by Lydia Rose
“I am. The marina is close to my job and the lapping of the water against the boat puts me to sleep easily,” Shelby said with a light chuckle. She now picked up her Kindle and began to read.
“Enjoy the rest of your day,” Riley said as she walked toward the gate.
“You too, Riley.”
Shelby stayed on the lounge for the next two hours reading until her stomach began to growl. She looked at her watch and saw it was way past lunchtime. Gathering her things she walked toward the dock. Her eyes caught sight of Riley up on a ladder changing a light bulb on the building. She was stretching dangerously close to falling off the ladder. Her hands reached out and grabbed the ladder to steady it. “You are going to fall on your ass if you keep stretching like that,” Shelby called up to a surprised Riley.
Riley began her descent down the ladder before speaking, “I’m okay. I do this all the time.” She finished climbing down the ladder.
Shelby’s eyes were so stuck on Riley’s ass that she had to ask her to move so she could step onto the ground. What the hell are you doing?
“Besides, I haven’t fallen off a ladder since I was eighteen.” She dropped onto the ground and laughed. “I was trying to change both bulbs at the same time without moving the ladder.” Riley recalled that day as if it was yesterday. “The ladder slid right off the building with me on it.”
“Were you hurt?” Shelby asked, enthralled in her story.
“Yeah. My mother heard the crash and came running out of the office. When she realized I was still alive, she read me the riot act.” Riley lowered her voice. “I broke my arm in two different places,” she laughed. “That was the worst summer here. I couldn’t use my kayak or do most of the work around here for weeks.” Riley smiled. “Every time my mother looked at me she shook her head in disgust.”
“I’m sure you aged your mother by ten years that day.” Both women laughed.
“Yeah.”
“You really love this place, don’t you?” Shelby asked.
Riley nodded awkwardly. She didn’t want to admit to Shelby that she was thinking about leaving. “It’s great, but some days…” she said without finishing.
“It’s hard living where you work, isn’t it?” Shelby asked watching Riley’s face.
Riley couldn’t believe that Shelby had said exactly what she was feeling. “Yeah, sometimes it’s tough.”
“Have you ever thought about getting a place in town or at least having your own space here?” Shelby knew this was none of her business, but she pressed on.
“Not until recently. I like living with my mom and I’m here to deal with any problems that might arise,” she said with a shrug.
“Have you ever thought that maybe your mom would like some privacy too?”
Riley’s jaw opened. “No.”
“Maybe you both need some space and privacy?” Shelby asked.
“I have plans for a house to be built on the property, but I never followed through because I didn’t think I was ready.”
“Maybe you’re ready now?” Shelby smiled. “I’d love to see your plans.”
“You would?”
“Sure. Why don’t you come over this evening and show me. I made a key lime pie this morning. I’ll make coffee and you can have a slice.” Riley looked at Shelby stunned. “Okay?”
Riley’s head went up and down. “What time?”
“Seven?”
“Sure.”
“Okay. See you then,” she said with a wave as she walked toward the docks.
For the first time in the last two weeks, Riley had something to look forward to doing.
The plate of food was put in front of her and she began to eat without waiting for her mother to sit down. When Ava did, she saw the speed in which she was eating. “Where’s the fire, Riley?”
Riley’s fork stopped in midair. “I promised to meet Shelby on her boat at seven o’clock.” Her mother cocked an eyebrow. “It’s nothing like that. I was telling her about my designs for my house and she asked to see them.”
“So, are you finally going to start building the house?” Ava asked with a wide smile.
“I don’t know. Maybe. I’m thirty-five years old and it might be time for us both to have our own space.” All thoughts of leaving the marina had left her thoughts after she told Shelby about her designs.
“You don’t have to leave here, but it might be time for you to have your own space,” Ava said softly.
“Mom, you know I’ll just be next door.”
“I know, but…” Her hand went to her eye. “It’s just you and I have lived together all your life.”
