Chapter 8
Chloe
All the floor-to-ceiling windows in this place really make sleeping in impossible. I look at my phone, and it reads 6:38 am.
As I stand, I stretch. The ocean view before me stops me mid back arch. Pinks and purples shimmer across the sky. The sea waves roll in lazily. I can’t believe I get to live here.
I’m filled with renewed hope and optimism as I march down the stairs.
Entering the kitchen, I see Aunt Val pouring a cup of coffee. “Good morning!”
“Well good morning to you, dear. How’d you sleep?” Aunt Val holds up the coffee pot, and I nod.
“Amazing. I completely passed out. That bed is so comfortable.” The warm beverage in my hand relaxes me.
“I’m glad to hear that.” She takes a sip and then sets her bright white coffee cup down. “So what are you going to do today?”
I exhale slowly. “Well, I need to figure out what to do with my life. Any advice?”
Leaning forward, Val stares out the sliding glass doors that showcase the pool and the ocean. “Whenever I’m ready for a new adventure, I take a journal and find a peaceful spot. Then I pray, reflect and write down what comes to mind.”
“And that works?”
“It does.”
I can’t help but think that sounds way too easy, but I shrug. “It’s worth a shot.”
Aunt Val walks toward a built in sea-blue desk. When she turns around, she holds out a notebook. As she hands it to me, I see it has pink and gold flowers embossed on it. “I’m a journal collector you could say. I have loads of them. Nothing like a fresh journal to jump-start a new adventure.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“I got that one in Portofino, Italy.”
“Thank you.” I run my fingers over the smooth cover.
“Now,” Aunt Val points at me, “if you want to know the best hidden gem in Sunshine Shores, it’s called Leon Inlet. Try to get there by eight so you can see some surfers. Take my car, I’ll be working here today.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. I can’t wait to hear what you discover.”
I follow the directions on my GPS to Leon Inlet, which appears to be a few minutes north of Sunshine Shores. It brings me down a short road to a small, paved parking lot.
I grab my book bag out of the passenger seat and walk toward a wooden path. After taking ten steps, the ocean comes into view. Two jetties extend into the sea, creating waves on both sides. The beach is surprisingly empty, except for one surfer.
Making my way to a spot near the shore, I spread out one of Val’s brightly colored beach towels. I grab my notebook and pen from my backpack. Taking a deep breath, I brush sand from my legs and off the towel. In the process, sand crumbs get all over my notebook. Oh this is not my favorite. Sand is apparently nature’s glitter, just sticking to everything.
After wiping as much as I can off my body and journal, I concede defeat. With a sigh, I stare out at the waves and soak in the breeze. It really is beautiful. The endless horizon is mesmerizing, like the infinite life possibilities before me.
This is exciting, right? Yes, focus on the positive. The unknown isn’t terrifying. This is a brand-new chapter in my life. An adventure. What do I want my story to be?
Looking down at my new journal, the white and black lined pages remind me of a prison uniform. How can I be free from my previous job but feel confined at the same time? My own expectations and fears are caging me in. Analysis paralysis. I have to find a way to keep moving forward. But how?
What did Aunt Val say to do?…Pray…and reflect. Then write down what comes to mind.
All right God, what do you got for me next? I sit quietly, observing a small boat bouncing across the waves. Gratitude washes over me like the sea dousing the shore. I’m so blessed to have a loving family—not a perfect family—but I know my parents care. Sometimes they do it in overbearing ways like giving unsolicited advice or emailing me five times a day (yes, my parents like to email instead of text), but the intention is there.
I’ve been blessed by getting an amazing job. It took a lot of hard work in college and long nights at MVP. I’ve had fun creating my manuscript. It was a good stress reliever after work. Although I’m super disappointed Linda didn’t like it, I love my characters and their journey. I don’t want to give up on it. I know it might not be literary genius, but deep down I believe in the story. I think the right audience could appreciate it.
My thoughts are interrupted by the surfer catching a wave. He twists suddenly, cutting into the top and riding it in with impressive ease.
I’m fascinated by the way surfers maneuver on the water. It’s like they’re in command of the waves. They”re confident in where they’re going and what they need to do. I could observe this surfer dance on the water for hours. He’s making it look so effortless.
The surfer glides toward shore and hops off his board. Then he tucks it under his arm and walks toward the sand.
I nod at him as he passes a few feet from me and then quickly look down at my notebook, not wanting to stare. Also, stranger danger.
“Chloe?”
I squint into the sun. The man comes closer, and I see him run his hand through his dark black hair, slicking it back. Oh goodness. It’s Leo in a wetsuit. I know I’ve seen him shirtless, but there’s something about a tight-fitting wet suit that really highlights his entire frame.
“Hey,” I say, trying to sound unphased.
