The Broken Road (The Broken Series)

by Ruff, K. S.

  I whipped around and saw Kimme and Dan grinning back at me. “Oh my God, you’re here?” I quickly turned on Kadyn. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me they were coming!” I punched him in the arm.

  Kadyn didn’t flinch. He actually shook his head and looked embarrassed for me, given my pitiful excuse for a punch. Still, I had to massage the pain out of my knuckles.

  “Surprise!” Everyone shouted in unison. Then they all burst out laughing.

  I flung my arms around Kimme and Dan. “It’s so good to see you. Thank you so much for coming. And, Dan…” my voice cracked as my eyes filled with tears.

  “It was my pleasure little lady,” he responded affectionately.

  I grabbed him by the shoulders as I locked my eyes on his. “Thank you,” I insisted. There was no way that I was going to let him avoid hearing those words.

  Kadyn shook Dan’s hand. Then he gave Kimme a hug. I quickly introduced Kimme and Dan to everyone else in the group.

  “Why don’t we all get settled into our rooms and meet back down here for dinner at five?” Kadyn suggested as soon as we were checked in. Everyone agreed as we made our way toward the elevators.

  I was so excited when I saw our room had a view of the ocean. Kadyn pushed open the sliding glass doors so we could step out onto the little patio. I trailed after him. “I can’t wait to drink coffee out here in the morning. Can we sleep with the sliding glass door open so we can hear the waves?”

  Kadyn smiled as he bracketed me against the rail. “I don’t see why not.” He ignored the view as he trailed open-mouthed kisses all down my neck. He slid the strap from my sun dress out of the way so he could continue kissing across my shoulder and down my arm. I tore my eyes from the ocean just as he reached my hand. He had a very determined look on his face as he began pulling me back inside.

  “We only have a half hour before dinner,” I objected.

  Kadyn scooped me up and threw me on the bed. “I can work with that.”

  He had all the grace of a panther as he crawled up the bed after me. Within seconds, he had me pinned beneath him, begging for more.

  * * * * * *

  I was still flushed when we met our friends downstairs. Kadyn had such a smug look on his face, I was certain our friends knew what we had been up to.

  Kimme grinned when our eyes met. She linked her arm in mine. “Did you guys get a room with a view?”

  I nodded. “Yes. Did you?”

  “Yes, it’s lovely. I told Dan I wanted to fall asleep to the sound of the waves, but he’s pushing back about having the sliding glass door open. He thinks it’s a security risk.”

  “What floor are you on?” I asked curiously.

  She rolled her eyes. “The tenth floor.”

  I shook my head. “And Dan thinks that’s a security risk? Who’s he expecting to scale the side of the building, Spiderman?”

  She laughed. “I have no idea.”

  Cenia returned from the concierge’s desk. “There’s a restaurant right next door with an open deck that faces the beach. The food is supposed to be quite good. Should we just wander over there?”

  “Sure,” everyone responded agreeably. We filed out of the hotel and made our way next door. It was still early for dinner so we had no trouble securing a table for ten. The waiters pushed two tables together near the edge of the deck. The view was breathtaking.

  The waiter took our drink orders, then ran through the specials. Everyone in the group ordered fresh fish, shrimp, or crab. I threw caution to the wind and asked the waiter to surprise me. As long as I was giving up control, I figured I might as well go all out.

  Everyone began talking about what he wanted to do during the trip. I caught about every third word, focusing instead on the view and the sound of the waves. I tucked my legs underneath me in the hard wood chair and leaned into Kadyn’s arms. “I’d like to go for a walk on the beach tonight.”

  Kadyn kissed the top of my head. “That sounds good, Kri.”

  The waiter delivered our drinks and a couple baskets of bread.

  Mason reached for a piece of bread. “Maybe we can join you,” he mused in all seriousness.

  Gabi threw a chunk of bread at him. “You are so clueless!”

  Mason winked at me, proving that he was not at all clueless. He was just trying to get a rise out of Gabi.

  “Does anyone want to go swimming with the dolphins?” Cenia asked excitedly.

  My eyes grew wide. “We can do that?”

  “It’s a little expensive,” she admitted, “but the concierge can make the arrangements for us.”

