Tiny Island Summer

by Rachelle Paige

  “I hear that a lot,” Darcy said with a polite smile.

  “I’m sure,” he nodded.

  “Char’s much more interesting.”

  “You are?” John asked, quirking an eyebrow.

  “I think she’s exaggerating. Law school has ruined me.”

  “How?”

  “I can’t read anything without analyzing all the ramifications. It can be a bit annoying, actually.”

  “It sounds helpful. But if it’s too much for you, I could set you up with a summer reading list. We could discuss the books and maybe I could help you find pleasure in literature again.”

  Char smiled broadly. “I’d like that.”

  “Excuse me for a minute,” Darcy told the pair.

  Under the guise of needing the ladies room, she sneaked over to the bar to give Char and John a moment alone and pay the bill. She could tell that the two of them had connected. Something tangible existed between them after only a few hours.

  Darcy sighed as she signed the credit card receipt. Envying her friend served no purpose. She held no jealousy toward anything about Charlotte. Darcy had a hard enough time getting close to someone after a few dates, let alone a few hours. Charlotte embraced her vulnerabilities and seemed to jump at every chance, both romantic and otherwise, that came her way. Darcy couldn’t seem to trust her instincts enough to do that.

  Watching Charlotte and John together felt different to her. Sure, she’d seen Char hit it off with a guy. Her easy smile and ready laugh made her ready for a flirtation, no matter the moment. But something about the pair of them together, be it the slightly wistful look in Char’s eyes or the smile that tugged at the corners of John’s mouth, convinced Darcy that theirs would be more than a passing acquaintance. Darcy shook her head. Maybe she was projecting her feelings onto them? She felt ready to meet somebody, ready for a romance of her own. Had it already been three years since James?

  She rejoined the table as John and Char were both caught in a fit of laughter. Darcy mustered up a smile of her own. Tiredness settled over her suddenly. She needed rest.

  “Are you ready to go?” Darcy asked, not even sitting back down.

  “Sure,” John replied, getting out from the booth.

  A flash of disappointment shadowed Char’s face.

  “Let me just get the bill,” John said moving toward the bar.

  “No need, I took care of it,” Darcy told him.

  “Thank you.”

  “It’s the least we could do after you helped with the luggage.”

  “That was nothing. But maybe I can take you both out on the lake tomorrow?”

  Darcy looked at Char. Char smiled in pure delight.

  “We would love that,” Darcy agreed.

  “Of course. So I’ll see you tomorrow morning, how about eleven?”

  “Sounds great,” Darcy answered, replying for them both since Char had suddenly gone mute again. “See you tomorrow.”

  John nodded at Darcy but turned to Charlotte. “See you tomorrow.”

  She mouthed bye.

  Darcy restrained herself from rolling her eyes or grabbing Char and yanking her back to reality. But she did turn and leave with Char quickly catching up.

  “That was nice,” Darcy whispered as they reached the car.

  “Mmm hmm,” Char agreed dreamily.

  “Even for a serial dater like you, this must be a new record for falling head over heels.”

  “Ha-ha, very funny. I’m not head over heels.”

  “I’m only teasing,” Darcy rushed to assure. “I think he likes you too.”

  “We’ll see,” Char said with a shrug. “You know, not every relationship has to be serious. It’s perfectly okay to have something more casual.”

  Darcy swallowed her groan. She envied her friend’s attitude about dating but not the lectures.

  “I’m just saying,” Char continued in a higher octave, “fun, flirty flings are fundamental.”

  “Your fantastic alliteration notwithstanding.” Darcy chuckled. “I don’t see it that way. Why bother if it isn’t serious? Why date someone if you don’t see a future? Why put yourself out there?”

  “I don’t want to start this fight again,” Char sighed. “But I have to say that being vulnerable isn’t a crime. And there is always something worth learning from every relationship.”

  Darcy’s cheeks burned and her eyes widened at the insinuation.

