Pink Coral Island: A sweet, clean, & wholesome beach romance.

Pink Coral Island

CHAPTER ONE

The Harbor Jewel Ferry glided through the Atlantic Ocean, carrying Jenny Ormani closer to her birthplace, Pink Coral Island. As she stood near the open area, the sea breeze tousled her hair and stirred up a mix of bittersweet emotions. The deck beneath her feet felt sticky, coated with a thin layer of oil, a reminder of her long journey.

Blue-green waters lapped against the boat's side, the gentle rhythm calling out, inviting her to the island of memories.

Pink Coral Island was more than just a place. It was a part of her, a tapestry woven with centuries-old superstitions and the vibrant African American Gullah culture.

She yearned to reconnect. This was where she had grown up, where she had experienced the world through the lens of folklore and tradition. It was a homecoming that carried both enthusiasm and a hint of uncertainty.

A sudden burst of excitement rippled through the passengers as a pod of dolphins appeared, leaping and dancing in the waves. In folklore, the Gullah revered dolphins as protectors and wise guides—a positive sign, a confirmation she was on the right path.

The ferry's engine skipped and stuttered, and gray, soupy clouds formed in the distance. She knew from experience that visibility could suddenly drop to only a few feet, leaving even the most experienced crewmen disoriented.

"Come on, Harbor Jewel, you can do it," she murmured. "You've done this dozens of times."

Her best friend, Maria, came to stand beside her. The faint smell of alcohol swirled as she munched on a peppermint sweet.

"Are you talking to someone?" Maria questioned.

"I'm talking to the boat."

"Right. Doesn't everyone? This island is making you irrational, and we haven't even arrived yet."

As Jenny reached into her tote bag, her fingers brushed against a crumpled note from her ex-boyfriend, Dominick. Memories of their complicated relationship flooded her mind.

"I must be seeing things." Maria peered over Jenny's shoulder and cast her an accusatory glance. "You're still holding on to Dominick's note?"

Jenny shook her head. "I wouldn't call it holding on." The weight of her past clung to her, making it difficult to move forward. The fear of choosing incorrectly always lingered, casting a shadow over her decisions.

Dominick had said that returning to America was proof of her commitment issues. He had a special knack for sending her into a tailspin of self-doubt.

"He's a jerk." Maria snapped Jenny back to reality.

"He doesn't understand the American mindset, where work is more important than play."

Maria scoffed. "Yeah, and it's more beneficial for him to sit around and do nothing rather than work."

This recent position on Pink Coral Island came at the right time. If she didn't try, she would never find out if she could succeed in the hotel industry.

"Goodbye, Dominick." With a sigh, she flung his note into the sea.

That was it, the end of their relationship. Leaving him was far better than him leaving her.

The dreaded fog descended without warning; a dense white mist that made visibility nearly impossible. The ferry rocked from side to side, sending water droplets down her arms.

Nearby, a passenger grumbled, his words barely audible.

The deafening blare of the foghorn left Jenny's ears ringing and her nerves on edge. Maria's sudden yelp and grip on her arm only added to her jitters.

"You promised this ride would be smooth sailing," Maria said.

Jenny flashed a wry grin in response. "It takes about an hour from Hilton Head and it usually is."

Maybe half the time. You never knew about the other half.

She swayed along with the ferry's motion, her body struggling to adapt to the constant pitching and rolling.

As the fog lifted, the few passengers on board erupted into a round of applause, their relief unmistakable.

Within minutes, the ferry gradually decelerated and readied itself to berth at the island's marina. A foamy surf hissed through the sand at the shoreline, and the navy-blue water reflected for miles.

Jenny's throat welled with emotion as she scanned the recognizable landscape, absorbing every detail. Every inch of this island held a piece of her past—the people she had loved and the experiences she had lived. Even with poignant recollections, she flashed a smile, reminding herself to stay present in the moment and enjoy the adventure.

Maria draped her shoulders with a cotton scarf. "How on earth ... did you talk me into this?"

"The Grand Michelangelo Hotel might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us."

"You're forgetting that no one lives here."

"The Gullah people have lived here for centuries." Jenny inhaled the scents of seaweed and cedar as the familiar atmospheric vibe embraced her.

The boat swayed, and Jenny struggled to keep her balance.

Pink Coral Island was the Carolina's southernmost island, and summers were sizzling and steamy.

She still remembered the trails she had roamed as a girl. The same winding roads led to secluded beaches, where the sea met the sky. She imagined the rows of boats once bobbing in their wake. She remembered jogging with Christopher, their feet touching in the surf.

No. She refused to let her thoughts wander down that hard path.

Jenny glanced at Maria. "Remember that the Gullah beliefs differ from ours."

"Uh-huh, right. Different, how?"

"You'll see. Their stories are powerful." Jenny shivered as an unexpected gust of wind blew past, tangling her hair into a frenzy. She tied it back with a silk hairband from her tote.

Perhaps modern-day society has no business here.

"Just as I predicted." Maria took in the entire five-mile-long island. Her bangs flew into her eyes, and she pushed them under her straw boater hat. "No signs of anyone living or breathing."

Not a soul disturbed the wild and untamed beach. Sand dunes, flanked by tufts of hearty grass, rolled like waves in the wind, ever outward. The sand was light and fluffy, and Jenny remembered sinking her toes into it as she climbed to the top of the dune. A sweeping view of the island and ocean rewarded her effort.

"A slower lifestyle is a break from our chaotic, everyday lives," Jenny said. "A connection with nature is beneficial for the soul."

"You sound like an ad campaign."

"I'm an expert—I lived here a long time." Jenny bit her lip, and her breath quickened. Uncertainties about the new job had kept her up at night. Worry was a definite stimulant for insomnia.

Would her position offer enough challenges to keep her engaged? Would she click with her colleagues and superiors? Could she resist the urge to wander, even if it meant staying put in her hometown for an extended period?

She craned her neck to get a better view of the shore. She'd committed so much of this island to memory.

"The locals are friendly and look out for each other," she said. "Their lifestyle is more distinct than what we're accustomed to."

Maria would soon encounter the island's drawbacks—limited resources and the challenges of communication with the outside world.

But wasn't that part of life? Taking the bad with the good?

Want to read more?

Available on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW16MC3C

Available in ebook, paperback, large print paperback, and hardcover.