by Jenny Hale
“What should we do for Nan’s birthday?” Casey asked, clearly trying to spin the conversation to a more positive subject. “Has she asked for anything in particular?”
Faith shook her head. “Nope. We should probably see if she wants to do something special. We should definitely look for somewhere to buy a cake. Maybe Jake would know.”
Isabella came up to them, swinging her empty bucket, tiny droplets of water flinging from it as she walked. The ends of her hair were darker, wet from leaning forward to fill her bucket as the tide came in. Her knees and the backs of her hands were sandy. “Mama,” she said, pushing runaway strands of hair away from her face, “I’m ready to go inside.”
“Maybe we can get cleaned up and get some ice cream or something,” Casey said, her adoration for her daughter clear on her face. She leaned toward Faith. “Wanna go with us?” she asked.
“Absolutely,” she said, standing up and folding her chair. She slipped her beach bag over her shoulder and helped with Casey’s things as her sister wrapped a towel around Isabella. The little girl slid her sandy feet into a tiny pair of flip-flops that had pink ribbons tied in little bows cascading down each side. Isabella grabbed on to her towel, keeping it around her shoulders, and shuffled over to them as they lugged their belongings back up the dune to the cottage. Once they got to the cottage, they rinsed the sand off their feet in the outside shower.
“What is that noise?” Casey said, tilting her ear upward toward the door of the cottage. The door sat at the top of the long flight of stairs that led from the driveway where they were now standing as they allowed their feet to dry. Jake’s work truck was in the driveway with large pieces of wood now tied to the rack at the top.
Faith sharpened her hearing, attempting to make out a foreign sound over the wind in her ears. The house sitting on stilts caused the ocean breeze to whip underneath it like a wind tunnel. She could just make out a shrill whine. “I don’t know,” she said, following her sister up the stairs. Isabella was sandwiched between them, which she was glad for because the stairs were steep and open, and Faith worried for her niece as she climbed those giant steps. Her tiny legs were working overtime to get up each one.
The whining noise seemed to be getting worse the closer the got but stopped just before they opened the door. When they got inside, Jake was on his knees, wiping dust from the bottom of a giant, rectangular hole in the living room wall. “What is that?” Faith said out loud by accident. She’d meant to keep it to herself, but the sight of the hole sent the words tumbling out of her mouth.
Jake turned around. “Hey,” he said, flashing that smile. He had sheetrock dust in his hair, and a pair of safety glasses pushed up onto his forehead. Unbelievably, he still looked good. “I’m putting in a built-in. Your grandmother came up with the idea, and she was absolutely right since there’s no storage in this room. Don’t worry. It won’t take me long. I’ll have it all cleaned up by tonight.”
It was a good thing he was charming, because anyone else with a buzz saw and a hammer, would not be welcome during her beach vacation. But on the other hand, there was something very sweet about Jake and how he took Nan’s suggestion so seriously. What in the world was Nan thinking, offering her suggestions anyway? Even if she was right, it wasn’t her place to tell the man what to build and what not to build. Faith looked for her sister to see her reaction, but Casey must have headed off to the bathroom with Isabella, probably helping her change out of her wet suit and into some clothes. Nan and her mom were nowhere in sight. They probably couldn’t stand the noise.
Faith was dying to know more about Jake. She had so many questions. If she could ever fit those questions into a conversation, she would. Nan would just ask them outright, no matter what they were saying. Maybe she should be more like Nan, she thought with a grin.
Nan seemed to always have it together. She never faltered. She was strong, elegant, wise, and, even though she didn’t wait for pleasantries to get across what she wanted, she was careful with her words. She could make anyone do anything she liked, but she never seemed to take advantage of it. Even as she aged, and her body wasn’t as agile as it once was, she was graceful with her movements. She took tiny steps, kept her shoulders strong, and took her time. But she never let on that anything was a struggle. Faith looked up to Nan so much.
