by Jenny Hale
“You’re welcome,” he said solemnly, clearly affected by her story. Nan could always tell a story, but this one was so personal and so honest that it had taken them both by surprise. Jake’s eyes were moving along the edges of the boat as if in search of something but Faith knew it was because he was thinking. She hoped he was thinking about how important loving someone and having family was—more important than all the money in the world.
How lucky Nan was to know that kind of feeling. Faith could honestly say that she’d never felt anything with that amount of depth before, and it made her feel naïve. There was so much more to experience, so many more memories to make, she felt as if she hadn’t even started her life yet.
“Would you like me to sit up here with you, Sophia?” Jake asked, his face still serious.
Nan smiled. “No, dear. I want you to go down onto the beach and enjoy yourself. That’s why you’ve worn your swimming suits! I’m just happy that I get to be a part of it. I don’t need to be down in that hot sand to feel the joy that I see before me. Look at little Isabella. She’s having a ball. Go enjoy it.”
“You sure?” Faith said, not wanting to leave her.
“Absolutely.”
Jake opened the cooler and pulled out a water bottle, the surface of it clouding immediately with condensation in the summer heat. “Here’s a water in case you get too warm. Just call down if you need us.”
“I will, Jake. Thank you.”
Jake hopped down first onto the sand and then held his hand out to steady Faith as she got down. She took his hand, his fingers strong and rough in hers and went slowly so that she wouldn’t have to let go so soon. He looked up at her, contemplation again on his face. That serious, determined expression she’d originally seen at Sunset Grille was long gone now, replaced by this new, thoughtful deeper look of his. Like he was thinking something over. It made her curious.
“Look, Aunt Faith!” Isabella called, running and jumping over the small wave, landing on her bottom, a splash shooting up around her.
“Isabella,” Jake called, “want to swing out really far?”
“Yes!” she said.
“Okay. I’ll need your Aunt Faith’s help.” He turned to Faith standing beside him and she nodded. “Come over here, and we’ll swing you.”
Isabella walked up between them, grabbing their hands with hers. The salty water made them a little slippery, so Faith wrapped her thumb and forefinger around her wrist for leverage.
“One,” Jake said, lifting her off the ground. Faith followed. “Two… three!” Isabella swung into the air, and they let go, her giggles like the fizz in the tide, bubbling up loud and wild until, splash! Into the water she went. She came out, still giggling, dripping wet, her hair sticking to her face in wet strands.
“Again!” Isabella said, still giggling. They did this until Isabella said her arms were getting tired. Faith couldn’t help but think how this might be one of those great memories for her niece.
Jake hopped up onto the boat, checked on Nan, and got a few more chairs. Then, they all sat in a row. The sun was shining off the water, and the sky was bright blue above them. The only sound was a passing boat and the lapping of the waves. Faith, who had a lower chair, stretched her legs out in the sand, feeling the rays of the sun as they reflected off her skin.
“Look!” Isabella shouted from down the beach, her arm stretched out, her finger pointing out to sea.
Faith turned, shielding her eyes from the sun with her hand. There, so close that it seemed they could swim out to them, was a school of dolphins, their fins popping up and then dipping below the surface. There were tons of them! What an amazing thing for Isabella to see.
Unexpectedly, out of nowhere, fear swept through Faith. They probably wouldn’t be back all together as a family like this again. Nan wouldn’t plan another trip at her age, and they all lived so far away from each other. In a week’s time, she’d leave and they’d all go back to their own lives. She wouldn’t be back to see Jake, she wouldn’t have the cottage, and she wouldn’t have this time with her family.
They stayed on the island the rest of the afternoon until evening set in and they all started to get hungry. Faith had asked Nan several times if she was getting uncomfortable, but she’d waved her off, telling her she was just fine. As they loaded everything into the boat, Isabella, wearing her life jacket, curled up on a towel on the floor, her eyes so heavy she could hardly keep them open. Her mom, who’d taken a seat by Jake on the way there, sat down next to Nan, leaving the only open seat in front. Faith sat in the bucket seat at the bow, up front with Jake, everyone else behind them.
As Jake steered the boat, the water spraying up on either side of it, Faith looked out at their gorgeous surroundings. What would this vacation have been like without Jake around? While the cottage was beautiful and the beach was still wonderful, their days would have been a lot less exciting. When she thought back to this vacation years later, she was certain that he would be a part of those memories. They’d just sort of fallen together. How odd it was that it even happened. Never before had she met someone like that. While they had their differences and disagreements, she couldn’t imagine having spent the week with anyone else. He’d made it perfect. Did he have this sort of chemistry with everyone? She was sure he got along with everyone, and he was easy to befriend, but for her, there was something more about him, something that would make her very sad when they had to leave.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked over the sound of the engine and the sea.
“Oh, nothing.” She didn’t know if she should tell Jake about her thoughts. She was worried her growing feelings for him might slip out and he’d made it clear that he didn’t want to be anything more than friends. But then she thought about her own advice to Casey. After a few silent minutes of deliberation, she said, “It’s awfully nice, what you’ve done for us this week—the boat rides, fishing, the lighthouse, the party… You know, since we’re just renters.”
