3. NAOMI
Naomi’s heart raced with anticipation as she explored the town of Little Rock. The air smelled of sweet cotton candy, and the sound of laughter filled the streets. She strolled past whimsical stores that sold everything from frilly dresses to adult coloring books. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of the large rubber-duck-shaped fountain in the town square, water shooting out of its beak.
It felt surreal, like being in a DDlg theme park. Everyone here seemed so carefree, and Naomi wondered if she could ever be like that.
“Excuse me,” a woman carrying a stuffed bunny said, accidentally bumping into Naomi. “I’m so sorry!”
“No problem,” Naomi replied with a small smile. “It was my fault—I was so busy looking around I wasn’t looking where I was going!”
The woman’s eyes widened. “Ooh, are you new in town?”
Naomi nodded. “I just arrived this morning. I’m going to be working here for a couple of weeks.”
“Exciting! What kind of work?”
“It’s down at the beach,” said Naomi. “I work in marine conservation.”
“That sounds very grown-up,” said the woman, who was older than Naomi, maybe in her early forties. She was wearing mint green overalls and had curly brown hair with a few gray streaks in it. “I hope you get plenty of time to kick back and relax too!” She winked. “I assume you’re a Little, by the way?”
Naomi paused. She’d never admitted anything as scary as that before. Her father would have disowned her. But he wasn’t here now. And she was. Naomi wasn’t certain if she was a Little, but she decided to experiment with it. See how it felt. “Mmm-hmm,” she said shyly. “Although I haven’t had much experience.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that!” said the woman. “I’m Birdie, by the way. I run Sweet Harmony Coffee ’n’ Pies. In fact, I was just on my break and I’m heading back up there now if you feel like checking it out? We do the best apple pie in the world. And my Daddy makes a mean cup of coffee, too.”
Naomi swallowed. It felt so strange to hear someone talk openly about having a “Daddy.” It must have been so freeing to live in a place like this, to be fully yourself, day and night, without any shame or fear.
“All right,” said Naomi, “I’ll join you. It’s good to get to know the town, even though I’ll only be here for two weeks.”
“Two weeks is plenty of time for mischief and mayhem!” laughed Birdie. “Come on, follow me!”
Birdie led Naomi up the main street, past a bunch of colorful storefronts and window boxes stuffed full of spring flowers—crocuses, daffodils, tulips. It was such a lovely place. She just hoped she fit in okay.
Birdie pushed open the door to Sweet Harmony Coffee ’n’ Pies, the scent of freshly baked pastries and rich coffee enveloping their senses.
Naomi hesitated for a moment, observing the cozy atmosphere. The walls were adorned with cute drawings and the place was filled with the sound of lively conversations.
“Welcome to Sweet Harmony!” called out a man from behind the coffee machine. He looked about fifty, and very handsome, in a distinguished sort of way.
Birdie walked up to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “This is Daddy Blake,” she told Naomi. She perched on a stool next to him. “Come on in! Make yourself at home.”
“Thank you,” Naomi replied softly, taking a seat at an empty table near a window. She could people-watch from here. There was a group of Littles dressed in onesies with pacifiers and stuffies walking up the street, and she observed them with wide eyes.
“Could this be my life?” she wondered, her heart aching with longing. But the thought of what her father, Pastor James, would think sent shivers down her spine. He would never understand or accept this part of her.
“Hey there, can I get you something to drink?” Birdie asked, pulling her from her thoughts. She was standing beside Naomi with a notepad and pen.
“Uh, I guess I heard good things about the apple pie,” she said with a smile. “But no coffee for me. It’s too late in the day and I’ll never sleep.”
Plus, my father doesn’t let me drink it.
“You’re very sensible,” said Birdie. “Tell you what, how about I make you a nice warm milk in a sippy cup? That always helps me relax in the afternoon. And it’s such a dreamy combination with the apple pie.”
Naomi bit her lip. Warm milk? In a sippy cup? It felt like too much, too soon. She just wasn’t sure she was capable of it. The shame, the guilt . . . “I’ll just take a peppermint tea,” she told Birdie.
Birdie nodded kindly. “Another great choice. I’ll go grab it for you.”
Just as Birdie was turning to leave, a thought occurred to Naomi. “Hey, before you go, do you know anything about a guy named Brody? I saw him on the private beach earlier.”
“Brody Walker?” the woman replied, her smile fading. “Yeah, he’s a bit of a mystery around here . . . Nobody really knows anything about him. Some people say he’s done something terrible in his past, but no one really knows for sure. He’s kind of a recluse.”
“Thanks for the advice,” Naomi said uneasily.
Birdie nodded and walked away to fetch Naomi’s order.
Naomi chewed her lip, her stomach churning. Was Brody a dangerous man? Had she tied up a dangerous man’s dog this morning? Was she going to be stuck on a private beach with him for the next two weeks?
“I need to keep away from him,” she silently vowed. “But how?”
