The Reef

by Lois Kay

  “Better?” Sam asked.

  “Much.” Jody was pleasantly surprised by her body’s reaction to their unexpected closeness. She decided not to explore the question why Sam made her feel the way she did. She would just go with her instincts and feelings. Thoughts about her father were pushed to the background.

  * * *

  When Jody arrived at her apartment that evening, she tossed her keys on the table and sank down in the big, soft pillows of her couch. She was exhausted. Dinner with Megan and Sarah had been very pleasant and the couple even managed to get Jody to relax for a while, although she was never able to forget about the inevitable upcoming confrontation with Sam. Jody pulled her cellphone out of her pocket and was about to toss it on the coffee table when she noticed she had at least three missed calls and a voicemail message. “Please, don’t let it be work,” she groaned.

  When she tapped the phone’s screen and recognized the number she breathed in relief. It was a message from her sister, Lucy. She tapped ‘speaker’ and played the message. Immediately, Lucy’s voice broke the silence in the room.

  “Hey, sis, it’s me, don’t tell me you’re working late again. If so, you’re a disgrace to our lazy family. Listen, I need to talk to you. I’ll be home tonight, so if you can spare me a little bit of your precious time, I would be very grateful. Talk to you later.”

  Jody was still grinning when she speed-dialed her sister’s number. “Hey, Freckles, what’s up?”

  “Hi, stranger. Long time no see. What do you do? Work twenty hours a day?”

  “I may me crazy, Luce, but I’m not insane. I was at Meg’s and Sarah’s and had silenced my phone.”

  “Ah, that explains your absence. I called you a couple of times and finally got so fed up with it, I left you a message. I hate doing that. How are you doing? I haven’t spoken to you in forever.”

  “It’s only been five days, Lucy and I’m doing……alright.”

  “That doesn’t sound convincing to me. What’s wrong?”

  There was a brief silence in which Jody debated to not tell Lucy she had run into Sam. Her honesty won out. Besides, Sam and Lucy had been good friends as well.

  “Listen, Luce, something happened today and I—” Jody winced at the sudden hoarseness of her voice.

  “Are you alright, Pea? You sound...I don’t know. You sound hurt. Jody, what happened?” Lucy sounded alarmed.

  “I’m fine, it’s…Sam’s at The Reef.”

  Jody could hear a sharp intake of breath, which was followed by dead silence.

  “Luce?”

  “Still here.”

  Jody could hear her sister release a breath. “What the hell, Jody. How did that happen? Is she here for a vacation? Did you talk to her?” There was another brief silence. “How is she doing?” There was a hint of anguish is Lucy’s voice.

  “I literally ran into her. All the paperwork I was carrying went flying and she immediately got on her knees to pick it all up. At that moment, I’d only seen her face for a second or so, but I knew it was her.” Jody paused. She was reliving the entire moment and could feel the tension build up inside her chest. “Anyway, when she looked up from the floor I could tell she was in shock the moment she recognized me, which was immediately, really. She froze, Lucy. I have to admit, I could barely breathe.” Jody was aware her voice trembled.

  “Then what happened?”

  Jody closed her eyes and leaned back into the pillows behind her. “I said her name, but she didn’t respond. She got back up, handed me the papers and told me I was mistaken. Her name was Jennifer DeWit.”

  “Holy crap,” Lucy said.

  “I could tell she knew she didn’t have me fooled, but she didn’t give in. So, I apologized and said she looked like an old friend. Then I wished her a pleasant stay and left.”

  “I’m in awe of the fact that you could actually talk. I probably would have been standing there with my jaw on the floor, drooling.”

  Jody laughed despite the painful thudding in her chest. “I’m sure I didn’t sound too friendly. To be honest, I was feeling so many things at that moment and being pissed was one of them.”

  “Understandable. So, what does…has she changed at all?”

  “No, not really. The person I ran into was a mature version of the Sam I saw last, eight years ago.”

  “Tall, blond, blue eyes to die for, and legs that go on forever?” Lucy’s dry humor was just what Jody needed and she laughed.

