by Conn, Claudy
“No, but as long as they haven’t brought any fish food with them, the Mahi is pretty safe. Some of the Green Sea Turtles are getting a little cranky if they smell food and don’t get fed. The ladies are all certified, but they don’t look like hardcore divers to me. Ten to one, they go out for fifteen or twenty minutes, then come back here and clean out the rest of the ice chest.” Terence lowered his voice in case it carried in the wind. “They will snap about a half a million pictures to show to their friends and brag about the wonderful experience we’ve given them.” He leaned in a little closer. “And at least one of them will complain about getting her hair wet.”
“The way that weathered looking blonde is throwing back the beers,” Britt said, holding up the puke bag, “I hope you have more of these.”
Terence throttled the Erika Rose up a notch and turned sharply. A burst of spray flew over the back of the boat and drenched the blonde. “Maybe that will slow her down.”
All four women squealed in surprise. The blonde laughed and pragmatically squeezed the ocean water out of her hair. Getting wet hadn’t bothered her a bit.
Terence pointed between his legs. “Good thing there’s an entire box of seasick bags under my seat.”
She wanted to laugh, but the bile rising up in her throat refused to be ignored any longer. Brittany smashed the bag over her mouth.
• • •
GRADY PACED NERVOUSLY back and forth across the Javiers’ front porch. Annie was taking an awfully long time to get home. He didn’t know what he would do if she said no. When the idea of franchising the Coffee Cart first popped into his mind, he hadn’t known how to proceed. If Eleanor hadn’t pushed him in the right direction, he would still be floundering. His grand dream of finishing his degree on the big island lost its appeal the day his parents died. The ocean surrounding them was vast and heartless. The abyss of death, which he once enjoyed and couldn’t imagine living without, had morphed into a living nightmare. The Pacific didn’t give up its dead easily and his parents’ bodies were never found.
Larry and the Javier family did much more than befriend him, employ him, and feed him. They saved him. Larry was instrumental in having his parents declared legally dead after the investigation reported the explosion exposed the couple to imminent peril. Since they failed to return, their death could be reasonably assumed.
Grady didn’t want him to proceed, but Larry sat him down and explained the real world consequences of keeping them legally alive for the next seven years. Grady would not be able to make the house payment. His parents purchased mortgage insurance. Upon their death, the loan would be paid off and Grady would own the home free and clear. Their life insurance, modest as it was, would support Grady for several years, giving the young man the opportunity to get on his adult feet and support himself. When Grady still protested, not wanting to give up all hope, Larry took Grady by the hand and asked, “What would your parents want you to do?”
That simple question changed Grady’s entire outlook. His parents took out both the mortgage and life insurance policies to make sure he was provided for. Their foresight had given him time to grieve, make a few colossal mistakes, and come back to his senses. Becoming partners with Annie, and building their one little portable coffee cart into a mega franchise, was just what he needed to get on track to becoming a responsible adult.
Both Annie and Mr. Javier had the entrepreneurial spirit and Grady learned a lot from them. He knew Annie was feeling overwhelmed running the Coffee Cart and trying to be a good mom to Max. He also knew she was thinking about selling her tiny venture. Grady wasn’t ready to move on. He believed the job he took for granted the past year presented an opportunity and the potential to make him financially secure.
“Earth to Grady,” Erika sang out warmly as she caressed his arm.
Her crush was written all over her face. Grady stepped back and asked, “Is Max asleep?”
Erika’s shoulders slumped and her face fell with his blatant rejection. “Yes,” she sighed. “With any luck, the next two hours will be quiet. You’re awfully jumpy today. What was Dad talking about earlier? It sounded like you and Annie are planning something big.”
Grady put Erika off once more. “You’ll hear about it soon enough. I don’t want to jinx anything by talking about it.” He hated hurting her, but he didn’t see another way to stay in her life and keep her at arm’s length at the same time. Annie tried to reassure him that Erika was simply going through a phase, and soon everything would be back to normal.
Grady wasn’t convinced.
