Chapter 3
SEA BLUE BEACH
Welcome to Sea Blue Beach. Founded by Prince Rein Titus Alexander Blue in 1882.
He landed on our dark shores with the pieces of his wrecked yacht as a storm raged in the Gulf. Malachi Nickle, a young, freed slave, found him alone, half drowned, and gave him shelter. Together, they built Sea Blue Beach. The prince built the Starlight so Sea Blue Beach would never be dark or lonely again.
We’ve quite a history, you see. Besides a prince and freed slaves, we’ve hosted rumrunners and gangsters, hobos and drifters, families looking for a warm meal, families on holiday, and kids on spring break, all the while nesting our hometown folks in sunbaked cottages on sunbaked streets.
Look, there’s Harlow Hayes. We’d have put up a sign for her, but we didn’t know the supermodel was coming. It’s been a while since she graced our shores. Three years, perhaps, since she sailed down with Xander Cole on his fancy yacht.
So we whisper to Dale Cranston, owner of the Midnight Theater, to show Talk to Me Sweetly, Harlow’s movie with our very own hometown boy, Matt Knight. Yes, sir, an A-list actor grew up here.
After a run of horror flicks and B-cop movies, Dale needs to change the marquee anyway. Folks on a beach holiday want a comedy or love stories.
Harlow parks in front of 321 Sea Blue Way. We’ve kept our eye on that place for years. It’s special. The first and only home of our prince. When he left for the Great War, he sold it to Malachi and his wife, Ida, for a song. They passed it down to their son, Morris, and his wife, Harriet.
When the Beauty and the Billionaire bought the place and sent in men with hammers and saws, we hoped they wouldn’t turn all of our memories to sawdust.
While things are peaceful in town, something is afoot. A contingent of men in fancy suits are gathering at the town hall with the mayor.
In the last year, we’ve heard whispers. Change is coming. But know this, every little town has a secret. Sea Blue Beach is no different.