  “That’s an apt description,” she said. “Believe it or not, though, she’s a bit taller than she was when I saw her last. Her hair is shorter, but still as unruly as it’s always been and she’s filled out a little. She’s not all arms and legs anymore.”

  “Samantha Stevens, all grown up,” Lucy said. “So, what’s she doing at The Reef? I bet she didn’t expect to find you there. When did her family buy the place? Last year? And you’ve been there three years.” Lucy let out a shaky breath. “I’d so love to see her. I still miss her, you know.”

  Suddenly, Jody’s eyes flew open. “If Dad finds out she’s here, he’s going to freak out.”

  Lucy softly snorted. “And who’s going to tell him? Don’t worry, Pea. He won’t find out. I just wish—”

  Jody had a good idea in which direction Lucy’s thoughts were heading. “The past is that, Luce, the past. We can’t change it. Trust me, I would have done it.”

  “I know.” Jody could easily hear the resignation in Lucy’s voice. “Still, I’m convinced we never heard the entire story. There are too many questions. Looking back on this afternoon, how are you feeling now?”

  Jody frowned. She put her feet up on the coffee table and shifted around on the couch to get more comfortable. “To be honest, it made me realize there are still many unresolved issues. I’m hurt and confused, Lucy. Right now, I don’t know what to think or how to feel.”

  “Well, that sounds familiar,” Lucy drawled.

  * * *

  Eight years ago.

  Jody was using a machete to cut the tall grass around the house. She didn’t mind the physical labor. She loved being outdoors and enjoyed the sweet scent of freshly cut grass. The area she was working on was underneath a copse of tall trees, which provided shade. A light breeze cooled her heated skin, making the work less straining than usual. Absorbed in her thoughts, she wasn’t aware of her surroundings and when, suddenly, a hand landed on her shoulder she was so startled she jumped

  “Crap! Luce, don’t sneak up on me like that, will you please? You scared the living daylights out of me.”

  “That’s an indication of a bad conscience.” Lucy said. She was standing in front of Jody, twirling a blade of grass between her fingers. Her dark-green eyes were twinkling. “I’m sorry, Pea. Don’t be mad.”

  “I’m not mad,” Jody mumbled. With a well-aimed whack, she sent a clump of grass flying.

  Lucy frowned. “Are you cutting the grass or plowing?” She stepped closer, holding up both her hands. “Pea, listen. I’ve got to talk to you, alright? Put that oversized butter knife down before you get hurt. Or worse, before I get hurt.”

  That got a chuckle out of Jody, who turned around to face Lucy, tapping her boot with the machete. Jody knew Lucy was not known for her diplomacy. As a matter of fact, her directness often bordered on bluntness and when she saw the expression on her face she braced herself. “What?”

  “You’re giving it away, Jo, it’s so obvious. It won’t take long for Dad to catch on.”

  Jody scowled. “What are you talking about?”

  Lucy shook her head in disbelief. “And here I was, thinking my big sister was actually pretty smart.” She stepped closer and lowered her voice. “Jody, even a blind wombat with no sense of direction can clearly see that you’re in love with Sam.”

  Jody felt like she was punched in the gut and had to take a deep, steadying breath to force down a rising feeling of panic.

  “Close your mouth, dear, you don’t want to swallow a bug.”

  Wh
en Jody had regained some of her composure she was not able to meet Lucy’s gaze. “I’m not,” she said. She cringed at how weak her defense sounded.

  “Come on, Jody, it’s me. I’m on your side. And, yes, you are. Level with me, sis. I only want to help you.”

  Jody threw her machete in the grass and turned away from Lucy. Tears were stinging the back of her eyes, but the last thing she wanted to do was cry. But then a comforting hand squeezed her shoulder.

  “It’s alright, Pea.” Lucy’s voice was soft and full of compassion. “I’m not going to pretend I know what you’re feeling, because I’ve never been in love. But I don’t want you to get into trouble. If Dad finds out he’ll chain you to the wall, or do something equally medieval.”

  “Or he’ll send me to one of those religious conversion therapy treatments.” Jody sniffed. “I’m so confused, Luce, I really don’t know what to do. I…I never thought I could…but… I did… didn’t I?”