  I took a sip of white wine. It was cold and crisp, perfect for the balmy weather. “How much are we talking?”

  Cenia managed to look hopeful and apologetic at the same time. “A hundred dollars.”

  I did some math in my head, then smiled. “Let’s do it!”

  “Anyone else?” Cenia asked.

  The rest of our friends shook their heads, then resumed talking about the things they wanted to do over the next few days.

  Kimme nudged me, then quietly asked, “Have you made a decision about moving back to Montana?”

  The other conversations screeched to a halt as everyone waited for my response. “I know I owe Charlie an answer,” I began hesitantly, “and I need to start applying for jobs if I’m going to stay in DC, but I’m having a really hard time deciding. I promised myself I’d make the decision by the end of this trip.” I glanced around the table at my friends. “I’m counting on you guys to hold me to that.”

  Kimme nodded as her gaze shifted to Kadyn. “I don’t imagine it’s going to be an easy decision.”

  I felt nauseous just thinking about it.

  Our waiter appeared with two more waiters in tow. The conversation shifted as they began distributing our plates. I looked up at our original waiter as he set my plate in front of me. “What did you decide to order for me?”

  “Grits and fish,” he said. “Best dish in the house.” He had a huge grin on his face as he waited for me to take a bite.

  My eyes widened as soon as I did. “It’s really good. Very spicy!”

  He nodded, obviously pleased, as I passed the dish around for everyone else to try.

  Kadyn handed me one of his shrimp. “You should try this.”

  I pulled the tail off and popped it into my mouth. “Wow.”

  He laughed. “I thought you might like it.”

  I grabbed another shrimp from his plate and handed it to Kimme. “You gotta try this!”

  Kadyn gave me that stoic look he was famous for. Kimme and I burst out laughing.

  “No respect,” Dan mumbled as he shook his head.

  I looked at Cenia. “I’d offer you one, but I think he might bite my hand.”

  Kadyn gave me a heated look that suggested he might bite a whole lot more than my hand.

  I tried to plead my case. “Cenia needs to try one so we can figure out what seasonings they use. That way we can try to duplicate this dish when we get home.”

  Kadyn caught Cenia’s hand just as she tried to nab one from his plate. Since he was occupied with her, I stole another one and tossed it to her. Roger caught it instead. Cenia groaned, but the rest of us burst out laughing.

  Kadyn flagged our waiter down and ordered another plate of shrimp, complaining loudly about how we all couldn’t keep our hands off his plate. The rest of us ordered a second round of drinks at the same time.

  The waiters didn’t appear anxious to get rid of us, so we ordered coffee and every single dessert on the menu. As soon as our waiter delivered our dessert, he pulled a chair up to join us. We took turns questioning him about what it was like to live in the Bahamas while we passed the desserts around for everyone to sample. We ended up monopolizing our table for so long and were so thoroughly entertained by our waiter that we decided to leave him a fifty percent tip.

  Instead of returning to the hotel, we decided to sit on the beach for a while. I kicked my sandals off and dug my
toes into the sand. I sifted the warm sand through my fingers as I listened to everyone else talk. I tried to keep up with the conversation, but my mind kept returning to Kimme’s question and the decision I had to make. When it turned dark, Kadyn stood and reached for my hand. “You still up for that walk?”

  I smiled. “Yes, I most certainly am.” I grabbed my sandals, then reached for his hand.

  Just as we turned to walk away, Dan called out, “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

  Kimme giggled.

  Kadyn shook his head, then turned back around. “Isn’t it past your bedtime, old man?”

  “Oh. You just got burned,” Mason exclaimed.

  Their laughter trailed after us.

  I switched sides with Kadyn so I could walk in the waves. As we walked, I swung my sandals in my hand. We didn’t speak for a long time.

  “What’s going on inside that pretty head of yours?” Kadyn finally asked.

  “That decision I’m supposed to make,” I grumbled miserably.

  Kadyn nodded. “I thought so. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  I shook my head. “Just that it’s an impossible decision.”

  Kadyn steadied me as the waves crashed over my knees. He led me further up the beach, where the waves just trickled over my feet. “What makes it impossible?”

