Whispers of the Tide

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟱: 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The shop was quiet after Ethan left. Lily had reluctantly accepted his peace offering-a ham and cheese sandwich and a cup of coffee from the café down the street. It wasn't gourmet, but it was thoughtful, and she hadn't realized how much she needed the break.

Now, as the rain pattered against the windows and the sky dimmed, she busied herself with inventory. Counting flowers and organizing supplies gave her something to focus on, pulling her away from the swirl of emotions left in Jack's wake.

The card he'd left sat on the counter, taunting her. She hadn't touched it since he walked out, but her eyes kept drifting to it. What did he think he could say now that he hadn't said two years ago?

The bell above the door chimed, jolting her out of her thoughts. She turned, expecting another customer, but instead, it was Ethan again, shaking off his umbrella as he stepped inside.

"You're back," she said, unable to keep the surprise out of her voice.

He grinned. "What can I say? This place has a calming vibe."

Lily rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. "If you're here for another bouquet, you'll have to wait. I'm in the middle of inventory."

Ethan held up a hand. "Actually, I came to apologize."

She raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

"For prying earlier," he said, his tone sincere. "I didn't mean to overstep. You just seem... guarded. I thought maybe talking about the shop would help me understand you better, but I realize now that was out of line."

Lily stared at him, caught off guard by the unexpected admission. Most people in her life didn't bother to apologize for being nosy-they simply felt entitled to her story.

"It's fine," she said after a moment. "I'm just not used to people asking questions. Small towns don't always come with privacy."

Ethan nodded, leaning against the counter. "I get that. Believe me, I've had my share of people poking into my life."

She tilted her head, intrigued despite herself. "What about you? Why'd you become a journalist?"

He smiled, a little ruefully. "Because I'm nosy, I guess. But also because I love stories. Growing up, my mom used to tell me bedtime stories every night-some made up, some real. She taught me that everyone has a story worth telling. I guess I just wanted to find those stories and share them with the world."

Lily felt a pang of familiarity. Her own mother had loved stories, too, weaving them into every corner of their lives. "Your mom sounds like she was a good person."

"She was," Ethan said softly. "She passed away a few years ago, but everything I do is because of her."

Lily hesitated, then nodded. "I can relate to that."

For a moment, the air between them felt lighter, as if a thread of understanding had formed. But before she could say more, Ethan glanced at the counter and frowned.

"Jack, huh?" he asked, nodding toward the card.

Lily stiffened. "None of your business."

Ethan raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fair enough. But if he's the reason you looked like you'd seen a ghost earlier, I'd say you have every right to be cautious."

She narrowed her eyes. "You don't know anything about him."

"You're right," Ethan said calmly. "But I do know that people who leave usually don't deserve second chances."

The words hit harder than Lily expected, and she turned away, focusing on a nearby display of carnations. "Why are you really here, Ethan?"

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Honestly? I was hoping you'd reconsider helping me with the lighthouse story. I've got pieces of the history, but I'm missing the heart of it. And I think you might be the key."

Lily glanced at him, her chest tightening. "Why do you care so much about the lighthouse?"

Ethan hesitated, his eyes flickering with something she couldn't quite place. "Because sometimes the things we think are broken still have light left in them. We just have to look for it."

The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond. Finally, she sighed.

"I'll think about it," she said, her tone reluctant.

Ethan's face lit up. "That's all I'm asking."

As he left, Lily stood in the quiet shop, her emotions tangled. Between Jack's sudden reappearance and Ethan's persistence, it felt like the carefully constructed walls around her life were beginning to crack.

And for the first time in a long time, she wasn't sure if she wanted to stop them.