MARI

Pierce and Oliver left me alone again for the day, and as the temperature slowly dropped in Pelican Bay, I itched to leave the house and explore the city on my own. It’s how I found myself walking Bayside Drive headed toward Main Street and the little bakery on the corner less than an hour after they vacated the premises for "important Kensington business." Air quotes added by me to emphasize their ridiculousness.

I passed the large blue bed-and-breakfast and ...