Today's Reading
His grin widened with amusement. "You're not even going to ask me why?"
"Why you made the bold decision to brush your teeth regularly?"
He gave a slight shrug. "A combination of respect for the people around me and a healthy fear of prolonged exposure to the dentist chair."
"Good to know." If the heavy dose of sarcasm wasn't enough of a signal that she was finished with the conversation, she turned her back to him and refocused on the wall of toothbrushes.
"I meant why you should go with the two pack."
Cora let out a heavy, annoyed sigh. "The only question I'm asking is, 'Why am I still standing here?'"
Once again, her snark didn't faze him. "Because I've found that it's nice to have a spare. You know, in a backpack or a purse or something." He grabbed the product in question and held it up as an example. "For the times when life throws you a curveball. Which happens a lot more than you'd expect."
"And yet, even with all that knowledge, here you are. In the middle of a rainstorm. Having to buy another one."
Again with the amused, half-hitched grin. "Touché."
"Thanks for your opinion, but I think I'm good." This time she made sure to add an extra dose of annoyance to her voice so he wouldn't mistake her choice of words for actual appreciation. "Besides, the situation that landed me here will never happen again." Because if she were traveling for any reason other than to fulfill her mother's final wish, she would've bailed out of this travel day long before now.
"Never say never." He tossed her the two-pack, which she had to struggle to catch with her arms full of beachwear. Then with a wink, he turned and walked away.
Cora glared in his direction. He might have lived his whole life believing the world would bend to his notion, but Cora did not. She returned the package to the rack before grabbing the single brush in the brand her dentist—an actual toothbrush expert—had given her during her last cleaning. And yes, it was a single because she only needed the one. Besides, she did have a spare toothbrush. She kept it in her medicine cabinet like a normal person.
Luckily, Gatsby had already disappeared by the time Cora got to the checkout, which she was glad for. She didn't know if she could handle listening to his helpful tips on how to pay for her items.
Still shaking her head with disbelief, she dashed through the rain for a second time and tossed her new finds in the back seat. "Well, that was something," she said to the steering wheel, then pointed her rental car in the direction of their vacation cottage.
Savannah had rented the same beachside cottage they'd always stayed in when they were growing up. Every year, from June 1 until August 15, it was the place they called home. Back then, the blue clapboard house with the navy-and-white-striped awning was one of Cora's favorite sights, and even the thought of it could fill her with buzzing excitement. There was no place in the world she'd rather be.
Some of her favorite memories took place on the back deck that led straight out to the sand. Sparklers on the Fourth of July. Watching movies outside on a white sheet their dad had hung between two beach umbrellas. Their mom making the most mundane day feel special because they were at the beach house with her games and everything's-an-adventure attitude. Just thinking about it filled Cora with a warm nostalgic glow.
Of course, that feeling was followed by an ache deep behind her rib cage, because what used to be hadn't been around for a long time. In fact, there were some days when she wondered if it had been real to begin with.
But that thought was the opposite of improving her mood. She pushed it deep down and switched her playlist to the one she'd named "Beach Tunes." If there were ever a time for Bob Marley to preach about not worrying and being happy, now was it.
The rain slowed from a downpour to a drizzle as she wound through the charming town. The GPS called out her turns, but she didn't need the help. Despite being gone for fifteen years, she remembered the way.
Of course there were several notable changes over the last decade and a half. There was a whole new shopping complex with a big, fancy Publix. The new traffic light at the corner of Emerald Lane and the highway was a welcome and long overdue addition. The heavier traffic, not so much.
Yet, the vast majority of Sunnyside was just the way she remembered it. Main Street was still lined with palm trees. The aptly named T-Shirt Shop next to the beach still had its signature giant conch shell on top of it. Miss Mary's Ice Cream Shop was still on the corner next to the park.
She made two more quick turns, and then there it was. The blue clapboard house.
...
