The morning of the third day was smoother than the previous ones. Maye didn't find herself on the floor beside the sofa. That night, she slept in her old bed in her room. The bed was squeaky and sunk where she had laid for many years, making it uncomfortable. Despite this, she slept better than she had in a long time. The room was filled with the smell of salt, and the sheer curtains fluttered in the breeze.

She sat up, stretched, and looked at the time. It was early enough to get a cup of coffee, sit on the back porch, and watch the sunrise over the sea. She jumped out of bed with enthusiasm, causing it to loudly squeak.

Maye sat quietly on the back porch, looking out at the beach. She held her cup with two hands and took a small sip of coffee. With her eyes closed, she savored the relaxing comfort of the sea and her beverage.

When she opened her eyes again, she saw a figure running across the beach. The man was shirtless, tan, and wearing dark blue shorts. She observed the waves crashing on his every step as he ran along the beach. Maye realized it was Ethan, who was coming back from a jog and was headed to his house next door. She quickly averted her gaze, embarrassed for staring at him as he ran towards his home directly beside hers.

When he spotted Maye sitting on the porch, he slightly changed his course and started walking towards her. At that moment, all Maye wished was to shrink into her chair or drift away with a seagull, just like it flew away with a piece of bread.

"Good morning, Maye!" His chest rose and fell as he took deep breaths.

"How was your run?" she asked, smiling at him while trying to maintain eye contact instead of staring at his shirtless, sweaty body.

"Wonderful!" he exclaimed, quickly covering his mouth and looking around at the other houses. "Oops, if I wake up Jay, Kiesha will kill me."

"Oh, do you know Kiesha too?" she asked, recalling the lovely and kind girl from the grocery store.

He stretched his legs, "She's dating my friend Damien, who works at the ticket booth for the ship tours."

"We've met before," Maye scoffed, remembering her embarrassment when Damien searched for a child with her.

Ethan paused his stretching, looked at Maye with a perplexed expression, and let out a soft chuckle. "Yeah, he's got a weird sense of humor, but he's a good guy." Ethan took a moment to study Maye before snapping out of it. "Oh, uh... I should let you get back to your coffee. Have a wonderful day, fair maiden." He then performed an awkward bow with one leg and added, "Forgot my peg leg on the ship." Smiling a bright smile, he straightened up and returned to his house.

What just happened?

She returned to reality and thought about her conversation with Sean the day before.

"Hey, how's it going down there?" Sean asked.

"Fine, I just did something exciting. I rode a pirate ship!" Maye's laughter filled her car.

"A pirate ship? I thought you were supposed to meet the requirements to get the house?" His confusion could be heard through the car speakers.

"Yes, these aren't your average requirements. But I'm having a lot of fun," she said, leaving the conversation at that.

"Alright, well... I called to let you know the trip will take me longer than two weeks. Something came up here, and I must get this fixed before leaving," Sean's voice sounded different, his tone unfamiliar.

"Whatever you need to do. I understand," Maye tried her best to sound supportive while overanalyzing his tone.

"Thanks, babe. Well, I will call you tomorrow if time allows. Have fun. I love you, bye.

Maye noticed that Sean was hurrying to end their conversation, but she heard a woman's laughter just before he hung up. Despite any concerns she may have had, she assumed that he must have been at work when he called.

Maye was contemplating what she wanted for breakfast when she heard a vehicle pull into the driveway. Before she could get up from her chair, a young woman came around the corner of the house. She appeared to be no more than 20 years old. Her hair was a sun-kissed dirty blonde, and beach waves flowed behind her as she jogged towards Maye. The woman was very tan and had freckles on her cheeks and nose. She wore a body suit, but Maye couldn't tell if it was for surfing or biking. Nonetheless, it was a dark red outfit with yellow trim.

"Ms Maye?"

Maye noticed an envelope in her hand and said, "That's me," to the young lady with a grin.

"Hi, Maye, my name is Tonya, and I'm Mr. Harold's granddaughter. He asked me to deliver this envelope to you on my way to the beach." Tonya handed the envelope to Maye and then pivoted to leave. Suddenly, she turned around on one foot. "Oh, one more thing! Grandpa wants to know if you have any more brownies." She flashed a smile.

Maye let out a laugh and dipped her head. She turned around and said, "I definitely do. I'll stop by his office later and leave some with him."