  “I want to live in Montana, I want to be closer to my family, and I want my old job back. I found it far more rewarding than what I’m doing on the Hill…”

  He shot me a curious look. “But?”

  I glanced briefly at Kadyn’s face, then resumed watching the waves dance over my feet. “But my heart hurts every time I think about leaving you. I know it sounds crazy, Kadyn. We’ve only been dating for seven months; and I know that you and Cenia and everyone else could move from DC in a year, because you’ll all be facing reassignment. Then where does that leave me? Alone in DC all over again.”

  We both stopped walking as Kadyn turned to face me. “What would you do if you stayed in DC?” he asked softly.

  I shrugged. “I’d apply for a job with the government or an NGO… a job that would enable me to help people. I want to feel like I’m making a difference, and I don’t think I am… not on the Hill. I’m also considering going back to school.”

  “Law school?” he asked.

  “Maybe. There are some other graduate degrees I’ve been considering as well.”

  Kadyn nodded. “I was thinking of doing the same thing. I’d like to begin working toward a master’s degree this fall.”

  I smiled. “It’s as good a time as any, I suppose.”

  Kadyn pulled me into his arms, so I tossed my sandals in the sand, just out of reach of the waves. He kissed me gently on the lips before resting his forehead against mine. “I don’t want to sway you in your decision, Kri. You have to decide this for yourself, but I’m sure we’d find a way to make things work either way.”

  I tightened my hold on him. “I don’t think I can live without you.”

  Kadyn sighed as he tucked my head under his chin. “I know, Kri. Trust me. I know just how you feel.”

  * * * * * *

  The next morning, we camped out on the beach under a brilliant blue sky. Kadyn, Phil, and Mason were throwing a football around in the water. Roger and Cenia were floating next to each other on rafts, holding hands. Marie and Gabi were keeping me company as one of the beach combers braided and beaded my hair.

  I glanced at Gabi. “How are things going with Mason?”

  Gabi pretended to cast out a fishing pole, then began reeling it in. Marie choked on her bottled water as she burst out laughing.

  I reached inside my bag and handed Gabi a small black book. “Here. You two should read this book together.”

  Gabi looked at the book curiously. “If… Questions for the Game of Life.”

  “There’s a really good question on page thirty-two,” I prompted.

  Gabi opened the book and looked at the question. A huge smile spread across her face. “Hey, Mason!” she shouted over the waves. “Come read with me!” She turned and winked at me. “Thanks, Kri.”

  Kimme and Dan joined us as they returned from their stroll along the beach. “Look what I found,” Kimme announced as she dumped a pile of seashells out on the sand.

  I smiled at Kimme as she sifted through her treasure. Then I thought about the treasures I had found. My eyes filled with tears as I examined each of my friends in turn.

  * * * * * *

  The next day, Cenia and I left the rest of the group on the beach so we could go swimming with the dolphins. We took a speed boat out to a small cove where we played with two bottle-nosed dolphins, alongside a handful of other tourists. I marveled at how gently the dolphins took the fish from my hand, how playful they were, and the silky feel of their skin. Playing with them was one of the most amazing things I had ever experienced.

  We still smelled a bit fishy when we rejoined the group. They were embroiled in a debate about where to go for dinner. Cenia and I amicably joined in the debate before heading up to our rooms to shower. Twenty minutes later we were all climbing into cabs. The soldiers in the group had convinced the non-soldiers to brave eating at a local joint, somewhere off the beaten track.

  We commandeered a wooden table in a small, broken down shack of a restaurant. I eyed the menu skeptically.

  “We should order the conch,” Mason suggested. “I’ve heard it’s very popular in the Bahamas.”

  Dan, Kimme, and I exchanged looks. “What’s conch?” Kimme asked.

  I was relieved she had asked. I had absolutely no clue what it was, but I could see it was all over the menu in chowder, salads, and fritters.

  “It’s a large ocean mollusk with a firm white meat,” Phil explained in all seriousness.

  Once again, Kimme, Dan, and I exchanged glances. We were no closer to understanding what conch was.

  Kadyn laughed at the looks on our faces. He explained, “You know those big fancy sea shells that you and Kimme were admiring in the market… the ones with the points on them? That’s where conch comes from.”

