Someday

by Liz Lovelock

  It would be perfect for a readers’ café with books there for clients to read while they enjoyed some time out alone or with friends. Oh, my goodness, this could be amazing! A flutter of excitement fills me, and I can see myself working there, serving clients. Working so close to Seth would be an advantage; I would be able to look out the windows directly at him. Yeah, I think I’m sold on this idea.

  “Are you coming with me, or just gonna sit and stare at it all day?” Seth jokes while he waits for me, ready to cross the road. The street isn’t busy this early in the morning, but I’ve seen it busy with tourists passing through in buses, kind of like one of those road trip tour things. The shops near this empty one have always been busy when I’ve come to Seth’s workshop.

  “Yeah, sorry.”

  We cross the road and Seth pulls out a set of keys, unlocking the door. He pushes it slightly, and it creaks open. “Might need to oil up the hinges; this door hasn’t been opened in years. Maybe even since Nan shut the doors.” A sadness fills his eyes. His head tilts down to the ground, and he goes silent.

  Stepping into the store, there’s so much dust in the air, you could choke on it. At the thought, I cough, as does Seth.

  “Gosh, no one’s been in here in years!” I say through a coughing fit.

  “Yeah, after I moved in with Nan there was a family . . . there was an issue, and she closed it down.”

  I didn’t miss the pause; he seemed unsure how to word his sentence. “Oh, okay.” I want to ask questions, but it’s not my place. “How about we open a window before I die from dust inhalation?”

  He laughs as I cough more. He goes to the windows at the front of the store, flicks a latch in the middle, and pushes them open. This place continues to reveal its beauty. It’s been left for too long, and now I need to be the one to let its magnificent beauty shine again.

  “Wow!” I breathe. The breeze blows through the open windows and sunlight fills the room. My eyes adjust from the murky darkness to the brightness. Tables are stacked against the walls. One of the old glass cabinets is dirty, but I see its potential. The flowery wall paper is peeling off the walls.

  “I forgot how beautiful this place is.” Sherri’s voice echoes through the near empty room. Jumping in fright, I spin around to see her standing in the doorway with a happy smile upon her face.

  “Oh, hello . . . How are you, Sherri? I didn’t know you were coming. We could have picked you up.” I give Seth a glare for not inviting his Nan along, he shrugs.

  “It’s okay, dear, I have a small car to buzz around in, thanks to this young man.” She places her hand on Seth’s shoulder and squeezes.

  “Oh, okay. This place is wonderful. It has so much potential.”

  “It does, dear. It needs a bit of fixing up and cleaning, but I think once it’s finished it will be a fine café.” She runs her fingers along the countertop, dusts her hand off on her pants, then walks through the doors into the back room. Here I was thinking she’s all prim and proper, but she has a wild side to her, good ol’ Sherri. I grin to myself.

  “She’s amazing, isn’t she?” Seth whispers into my ear. I hadn’t even noticed him right behind me. Goosebumps prickle my skin as his breath tickles my neck.

  “Ah . . . yeah, she is. Lots of sass.”

  We laugh together. The hand he’s placed on my shoulders, glides down my arms and then falls to my hips. My instincts tell me to lean back into him, but the sensible part of me won’t allow it. Stupid sensible me.

  “So, Chloe dear, have you thought anymore about my proposal?” Sherri enquires.

  My eyes dance around the room; the smile on my face is bright. Yes, my new beginning starts here. “I have, and I’d love to be a part of the team.”

  Sherri lets out an excited squeal and rushes over to me, wrapping me in her tiny arms. For someone with little arms, she sure has a tight grip. “Seth, isn’t that wonderful?”

  “Yeah, Nan, it is.”

  I look at him watching Sherri hug me, a smile on his face, a glow in his eyes. They don’t look sad in this moment, but shine with happiness.

  Our hug ends, and I take a walk around the shop and investigate the back rooms. There’s a medium-sized kitchen, probably good for this café. But like the rest of the place, it needs work. It’s going to take weeks or maybe even a few months to get this in order.

