Mixture of fantasy and truth, I spin this tale. Some earlier parts were influenced by reader feedback. I ask for your help in becoming a better writer – I need your feedback through votes, but most importantly your comments and messages so that you can tell me what you do and do not like. It is the best way for me to get better. Thank you for your continued support. I hope you enjoy the story!

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I had found a shop that had what I was looking for fairly quickly, and luckily so because they were near closing. I found my purchase after a bit and I headed towards the restaurant at the end of the boardwalk. I found my group sitting at a table on the patio and I crossed to join them. They had already ordered some appetizers and drinks. As I went to sit down between Stephanie and Amy, I gave Amy’s shoulder a squeeze. She reached up and gave my hand a squeeze back.

As I sat down, Gabriel pulled a bottle of beer out of the ice bucket in the center of the table and handed it across to me. Stephanie and Amy began to pile different treats from the appetizers onto a plate for me. “If you are going to be living here, you need to learn about all the great delicacies here.” Gabriel began to point out a few of his favorites. “You must really tried the plantains.”

I dug in and was amazed and all of the flavors dancing on my tongue. So far I had played it pretty safe with my food while here, never branching out to anything new. Boy, was I wrong to do that! When the waitress came to take our food orders, we purposely chose something different from each other and shared them all. More beers were had as we continued to toast each other’s health and prosperity. We sat there for hours celebrating our friendships and new beginnings We closed out the restaurant, and We closed out the restaurant, and as the tables were cleaned and floor swept, most of the staff came over and pulled up a chair with us.

They had heard about Gabriel leaving and wanted to wish him well. He was well loved in the small town and everyone regaled us with tales from either their time in one of his classes, shopping in his bookstore, or listening to his music. Gabriel was quick to introduce Amy and I as the new owners of the store. I was quick to correct him and include Stephanie as an owner as well. Stephanie was shocked at this revelation, but she was grinning from ear to ear the rest of the night.

As the bartender finished up the last of his closing duties, he came over with a beautiful acoustic guitar. Gabriel tried to refuse, but everyone gave words of encouragement. Finally Gabriel relented. He took the guitar and began to play. His fingers danced along the strings as he played Spanish guitar and sang. We had our own private concert on that patio and it was an almost perfect ending to the evening.

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After helping clean up the last of the chairs and plethora of beer bottles on the tables, I paid the tab and left a hefty tip for the whole crew. We thanked them for allowing us to stay over. It was great to get a chance to meet who would be our new neighbors and made some fast friends.

When we reached the boardwalk, Amy suggested we take a walk on the beach for a bit. We strolled down to the beach and we kicked off our sandals, placing them at the edge of the beach under a bench. I sat down and rolled up the cuffs of my khakis so they were up just below my knees. The girls each took one of my hands and we walked along the shoreline, water lapping at our feet as the small waves rolled in.

“This is really nice. Thank you for a great evening.” Stephanie gave my hand a squeeze and looked over at Amy.

“Can you just imagine being able to do this all the time? I still can’t believe we are moving here. It is our own paradise!”
Amy said… you could hear the happiness just bursting from her.

“I promise I will come visit in the spring. And with the budget we put together, I think I can officially move here in a little over a year. You guys will have to help me keep an eye out for a place, okay?”

I saw a small, flat stone laying by my feet, so I stopped to pick it up. I stepped forward and tried to skip it across the waves. Failing miserably at it, I looked around for another.

Amy turned and took Stephanie’s hands. “I just can’t imagine being here without you. The truth is… well, neither of us can.” With that, she looked over Stephanie’s shoulder and smiled. She asked Stephanie to close her eyes. When she did, Amy turned her around and wrapped her arms around her. Pulling her close, she leaned forward, turned her head, and kissed Stephanie’s cheek.