A Brush of Blue

Chapter 7: Charting Unfamiliar Waters

Naomi woke to the soft buzz of her phone vibrating against her nightstand. Groggily, she blinked at the early morning light filtering through her curtains and reached for her phone, barely opening her eyes. The name on the screen made her heart flutter slightly: *Selah*. She quickly sat up, curiosity pulling her from her tired state as she unlocked her phone to read the message.

From Selah:

*Morning. I've been thinking about it... I'd like to join you and your team today. Still on for turtle tagging?*

Naomi's lips spread into a wide grin, a surge of excitement rushing through her as she quickly typed a response.

Naomi:

*Absolutely! Picking you up in about an hour? I'll swing by the cottage in the jeep.*

The thought of Selah joining her for the day made Naomi feel more energized than usual. She had hoped that Selah would agree to come, though she wasn't entirely sure the quiet artist would be up for it. Their boat trip the other day had gone surprisingly well. Despite Selah's natural reserve, Naomi had sensed a growing ease between them, and she was eager to see where that connection could lead.

With the message sent, Naomi tossed her phone on the bed and stretched, shaking off the last remnants of sleep. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, feeling the coolness of the hardwood floor beneath her feet. As she padded toward the kitchen, the scent of freshly brewed coffee greeted her, a comforting indication that her mom, Lorraine, was already up.

"Morning, Mom!" Naomi called, grabbing a mug from the cabinet. Lorraine was at the counter, slicing fruit for breakfast, her movements graceful and efficient.

Lorraine glanced up, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she noticed Naomi's chipper mood. "Well, you're up early—and with a bounce in your step. What's got you so bright-eyed this morning?"

Naomi poured herself a cup of coffee, trying to keep her excitement in check. "Nothing much, really," she replied, though the grin on her face was undeniable. "Just that Selah's coming with me today to tag turtles."

Lorraine's eyes lit up with curiosity, her hands pausing mid-slice. "Selah? The artist you mentioned the other day? Sounds like she's becoming more than just a passing acquaintance."

Naomi rolled her eyes, though she couldn't suppress her smile. "Mom, it's not like that. She's a new friend, someone who's been through a lot. I just thought some time out on the water might be good for her. She's been... closed off, but I think this will help."

Lorraine's expression softened, but she didn't let the opportunity to tease her daughter slip by. "Oh, I see," she said with a knowing smirk. "So, she's *just* a friend, huh?"

Before Naomi could respond, the kitchen door creaked open, and Noelle shuffled in, her hair an unkempt mess of curls, still half-asleep. She glanced between her mom and Naomi, clearly trying to catch up with the conversation.

"What's all this about Selah?" Noelle mumbled, pulling open the fridge and reaching for some juice. "Is she, like, your new turtle-tagging buddy or something?"

Naomi let out a laugh, shaking her head. "Noelle, you're not even awake yet. Go back to bed."

"Not until I hear more about this Selah person," Noelle said, pouring herself a glass of juice. "You've been smiling way too much lately, and I want to know why."

Naomi sighed, her thoughts briefly drifting to Selah—her quiet strength, the way her guarded exterior seemed to be softening with time. "She's... just an artist who recently moved to Blue Haven. We've hung out a couple of times, and she's coming with me today. It's nothing more than that."