Hello there! Thank you for reading so far! Let me know your thoughts and opinions, it will help me make the story better!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, SM does, and I'm just messing around with them.
This story is rated M for mature for mild sexual themes and language.
Without further ado, here is Chapter 2 of Riptide!
Grabbing an orange and my keys, I rushed out the back door to retrieve my bike. I was running late. Opening the gate to the front lawn, I noticed the worker bees were back, and buzzing more than yesterday on the house next door. I pushed off and swung onto my bike, throwing my orange, phone, and keys into the basket.
My work commute is one of my most favorite parts of my day. I love the feeling of the wind in my face and producing zero emissions, other than sweat. I like to say I inherited my green trait from Aunt Irina. My mother was so unaware of her own actions and she's too scatterbrained for her own good. I was finally able to get her to recycle at least before I left.
Arriving at the small building on the corner of Main Street, I parked my bike in its usual place. Looking up at the sign, "Swan Studio and Gallery", I realized how far I had come since moving here. I sold my ancient truck, bought my own studio and gallery, and working as an artist and making a living off of my art. My mother disapproved of my choice of work, despite never having a career herself. I love her, but sometimes she is very hypocritical. I miss her, though. After the accident, she moved us to Phoenix, far away from St. Petersburg. In Phoenix, she met Phil. They married after knowing each other for four months, surprising me and especially my father.
My dad, Charlie still lives in the small town in Georgia where I was born and lived until my parents' divorce when I was ten. He used to come down at least three times a year and visit me. He always supported my dreams of being an artist. He even owns a couple of original paintings of mine.
I unlocked the door and walked inside. In a couple of weeks, the gallery is hosting an event. My goal is to attract the non-locals for an evening and push my work through the door in order to make space for a new series I have been working on. I make most of my money in the summer and have to divide it for the rest of the year.
Flipping on the lights, I walked to my desk in the corner of the room and powered on my computer. True to her word, I had an email waiting from Mrs. Newton. She commissions me to paint seascapes and nautically themed objects onto shells, which she sells in her shop. The shells usually fly off the shelves during peak seasons. Upon receiving the order, I head to the back to begin her largest order yet.
The shells take all day, with breaks of engaging with visitors to the gallery. Before I know it, the clock strikes six, and it's time to lock up and head home.
I wake again before my alarm, from the loud hammering and sawing coming from next door. I groan and pull my pillow over my ears. It's been two weeks of renovations, and every day the construction team seem to start their day earlier and earlier. I muster the strength to get out of bed and change into my favorite leggings and t-shirt. This has been my routine. Wake up from the loud sounds of renovation, change, and ride my bike on the beach. Nobody is usually at the beach this early in the morning, so I take advantage of the empty beach.
As I ride, sand castles lay abandoned, shells litter the shore, waiting to be collected, and remnants of fires lay in the sand. I make my way home, after breaking into a full-on sweat from the resistance of the sand and the overwhelming humidity. Parking my bike, I notice a woman, who seems out of place with the lack of coveralls, next door.
She has caramel colored hair, hanging in loose waves down her back. She's petite, standing shorter than me. She is wearing a white fitted t-shirt with jeans splattered in paint. She appears to be in her late thirties or early forties. Standing on the porch, she directs the workers as they are hanging the shutters on the windows. She caught my eye and smiled. She gave one last instruction to the crew and started making her way towards the short fence separating our yards.
"Hi there, I'm Esme Cullen. My husband and I are moving in next door tomorrow." She greeted me warmly and stuck her hand out.
Shaking her hand, I replied, "Nice to meet your Mrs. Cullen, my name is Bella Swan."
"What a beautiful name! Please call me Esme. Mrs. Cullen is my mother in law." She chuckled. Everything about her is beautiful.
"Thank you, Esme. Please call me Bella. Welcome to Clear Lake." I tried to return a smile as equally warm.
"The neighborhood is lovely. I am excited to live so close to the beach."
"It is nice having the beach practically in your backyard. The sunrises and sunsets are the best here." I have painted the sunrises and sunsets from the beach several times. Those paintings are usually quite popular.
"How exciting! You must come over for dinner once we are settled. My husband, Carlisle is the new doctor in town. He loves any reason for company to come over."
"Thank you, Esme, that sounds nice." I grinned. I would love to see all of the work they had done to the house.
"Oh, it's really not a problem! My three children will be moving here within the month, and you must give us a tour of the town! Everything has changed so much since my youth." She grabbed my hand in between hers, eyes sparkling.
"There is not too much to see, but I would love to," I replied genuinely. "Your whole family is moving here?"
Esme smile broadly. "Yes! My eldest son is opening a mechanic shop in town with his wife. My daughter is a fashion designer who is going to be working with Mrs. Stanley at the bridal shop. Her fiance is a police officer, who will be transferring to the Clear Lake Police. My youngest son is also a doctor, who will start his first year of practice in July."
Wow, some gene pool.
"They are all moving here?" I asked. How strange. A whole family moving together?
Esme grinned. "Yes, I am originally from here. We are all very close as well. It was a group decision."
"Wow," I breathed, "How interesting."
"Why, thank you, Bella. We try to keep our lives interesting as a family." She winked. "By the way, I love what you have done with Irina's place! I have to get going, it was very nice to meet you, Bella!" She smiled a brilliant, perfect smile and turned around.
Esme knew Irina? I was so stunned, I couldn't respond.