  “I didn’t mean like that. Everything isn’t sexual.” Char giggled, smacking her friend on the arm. “Although . . . you know . . . it’s nice to pick up a few things now and then.”

  Darcy fought to keep her arms at her side, but she longed to cover her ears and hide. Char had been her closest friend since college, but talking about her intimate life—or lack thereof—with anyone made her squeamish.

  “Look,” Char grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to stop. “Don’t be in a rush to discount someone because he doesn’t immediately check everything off your list, okay? You can’t expect perfection, and you wouldn’t want it either. Give people a chance, even if you can’t see it in the long-term. Let someone surprise you.”

  “Fine,” Darcy bit out through clenched teeth. “But can we please stop talking about this?”

  “For now,” Char agreed.

  Chapter Two

  “No, that’s not going to work, Mom,” Ben replied, rubbing his temples with one hand as he held the phone to his ear with the other. “You can’t live on your own anymore, that’s the whole point.”

  “Honey, honestly. Go with your brother. Please don’t come here.”

  “I can’t do that. You know what the doctor said. You can’t be on your own.”

  “What if I get one of those live-in nurses?”

  “So now you’re willing to let a stranger into the house?” he asked with mock indignation.

  Ben’s hand tightened into a fist and he clenched his jaw to keep from saying something he’d regret. If you’d listened to me a month ago, when I’d suggested it, my life wouldn’t be upside down. Ben closed his eyes and forced himself to take in a deep breath and calm down.

  “I didn’t realize how limited my options were,” she said.

  “Mom, what do you want in all of this?” he asked, frustration adding exasperation to his voice.

  “I don’t want to be a burden. I’ve worked to be independent my whole life and this is humiliating.”

  “I get it,” Ben replied, getting up from his leather couch to slowly pace the hardwood floors of his living room.

  “No, honey, you don’t. I’m sorry to pull rank on you, but you don’t get it. There’s a lot you don’t get.”

  “Come on, Mom, we want the best for you. We all do.”

  Mom snorted at that. He didn’t blame her. His brothers hadn’t exactly been supportive or helpful. Ignoring what the doctors had to say about her health and what she wanted, they’d focused on silly, unimportant, material things. Ben only hoped they wouldn’t live to regret how they’d been acting, but he couldn’t fix them. He couldn’t fix her either. He could only help her, no matter how painful that might be.

  “They do too, Mom,” he whispered.

  “If they did, then I wouldn’t have to put this all on you.”

  “That’s not fair. If I didn’t want to do this, believe me I wouldn’t.”

  “Probably not. But I don’t want you to come live here. I don’t want you moving in. I already had eighteen years of that,” she joked.

  “That’s fine, but I’m coming to visit once a week.”

  He heard his mom sigh.

  “And that’s something you’re going to have to accept. I’ll be there. ” Ben furrowed his brow.

  He would have preferred having this talk in person. He needed to see her and her reactions and to emphasize his concerns with his body language and undeniable presence. Ben knew all too well how easy ignoring a disembodied voice over a telephone could be. He’d done that to her for years since leaving for college. He h
ad to take charge of her situation.

  “Only if you stop pacing.”

  Ben froze then sank onto the couch. “Sorry.”

  “It’s fine,” she sighed. “Okay, once a week. Are you sure you can do this?”

  “Yes, I’m sure.”

  “Because if it’s too much, I can find someone else, someone to hire, someone without any ties to us.”

  “Don’t do that. I can handle this, I can.”

  “Thank you. I love you.”

  “I love you too. I’ll be leaving for Madeline in a couple days. After I am settled, I’ll come see you. Expect me early next week.”

  “Okay,” she said, resigned.

  “Bye Mom.”

  “Ben?”

  “Yes,” he hesitated.

  “Have fun, okay?”

  Ben chuckled. “I’ll try.”

  He hung up the phone and immediately turned it on silent before shoving it under the cushions. Agreeing to help his family and actually helping his family amounted to two entirely different things. He’d stepped up because he’d been worried that no one else would, and Mom deserved better than that. But if he were being honest with himself, he’d acknowledge that he loved being the hero. He loved being the best brother—the most responsible, the one with the best career.

