Adrift

by Robin Wainwright

Before I even knew what was happening it was over. I’m beginning to feel like my life is completely beyond my control.” Sarah patted Heather on her shoulder and gave her a gentle smile.

  “It will be okay. I’ve already been doing a lot of research, so you won’t have to do too much either.”

  10

  Heather’s days settled into a comfortable rhythm of managing the coffee shop in the morning, spending the afternoons relaxing and then spending the evenings with Sarah and Maggie.

  True to her word, Sarah had already done a lot of research into the renovation of the lighthouse and took complete charge of the lighthouse committee. Sarah was determined that her committee was not going to end up like most of its predecessors, DOA.

  Heather was sitting in the Java Junction across the table from both Sarah and Maggie. They’d scheduled this meeting before the Foghorn opened so that Maggie could attend.

  “Okay, I’ve been swapping emails with Daniel Bradshaw. He is considered the man to go to for historic renovations and…” Sarah grinned at Heather, “he specializes in lighthouses.”

  “Nice,” Heather replied, “does he have any suggestions?”

  “Actually, he is curious about our lighthouse and has agreed to come out and take a look. If he decides to take on the project we’re going to have to figure out how to pay him,” Sarah paused and shrugged her shoulders, “but we’ll burn that bridge when we come to it.”

  Maggie smiled at Sarah and said, “If anyone can figure this out I know it’s you.”

  “Thanks Maggie. I really want this.”

  Heather reached across the table and grasped Sarah’s hand, “We’re here for you, just let us know what we can do to support you.”

  “Oh I will,” laughed Sarah, “trust me.” When the laughter died down Sarah continued, “Mr. Bradshaw is coming into town tomorrow and I’m putting him up at my B&B. Heather if you have time tomorrow afternoon maybe you can show him the lighthouse.”

  “Sure, that sounds like fun, but I’ll need the keys.”

  “No problem,” Sarah reached in her purse and pulled out a key ring with a couple of large older looking keys attached. “These will get you in both the light keeper’s cottage and the lighthouse. You can get them back to me when you’re done.”

  “And we’ll want a full report,” said Maggie with a twinkle in her eye, “especially if Mr. Bradford is a hunk!”

  “Maggie!” laughed Heather. “He renovates lighthouses for a living, how much of a hunk could he be? He is probably an old man with a full grey beard and mustache. Not really my type.”

  “You never know,” said Maggie with a wink and a grin.

  The next morning Heather was in the storage room of the Junction checking the inventory when Jennifer came bustling back.

  “Someone’s asking for you.” Jennifer said in a singsong voice.

  “What? Who?”

  “I don’t know but he’s pretty gorgeous.”

  “And he’s asking for me?”

  “Yep.”

  “Okay…” Heather quickly ran a brush through her hair, but she couldn’t do anything about the clothes she wore or the dust that had been ground into her knees. Then she shook herself. What was she doing? She didn’t even know who it was, and even if Jennifer said he was gorgeous, why did she care? Dusting off her hands, she headed out to the front of the store.

  The man at the counter wasn’t what Heather would call gorgeous, but he was very attractive. He was about six-feet tall. His hair was dark brown and streaked with golden highlights, and when he looked into Heather’s eyes, she could have melted into their dark chocolate depths. Damn, Heather thought, he’s a fine looking man.

  “Here she is,” said Jennifer.

  “Heather Moore?” The handsome stranger asked and Heather nodded. “I’m Daniel Bradshaw,” he said while extending his hand for her to shake. “Sarah said you offered to give me a tour of the lighthouse and surrounding buildings.”

  “Oh yes. Welcome Mr. Bradshaw.” Heather said as she gave Daniel’s hand a firm shake.

  “Please call me Daniel.”

  “Okay, and you can call me Heather. Give me a moment to change and we’ll head out to the lighthouse.”

  “Why change?” Daniel asked.

  “I’m all dusty from the back room.”

  “If your lighthouse is anything like all the other lighthouses I’ve been in, you’re just going to get dirtier.”

  Heather laughed and nodded her head, “You’re right. Let me grab the keys and we’ll head out.”

  “Would you guys like one for the road?” Jennifer asked. Best coffee you’ve ever had. Betty guarantees it.”

  “Betty?” asked Daniel looking around the room for the aforementioned Betty.