  Lucy nodded. “Hook, line and sinker, darling. Did you and Sam talk about it?”

  Jody shook her head and studied her boots.

  “Surely, Sam feels the same.”

  When Jody looked up she saw the surprise on Lucy’s face. She grabbed Jody by the shoulders and gave her a gentle shake. “Come on, Jo, the way she looks at you. You must have known. Gee, you’re dense. Have you guys kissed yet?”

  Jody felt the heat rising in her face and wished something, anything would happen to distract Lucy from their conversation. “Lucy, sometimes, just sometimes I wish you’d be a little less blunt.” Jody said, avoiding Lucy’s question.

  As a matter of fact, they had kissed, the last night they had been together. They had been stargazing, with Jody tucked into her favorite position; snuggled up against Sam’s side with her head on her shoulder.

  “Final night.” There had been an ache in Sam’s voice that resonated with the pain in Jody’s chest. She had done her best to swallow away the lump in her throat.

  “I had the best two weeks in my life,” Sam had whispered the words into Jody’s ear. “I hope I’ll see you again soon.”

  “I’ll miss you.” Jody’s confession had come easily. “I already do and I haven’t even left yet.”

  Sam had turned her head to look at Jody and with their eyes only a few centimeters apart they had stared at each other for a long time. They wouldn’t have been able to tell who initiated it, but their lips had met in a soft kiss. Tentative and shy at first, but with quickly growing passion and confidence. Their position had shifted and suddenly Jody had been draped across Sam’s body, with Sam’s arms firmly wrapped around her. When, after a long time, Jody had to break away to breathe she had been very aware of her body’s reaction to Sam’s touch. She could feel a hand sliding to the back of her neck, pulling her in for another kiss.

  “You’ve got no idea what you’re doing to me, Sam.” Her voice had been barely a whisper.

  “If it’s only half of what you’re doing to me, I’ve got a pretty good idea.” Sam’s lips had brushed against the sensitive skin of Jody’s throat. Her knee was slightly raised and Jody’s body had developed a mind of its own when it pressed down on Sam’s knee. She had gasped when, unexpectedly, bolts of pleasure had shot through her body. She had moaned and collapsed into Sam’s arms and they had stayed like that for a long time. Only when Joe and Esther Billings’ car had pulled up in the driveway had they reluctantly separated.

  “There’s only one real solution to this, Jo and you know it, don’t you?”

  Jody threw her head back and looked up to the sky, blinking away the tears that threatened to spill. “Leave home,” she said. “I’ve been thinking about that you know. Dad will have a fit, but I’m twenty now, old enough to go and live on my own. Besides, there’s not much work around here anyway. I don’t want to work in that tiny post office for the rest of my life, listening to all the town’s gossip. I’d like to go up the Coast and work in one of the resorts. I know they’re always looking for help managing those places.”

  Chapter 3

  It was still early when Sam woke up from a restless sleep the following day. Although she had slept through the night, she was still feeling tired and briefly considered staying snuggled up in the comfortable bed. She cast a look at the alarm. It was seven-thirty and usually she would have been up or a few hours already. But that was without jet-lag and the memories of running into Jody McDonnell. The thought of Jody made her heart skip a beat, before filling her stomach with nervous flutters. An abundance of questions was running through her mind. How mad would Jody be? Would Sam be able to avoid her? Would she want to? Immediately, Sam felt her heart clench. She didn’t want to avoid Jody. On the opposite, she really wanted to see her and explain why she had been such a jerk. What was she going to tell her dad? That was an easy one; nothing. As soon as he’d find out she had run into part of her past, he’d order her to come home. Sam threw off the covers and swung her legs out of bed. Her right calf was slightly sore and she automatically rubbed it to loosen up the tight muscles.

  “A shower will probably help.” Sam looked around the room to locate her suitcase. With a slight limp, she walked over and unzipped it. She picked out a pair of khaki pants and a light-blue shirt. She walked into the bathroom and winced when she saw her reflection in the mirror. Her face was pale, with pronounced shadows underneath her eyes. Her hair was a tangled mess and her blue eyes were dull.

