Little Girl on the Beach
By Tracy Sharp



Laura and Derek found the Bed and Breakfast by chance. It was October 31, Laura’s birthday, and she loved to take long drives. The young couple had no plans. They were simply driving around to see where they would end up, and after two hours they had ended up at the Keegan's Lakeside Bed and Breakfast.

“Wow,” Laura said as the dirt road ended and they came upon the stunning old house. She looked at him, her soft brown eyes excited. “It’s beautiful. Let’s see if they have any vacancies.”

Derek stopped the car. “All right. You’re the birthday girl. Let’s check it out.”

The wind sailed through the branches, tearing leaves from them and sending bright red and yellow swirling to the ground. Derek slid an arm around Laura’s waist. “This place is amazing.”

“Lovely,” Laura said. “I love bed and breakfasts. Much better than some generic hotel.”

“Keegan's Lakeside. I’ve never heard of it. Have you?”

“No, but that’s what makes this place so charming. It’s a hidden gem.” Laura looked up at him and smiled.

A giggle rang out near the water, and they turned to see a tiny blonde girl in a bright red jacket standing on the sand, tossing a large beach ball into the air and catching it. Every time the ball came down, it hit her round little face, sending another string of giggles into the air.

Laura’s smile fell away as a sharp pang went through her chest. She would’ve loved to have had a little girl some day. But it wouldn’t be possible now. Not since the operation.

Derek drew her close and kissed the top of her head. “I love you, you know.”

She rested her head against his shoulder. “I love you, you know.”

“Good, then let’s get in there and start our weekend get-away properly.” He led her through the door into the warm house. The place smelled like cinnamon and ginger, as if somebody were baking cookies.

The man at the counter was maybe thirty years old, with bright smile and an intense gaze. "Micheal Keegan. Welcome."

"Thanks," Laura said, grinning, clearly enamoured with the place.

Derek wasn't all that taken with it. He couldn't put his finger on it but something about the place set him on edge. Maybe it was the innkeeper who put him off. Though he couldn't understand why he would. The guy seemed nice enough.

The innkeeper wore a comfortable looking plaid shirt and jeans, and had an easy way about him. Still, something about him gave Derek the willies. He tried not to shiver when man's ice cold fingers brushed against his as he handed Derek the key to their room. "Upstairs, last door on the left. Breakfast is at eight o’clock." His voice sounded far away, dream-like.

Derek tried not to snatch his hand back as he took the key. “Thanks.” Smoke another one, buddy.

He glanced at Laura, who didn't seem the least bit put off by the man. But her gaze drifted to the window, through which she could see the little girl playing on the beach, now running across the sand after the beach ball.

Their room was large but sparsely furnished with antique pieces. A wooden chair sat in the corner of the room, and an antique chest of drawers with a mirror sat against the opposite wall. The chest of drawers looked to be custom made, the craftsmanship of high caliber. Clearly it had been made by hands that loved wood.

But what seemed to impress Laura the most was the old brass bed. She plopped down on it and stretched out. “Wow. I could get used to a place like this. Think we could own a house as nice as this some day?”

Derek dropped onto the bed beside her. “Absolutely. When you finish law school and make us a ton of cash, and I sell my book, which becomes a bestseller, and famous directors are falling over themselves for the movie rights.”

“Cool. Sounds like a plan.” Laura bit her lip, watching the ceiling for a moment.

Derek brushed a lock of hair from her eyes, knowing what she was thinking. There would be no babies. Ovarian tumors had taken care of that. He watched as she swallowed down the lump in her throat. "Everything will work out, love. You'll see."

Laura offered a sad smile. "I know." She suddenly pushed Derek onto his back, climbing on top of him and straddling him. Her long dark hair fell around his face. “But for right now, I think we should live in the moment.”

Derek grinned. “Now that sounds like a plan.”