The phone in his pocket vibrated. It was Callie again. He had the distinct impression the chick was watching him. Grady scanned the street and saw the front end of her red Pontiac Grand Prix parked in front of the Holloway’s house.
This had to end. Erika’s crush was one thing, but being stalked was another. He shoved the phone in his pocket and marched angrily up the street toward Callie and her two-door sports coupe.
The young woman powered down her window when he approached. The wind captured wispy strands of brassy red hair, and her long straight fingers waved a welcome. He rounded the hood, and her glossy lips smiled brightly.
“Hey Cal,” he began nicely, “why are you parked over here? If you want to see me, you know where I live.”
“I was spying on you,” she laughed, trying to make light of her stalking ways. “I didn’t want to intrude in case you weren’t alone.”
Grady glanced at Erika who was intently watching their exchange. “But I wasn’t alone and you did intrude.” He kept his smile easy and leaned in close. “Can I see your phone for a moment?”
The expression on Callie’s face turned suspicious. “Why?” she asked, but she automatically handed it to him anyway.
Grady scrolled through the contacts and deleted his number.
Callie glared at him. “Why did you do that?”
Grady tossed the phone onto the passenger seat. “I think you have misunderstood our relationship. I take full responsibility for giving you the wrong idea. What we shared never meant anything to me. I took what I wanted, but I don’t have feelings for you. I’m sorry if that sounds harsh, but it’s the truth. Our relationship is over.”
Callie’s eyes closed and her brow furrowed. When they opened a moment later, they were full of anger and disgust. “Do you remember our conversation the other night? You were wasted and sad.”
He didn’t have any idea what Callie was referring to.
“You said you needed me. You cried and told me about how your parents’ boat exploded and their bodies were never found.” She threw the Grand Prix in reverse. “I felt sorry for you, asshole. When you didn’t return my calls, I got worried. I swung by to make sure you were okay.” Callie looked over her shoulder and backed up. She turned the steering wheel as far to the left as possible and flipped a U-turn. The wheels of the coup squealed and the car peeled out of the quiet neighborhood.
Grady looked down the empty street and scrubbed his face. Callie was right. He was a jerk. On the upside, he doubted he would ever see her again. How he treated the girls he dated had to change. His mother would not approve of this level of assholeness.
He glanced back at Erika. The moment he caught her eye, she shook her head, equally disgusted with his behavior, and walked back into the house.
5
THE DOCK BOBBED into view at Lena’s Bed and Breakfast, and Brittany’s jubilation soared. Her stomach couldn’t take any more torture, and she couldn’t wait to get off the Erika Rose and back onto dry land. She was dizzy and needed to lay her head down. An impossible feat with her brother-in-law’s constant barking to keep her head up and eyes focused on the horizon. The idea that she might take over Grady’s vacated position on the Erika Rose vanished into thin air. Brittany never wanted to step foot on this damned boat again.
“Do you think you’ll be able to tie us off when we land?” Terence smirked. “I should get something out of the wage I’m paying you.”
; Every motion was pure agony, but she managed to turn her head ever so slightly to give him the one-eyed glare of death. “You’re flipping funny. Keep your stupid money. I don’t expect to get paid for puking all day. Just get me off this rust bucket and let me lay down in the grass for a while.”
Terence’s dark eyes filled with humor. “Would you like to hear the story of the first time Annie came aboard? She was sicker than you.”
Brittany risked another experience with the barf bag and faced him head on. “Spare me any and all stories involving chunks. I’ve seen more than my fair share of them today.”
A chuckle slipped out before Terence could bite it back. “I thought your misery would like a little company.”
“Get away from me,” she replied, turning away and holding up a halting hand.
“I’m driving the boat, Britt. I can’t go anywhere. Would you like to take over?”
“Stop teasing me and stop trying to get me to laugh. It’s not going to take my mind off my churning stomach.”
A warm, comforting hand reached out and touched her shoulder. “Hang in there, Britt, we’re almost home.”