  “Glamorous,” she said with a soft snort. She tossed her clothes on a small bench and stepped in the large shower. The warm water did help with the soreness in her leg and after washing away the long hours of travel, Sam started to feel almost human again. She brushed her teeth, got dressed and only then realized her stomach was growling. To get food, she had to either call room-service or venture out of her room. Room service would postpone running into Jody again and she briefly considered that option. “You’re not a coward, Stevens,” she told herself. “You’re a jerk.” Sam breathed in deeply, grabbed the keycard from the table she had tossed it on the previous day and headed to the door.

  The executive suite was at the end of a long hallway and when Sam walked toward the elevator bank, she noticed there were offices on both sides of the hallway. She slowed her pace and wondered if there was a door that was hiding Jody and if so, which one it would be. She cast a look over her shoulder to read the sign on the door she had just passed and rounded the corner. She had to jump aside to avoid running into someone.

  “Miss…DeWit,” Jody said. Her voice was so cool and distant it made Sam wince.

  “We should stop meeting like this.” It was a lame joke, but it was all Sam’s brain could come up with. “I’ll stick to the right, if you keep to the left.”

  Jody did not respond and Sam was trying to come up with something to say. Anything, to break the awkward silence between them. Sam’s gaze searched for Jody’s, but her eyes were avoiding her. When she stepped to the side to continue her walk, Sam almost panicked.

  “Jody. Please?” Sam’s voice was strained and she was aware how pleading her words sounded.

  Jody halted, but she was still facing away from Sam. Her silence felt like a stab in the heart and Sam could feel her throat constrict. If Jody would continue to ignore her she would be devastated, no matter how much she deserved that treatment after what she had done to her the previous day. Sam’s mouth felt dry and she had to prevent herself from wiping the clammy palms of her hands on her pants.

  “Jody, I…I’m so sorry.” Sam cleared her voice to rid it from the hoarseness. “I…it was wrong to brush you off like that. You didn’t deserve that.” Sam paused and raked her fingers through her hair. “I was a jerk.”

  Finally, Jody turned around to face Sam and for the first time in eight years, Sam gazed into the green eyes she had loved so much. The cool expression slowly faded, leaving shadows of hurt and sadness. A tidal wave of memories threatened to wash over her, but Sam pushed it away. All she wanted to do was focus on the woman who was standing in fro
nt of her.

  “Why the fake name?”

  Sam had expected that question and was almost happy Jody asked. That, she could explain. “I’ll explain everything, I promise, but not here.” Sam pulled the keycard out of her pocket and gestured to the end of the hallway. Jody nodded and silently followed Jody back to the executive suite. She opened the door and stepped aside to let Jody in. With a soft click the heavy door closed behind them.

  “Please, sit down.”

  Jody noticed how Sam was fidgeting with the keycard and she could easily tell how nervous she was. A quick look around the room showed her that Sam must have gone to bed as soon as she had arrived. The suitcase was still packed and not much in the room was disturbed. “Did you have anything to eat yet?” she asked, remembering how fast Sam’s blood sugar could drop if she skipped meals.

  “Um…actually, I was—”

  “May I use the phone?” Without waiting for permission, Jody picked up the phone and dialed a three-digit number. “Carlos, good morning, it’s Jody. Could you, please, send up a ‘Reef Special Breakfast’ to 315 with some milk, coffee and juice? Thank you, Carlos.”

  “A ‘Reef Special Breakfast?” Sam’s voice had lost some of its tension. “That sounds enticing.”

  Jody could feel the muscles in her face relax and she smiled. “You’ll like it,” she said. “So, tell me.” Jody went back into business-mode and she could tell it made Sam nervous. But she knew it was the only way to get through the conversation they were about to have. Looking at Sam made her insides hurt, but she could not afford to become emotional, even though she knew her tears were just below the surface. Seeing Sam caused her to tremble and made her heart race.

  Sam had picked up a pen from the table and she twirled it around in her fingers. Jody suppressed the urge to reach over and pull it out of her hand. She knew Sam fidgeted when she was nervous.