  I enter the front room again and ask a question that’s been playing on my mind. “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but why didn’t you find someone else to run the place and keep it open?”

  Seth and Sherri look at each other, a shared moment crosses between them, then back to me.

  “Nan couldn’t let just anyone run the place. It’s been in the family since this town came about. It’s basically a family heirloom and she’d only ever leave it in the hands of someone very close to family or someone she can totally trust and rely on.” Seth spreads his arms wide to open the large window. “When something unexpected happened, Nan made the tough decision to close and take care of her family.” Seth clears his throat, and Sherri places her hand gently on his back.

  “I’ve been waiting for the right person with a glowing spirit to help me open it. You’re that glowing spirit, Chloe. You make me smile and not only me, but you seem to have bewitched my grandson here.”

  I watch Seth as he shrugs and nods, not even trying to hide his feelings. It’s kind of refreshing.

  My cheeks flush for the millionth time since I’ve been around him. “Oh . . .” is all I manage.

  “We need to get a plan in place,” Sherri announces. “Will you join me for morning tea, Chloe, and we’ll start our planning?”

  “I’d love to.”

  “What about me?” Seth asks, sounding hurt.

  “You have to get to work,” she responds politely. “Poor Chance can’t do it all himself.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Sadness is evident in his tone.

  “Don’t worry, Mildred—you’ll see us later.”

  His eyes spring open and are on me instantly, his face pale. Sherri and I giggle at my response.

  “Wha—you . . .” He points his finger accusingly at Sherri.

  “Leave your Nan alone, Mildred. Pick up your skirt and get to work.”

  Now it’s his turn to pink up. This only causes me to laugh harder.

  “Why did you tell her?” he questions Sherri.

  “My darling boy, we got talking one night when you were working late at the workshop. I rang her to see how she was going. I needed a girlie chat, and this young lady brings laughter to my day. I swore her to secrecy, but I guess the cat is out of the bag now.” She giggles.

  “Gosh, Nan, can’t you keep anything a secret?” he responds playfully.

  “Leave her be. Now off you go.” I shoo him out the door, leaving just Sherri and me.

  “Let’s go, dear. I know the perfect place.”

  I lock things up again and hand the keys to Sherri, but she pushes them back toward me.

  “You keep them. You’ll be needing them.”

  “Thank you for this chance, Sherri. It means a lot to me that you trust me.”

  Her eyes twinkle as she smiles. “No, thank you. You’re helping me in more ways than one.” She winks and links her hand through my arm, and we head off down the road.

  I can’t help glancing over at the workshop. My heart speeds up a tick when I spy Seth looking my way. I give him a brilliant smile, and he responds by blowing me a kiss.

  Morning tea with Sherri was exactly what I needed. She’s a positive lady, one I need around me. Trent has helped me out more than he knows. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to the city.

  Sherri offers me a ride home, but I decide a walk will be perfect to mull things over in my head and heart. Plus, I want to check out Thomas Point Lookout. Seth has mentioned it a few times.

  After a thirty-minute walk from the town centre, I’m near the cottage. I’m tempted to go inside and sleep after what happened last night. Looking up at the hill a littl
e farther from the cottage, I keep walking.

  Arriving at the top, puffed and heaving for air, I realise I’m out of shape. Better fix that. More walking happening from now on.

  A seat resides at the highest point of the hill, so I make my way over and sit. My eyes fall upon a glorious view of the ocean. It’s a rainbow of different shades of blue; the sky is clear blue with beautiful white puffy clouds.

  “Wow . . .” I breathe. This place is magic.

  My thoughts turn to my mother and how she must be going. She hasn’t stopped calling or messaging me. Sometimes I think talking to her might help settle the emotions flowing through me like a rapid river after a huge rain storm. Mum was my closest, most trusted person in the world . . . I wonder if I can find it in me to let her back in. Then my thoughts flip to Crystal, my best friend. Who in their right mind goes out of their way to hurt someone they care for, all for a guy? The pain in my heart at not talking with Mum or Crystal becomes worse each day, but as I asked Seth the other night, how did you forgive those who hurt you?