• • •
BRITTANY’S HEAD STILL spun, but the warm sun on her back and the dry grass under her cheek felt good. Spread eagle on the ground, she caressed mother earth and luxuriated in its lack of motion. With every breath, the twist in her gut eased and the merry-go-round in her head slowed.
When she was able to sit up without wanting to crash back down, she watched Terence say goodbye to the ladies. Brittany couldn’t count the number of manicured nails which ran over his sexy biceps before the blonde he had sprayed an acre of water on earlier, wrapped him up in a fondling hug.
It was a good thing her stomach was void of all its contents or she would have puked with all the tipsy, flirtatious overtures.
Her brother-in-law was cordial, but did not return any of the overt affection. The blonde patted his cheek and headed up the hill in Brittany’s direction.
“Here you go, doll.” Blondie handed Britt a hundred dollar bill. “You were a real trouper out there today.”
Brittany was dumbfounded. She didn’t deserve a tip of any kind, let alone one of this magnitude. It wasn’t fair to accept it. “I didn’t do anything.”
The lady laughed and pointed toward the rest of her posse. “We’re all moms. Our kids would have moaned and complained the entire time. You sucked it up and didn’t make the rest of us miserable along with you, and for that, we are eternally grateful.” She kicked her head toward Terence, who was passing by with a couple of scuba tanks. “Besides, your dad is easy on the eyes, and that alone made the day quite enjoyable.”
Hearing the woman, Terence squared his back and shoulders. His head cocked to the side. He paused, considered making a comment, thought better of it, and continued on his way.
The blonde chuckled at his reaction. “Well, if he’s not your dad, he’s someone’s. He was great with you today. It touched our hearts the way he took care of you. We’re off, but we’re going to tell everyone we meet they should book a tour with your outfit.” She left Britt with a few parting words of advice. “I suggest you take a Dramamine next time, though.”
That ended their conversation and the woman walked away. The group piled into a light blue mom van and pulled out of the small parking area.
Brittany looked at the huge tip she received and understood why Terence put up with all their nonsense. A hundred bucks for sitting on a boat and throwing up for three hours no longer seemed like such a bad way to make a living.
Terence hollered down from Lena’s lanai, “Come on up, Britt. Lena has some food for us.” He laughed at the horrified look on her face and explained, “I know that’s not something that appeals to you right now, but you’ll feel better after you get something in your tummy. Lena made rice and toast just for you.” Motioning for her to get a move on, he sweetened the pot. “I’ll even try to drum you up a Gatorade.”
The thought of food made Brittany’s stomach turn, but Terence and Lena were being so nice, she didn’t want to refuse them. Her own mom and dad would have left her on the lawn to wallow in her own puke. The kindness she was being shown was a foreign concept, and Brittany wasn’t quite sure how to deal with it.
Brittany couldn’t resist teasing him. “Be right there, Dad!”
Terence protested hotly. “No way! I am not old enough for that.” He massaged the tiny wrinkles beside his eyes and added, “Maybe it’s time I had a little work done.”
Brittany hauled her body off the ground and chuckled all the way up the hill.
Terence hugged her shoulders and guided her inside the house. “That zinger was much better than your joke about poop.”
“Who said I was joking?”
Her brother-in-law grabbed his chest. “Straight to the heart.” Terence’s happy expression dropped. His demeanor turned insecure and worried. “Am I really looking old?”
Brittany felt horrible. Shaking his confidence was the last thing she wanted to do. The whole idea that he looked bad was ridiculous. “Give me a break. You’d still look hot with a three-day stubble and wrinkled clothes. The blonde even made a point of mentioning it.”
Terence sucked in a laugh, and Brittany realized she had lost another round.
• • •
NOT FEELING EXACTLY welcome at the Javiers’ after Erika witnessed the incident with Callie, Grady waited for Annie’s return on his own front porch. Mr. Javier assured him that Erika would get over her crush, and advised him to remain her friend and simply ignore, or laugh off, anything that might make him feel uncomfortable. Annie thought the same way, but Grady was pretty sure that strategy wasn’t working. At every appropriate opportunity, he told Erika how much he loved having a little sister like her, but it only hurt her more.
