Beyond the Palms

by Amanda Aggie

  “Who else would it be?” Her voice was sweet and echoed in the room. Soft, haunting, and would forever be ingrained in his mind.

  12

  For the Greater Good

  Two whole days had passed since Thea had seen Alex. She thought their dinner went well, but since hasn’t been able to talk to him. She criticized herself mentally.

  “You should’ve gotten his number…at the same time, though, if he had fun, he would’ve talked to you by now. After all, you both are in the same hotel,” Thea tried to justify his actions.

  The marched he way up the beach; her mother was asleep under the umbrella. Her father and Jack played catch with a football they bought at a local store. Jack’s foot was healing well and, for the most part, wasn’t hindering his fun besides swimming in the ocean. However, their mother may have scared him from ever stepping foot into the sea again. Eleanor had told him that if he had a cut in his skin that parasites would enter his body. His father then set the idea into Jack’s head by showing him a video he found online that was gruesome enough to make him not miss the opportunity.

  Thea had been searching for seashells walking the length of the beach. As she made her way back to where her family was stationed, the bag on her shoulder seemed to become heavier. She had filled it with various shells in a multitude of sizes and colors.

  Sitting down next to her mother, she set the bag to the side. Thea closed her eyes, hearing the crashing of the waves against the shore. There was a storm coming, and thus, swimming in the water was frowned upon until it cleared. However, it was great for her seashell finding expedition because shells washed up on the shore in thick layers. The sun was partly shaded by large puffy white clouds. As they passed over them, the heat from the sun made its way to her skin.

  “Thea!” Her father called.

  “I think its probably time to get going.” Her father and brother walked toward her now.

  “Your mom wanted to go to some beach-side restaurant tonight. I guess they have karaoke on Fridays,” Her father explained.

  Thea nudged her mother.

  “Hey, mom. Mom, wake up. Hey, we gotta go get ready.”

  Eleanor rolled over, stretching out her arms. The red of her bathing suit peaked through the holes of her shawl.

  “OK, I’m up,” she said still trying to get her barrings.

  Eleanor grabbed the white hat that laid next to her and thrust it over her blonde curls. She sat up and rubbed her eyes, and slide her bulky sunglasses onto the bridge of her nose.

  The two of them collapsed the umbrella, rolled up their beach blanket and towels, and shoved all of it into an over-sized clear beach bag. John grabbed their cooler from the sand and tucked the football under his arm.

  The four of them made their way back up the boardwalk, marching along the trail to the front entrance of the hotel. When they entered, Thea saw Alex talking to Eddie at the front counter. She chose not to confront him and keep walking, but her father had other plans.

  “Hey there, Doc!”

  Alex turned around surprise was prevalent in his eyes. Her father smiled and waved at him. As they got closer, he continued to try and strike up a conversation with the man that wanted to be invisible.

  “How are you? Thank you again for helping with Jack’s foot. As you can see, he is getting back to normal pretty quickly, thanks to you.” John said holding out his hand in hospitality. Alex shook it in return.

  “I am doing great thank you for asking. I am glad to see that Jack is feeling better.” Alex gave the boy a once over to confirm the theory.

  “Listen, we are going to this dinner event at the restaurant next door by the beach tonight. I am sure we would all love to see you there.” John stood in front of him, they were the same height, and the two of them stood there awkwardly as Alex thought. John’s hand reached out to grab his shoulder.

  “It would mean a lot to us.” He said again, in a tone that didn’t appear to be as friendly as it was a minute ago.

  “I would love to. What time?” Alex responded.

  “Great! We’re leaving in 2 hours. So, we will see you there.”

  Alex smiled at everyone to appear as though he wasn’t in distress. He locked eyes with Thea and instantly looked down, breaking it.

  The family continued up to their room. John opened the door, and as they all piled inside the room, Thea stopped in front of him.

  “You didn’t have to do that.” She said.

  “Do what?” Her father asked trying to take the innocent role.

  “You just forced him to come out with us. I can make my own arrangements, you know,” Thea said, trying to address his actions. “You don’t think I saw you and Mom the other night watch me walk out of the restaurant. I mean come on, you had the poor man shaking in his boots.” Thea said, getting everything out in the air.

  “Well, I figured if he had any intentions of doing right by you, or of it being serious, he would’ve have agreed. So, you’re welcome. Also, if you want my approval, I need to know more.” Her father said before signaling her to keep walking.

  They took showers and got dressed. Thea dug in her luggage for something to wear before settling on jeans and a black spaghetti strap shirt and black knee-high boots. She laughed as her father exited the bathroom in khaki shorts and a Hawaiian shirt. The white tennis shoes were the cherry on top of the ensemble.

  “You should be the spokesperson for dad’s on vacation,” Thea said, trying not to bust out laughing. Her father gave her a sideways glance that screamed, ‘cut it out.’

  Her mother was in the mirror, putting on make-up in her black shorts and a white button-down shirt. She held up a necklace with a bright diamond as a pendant and attempted to put it on by herself. Thea walked over to assist her as Jack came out of the bathroom shortly after in jeans and a zip-up hoodie. His external battery for his phone was already shoved into the pocket.

