Jack had gotten the bright idea to go on a vacation during the hottest part of the summer. I was fine with it, though. I loved the beach and the sound of the ocean, especially at night as I drifted off to sleep.

He told me we’d be sharing the house with another couple, and I was fine with that, too. The house, from the photos I’d seen online, was rather large, and there was plenty of room for four people, given its two sides.

When we finally pulled up outside, he said, “It was originally one big house for one big family. Then the kids moved off, the parents got older, and they turned it into a vacation home with two sides to rent.”

Whatever its backstory, the place was gorgeous. I grabbed my overnight bag from the car and eagerly followed him inside. I was craving a long shower,... Read More