  “Hello!”

  A voice from nowhere makes me jump out of my skin, and when I spin around, there is a young girl standing behind me. She has long brown hair and eyes the same colour as the sky. She’s beautiful, but what is she doing up here, and where did she come from?

  “Oh hello. How are you?”

  “I’m great! Who are you?”

  Wow, talk about blunt. But what do I expect from someone who looks about ten years old? “My name is Chloe, and you are?”

  “I’m Olive.” She walks around the front and sits with me on the seat.

  “Shouldn’t you be at school or something?” She looks to be of school age.

  “Nah, I get home-schooled. You aren’t from here, are you?” She eyes me suspiciously.

  “No, I’m from the city, but I came here for a holiday.”

  “A holiday, or are you running from something?”

  Gosh, for a girl so young, she’s switched on and very nosey. Do I have a neon sign flashing across my head alerting those around me I have issues? “Umm . . .”

  “Just what I thought. You’re running.”

  Who does this girl think she is? “Excuse me? Are you always this blunt with people?”

  She ponders my question a moment, looking out to the ocean. “Yeah, I think I am. I don’t get to talk to many people. It’s a rare occasion when it happens.” Her head falls, and she stares at the ground.

  My heart hurts for her. “Why don’t you see people much? Are you never allowed out of the house?”

  “I don’t get out much. This is a rare opportunity I couldn’t turn down.” Now that is just plain weird. Is she locked up in her house, only allowed out if she’s been a good girl?

  “Ookkaay then,” I drawl out. This is one hell of a crazy conversation.

  “So, you’re running?” she probes again.

  I sigh. “Yes, I’m running. Well, not really running, but not wanting to be around certain people.”

  “Why?”

  As I’m about to answer my phone rings. Mum’s name is on my screen. Oh, why now?

  “Aren’t you going to answer her?” she asks.

  “What are you doing, spying on my phone?” The call goes to message bank, and a few seconds later my phone pings, alerting me to a message. Another voicemail. The happiness I was feeling suddenly disappears. Sorrow and sadness is back again.

  “You know you shouldn’t stay mad at your family.”

  “Olive, you’re only young, and you don’t understand what I’m going through.”

  “Yeah, I don’t know, but I do know you shouldn’t leave things unsaid. I remember having a fight with my brother over something pathetic, and to this day we haven’t been able to resolve it.” Her voice cracks, the sadness pours out through her tone.

  “Why not?”

  “Things are complicated.” She pauses, then continues, “We lost touch, and it’s been a few years.”

  “That must be hard. Were you close?”

  She turns to stare at me. She is a looker—just wait until she’s older. She’ll have all the boys chasing her.

  “Yes, very close. But it is what it is, and I can’t do anything about it right now. But you can.” She looks down at my phone. I know exactly what she’s meaning.

  “How do you forgive someone who’s hurt you?” I blurt out, not thinking.

  “You just do. You never know what life holds for you and you could get thrown a curve ball and then that’s it. The time you had to fix it is gone, and you’ll be wishing you had.”

  She’s right. “You’re a smart cookie, aren’t you, and very mature for your age?”

  “I’ve been told I’m not just a pretty face.” She smiles, and a twinkle shines in her eyes. A grin spreads across my face.

  We sit in silence for a while. This girl sure is nosey.

  “If you spoke to your brother again, what would you say?” I can’t help myself, once again. I have to know.

  She doesn’t respond right away, but takes a moment. “I think I would tell him to forgive himself, that I still love him no matter what. And that Mum and Dad are proud of him.” A smile spreads across her face as tears begin to fill her eyes. It’s as though she’s allowing herself to release what she’s been holding on to. Sharing it with someone and getting it off her chest has hopefully helped her.

  “That’s beautiful. Short, but heartfelt.”

  She shrugs. “Just remember what I said, and don’t leave things too late because you never know how long you have left with the ones you love.”