  The four of them went downstairs and piled into a cab, the man’s thick accent was hard to understand, but her father seemed to have no problem comprehending what the man said. He drove them down the street and let them out in front of the restaurant. Her father handed him money and thanked him before falling to everyone inside.

  The restaurant looked like a surf shack, wooden panel walls lined with fishing trophies or photos of locals. The round wooden tabled were closer together than what seemed comfortable, but Thea assumed it was to make room for a dance floor and stage that were in the front of the restaurant. From where they walked in, they stood looking at a half-covered restaurant that extended on to a walkout patio with umbrellas over the tables. Tiki torches flamed and flickered in the distance. From the restaurant, you could walk straight out to the water. The music that played was a mix of all cultures. There were some songs that she recognized and others that she enjoyed the beat from but had no idea when it came to the lyrics.

  The cocktail waitress came and took their drink order and told them about the specials for food and appetizers. Her mother’s first question was what time the karaoke started. To which, the waitress replied, “In about an hour ma’am” before walking away.

  “So, now that you know we saw you, how did the date go? You didn’t say much about it when you got home that night.” Her father interrogated.

  “Wait—you know we saw you?” her mother asked.

  Thea nodded before answering her fathers’ question.

  “I thought it went well. It was awkward at first, as is any date, but by the time we went to the bar, it was like we knew each other forever. We talked and laughed, and then I told him I had to go before you guys, and Jack, began to worry. We said goodnight, and that was it.”

  Her father registered what she said but didn’t provide any reply.

  “I am sorry sweetie, well maybe he just didn’t want to pull you away from your family on your vacation. Maybe he has been busy? I don’t see him not being into you; you’re a beautiful woman with one hell of a brain. If he can’t see that, then it’s his loss anyway.�
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  Thea smiled before looking down at her menu, hoping her mother was right. The mixed feelings fluttered inside her stomach and left her confused beyond measure. Why would she care if he didn’t like her and want to see her again? She had just met him.

  “There’s your boy.”

  Jack said, flicking a finger toward the entrance. Thea turned to look and saw him. He wore casual clothes with a dark jacket over his white V neck shirt. Her heart thumped. The one thing she would never admit is that she couldn’t ignore the fact that she yearned to see him again and the happiness that fled through her in response to him coming out.

  Alex walked over to their table and pulled out the empty chair next to Thea and sat down.

  “Hey there, everyone.”

  “Glad you could make it.”

  Thea managed to get the words out surprisingly smooth. Alex smiled at her. She noted that he appeared to be nervous too.

  “To be honest, it didn’t seem like I had much choice in the matter.”

  Alex joked to try and lighten the mood. Her father did not seem to find it funny.

  “Well, that’s because you didn’t.”

  Her father replied before shedding an infectious smile.

  The music stopped, and the microphone whaled, making a high pitched noise.

  “Sorry about that guys, I am your DJ for tonight and wanted to let you know we are now taking orders for karaoke. We here at The Surf want to welcome all of you, locals, and spring breakers alike. Let’s have a good time tonight!”

  The people in the restaurant cheered. Eleanor raced over to make sure her entries were the first in line. Thea saw her mother grab slips of paper, write on them, and then hand them to the DJ before making her way back to her seat.

  “What did you put in, mom?” Thea asked.

  “Oh, it’s a surprise for your father.”

  She responded, she held back a laugh and looked at John.

  “Oh, no. You didn’t.”

  Her father stared back at her in disbelief.

  “Oh, but I did.”

  Eleanor giggled and grabbed his knee under the table.

  “First up is John! With ‘Eye of the Tiger’!”

  “Oh, I hope you all are ready to be embarrassed. Just remember your mother started this!”

  Everyone at the table was smiling or laughing. John ran up to the stage and took the microphone out of the DJ’s hand dramatically. He turned away from the crowd and bounced his leg to the beat. He jumped and spun around with the first line. His facial expression was made of stone and clearly into the song. He jammed out and even incorporated the microphone stand on the stage into his routine as an air guitar. His family all watched and clapped along with the song in support.

  Alex even joined in, smiling at the entire family. He had a longing in his eyes. “Is this how normal families are?” he thought to himself. Alex’s father and uncle have always been so cold, so professional, they taught him that showing love was a weakness, and in their line of work, weaknesses are what led to their downfall. He looked at the four of them, supporting the man in the Hawaiian shirt, trying desperately to hit the high notes in the song but failing. They showed so much love for each other; they had fun and didn’t care who saw because they were together. He wanted that.

  John strutted his best dance moves, and finally, after the song was finished was kicked off the stage by the DJ. He came and sat back down. Jack showed him the video recording he took of him; they both laughed until they cried at the sight.

