged and Eloise exited back onto the busy sidewalk. She inhaled deeply and fought a wave of emotion. She hadn't wanted to leave, but then, after she did, Eloise never really thought of coming back until now.
Eloise weaved her way through the crowd of people until she came to the Sea Shanty. Loud music blared from inside and the line to get in stretched halfway down the sidewalk.
“Things sure have changed,” she surmised as she went to the end of the line. She hadn't planned for this in her earlier scheming, and she wasn't sure if waiting to get inside was her thing.
When she came to one of the windows, she rose onto her toes to look inside. The tint hindered her from seeing if Kiel or anyone else she knew was in there.