Chapter 3
The next morning, I wake up to the sound of gulls crying and the soft thrum of the ocean outside my window. Neptune is lying on the loveseat, his head resting on his front paws, eyes open and alert.
“Good morning, Neps,” I say, stretching. “We’re gonna go look for a bed for you today, but first, we gotta get you out to pee. And I need some coffee.”
He perks up at the sound of pee, his tail thumping lightly against the cushions.
I shuffle into the bathroom, splash water on my face, brush my teeth, and throw on the same hoodie I wore last night. My hair is a messy bun on top of my head—practically a lighthouse warning to the world that I’m not awake yet.
I clip Neptune’s leash on, and we head out.
Downstairs, the morning air is cool and smells of sea spray and pine. The vegetation around the hotel is lush, with ivy climbing up the railings.
We pass a small pond where a pair of geese and their babies waddle around like they own the place. Neptune watches them intently but doesn’t bark, just sniffs the air and moves on, marking a couple of spots along the way as his own personal territory.
We make it to the office, and I step inside, the bell above the door jingling. A small setup of coffee is tucked into the corner, and I head straight for it like a moth to a flame, or some other expression that doesn’t make me sound like a very old person.
“Good morning,” I greet the woman at the counter, who’s busy shuffling through papers.
She looks up and smiles. “Good morning.”
I start preparing my coffee—black with a splash of cream—when the front desk clerk steps up beside me. “Can I give the dog a treat?” she asks, her eyes twinkling with the unmistakable fondness of a dog person.
“Sure.”
She bends down and holds the treat out to Neptune. He takes it gently in his mouth, places it on the ground, and looks up at me, waiting for permission.
“You may have it,” I tell him.
He picks it up and eats it in two bites, tail wagging.
“Wow, he’s so well-trained,” the woman says.
I laugh. “He must be.” I shake my head. “I got lucky.”
She smiles and extends her hand. “I’m Marion. It’s nice to meet you.”
I take her hand. “Nice to meet you too. I’m May, and this is Neptune.”
“Oh, what a wonderful name.” She looks down at Neptune before glancing back at me. “Oh, May—Ms. Moreira?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I smile.
Marion’s face lights up. “Oh, May, Mark left a note for you. Let me find it.”
She hurries behind the desk, rummaging through a stack of papers before pulling one free and handing it to me.
“Here—it says you’re looking for a rental, and someone he knows said to call. This place isn’t even on the market yet.”
“That’s amazing.” My smile stretches from ear to ear. “Thank you, Marion. I’m going to call them immediately.”
“Of course.” She gives me a warm smile. “Good luck!”
I take the note, my coffee, and Neptune’s leash, and we walk out of the office. The sun is climbing higher in the sky, and I can’t help but feel like today’s going to be a good day.
I make my way back to the room, and once inside, I grab my phone from my back pocket and dial the number on the note. Someone picks up after just two rings.
“Thank you for calling Ocean Sky’s Realty. How may I assist you?”
“Hello.” I try my best to keep my voice steady. “My name is May Moreira. I’m staying at the Otter Rock Hotel, and Mark referred me to this number about a rental opportunity you may have for me.”
“Oh yes, hi May! My name is Linda. How are you, love?”
“I’m okay.” I hesitate. “Hoping for some good news?”
“Oh honey, yes! I have a beautiful home coming available in just a couple of days. Mark mentioned you’re looking for a place in Depoe Bay that’s dog-friendly. Is that right?”
“That’s right.” My heart picks up a beat.
“Well, May, you are in luck.” Linda’s voice brightens. “I have a three-bedroom oceanfront that’s dog-friendly. It’ll be available by the weekend. Just needs a bit of maintenance and a new refrigerator.”
“A three-bedroom?” I hesitate. “That’s a little bigger than I was planning on. It might be out of my budget.”
“Well, May,” she continues, sounding almost giddy, “you really are in luck. This home has never been on the market before. The original owners passed away and left it to their grandson, who lives in New York. He only visits during the summers, but he’s getting married and will be out of the country for a while.
He doesn’t plan to come back for at least a year, so he’s decided to rent it at a very low price.
Honestly, it’s probably the lowest price you’ll find in the area. ”
I frown. “What’s the trick?”
She laughs lightly. “Well, you’ll have to do your own lawn work, or hire someone.
If you decide to do it yourself, the house comes with a working lawnmower.
Also, there’s no washer and dryer—the house doesn’t have connections.
The closest laundromat is in Newport, and that’s about twenty minutes away. ”
I think about it. Oceanfront? With Neptune? A yard of our own? Still, it sounds too good to be true.
