Page 95 of Beautiful Place By the Sea

“Oh yeah?”

I’d taken one look at him and then shook my head. “Never mind. I want you all to myself.”

The kiss he’d given me then was one of the best of my life.

We’re sitting on a bench now, watching tourists scuff sand along the sidewalks in the setting sun. The air is humming with the heat of the day, but there’s an underlying chill starting to creep in. I’m grateful to have both my cardigan and the warmth of Oliver’s arm around my shoulders. Between the ice cream and the company, my soul is glowing so bright I’m surprised passers-by don’t stop and gawk.

“So, I talked to my mom on my lunch break today,” Oliver announces after a long, comfortable silence.

“How’d it go?” I lean my head against his shoulder.

His fingers tighten against my right biceps. “Tense, at first. I’m still really angry.” He takes a deep breath. “But we talked about my writing, and the bookstore, and Maisie. And you.”

I snap my gaze to his. “Me?”

Then he smiles and says, “Yes, you.” And I think the heat his words send through my body will be enough to keep me warm for the rest of my life.

“We didn’t talk much about her. Actually, I realized she was steering the conversation very deliberately away from herself. It was like she was starved for details of my life.”

I remember how my mother had done the same thing, desperate to restore our connection. “I actually know exactly what you mean.”

Oliver presses a gentle kiss to my cheek in answer. “So I think I’d like to keep trying. And I told her we’d come to her wedding.” His eyes sweep my face. “Assuming you still want to, that is.”

Any socially acceptable reason to see this man in a suit would be more than fine with me. “When is it?”

“October 19th.” He must catch the hesitation in my eyes, because he continues hurriedly, “I know that’s well after Maisie comes back from her surgery. I thought, even if you’ve already gone back to Boston, I could come out and meet you for the weekend? The wedding’s on Cape Cod, so it wouldn’t be too far for you. Maybe we could take turns visiting each other a few times a month, or something, even if you decide…” He pauses. “You know.”

In this moment, I’m more certain than ever that I can’t leave. How can I go back to Brookline without exploring the possibilities that are unfolding in front of me here, with Oliver?

“Count me in,” I say, bending to kiss his shoulder. “On one condition, though.”

He raises a speculative brow.

“Bring a book in your suit jacket pocket. Just in case the reception’s boring.”

Oliver laughs, pulling me closer to him. “I knew you were the perfect woman.”

Something flares inside my chest, sending words shooting up my throat. Words I can’t share; words I ruthlessly shove back down into the depths of my soul.

I knew you were perfect, too.

twenty-seven

When I check my phone after my beach run on Monday morning, I have a voicemail from an unknown number. I hit play while I stretch in a puddle of sweat on my bedroom floor.

“Hello, this message is for Ivy Parker. My name is Brianna Marsh. I’m calling from the Freehold Community Library, over in Springfield, about the position you applied for. We were impressed by your résumé, and we’d love to set up a time to do a virtual interview. Give me a call back at your earliest convenience and let me know when might work for you. Have a great day!”

It’s a good thing my phone is sitting on the ground, or I’m certain I would have dropped it. I hadn’t expected to hear back from any of the jobs I applied to, but especially not the Springfield position. It’s an inner-city library with a huge tax base and lots of children’s programming. There will never be a dull moment for whoever gets that job, and I imagine it’s going to be a competitive candidate pool. The salary’s nothing to sneeze at, either. As librarian compensation goes, that is.

The idea of a challenge—of endless book orders, staffing tasks, program planning—is beyond appealing. Working at a library like Freehold would definitely be the next logical step for my career. There’d be plenty to do, and so many kids who could benefit from my work. It’s exactly what I’ve been dreaming of, as I wither away in the shadows at Farnsworth.

Maisie’s smile flashes through my mind. So does Oliver’s, and that one hurts a little more. Something like Freehold is what I’d wanted before, no question. But now I’m not so sure.

That said, I’m not certain Shoreline can pay enough to make a permanent move to Ogunquit feasible for me. In all the heady rush of figuring out what I want, it hadn’t occurred to me to ask Maisie about benefits or how much she could offer if I went full-time.

I shake my head rapidly, trying to clear the sudden fog from my mind. There’s no need to rush into any decisions. But I do need to take this interview.

I call Brianna back, and it takes a few minutes to get transferred to her line. “So sorry,” she says breathlessly when we’re finally connected. “I’m running a teen book club today, and we are beyond swamped.”