Riley got out of her seat and put her arm around her mother. “Don’t cry, Mom. It will be okay.”
“I know. I’m happy for you. I really am. I was worried about you these last few weeks. I thought maybe you were thinking about leaving here.”
Riley took her seat again and picked up her fork. How could she admit to her mother that she was thinking about that? So instead she said, “Where would I go?”
“I want you to be happy, Riley and if that meant you would have to leave,” Ava sighed, “I would never stop you.”
“I know you wouldn’t, Mom,” Riley said without looking at her mother. She quickly finished the food on her plate and put her things in the dishwasher.
“Don’t you want dessert?” Ava asked picking up her empty plate.
“No thanks. Shelby made a key lime pie.” Riley grabbed her case that held her drawings. “I’ll see you later, Mom.”
“Have fun, dear.” Ava watched as Riley ran out of the house and toward the docks.
Shelby was waiting for Riley as she arrived at the boat. “Come on board, Riley,” she said waving her hand.
“Thanks.”
“Let’s go inside and have our dessert so you can show me your plans.” They both walked through the large doors and took a place at the table in the galley. Shelby poured the coffee and cut a slice of pie for them both.
Riley leaned over the plate and smelled the fresh pie. “It smells wonderful, Shelby.” She looked around the galley. “I can imagine what you could do if you had a full kitchen in this place.”
“It has been rough getting used to such a small oven and stove, but cooking for myself doesn’t take much effort.”
“So you enjoy cooking?”
“Sometimes. I like making special meals. It’s the everyday grind of making dinner that I don’t enjoy.” She emphasized her point with her fork. “Do you cook?”
“I can barbecue, but cooking I leave to my mom. She is the chef in the family. Well, her and Uncle Ryan,” she said with a shrug.
Shelby picked up the plates and put them in the sink. “Are you ready to show me your plans?”
Riley nodded and pulled the papers from her case. “Here is what I picture the outside to look like.” She laughed. “Of course, it will be on stilts because of flooding potential.” While Shelby studied the colored drawings of the outside, Riley reached inside the case for the interior plans she had drawn.
“This is so cute, Riley. I just love the colors and design.” She lowered the paper. “You drew these yourself?”
“Yep. I always thought about architecture for a career, but I love the marina just as much.” Now she handed the interior pictures to Shelby.
Shelby studied the design of the downstairs and then the upstairs. The entire second floor was a master suite with a large shower and tub in the master bathroom. “This is absolutely gorgeous. I could live in this house,” she said looking up and smiling at Riley. “For someone that doesn’t cook, this kitchen is a chef’s dream.”
“Well…” Riley began. “I was hoping that I would find a partner that liked to cook.” Her shoulders came up in a shrug. “Well, that’s what I thought when I drew this.”
“With this kitchen, you might just attract a partner.” Shelby realized what she had said and quickly covered her mouth. “I am so sorry, Riley. I didn’t mean to imply that you could only
get a woman if you had this kitchen.”
Riley chuckled. “Hey, I can use all the help I can get. I have yet to find a woman that wanted to live at a marina.”
“Then they are fools. It’s so beautiful here and everyone seems so nice. I’ll admit when I got here, I wanted to be left alone.”
“Yeah, you made that very clear to me,” Riley mumbled softly.
Shelby laughed. “I’m so sorry about that, Riley. I was in a bad frame of mind when I got here. I’ve finally begun to relax and love the closeness of everyone here.”
“Including me?” Riley asked with a wink.
“Yes, Riley. Including you,” she answered rolling her eyes.
“So you really like my plans?”
“What’s not to like? You’ve drawn an open floor plan, a fantastic master retreat and even room for an overnight guest.” She lowered the plans. “I think you should build it, Riley.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes,” she said rolling her eyes. “I hope I’m still around so I can see the place when it’s done.”
“I won’t be able to start until the season is over. No one coming here wants to listen to construction while they are trying to relax.” Riley looked at Shelby out of the corner of her eyes. “Will you help me pick out the finishes?”