“If you’d like,” Linda continues, “I can send you all the details via email—rent, deposit, requirements, and some pictures of the property. What do you think?”
“Sure.” My voice comes out a little small.
“Oh, and I forgot to mention,” she adds. “The house comes furnished, but only the master bedroom has a bed. The other two rooms are empty.”
I let out a nervous laugh. “That’s fine. I’d love to get more information.”
“Perfect! Can I get your email address?”
I give it to her, and she promises to send everything right over.
“One more thing.” Her tone turns serious. “The house goes on the market in the morning, so you’ll have today to decide if you’d like to be the first applicant.”
“Got it. Thank you, Linda.”
We hang up, and I look at Neptune, who’s watching me with those calm brown eyes.
“It’s too perfect,” I murmur, scratching behind his ears. “I’m still waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
I sit down with my coffee, Neptune by my side, and open the “Batterfield” chat on my phone.
Me:
Guys! You will NOT believe this. I just got off a call about a house right on the beach that’s dog-friendly. Might be perfect, PRAY FOR ME.
Almost instantly, April responds.
April:
Oh my God!! A house on the beach?? That’s like every dream you’ve ever had!
June:
OMG May, that’s AMAZING.
Me:
It sounds too good to be true, though. I’m waiting for the catch.
June:
Oh my God, negative May is back.
April:
Stop it, no negativity until you get all the details, okay?
I grin. That’s classic June and April.
June:
I swear, May, if you pass up a beach house because you think it’s “too good to be true,” I’m gonna fly out there and drag you to the front door myself.
April:
She’s right, May. You’ve wanted this forever. At least check it out.
June:
Also, on a totally unrelated note, I’m officially over seeing soccer players half-naked in the locker room every day. Seriously, I need a new job.
April:
Oh my God, June, you are so dramatic. You’re living every girl’s dream, and you’re whining about it.
June:
I’m not kidding. Last week, one of them had his towel “accidentally” slip off while I was in there. It’s like, dude, can you NOT??
April:
Uh-huh, sure, tragic. I’m crying for you.
June:
I’m gonna come to California and slap you.
April:
Bring it.
I laugh, the tension easing out of my chest. My sisters always know how to distract me.
Then, right on cue, my email dings.
Subject: Rental Opportunity – 220 Bay Shore Lane
It was lovely speaking with you today! As promised, here are the details on the property available at 220 Bay Shore Lane:
Monthly Rent: $1,000, due on the 1st of each month (no later than the 3rd; late payments will incur a $50 fee).
Deposit: $1,500.
Requirements: 3 most recent pay stubs OR a signed contract/offer letter if relocating for work purposes.
Lease Terms: Month-to-month. Should the owner require the property back, they will provide a minimum of 3 months’ notice to vacate.
Additional Information:
Renters insurance is required.
The original owners of the house were dog lovers and did not believe in charging “pet rent.” However, any damage caused by pets will be the renter’s responsibility.
Property Details:
Address: 220 Bay Shore Lane, Depoe Bay, OR
Type: Two-story home
Garage: 2-car garage
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Kitchen & Living: Spacious kitchen and living area with large windows facing the ocean.
Master Bedroom: Ocean-facing windows, perfect for watching the whales right from bed!
Yard: Lush vegetation surrounds the house.
Please find attached photos of the property. It’s a bit outdated, with wooden interiors, but it’s clean and well-maintained.
Let me know if you’d like to schedule a tour or if you have any questions. As mentioned, the property will officially go on the market tomorrow morning, so you’ll have today to decide if you’d like to submit an application and be the first in line.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon!
Warm regards,
Linda
Ocean Sky’s Realty
I click on the attached photos. The house looks perfect—a bit outdated but clean, with wood-paneled walls that give it a cozy, old-coast vibe.
The kitchen is huge, with a picture window that frames the ocean like a painting.
The living room is bright and airy, and I can already picture Neptune sprawled out across the floor.
The master bedroom—God, it’s everything with windows that look out over the waves. I could whale-watch right from my bed!
I quickly Google the address. It’s in a small community on the south side of the bay with just a handful of homes, all surrounded by lush greenery.
“Can this be any more perfect?” I murmur, looking over at Neptune. He thumps his tail against the loveseat, agreeing with me.
I breathe out, heart pounding. Maybe this is the fresh start I’ve been waiting for.
I open the “Battlefield” chat, my hands trembling with excitement.
Me:
The house is perfect. I’m putting my application in. You both better plan your trip here asap.
I grin at Neptune, who wags his tail in approval. This might be the start of something incredible.