Chapter 26
CHAPTER 26
N ear dinnertime the next day, Lucy sat at her desk, her laptop open to a folder of photos from last night’s proposal. A half-eaten sandwich and a bottle of sparkling water pushed to the side, she had little appetite. The images glowed on the screen—Jack on one knee, Rachel’s tearful smile, Everly darting toward them in her pink princess dress. Each photo was a perfect snapshot of love and joy, but as Lucy clicked through them, her own emotions tangled into something bittersweet.
Her eyes drifted to the corner of her desk, where a stack of Jenna’s papers sat untouched. Next to them lay her phone, the email app unopened since the night she’d sent Ethan that message. No new notifications. She picked up the phone and stared at the blank screen, willing it to light up with a reply. But it didn’t.
Setting the phone down with a sigh, Lucy leaned back in her chair. Memories of Ethan surfaced—the way he used to surprise her with her favorite pastries after a long writing session, the nights spent dreaming together about what their futures would hold. And then the night he’d told her he was leaving for Europe. She could still hear the regret in his voice, see the uncertainty in his eyes.
She rubbed her temples, trying to shake off the ache in her head. Her gaze fell on the photos again, and the happiness shining in Rachel’s face stirred something in her. “I need to get out of here,” she muttered, pushing back from the desk.
Grabbing her bike from the garage, she set off down the familiar roads of Periwinkle Shores. The summer air was warm and carried the faint scent of the sea. The gentle rhythm of her pedaling and the breeze on her face eased some of the tension that had been building inside her.
Before she got too far from her house, she pulled over onto a small gravel driveway. Her fingers worked swiftly, gathering her hair with practiced movements as the salty breeze tugged at loose strands. She twisted the elastic band three times around, each loop tighter than the last, until her ponytail sat high and secure at the crown of her head. A few wispy pieces at her temples escaped, but the bulk of her hair was now firmly restrained, ready for the wind that would soon be rushing past as her bike carried her along the Cape's winding paths.
She hadn’t meant to head toward Adagio. It had been almost a year since she’d driven past it, let alone thought about stepping inside. But as she turned onto the road that led to Ethan’s restaurant, her legs seemed to move of their own accord. Before she knew it, she was standing outside the quaint, shingled building with its signature blue awning and ivy-covered walls.
Adagio looked exactly the same as it had the last time she was there. The small patio was strung with fairy lights, and the soft hum of conversation floated out from the open doors. A pang of nostalgia hit her as she leaned her bike against the fence and hesitated at the entrance.
She peeked inside. Warm, golden light spilled over tables set with crisp white linens and fresh flowers. The air smelled of garlic, fresh herbs, and baked bread. It was as if no time had passed at all.
The hostess, a young woman with a friendly smile, approached. “Hi there. Table for one?”
Lucy hesitated, her heart pounding. “No, I’m just…I’m just looking.”
The hostess nodded, her smile never wavering. “Take your time. Let me know if you need anything.”
Lucy stepped back outside, her chest tightening. She sat on the low stone wall by the patio, watching the diners and listening to the quiet clinking of glasses and plates. It was here, on this very patio, that Ethan had first told her about his dreams of opening a restaurant in Paris. She’d been so proud of him, so sure they could make it work. And then he’d gone, and everything had unraveled.
She reached into her bag and pulled out her phone, scrolling to her sent messages. There it was—her email to Ethan, sitting unanswered. For a moment, she thought about sending another, but what would she say? That she missed him? That seeing his restaurant made her wonder if they’d made a mistake?
Instead, she slipped the phone back into her bag and stood, brushing the dust off her hands. She wasn’t sure why she’d come here today—maybe to feel closer to him, maybe to remind herself why she’d stayed away. But as she got back on her bike and pedaled home, one thought stayed with her: some places held too many memories to ignore, no matter how much time had passed.
Lucy pedaled steadily down the winding roads of Periwinkle Shores, the salty breeze brushing her face. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the familiar streets she had ridden countless times before. But today, her ride felt different—like she was chasing something she couldn’t quite name.
Following the coastal road south, she eventually found herself on Shore Road, a quiet stretch bordered by the bay on one side and rows of charming cottages on the other. She slowed as she approached Days Cottages, their iconic white buildings glowing softly in the late afternoon light. The tiny, uniform homes with names like Poppy, Aster, Lilac and Rose painted neatly at the top were a reminder of simpler times, of summers spent soaking in the Cape’s endless beauty.
Lucy smiled as she passed, imagining the families inside, gathering for dinner or playing cards at their small kitchen tables. The rhythm of her pedaling matched the waves lapping gently against the shore, and for a moment, she felt herself relax.
As she continued into Provincetown, the first thing that caught her eye was the Pilgrim Monument rising proudly against the sky. The stone tower, a testament to the town’s rich history, glowed in the soft light of the golden hour. Lucy stopped briefly at its base, craning her neck to take it all in. It was a symbol of resilience and exploration—something she felt a connection to today.
With a small smile, she pushed onward, her bike tires humming against the pavement as she turned onto Commercial Street. The vibrant energy of Provincetown enveloped her immediately. The narrow street was alive with people strolling past brightly painted storefronts and whimsical signs. There was a sense of individuality here, a celebration of creativity and color that always left Lucy feeling inspired.
She passed art galleries displaying bold, abstract pieces in their windows, quirky boutiques filled with handmade jewelry and trinkets, and cozy cafés with tables spilling onto the sidewalks. The air was filled with the scent of fresh seafood and the sweetness of waffle cones from the ice cream stands. It was impossible not to feel the pulse of life here, the way Provincetown seemed to dance to its own rhythm.
One shop caught her eye—a candy store she hadn’t visited in years. The sign above the door read Cabot’s Candy and the window was filled with jars of bright, colorful treats. Lucy slowed to a stop, leaning her bike against a lamppost. She stepped inside, the scent of chocolate and sugar enveloping her immediately.
“Still the same,” she murmured to herself, taking in the rows of candies, from shiny foil-wrapped chocolates to bins of saltwater taffy. She grabbed a small bag and began filling it with her favorites: dark chocolate sea salt caramels, licorice twists, and a handful of gummy lobsters that always made her smile. By the time she left the store, the bag was heavy in her hand, and she felt lighter than she had all day.
She hopped back on her bike, balancing the candy bag carefully in the basket as she continued toward Race Point Beach. The ride grew quieter as she left the bustle of Commercial Street behind. The dunes rose around her, golden and windswept, stretching toward the horizon. The Cape Cod National Seashore unfolded in all its rugged beauty, the grasses swaying in the breeze and the sound of waves crashing faintly in the distance.
Lucy reached a small overlook and stopped, resting her bike against a wooden post. She climbed up the sandy path to the top of a dune, where the view took her breath away. The Atlantic stretched out before her, a deep, endless blue, and the beach below was pristine, untouched. The sun was beginning to dip lower, casting long shadows across the landscape.
She sat down on the sand, the warmth of the day still lingering in the grains beneath her. Pulling out her bag of candy, she popped a caramel into her mouth and let the sweetness melt on her tongue as she gazed out at the water.
For a long moment, she let herself simply be. No plans, no distractions, just the rhythm of the waves and the vastness of the ocean. It reminded her of why she loved this place, why it always called her back. And yet, the familiar ache crept in—the thought of Ethan, of the life they had dreamed of together. She wondered if he ever thought about this beach, this view, the way she did.
Lucy sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. She couldn’t change the past, but maybe she could find a way forward. For now, though, she would savor the peace of this moment, the beauty of the Cape, and the sweetness of her favorite candy.