He drummed his fingers on the rail and contemplated his options. He was twenty and Erika was only thirteen. She was super cute with a great sense of humor. Grady enjoyed her company more than most of the girls he dated. If Erika was older and he had the blessing of her parents, he would consider exploring a relationship with her. But she wasn’t. It was impossible and there wasn’t any way he was going to cross that line.
To complicate matters, Annie’s sister showed up and Grady felt something forming between them. The kiss he and Brittany shared was burned into his memory. When he closed his eyes, he could still feel the warmth, the tingle, and all the other responses his body made.
He wanted to kiss Erika’s aunt again and that was not going to go over well with anyone.
Grady drummed his fingers harder. If he and Annie became business partners, if Erika never got over her crush, if he and Brittany got together, and if Mr. Javier thought he was messing where he shouldn’t be messing, life was going to get very complicated.
The family loved him, but there were limits. Grady couldn’t play the poor orphan card forever. It was time he grew up and made some adult decisions. More importantly, it was time he started living with the consequences of his actions.
Callie was proof he was careless with the feelings of the girls who wanted nothing more than to take care of him and comfort him. His parents’ tragedy got him a lot of tail. It eased his pain for a few hours, but he still woke up lonely. Sometimes he even felt a little disgusted with himself, knowing full well he was never going to call any of them back.
Grady scratched his chin.
His mom taught him better. She would be disappointed. His dad would have understood, but Grady couldn’t see him condoning his behavior. A curve formed at the corner of Grady’s lips. He could hear his dad giving him a health lecture and making sure he was stocked up on condoms, all while shaking his head and telling him it wasn’t the way.
Grady missed his parents. He grabbed his car keys and headed for the cemetery.
• • •
“SO YOU HAD a hand in this,” Annie accused lightly, looking into Larry Wright’s bright blue, laughing eyes.
“More tha
n just a hand. I walked the kid through the entire process.” Larry came around the counter and placed a glass of iced tea in front of Annie. “When Eleanor asks me to do something, I think very carefully before I turn her down, and then I better have a very good reason.” He sat across from her and took a sip. “I think it’s a good plan. With all your business experience, and if you think you are up to the challenge, you and Grady could rock this thing.”
Annie’s eyes grew wide. “Rock this thing? You have been spending time with Grady. I’ve never heard that expression come out of your mouth before.”
“I have a teenage daughter. That’s one of Erika’s favorite sayings.”
“Yes,” Annie agreed, “our daughter says that phrase quite often.”
After all this time, it still struck Annie as odd that she, Terence, and Larry shared custody of Erika. Even though she knew with every ounce of her being that Larry was Erika’s biological father, she still couldn’t wrap her head totally around it. Annie knew Larry years before the news of Erika’s parentage came to light. As a teenager, Annie and Larry’s daughter, Marissa, were best friends. Larry always treated Annie well and served as a better role model than her own step-dad. Being able to relate the same man as being Erika’s dad always seemed a bit of a stretch.
Larry winked. “Don’t worry, it still shocks me, too.”
“Am I that easy to read?”
“Only to me, Terence, and Erika. Then there is Eleanor, Lena, and probably Grady.”
Annie smacked him teasingly. “So everyone.”
Larry turned serious. “I don’t want you to worry about my relationship with Erika. She looks at me as a kindly old man that she’s stuck with. I get that. To her, Terence is her dad and you are her mom. Believe me, I’m very content with the role I play in her life. When things get rough, I can send her home to you.”
“Erika has a mom. Hannah would crap if she heard your view.”
Larry grabbed Annie’s hand. “I’m her biological father, but who are the two most consistently loving people in her life? That honor belongs to you and Terence. If Hannah doesn’t like it, she should live here and take care of her daughter. Instead, she chose to stay in Montana and Erika is fine with that.” Larry raised his glass in salute. “That should tell you something.”