Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
She smirks. “Oh boy. Who have you been taking to?”
“Only Jack—and Frank, who serviced my car.”
“I don’t know who’s worse between the two of them,” she scoffs. “There’s the legend of the tsunami that almost obliterated this town in the early 1950s…oh, and the year it was raining frogs.”
I nearly choke on my coffee. “I’m sorry, what?”
She waves her hand like it’s no big thing. “The scientific explanation is that they froze from an unusual cold snap that year and started falling out of the trees.”
Tree frogs? I mean, I know they exist, but are they that plentiful around here?
“My uncle Chuck believes that early townsfolk wanted the rumors spread to avoid an influx of tourists or people seeking relocation.”
“Huh, maybe there’s something to it, then.”
“But Lady Macb—I mean, Beth”—she looks over my shoulder like the woman could show up any moment—“from the Spellbound shop says there’s a certain energy the town hasn’t been able to shake for decades, and that we need to get back in balance, whatever that means.”
When she just barely keeps from rolling her eyes, I get the sense she doesn’t believe her but is too polite to admit it aloud.
“Our mom always said Aqua Vista is the best-kept secret, and people are missing out. She always had a positive outlook, and I suppose I inherited that from her.”
June certainly is pleasant to talk to.
“How many McCoys are there exactly?”
“Enough of us,” she says with a laugh. “My son, Cain, is probably at the beach with his surfboard. And if you get us together for dinner, it’s pretty lively.”
“Sounds nice,” I say around a sip.
“You say that now,” she counters.
“So, what is your town known for?”
“Besides being cursed?” she teases. “We have awesome hiking trails, and our ocean views are legendary. We can even boast about a famous surfer from Aqua Vista.”
“And the only gas station for miles,” I say before I can help myself.
“That’s normally how people happen upon us.”
“How long has the station been here?”
“My father ran it, and Jack inherited it.” She frowns. “It was the same for Dad after my grandparents died.”
There’s obviously a story there too, but I don’t want to be too inquisitive. She already thought I might be a reporter. Now I wonder if I should’ve done a search for more than property values in the area.
“So, been in the family a while. Got it.” That will be one more reason for Jack not to sell. People hold tight to their traditions and legacies. Something I’ll need to consider. I change the subject. “Where are the hiking trails?”
“I can point you in the right direction. If I were you, I’d make sure to tell someone when you’re heading out. People have gotten lost out there.” A gloomy look crosses her features.
“That only feeds into the story of the town curse,” I tease. “Do you warn all the out-of-towners?”
“Depends.” She winks. “You should ask Jack to show you the trails. He hikes most mornings before work.”
My back straightens. Not sure why that comes as a surprise. “He does?”
“Uh-huh, used to be the beach, but not anymore.” She looks off in the distance, melancholy in her expression. “Anyway, that’s how he keeps fit.”
That he does. I hold in my smirk.
“According to him, it’s peaceful at sunrise.” She makes a face. “I prefer to sleep in.”
“Then I wouldn’t want to disturb him.”
She gives me a stern look. “Oh, please do.”
I clear my throat, heat blooming in my cheeks. “So, what other businesses does your family own?”
She gives me a quick rundown of how it all began with the great-grandparents once owning now-defunct businesses like a toy shop and a movie rental place. The next generation opened the general store, bar, and service station.
“Cain works at the surf shack on the beach and has plans to open one of his own someday.”
“Sounds fun.” He must really love it.
It’s obvious they all have a stake in this town. They seem like hard workers with entrepreneurial spirits and aren’t afraid of getting their hands dirty. I can totally appreciate that.
Afterward, I walk around Main Street and decide to step inside Spellbound, curious what it’s all about after that energy story.
“Welcome,” a middle-aged woman with bushy blonde hair greets me. “I’m the owner, Beth.” I think about how June almost slipped and called her Lady Macbeth from Shakespeare, and I wonder if that’s a nickname folks around here call her. No way I’m brave enough to ask.
“Hi, Beth. I’m Aaron.” I glance at the shelves holding a mix of books, crystals, and what looks like other healing or restorative objects. The decor itself could be considered mystical.
“Let me know if you need any of our services.”
“Services?”
“I’m an intuitive healer.”
“I’m not even sure what that is. Like reiki? Chakra?”
She nods. “I tap into the natural energy flow in someone’s body to promote balance and healing. The mind, body, and health are all connected.”