“How was the beach?” Jake asked. He slipped his safety glasses down over his eyes and began sanding out the rough edges of the wall.
“It was nice,” she said, walking a little closer to get a good look at the damage to the wall. That perfectly white wall. “Isabella wanted to come in. We’re going to take her for some ice cream.”
“You should take her to Surfin’ Spoon,” he said. “It’s a cool place.”
She was willing to bet that Jake knew all the cool places in town. “Have you lived here long?” she asked out of the blue.
“I grew up here.” He stood up and took off his glasses, letting them dangle from his fingers. “I bought my first house down here after college.” There was a look in his eyes. It felt like… affection. It was hard to tell, as she hadn’t known him that long. She’d never met anyone as personable as Jake Buchanan and it was difficult to read what was true fondness and what was part of his general personality. Perhaps she was just overthinking his friendliness.
“I figured you’d been here a while. You seem to know the area so well.”
He turned and faced the rectangular hole, stretching a measuring tape across the width of it.
“So, what would you suggest for something fun to do this evening?” she asked.
“Hmm.” He measured from top to bottom, a small crease forming between his eyes as he read the length. “Have you ever been to the top of Bodie Island lighthouse? It’s got a great view.”
“No, I haven’t. It sounds nice.”
He turned around and looked at her, pocketing the tape measure. “Wanna go? I could come back at around five and take you over.”
“I’d love to,” she answered honestly, feeling much more excited than she let on. She couldn’t wait.
EIGHT
“I got a date with Jake.” Faith chewed on a grin. She knew Casey would want an immediate explanation. Isabella was pulling her mother toward the ice cream flavors, putting too much distance between them for a response but her face was all questions. Faith smiled. She knew her sister too well. Faith pulled a cup from a stand nearby and filled it with soft-serve mint chocolate chip frozen yogurt. It was a softball-sized wad of ice-cream-like texture, and, with the summer heat that they’d let in when they’d arrived, it seemed to be melting before she could even get a bite. She handed it, along with a napkin that she’d grabbed, to the cashier who was waiting at a nearby register.
While Isabella pointed out flavors to Casey, Faith walked down the long counter, its surface like the wood of a pier. The whole interior was painted in pastel colors on the inside and out with natural wood accents. When they’d walked up to the place, she’d thought it looked like some sort of boat keeper’s dollhouse. It was sea-foam green with a yellow door, fresh pots of flowers on either side of it, their bright pink color contrasting with the light painted siding. Along the side of the place were picnic tables with umbrellas in varying colors that made them look like enormous scoops of ice cream, despite their square shape. She pulled out a few dollar bills and set them on the counter.
Isabella was walking back and forth in front of the various silver handles—each one labeled with a different flavor—dragging her little fingers along the surface of a parallel table whitewashed and then topped with wide stripes in greens and blues.
Casey surveyed their choices. “They have double chocolate, Isabella,” she suggested before filling a bowl of vanilla for herself. “How did you manage that?” she asked Faith as she neared her, finally being able to pick up Faith’s earlier comment about her date with Jake. Casey’s eyes were almost dancing. She seemed genuinely happy for her.
“I was just talking to him. Tha
t’s all. I asked what he suggested doing for fun. He mentioned Bodie Island lighthouse and then offered to take me there at five o’clock.” She couldn’t help but be proud of herself. Usually, it was Casey who was the one getting the dates. Faith couldn’t remember being in this position growing up.
“I’d like cotton candy,” Isabella said, finally deciding, and Casey made a face but tried to straighten it back out.
“Cotton candy flavored ice cream? Are you sure?”
“Yes!”
Isabella’s hair was done up in two braids that fell over each shoulder. They were swinging like golden ropes as she wriggled around in excitement. Casey filled a bowl to the brim with pink and blue swirled frozen yogurt and held it out to Isabella. The heavy bowl wobbled in her tiny hands as she attempted to take it from her mother while Casey paid for her ice cream.