  But now? Dealing with doctors and lawyers, selling his town house, and fighting with his company for a sabbatical had him worn out. For the first time in a long time, he didn’t know what he was doing. He wished he could take a break and have fun, like Mom suggested. Living without responsibility sounded like a dream that he knew he could never accept. He cared too much, especially for his family. He’d never be able to sit out and let his brothers take charge.

  Reluctantly, Ben pulled the phone out from the cushions and put it on top of a box next to his couch. He had less than a day left in his home, but he couldn’t grasp it. His mind refused to accept that he was moving on from his bachelor pad. He didn’t need to sell the condo, necessarily. But something had changed for him in the last month. Dealing with everything with Mom had put his life into perspective in a way. He didn’t want this anymore.

  The phone rang again. He looked at it and promptly walked out of the room, collapsing on his bed.

  - # -

  Fresh air and an all-day drive had conspired against Darcy. Despite her best efforts to rise with the sun, she slept until her eyes could no longer block out the light streaming into her room through the curtains. She slipped from the bed and padded downstairs as quietly as she could. Char had always been a late sleeper, and if Darcy had slept until ten, then Char would surely be in bed until noon.

  A cool breeze rushed through her shoulder-length hair and goose pimples rose on her neck as she reached the bottom step. Had she forgotten to shut one of the doors last night? The question alerted her other senses as she caught the smell of coffee wafting toward her and heard soft footsteps and cabinets opening and closing.

  Steeling herself for a fight as she rounded the corner toward the kitchen, she grabbed the bear-shaped umbrella stand, prepared to defend herself.

  “Argh!” Char screamed and dropped a ceramic mug as Darcy came around the corner.

  Relief and embarrassment washed over Darcy as she met her best friend’s eyes.

  “What on earth are you doing?” Char scolded.

  “I could ask you the same,” Darcy retorted, retrieving the broom and dustpan from the hall closet and sweeping up the shards.

  “I’m making coffee, you weirdo. Not trying to attack innocent women.”

  “I’m sorry. But forgive my shock. When have you ever woken up before me?”

  “You can sweep this up too,” Char pointed to the remaining shards strewn on the tile floor. “And then when you’re done, I made a breakfast tray for us to take outside.”

  Darcy looked at the wooden tray laden with a coffee pot, several plates and cups, mixed berries, a small vase with a single flower, and three toasted, buttered crumpets.

  “When did you become such an elegant hostess?”

  Char shook her head. “Just sweep this up, okay?”

  “Fine.”

  Char glided through the screen door in the kitchen and descended the steps to the patio on the golf course. As Darcy swept up the mess, movement caught her eye, and she paused. Charlotte fussed over setting up the table, dragging the metal chairs along the concrete in the loudest manner possible. Darcy threw out the shards and went outside.

  “You okay?” she asked her best friend, who attempted to arrange the plates.

  “Fine,” Char replied, glancing up toward the patio next door.

  Darcy sat down. “You know he might still be asleep, we probably shouldn’t be so noisy out here.”

  “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” Char replied and sank into the chair opposite.

  “Thanks for breakfast, this is nice.”

  Char smiled. “You’re welcome.”

  “I was thinking it would be fun to explore more of the island today.”

  “Sure.”

  “We could gather up a little picnic lunch and head up to one of the state parks.”

  “That sounds fine.”

  “Maybe we should leave in an hour. I can clean up and pack if you want to get ready?”

  “Oh, okay,” Char said with a tinge of disappointment.

  “You know it might be okay to be a little mysterious,” Darcy offered.

  “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Char replied, smoothing out the napkin in her lap.

  “Look, he seems great. And I think it’s nice that we met him. I’m glad you won’t be bored when I start work in a few days. But don’t . . .” Darcy trailed off at the challenging tilt of Char’s eyebrow. “Just be careful please,” she implored.