  “Betty” said Jennifer running her hands lovingly over the big espresso maker. Daniel looked a little confused and turned back to Heather.

  “Jennifer’s a little attached to her espresso machine, Big Brass Betty, or just Betty to her dear friends. Jennifer’s right. It is the best coffee you’ll ever have.”

  “Okay…” Daniel replied, “I’ll take a vanilla latte.”

  “The boss’s standard drink too. You want one too boss?”

  “Please.” Turning to Daniel Heather said, “I’ll just run up and get the keys while Jennifer makes our drinks.”

  “Okay, I’ll be right here.”

  Heather trotted up the stairs, and even though she wanted to change her clothes, she figured she had better not. However, that didn’t mean that she couldn’t wash up and put on a little lipstick. She didn’t usually wear any makeup, but a little lipstick couldn’t hurt. Heading back down to the coffee shop she made a mental note to kick Sarah in the butt for not telling her what a hottie Daniel was and that he was headed her way. Heather bet that Sarah had done it on purpose because of her ‘old man’ comment last night. Well Heather would bide her time and get Sarah back.

  To-go cups in hand, Heather and Daniel walked toward the lighthouse. Heather noticed the looks she was receiving from the various natives and knew that she and the handsome stranger by her side would shortly be a large part of the Scuttlebutt. Heather laughed to herself as she imagined what amazing story would take shape over the next few hours as each person added his or her own embellishment with each retelling of her innocent walk with Daniel.

  “So, are you a native Heather?” asked Daniel.

  “Oh, no. I’ve only been here about a month.”

  “What? You seem comfortable here, as if you’ve lived here all your life. Even the locals seem to treat you like a native.”

  “Yeah, I’m not sure how this all happened, but I’m only here through the end of the season.”

  “Well that’s too bad; if we get approval to renovate the lighthouse it’s going to take longer than that.”

  “I’d love to see it all cleaned up and functional again.”

  “Well maybe you can come back and visit during the grand opening.”

  “Maybe,” Heather smiled shyly up at Daniel and her heart skipped a beat when he smiled back. She wondered if he would be doing the renovations personally. If so, she might need to make more than one trip back to Crescent Bay, just to check on the progress of course.

  “So Daniel, this is what you do for a living? Traveling around the country renovating old lighthouses?”

  “Well not just lighthouses, although they are my passion. I’ve been fascinated with lighthouses since I was a little boy and my parents took me to a lighthouse down in San Diego. I could almost imagine the brave light keeper struggling to keep the lantern lit so that the ships wouldn’t crash into the rocks on the foggy shore.” Daniel smiled wistfully, “I had a pretty good imagination as a kid.”

  Heather smiled too and nodded her head, “I can understand that. When I got my first good look at the lighthouse here in Crescent Bay I thought I saw someone up on the widow’s walk in the light keeper’s cottage, but it was just my imagination.”

  “The romance and myste
ry of our nautical history,” smiled Daniel.

  “Exactly,” agreed Heather.

  They arrived at the light keeper’s cottage and Heather asked if Daniel would like to start there or in the lighthouse.

  “Let’s save the dessert for last, let’s check out the cottage.” Heather started to unlock the cottage, but Daniel stopped her.

  “First I’ve got to check the outside.”

  “Oh of course,” Heather gestured from him to go ahead. Daniel pulled a zippered pouch out his pocket and opened it. Inside was a pad of paper and some small metal tools. Daniel proceeded around the outside of the house poking here and scrapping there, taking lots of notes and snapping photos while he mumbled to himself. “Some termite damage, wood rot, not too bad.” Heather just followed in his wake enjoying the view, yep the rear view is as good as the front, Heather thought to herself.

  Daniel glanced at her over his shoulder and marveled at the grin on her face. “What are you smiling about?”

  Embarrassed, Heather shrugged and said, “It’s nice to see someone so focused on his work.”

  “I was talking out loud wasn’t I?”

  “Yep.”

  Daniel smiled, “Occupational hazard. I spend a lot of my time alone in rundown buildings.”

  Heather smiled back, “Understandable.”

  “Okay, I think I’m ready to see the inside.” They moved back to the front of the cottage, and as Heather opened the door a musty smell rolled over them.

  “Must have been locked up for a long time,” Heather said.

  “That’s good news, other than the boarded up windows I didn’t see any other evidence of attempted break-ins so hopefully the inside