He smiled, as if she’d said something that amused him. The setting sun gave his skin a warm glow. “I enjoy your family,” he said with a smile. Then, he looked back out at the ocean, and she wondered as the smile faded to contentment, what he might be thinking about. Had they affected him? Had they even put one little seed of doubt in his head about his plans? Would he miss them as much as she’d miss him? The more she pondered that thought, the more she worried.
When they got back to the dock, Jake scooped Isabella—now asleep—off the boat floor and carried her to the car. Gently, he set her in the seat and fastened the seatbelt around her. Nan had seemed stiff as she walked, and Faith knew how much of a toll that boat ride had probably put on her joints and muscles, but she didn’t say a word as she bent in to get into the car. The trip had put a new shine in Nan’s eyes. It was special for her and it was nice for Faith to share that with her.
“Thank you, Jake,” she said from her seat. “That was lovelier than I could have imagined.”
“You’re welcome,” he said.
Faith got in the other side and shut the door.
“Still up for seeing that band tonight at Sunset Grille?” he said, leaning into the car slightly to make eye contact.
Faith nodded. She was exhausted, and the sun had taken all the energy right out of her, but she wasn’t going to say “no” no matter the cost. Being with Jake had given her loads of great memories and she didn’t want to miss out on making more.
“I’ll pick you up in about an hour.” He shut the door gently. Faith waved to him. Her mom and Casey said their goodbyes, and with Jake in their rearview mirror, they pulled off down the road.
Faith had showered and gotten ready to meet Jake, and she came into the kitchen to find her mom and Casey. She sat down at the table. Her mom, who hadn’t heard about Faith’s phone call to Scott or Casey’s text, sat, riveted, as Casey told her everything, and what had transpired.
Casey checked her phone. “Nothing,” she said. “I know he’s seen it
.” She opened the text message to check once more, and then closed it. “How could he not respond at all?”
“It seems awfully odd for Scott,” her mom said. “Should Faith try to call him again?”
“No!” Casey nearly yelled. She got quiet and looked back at Isabella’s bedroom door—she was still sound asleep, and Casey was clearly worried she’d woken her. “Look, he knows. He knows, and he chose not to respond. His silence is loud and clear.”
“You’re doing it again,” Faith said, frustration rising in her veins. “Work for him, Casey. Show him that you’re willing to work for him. Tell him until he’s tired of hearing it. He’s had silence for too long. Fill every moment with words now. Words that tell him what he means to you.”
Casey sat for a moment, processing Faith’s words. Faith knew it was hard for her sister, and she needed a little push. Faith slid the phone in front of her. With a quiet breath, Casey picked up the phone and dialed his number. It was so quiet, Faith could hear the pulses as the phone rang his line. It rang. And rang. Then, Scott’s voice.
“Voicemail,” Casey said, disappointed.
“Leave a message.” Faith didn’t just tell her, she directed her.
“Scott. It’s me. I just want to tell you how much I miss you,” her voice broke, and she coughed and then swallowed. “I love you so much. I’m sorry I wasn’t better at being your wife. I’m not perfect… Please call me,” she said in a small voice, and then hung up. The phone sat, dark, on the table as they waited for some kind of response. Faith stared at it, willing it to light up for her sister’s sake.
“What if his phone is broken?” her mom said, struggling for some explanation, obviously. Both girls gave her a doubtful look and she shook her head. With a deep breath, she said, “No matter what, we girls stick together. We’ve always been close. The last few years have been an exception. Let’s just help each other out.”
Their mom was right. She’d probably want her girls around as Nan aged. Her care would get harder and harder. Casey—even though she’d deny it—would need people around her as she dealt with her divorce. But Faith… Did Faith need anyone? She would’ve sworn she didn’t before coming to the beach house this summer, but now, after only a week, she realized she did need them. She needed them because she loved them, and they made her life fuller.
“Let’s take our minds off all this,” her mom said. “You know what we should do? Something nice for Jake. He’s done so much since we’ve gotten here, and he didn’t need to do any of it. What can we do for him?”
Faith knew her mother was right, but, selfishly, she was just excited at the thought of having yet one more excuse to see him after tonight. “I’ll help you plan something tomorrow morning,” she said. Then, she got up and patted her sister on the shoulder. “I’m going to wait for Jake on the porch.”
“You really want to see this band?” Jake asked as he drove toward Duck.
“Yes.”
“Have you ever heard of them before?”
“Nope.”
He looked over at her and then back at the road. “Then why do you want to go?”
“Because music at the beach is amazing.”
“What if it’s a heavy metal band?” he teased, the corners of his mouth going up and that playful affection in his eyes.
“Sunset Grille would not have a heavy metal band.”
“Okay. You got me. Promise me you won’t get the fishbowl drink.”
“I’m going to get us both one, and you’re going to hold mine while we dance together.”
Jake laughed and shook his head.
The sun was setting, and, even though Faith had had a very full day, and she was nearly exhausted, the sight of the pink and blue sky with a blaze of orange slashed through it, the colors dancing on the water below making the pier and gazebo nothing but a black silhouette—they made her feel alive. She was so happy to be there. She could hear the band already—steel drums and maracas, not heavy metal—as they walked up, and she grabbed Jake’s arm. He looked down at her hand but then looked back toward Sunset Grille, not saying a word.
