Chapter 4
Chapter Four
T he sun was just beginning to dip behind the hills as Nate turned off the main road and onto the gravel lane that led up to his parents’ house.
Perched on the hillside just outside of Pride, the Elliott family home sat like a sentinel, overlooking the small town and the winding coastline beyond it.
The two-story farmhouse had white clapboard siding and a wide wraparound porch that creaked in a comforting way underfoot.
The front yard still had the same twisted willow tree he’d climbed as a kid, and his mom’s flower beds were in full bloom, the scent of lavender and jasmine greeting him before he even reached the steps.
He walked in through the side door—like he always did—and was met by the warm aroma of roasted chicken and his favorite rosemary potatoes.
“There’s my boy,” his mom said, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. She had the same easy smile she’d always had, hair now more silver than blonde, and a knack for always knowing when he was about to walk in.
“Smells amazing,” he said, leaning in to kiss her cheek as she hugged him.
His dad was already seated at the table with a glass of iced tea and a newspaper, wearing a well-worn flannel, even though the evening was warm.
“You’re late,” his dad grumbled—but the twinkle in his eye told Nate he wasn’t really mad.
“Had to check on the horses for Juliette,” Nate said, grabbing a plate from the cabinet out of habit.
His mom gave him a quick glance over her shoulder. “Oh, good. Did Faye get settled in alright?”
“She did. I think it took her a few days to shake the city off, but she’s getting there.” He paused. “She’s starting work Monday.”
“Max and Juliette were so glad that she agreed to come stay while they were gone,” his mom said, loading up his plate.
“I just got their latest text this morning. They’re in Vienna now—apparently the filming’s going beautifully.
Max said the director loves the script, and Juliette got to visit the opera house. Can you believe it?”
Nate sat at the table and waited to dig in until his mother sat and took a bite.
“Sounds pretty amazing,” he said. His parents filled him in more about his sister’s adventures, and Nate listened, nodded when appropriate, and smiled when his mom showed off pictures from her phone.
But somewhere in the back of his mind, a quiet question had started forming. One that had grown louder every day since Faye had arrived.
Was this really it?
Running the Brew-Ha-Ha day after day. Fixing espresso machines, ordering beans, managing workers, smiling at tourists who asked the same questions about the town he’d grown up in.
He loved the community, the comfort, the routine— but lately, it all felt…
lacking. Like he was waiting for something new and exciting.
He had meant for his return to town to be temporary.
Hadn’t he? It was why he’d rented the cabin along the beach from Brook when it had become available.
He could have purchased a couple homes he’d seen come up for sale in the past year or so, but he’d held off, knowing that someday he’d return to the city.
He stared down at his plate, his fork paused halfway to his mouth.
His dad looked over the rim of his reading glasses. “You alright?”
Nate blinked. “Yeah. Just thinking.”
“Dangerous pastime,” his dad muttered.
Nate gave a dry smile, but it faded quickly.
He thought of the way Faye had looked on the beach that morning during their run. She’d been laughing, flushed from their run, her braid a little lopsided and her smile unfiltered. He thought of how easy it was to talk to her. To be with her.
And he thought of the smooth, endless rhythm of his days, and how, lately, it just didn’t feel like enough.
For the last few days, work had kept him too busy to do much more than feed the horses and trade a few words with Faye in passing.
He’d bumped into her again just that morning on his run, just before sunrise, as she was out jogging along the surf. When she had seen him, she’d waved and slowed her pace.
They run together for nearly twenty minutes, matching strides and sharing soft smiles without needing to say much.
It had been the highlight of his day so far.
But, once again, he’d had to rush home to shower and open the Brew-Ha-Ha, leaving her behind with a wave and a regret he couldn’t shake.
Still, she was starting work on Monday.
And he would be training her.
That meant more time with her.
And suddenly, time with Faye was something he wanted more than anything else.
“How is Faye doing? Healthwise?” his mother asked.
He shrugged. “She can hear me, at least.”
His mother tilted her head. “That’s thanks to the cochlear implant. Is she having any issues with it?”
He frowned and set his fork down. “Not that she mentioned. Why? Should she?”
His mother shook her head. “No, but some people can have a hard time adjusting. You know, after having gone so long without hearing.”
He frowned down into his almost empty plate. “She almost passed out on the beach the first day she was here. She claimed she had skipped lunch, so I took her to the Golden Oar for a burger.”
His parents were quiet and he glanced up.
“What? It was just dinner.”
His father made a strange sound in his chest and Nate sighed. “It was just dinner.” He repeated each word slowly.
“Well, that was nice of you,” his mom added, touching his father’s hand. “Wasn’t it?”
“Sure,” his father said as he took another sip of his tea, then he winked at him, causing Nate to roll his eyes.