  “Conch is considered an aphrodisiac,” Gabi announced with a wicked grin.

  Suddenly, everyone agreed to try it. The restaurant prepared the meat in a variety of ways, so we each chose a different dish and agreed to share. Surprisingly, there wasn’t a single dish I didn’t like.

  We decided to go out dancing after dinner. Dancing in the Bahamas was unlike dancing anywhere else. The only word that could possibly describe it is fun. Dancing in Montana was fun too; but I never could keep up with all the intricate steps involved with line dancing. The most complicated dance I could manage was the two-step, unless I was dancing with a guy who was skilled enough to overcome my vexatious tendency to lead.

  Kadyn had taken me out dancing in DC. Once. I was so emotionally scarred from the experience that I refused to go again. The nightclub was packed with people, and I didn’t understand the point of being there because it was impossible to move even one inch. There wasn’t any seating, so people brought their drinks out onto the dance floor and proceeded to spill them on anyone unfortunate enough to be within a twenty mile radius. My hearing was permanently impaired from the pulsing techno music, and I was appalled to find that other men considered it completely appropriate to grope me even when I was firmly wrapped in Kadyn’s arms.

  Thankfully, dancing in the Bahamas was nothing like dancing in DC. It was light and fun, and, like everything else in the Bahamas, it was not complicated. No one cared that the dance club had a DJ instead of a live band.

  Kadyn pulled me out onto the dance floor as soon as the DJ started played Shaggy’s “Angel.” The rest of our friends joined us on the dance floor, and we danced straight through to the very last song… Kamakawiwo’ole’s version of “Over the Rainbow.” Kadyn sang softly in my ear as we danced together one last time. We couldn’t possibly have ended the evening on a more perfect note.

  * * * * * *

  It was o
ur last night in the Bahamas. Our entire group of friends ordered take out from a nearby Italian restaurant, so we could eat together on the beach. I followed the banter as we ate dinner, amazed at how well Kimme and Dan had meshed with my friends from DC. As the food and the wine dwindled, so too did the conversation. The sound of the waves lulled us into a companionable silence as we savored our few remaining minutes on the darkened beach. The fact that I had yet to make my decision hung heavily in the air.

  “Well, we're going to head back to the hotel. Good luck with your decision, Kri. You know we’re here for you either way,” Cenia offered encouragingly. She reached for Roger’s hand.

  Phil and Marie stood and said goodnight. Phil draped his arm around Marie. Then they fell in behind Cenia and Roger. I watched as the two couples walked back to the hotel.

  Mason and Gabi stayed and visited for a few minutes longer. Then Gabi convinced Mason to take her for one last walk along the beach.

  “We’re going to call it a night too,” Kimme announced as Dan helped her up from her chair. I couldn’t help but notice the sadness in Kimme’s voice. Her green eyes gentled as she looked at me. “Krissy, you should know that there are no wrong decisions here, just different ones.” She quietly regarded me as I sat on Kadyn’s lawn chair, tucked inside his arms. Then she smiled. “You have finally found your knight in shining armor. I couldn’t be happier for you, honey.” A single tear slid down her face.

  Dan hugged Kimme. “Kadyn’s a good guy. From where I’m standing, this decision of yours looks like a no brainer.”

  Kimme wrapped her arms around Dan.

  My eyes welled with tears as I watched the two of them walk away. I leaned back against Kadyn as I tried to regain my composure. We were the only two people left on the beach.

  Kadyn and I didn’t talk for some time. I simply lay in his arms and stared out at the waves as I sorted through a million different questions. Should I return to Montana? A job I loved was waiting for me. I missed my parents, Charlie, Lexie, Siobhan, and all the friends I had left behind. But what about DC? With everything that had happened over the past few months, had I really given DC a fair shake? I had grown to love my new friends: Kadyn, Cenia, Roger, Phil, Marie, Gabi, and even Mason. I thought about how they had welcomed me into their group and how they had risked their lives for me. You didn’t find friends like that every day. On the other hand, I knew that most of them would be moving within a year or two, since they were in the military. Then what? Would I still want to live in DC?