Chapter 20 - The Aftermath
The next morning, the storm had broken, leaving behind a sky of brilliant, scrubbed-clean blue.
I drove down to the pier with Elena to check on the boathouse. The roads were littered with fallen branches and debris, but as we pulled into the gravel lot, I let out a massive breath of relief. The Anchor was still standing. The new roof we had installed the week prior had held perfectly.
The local community was already out in full force. Neighbors were helping each other clear fallen trees from driveways, sharing chainsaws and thermoses of hot coffee.
May you like
I grabbed my work gloves from the back of the truck and joined a group of men trying to move a massive oak branch that was blocking the main road to the pier. We pushed and hauled, our boots slipping in the mud, until the road was clear.
When I walked back to the boathouse, Elena was sweeping the front porch, smiling at me. I realized then that we hadn't just built a restaurant; we had become part of a community. We were no longer isolated islands. We belonged here.
