As the ferry lumbered forward, leaving the dock at Friday Harbor behind, Lily plucked the gloves from her pocket and put them on. There was a noticeable chill in the air, and them moving across the water only added to the nip she felt in her fingers. Mac went to the snack counter and returned with steaming cups of tea for both of them, then they and the dogs settled in for the voyage.
Lily took a sip and sighed. “It makes me sad to leave all this behind. Not that Driftwood Bay isn’t beautiful, but the island seems like another world.”
“It’s definitely stunning and a relaxing place to visit. I think it’s just getting away from real life for a few days that does it for me. I’m serious about coming back again. I’d love to get in some fishing. All the guys are up for it, but Blake, Jeff, and Nate are really into it.”
“I say we plan for something. Izzy and I were thinking January, after all the holidays. You and I both know, life’s too short, so I say we mark it on our calendars when we get home and make it happen.”
He slipped an arm around her shoulder and she rested her head against him. After she had lost Gary, she wasn’t sure that she would ever feel safe again. Not that she was scared or worried she couldn’t take care of herself, but she missed that sense of belonging with someone, having him next to her no matter what. Leaning against Mac provided that sense of security she feared she’d lost forever. She emptied her mind, letting the peaceful beauty of the ocean wash over her.
The dogs snoozed for most of the trip, only waking when the ferry engine noise deepened as they docked in Anacortes. After driving from the landing, Mac took the road for Whidbey Island and they traveled across the majestic bridge at Deception Pass. They stopped at the park and let the dogs out to run, while they admired the tree covered islands and water beneath the bridge.
The last wisps of fog were burning off and blue skies framed the stunning water and islands connected by the iconic bridge. On their trip over, it had been so early and they had been in a hurry to make their ferry connections, they had driven by without stopping to take in the scenic views. Lily hadn’t been to this park since she was a teenager and memories of her aunt and uncle came rushing back.
Whenever she came for the summer, they made a special point of “taking a ride,” as Uncle Leo would say. They’d pack a picnic and spend a lazy day hiking and enjoying the view. It was always a highlight of her summer and made for wonderful memories.
As if reading her mind, Mac suggested they take their time. “We’re in no rush to get home. How about we find a place to get some takeout lunch and find a park along the waterfront in Coupeville while we’re here? We could spend the day as tourists and take the six o’clock ferry.”
Lily nodded and dug her phone out of her pocket. I’ll just text Mel so she knows. She’ll be working late at the library tonight.”
“Tell her we’ll take her to dinner when she gets off. My treat.”
Lily smiled as she tapped in a message and received a quick reply with a promise from Mel to meet them at Tides, a popular tavern on the waterfront. With that sorted, they hiked down to the water and took a few photos. They even managed to corral all the dogs for a selfie, with Mac stretching his arm out to capture them all.
Once back at his SUV, they toweled off the dogs as best they could, and made the short, but gorgeous drive into Coupeville. As they passed by Oak Harbor, Lily thought of Mel’s aunt, who had lived there years ago. She wondered if Mel would ever want to make the trip or if it would stir up too many sad memories.
With it being a Monday and tourist season over, finding a parking spot was easy. Mac pointed toward a red building across the street. “I’m friends with the veterinarian here and he always recommends The Point. It’s never disappointed. The park is just down the block. I’ll take the dogs and get them settled and watered and you pick out lunch.”
Lily made her way to the café and while she studied the menu, Sheri, the woman behind the counter made small talk. The aroma of potato soup tempted Lily, but she knew trying to eat it in the park would be cumbersome. When Sheri learned they were traveling with their dogs and planning to eat in the park, she insisted they eat on the side deck of the café. “I’ve got one of those fancy heaters out there to keep you warm and you’ll be more comfortable there. We have lots of pet parents and I cater to dog owners. I’ll make sure and bring out some water bowls and special dog treats for them.” She smiled as she wrote down Lily’s selections. “If it were up to me, you could eat inside, but the health department frowns on it.”
Lily paid and thanked her, promising to return in a few minutes. She found Mac, pitching balls and a frisbee to the dogs, who ran like the wind to chase and retrieve the items. Their happy faces and long tongues telegraphed their delight in the game. Bodie was the only one still due lunch, but Mac made sure the others received a nibble after their exercise.