Just then, a thought struck her. It was a good thought. A solid thought. A thought based on fairness and principle. A thought that was definitely the right thing to do.
***
The pie had been fantastic. The peppermint tea had been . . . perfectly normal peppermint tea. While drinking it, Naomi had looked around the coffee shop with jealous glances, taking in the other Littles with juice or milk in sippy cups. She wondered if there was any way she’d be brave enough to try a sippy cup before her two weeks was up, but she doubted it.
It would be almost impossible to go back to live with her father after doing something like that. He’d see it in her eyes. Or somehow, God would tell him what she’d done.
Now, Naomi was heading straight for the town hall.
“Having a dog on the beach, drinking beer, and leaving glass behind,” she muttered to herself as she marched toward the town hall. “The mayor will know how to deal with a rulebreaker.”
The town hall stood tall and proud in the center of Little Rock, its whitewashed walls gleaming under the warm sun. Naomi took a deep breath before pushing open the heavy wooden doors, her determination unwavering.
“Good afternoon. I need to speak to Mayor Cooper about a serious issue,” she said, approaching the receptionist.
“No problem. The mayor’s office is just down the hall on the right,” the friendly receptionist replied, directing her down the corridor.
Naomi knocked firmly on the door marked “Mayor” and waited for permission to enter. When a deep voice called out, “Come in,” she pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Inside, the mayor sat in a wood-paneled room, with an array of bookshelves and maps on the walls. She had spoken to the mayor on the phone before coming here, but this was the first time she’d seen him in person. He had piercing blue eyes and blond hair, maybe in his forties. He wore a smart gray suit and looked like a respectable man. Someone who would no doubt agree with her about Brody’s flagrant disregard for the rules.
“Mayor Cooper,” she began, trying to keep her voice steady. “I’m Naomi James.”
Mayor Cooper stood up, reaching out to shake her hand. He had a surprisingly firm grip. “Naomi!” he said warmly. “It’s great to meet you in person. Are you settling in okay at the lighthouse? Did you find the beach all right?”
Naomi nodded. “I haven’t taken my stuff to the lighthouse yet,” she replied, pointing to the heavy bags she’d been carrying around with her. “But I plan to take it there soon. I found the beach, though. It’s beautiful. There’s just one problem.”
Mayor Cooper’s eyes crinkled with concern. “There is?”
“I have a complaint regarding Brody Walker,” she said. “He’s some kind of vagrant, I think. A recluse who has been breaking the rules—letting his dog out on the beach, surfing, drinking beer in a glass container. There’s literally a sign on the beach saying those things are forbidden.”
Mayor Cooper’s eyes widened. “Brody?” he said, clearly surprised by Naomi’s words. “Miss James, are you aware that Brody Walker is the lighthouse keeper?”
Her heart stopped in her chest. “The lighthouse I’ll be staying in?”
“Indeed,” Mayor Cooper confirmed, leaning back in his chair. “He’s been living there for quite some time, and to my knowledge, he hasn’t caused any problems. In fact, he’s been quite helpful with maintaining the lighthouse and keeping an eye on the beach.”
“Helpful?” Naomi’s mind raced, trying to reconcile the information she’d heard at Sweet Harmony Coffee ’n’ Pies with the man she was now learning was her new roommate. “I . . . I didn’t know that, sir.”
Mayor Cooper scratched his head. “Didn’t I mention someone else lived there?” he asked, frowning slightly. “I’m sure I did.”
Naomi bit her lip as she pulled up the email on her phone, scrolling through it quickly.
Oh, shoot.
He had mentioned it. She’d just skipped over the practical stuff when she’d received the email and hurried ahead to read about the exciting marine work. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, feeling foolish for not paying closer attention.
“Will living with Brody be a problem, young lady?” Mayor Cooper inquired.
A knot tightened in Naomi’s stomach. There was something about the way he called her that, “young lady”, that made her feel like a kid again. She didn’t like to upset men in positions of authority, and the thought of causing any trouble made her anxious. She shook her head submissively.
“No, sir,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Very well,” the mayor said, leaning back in his chair. “I trust you’ll be able to handle the situation maturely. Just remember, Miss James, we’re all here to support one another in this community.”
“Of course, sir,” Naomi replied, swallowing hard. She couldn’t help but wonder how she would manage living with Brody, considering the rumors she’d heard and the tension between them already. But she was determined to make the most of her time in Little Rock, even if it meant facing challenges she never anticipated.
“And thank you for bringing your concerns to my attention,” Mayor Cooper said, offering a small, reassuring smile. “If you have any further issues, don’t hesitate to reach out.”
“Thank you, sir,” Naomi murmured, giving him a polite nod before leaving his office.
As she stepped out into the sunlight, Naomi took a deep breath, attempting to calm her racing thoughts. She knew she needed to face Brody and address the situation head-on, but her nerves threatened to overwhelm her. Drawing on her newfound resolve, she headed back to the lighthouse, steeling herself for the confrontation that awaited her.