Lumen Cove

by Dianne Frost

  “Yeah,” Kelsey said with a nod, smirking over the top of her cone. “Total sense.”

  Reva narrowed her eyes. “What about you? Is it time?”

  “Time to what?” Kelsey asked, swiping her tongue along the side of her ice cream, wary of the glint in Reva’s eye.

  “For sweet little Kelsey Charming to swipe her V-card,” Reva said in a baby voice, reaching across the table to pinch Kelsey’s cheek and she sat back immediately, feeling as if she’d swallowed her scoop of ice-cream whole, a cold stone seeming to drop down into her stomach.

  “Uh…why… what?” Kelsey stuttered and Reva let out a loud bray of laughter.

  Talk paused at the Bellengrath table, Elizabeth Grath giving them a scathing look before it resumed. Reva turned in her seat to eyeball them back and stuck her tongue out, crossing her eyes and Kelsey slapped at her across the table with her freehand, giggling madly.

  “Kelsey, you’re like the only virgin left in the senior class,” Reva replied and Kelsey frowned. “I mean good for you, ya know, but what better time than Cotillion?” Reva shrugged and licked at her ice cream.

  “I just… I don’t…” Kelsey stuttered still trying to wrap her head around the concept. Of course Reva thought she was a virgin. She hadn’t told her about Alex and it’s not like she could have been dating someone without Reva knowing… except for Alex. “Who?”

  Reva looked at her. “What?”

  “Who?” Kelsey said again but Reva still gave her a blank stare. “Who would I lose it to?”

  Reva flopped back in her chair, rolling her eyes to the ceiling and slapped her freehand on the table with a loud bang. “Oh my God, Kelsey. Elliot. It would be Elliot. The guy who’s been in love with you since we were four. Christ.”

  Kelsey’s mouth popped open in shock, her eyes flicking from Reva to the Bellengrath table, all of its occupants glaring at them. She couldn’t fathom losing her virginity to Elliot of all people. In fact, she couldn’t picture herself sleeping with anyone but Alex. The thought of being with someone else like that actually turned her stomach. She lowered her ice cream, resting her wrist against the side of the table.

  “I mean… like is he… is he expecting that?” Kelsey asked quietly, reaching to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear staring resolutely at the table. “Because I…”

  “Kels, no!” Reva exclaimed, waving her hands, cone and all, in distress. “God no. I’m just saying…” Kelsey blinked at her, not entirely sure what she was saying. Reva sighed. “I’m just saying it wouldn’t be a bad way to lose it. Elliot’s super sweet,” Reva chuckled. “And he worships the ground you walk on.”

  Kelsey made a face, shaking her head as her eyes fell to the Bellengrath table again, seeing that Elizabeth was showing Caroline Bell a picture on her phone. It was a picture of a boat and Kelsey’s brows furrowed, standing from her seat without realizing. Caroline took the phone into her own hands and began to swipe, the table oooh-ing and ah-ing as heads tilted together to get a good look.

  “Kelsey, what are you doing?” Reva asked, her voice tinged with alarm as Kelsey set her cone down on the table and strode over to stand behind the girls.

  “Why do you have pictures of the Echo Delta?” Kelsey demanded and Elizabeth Grath’s light brown eyes met hers.

  “What’s it to you?” she asked, taking her phone back from Caroline who then turned sideways in her seat to look up at Kelsey.

  “That’s Mr. Danvers boat. What are you planning to do to it,” Kelsey demanded, feeling a fierce wave of protectiveness wash through her. If these snobby rich girls laid one manicured finger on the Echo Delta she would-

  “Well, first of all. It’s my dad’s boat now and what I’m planning on doing with it is none of your business,” Elizabeth said, her thin lips curling up in an unattractive smirk. The other girls at the table giggled and Kelsey’s fists balled at her sides.

  “No it’s not. You’re lying,” Kelsey said, feeling her heartbeat quicken and some of the girls emitted disbelieving gasps while others laughed. Elizabeth merely crinkled her brow.

  “Why would I lie about that?” Elizabeth asked leaning back in her chair and crossing her legs. “Daddy’s had his eye on that boat since Danvers moved to town. It was only a matter of time before Danvers broke down and took the money.” Elizabeth snorted, smirking at her friends. “I think it’s my Cotillion present.”

