Page 106 of Beautiful Place By the Sea

Maisie laughs. “I appreciate the compliment, dear. But I think I’m ready to revisit that scaling back I mentioned.” She takes a deep breath. “Would you have any interest in coming on full-time and running the shop? It would be a significant pay increase from the amount I mentioned the other day. Double, in fact.”

My world screeches to a halt. When she started talking, I expected Maisie to offer me a full-time role continuing with what I’ve been doing this summer. I absolutely didn’t anticipate anything beyond that. Certainly not an offer to be in charge of Shoreline.

“I…I don’t know what to say,” I stammer. “I’m flattered. Beyond flattered.”

She inclines her head. “But?”

“No but. At least, not yet.” I rifle through thoughts as quickly as I can. Double a clerk’s salary would certainly change the equation. Would it make a move here feasible? And what about Oliver?

Oliver. Wouldn’t he be the logical choice for this role? For about a million reasons? He’s practically family to Maisie. He’s been working here for years; he knows Shoreline inside and out. Plus, he needs it more than I do, if that’s a consideration in any way. And he has no reason to be leaving town in a few weeks. If ever.

I debate how candid I can be with Maisie. We’ve grown quite close as the summer’s flown by, but she’s still my boss, and I certainly have no right to her innermost thoughts, or the numerous reasons she might have for making this offer.

But how could I accept a job that would rip the rug out from under the only option Oliver has for vocational growth? Even if I leave, even if we don’t amount to anything, I couldn’t do that to him. He means too much to me.

“Wouldn’t Oliver be the better choice?” I ask quietly.

Maisie blinks twice, looking like she wants to say something specific, but she just shakes her head. “I’m asking you,” she replies gently.

I think about Oliver helping me out of his truck; steering the Orca around the Nubble Lighthouse. Licking my ice cream; shirtless beside me in the morning. I want nothing more than a reason to stay here with him. But I can’t do it if that reason strips him of the best opportunity he’ll probably ever get in this town. Because he can’t leave Ogunquit, and me taking this job away would leave him even more trapped than he already feels.

“I really, really appreciate the offer,” I say, feeling the ground retreat beneath me with every word. “But I have to decline. I’m so sorry.”

“Is there anything I can do to change your mind?” Her earnest expression just about kills me. I want this so badly.

“Can I have some time to think it over?” Maybe I can come up with a solution that will work for both me and Oliver if I mull for a while.

Maisie nods as if she understands. “Of course you can. I don’t need to know until I get back from surgery.”

“I really appreciate it,” I reply.

“I love having you here, Ivy. But I see great things ahead for you, no matter what you choose.” Her smile is full of pride.

I swallow back my feelings. “Thank you, truly, so much.”

Then I head to the bathroom and splash cold water on my face for a solid 15 minutes, until my skin is just as numb as my heart.

thirty-one

Maisie’s surgery goes well, and Oliver and I stop by to visit her at the hospital once she’s in recovery. She looks overjoyed to see us.

“Oh, my two favorites!” she practically shouts when we walk in.

Oliver holds out a vase of pink hydrangeas, which he’d told me while we shopped together are Maisie’s favorite. “For you.”

“They’re beautiful, Oliver. Thank you.”

He puts his free arm around my shoulder. “They’re from both of us.”

Maisie shoots him an amused smile. “Thank you, also, Ivy.”

My eyes slide quickly to Oliver’s, questioning. He blinks back at me, as if saying, “What? She already knew.” The expression is as clear as if he’d spoken aloud.

I hadn’t realized she knew we were together. Or whatever you’d call being in love and most likely about to be torn completely asunder. I guess it doesn’t matter anymore. I just smile to acknowledge her gratitude.

“How was your surgery?” I ask.

“I can’t say for sure,” she jokes. “I was asleep.”