Heart across the tides

d back in her chair, the faint hum of the space heater filling the room. The revised redevelop

k, she noted it was nearly seven in the evening. Most

, closing the folder an

et and pooling on the floor. His presence felt like a gus

hrugging out of his jacket and ha

Clara replied, motioning for him

ndow, looking out at the rain-soaked streets.

rises or b

ace her, he crossed his arms. "You might've bought yourself som

patience thinning. "I didn't expect trust t

om her, his eyes scanning the pape

the plan, meeting with the committee, and trying to address ever

oftening. "Why do you care so much? Most develop

ause this isn't just a job to me. Bayshore isn't just a

rise flickering across his fa

ft for college, then work. It's been

han said, his tone though

oked down at her hands, searching for the right words. "Because I

green eyes sharp yet

ng her head. "What matters is this pro

evident. Instead, he changed the subject. "The marine

d out to a few organizations to see if they'd partner with us. It's

saying that to

is isn't about winning. It's

if weighing her words.

if she'd heard him cor

the conservation center, I'll introduce you to some people who know this harbor be

," Clara said, her lips

ts. They met at a small diner near the harbor, the scent of fried seafood thick in the air. Clara felt o

ention. "This is Clara Hayes," he said. "She's the developer working on th

here's been a lot of concern about the redevelopment, and I want to address that. I've revised the plan to

eptical. Clara answered their questions with a mix of dat

oftened, offering tentative support for the conservatio

elt a strange sense of accomplishment. The rai

setting that up

han replied. "You've sti

e first time, it feels like we're

r, his expression u

hues of gold and pink. For a moment, they stood in silen

er met anyone like you

im, surprised. "W

out this place. Not really. But you..." He tra

to do what's ri

eyes spoke volumes. It was a look of recog

was unfolding between them. But like the harbor itself, it w