“Don’t you want your Mom to help?” Shelby asked surprised by Riley’s question.
“I’d like both your inputs. I’m no good at that kind of stuff.”
“I would say you are wrong, based on what I see here,” she said pointing to the plans on the table. “How about another piece of pie?”
Riley’s head went up and down enthusiastically. “I just love your pie.”
Shelby wasn’t expecting her answer and she raised an eyebrow in question. She felt the blush creep up her face. “Uh...”
Riley looked at Shelby and began to laugh. “Get your mind out of the gutter, woman. I may be hard up, but I don’t chase straight women. Despite what you thought the first time we met.”
Shelby covered her face with her hands. “I am really sorry about that, Riley.” She sucked in a breath. “I thought you were some random guy trying to hit on me.”
“Oh, now you insult me and call me a guy?” Riley tried to keep the grin off her face.
“No,” she said quickly. “Your voice was low and I was in a bad mood and I just snapped.” Shelby began to rub her forehead. “Will you ever forgive me?”
Riley let her grin appear. “Maybe. I think if you keep making me pies I might.”
Shelby’s hand came out and touched the top of her hand. “Any time you want me to...” She now sat back in her chair. “You’re very easy to talk to. I have a tendency to come off as standoffish because I’m shy, but I don’t feel that way with you. I’ve even become close with some of the people here. Back home I never even knew the neighbors who lived next door to me.”
“Do you still have family there? I mean in North Carolina?”
“No. My parents passed away years ago, and when my sister went off to Ohio State she stayed there.” Shelby sighed with disappointment. “I have a niece and a nephew that I only see once a year. I try to get out there at Thanksgiving or Christmas. That is if I can get the time off. This year I have no seniority, so I’m sure I’ll have to go see them when I can.” Shelby now tried to stifle her yawn. “I’m sorry,” she said as her hand came off her mouth.
“No. I’m sorry. I better let you get some rest. What hours are you working this week?”
“Seven to seven for the next three days.”
“I don’t know how you do that. I mean changing your schedule every week.”
“You get used to it and I like having the four days off.” She walked Riley to the door. “Thanks for showing me your drawings.”
“Thanks for giving me the push I needed,” Riley said smiling.
“So you’re going to build it?”
“Yep. Enjoy your week, Shelby.”
“Good night, Riley.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Wednesday evening, Riley sat with a few of the guests around the fire pit as the kids toasted marshmallows. Riley’s eyes now wandered toward the parking lot and the brunette that got out of the car. From the way Shelby’s shoulders were slumped, Riley knew she must be exhausted. Her hand came up in a wave, but she kept walking. Riley returned the wave only to have Stewart grab her arm.
“You know her?” he asked excitedly.
“Yes.” She turned and looked at his face. “Why?”
“I introduced myself and asked her to have a drink with me one night at the bar.” His hand went to his head. “She looked at me like I was a bug.”
Riley spit out the beer that had just gone into her mouth. Yeah, me too. She was now laughing.
“It’s not funny, Riley. She’s a beautiful woman and look at me.” Riley looked, but said nothing. “She should have jumped at the opportunity.”
Oh, brother. “Maybe you aren’t her type.”
“You’re kidding,” he said as if that couldn’t be the reason. “Is she gay or something?”
Again, Riley choked on her beer. “You have got to stop doing that. No she isn’t gay.” Riley turned her body so she was facing Stewart. “Maybe she just wants to be left alone.”
“Impossible,” he said crossing his arms over his chest. “I could show her a good time.”
This time Riley had waited to take a sip of her beer. Her hand went to his shoulder. “Leave her alone, Stu.”
“Why? Are you interested in her?” His hands pulled tighter across his chest.
“Yeah, I always chase straight women,” Riley sighed. “Shelby is not here on vacation. She has a job. Pick one of the other women that are here vacationing.”
“So you don’t think I have a chance?” he asked dropping his arms.