“It was.”
“Well, I think it’s great that you were able to hire her,” his mother said. “I know Max was worried about her moving here permanently. Not that they don’t have the space for her in that big house.”
“You aren’t pressuring them to have kids yet?” he joked.
“No,” his dad answered. “We got pressure from your grandparents after we got married, so we know how it feels. To each their own. If they want kids, they’ll have them on their timeline.”
Nate thought about his sister being a mom and it gave him a warm fuzzy feeling. “Juliette would be a great mom,” he said into his drink.
“Yes.” His mother sighed longingly. “You’d make a great dad someday too.” His eyebrows shot up, and his mother winked.
“So you won’t pressure Juliette, but me, not a problem?”
“You’d have to settle on just one woman and get married first,” his father joked.
“Faye’s nice,” his mother said after a heartbeat.
Nate let out a laugh and leaned back in his chair, lifting his glass in mock surrender. “Okay, okay. We’ve officially crossed into dangerous territory. I came for chicken, not a full-blown ambush.”
His mom chuckled as she began clearing the table. “It’s not an ambush, sweetheart. We’re just curious. You don’t usually talk about anyone. Let alone tell us that you’ve taken her out to dinner.”
“She was hungry,” he said, standing to help gather the plates.
“She’s pretty,” his dad offered as he brought the iced tea pitcher back to the fridge. “Sharp, too. I remember talking to her at the wedding. Even with the hearing trouble, she didn’t miss a beat.”
“She’s had a hell of a year,” Nate said more softly than he meant to. “I just want to make sure she’s okay while she’s here.”
His mom met his eyes as she wiped down the counter. “You’ve always had a kind heart to those who need it. Just don’t forget to take care of yourself once in a while.”
He didn’t have a response to that, so he just smiled faintly, kissed her cheek, and headed toward the back door.
“Thanks for dinner,” he said. “Tell Max and Juliette I said hi when they check in again. And tell them their horses are good.”
“Drive safe,” his mom called as he stepped out into the warm night air.
His truck rumbled softly as he pulled away from the house and drove the winding back road toward the beach.
The sky had turned a deep indigo, and stars were just beginning to pierce through the dusk.
The lights from town glowed faintly in the distance, and Pride looked cozy and small, nestled along the coastline like a secret.
Nate parked at the edge of the dunes instead of his normal spot and walked across the sand toward his cabin. The one-room place sat a few dozen yards off the shore, tucked in behind a cluster of sea grass and scrub pine. The cabin was home. At least for now.
He unlocked the door and stepped inside.
He was greeted by the soft creak of the wooden floorboards and the scent of sea salt and pine.
The space was small but warm—one bedroom, a kitchen, and a living room space with a sofa, a large TV, and an overstuffed chair by the window where he could read or stare out at the ocean.
He tossed his keys onto the counter, then stood in the middle of the room, arms crossed, not really sure what to do with himself.
He didn’t feel tired.
Didn’t feel relaxed either.
The silence, once something he craved after busy shifts, now felt heavier. Emptier.
He moved to the window and looked out at the dark horizon. Somewhere up the coast, just out of view, stood Max and Juliettes’s house—warm, filled with light, horses in the barn, and Faye probably curled up with a book or brushing her hair before bed.
He smiled to himself, picturing her on the beach that morning. Determined. Sharp. That slight curve to her mouth when she caught him trying to keep pace.
It had only been a few days, but something had shifted in him.
He missed her. Missed talking to her. Hearing her dry humor. Watching her face when she didn’t realize anyone was paying attention.
He let out a long breath and ran a hand through his hair.
He’d never thought about a woman like this before. Had never missed just talking to them.
Monday couldn’t come soon enough. She’d be behind the counter at the Brew-Ha-Ha for her first shift. He’d train her. Probably tease her a little. Definitely watch to make sure she didn’t lift anything too heavy.
And maybe, just maybe, he’d find a reason to make her laugh again.
The next day, when he jogged past the lighthouse, Nate felt a flicker of disappointment. Faye wasn’t out on the beach like she had been the last few mornings.
Later, when he stopped by to exercise the horses, her car was gone.
For a split second, his stomach dipped. Had she packed up and gone back to Portland? Maybe small-town life wasn’t for her. Maybe the quiet and the slow pace had been too much.
He spent longer than usual brushing down Blaze and Stormy, giving them extra attention he didn’t have time for. By the time he checked the clock, he’d already gone thirty minutes over his break.
Grumbling at himself, he headed back to the Brew-Ha-Ha, expecting a whirlwind rush of summer tourists.
What he didn’t expect was to walk in and find Faye sitting alone in a booth by the front windows, sunlight glinting off her hair as she sipped a cold drink and read a book.