  The table tittered in excitement and it was as if Kelsey no longer existed, their conversation changing to what Elizabeth would name her new sailboat, if she would paint it and many other things that made Kelsey’s jaw clench as rage and hurt funneled through her.

  “Kelsey,” Reva said in a quiet voice close to her ear. “Come sit back down.”

  Kelsey let her friend guide her back over to her table and Reva made sure she got into her chair okay before rounding the table and taking her seat.

  “Danvers is selling his boat?” Reva asked in a hushed whisper and Kelsey felt her throat close.

  “Uh… I… I guess,” Kelsey said, looking down at her ice cream cone melting onto the table.

  “Is that…upsetting to you?” Reva ventured and Kelsey’s head snapped up, her eyes meeting Reva’s and finding a suspicious curiosity on her face.

  “Um… I just… I know how much he loves that boat,” she said, jerking one shoulder up in an effort to give a careless shrug. “It’s weird that he’d… he’d sell her…it.”

  Reva’s eyes narrowed. “Okay…”

  “Reva, I… I…” Kelsey swallowed hard, looking at her best friend and suddenly the urge to tell her everything that had happened over the last few months was so strong she thought it would drown her. Reva’s brow crinkled in concern as she leaned over the table, reaching for Kelsey’s arm.

  “Hey,” she said, patting her wrist. “Are you okay? You look… really upset.”

  “I just,” Kelsey began and then shook her head, pulling her arm from Reva’s grasp to fold her hands in her lap. “It reminded me I have to do some stuff for the HOA. I completely forgot and the meeting is tomorrow.”

  Reva blinked at her. “Really?”

  “Do you totally hate me?” Kelsey asked and Reva blinked at her. “Uh… no? I mean we have our dresses, like, that was the only thing we were doing.”

  “Okay,” Kelsey said, still looking at her funny, “I just… I know you wanted to spend the day together. I didn’t want to cut it short but-”

  “Kels, it’s fine. Just promise me one thing,” Reva said seriously and Kelsey nodded at her. “Will you please get them to get some new decorations for the complex? I am so sick of that moldy bow from 1979 on our door every Christmas.”

  Kelsey blinked at her. “I mean, yeah, of course, sure. I’ll bring it up in the meeting.” Kelsey stood from her seat and took a step towards the door. “Are you… gonna stay here?” Kelsey asked, throwing a glance over at the Bellengrath girls, but Elizabeth was up talking with the guy behind the counter.

  Reva followed her gaze and the cashier caught her gaze giving Reva a lopsided smile over Elizabeth’s head. Reva smirked. “I’m gonna hang out here for a bit.”

  Kelsey looked back at Reva and leaned over the table. “Reva, I would never ask you to do this but I really really-”

  “Oh don’t worry girl I’m on it,” Reva said, pulling out her compact and checking her lipstick. “You go handle your business. I’ll handle this.” Kelsey smiled, patting Reva’s shoulder before turning to leave. “Kelsey!” Reva exclaimed and Kelsey looked back at her. Reva gestured to the garment back. “Your dress? I know it wasn’t so expensive you had to break into the Ludlin Cash but come on.”

  “If you don’t stop calling my trust fund Ludlin Cash I’m going to have Mr. Ludlin sue you for copyright infringement. Or libel. Or whatever it is when you use someone’s name without permission,” Kelsey threatened as she snatched up her garment bag and Reva bit her lip on a giggle.

  “I’m just saying, you had the option to spend whatever you wanted on a dress
and you didn’t even break into four figures.” Reva gave a disappointed sigh as she stood from her chair. “You have all that money and you don’t even know how to use it. Sad.” Reva teased, bumping Kelsey with her hip as she sauntered up to the counter.

  Kelsey’s mouth popped open and then snapped shut, blinking at Reva’s retreating form. Kelsey did have a lot of money, all settled in a trust run by Mr. Ludlen who was keeping track of it until she was twenty-five. She turned towards the door again and pushed through it at a near jog, her head suddenly heavy with half cocked plans.

  Alex was slumped down in his desk chair, staring at the two wrapped bundles of currency in front of him, one banded in brown the other in purple. His entire savings sat there in a pitifully small stack as he brought the rocks glass to his lips, the bourbon stinging his tongue as he sipped slowly. His eyes fell on the small album open at his elbow.

