Chapter 5 Rising Tides

The next morning dawned with a silvery light spilling across Aiyetoro's rooftops, but Folakemi had hardly slept. Her thoughts had been a restless tide, swirling between the progress they'd made on Sea Whisper Inn and the obstacles that still loomed.

When she finally rose, the ocean breeze was cooler, tinged with the faint scent of rain.

In the kitchen, she poured herself a glass of water and gazed at the faded ledger Maami had kept in a wooden chest - a reminder of the work ahead. Every page was a careful record of the inn's past guests, Maami's gentle handwriting filling her with bittersweet warmth.

She turned a few pages before closing it with a sigh.

There were too many repairs left to tackle - a leaky roof in one of the guest rooms, warped floorboards in the hallway, and the creaky steps that needed replacing. Plus, she hadn't yet decided how to advertise the inn once it reopened or even set her rates.

For a moment, worry pricked her thoughts like tiny thorns.

That was when a knock came at the door.

"Morning," Wale's familiar voice greeted her as she opened up.

He stood with a rolled-up blueprint and a small paper bag tucked under one arm.

"Figured you could use some breakfast," he said warmly.

Folakemi felt an unexpected rush of relief at seeing him.

"You read my mind," she replied, stepping aside.

Wale set the bag down - inside was freshly steamed moi moi and boiled yams wrapped in foil.

"You shouldn't have," Folakemi protested, though her stomach rumbled its appreciation.

"You'd do the same for me," he replied with a grin.

Together, they settled at the worn wooden table by the window. Outside, a light rain began to patter on the leaves.

As they ate, Folakemi confided her fears - all the repairs they had left, the money she'd need to see them through, and the worry that maybe Sea Whisper Inn would never truly shine again.

Wale listened quietly, his gaze kind and steady.

"You're not alone in this," he reminded her gently. "And you never will be. The village is behind you - Chidi, Sade, Mrs. Alade, and me. Even Billy," he added with a chuckle as the dog padded into the room.

Folakemi smiled, feeling a tiny knot of tension ease inside her.

That afternoon, they decided to tackle the leaky guestroom roof.

With a few more hands from the village, they set up ladders and tarpaulins under the light rain.

Wale showed Folakemi how to brace the wooden beams properly before they climbed up.

"Careful," he cautioned as she balanced on the ladder.

"I'm fine," she called back, then laughed as a sudden breeze sent droplets of rain across her face.

Together they worked side by side, hammering new wooden planks into place. Occasionally, their hands brushed as they reached for nails or held beams steady - small, fleeting touches that sent gentle waves through Folakemi's heart.

By the time they finished, the rain had slowed to a mist, and the leaking had stopped.

"Looks like Sea Whisper Inn can weather a storm again," Wale remarked with satisfaction.

"You really have a way of making impossible things seem possible," Folakemi told him softly.

He met her eyes, a quiet warmth there.

"Maybe that's because I believe in you," he replied simply.

And for a moment, in the muted light and soft rain, all the noise of worry faded into something gentler - an understanding that they were stronger together.

That evening, Folakemi decided to take a walk along the riverbank.

The rain had left the village glistening, water pooling like tiny mirrors in the rutted paths. Crickets sang in the mangroves, and fireflies began to dance in the deepening dusk.

She reached a wooden jetty and paused to watch the tide ripple across the river mouth.

Every scent and sound of Aiyetoro felt close - the salt tang of ocean water, the distant lullaby of women humming as they prepared dinner, the gentle creak of canoes rocking at their moorings.

And she thought of Maami.

Of all the evenings they'd sat together here, hands entwined and feet swinging over the water, Maami telling her that home was more than a house - it was a web of love spun across hearts and hands.

"Maami," she whispered into the hush of the evening, "I'm trying my best."

And then, as if in answer, a familiar voice broke the quiet.

"There you are," Wale called as he walked up the path.

Folakemi smiled, feeling that gentle warmth unfurl again.

"Needed some air," she told him.

He nodded, stepping closer.

"Long day," he agreed. "But a good one too. The inn looks stronger already."

"You make it easy," she said honestly.

They stood together at the water's edge, breath misting the air.

"You've given the village something back," Wale continued, voice hushed. "And tonight, I want you to know that we appreciate it. Maami would be proud. I'm proud."

That word - proud - threaded through Folakemi like a ribbon, tugging at something tender and hopeful inside her.

Wale took a small step closer, hands tucked into his pockets.

"You've always been someone worth coming home to," he murmured.

And in that quiet moment, with the river shimmering beneath the rain-soaked sky and the ocean sighing just beyond the village, Folakemi felt the world grow very still.

She glanced up, meeting his gaze - warm and steady as the lanterns glowing along the jetty - and her heart gave a gentle, thrilling flutter.

That night, Folakemi walked back to Sea Whisper Inn with a lightness in her step.

Tomorrow would bring more repairs and more decisions - there was still so much to do.

But tonight, she held close the memory of rain-soaked laughter, shared work, and the quiet strength of someone who truly believed in her.

And as she slipped beneath her blanket and the sound of ocean waves whispered her to sleep, she thought of Maami, of Wale, and of this village that was her forever home.

And she dreamed of Sea Whisper Inn glowing warmly once again - and of a future built on memories, new beginnings, and hearts forever intertwined.