Not a chance in hell. “Listen, Stu. Shelby is shy. Maybe she’ll come around if you don’t come on too strong. Be nice, but stop asking her out.”
He rubbed his hand over his unshaven face. “Yeah, that might work. I’ll let her see what a great guy I am.”
Oh, she knows what kind of guy you are and that is why you don’t stand a chance. “Good, Stu.”
Riley now saw Shelby carrying a bag and heading to the ladies’ showers. She sat quietly sipping her beer staying out of the conversation that was going on around her. It didn’t take long before she saw Shelby step into the light. This time she was wearing a robe. Stewart saw this too and began to get up. “Are you nuts? You can’t approach her when she just got out of the shower.” Riley’s head shook back and forth. “She’ll think you are stalking her.”
Stewart sat back down. “Boy, you really know women.”
Riley laughed. “Yes I do.”
“I bet if you wanted her, you could get her.”
“You’re an idiot, Stu. It doesn’t work that way. She likes men and I like women and the most we could ever be is friends.”
“Friends,” he said touching his chin again. “Maybe I should try being her friend first.”
“Good idea, Stu.” These guys never learn.
“I’m going to turn in. I’ll start working on being friends with the cutie tomorrow.”
“Unless she’s working,” Riley said. knowing Shelby was off the rest of the week.
“Oh, Riley. Anybody ever tell you that you are a buzz kill?” he asked standing over her.
“Yeah, a few times,” she answered trying to hide her smirk. “Good night, Stu.”
“Good night, Riley.”
*
Shelby noticed when she came out of the bathroom that Riley was speaking with Stewart. Even though there were other people at the fire pit, it appeared they had their heads together in deep conversation. Now she wondered if they were talking about her. Did Riley tell him that she was hiding out from Todd? She walked back to the boat quickly hoping he didn’t follow her.
In the morning, Shelby dressed in a pair of white shorts, a red tank top and flip flops. She walked over to
the beach area and placed her towel on the wooden lounge chair that the marina provided. The umbrella that sat next to the chair shaded her eyes, but she left her sunglasses in place. She laid her head back and she closed her eyes. Shelby’s last shift had taken a lot out of her. The death of a seven-year-old had been not only devastating to the child’s parents, but to Shelby too. She had been the little girl’s nurse since starting her new job and to watch the little girl disappear before her eyes made her heart and soul break. Sleep had been hard to find last night and she now drifted off to a restless sleep.
Shelby didn’t realize how much time had passed when she opened her eyes. She stretched her arms and then reached for her phone to look at the time. Yes. It was noon and despite Shelby still feeling the sting of last night’s events, she no longer felt like the walking dead. A shadow stepped into view and she looked up and saw blond hair looking down at her.
“Hey, Shelby.”
“It’s Stewart, right,” she said knowing she hadn’t forgotten his name, but didn’t want to give this poor sap any hope.
He grinned. “Yes. I am going to take out my kayak and I thought you might want to take a ride with me.”
Shelby tried to keep her face from showing what she felt in her mind. “That’s nice of you, but I think I’m just going to rest.”
“I’m not trying to hit on you. I just thought as friends, we can hang out.”
Friends? Shelby smiled. “Thank you, but not today.”
“Okay. Enjoy your rest.” Stewart turned toward the water and dragged his kayak into the bay.
Now another shadow crossed her path on the other side. She turned, surprised to see Riley taking a seat on the lounge chair next to hers. “Hi, Shelby.”
“Riley.” Shelby flipped her glasses onto her head and turned her body so she could see Riley. “I saw you two talking last night. Did he come to you for dating advice on me?” she asked with a nod in Stewart’s direction.
Riley chuckled. “Not exactly.” She lifted her glasses. “Uh, he wanted to know. I mean he wanted to know if you were...” Riley just couldn’t say the words.
“He wanted to know if I was gay and that was the reason I turned him down.” Riley nodded at her statement. “What is it with these men? They all think if a woman turns them down, she must be gay.” Her hands came up in frustration.