Isabella made a scraping sound as she pulled out one of the brightly patterned stools, its silver legs scooting across the floor. Her lips were covered in pink ice cream as she attempted to steal a bite before she sat down. As she licked them, she tipped her head sideways to look at a drip that had fallen onto her hand. She licked that too.
“Use your spoon please, Isabella,” Casey said, clearly trying not to laugh. “I’d much rather see a lighthouse than go fishing,” she whispered to Faith as they got settled at the table. “That’s it. When we get back to the cottage, I’m going to research to find the most fabulous places to visit in the area and then I’ll get to work weaving them into the conversation,” she said with a wink. It was lighthearted, yet Faith felt a twinge of worry that surprised her.
Faith hadn’t planned on going out with someone when she’d packed for this trip. She’d packed for a week of sandy feet and days with her family. She hadn’t been trying to impress anyone when she’d put her clothes in her suitcase. Now, Faith stood in a towel, her wet hair dripping down her back, staring at her options and biting her lip. With a tiny shake of her head, she pulled out a silky peach-colored tank top and a pair of shorts. It was the best she could do. At least she had earrings to match this one and it would look like she’d tried. She could’ve borrowed something from Casey, but her clothes were much too fussy and glamorous for Faith’s style. And, she just wanted to be herself. Faith dried off, dressed, and wrapped her hair up in her towel. As she looked in the mirror, she tried to imagine what to do with her makeup. Should she go with gloss or a light lipstick? Should she choose shimmery powder or flat?
Faith didn’t want to overdo it, but she wanted to look like she’d put a little effort into it as well. Jake was nice, and handsome, and she wanted to impress him. After dusting her face with shimmery powder, she added a little pink to her cheeks and some eyeshadow. Finally, she put a little clear gloss on her lips and rubbed them together.
She dried her hair and put on her silver earrings with the dangly peach beads, then looked back in the mirror. As she stared at her complexion, Faith tried to look past the familiar face to see what Jake may see when he looked at her. She had a girl-next-door kind of look to her—nothing like Casey. Faith was shorter, petite, and cutesier. She wanted to be sexy, interesting. Casey could pull her hair up and downplay her make up and be adorably cute, but she could also let that gorgeous blond hair down, add some lipstick, and she’d turn heads at a mile away. When Faith figured her look was as good as it would get, she slipped on a pair of sandals and headed for the living area to wait for Jake.
“My. Look at you,” Nan said from her chair as Faith entered the room.
“Jake’s taking me to see Bodie Island lighthouse.”
“Is he, now?” she said, a wry grin on her face.
“Don’t get that look, Nan. It’s just a friendly offer,” she said with a smile, but Nan’s comment sent a jolt of excitement through her. She was more excited than she let on. She walked over and kneeled down next to Nan.
“I’m just happy you’re enjoying yourself,” Nan said. “And I’m glad to see you’ve been out with Casey today. I like seeing you girls back together.”
It sounded easy—seeing Casey—and for the most part they fell back in line together like they’d never left each other, but she couldn’t deny the feeling of needing to finish things from the past. She’d definitely changed over the years, and she wondered if Casey had too.
“I’m sorry I haven’t spent more time with the family until now,” Faith said honestly.
Nan put her hand on Faith’s wrist, her fingers light and cold. “The past is the past,” she said in her wise way. “We’re here now. That’s all that matters.” She smiled and leaned back in her chair. “All the girls are back together.”
The girls. It had always been “the girls.” Her father had left when she was so young that she couldn’t remember him, her grandfather had passed before her birth, and now, both sisters were single. Perhaps they were cursed. Or maybe they were just better as the girls. Maybe they weren’t meant to find anyone. As she looked at Nan, Faith began to wonder if she should be going out with Jake at all. She should be there, in the cottage, with them all. How insensitive of her to have not considered this earlier.
