Chapter Five

 Five

Paine Harbor

Later the same day

“We'd better hurry if we are going to make the last ferry of the day!” Oliver said to Sandy as they hurried down the interstate on the final day of their travels. “It leaves the dock at 5pm and if we miss it, there isn't another one until 7am tomorrow.” 

“I'm driving as fast as I'm comfortable, the last thing I want is a speeding ticket.” Sandy said in frustration. 

“Yeah, I know. Sorry, I'm just anxious to see our new home and I'm tired of being on the road.” Oliver replied.

It had been an arduous drive across most of North America but they were grateful for the lack of car problems and clear highways. Just yesterday they'd received a phone call from the moving company informing them their possessions had arrived safe and sound and were now awaiting them in their new rental home on Paine Harbor.

They made it to the ferry just in time, and once their cars were parked, the three of them stood on the bow looking across the sea as the tiny island of Paine Harbor came into view through the fog. Paine Harbor isn't much to look at, nearly flat and largely devoid of trees. Sandy was struggling to believe it was about to become their home for the next three years. Sandy put her arms around her husband and looked into his face for reassurance.

“It'll be okay, Sandy.” Oliver said unconvincingly.

“It's going to be great,” piped in a newly invigorated Demetrius. “Think of the new experiences we are going to have; the people, the opportunities, the challenges! I bet you two get pregnant super quick with all the fresh salt air,” he said looking at Sandy.

She smacked him good-naturedly. “Be quiet Deme! That's none of your business!”

The three of them laughed while she treasured his words in her heart. “Oh, I hope so!” she thought wishfully. 

“I love it, I love it! I LOVE IT!” Sandy shouted when they pulled into the driveway of their new cottage. It was a modest, but well cared for late nineteenth century Cape Cod house situated on a small rise providing them with nearly a 360º ocean view. The studio had made sure the house had a fresh coat of paint inside and out and the modest landscaping was in as good a shape as possible.

She raced out of the car and ran to the front door. “Wait! Wait!” shouted Oliver as he rushed over and swept her off her feet so he could do the ceremonial carrying over the threshold. “Hey, you aren't as light as you were on our wedding day!” he teased.

“Watch it buddy!” she warned with a wink. The truth is due to her newly found habit of running 4-5 miles a day she was in the best condition of her life. “Maybe you are just getting old.”

Sandy and Oliver excitedly explored their new place. The bottom floor contained a large living room, tiny kitchen and two small bedrooms and a bathroom. Upstairs offered up the master bedroom, another bath, a gorgeous sunroom and an outdoor patio with an amazing view of the harbor below.

“Demetrius,” Sandy said while looking around the spare bedrooms, “You can have either of the two bedrooms on the bottom floor.”   Sandy and Oliver has already convinced Demetrius he was welcome to stay as long as he wanted while he looked for a place for himself.

The three of them eventually found themselves standing on the second floor patio getting familiar with their new views and the village below. They hardly noticed how late it was as the sun went down, until Demetrius said, “Hey, I'm hungry. What are we going to do about eating? I’ve got half a bag of Oreos in my car that I’ll be happy to share.”

“Well, we better go into the village and see if anything is still open,” Oliver suggested.  “If not we may have to go fishing for our dinners.”

With that, the Grace's reluctantly got into the Range Rover and soon found Portia’s Place. “It’s this, or nothing,” Sandy said.

Portia’s Place was doing a brisk business when they walked in. Every head turned and all conversation ceased as the strangers walked in. The effect was palpable and caused Sandy to unconsciously reach for Oliver's hand in reassurance.

“Well, hello there strangers.” Portia Galeener said by way of introduction. “I bet you are the couple who are moving into Bonnie Granville’s place. We didn't expect there to be three of you. But, never you mind, welcome to Paine Harbor and welcome to Portia’s Place. I'm Portia Galeener, the owner of this restaurant.”

“Hello. I'm Oliver and this is my wife Sandy and that third person you speak of is my brother Demetrius. We all share the same last name, Grace. It's nice to meet you Miss Galeener.”

“Please, call me Portia. I bet you are hungry. No food in the house yet? Gourmand's Market is closed for the night, but they'll be open at 8am tomorrow morning. In the meantime, we are happy to have you here with us. I've got some nice fresh halibut, or perhaps you would prefer some scallops?” she said enthusiastically while handing them menus.

They chose the scallops along with fresh salads and hot bowls of clam chowder along with a bottle of Napa Valley sauvignon blanc. The food proved to be better than any of them had anticipated given the rather shoddy appearance of Portia’s Place.  After eating his full plate of food, Oliver leaned back in his chair, sipping the remains of wine and rubbing his belly, “Man, I’m stuffed.”

As Portia came to the table offering coffee and making sure her newest customers were happy, Demetrius spoke up and asked, “Ma'am, do you know where I might find an apartment to rent? It doesn't have to be huge, it's just for me.”

“Funny you'd ask,” she replied. “As a matter of fact, I have a nice one bedroom unit directly above where you are sitting right now, and it's been empty for quite some time. It needs a little fixing up and maybe some fresh paint, but I'd make you a good deal on it. Other than that, you might be able to get one of the abandoned fisherman's shacks, but those can be pretty nasty. After you finish your coffee, let's go upstairs and I'll show you around.”

Looking down at the horrid coffee she had just poured, Demetrius replied, “Can we go now?”

After a quick tour of the apartment, and assessing the needed improvements, Demetrius and Portia came to a quick agreement.

“I'll have it ready for you in a week, if that's okay,” she assured him.

“Wow.” Demetrius mused out loud from the back seat driving back to the Cottage, “We are in town for less than three hours and I've already got an apartment of my own.”

“You know you are welcome to stay with us, right?” Sandy said as they drove back home.

“I do, and I appreciate that little sis. But I think you two need your own ‘love shack’ and truthfully, I need my own space,” he replied.  Oliver and Sandy nodded in appreciation of his thoughtfulness. “Driving in I noticed a few empty commercial spaces here in downtown and I'm thinking that living close to my coffee house would be convenient. Listen, it's been a long day. I'm going to hit the sack. Good night guys, and thanks again for everything.”