The girl waved back at Maye as she jogged around the corner of the house towards her vehicle. She stood there for a moment, holding the envelope in her hands.

She whispered, "What kind of memories will you unlock today?"

Maye hurried back to the chair and swiftly tore open the envelope.

"Like the waves crashing upon the sands, sometimes we need a break."

She gazed intently at the words on the note. Realizing that the notes typically contain subtle clues, she began pondering the significance of the words - Waves, Sand, and Break. Grandma's bathroom was adorned with a beach theme, but she had yet to visit the room since arriving and would have to walk through it to get to the restroom.

Maye heaved a sigh and started walking towards the room. A familiar scent hit her nostrils as she slowly pushed open the door. Grandma's perfume still lingered in the room—sugar Cookies. She had bought her the perfume as a Christmas present; Grandma always wore it.

She looked around the room to the bathroom door, walked over, and pulled it open.

The room was still the same—bright blue paint on the walls, with white and gold details and decorations. An anchor hung above the toilet and weaved baskets held towels and products. She continued to scan the room and walls when she noticed a painting of the sea. Waves crashing onto the golden sands. The picture was crooked, so Maye walked over to adjust it. She pushed the corner of the painting to realign it when suddenly a piece of paper fell to the floor.

She smiled. "There you are."

She picked up the envelope, walked back into the bedroom, and sat on the edge of the bed.

"My Lovely Maye,

Today's letter is about affirmations and taking the time to realize our strengths. You are such a bright, strong, and caring young woman. Though sometimes I wonder how much time you give to yourself. Working is an essential part of life, but so is taking care of oneself and realizing when to take a break. Do you remember what we used to do on the third Saturday of every month? Today, please take time to remember all the good and also remember to give yourself credit. The most important thing we can do is to love ourselves. I love you very much, Maye.

Grandma"

Maye wiped away the tears from her eyes like she did the day before. She sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought about what had happened. Suddenly, she remembered something and stood up, walking towards the window that faced the beach.

She looked outside and saw that the old outdoor firepit was still there, which made her smile. She returned to her bedroom to get ready, knowing that this adventure would require another trip to the grocery store.

Maye lost herself in thought while returning from the store. Her grandmother's words resonated with her; she realized she didn't take enough time. Most of her time was spent creating content and reading messages. She would often get lost in developing her promotions and speaking with publishers. Self-promotion has become challenging, especially now when most people prefer video apps to reading.

She decided to check in on Sean, who was just like her, never taking any time for himself. She spoke to her phone, and the speakers began to ring, connecting her to Sean.

Maye heard a woman's voice say, "Hello?" and her heart sank into her stomach for a moment.

"Hi, Who is this?"

Did she dial the wrong number? Did the phone hear her wrong?

"Annetta. Sean is a little busy at the moment." Maye couldn't determine the origin of the foreign accent of the person she spoke to.

"Can you tell him that Maye called?"

"Of course," the woman replied, snarky, then the phone hung up.

Maye drove home in silence, thinking about what just happened. Perhaps his phone was stolen, or he was in a meeting, and the receptionist wasn't too friendly.

After the incident, she brushed it off and continued her daily tasks. She promised herself she wouldn't overthink things without knowing all the details. It was a flaw that she had, but was also a testament to her kindness. Maye always put herself in other people's shoes before coming to a conclusion.

Any uncomfortable situation was thought out and considered before she spoke. She never wanted to lash out at someone who may or may not be having a bad day. 

As the sun set, Maye stepped outside to start the firepit. Once the fire was going, she returned inside and grabbed a bag of snacks from the kitchen. She looked at the side of the house where the sticks she and her grandmother always used were kept.

She gathered everything she needed, along with a cozy red plaid blanket, and settled by the fire to roast a marshmallow on a stick. As the flames flickered and danced across her face, memories came flooding back, making her smile.

Maye and her grandmother used to come out here once a month to roast marshmallows, laugh, and joke about life and the silly things around town. Grandma would tell her stories about her parents and how her mother grew up. She would also share stories that Grandpa had told her while he was at war.

Grandma Olive would occasionally bring out the letters that Grandpa wrote while he was deployed overseas. She would read them with a smile and a glisten of tears. They loved each other very much. Maye wished she could remember him, but the stories that Grandma Olive shared made her feel like she was there with them.

