Chapter Three: A Sanctuary in Peril

The next morning, Emma woke to the sound of seagulls squawking outside her window. For a moment, she forgot where she was. Her room back in Seattle was sleek and modern, the noise of traffic her usual alarm. But here, the world was softer, quieter, filled with the scent of salt and the distant murmur of waves.

As the memories of the night before came flooding back—the unexpected dinner with Lucas, his easy laughter—she groaned and rolled over, burying her face in the pillow. She hadn’t meant to let her guard down, but somehow he had this way of disarming her. It was frustrating. Annoying. And, if she was being honest, a little exhilarating.

Pushing the thoughts aside, she got up, threw on a pair of jeans and a faded sweatshirt, and headed downstairs. She had too much to do to dwell on Lucas Hale or his infuriating charm.

But her plans to sort through the attic were interrupted by a knock at the door. Again.

When she opened it, she found herself face-to-face with a woman in her mid-sixties, her bright-red hair piled into a haphazard bun and her hands clutching a clipboard.

“Emma Calloway!” the woman exclaimed, her voice full of enthusiasm. “I’m so glad I caught you.”

Emma blinked, momentarily stunned. “Do I know you?”

“Marla Thorne. I run the local market. And the community board. And the town bake sale, but that’s not why I’m here.” She thrust the clipboard into Emma’s hands. “I’m here about the marine sanctuary.”

Emma glanced down at the clipboard. It was a petition, filled with signatures. “What about it?”

Marla’s expression turned somber. “It’s in trouble. Developers are circling like vultures, looking to turn that stretch of protected coastline into another luxury resort. And if we don’t act fast, they’ll get the permits they need to bulldoze it to pieces.”

Emma felt a pang of anger. That sanctuary had been her grandmother’s passion—a place where marine life could thrive, free from the threat of human interference. She remembered tagging along as a kid, watching her grandmother rescue injured seals and release them back into the ocean.

“I… I didn’t realize it was in danger,” Emma said, her voice quieter now.

“Well, it is,” Marla said firmly. “And we need all the help we can get. Your grandmother was our biggest advocate. If she were here…” Her voice trailed off, and for the first time, Emma saw the sadness in the older woman’s eyes.

Marla continued, her tone softening. “I know you’re busy, and I know you didn’t come back to get involved in all this. But you’re her granddaughter, Emma. You’ve got her fire, her knowledge. The sanctuary needs you.”

Emma hesitated, the weight of the request settling on her shoulders. She’d spent years building a life far away from this town, from the people and memories that tied her to it. Getting involved now would only make it harder to leave.

But when she looked at Marla’s hopeful expression, she felt something stir inside her—something she hadn’t felt in a long time. A sense of purpose.

“I’ll think about it,” she said finally, handing the clipboard back.

“That’s all I ask,” Marla said, her smile returning. “And if you’ve got time, stop by the docks this afternoon. Lucas is organizing a cleanup effort. Could use someone with your expertise.”

Emma bit back a groan. Of course Lucas was involved.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***