  The photos of the Echo Delta were professional shots taken for Sailing magazine back in the early 2000s. A family friend had submitted it to the magazine for a feature on the refurbishment process. His father had never been more proud of anything in his life. Alex drained his glass and fumbled for the bottle at the corner of his desk to pour himself another.

  He’d called Samson Grath this morning, out of options. Grath was half of Lambency’s founding families, Bell and Grath, both of which still lived in the neighborhood where Lambency started, on the north end of the beach and was named after them. That part of town was exclusive to rich tourists and local elites. The kind of people that yachted around the Gulf all summer and threw exclusive charity events that cost half of what Alex made in a year just to attend. Samson had his eye on the Echo Delta ever since Alex moved to town, had offered him cash, the amount of which escalated each time he brought it up. When that didn’t work he offered perks like attending the annual Black and White Ball, the event exclusive to Bellengrath residents that shut down the pier every year the weekend before Labor Day, access to the country club and free registration at their yearly regatta. Alex wasn’t sure how he was supposed to compete in a regatta without a boat but he’d never mentioned it.

  Alex told Samson that he was finally ready to sell the Echo Delta, though he didn’t use her name, referred to her merely as his sailboat, and asked if Grath was still interested in buying her. Samson played it cool, saying it was possible but he had to think on it, but Alex had a voicemail from him with an offer by the afternoon. Alex said he’d think about it and let Samson know by Thursday. That gave him four more days with the Echo Delta before he had to make his payment to Clint and the Outlaws. Alex knew the money was going to be there regardless. He just wanted a little more time with her.

  Alex jumped as he heard the knob on the back door violently jiggle and then what sounded like an open palm banging on it. He tensed, rising silently from his chair and opening the polished wood box on a low shelf behind him, pulling out the Beretta 92FS he’d worn on his hip for six solid years. It felt as familiar in his hand as a piece of chalk as he checked the slide, flicking the safety off. He stood, his breathing slow as the pounding sounded again, slipping around the corner and into the laundry room.

  “Alex!” Kelsey’s voice sounded muffled from behind the door, loud but not quite a yell and Alex let out a heavy breath, his shoulders sagging as his thumb flicked the safety back on and he opened the door.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Alex scolded and was startled as she pushed her way inside, her shoulder knocking hard into his chest. She threw a garment bag over the back of one of the barstools and whirled on him.

  “Do you wanna explain to me why Elizabeth Grath thinks her dad is giving her the Echo Delta as a Debut gift?”

  Alex sighed, pushing the door closed behind her and clicked the lock into place. Kelsey’s eyes fell to his hand. “Is that a gun?” she asked with alarm.

  Alex gave her a look. “Yes,” he replied simply and put a hand on her shoulder, guiding her out into the open space of the condo.

  “When did you get a gun?” She asked her voice raising an octave. Alex rolled his eyes, moved around the desk again and crouched to replace the pistol in its box, smoothing the dust off the seal on the lid before standing again.

  “It was my service weapon,” he explained and Kelsey’s face smoothed but the anxiety didn’t leave her eyes.

  “You think they’re going to come back before the deadline?” she asked and Alex sighed, sitting behind the desk once again.

  “They already have,” he said leaning back in his chair and reaching for his glass. “The creepy one dropped by to see how my nose was healing and give me the drop location. Some bar outside of Mobile. The Showbar.” He snorted. “Sounds like a strip club.”

  “Are you drinking?” Kelsey asked, the alarm back in her voice and he ignored her, feeling the pleasant burn in his chest as he sipped. “Alex, you can’t sell the Echo Delta.”

  “It’s already done,” he said setting his glass down and Kelsey’s eyes widened and to her surprise immediately filled with tears.

  “What?”

  “I said, it’s already done,” Alex repeated but louder this time and Kelsey gritted her teeth in frustration.

  “I heard you. How long have you been sitting on this?” Kelsey accused and Alex refused to look at her.

  “Couple of hours,” he replied taking another drink and Kelsey’s entire body went rigid, her mouth popping open in shock.

  “Are you serious?” Kelsey asked, stepping closer to the desk and Alex nodded, still not looking at her. “Alex, you have to get her back. Call Samson Grath and tell him you made a mistake.”

