If You're Lucky by Yvonne Prinz

leash and he took off for the beach.
    I fell into step with Sonia and the cold wind yanked at our hair as we stepped over the rocks and down across the packed sand to the water where Rocket was already halfway down the beach, chasing gulls. A speck of a person was walking toward us. Fin, I assumed, though he was too far away to know for sure. Rocket had spied him too and though he generally prefers seagull chasing to human interaction, he loped down the beach toward the figure. Sonia and I both watched, but we said nothing. As the figure and Rocket approached, Fin came into focus. An onlooker would probably think that Rocket belonged to him. Guys like Fin always own dogs like Rocket. Fin waved when he saw that it was us. The cold air had cleared my head and the details of my afternoon with Fin seemed less romantic now. But then he was standing in front of us and I was smiling at him and watching the way he pulled his tangled hair out of his face and how perfectly imperfect his front teeth were. He was looking at Sonia the same way he’d looked at me an hour ago. I felt a pang of jealousy.
    â€œThis must be Rocket,” he said, bending over and ruffling the fur on the dog’s head.
    Rocket was making a ridiculous display of jumping all over him.
    â€œRocket! Down!” I scolded.
    â€œOh, don’t worry. He’s great. Anyway, I feel like I know him. Lucky talked about him all the time.”
    Lucky talked about his dog all the time but he never talked about me?
    â€œ
Are you looking for waves?”
    He looked down the beach. “Yeah, not much happening here today. Guess I have to drive down the coast a ways.”
    Sonia was hugging herself, shivering.
    â€œHi, Sonia,” he said.
    â€œHi,” she said softly and looked off at the water. She seemed reluctant to make eye contact.
    â€œYou look cold,” he said.
    â€œI’m fine,” she said.
    We stood there, awkwardly. It seemed like Fin wanted to say something to Sonia and then thought better of it. Sonia looked everywhere but at him.
    â€œWe should go,” I finally said. “We need to move or we’ll freeze.” I didn’t mean that, though. Part of me wanted to ask Fin to come with us. Part of me wanted to ask if I could go with him wherever he was headed.
    â€œYeah, okay. I’ll see you later.” He gave Rocket a quick rub. “Nice to meet ya, Buddy.”
    Rocket was reluctant to follow us. He stood there, watching Fin walk away. “Rocket!” I called.
    When he caught up with us he circled around a couple of times, watching Fin disappear up the beach. I looked back too. Sonia didn’t seem to notice.
    â€œHe’s nice, isn’t he?” I said, but Sonia looked lost in her own thoughts as we carried on walking.
    â€œSonia!”
    She snapped out of it. “Sorry, what?”
    â€œWhat’s going on here?” I asked.
    â€œNothing,” she said. “It’s nothing.”

Eight
    â€œThese . . . are . . . fabulous,” said Jeff, with a mouth full of lavender shortbread. “You’re a genius. Did Miles tell you we’re going to sell them in the gift shop?”
    â€œNo.” The gift shop is actually an antique bookcase next to the check-in desk.
    â€œWell, we are, in pretty cellophane bags with a raffia tie, right next to the granola. You’re not going to leave us for the big city and start a baking company, are you?”
    â€œWhy would I do that?”
    â€œWell, don’t even consider it. Miles and I had a hand in raising you. We’re not about to lose you to those jaded pastry eaters in the city.”
    â€œDon’t worry about it. You could pay me more, though.”
    Marc, who’d just strolled into the kitchen, snorted.
    â€œLet’s not get ahead of ourselves.” Jeff licked his fingers. “Maybe in the summer when things pick up around here.”
    â€œIt is summer.”
    â€œAlmost,” he said.
    It was