Maye always dreamed of a love like her grandparents', which inspired her work. At times, Sean and her had a rocky relationship, but she believed it was a common thing that couples go through. Due to their long business trips and extended work hours, they were kept apart.

She sat quietly, holding a marshmallow over the fire, twirling the stick to get each side toasty. Sean had his moments, though. Last year, he had scattered dozens of rose petals around their apartment to surprise her on Valentine's Day. However, he had to leave on a work call with Maye sweeping up those petals. He couldn't help that, though, as he worked hard to secure their future. Just as she was about to remember another sweet gesture from Sean, she heard a rustle from the ferns behind her.

Ethan approached Maye with a smile as he made his way through the ferns. "What a surprise to see you here," he said. "May I join you?" She nodded and pointed to a chair on the porch railing. Ethan grabbed the chair and placed it on the opposite side of the fire before sitting.

"S'mores, huh?" Ethan smiled at Maye as she blew out a marshmallow that got a little too toasted.

"Would you like one?" She offered him the extra stick and bag of treats. "My grandmother and I used to do this every month," she said with a smile.

"Yeah, she told me about those days," he said as he pushed his marshmallow onto the stick.

"You spent a lot of time with her, didn't you?" She asked as she took a large bite of the s'more and closed her eyes, savoring the combination of melted chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker.

"Well, when your houses are within spitting distance from each other, it doesn't really allow you to remain strangers," she nodded in agreement with his statement. He carried on, "Your grandmother was really good to me. She helped me settle in and work through a lot of things that had been weighing on me. She had a way of helping people see the light in the dark. It helped me find my inspiration again." He twirled his stick while lost in thought.

"Inspiration?"

"Oh, I'm a songwriter. Mostly indie/folk tunes. Now and then, a country artist will pick one up. That's why I moved here. I needed a more calming and inspiring environment." He grinned and blew out his inflamed marshmallow.

"This place holds a special charm, and I never imagined leaving until Grandma insisted, I venture into the world and seek my own story." She gazed into the flames, their light reflecting in her eyes. Ethan took a deep breath as he gazed at her. "Kind of wish I had stayed now, though."

"Everything happens for a purpose. We need to venture out sometimes to discover ourselves," he replied, smiling at her. "So, what do you do for a living?"

"I'm an online author. I write novels online and do blogs and such."

"That seems interesting. I mean, don't you just love the smell of a bookstore? It's by far the best smell in the world for me." He grinned at her, and she laughed at the thought of him walking into a bookstore just to sniff the air like a book-loving dog.

"I suppose you are right. Many still enjoy the feel of a good book in their hands. Yet, with technological advancements, if it isn't available on the internet... It may not do so well." 

They sat silently for a while, enjoying the s'mores they had just consumed. Occasionally, they would laugh and joke about the pirate ship tours they had taken earlier, along with Ethan's ridiculous pirate accent. He even went as far as to threaten Maye that he would make her walk the plank if she laughed about his fake parrot again. Maye laughed at him as he mimicked the dance moves from the shanty that was sung.

"The beard is very itchy, though," he complained while grabbing his chin and making a goofy face, making her laugh even more.

"You should shave it; I shaved mine this morning," she said, winking at him in the light of the fire.

Ethan chuckled and asked, "What's your secret to having no 5 o'clock shadow?" He raised his eyebrows.

"Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum," she exclaimed. She immediately blushed and realized how silly she sounded, and Ethan burst into laughter, nearly falling from his chair.

Before they knew it, the bag of goodies was empty. Ethan stood up from his chair, folded it, and carried it back to the porch. He then handed Maye her stick and proceeded to take their trash to the garbage. Maye watched him as he did all this, wondering why he felt the need to do it.

"Ms. Maye, I must bid you goodnight. Thank you," he said as he bowed and then straightened up. "I had a lot of fun tonight, but I'm sorry for interrupting your alone time." A concerned look crossed his face as if he suddenly realized he had invited himself over.

Maye smiled at him and said, "No, it's fine. I've enjoyed the company. Besides, I would regret eating the whole bag alone." She giggled.

He softly smiled and whispered, "Goodnight, Maye." She whispered back, "Goodnight, Ethan."