Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
T he next morning, Evie awoke to the soft light filtering through the blinds of her room in Nana’s cottage. She stretched and yawned, her mind still heavy with sleep. She sat up slowly and smiled, taking in the comforting surroundings that held so many memories.
Downstairs, she padded barefoot into the kitchen and reached for the coffee canister on the counter, only to find it empty. Disappointment floated through her. She’d need to head into town for groceries and, most importantly, coffee.
She picked up her phone and quickly searched for the nearest grocery shop. A smile tugged at her lips when she discovered that every Saturday, there was an outdoor market in the heart of town. And, lucky her, today was Saturday.
Energized by the prospect of fresh produce and local delicacies, she quickly got dressed and grabbed a few cloth bags. As she stepped outside, the warm sea air caressed her, carrying with it a hint of salt and the distant cries of seagulls.
She paused for a moment, breathing in the scent of the blooming flowers in Nana’s garden. Nana always made sure something was in bloom all year round. The colorful blossoms swayed in the breeze, proof of her grandmother’s love and care.
She set off down the sidewalk toward town. The sun warmed her skin as she walked. Most of the cottages had Christmas decorations adorning their porches. But she wasn’t here to celebrate the holidays. She was here to sort through Nana’s things and figure out what to do with the cottage. The decorations were just a reminder that she was all alone this Christmas. Christmas was the one holiday that she’d always celebrated with Nana, even if the last ones had been in Baltimore at her place. Nana made sure to come every year so Evie wouldn’t be alone.
Trying to ignore the cheerful decorations, she approached the market. Stalls lined the streets, each one offering a bounty of fresh fruits, vegetables, baked goods, and handmade crafts. It all was enticing, but first things first. She went to the coffee booth and bought a large coffee.
Sipping her coffee, she browsed the offerings, marveling at the vibrant colors and fragrant aromas. The choices were a bit overwhelming. As she moved from stall to stall, she found herself drawn to a display of handmade pottery. The pieces were beautiful, each one unique and crafted with care. She ran her fingers over a mug glazed in a soft shade of blue, admiring the artisan’s work.
“That’s one of my favorites,” a voice said from behind the table. Evie looked up to see a woman with kind eyes and silver hair smiling at her. “I made it with the colors of the sea in mind.”
She smiled back, instantly warmed by the woman’s friendly smile. “It’s beautiful,” she said, picking up the mug and cradling it in her hands. “I’ll take it.”
As the woman wrapped the mug in tissue paper, Evie felt a sense of connection to the island again. It was as if a piece of her grandmother’s spirit lived on with her as she walked the streets of Belle Island.
As she navigated the vibrant stalls overflowing with fresh produce and homemade goods, the tantalizing scents of freshly baked bread and ripe fruit made her mouth water. She paused at a stall displaying an array of local honey, the golden jars gleaming in the sunlight. She hadn’t had honey in forever, but Nana had always kept some. She would make homemade croissants and drizzle honey over them and used honey to sweeten her hot tea and her oatmeal.
Reaching for a particularly appealing jar tied with a gingham ribbon, her hand froze mid-air as another hand reached for it at the same moment. She looked up to see a man with sun-weathered skin and kind eyes. He smiled warmly at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners in a friendly manner.
“Sorry about that,” he said in a deep, pleasant voice. “Please, you take it.”
She returned his smile, grateful for his graciousness. “Thank you. That’s very kind of you,” she said, picking up the jar and cradling it in her hands. “I’m Eve, by the way. I’m just visiting the island.”
The man’s smile widened, and a hint of pride filled his chestnut-brown eyes. “Welcome to Belle Island, Evie. I’m Randy, and I’ve lived here my whole life. It’s a special place.”
She felt an instant connection to him, his friendly smile putting her at ease. “It really is,” she agreed, glancing around at the market.
“Seeing that you’re new here, would you like me to show you around the market? I’ll show you the best stalls for everything,” he offered.
“Oh, I’d love that, thank you. I admit I’m a bit overwhelmed with it all. I barely know where to start.”
“Except for the honey.” He grinned at her.
“Except for that.”
As they strolled through the market, Randy’s enthusiasm for the island was infectious. He guided her to various stalls, pointing out the best produce and unique items each vendor had to offer.
“Over here, you’ll find the freshest seafood caught by our local fishermen,” he said, gesturing to a stall displaying an array of fish and shellfish on beds of ice. “And if you’re looking for the perfect loaf of sourdough, you can’t go wrong with Julie’s bread. She owns The Sweet Shoppe in town.”
She followed his lead, marveling at the quality and variety of the goods. She sampled a slice of tangy sourdough and savored the burst of flavor from a perfectly ripe strawberry.
As they walked, they chatted about the island’s history and the close-knit community that called it home. Randy shared stories of growing up on Belle Island, painting a picture of a place where everyone looked out for one another. “The kind of place where you can always count on your neighbors,” he said with a smile. “If you ever need anything, just ask. Someone will be happy to help.”
She nodded, thinking of how her grandmother had always spoken fondly of the island’s friendly residents and how helpful they were to each other.
They paused at a stall selling handmade jewelry, and she admired the delicate seashell earrings and sea glass pendants. Randy picked up a pair of earrings and held them up to her ears.
“These would look lovely on you,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “The blue matches your eyes perfectly.”
She blushed, surprised by the compliment. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had noticed the color of her eyes.
Before she knew it, they’d reached the end of the market. Randy turned to her with a warm smile. “Well, that’s the grand tour,” he said. “I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.”
Evie grinned, feeling a genuine connection to both the island and its friendly inhabitants. “It was wonderful. Thank you for showing me around.”
“It was my pleasure,” he replied. “If you ever need anything, just ask. Everyone is always willing to help here on the island.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you again.”
With a final wave, Randy disappeared into the crowd. She stood for a moment, basking in the warmth of the sun as memories of times here with her Nana flitted through her mind. Why had she not made it a point to come back here every year? Instead, she’d always insisted she was so busy that Nana had to make the trip to come see her.
As she walked back toward Nana’s cottage, she realized she wasn’t here just to organize her grandmother’s possessions but also to rekindle her connection to the island. The one she’d had when she was younger and her parents would send her to the island each summer. After her parents died when she was in college, Nana made sure that Evie spent every Christmas with her, never leaving her alone.
Until this year.