He told the hostess they were there for the band, and she sat them outside, close enough that the music penetrated the air all around them but far enough away for them to have a conversation.
“This is nice,” he said with a smile, leaning back in his chair a little.
“I thought it would be.”
A few couples had gotten up to dance. The breeze of the Sound blew through Faith’s hair.
“I’ll be back,” Jake said, getting up. “You okay for a sec?”
“I’m just fine,” she smiled. She watched him go but then turned back around to see the band. The music filled her chest, danced in her ears, and made her tap her foot against the wooden deck. She wanted to get up and sway to the music. She wanted Jake behind her, his arms around her, as they stood with the water and the fiery sunset all around them.
It was so nice to experience the Outer Banks as an adult. There were so many more places to explore, so many things to do that she’d never even considered as a kid. But her thoughts didn’t stop there. She wanted to travel. She decided she was going to see Key West. If anything, out of principle. She should get out more, enjoy life, meet people. Life was bigger than her work, and while her job was very important to her, finding a balance was also important.
One song bled into another, until she started to notice that Jake hadn’t returned. The waitress had been by several times, bringing water and topping it off, but Faith kept saying she was waiting for him. Now, she wondered what was going on. Was he sick? She scanned the bar—it was full of people—but she couldn’t find his familiar frame. She eyed the outdoor hostess station, trying to see if he’d gotten caught talking or something. He wasn’t there. She wanted to continue to enjoy the music, but the more she sat, the more she worried. When he finally showed, she was sitting on the edge of her seat.
“I’m so sorry. I had to check my phone—I didn’t want to be rude and do it at the table, and then I had an unexpected business call. I had to take it.”
He was apologizing, and she knew he was probably very sorry, but sitting there on that deck with no one to enjoy the music with her had made her think. She thought about her ex-boyfriend, Patrick and how he’d always told her she worked too long. And then she thought about Scott, and how he must feel all by himself when he should be here with the family. This trip had taught her that life wasn’t about working.
“I’ve learned that work doesn’t make someone successful, being happy does.” She eyed the phone in his hand, trying to drive home the message.
“What if work is what makes me happy?” he challenged her.
“When we first met, I confided in you that I felt like I had to prove to people that I’m happy. Do you remember that? If I recall correctly, you’d said that you knew exactly how I felt.”
“And your point?” He looked down at his phone again to check it, and she wanted to grab it and throw it into the ocean.
“Building your big hotels doesn’t convince me that you’re happy.” She only felt happy when she could be with people she enjoyed, making memories, and having fun. She looked up at him, and he was looking at his phone again.
“Well, it does make me happy. And, I’ve said before, I don’t have to prove to you that I am.”
She wasn’t convinced.
“But just because my business makes me happy, doesn’t mean that I need to be on the phone tonight. If you can sit tight one more sec…” he said. He dropped his phone into his pocket. “I’ll be right back, I promise.”
She thought again about Scott and Casey. Jake had only taken one work call tonight and had apologized for that, but it had already unsettled Faith. Where had he gone now? Is he sneaking in another business call? What must Scott feel about Casey? No wonder he hadn’t responded. If Casey could just make him see that she was serious. She looked around for Jake, and took in a deep breath as she realized she’d lost him again in the
crowd. She looked up at the sky to try and calm herself. Please let him redeem himself after all this, she prayed. Was it too much to ask him to switch off from work and have a little down time?
The music was fast—a Bob Marley cover—and she wanted so badly to be able to just relax and enjoy herself. She scanned the bar again but stopped when she saw him, and then she smiled, her heart nearly ready to explode. Sloshing in his arms—straws and fruit skewers bouncing everywhere—were two enormous fishbowls of green liquid. He smiled at her as he wobbled toward her.
Gingerly, he set them down. He kneeled in front of her, his eyes meeting hers. “I’m sorry that I left you here,” he said. “I put my phone in the car.” Right then, she knew that actions spoke so much louder than words, and with that one gesture, he’d made her feel better.
“Thank you for this,” she said, still smiling and pointing to her fishbowl.
“You’re welcome.” He stood up. “Want to dance?”
“Yes,” she said, excited.
The band had slowed to gentle rhythm, as Jake led her to the area of deck where the tables had been cleared. He put his arms around her, holding her waist, and she wrapped hers around his neck. He looked down at her, and she wondered what had made him so happy all of a sudden. He seemed so content and comfortable there with her. She put her head on his shoulder, and she could feel his lips against the top of her head. She wanted to feel this way all night; it was simply perfect.
She looked at him. “Thank you for bringing me tonight,” she said.
“You’re welcome.” He locked eyes with her, his face showing deliberation. Then, without warning, he leaned toward her and gently pressed his lips to hers. It was as if they were the only two people there. The music, the breeze, the taste of rum on his lips—it all made her lightheaded and she was glad to be holding onto him because she didn’t trust herself to stand on her own. It felt like the perfect moment and nothing could ruin it.