“Nan,” she said. “Do you want me to stay here instead of going out? Would you rather have all us girls together?”
“You mean sit like a bump on a ninety-year-old log?”
“You’re making light of it,” she smiled affectionately. “We’ve all been running around like crazy since we got here. Do you want us all to stay together? It’s your birthday and this was a trip that you planned after all. I just want to make you happy.” She was saying the words, but Faith also knew that staying together in the quiet of the cottage would mean dealing with some of the things Faith didn’t really want to delve into. It was easier when they were out at the beach, with people passing by, or getting ice cream. But when they were alone as a family, things would inevitably come out, and Faith didn’t really want to deal with them. It was easier to just push it away and move forward.
Nan had laughter in her eyes. “Silly girl,” she said. “What makes me happy is not having you sitting here by my feet. I’m aware that I can’t move around like I used to, and it may seem to you like I’m just sitting here alone, but when you all are ‘running around’ as you say, I’m happier than I’ve ever been because I get to watch you live. Life is about taking chances, and I’ve learned that things can be disastrous if we don’t do that. Go see the lighthouse and then come home and tell me all about it. I can’t wait to hear.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure! Now, get up before you get all wrinkled!”
Faith stood up and decided to wait on the porch for Jake to arrive. At this time of day, the sunrays were the color of champagne, and the air wrapped around her like a warm hug. Before she could get to the door, however, there was a knock, and she felt her pulse quicken. She tried to quiet her nerves. He’s just being friendly, she said to herself. Stop being so dramatic. Act like you’ve done this a million times before. She opened the door.
For the second time since she’d met him, Jake was all cleaned up, and she thought again how handsome he was. When he was working, he had a rugged look to him—scruff on his face, strong hands, his T-shirt tight against his biceps—but when he was spruced up, it was as if he was just as comfortable. Someone who didn’t know him would never believe—wearing what he was wearing now—that he worked with his hands. With his pressed shorts, white polo shirt against his slightly tanned skin, his hair perfectly cut, it looked like he should work some sort of office job.
“Hey,” he said with a smile.
His eyes wanted to move away from her face—she could tell because he’d done it before at the window when she’d been in her silky pajamas and again in her swimsuit—but he kept his gaze matched with hers. It made her want to smile, so she swallowed instead.
“Ready?”
“Yep!” she said, grabbing her handbag and throwing up a hand to Nan.
They walked together out to the driveway and Faith gasped. Sh
e shouldn’t have, but she couldn’t help it. She stood with her eyes fixed on what was in front of her. When she was finally able, she tore herself away from it and looked at Jake for an explanation. He only smiled and opened the door of the sleek silver Mercedes. “Well, you didn’t think I’d pick you up in the work truck, did you?” he said with a chuckle. Still processing the fact that she was about to slide into this car—its new car smell overtaking even the sea air—she remained silent.
“Have fun…” Casey said from the top of the dune, her words withering to silence as she, too, noticed the vehicle. This wasn’t the usual Mercedes—not that any Mercedes would be usual in Faith’s circles, but this one looked like something out of a car show. The paint finish on the outside was so glossy, Faith wondered if it had been driven very much. She waved to her sister, telling her with her expression how she was just as surprised, and slid farther into the car. Jake shut the door and walked around the back. The black leather interior was spotless—not a speck of dust. Faith tried not to stare at the gorgeous wood-grain console, so she looked up at Jake as he got in.
With only a push of a button, the car purred. It was so quiet, Faith wasn’t quite sure it was actually running. “Windows down or air conditioning?” Jake asked as he began pulling onto the road. She buckled her seatbelt.
Faith noticed how comfortable he was driving the car. His shoulders were relaxed, his hand resting on the gearshift in the center console. Did he own this car? Realizing that she hadn’t answered his question, she said, “Air conditioning.” The last thing she needed was her hair blowing around and sticking to her extra shiny lip gloss, and she wouldn’t dare risk sand getting blown into the black interior.