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𓇼𓇼𓇼
"Hey, Madi, can you do me a favor and pick up Noah from his golf lesson? I'm stuck on a call with a guest who's convinced their room isn't 'ocean-view' enough," Scott Hyland called from his office, his voice tinged with the kind of patient exasperation that only came from years of managing a luxury hotel.
Madison grinned as she leaned against the doorframe, watching her dad juggle the phone, a stack of papers, and a cup of coffee. "Sure thing, Dad. But you owe me—again."
Scott flashed her a grateful smile. "You're a lifesaver. I promise, pancakes tomorrow morning. Extra chocolate chips."
Madison laughed, shaking her head. "Deal. But don't skimp on the whipped cream this time!"
As she grabbed her keys and headed out the door, she caught a glimpse of herself in the hallway mirror. Her medium-length brown hair fell just past her shoulders, framing her face in soft waves. Her brown eyes, warm and inviting, were often the first thing people noticed about her. In a place like the Outer Banks, where beauty was as abundant as the sand on the beach, Madison had the kind of looks that made people stop and stare—but she never let it go to her head.
Madison drove through the familiar streets, passing by the towering mansions of Figure 8 and the more modest homes on the edge of the Cut. Their house was perfectly positioned on the border between the two worlds, much like Madison herself. She liked it that way—being part of both, yet fully belonging to neither.
When she arrived at the golf course, she spotted Noah right away. He was hard to miss, with his oversized golf hat and the way he waved his arms excitedly when he saw her.
"Madi!" he called, running over with his golf bag dragging behind him. "Guess what? I hit the ball all the way to the trees today!"
Madison grinned, ruffling his hair as he hopped into the car. "Nice! Maybe next time you'll send it all the way to the moon."
Noah snorted. "Yeah, right. That would take, like, a rocket or something."
"Well, you never know," Madison teased, pulling out of the parking lot. "Keep practicing, and you might just surprise yourself."
As they drove home, the 7 year old continued to chatter about his lesson, his excitement bubbling over. Madison listened, occasionally throwing in a comment or two, enjoying the way his stories jumped from one topic to the next without missing a beat.
By the time they reached the dock behind their house, the sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Madison parked the car and walked with Noah to the water's edge, where they often came to unwind.
Noah plopped down next to her, his legs dangling over the edge as they watched the sun dip below the horizon, leaving behind a sky streaked with purples and pinks. The day had been full, but in the quiet of the evening, everything felt just right.
And as the stars began to twinkle in the sky, Madison knew that no matter what the Outer Banks had in store for them, they'd face it together—with a laugh, a smile, and maybe even a pancake breakfast or two.
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I'm def going to go back and edit these so just bare with me
