4. Chapter Four
A fter I went to the store to stock the kitchen with everything we’d need for our first week, I set up the swing and hammock on the patio. Then I exchanged my sandals for running shoes and headed out on a run to clear my head. I cranked up the music in my wireless headphones and took off down the path I knew would eventually lead me to the road closest to the beach. Usually, I used my runs to catch up on podcasts or audiobooks, but today, I needed to get lost in the music of my three favorite bands—Pink Floyd, Theory of a Deadman, and Pearl Jam.
When the run to the beach, followed by a twenty-minute shower, letting the hot water pound against my back, wasn’t enough to stop the nagging in my mind, I headed into town. I was unsure of my destination until I parked in front of Churn Baby Churn—the very spot where I saw Anne Marie for the first time. She was working behind the counter of the old-fashioned ice cream shop, wearing the ridiculous pink and white striped apron over her 50s-inspired dress. I had never found work uniforms hot until that mint green dress. I’d walked past the shop multiple times since getting to Seaside two weeks earlier and never stopped. Having never been much of an ice cream fan, I had no interest. But as soon as I saw the gorgeous blonde with bright green eyes, I knew I had to meet her.
Still not being a huge fan of sweets, I skipped the ice cream and went to the coffee shop instead. Much like how Churn Baby Churn still had its nostalgic mint and pink striped décor, Seaside Brew still had its small-town coffee café charm. I doubted it was the same owner and likely not the same name as 35 years ago, but the coffee still tasted fantastic, the employees were friendly, and the service was quick. The first time I’d walked through the doors was on my first date with Annie, back when I still called her Anne Marie, and she almost jumped out of her skin when I took her hand in mine. At the time, I’d only ever had coffee two ways—black or with a few sugar packets. Adding warm milk to coffee along with flavored syrups wasn’t the norm. It was still new and trendy. I ordered my usual black coffee, but she made me change the order to a single espresso shot with steamed milk. I’d been drinking it daily since.
Once I had my coffee, I grabbed a spot at the bench by the window, picked a book off the ‘Take a Book, Leave a Book’ shelf, and made a mental note to grab a few books at the bookstore to add to it. There was no way I was going to donate anything from a shelf at the house. I’m not sure who would smother me with a pillow in my sleep first, my wife or my daughter. They were both lifelong bookworms who had acquired an incredible collection over the years. I read the first two chapters of a psychological thriller by a local author while I enjoyed my coffee. Then I cleared my space and headed right to the bookstore. I wanted to be sure to buy books while I was thinking about it.
I knew Booked by the Beach well. Sophie, the owner, had helped me with gifts multiple times over the years. As soon as I walked in the door, she greeted me. “Jonah, now this is a surprise. Usually, we don’t see you until the 4th of July celebration. I haven’t seen Anne Marie and Amber yet, so I didn’t think your family was in town yet.”
I chatted with her as I explored the tables filled with book-themed gifts. “Amber leaves for her honeymoon tomorrow. She’ll be here at the end of the summer after Wyatt heads to training camp. Annie’s in Ashland with Meredith for a few days. For the first time, I’m the one in town opening the house.” I ran my fingers along the tote bags and chuckled at some of the puns. “I want to donate ten books to the lending library in the coffee shop. Can you put together a variety for me? I figure you’d know what would be best.”
“They actually keep a wish list, so I can pull from that.”
A book wish list sounded like a great idea. Something like that would make shopping for Annie and Amber a lot easier. “Where was this wish list when I was shopping for Christmas and Valentine’s Day?”
“Right here, actually. Anne Marie and Amber both have lists. Wyatt actually ordered Amber’s wedding gift from me back in September and had me ship it. He cleared her list, and I wrapped each book as a blind date since she always has trouble deciding what to read next.”
I set two pairs of earrings, three bookmarks, and two totes on the counter. “I’m the first to admit I didn’t want her to end up marrying an athlete. I thought she needed to marry someone with a normal schedule. Someone who could be home more. But he continues to surprise me with how dedicated he is to her.”
“I met him briefly when he was here last summer. He wasn’t at all what I expected, in the best possible way. We’ve seen a lot of rising star athletes over the years because of the summer camp. No offense to the present company, but the majority are cocky assholes.”
I shook my head. “None taken and I agree. I was that guy about 35 years ago, but I hope I’m not anymore. Now, as for this wish list. Can I see my wife’s? I’m looking for a grand gesture, and something tells me the wish list is a good place to start this apology.”
After a few taps in the computer, she handed me a two-sided printout. “It’s organized by genre label to match where you’ll find it in the store and then alphabetically by author. Anything with an asterisk is currently out of stock, but we can order. How big of an apology are you looking for?”
I started at the top of the list and grabbed books off the shelves, adding them to a canvas tote. “The biggest one ever, Sophie. Something that shows her I’ve been listening and paying attention. Most importantly, the type that proves she is still my priority.”
She drummed her fingers against the counter. “Clearing her list isn’t going to be enough.”
“I know, but it’s a place to start. Feel free to chime in with ideas.”
“Well, I don’t know all the specifics so my only advice is to think about what she’s said. It will come to you.”
Right now, the only thing I knew for sure was she wanted to enjoy travel during our retirement, and instead of retiring, I’d just committed myself to more work by taking on the new foundation in addition to my GM responsibilities to the Caribou.
When I dropped three full tote bags on the counter, Sophie smiled. “Well, this is a start. Do you remember the summer PJ and Amber were fighting every day, and Anne Marie was at her wit’s end with them? You planned a quiet dinner for two at her favorite beach, but instead of a picnic, you had it catered and hired someone to set up nice seating.”
“I don’t think books and dinner are enough, but it’s a nice memory.”
She locked her eyes on mine as I handed her my credit card. “Jonas, the memory is what I mean. Plan something each day you’re here that you want to relive because it was a special moment or create a new memory. Don’t try to convince her that she’s your priority. Actually make her that. It’s your first summer here without the kids. Make it about the two of you.”
A summer showing Annie she was still my priority sounded like exactly what I needed.