He was delighted with the news that they could eat at an actual table and take advantage of plates and silverware. They made their way back across the street and took their chairs at the table that had been prepared for them, with the patio heater on and water bowls nestled next to a couple of dog beds nearby. Sheri had added a pot of tea and a cellophane bag tied with ribbon that held an array of doggy cookies.
Within a few minutes, she emerged from the café and delivered two platters with oversized cups of soup and half sandwiches, along with a cookie. She refilled their water glasses and made sure they had plenty of tea. “You enjoy your lunch and I’ll be back to check on you in a few minutes.” She bent and petted each of the dogs, talking to them in a soft and high voice.
Their tails thumped against the wooden deck and she asked if she could give them each a cookie. Mac and Lily nodded and smiled as she made each of them sit before rewarding them with a crunchy treat. “They are gorgeous dogs. My sweet Bart is home at the moment, otherwise, he’d be wanting to play with these two.”
A ringing phone called her back inside and Lily and Mac dug into their tasty lunch. Lily moaned as she swallowed her first spoonful of soup. “Your veterinarian friend is a genius. This place is beyond good.”
Mac grinned as he prepared to take a bite of his thick sandwich. “We could come over here for a fun outing anytime. It’s such a quick ride on the ferry.”
“I’d love to. There are so many cute shops to see along the waterfront. It would be a bit easier to enjoy without the dogs.”
“Agreed. They aren’t the best shoppers.”
Although there was a chilly breeze, between the soup and the patio heater, they were more than comfortable. The dogs settled down and dozed while Mac and Lily took their time savoring their lunch and watching the activity on the water.
When Sheri had cleared their plates and brought them a second pot of tea, Mac reached for Lily’s hand. “I’m happy to stay here with the dogs and you can go peruse some of those shops that caught your eye.”
It didn’t take much arm twisting to get her to stroll along the waterfront and peek in a few windows. She had always enjoyed buying herself a small gift from trips she had taken and while admiring the array of items in a gift shop, a bracelet caught her eye. She already had the alpaca scarf, but couldn’t resist slipping the strands of silver and beads that reminded her of Aunt Maggie’s sea glass on her wrist. It was the perfect keepsake for a wonderful getaway.
She had time to duck into the chocolate shop and selected a few boxes, along with some individual pieces for a treat for Mac.
When she returned to the café, they took the dogs to the park, made several laps with them and played a few more games of fetch. Before getting in line for the ferry, they stopped at a coffee place and picked up some warm drinks for the ride home. It had been a perfect day, a perfect trip. As they pulled into the dock at Driftwood Bay, a hint of sadness crept over her. She hated to see the long weekend come to an end.
He pulled into her driveway, unloading and toting in everything while she let the dogs into the backyard. He didn’t have time to drive home, so Sherlock would have to stay at Lily’s while they met Mel for dinner. After making sure the dogs had their dinner, they left them downstairs so they could come and go through the doggy door as they pleased and headed to the restaurant.
They had just slid into the booth when Mel walked through the door. She was wearing her new vest and boots and Lily noticed a touch of lip gloss. “How was the library today?”
Mel’s eyes brightened. “It was great. We got in a new shipment of books and Donna let me take one of them home first. I told her I’d have it back in a couple of days. I also have some exciting news.”
“Oh, do tell,” said Lily, smiling at Mac and then returning her gaze across the table.
“I found a part-time job. They have a job outreach office at the college and I stopped by Friday and said I was looking for something part-time and the lady printed me out a list. The job at Sunrise Coffee had just been posted, so she called and got me an interview. They called this afternoon and said the job was mine.”
“Wow, that is terrific news,” said Lily. “I’m so proud of you and excited for you.”
“I was nervous, but didn’t have time to be too nervous.”
Mac chuckled. “That’s probably a good thing. The anticipation of stuff is often worse than the actual event. Like Lily says, that is wonderful news.”
Mel took a sip from her glass and frowned. “The only bad thing is, I may have to cut back on my volunteer hours with Donna. She said it’s not a problem, but I feel bad letting her down.”
Lily marveled at her dedication to the library. “You’ve been a devoted volunteer. I’m sure Donna means it when she says she understands. That’s the nature of volunteer work. I’m just excited you’ll have some spending money and I’m sure that’s a fun place to work.”
Excitement replaced the concern in Mel’s eyes. “We can drink whatever we want while we’re there and can have a free pastry on our break, and we get an employee discount at other times.”
