Sparks Fly

It was just a small town maybe about thousand people, it was on the east coast, far enough away from big cities to be peaceful, but close enough to go back whenever you felt the need to. I never had that need, I never wanted to leave this place. It was my rock, my serenity, the place I could call home. A place were seagulls flew over head, the oceans mighty waters lapped up against the white sands, and the tall gold grass rattled and danced in the strong breeze. There was a lighthouse on a cliff side, a place I liked to go often just to listen to the toll of the buoys and feel the late evening sun against my fair skin. People used to joke that I was a maiden awaiting my lost sailor to return home, maybe I was waiting for one to come and sweep my off my feet.

The last boy who tried to sweep me off my feet was in jail for assaulting me and his own daughter, my little girl, Maisie. Apart from her and my grandmother, I had no family. They both meant the world to me. Grammy Dee, as everyone referred to my grandmother, was the owner of the local bed and breakfast, which she changed the name to Maisie’s Garden when my baby was born three and a half years ago. We didn’t live in St. Rose then, but I’m glad we do now, it was beautiful out here. At night you could see the stars, so close it was like you could touch them.

“Holly the store isn’t going to open itself!” Grammy Dee called from the front porch of the house. I turned around from the pond in our yard and looked over to her, waving to let her know I heard. Looking back out at the pond in the distance I could see the lighthouse and it’s red and white spiraling paint, I could even hear the tolling bells of the buoys way out at sea.

Running my fingers through my golden-brown locks, I quickly tied it up into a bun and ran towards the small flower shop and gift store we had right next to the bed & breakfast. As I passed the house, I could smell the strong scent of coffee and the sweet smell of honey and freshly squeezed juice. St. Rose was a good place for me and I enjoyed it very much, Maisie was loved by everyone that came to the store and stayed at our bed and breakfast. I guess you can say I am comfortable and happy here, but sometimes I do feel as though something is missing.

“Mama!” Maisie called from the window that was in the dining area. Grammy Dee had her in her arms and they were both waving to me. I stopped for a moment and smiled waving back blowing her a kiss. Maisie pretended to catch it and blew one back at me. I caught it and told her to behave and listen to Grammy Dee while I opened up the store. “Okay!” she shouted, waving her little hand in the air before I continued on to the small store.

As I was walking up to unlock the door of the flower shop and gift shop, I heard the squeaking of break and the rumble of an engine. Poking my head around the corner I spotted the bus pulling up. That bus came once a week and stopped two places, here at the bed and breakfast and one on the other end of St. Rose. People rarely got off though most of our guess came with their own vehicle. As the bus drove away on the other side was a single girl with long black hair that was falling over her shoulders.

She looked at me for a moment and I looked back, smiling, trying to be friendly looking. On her shoulder she had on bag and it looked stuffed with all her essential belongings, maybe she was a run away? The breeze whipped by and she stopped her hair from flying into her face and looked over at our welcome sign under the big weeping willow. I was going to ask if she needed help, but I assumed she didn’t as she started walking away not saying anything at all. She was thin and of average height and seemed fairly young, but who was I to judge, I was her at one time.

Unlocking the door, I stepped into the flower shop and turned on all the lights. Grammy Dee’s flowers were always the richest in color and always had the best smell. She had a green thumb, everything she planted was always healthy and strong. Whilst everything I planted either wilted or never grew at all. As I began to set up some of the displays that had little knick-knacks for the gift shop portion, there was a knock to the door and it creaked open.

“Can I help you?” I asked, noticing the girl that had got off the bus standing in the doorway.

“Yeah is there a coffee shop in this town?” she asked me, crossing her arms over her chest.

“You can head up to the house right next door, breakfast is being served,” I replied to her as I fixed up some of the ribbons on the wrack we had on the front counter. She glanced out the window to the red brick, victorian like house and looked back at me. “Everything is served fresh at 8:00am.”

“Isn’t that only for the tenants?” she asked.

“Grammy Dee won’t turn down a hungry girl,” I replied to her, fixing up my button down blouse and dusting off the back of my cut-off shorts. “Just head on in and make yourself at home, looks like you could use some resting up.”

“Uh, thanks I guess,” she murmured and left quietly, heading straight for the house.