“What are you doing here?”
“Ah…just searching for a life plan.” I smile over at him. “Aunt Val recommended this place.”
“She’s giving away my spot.” He smirks and takes a seat on the sand next to me.
“This is your spot?”
“Yeah, I told Val about it one day when we were volunteering at Seaside Bird Sanctuary. Only the locals know about this place. I come almost every morning.”
“Really…” Sneaky Aunt Val. Her words from earlier ring in my mind. “I can’t wait to hear what you discover.” I’m realizing she probably didn’t mean philosophically.
“So, how”s it going?” He nods toward my notebook. “You know with the life plan and all.”
I let out a long exhale and the words spring out. “Remember that thing I told you I wanted to do?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m trying to decide if I should go for it or not.”
“Do I get to know what it is yet?”
“Promise you won’t laugh?”
He puts his arms behind him, leans back and looks up at the sky. “You’re asking a lot.” Then he leans into me and dawns a serious expression. “I won’t laugh.”
I shake my head with a grin. “Okay, well…I wrote a book, and I’m trying to decide if I should pursue publishing it.” I brace myself for his reaction. He doesn’t say anything, so I peek over at him.
“Chloe, that’s amazing. Why would I laugh at that?”
“I don’t know, everyone wants to write a book.”
“Yeah, but you said you wrote a book. Like you actually did it.”
“I did, but I don’t know if it”s any good. When I showed my boss at Mountain View Press my manuscript, she said I shouldn’t waste my time trying to be an author.”
Leo doesn’t respond. Instead, he brings his elbows to rest on his bent knees and stares out at the ocean. I follow his eyes to the water. After a moment, he asks, “Do you surf?”
“Pff, no never.”
“One of the most important things you do before you go in the water is read the ocean and its currents. Experienced surfers don’t just jump in. They know you have to take your time and watch the ocean. You want to find where the rip current is.” He points at the water, and I try to spot what he’s referring to.
“Once you find that, you can figure out the direction the longshore currents go. Then, when you get in the water, you should identify a non-moving item on the beach to focus on. That will prevent you from being pushed by longshore currents without noticing.”
I like listening to Leo. His voice has a cadence to it that is rhythmic and mesmerizing. Still, the conversation took a hard left from the topic of my book. Maybe he didn’t know what to say. Maybe he agrees with Linda that it’s pointless for me to try to be an author.
Leo looks over at me. When our eyes meet he says, “That’s all you need to do. Figure out what you want to focus on, and don’t let anything push you away from it.”
I exhale slowly and rip my gaze from his. It’s a challenge because I could float for hours in those deep, dark irises. I force myself to focus on the waves that he was referring to and not the fact that my pulse is racing. Although I have no idea what all the surf speak meant…his last statement rings loud and clear and true.
What do I want to focus on? My thoughts start spinning like the Tasmanian devil, but I’m pulled out of them by Leo’s voice.
“If you wrote a book that you’re proud of, who cares what some lady said.”
I can’t help but chuckle at him referencing Linda, the Senior Editor at MVP, as “some lady.”
“Thanks. I like that advice.”
“Surfing teaches you a lot.”
“I might need to take up surfing,” I say under my breath.
“I could give you lessons.”
“Oh no.” I shake my head. “I was just kidding. The ocean scares me.”
“All the more reason to do it.”
My eyes go wide. “What? No way.”
“You should respect the ocean, but you don’t need to be afraid of it. Especially because…” Leo pauses briefly. “I would never let anything bad happen to you.”
I look at Leo, and he meets my gaze. Despite knowing this man approximately twenty-four hours, I believe him. I truly believe Leo is a protector. And although I’ve never seen myself as a damsel in distress, the thought of knowing Leo has my back gives me immense comfort.
“Do you think I’d learn more life lessons?”
“I’ve learned more being out here than in any classroom. It’s exhilarating. Nothing beats the thrill of riding a wave.”
Linda said I need more life experience to be an author. That’s what I came to Sunshine Shores for, right? To take a chance, to get a new perspective? I blow out a breath. “Okay. I’ll do it.” Immediately, I feel a tug-of-war in my spirit. Part of me wants to slink back to the parking lot, and the other part of me is happily running toward the sea.
“What do you say we start tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow,” I repeat, trying to ignore the lump rising in my throat.
“But, first. We’ll need to get you some gear. Wanna stop by the surf shop with me?”
“Now?”
Leo stands. “If you have time.”
I look down at my empty notebook and hesitate momentarily. My goal was to figure out a life plan, but now I feel like I have more questions than answers.
Leo reaches for me with his hand, and I immediately take it. I guess I’ll have to figure out my life later. Maybe my new life plan is not having a plan. No. That is not me at all. But, neither is surfing.
Chloe 2.0 people. Here we go.