Chapter 19
CHAPTER 19
B randon found one inn that stayed open after Labor Day in Blueberry Bay. It sat right on the main street in the middle of the small village nestled between the ocean and the mountains. It really was picturesque.
He left first thing in the morning. It took five hours to drive from the city to Blueberry Bay, but he didn’t mind it one bit. Once he reached the border of Maine, the drive was scenic. He took the time to listen to music and think about the ending of his book. He only had a few days to finish and spend time with Cora.
When he finally turned onto the exit to Blueberry Bay, he could feel his nerves swirling in his stomach. He promised he’d come by Cora’s mother’s cottage once he checked in at the inn. She had made plans for them for the day. They would hike to a lighthouse and eat her mother’s lobster pie and something with blueberries.
He looked forward to it. He hadn’t been to Maine much before. As a kid, he had gone to York Wild Kingdom and walked to the end of Old Orchard’s pier, but beyond that, he was city kid.
When he first texted Cora about coming to Blueberry Bay, he wasn’t sure what her reaction would be, but he became relieved that she seemed so happy he took her up on her offer.
Most of the time there, he would take advantage of being in the middle of nowhere and finish his book.
Then, he could start preparing for his new role as general manager, knowing he’d done everything he could to write.
But if he was really honest, he wasn’t only there to write.
With a new job in Newburyport, he should be figuring out where to live. It didn’t make sense to pay city rent when he could pay half of that in the surrounding towns.
But, Marcus Mulligan was expecting a novel to be sent to him. Brandon didn’t know how long he could hold off before Marcus forgot about him.
As Brandon turned on Main Street, he had a full view of Blueberry Bay and its quaint little village. Just like the photographs on the web, fisherman cottages with front porches lined the streets that led to a small downtown. All the stores had the same uniform gray shingled exterior with white trim. Some of the doors were painted in a traditional red, while others had coastal pastels.
He could tell tourists probably lined the street during the summer months, but on that cool fall morning, the streets were practically empty. He had no trouble finding a parking spot in front of the inn.
After he checked in and put his bag in the room, he decided to take a walk down to the water, where he noticed a park along the harbor. Big and small boats floated in the water, tied to different-colored buoys. Scattered in the water were leaves of all different colors. The harbor appeared calm as waves gently rocked the boats back and forth.
As he reached the park, the first thing that came to mind was how much he wished he could show his mother the park. The landscaping and gardens had been maintained and filled with colorful chrysanthemums. In the center of the park, he noticed the bronze mermaid statue Cora had told him about. The statue her grandfather had sculpted. He walked up to it, studying the mermaid. She smiled wide and glowed with what he felt to be happiness. She reminded him of Cora.
Just then, the weight of being in Blueberry Bay hit him. He didn’t drive all the way to Maine to look at a statue or finish a novel he had been working on for years. He drove up there for one reason and one reason only: to tell Cora how he felt before it was too late.
Off in the distance, he could see the lighthouse sitting on its own island of granite cliffs and pine. It reminded him of a postcard. No wonder Cora didn’t want to leave this place. Everywhere he looked was another view of the water or the rocky shoreline or its calm harbor. Up on the hills, overlooking the little village, sat mostly small cottages nestled among the trees with a few of the bigger houses one would expect to see right against the ocean. He wondered which house Julian’s family owned.
He didn’t owe Julian anything so why did he feel guilty for coming to Blueberry Bay to see Cora? He didn’t have to tell Julian or explain himself. He had feelings for Cora well before Julian came stumbling into the restaurant.
But the idea of Julian getting out of rehab and hearing about Brandon going to Blueberry Bay made him worry he should be honest with Julian.
Was it selfish of him to be here? And did he race up there because he knew that once Julian was sober, he would have less of a shot?
He glanced at the statue. But what if things could work out between him and Cora? What if they’re great together?
He picked up the phone and went to dial Julian’s number when he stopped himself. He didn’t owe this guy anything. Even if he got a well-renowned writer willing to look at his story. Julian had his shot with Cora and ruined it. So why did Brandon suddenly feel like he was stabbing the guy in the back?
Maybe because he hadn’t been truthful to Julian when he asked about Cora. He didn’t lie, but he didn’t give the whole story, which was that he cared very deeply for her.
He stood looking at the statue, wishing things didn’t have to be this complicated. Or was he making it complicated?
He opened his phone’s home screen and texted Cora. I’m here.