  After seeing his ex-girlfriend Elizabeth in that cell, Alex knew he had to stay away from Thea. His uncle explained that when Elizabeth left Alex after finding out about the convention and what it entailed, she tried to blackmail his father into a payday to not go to the police. His father shoved her in that cell to prove a point to him that loving someone meant that it could destroy their livelihood. There was no way for him and his father to run the hotel, and to have healthy lives and families. They gave up that right so that other members of the convention would be able to live comfortably without fear of being discovered. The members’ families remained in the dark to what they did here in Aruba on spring break, and that was how they would continue to operate.

  According to his uncle, his father planned to keep Elizabeth’s imprisonment a secret until this spring. He wanted his son to end her and ‘clean up his own mess,’ he now knew where his uncle got the phrase he seemed to be hearing so much lately. His uncle and father didn’t intend for Elizabeth to go mentally insane. However, it took a lot of work to keep her alive. His uncle claimed that she tried to take her life more than once, which resulted in the scars that lined her face and body. She refused to eat, she hardly ever slept, she deteriorated and with that became psychotic.

  Alex was sure his father had a hay day with that. He was convinced that the reason he kept her alive and didn’t kill her right away was to study her. He was a psychiatrist, and there were things he was interested in that studying them would be considered inhumane. After all, that was one reason he wanted to build the hotel; it wasn’t just for his holy mission to keep killers at bay; it was also because he wanted to study people and learn everything that he could about them. His father was willing to do whatever it took to get the answers he wanted.

  Looking at the family that he sat with and how they interacted with one another, it didn’t take a genius to see that his upbringing was not normal. Alex knew this from a young age, which is why the second he turned 18, he chose to move to Santa Maria to attend school and had no plans of returning.

  Alex thought back to the day the Elizabeth found out. His father had shown up at their house without notice. He found out that Elizabeth was living with him and became infuriated. His father threatened to tell her so he could see that she wouldn’t accept his family. Alex thought that if he told her first that maybe, she would understand, he wanted no part in it, that she would understand and stay with him. Sadly, it didn’t happen the way he wanted it to, and she chose to leave. Against his father’s wishes, Alex let her leave, trusting that she wouldn’t say anything. He never knew that she threatened his father. He had hoped that she went on to live her life elsewhere.

  Now, seeing her face, thin and frail. Seeing what was left of her, she was no longer the woman that he knew. He knew that he would put her out of her misery tomorrow. She deserved peace, and there was no coming back from what had been done to her. Knowing what his father did to her infuriated him, and knowing his uncle would do the same to any other woman, he became close to scared him.

  Alex looked at the woman that sat beside him. He studied her face, the angelic features that fit her personality. The soft blonde waves that framed it and flowed down her back. Her smile made him feel alive, and the level of intelligence that she radiated drew him in more than even he realized. She didn’t deserve to be a part of what his family had forced upon him. She wouldn’t have the same fate that Elizabeth could no longer escape.

  He decided to enjoy tonight with her and her family. Come to the convention tomorrow; he would accept his role in the order of the Black Arbor Convention. He couldn’t escape his fate, but he could make sure that no one else was drug into it.

  Thea watched her parents dance together; her father spun her mother around and pulled her close. They looked so happy. It has been a year since she could remember them staring at each other the way they did now. Even though the ups and downs of their marriage, they still loved each other like they were in high school. Her mother had said that things were simple back then; it was just her cheering for him at football games and skipping classes to spend time together. Now, there were the restraints of life, and it pulled at their strings and tried to tear them apart. Sitting there, looking at her parents, she couldn’t be happier than to be reassured that love that could stand the strains of time and space existed. She hoped to find someone that looked at her the way her father looked at her mother.

  The song ended, and her parents returned to the table. Jack
had caught sight of his hostess friend and disappeared. The four of them that remained picked at what was left of the appetizers they ordered.

  “Well, I think we’re going to call it a night and head back to the hotel. Thea, you are welcome to stay, just make sure to text me and keep me updated if you go anywhere.” Her mother insisted.

  “No problem. Goodnight!” She said while holding up her phone for verification.

  “Goodnight,” His father said as he kissed her head before ushering her mother out the front of the restaurant.

  After a few moments of silence, Alex asked if she wanted to walk back to the hotel with him. She agreed, and the two decided to walk along the beach back to their hotel.

  They laughed and conversed over childhood stories, adventures, and life. By the time they arrived, neither wanted to say goodnight. Alex knew it would be the last time he saw or talked to her, and it hurt. He hugged her and kissed her cheek.

  “I have enjoyed the chance to get to know you, Thea. I have to say that you are by far one of the most amazing and perfect women that I have ever met. I wish we had more time, but thank you for everything you’ve done. You and your family have made me see that I want to be a better person and hope that one day I can have something like that of my own.”

  He saw the confusion in her eyes before she voiced her worry out loud.

  “Why does it seem like you are saying goodbye? It’s not like we are going to be too far apart after you return home. I also have a whole week left of our vacation. “

  “That’s because it is. It has been amazing knowing you, but it is better this way.”

  Thea’s mouth dropped open in disbelief. She couldn’t believe after the two nights they had shared that he was just ready to stop it there. Before she could get anything out of her mouth, Alex had walked away; he didn’t look back. He just walked into the front doors of the hotel and disappeared behind the bar.