It was Aria’s favorite day of the year—the first day of summer. The children of Honor Valley would be sleeping in as school had already been out for weeks. Parents would be up early scouring the city paper for activities to engage their children in for the weekend, activities that would hopefully occupy their charges while the parents got a few stolen moments of quiet.
When Aria was a kid, her parents’ favorite activity, and her number one choice, was to go to the beach. Although there were no ocean views in the inland state of Montana, the state boasted a number of lakes, rivers, and watersheds offering plenty of water sport and enjoyment. Valor Shore was nestled just to the north of Honor Valley.
In those waters, Aria’s father had taught her to swim. On a picnic blanket, she’d shared sandwiches and potato salad with her mom. She’d found her two best friends while playing in the sand. Yes, Valor Shore held all of Aria’s best memories, and that was the reason she was going to save its beach.
Aria rolled out of bed just as the first rays of sun were starting to peek over the horizon. She laced up her running shoes, making sure to keep her movements quiet so as not to wake up her roommate, Grace. Once dressed and shoed, Aria set off toward the beach.
The sand was soft and warm beneath her feet. She loved the squish she felt in the soles of her shoes. She pushed herself harder, relishing the feeling of freedom and energy that came with each step.
As she ran, she took in the sights and sounds around her. The waves crashed against the shore, seagulls cried out overhead, and neighbors waved to her as they began their day. Aria felt alive and invigorated, grateful for the beauty of her hometown and the sense of community that she cherished.
The house she’d chosen after she’d come back from college had been the closest one that she could get to the beach. She went to sleep each night with the sound of the water lapping at the shores. She woke each morning with the smell of… well, not salt. The scent was often unpleasant as the traffic on the beach increased as the weather got warmer.
The joy Aria felt upon waking sank to her toes as she jogged along the shore. Her eyes scanned the sand for a clear path, but all she could see was a mess of plastic bottles, empty snack packets, and other bits of trash littering the once-pristine beach. It was a far cry from the idyllic landscape she remembered from her childhood visits.
She slowed to a stop, feeling a knot of anger and sadness form in her stomach. This was supposed to be a place of natural beauty, a haven for wildlife and humans alike. But instead, it had become a dumping ground for careless visitors and thoughtless litterbugs.
As she stood there, taking in the sight before her, she knew she had to do something. She couldn’t just stand by and watch the beach be destroyed. She would have to take action, to rally the community and clean up this precious resource.
Slowing to a walk, Aria bent to pick up a plastic bottle that had washed up on the shore. A pang of disappointment filled her. She had been working tirelessly to organize the annual beach cleanup event. The sight of trash on the beach only strengthened her resolve to make it a success.
With her morning run done, Aria turned her attention to the business at hand. It was a few minutes past seven in the morning. The aroma of fresh coffee beans tickled her nose as she got closer and closer to the coffee shop. Sandy Perk was open and brewing. The morning crew was already at work calling out orders to the early shift of workers in the small town.
“Hey, Aria!” one of the customers called out, waving to her.
“Good morning!” Aria replied, walking behind the counter. It wasn’t yet her shift in the café, but she liked showing her face at all times of the day. Being that it was her coffee shop, she knew it was always a good time to make nice with the customers.
She glanced up and smiled as Mr. Johnson, a regular customer, entered the shop. He was a kind-hearted elderly man with a gentle smile and a twinkle in his eyes.
“Morning, Mr. Johnson!” Aria greeted him warmly. “The usual, I assume?”
Mr. Johnson nodded with a chuckle. “You know me too well, Aria. Can’t resist your delicious brew.”
Aria called out Mr. Johnson’s order to Emmie, the barista currently on shift. Then she turned back to Mr. Johnson. “What’s on tap for you today, Mr. Johnson? Any exciting plans?”
Mr. Johnson laughed softly. “Oh, nothing too exciting, my dear. Just enjoying the simple pleasures. I was out for a walk on the waters, but I got deterred by all that trash.”
Aria nodded empathetically. “Don’t worry, Mr. J. I’ve got a plan for it.”
“If it’s anything like the plan you had for those beans, I’m sure I’ll be back enjoying the sand soon.” Mr. Johnson took his travel mug back and found himself a seat near the back of the café.
Aria wanted to assure Mr. Johnson of just that. But she knew better than to make big promises she couldn’t deliver on. It was her first year as head of the cleanup, and she had a few things to prove. A few things she would prove.
As she turned to head out to get herself properly cleaned up for the afternoon shift, the bell dinged over the door. The dinging bell was obviously a regular occurrence in the coffee shop. But this time, for some reason, the tingling chime caught Aria’s attention and urged her to turn around and look.
A man stood in the doorway. In fact, he filled out the doorway. His broad shoulders brushed the sides of the frame. He was tall enough that he had to dip his head lest he bump the bell and make it ring again. Though Aria wasn’t sure if it had rung again. The chimes were still ringing in her head.
His sandy blond hair made her think of running carefree along the shore. His bright blue eyes recalled lazy days lying on a beach towel. Aria felt a spark of curiosity and something else, a feeling she couldn’t quite identify.
But the guy turned on his heel without even looking at her. A sense of disappointment washed over her. Like she’d just missed out on something. But she couldn’t go after it. She had a business to run.
Aria had no idea what made the guy walk out without placing an order. What she did know was that if the new guy wanted a decent cup of coffee, he’d be back. Her café wasn’t just the best brew in town, it was the only one.
She took a moment to watch him walk away, noticing his gait and poise. He had the set of a soldier. It was very likely since Honor Valley was the site of a military base. Too bad if he was. Aria had just one rule for her love life, and that was that she didn’t date soldiers. No matter if they were as handsome going as they were coming.
