Chapter Three –

Lost at Sea, Lost at Sea,

'Ore all the world I search for Thee,

And find myself lost at Sea

The Jeeps tires cracked against the gravel as Olivia brought it to a stop, Three days she'd been driving, and she'd reached the spot she'd picked blindly off the Map.

Stepping from the Jeeps warm interior Olivia felt the ocean breeze fresh and chilled against her skin, it's invisible fingers running through her hair, lifting the strands up and away from her face to tangle in the wind, dancing around her head like a wild halo.

The view was breathtaking, the wrens circled and wheeled above the surf, calling out to each other in strangled cries as they fought to right themselves in the aggressive winds above the sea. The Ocean was a rolling grey green mass, alive and un-relentless in its assault against the shell littered beach. The jagged rocks of the Jetties rose up from the dunes to protect this tiny inlet from the fast incoming tide, and the harsh crash of storm driven waves.

Olivia at this moment, felt like she'd reached the end of the world, a paradox of the original Columbus tale, instead of an ocean falling off to the end of the world, Olivia's world dropped off at the start of an endless ocean.

Shoving her ungloved hands deep into the pockets of the worn pea coat she'd picked up on her journey Olivia left the jeep's side and continued down the gravel drive, interested in what she might find at the periphery of this world.

At the rise of the hill she found it, though until that moment she didn't know that she'd been looking.

The little cottage was ringed with gravel, and a worn driftwood fence. Sea foam green with faded white-washed shudders and a lavender door, she seemed misplaced in its surroundings.

Olivia imagined in the calm balm of summer the minute structure would feel like paradise on the edge of the sea. It's windows cranked open to let in soft breezes as kids ran up and down the beach splashing in the surf and searching for sea life between the pools.

But in this moment it was a lone soldier bunkered down against the wrath of winter.

The character in its weathered face spoke of years of wisdom, and history. Of warm welcomes given to families come and gone in days filled with gentle breezes and warm sunshine, and the hardiness to outlast the harsh northeastern winters alone, pounded by surf and sand and the angry wind.

Memorizing the number on the rent sign bent haphazardly in the raging wind Olivia returned to her waiting green friend and returned to the town she'd passed not long before in search of a payphone.

Mrs. Paten had been more than willing to meet Olivia on such short notice, not often finding a tenant for her rental cottage in the midst of winter, she was happy to make the quick arrangements Olivia requested. Arriving at the dinner Olivia had called from very shortly after noon she greeted Olivia with an easy smile, that crinkled the corners of her eyes and made her aged face dimple in the most likable way. She looked like she should be handing Olivia fresh baked cookies instead of a key and a rental contract. And Olivia couldn't help but enjoy this woman's company in a way she'd seldom let herself in her previous life.

Thanking her new landlady again, and finding herself unable to fight Mrs. Paten's infectious smile. Olivia proceeded back through the quiet New England seaside town.