  “I will and I appreciate what you’re saying,” Char bit out as she gathered the tray to go inside. “But you have to acknowledge, you don’t have a lot of experience here.”

  Darcy’s cheeks flushed, and she turned her back on Char’s retreating figure, eager to hide her face. Charlotte’s words stung, but Darcy couldn’t deny them. She didn’t have much experience with dating. She’d dated a couple guys in high school, but never seriously. She hated the loss of control and vulnerability inherent in a relationship. At twenty-five, she had less experience than the average fifteen-year-old.

  James had been her first and only real relationship. They’d dated on and off through college, and when they’d both graduated and landed jobs in Chicago, their relationship had turned serious. Darcy could admit now that she’d almost resigned herself to being with him. It seemed inevitable that they would be together, no matter that she had never felt comfortable being herself with him.

  Accepting a full-time job out of state in an effort to strike out on her own might have been the coward’s way out of their relationship. But it had been effective. Of course, only now did she realize how inexperienced she was when it came to the opposite sex. And even thinking about it made her palms itch and her heart race.

  The wind picked up and rustled the branches of the birch and pine trees. Why am I fighting with Char? Gazing out across the green Darcy could just make out the boats at the yacht club. The day was too beautiful to lose to agonizing over the past.

  “Fair enough,” Darcy muttered to herself as she walked into the empty kitchen.

  She stuck her head in the fridge to sort through its contents. Pulling out a rotisserie chicken, vegetables, and mayonnaise, she set the ingredients on the counter, found a knife and cutting board, and began whipping up a chicken salad.

  “I’m all set,” Char announced, sailing into the kitchen in shorts and a T-shirt with full makeup and her red hair perfectly styled in beachy waves.

  Darcy bit her lip to keep from rolling her eyes.

  “What about you? Do you have a bathing suit on underneath those shorts?”

  “No. Do you think it’s warm enough to swim?” Darcy asked, raising an eyebrow. She couldn�
��t imagine the deep water being warm. It would have to be a hot, humid day before Darcy would even consider jumping in the lake.

  “Well we might not swim. But what if we want to lie out?”

  “Hmm, good point. But I don’t know if I packed a suit.”

  “Never fear, I’ve got you covered,” Char replied, racing up the stairs before Darcy could reply.

  Don’t bring me a bikini tickled the tip of her tongue. Heaving a sigh, she turned to her task. Despite her distraction from the conversation, she’d managed to chop the vegetables, tear the chicken, and throw the ingredients into a Tupperware container, stirring in a heavy dollop of mayo for good measure. Rifling through the pantry and countertop, Darcy grabbed chips, rolls, cookies, and a couple bottles of water. Staggering under her load, she stumbled over to the cooler she’d left in the hall closet and dumped the contents.

  Dragging the cooler behind her, she opened the front door, unlocked her car, and stopped at the back of the CR-V. As she struggled to lift the cooler, John pedaled over on his bike and stopped in her driveway.

  “Hi, need help?”

  “Sure, that would be great.”

  Lifting the cooler entirely by himself, John gingerly placed it in the trunk with ease.

  “Thanks.”

  “Sure,” he replied, wiping sweat from his brow. “You heading out on a picnic?”

  “Yeah, we thought we might go up to Big Bay State Park.”

  “Oh nice.”

  “Would you like to come?”

  “Thanks. I might see you up there. I need to clean up first.”

  “Fair enough,” Darcy nodded. “We have plenty of food if you do join us.”

  “Great. I’ll see you later.”

  Darcy waved and walked back inside. Probably she should tell Char about John, she mulled as she climbed the stairs. But then if he didn’t show up, she’d mope the rest of the day. Darcy stared at her feet, lost in thought, and crashed into Char.

  “Hey.”

  “Oh, sorry. I’ll get changed and then we can go.”

  “Sure.”

  Darcy hesitated for a second.

  “Something wrong?” Char asked.