Sweet Cravings

Chapter Three – Beyond the Prairie

Bri

The last two weeks had flown by. Bri and Gem had decided to spend a whole week in Comfort, booking a charming bed-and-breakfast on the southern point of the island—a white Victorian house with a lighthouse attached like something out of a storybook.

Plane tickets and taxis were confirmed for early Monday morning, and Bri couldn’t wait to tell Jax about their plans. So here she was again, as she was every Sunday morning, kneeling at his grave.

“Sky is so excited to see the ocean,” she whispered, tracing the letters on the stone. “Her little face lights up every time we talk about it. It’s been a long two weeks with her constant, ‘We go big water today, Mama?’ and ‘Sky can’t wait no more, Mama.’”

She chuckled at the memory of her daughter’s sweet whine. “Your mother isn’t happy. Accused me of wasting your money. It wouldn’t be so bad if she ranted in private, but she always makes sure she has an audience. I know you’d tell me to ignore her, but that’s the thing, love—you never had to deal with it. She makes me feel like a thief, like I’ve stolen from you. I know it’s not true. We both paid for our insurance, and I’ve hardly touched the money you left us. But it still stings.”

She pressed her forehead to the stone. “Next Sunday will be the first Sunday I won’t come see you. But I promise—I’ll come Tuesday when we’re back and tell you everything.”

Getting to her feet, she laid her hand on the smooth granite. “I love you, Jax.”

The next morning, Bri woke up as Gem’s little spoon. Her friend had always been a cuddler. She grinned as she wriggled out of Gem’s death grip and padded to the kitchen to make breakfast.

Peeking into Sky’s room, her heart melted. Sky was perched on the bed, whispering to her bunny. “We go on wacation, Bun Bun. You be good or Aunty Gemmy leave you by the big water.”

Bri laughed softly. “Oh, my sweet baby. Mama won’t let that meanie leave Bun Bun behind.” She scooped them both up, kissing Sky’s curls. “Come on—we need breakfast. Then it’s time to go.”

The trip was a blur of firsts for Sky—first time leaving the state, first plane ride, first ferry crossing. Her nose stayed pressed to the window, eyes wide with wonder, bunny clutched tight in her arms.

Bri stood at the bow of the ferry, wind tugging at her hair, Comfort Isle glimmering in the distance like a promise. She gripped Gem’s hand. “Nearly there.”

The ferry docked, and they piled into the little Honda rental. As soon as the doors opened, the scent of salt and roses swept in. They drove through town—a chocolate box of storefronts with bright signs and cheerful window displays. The GPS chimed, guiding them toward the B&B.

The lane was narrow, shaded by arching maples. At the end stood a white Victorian house with blue shutters and a wraparound porch draped in hanging baskets of pink petunias. Rising behind it, like a sentinel watching over the sea, was a slender lighthouse painted in crisp white and navy stripes. Its lantern room gleamed in the afternoon sun, and a weathervane spun lazily in the breeze.

A hand-painted sign read: Harbor Haven Bed & Breakfast.

Bri parked, her pulse quickening as she took in the view—the ocean glimmered just beyond the garden, waves whispering against the rocky shore. Sky pressed her nose to the window, eyes shining. “Mommy, big water!” she squealed.

Gem grinned, pushing up her sunglasses. “This is adorable. A B&B with its own lighthouse? Bri, this is straight out of a novel.”

Bri laughed softly, though her stomach fluttered with nerves. “Let’s check in,” she said, stepping into the salty breeze. The air smelled of roses and sea spray—a scent so different from Montana’s sage and dust it made her chest ache.

The front door opened, and a woman in her sixties appeared, smile warm and welcoming. “You must be Bri and Gem—and this little sweetheart is Sky, I bet.” She wiped her hands on a floral apron and extended one. “I’m Margaret. Come on in, dears. You’re just in time for afternoon tea.”

Inside, the house was a cozy dream—polished wood floors, lace curtains fluttering in the breeze, and the faint aroma of lemon scones drifting from the kitchen. Through the back windows, Bri glimpsed the lighthouse’s base, its whitewashed walls glowing against the blue horizon. Margaret noticed her gaze and smiled.

“Beautiful, isn’t it? The lighthouse’s been part of Harbor Haven for generations. You can climb up tomorrow—the view of the harbor is breathtaking.”

Sky darted toward a basket of toys in the corner, giggles ringing like bells. Margaret led them upstairs to a sunny room with two beds, a crib tucked neatly by the window, and a view of the lighthouse rising proudly against the sky.

Gem flopped onto the bed with a dramatic sigh. “Bri, this is heaven. I’m never leaving.”

Bri smiled faintly, gazing out at the water and the lighthouse beyond. “I know the feeling,” she whispered.

Margaret’s voice floated from the doorway. “Tea’s ready whenever you are. And tomorrow, you’ll want to explore the town—it’s the heart of Comfort Isle, and I have left you some leaflets on boat tours and places to visit.”

Bri nodded, her pulse quickening. Tomorrow was the start of adventure, and she couldn’t wait.

She glanced at Sky, humming softly to her bunny, and Gem, already scrolling for salon listings. Bri drew a deep breath, tasting salt and possibility.

As they sipped their tea and nibbled on scones, the dived into all the activities comfort had to offer, dolphin spotting, harbour boat tours... the list was endless. Gem chuckled, “we might need more than a week to see everything.”

Their first night on comfort was a dream, they dined in a tiny seafood restaurant on the water and walked through the town, stopping at a little bakery that made Bri’s heart stutter, it was like someone had been in her dreams and brought them to life, Gem gasped.

“Bri this is just like the bakery you drew in college, do you remember, this is almost an exact replica.”

Bri sighed and they took a seat, ordering tea and a pink cookie for Sky. The smells, the ambiance, everything spoke to Bri’s soul.