  Wow, talk about a way to rip off the Band-Aid. My wounded heart is now out in the open and vulnerable.

  “I’ll keep that in mind. I think you should contact your brother.”

  “Yeah, I’ll get my message to him soon enough.”

  “Good, cause I think he needs to hear it.”

  “He will. Someday . . . Well, I better get going.”

  “Okay. I’ll see you around, Olive.”

  “Maybe, maybe not.” She smiles and turns, walking back down the hill on the opposite side from where I came.

  For someone so young, she’s given me a hell of a lot to process.

  My phone pings again—another message. My heart leaps when I see it’s from Seth.

  Seth: Hey, did you have a good morning with Nan?

  He’s so sweet. I hit reply.

  Chloe: Yes, it was wonderful. She’s got so many wonderful stories, hey Mildred?

  I chuckle as I hit send. Sherri told me the story of the curse of the dreaded middle name in the family when I was there the other night. I feel so sorry for the guys in Sherri’s side of the family, especially when they’re asked their full names for documents and things like that. My phone pings again.

  Seth: Shut it, girl, lol. I can’t believe she told you. That’s just embarrassing. In my defence, it’s a family name. Did she tell you the story?

  I hit reply and respond.

  Chloe: Yeah, she did. I feel sorry for the men in your family.

  I hit send once again, and it’s gone. It’s a name that’s been passed down the line since I don’t know when. Every first-born child’s middle name is Mildred, no matter if it’s a boy or girl. It gets passed down, and it’s been going for as long as Sherri can remember. She’s the first-born in her family, so her middle name is Mildred and her father’s middle name and his father’s and it just goes back in time. Sherri didn’t give me the entire family tree, but you get the point . . . it’s been around a while.

  My phone sounds again. My cheesy grin can’t be helped. He has this effect on me.

  Seth: Yeah, tell me about it. Are you free tonight?

  What could he want?

  Chloe: Well, I guess taking a naked swim in the moonlight is out of the question again.

  I hit send and wait anxiously. My stomach feels as though it’s getting tied in knots. I swear it’s like watching paint dry waiting for a reply.

  Did she really j
ust say that?

  “Dude, you’re blushing,” Chance teases as he laughs at my pink face.

  “Well, if you knew what it was about, you’d probably be pink as well. So, shut up,” I shoot back. I’m not offended because the relationship Chance and I have is like that of brothers.

  When I moved in with Nan, he was the first friend I made, and we’ve been friends ever since. We even decided to open the workshop together. I’d planned to do it and when I was telling him my idea he wanted in. I wasn’t going to say no. I trust him with my life.

  “Let me see.” He snatches my phone from my hands before I get a chance to shove it back in my pocket.

  “Oi, ya dog. Give it back.” I leap at him as he turns his back to me.

  He slowly holds the phone out to me, a new shade of pink on his face. “Yeah, you better keep this to yourself.” He stifles a laugh.

  “See? I told you.”

  “Dude, you’ve only known her like, what, a week or two? And here she is talking about a naked late-night swim.”

  “You don’t know the full story,” I give a little laugh, shoving my phone back in my pocket.

  He stands before me with his toned arms crossed over his chest, waiting. “Well? Fill me in.”

  He’s got to be kidding. “Oh hell, no. That is one story you won’t be told.” Turning my back on him, I head to the office to finish some paperwork for a car we’ve been working on.

  “Just hold on to this one. She seems smitten with you,” he calls after me. “If you don’t keep her, I’m gonna try cutting the grass out from under you.”

  “Like hell you are!” I call back before shutting out his next smart-mouth comment.

  Chloe is wreaking havoc on my emotions. Nan can spot the difference in me, too.

  Once settled at the desk, I pull out my phone again, and I have another message from Chloe I didn’t hear come through.

  Chloe: I’m sorry. I probably shouldn’t have joked like that.

  Oh heck. I don’t want her to think it offended me. I hit reply and quickly respond.