may as well have been the Sahara Desert to cross in the blazing heat.
She watched the trio disappear toward their house before she set off down the beach. She needed to stop in at the surf shop this afternoon and check on things. It was hard to picture Kimmy as a mother, much less Becky as a grandmother, even though she was plenty old enough to be one. She still remembered when Becky would sit on the beach watching little Kimmy skimboard for hours. That child was no bigger than a whisper, but she had the energy of a school of porpoises. It seemed like yesterday.
A teensy bit of envy chewed at her about the shell Becky had found. It was strange how shells found their way into the hands of exactly who needed them, at just the right time.
Suddenly Maeve realized what had been nipping at her. She didn’t know how much longer she’d be around to enjoy Whelk’s Island, or her friends, old and new.
Shaking off the thought, she walked through her back gate and showered off her feet under the spigot at the bottom of the stairs. Methuselah met her there and then followed her up the stairs, hanging close as she fixed herself some cheese and crackers before walking over to the surf shop.
Traffic was busy on the beach road today. Word was getting out about where the locals shopped and ate, and although it was great for merchants, it was changing the pace of this part of town.
As soon as Maeve entered the store, the smell of surf wax and suntan lotion washed over her. A group of girls were trying on bathing suits in a fit of giggles while Becky helped a young man with a surfboard. Maeve recognized the logo on a yellow-and-lime-green board as one of Kimmy’s sponsors.
All the medals and surfing-championship trophies Kimmy had won lined the shelves around the shop. She was a celebrity around these parts. Maeve was pretty sure it was a surf competition in California where Kimmy had met her husband.
Maeve wondered if he was the one interested in creating a Muscle Beach kind of workout place here on Whelk’s Island. That would make sense. Perhaps she’d skip that town meeting. She’d hate for her opinion to play any part in Kimmy and her family not reaching their dreams.
She wouldn’t be here forever, anyway.
“Maeve?” Becky had walked up to her. “I thought that was you. It is so good to see you. It’s been eons. You look great.”
“Thank you. I see you’re holding down the fort here.”
“Doing my best. I don’t know how Kimmy does it, keeping so many details about all this equipment in her head like she does. Frankly, I’m not sure I’m even helping.”
“I’m sure you are. How is she?”
“You must’ve heard.” Becky’s signature red-lipstick smile faded. She pushed back a wayward strand of hair. “I’m trying not to worry.”
It didn’t look to Maeve like Becky was succeeding. “Someone at the diner mentioned something about her being in the hospital. Twins?”
“Yes, twins. Can you believe it?” She blinked as if she were still trying to believe it. “Doesn’t run in either of their families. Surprise!”
“Very exciting. Does she know if they’ll be boys, girls? One of each?”
“No. She didn’t want to find out. The doctor assured her they’re healthy, and I guess that’s all that matters. She’s been on bed rest, though, and you know how hard it is to keep Kimmy still. They finally put her in the hospital to manage her blood pressure, but I can’t help but worry about my little girl.” Becky glanced around, then took Maeve by the hand. “Oh gosh, did you hear? I found one of those shells. I’ve always silently wondered over the years if that was a real thing.”
She tugged Maeve toward the counter. There, next to a bucket of colored zinc to protect the real sun warriors from skin cancer, sat the shell.
Almost fluorescent pink inside, the big conch looked polished.
Maeve reached out and touched it. The words had worn in places, but she could still make them out:
I can’t wait to be with you,
but until then know that I’m gathering
treasures and stories to share.
Becky clutched Maeve’s arm. “Isn’t that crazy? I mean, you can practically hear Kimmy say something like that.” Becky’s face lit up as she picked up the shell, cradling it in her thin hands. “I was a basket case until I found this. It made me feel