SEABROOK; Harry Styles

4

FOUR

The morning sun filtered softly through the windows of the small dining room in the B&B. Harry had been awake early, mostly because he had nothing pressing to do and the tranquility of Seabrook had made sleep come easily. He was thankful for the quiet pace of the town, especially after the rush of his usual life.

As he made his way downstairs to the dining room, the smell of fresh coffee and warm bread filled the air. The room was small but cozy, with wooden tables and mismatched chairs, giving it a homey feel. The receptionist from the day before, along with another woman who looked like she could be related to her, were preparing the breakfast spread. There were fresh pastries, eggs, and fruit laid out, but Harry's attention was immediately drawn to the young woman who was helping serve the food.

Mara.

She was at the far end of the room, arranging some fruit on a platter, her head bent as she focused on the task at hand. Harry hesitated for a moment before approaching the counter. The familiarity of her presence from yesterday made him feel oddly calm, though he couldn't quite pinpoint why. She was still the same, calm and quiet, but there was something else about her today, something he hadn't noticed before.

"Good morning," Harry said, walking up to the counter, his voice soft. She looked up at him, her gaze steady and unflinching, as if she hadn't been startled by his approach at all.

"Morning," Mara replied, her voice as quiet as it had been the day before, but there was a touch of warmth in it today. She gave him a small nod, returning her attention to the food she was preparing.

"I didn't realize you were working here," Harry said, his curiosity piqued. "I thought you were just a regular here."

Mara smiled slightly, though it was subtle, like she didn't often let her emotions show too freely. "It's my grandmother's B&B," she explained, glancing up at him for a moment. "I help out when I can, especially in the mornings. It's not much, but it keeps things running."

Harry couldn't help but smile at her understated way of talking about it. "I see. Well, it's a nice place," he said. "Seems like it's got everything you need to get away from the world."

"Exactly," she replied, her eyes softening a little. "That's what we like about it here. Quiet. Simple."

As they spoke, a few more guests came into the dining room, some of them taking their seats and others heading to the buffet to grab their food. Harry glanced around, feeling a bit out of place among the locals and regulars. But before he could say anything more, one of the other guests, a middle-aged man with a thick accent, waved over at Mara.

"Mara!" the man called out as he walked toward the counter. "Are you doing another tour of the town today? You know, the one with the stories? My wife was hoping to join in again."

Harry paused mid-sip of his coffee, his curiosity instantly piqued. Tour? What was that about?

Mara seemed slightly taken aback by the question, but quickly recovered. "I wasn't planning on it today," she replied, her tone still calm but with an edge of hesitation. "But I could do another one later in the afternoon if there's enough interest."

The man smiled widely. "Oh, definitely! The last one was fantastic. My wife loved hearing all the history, didn't you, darling?" He glanced back at his wife, who nodded enthusiastically from the table.

Harry's eyebrows furrowed slightly, the wheels turning in his mind. A tour? He hadn't expected that. He hadn't even thought Seabrook would have tours, much less guided ones led by someone like Mara. He looked at her again, this time with more curiosity. She didn't seem like the type to be a tour guide, but there was something in her demeanor—something that made him want to know more.

"I didn't realize you did tours," Harry said, leaning casually against the counter, keeping his voice light but with a trace of genuine interest. "I'm not really in a rush, and I'd love to see more of Seabrook. Is it something I could join?"

Mara met his gaze for a moment, her expression unreadable. For a second, Harry wasn't sure if she was going to say yes. She didn't seem to be one for anything too... formal. But after a long pause, she gave him a small nod.

"Sure," she said, her voice soft. "It's mostly walking and talking about the history of the town. Nothing too elaborate. I usually do it when people are interested, so I don't mind showing you around. It'll be later, though, around 2 PM."

Harry smiled, a little surprised by how easily she agreed to it. "I'd love that. It sounds like a nice way to really see the town."

"Alright then," she said, her eyes softening, but she quickly returned her attention to the food she was preparing. "We meet at the main square in front of the fountain, if you're interested. That's where it all starts."

Harry grinned, feeling a sense of excitement that he hadn't expected. "I'll be there," he said. "Thank you."

As he moved back to grab his plate, he couldn't help but wonder what kind of stories Mara would tell. He had seen a side of her at Coastal Café that day—her focus, her quietness—but now, learning that she gave tours, he realized there was more to her than met the eye.