The storm had passed by morning, leaving the streets of Seabrook glistening under the pale sunlight. Amara pushed open the gallery doors, letting in the salty breeze. The remnants of last night lingered in her mind—not just the storm, but the stranger who had left his name and an unexpected impression.
Liam had returned the borrowed umbrella, neatly propped by her door with a note:
"Thanks for the tea. Perhaps the sea will bring us together again. —Liam"
Amara folded the note into her pocket, a faint smile tugging at her lips. She hadn't realized how much she craved meaningful company until that brief encounter.
Later that afternoon, Amara wandered to the harbor with her sketchbook. The dock buzzed with life—fishermen unloading their morning catch, children chasing seagulls, and tourists snapping photos of the rugged coastline. She perched on a wooden bench, her pencil gliding across the page as she captured the movement of the waves.
"Mind if I join?"
She looked up to find Liam standing there, holding a notebook of his own.
"Do you always sneak up on people, or am I special?" she teased, motioning for him to sit.
He chuckled, sitting beside her. "Only when they're sketching my research subjects." He nodded toward her drawing of a pod of dolphins leaping in the waves.
"Research subjects, huh?" Amara arched a brow. "You're telling me you get paid to hang out with dolphins all day?"
"Something like that," Liam said, flipping open his notebook. The pages were filled with detailed sketches and notes about marine life. "I've been tracking their migration patterns. This area is a critical stop for them."
Amara leaned closer, impressed by the intricate detail. "You're an artist, too. Just a... scientific one."
"Guess you could say that," he admitted. "But your work—it's different. It's... emotional."
For a moment, they sat in companionable silence, their books resting between them. Amara felt a strange comfort in Liam's presence, as though they were two pieces of a puzzle that hadn't known they were missing.