Prologue
Sarah
January 1, 2000
Dear Diary,
I hope my parents don’t find this journal. Mama would probably tell me that it’s a waste of time, and I should concentrate on other things, but I think it’s fun, and it’s the only thing that I have for myself.
June, Luna, and I were up in the lighthouse, in our special place, the other day, and we found a super old diary from the 1800s. We started to read it but then decided to only read one entry at a time so that it lasts longer.
We also agreed to start our own diaries. So, here I am. What do people talk about in these things? I don’t want to say anything too personal. What if Mamadoesfind it? I’d be in deep trouble.
Not that I won’t be, anyway. She’ll come up with a reason to be mad at me. That’s just how life is here.
I wish I could go live with Luna or June.
Anyway, the Christmas break is almost over, and it will be time to go back to school. I don’t mind it so much. I’ll get to see Tanner every day! I know he’s a whole year older than me, but he’s so handsome. And he’s really nice to me. Sometimes, he walks me home from school. Isn’t that the sweetest thing ever? I hope he had a nice Christmas.
I can hear Scott arguing with Dad again, so I’d better go see what’s up before it gets too bad. I love my little brother, and I hate that Dad can be too hard on him. He’s just a kid!
I hope I can write in this diary often. It feels kind of good to write down what I’m thinking.
TTYL,
Sarah
ChapterOne
Sarah
“Iforgot how busy it is in the spring,” I say to my coworker, Sunny, as I grab a wet towel to wipe off a table. “We always think of summer as being the busy season, but it’s really all the time.”
“These days it is.” She taps on the computer screen, sending an order back to the kitchen. “And I’m grateful because that means we don’t have to lay anyone off during the slow season anymore.”
“There is that.” I shoot her a smile and hurry over to clean the table and then pass by another table to take an order.
I’ve been back in Huckleberry Bay for just over six months, and every single minute of every day has been a blessing.
I’m out of an abusive marriage.
I’m back in my hometown.
Life is finally the way I’ve daydreamed it would be for more than a decade.
“Hey, Sarah.”
I’ve had two best friends since I was a child, and one of them just walked through the door.
“Hi, June. What can I getcha?”
“The usual,” she says with a sigh. “Hey, when you get home later, can you help me tear apart Grandma’s bathroom? She says there’s a leak, and I can’t find it. I need someone whodoesn’thave arthritis in her back to hold the flashlight for me.”
“Sure.” I give her a smile and then cross to the computer to tap in June’s order of a cheeseburger and onion rings.
I’ve lived with June and her grandma in the big Victorian house on the cliffs outside of town since my apartment burned down, along with my friend Wolfe’s auto mechanic garage, late last fall. And I’m grateful to June and Annabelle for giving me a place to live.
I really am.