I swirled my brush into the paint mixture, attempting to make the perfect shade of blue for the ocean at dawn. My brush moved fluidly across the canvas, mimicking the waves of the ocean. I realized why I preferred to paint the ocean rather than swim in it. With my brush, I could control the unpredictable currents and waves. The real-life ocean could not be controlled, no matter how hard you tried.
"Bella, I'm heading to the beach, wanna come?" Riley asked. He was already in his wetsuit. His shaggy brown hair hung just above his eyes.
"Yes! Momma bought me a new bathing suit yesterday. I need to use it!" Although my brother was six years older, I always loved when he asked me to hang out with him. I felt so mature.
"I will only take you if you promise to stay on the shore while I surf." He crossed his arms authoritatively.
"I promise!" I squealed.
"Then get your suit on and put on your sunscreen. Don't forget your sun hat!" I raced upstairs to change into my new polka-dotted swimsuit. I grabbed my floppy pink sun hat and hopped down the stairs to apply my sunscreen. Meanwhile, I could hear Riley making sandwiches in the kitchen. I hope he was making our favorite, peanut butter and banana!
We finally made it to the beach and unpacked our beach bag. I set down a towel near the surf and began building a sandcastle.
"Bella Bean, stay on the shore. There are some sick waves coming."
"Yes, Riley," I replied, too preoccupied with building the moat to my castle. Riley kissed my forehead, which I immediately wiped off. He chuckled and ran out into the ocean with his surfboard.
I finished building my castle, and now I needed to find some shells. I looked out into the water for Riley. I spotted him and made my way to the tide pools. They always had the best shells. I hopped and splashed in each pool, collecting only the best shells. I was stepping out of one of the pools when I spotted a huge conch shell in the clear, blue water. My eyes went wide. It was perfect for the top of my castle! I ran to the coastline and into the water to pick up the shell. I was attempting to run through the water, only to misjudge the distance the shell was from the shore. Suddenly, my feet couldn't feel the sand anymore. I fell and flailed around. I didn't have my floaties on! I tried to keep my head above the water, but an incoming wave pulled my body down. Another wave came as I tried to swim to the top.
Abruptly, a pair of strong arms pulled me from the water. They pushed me to the surface and I sputtered and took a deep breath.
"Bella! What did I tell you!?" Riley yelled. "You could've drowned! You're lucky I came to shore for a lunch break."
"Riley," I croaked as he pulled me towards the shore. He sat me down on the sand and gave me a disapproving look. "I'm sorry, Riley." I cried. "I saw a shell I wanted and I thought it would be okay if I grabbed it." Tears were flowing down my six-year-old face. Riley pulled me into a hug.
"Bella Bean, you need to listen to me when I give you directions. You could've gotten seriously hurt." He comforted and stroked my hair.
"I'm sorry," I whispered as he pulled me into a hug.
I was drawn back to the present as the bell rang, signaling I had company in the gallery. I set my brush into the water cup and wiped my hands on my apron. I pushed through the door and into the gallery.
"Hi, welcome to Swan Studio and Gallery!" I smiled cheerfully.
"Bella!" Esme grinned. "So very nice to see you! I didn't know your worked here!" Esme was accompanied by a petite young woman, with dark brown hair it was almost black, cut to her shoulders. "This is my daughter, Alice. Alice, my dear, this is Bella, my new neighbor!"
"Hi Bella, it's nice to meet you!" Alice said, smiling broadly. Her smile matched her mother's, beautiful and blinding.
"Hi Alice, it's nice to meet you as well. Esme told me you are moving here, welcome to Clear Lake." I offered my hand, but I was startled as she pulled me into a hug.
"Thanks! I've always wanted to live in a beach town."
"Bella, can you show us some of the artwork here? I need a piece to hang in a particular spot in the house." Esme wrapped a arm around my shoulders.
"Sure, that's why I'm here!" I smiled. "What type of piece are you looking for? I have some seascapes, nautical pieces, and a few landscapes."
"Pick your favorite artist, and show me some of their work." She replied.
"Actually, all of the pieces you see in here are mine."
Esme and Alice gasped.
"These are absolutely stunning, Bella!" Esme breathed. She began to walk around the small gallery and admire each painting.
"Thank you, I appreciate it." I smiled. Alice followed her mother around the gallery and quietly discussed each painting with her. "I'll be at the desk if you need me." I doubt they heard me.
After about thirty minutes, Esme and Alice made their way to the desk.
"Do you take checks?" Esme asked.
"Yes, of course, Esme." I beamed.
"Great! I'll take these four over at that wall." She pointed. I gasped. Those four paintings were the biggest paintings I had in the gallery, making them the most expensive pieces in the gallery.
"Wow, Esme, are you sure?" I managed to say.
"They are stunning, I know exactly where I will put them as well. How much?" Esme and Alice grinned at each other.
"They are individually priced." I began as I totaled the cost. Esme looked at my calculator and pulled out her checkbook. She proceeded to fill out the check, ripping it out elegantly and handed it over. "Thank you so much, Esme. I appreciate your support!"
"Oh, absolutely no problem, dear! I know talent when I see it." she winked. "I can come by to pick up the pieces tomorrow."
"That sounds great, Esme. Thank you again for your support, it really means a lot to me."
"It was nice meeting you, Bella!" Alice chirped. "You are very talented."
"Thank you, Alice. It was nice meeting you as well." I replied, grinning.
"Bye, Bella!" Esme said warmly.
I waved as Esme and Alice headed towards the door.
I looked down at the check and felt light as I read the amount. Fifteen thousand and six-hundred fifty. I was floored.