  “I haven’t agreed to sell yet I’ve just gotten an offer,” Alex spat angrily and Kelsey jumped. “I haven’t accepted the offer yet but I’m going to. It’s done.”

  “What the fuck is wrong with you?” Kelsey shrieked and Alex looked at her wide eyed, raising a hand as if cautioning her to quiet down. “You sold the Echo Delta to Samson Graft? To give to Elizabeth? Are you fucking kidding me?”

  “Lower your voice,” Alex commanded and expected Kelsey to snap her mouth shut and shift from foot to foot like she always did when he used that tone with her but she did neither.

  “You cannot do this. If Elizabeth Grath puts one foot on the Echo Delta’s deck I swear to God-”

  “What does this have to do with Lizzie Grath?” Alex asked and Kelsey’s face went blank from shock.

  “You call her Lizzie?” Kelsey asked with obvious disgust and Alex blinked at her.

  “No, I call her Miss Grath which is how I address all my students,” he said and except for you hung in the air between them like a noose. “She’s in my World Lit class. Everyone calls her Lizzie.”

  “No, all the Bellengrath kids call her Lizzie,” Kelsey spat, hatred on her face and Alex was surprised. She’d never acted this way about other students before. “All of them have shortened names for each other that only they can use.”

  “That’s ridiculous. What stops anyone else from calling her Lizzie?”

  “Uh…everything,” Kelsey responded and Alex couldn’t help it. He laughed. It was so…teenage of her. “Don’t laugh at me, Alex! This is serious.”

  “Yes, Kelsey whatever weird social code that’s going on between the Bellengrath kids and everyone is extremely serious. More serious than having my knees broken by a motorcycle gang. I’ll call creepy, rat-faced Bobby right now and tell him that they might as well bring their baseball bats over here now because Kelsey Charming has some kind of school yard grudge against the daughter of the man that was going to get me their money so they’re just shit out of luck”

  Kelsey looked back at him shocked and wounded, a single tear sliding down her face from each eye when she blinked and Alex looked away ashamed. He set his drink on the desk and stood to walk around it, coming to stand in front of her. His cupped her face, thumbs smearing the wet streaks more than wiping them away. She reached up and gripped his wrists, holding him there.

  “I’m sorry,” he s
aid softly and Kelsey turned her face to the side with a grimace as she smelled the bourbon on his breath and against her own volition Sully’s face surfaced in her mind. “Kels. Hey I’m sorry,” Alex said misinterpreting her stiffness as resistance to his apology. “I don’t mean to be hateful, but this doesn’t involve you.”

  “Doesn’t involved me?” she asked, letting go of his wrists and taking a step back. “I’m sorry was it you he threatened with popping your eyeball out like a ping pong ball?”

  “All the more reason this has to happen. I’m not gonna let them hurt you because of something my fucking asshole brother did.”

  “What if I gave you the money?” Kelsey asked and Alex blinked at her before a disbelieving laugh escaped his throat. She frowned.

  “You don’t have eight thousand dollars,” Alex said shaking his head.

  “No, I have about eight million dollars,” Kelsey said and Alex’s eyes bulged out of his head. Kelsey looked at the floor and shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably. “It’s my inheritance.”

  “E-eight million?” Alex stuttered and Kelsey sighed as if this was all a great burden.

  “Yes, okay. Yes.” Her arms flailed before she brought a hand to her head, embarrassed She sighed. “Gramps apparently made some good stock decisions in the 80s and with the rental properties it all just kind of piled up.” Kelsey waved a hand in front of her and scrunched up her face. “I don’t wanna talk about this. Look, I can talk to Mr. Ludlin - he’s the one that handles my trust - and tell him I need it for school or something.” She put a hand on her hip. “He never understands what I’m talking about with any of that anyway.”

  “Are you…NO!” Alex exclaimed and she looked at him startled. “I am not taking money from you,” he said as if the very idea was so offensive he couldn’t stand it.

  “Why not?” Kelsey asked petulantly and Alex ran both hands through his hair in frustration.

  “Because Kelsey!” He exclaimed, “You… you are my student. How would that look? I need eight grand and suddenly Kelsey Charming is pulling eight grand out of her trust for some mystery science thing no one understands? The Sheriff is already asking questions which my God is absolutely-“