Brigid turned the levers to shut down the kiln when the last cone fell and put both hands at the base of her spine, arching a little in counter pressure. She checked the time on her phone and nodded. Time enough to go out and get a breath of the sea air while she waits for the oven to cool enough for her to check the freshly fired pieces.

Hair in a pony tail high on her head with tendrils escaping everywhere, cutoffs and tank top splattered with clay and feet bare, Brigid walked out onto the boardwalk and stopped against the railing to look out at the horizon.