Mac grinned at her. “You had me at free coffee and pastries. I don’t get any perks at my own clinic. When’s your first day? I’ll make sure I stop by and give you a healthy tip.”
“I start training on Wednesday and then my first actual shift is on Monday.”
Mac’s phone rang and he excused himself, answering with his doctor greeting.
Mel and Lily chatted more about the coffee shop with Mel telling her she had been studying the menu and trying to learn all the coffee drinks. Mac slid back into his seat moments before the waiter arrived.
After they ordered, Mac showed her the photos he took at the alpaca farm. “Aww, I love them. You need to get some. They would love playing with Coco and Margo.”
He grinned and laughed. “That’s exactly what Lily recommended.”
Lily reached in her tote. “I bought you a souvenir.” She handed her the box wrapped with a raffia bow. Mel’s surprise at getting a gift almost broke her heart. Much like when they had celebrated her driver’s license, Mel was overcome with emotion.
She unwrapped the strands of purple raffia and dug through the tissue. She pulled out the cute stuffed alpaca first and ran her hands over it. “Oh, it’s such a cutie.” Then she unearthed the beautiful scarf and her mouth fell open. She put it to her cheek. “I think it’s the softest thing I’ve ever felt.” Tears glistened in her eyes and she wrapped it around her neck.
A lump formed in Lily’s throat as she took in the joy reflected in Mel’s face. “I bought myself one, too. I just love them.” The waiter interrupted with their plates and Lily helped Mel repackage her gifts and get them out of the way.
As they ate, they told Mel about kayaking and showed her photos of the otters and the shoreline. “Wasn’t it scary to be on the water?”
Lily laughed and glanced at Mac. “I wasn’t totally sure, but we had an experienced guide and the water was totally calm. I wouldn’t want to do it in a fast-moving river, like those whitewater adventures.”
Mac nodded. “It was relaxing. We thought we might try it here, in Driftwood Bay, next summer.”
After their plates were cleared the waiter appeared with a fudge brownie sundae and three spoons and placed it in the middle of the table. Lily frowned and started to say he must have the wrong table, but then saw the flicker in Mac’s eye.
He shrugged and said, “I thought we needed to celebrate Mel’s new job.”
Lily ate a few bites, but left the bulk of it to Mel, who couldn’t quit raving about the dessert. She and Mac polished it off, both looking pleased with themselves as they scraped the plate to get the last bit of fudge.
When they had finished their meal and were waiting for the check, Lily passed her phone to Mel with the shots she had taken at Deception Pass. “I thought you might want to take a trip one day and visit Oak Harbor. I know you mentioned that’s where you remember your aunt living.”
Mel scanned through the photos and bobbed her head, but didn’t say anything. Mac took the check and said he’d meet them at the door. His sensitivity and thoughtfulness weren’t lost on Lily.
She took the phone back from Mel. “You don’t have to decide right now. It’s just an idea. Like we talked about going to Seaside this spring.”
Mel gathered her gift and stood next to Lily. “I think I would like to visit there again. I remember it being a nice place.”
Lily slipped an arm around Mel as they walked through the restaurant. “We’ll figure out a day and make the trip while the cottages are closed for the season.” She squeezed Mel’s shoulder in reassurance. “Did you stay busy with homework this weekend or squeeze in some time for anything fun?”
Mel’s eyes sparkled as she told them about driving Donna and Jeff to the ice cream shop, Jeff making dinner for them, and Donna giving her a bag of makeup samples she thought Mel could use.
Seeing Mel smile and chat instead of shrugging lifted Lily’s spirits. A tinge of worry had nagged at her while she had been away, hoping Mel wouldn’t regress. Mel thrived on routine, and Lily didn’t want to be the one that toppled her progress. Her appointments with Dr. Clay, and perhaps her newfound excitement about school and driving, boosted Mel’s frame of mind. She even stood taller.
When they got home, Mac came in for a few minutes to retrieve Sherlock. Upon seeing Mel, the dogs mobbed her, almost knocking her down in an effort to greet her. She laughed and giggled as she let them maul her and cover her in doggy kisses.
Mac leaned close enough to Lily she felt the stubble against her cheek. He whispered, “That is the magic of dogs. If you ever doubt what you are doing by helping train Bodie, that is a glimpse into the why. That joy and acceptance on Mel’s face says it all.”